The air thrummed with a malevolent energy as Specimen 47's entire black chassis pulsed with that furious crimson light.
The ground beneath it, already cracked by its immense power, began to crumble into a chaotic dust, sucked into the Purge Unit's core as it prepared for a final, catastrophic assault.
This wasn't just energy; it was the raw power of anti-cultivation, designed to rip the very essence of spiritual life from the environment.
"Host! Its primary energy core is stabilizing for a full-spectrum spiritual suppression discharge!" Prometheus's voice, usually so composed, now had an edge of pure alarm.
"This isn't localized. This is an area-of-effect purge! If it fully unleashes, it could potentially sever your connection to the spiritual node, effectively reducing cultivation levels across the entire farm zone! This unit is designed for systemic eradication! Its energy signature indicates a 'Zone Scour' protocol is imminent!"
Li Tian felt a cold dread seize him, far worse than any physical threat.
To sever their connection to the spiritual node, to regress their cultivation… that was to undo everything they had built, to cripple their very being.
His eyes darted to Grandma Mei Lin, still standing before the shimmering Earth-Metal wall, her form resolute against the monstrous glow.
His HP stood at a solid 100/100, Spiritual Energy 17/20, a testament to the Farm Level 2's immediate regeneration, but he knew this attack was designed to bypass even that.
Grandma Mei Lin, her knuckles white against the dark, gleaming surface of her Earth-Metal wall, remained impassive.
Her gaze, however, was no longer merely calm; it burned with an ancient, fierce intensity.
The ground beneath her pulsed with an intense, coppery glow, absorbing the cracks, funneling the raw energy into her defensive wall, making it denser, harder.
It wasn't just a wall; it was becoming a living, breathing extension of her will, imbued with the raw, untamed spirit of Terra itself.
"This is its last desperate gambit," Grandma Mei Lin's voice resonated, not just from her lips but from the very ground beneath their feet, echoing in Li Tian's mind through his spiritual connection to the farm.
"It believes spiritual energy is its enemy. But it does not understand the Earth. It does not understand will."
With a sudden, explosive roar that tore through the fog, Specimen 47 unleashed its full power.
A colossal wave of crackling, black energy, imbued with destructive anti-spiritual properties, surged forth, aimed directly at Grandma Mei Lin and the spiritual node she protected.
It was a wave of pure negation, designed to silence the hum of cultivation, to turn spiritual essence into inert dust.
The very air around it seemed to warp, sucking in light and sound.
But Grandma Mei Lin was ready.
With a defiant roar of her own – not of sound, but of pure spiritual power – she slammed her hands flat against the ground, not just once, but with a rhythmic, pounding intensity.
The Earth-Metal wall before her didn't just hold; it expanded.
Pillars of solid, gleaming metal, shot through with veins of emerald spiritual light, erupted from the ground, intertwining to form a vast, domed shield, not just before her, but over the entire farm, encompassing Li Tian and his companions within its protective embrace.
The wave of anti-spiritual energy crashed against this metallic dome with the force of a supernova.
The world dissolved into a blinding flash of black and crimson.
A sound that ripped through the very fabric of reality vibrated through them, a deafening shriek of opposing forces tearing at each other.
Li Tian felt his teeth rattle, his bones vibrate, but he held his ground, his eyes fixed on the epicenter of the cataclysm.
The Earth-Metal dome shimmered, groaned, and buckled.
Cracks, radiating pure destructive force, spread across its surface.
For a terrifying second, Li Tian thought it would shatter.
His HP dropped to 95/100, spiritual energy plummeted to 10/20 from the sheer proximity to the overwhelming energy. His companions felt it too; Xiaoli's HP fell to 85/100, spiritual energy 10/20; Kael's to 90/100, spiritual energy 11/20; Lira's to 80/100, spiritual energy 9/20; and Jax's to 75/100, spiritual energy 8/20. Their spiritual energy reserves were likewise dangerously depleted, the force of the purge attack threatening to rip their cultivation foundations.
But then, Grandma Mei Lin let out another, deeper spiritual roar.
