The screams of alarms and the thudding lumber of the Level 3 Scout Mech faded behind Li Tian as he pushed his exhausted body through the city's underbelly. His spiritual energy felt like a hollow well, severely depleted by the high-energy pulse he'd channeled through the Spiritual Energy Converter. Every muscle screamed in protest, but the primal urge for escape, for survival, propelled him forward.
The Stealth Field Emitter still hummed faintly, a last, dying gasp of its obfuscation, but he knew its effectiveness was almost nil. He was running on fumes and pure will.
"Li Tian, immediate egress route remains viable," Prometheus's voice, though calm, held a note of urgency. "Maintain rapid pace. External Covenant patrols will be heavily saturated following the multiple incursions."
He scrambled through a network of service tunnels, barely registering the grime and rust, his mind solely focused on placing one foot in front of the other. The sounds of the city's frantic response – distant sirens, the growl of Covenant transports, the desperate shouts of officers – pursued him like hungry hounds. He was a phantom, powered by desperation.
Suddenly, a massive form materialized from the shadows ahead. Jax, astride his fully recovered spiritual beast, a formidable presence even in the dim light. The beast's eyes, usually a placid gold, burned with a fierce, protective fire. Jax's face was grim, his spiritual energy radiating a restless power, ready for anything.
"Li Tian Ge! You're out!" Jax roared, relief warring with anger in his voice. He reached down, pulling Li Tian onto the beast's back in one swift, powerful motion. "We heard the full alarm. Xiaoli gave them hell with that power surge. Lira's still keeping the outer sectors masked."
"Good work," Li Tian gasped, clinging to Jax's broad back, his body protesting every movement. The spiritual beast, a blur of silent power, surged forward, easily outrunning the lumbering mech Li Tian had escaped. It was faster than any Covenant ground vehicle, its movements as fluid as spiritual energy itself.
They raced through the city's industrial outskirts, the cacophony of alarms slowly receding behind them. Jax navigated instinctively, taking obscure routes and forgotten paths that avoided the main, heavily patrolled arteries.
Lira's mists, though stretched thin over such a vast area, still provided just enough visual obscuration to buy them crucial seconds, causing confusion for airborne drones that occasionally pierced the cloud cover.
The air began to clear, the sterile city grit giving way to the fresh, earthy scent of damp soil and burgeoning life. The harsh glow of urban lights faded, replaced by the softer, more inviting illumination of the spiritual moon. The distant, powerful hum of the farm's spiritual node was a beacon, drawing Li Tian home.
As they reached the outer perimeter of the farm, Lira, her face pale from the immense spiritual drain of maintaining such a wide-area illusion, materialized from the mists. Her spiritual energy was significantly lower than usual, but her eyes held relief. Xiaoli rushed out from the farmhouse, her spiritual energy vibrant, her face etched with concern.
"Li Tian!" she cried, rushing to his side as Jax helped him dismount. "Are you alright? You look... drained." She reached out, her elemental senses immediately perceiving the severe depletion of his spiritual energy.
"I'm fine," Li Tian said, though his voice was rough. He felt the warm, comforting presence of the farm's spiritual energy already beginning to seep into his Dantian, a gentle restorative current. "Just... a long night."
Grandma Mei Lin stood on the porch, her gaze serene, yet piercing. She simply nodded, a silent acknowledgment of his ordeal and his safe return. She understood the toll such an undertaking took.
Back inside the warmth of the farmhouse, Li Tian collapsed onto a reinforced chair, the exhaustion finally catching up. Xiaoli immediately brought him a steaming bowl of Moonpetal Dewdrop Soup and a slice of Sun-Wheat Harmony Loaf. The spiritual energy from the food, combined with the farm's ambient spiritual node, began its healing work.
He ate slowly, feeling the spiritual energy replenish within him, the fatigue gradually receding. He felt the farm, in turn, subtly respond to his need, its spiritual output momentarily increasing to aid his recovery. This was the synergy, the unique connection of a Spiritual Farmer to his land. The soil beneath their home was not just dirt; it was a living extension of his own cultivation, a boundless well of spiritual energy.
[HOST SPIRITUAL ENERGY REGENERATION ACCELERATED BY 500% (TEMPORARY EFFECT).]
[MINOR WOUNDS HEALED. EXHAUSTION MITIGATED.]
As he regained his strength, he pulled out the glowing Drone Core. The small, pulsing orb of advanced spiritual tech captivated the attention of everyone in the room, especially Kael.
"I acquired this from the drone that detected me," Li Tian explained, placing it on the table. "And I managed to siphon about 25% of the data from their main archives before I had to bail. Prometheus has it."
Kael's eyes, usually so analytical, now gleamed with an almost childlike wonder. He carefully picked up the drone core, his fingers tracing its complex, pulsating circuits. "Remarkable... the integration of raw spiritual energy into its internal power matrix is unprecedented. It's more sophisticated than any Covenant tech we've encountered so far. This isn't mass-produced."
"It's a Level 3 Scout Mech core," Prometheus chimed in, projecting a schematic of the drone Li Tian had neutralized onto the tabletop. "Its spiritual sensors are designed to bypass standard obfuscation. Its primary purpose is deep-infiltration detection and cultivator suppression. This model is rare, often assigned to high-value targets or experimental deployments."
"Experimental..." Kael murmured, his mind already racing. "That explains the unique spiritual signature Grandma Mei Lin purified from Specimen 47. This core... it has a similar, refined quality. They're developing specialized anti-cultivator units, not just relying on their standard tech."
"The 25% of data I managed to acquire is crucial, Li Tian," Prometheus continued. "It contains fragmented operational logs for a 'Purge Protocol Gamma,' targeting key individuals and locations within New Shanghai. It also contains preliminary schematics for a 'Spiritual Lock' technology, designed to permanently sever a cultivator's connection to ambient spiritual energy."
A chill ran down Li Tian's spine. A spiritual lock. The thought of losing his connection to cultivation, to the very essence of his being, was terrifying.
"Prometheus, can you cross-reference the data with the drone core's properties?" Li Tian asked, a new surge of determination replacing his weariness. "Kael, use your Forging Skill to dissect this core. We need to understand everything."
This was the research. This was the "new level" they had to reach. It wasn't about fighting; it was about understanding, about intellectual warfare.
Over the next few days, the farmhouse transformed into a bustling research lab. Kael, fueled by spiritual food from Xiaoli and the sheer thrill of discovery, worked almost non-stop. He set up a cleanroom in the converted storage area