The cracks in the Earth-Metal dome didn't just mend; they fused, sealing tighter than before.
The metallic sheen intensified, radiating an almost blinding, coppery light.
The ground within the dome pulsed with tremendous spiritual energy, feeding her, sustaining her, making the impossible, real.
She wasn't just defending; she was drawing the destructive energy into the Earth-Metal, transforming it, purifying it, weaponizing it against its source.
The black wave of anti-spiritual energy, unable to penetrate, began to swirl around the dome, dissipating harmlessly against the invincible barrier.
Specimen 47's glow flickered, its roar diminishing into a frustrated, mechanical growl.
Its energy core, which had been pulsating with malevolent crimson, now sputtered, its internal systems overloaded from the sheer force of its own unleashed attack, met by an unyielding defense.
The Purge Unit was reeling.
"Unbelievable!" Prometheus exclaimed, a note of sheer awe in its voice.
"Grandma Mei Lin absorbed the entire spiritual suppression discharge! Her Earth-Metal is not just a shield, Host, it's a spiritual conduit! It turned Specimen 47's destructive energy against itself, overloading its systems! This unit is now… vulnerable! Its core integrity is at 20%!"
Indeed, Specimen 47, its primary attack spent, began to visibly falter.
Its colossal frame listed, its once-sleek black armor now riddled with crackling arcs of internal electricity.
The single red eye dimmed, flickering erratically.
It was crippled.
"Now!" Li Tian roared, his voice hoarse, but filled with renewed vigor.
His spiritual energy, boosted by the Level 2 farm, was already beginning to regenerate, albeit slowly given the massive discharge he just witnessed. His internal panel showed spiritual energy at 15/20, slowly climbing.
"Kael! Target its base! Exploit its structural instability! Lira, lift the fog on its position! Jax, full power, hit its eye! Xiaoli, focus on its core, wherever you sense it!"
The companions, seeing their opportunity and feeling the farm's revitalizing spiritual energy wash over them, moved with synchronized precision.
Kael didn't hesitate.
He thrust his hands forward, channeling every ounce of his remaining spiritual energy.
The ground beneath Specimen 47, already destabilized by Grandma Mei Lin, erupted violently.
Massive Earth Spikes, thick as ancient tree trunks, shot upwards, impaling the Purge Unit's legs, lifting it precariously off the ground, causing it to scream with a metallic shriek of agony.
The stress of the effort showed on his face, his spiritual energy dropped to 10/20, but his determination was absolute.
The monstrous mech was now a struggling, impaled target.
Lira, seizing the moment, focused her will.
The fog around Specimen 47, which had been her ally, now became its tormentor.
With a powerful gust, she ripped away the concealing mist directly from around the crippled mech, leaving it starkly exposed against the grey backdrop, a perfect target.
She maintained the blinding mist around the surrounding Iron Covenant forces who were now attempting a chaotic, disorganized retreat.
Her spiritual energy was now 11/20.
"I got it!" Jax roared, seeing his chance.
He became a conduit of pure vengeance.
Lightning crackled across his entire body, forming an unstable, blinding aura.
With a final, desperate surge, he launched himself into the air, a living bolt of pure electricity, aiming directly for the flickering red eye of Specimen 47.
He wasn't just striking; he was trying to overload it.
The strike was deafening, a blinding flash of pure white light, followed by a shower of sparks that rained down like shattered stars.
Jax's spiritual energy plummeted to a critical 5/20, and his HP dropped to a dangerous 50/100 from the sheer recoil of his attack.
But the result was undeniable.
The red eye exploded, consumed by a furious, blue-white electric fire, leaving a gaping, smoking void.
"Core!" Xiaoli shrieked, seeing the opportunity Li Tian had described.
Her elemental senses, heightened by the chaos, pinpointed the source of the Purge Unit's dying hum – a faint, pulsing core within the mech's chest, now exposed by the damage.
With a primal scream, she unleashed a devastating volley of combined fire and ice.
Flaming bolts of pure heat, followed by shards of razor-sharp ice, slammed into the now-exposed core, ripping into its delicate, smoking internals.
The fire melted circuits, the ice shattered brittle components.
She poured every ounce of her remaining spiritual energy into the attack, her spiritual energy hitting a critical 5/20, her HP 85/100.
Specimen 47 spasmed violently.
Its colossal frame, impaled by Kael's earth spikes, convulsed one last time, a pathetic, dying shriek tearing from its mangled form.
Internal explosions ripped through its chassis, tearing apart its armored shell from the inside out.
With a final, earsplitting CRACK, the gigantic Purge Unit toppled, crashing to the ground with a resounding thud that shook the entire farm, sending debris flying.
A plume of black smoke, smelling of burnt ozone and ruined metal, billowed into the air, slowly dissipating to reveal the victorious cultivators.
[SPECIMEN 47 NEUTRALIZED.]
[SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE GAINED.]
[SKILL FORGING (LEVEL 1) ACQUIRED.]
A notification flashed before Li Tian's eyes, followed by another.
[MAXIMUM SKILLS REACHED 5/5.]
[SKILL TRANSFER AVAILABLE.]
Li Tian inwardly sighed.
He had forgotten about this.
"Prometheus," he thought, "why forging? And who's a suitable companion?"
"Li Tian," Prometheus replied, its voice now seamlessly integrated with Li Tian's thoughts, carrying a new, almost intimate tone that made him pause for a fraction of a second.
Li Tian. Not 'Host.' It was a subtle shift, yet significant.
"Forging is essential for advanced spiritual farming tools and defensive structures. And the suitable companion would be Kael. His innate Earth affinity and meticulous nature make him an ideal candidate. His focus on material manipulation and structural integrity aligns perfectly with the art of forging. It's a pragmatic synergy. He possesses the foundational spiritual understanding required for basic material manipulation."
Li Tian looked at Kael, who was already examining the metallic husk of Specimen 47, a strange glint in his eye, as if already seeing the hidden potential within the ruined metal.
"Kael," Li Tian called out, his voice clear, "the System has granted a new skill: Forging. But… my personal skill set is full for now. The System suggests you would be an ideal recipient. It aligns with your affinity for manipulating materials."
Kael looked up, his brow furrowed, then a slow understanding dawned on his face.
"Forging?" He paused, considering.
"The manipulation of raw materials, heating, shaping… yes. It aligns with my affinity for earth and stone. Metal is simply another form of refined earth, requiring precise control. This… this opens many possibilities. We can create, not just defend."
He nodded, a rare flicker of profound enthusiasm in his usually stoic demeanor.
"I accept. It is a logical progression."
[SKILL FORGING (LEVEL 1) TRANSFERRED TO KAEL.]
[TRANSFER SUCCESSFUL.]
Kael's eyes widened slightly as a new panel, containing the FORGING (LEVEL 1) skill, appeared before him.
He stretched out his hands, clenching them, as if already feeling the weight of the metal, the flow of heat.
A faint, earthy aura now seemed to cling to his hands.
He was already visualizing the process, the transformation of raw material into a tool of purpose.
"Excellent," Li Tian said, feeling a surge of satisfaction.
This was true teamwork.
"And we'll need those possibilities. This was just the first attack. We need to turn their destruction into our strength. We need to start… forging. We salvage everything. Every scrap of metal, every circuit."
Grandma Mei Lin, who had been listening silently, approached the shattered Purge Unit.
She ran a hand over its mangled plating, a faint, almost imperceptible tremor passing through the metal at her touch.
The ruined machine seemed to hum in response, its latent energies reacting to her ancient presence.
"These are not mere machines," she said, her voice soft but profound.
"They are concentrations of refined minerals, corrupted by technology. To forge them, one must understand their essence. And to truly extract the purest metals… one must know the Earth itself, in its deepest veins. My Earth-Metal affinity can draw out the base metals, purify them from the technological impurities. It will be a delicate process, a communion with the very essence of the metal, but essential for true spiritual forging. These metals, once purified, will be superior to any you can find on the market."
Kael's eyes gleamed with respect.
"Grandma Mei Lin… that would be invaluable. My spiritual energy is not yet refined enough for such a deep purification process, for separating the living essence from the dead technology. Your guidance would be… paramount. With your assistance, we can create things truly extraordinary."
[LEVEL UP!]
[HOST LEVEL 6 (EMERGENT LEADER).]
"Li Tian, your decisive victory, strategic leadership, and the successful defense of the spiritual node have granted significant experience!" Prometheus chimed in, its voice brimming with satisfaction.
"Your System has reached a new threshold, reflecting your accelerated growth!"
[NEW FEATURE UNLOCKED: SPIRITUAL INTEGRATION PROTOCOL (TECH).]
[NEW SKILL SLOT UNLOCKED (1).]
[MINOR SPIRITUAL ENERGY CAPACITY INCREASE (20/20 to 22/22).]
[MINOR CULTIVATION BOOST (BODY TEMPERING STAGE 3).]
[ADVANCED FARMING BLUEPRINTS ACCESSED.]
[QUESTS UPDATED.]
Li Tian felt a jolt of renewed power, a subtle strengthening of his spiritual core, a faint hum echoing through his every fiber.
He was evolving, adapting at an incredible pace to the demands of this new, perilous world.
The "Spiritual Integration Protocol (Tech)" caught his attention.
It meant he could directly infuse spiritual energy into, or even manipulate, technology.
This wasn't just about farming; it was about bridging the divide between cultivation and the Iron Covenant's technological dominance.
This was a true game-changer.
His spiritual energy now stood at 20/22, his HP a full 100/100.
"And the farm," Prometheus continued, its voice brimming with satisfaction, "the Level 2 farm now offers expanded benefits, Li Tian. Beyond the spiritual energy regeneration, you now have critical new capabilities. Your proactive defense and successful synchronization have pushed its potential far beyond initial projections."
[FARM LEVEL 2 BENEFITS ACTIVE.]
[TECH INTEGRATION: Farm Zone can now integrate with compatible technological devices.]
[GRADE 3 CROP COMPATIBILITY UNLOCKED.]
[LEVEL 1 RECIPES ACCESSED.]
Li Tian scanned the updates, a new wave of ambition rising within him.
"Level 1 recipes? Requires Cooking Skill Lv 1?"
[NEW QUEST AVAILABLE: CULINARY AWAKENING.]
[QUEST: HARVEST 10x GRADE 2 SPIRITUAL CROPS.]
[REWARD: COOKING SKILL (LEVEL 1).]
[REQUIREMENTS: LEVEL 1 FARMING TOOLS.]
"Li Tian, spiritual cuisine is a vital aspect of advanced cultivation!" Prometheus explained, a hint of exasperation in its tone.
"Nutritional alchemy, energy synthesis, healing tonics! It's not just about taste! A well-prepared spiritual meal can drastically enhance cultivation progress. And your tools… Kael can assist with those Level 1 Farming Tools once he masters the basics of forging. Synergy, Li Tian, synergy! Everything connects."
Li Tian chuckled.
"Right, synergy."
He looked at the spiritual plots around them.
The Verdant Sprouts were no longer just sprouts. Many had matured into robust Spirit-Blossoms, their petals vibrant and their energy radiating, some even nearing Grade 2.
The Sun-Wheat swayed gently, its golden grains plump with spiritual essence, ready for harvest.
The Moonpetal Lotuses in the back field were reaching for the sun, their unique leaves almost shimmering with an inner glow, many now firmly established as Grade 1 crops, with several showing the nascent signs of becoming Grade 2.
The farm was truly alive, pulsing with new energy, a testament to their collective effort and the System's power.
It was no longer just a collection of plants, but a dynamic, growing spiritual ecosystem.
"We begin salvage immediately," Li Tian announced, a new resolve in his voice.
"Every part of those mechs. We rebuild, we forge, we grow. We will not be caught unprepared again. We will turn their weapons against them, and their destruction into the foundation of our future."
The victory, though hard-won, was only the first step.
The true challenge, the building of their legacy, was just beginning.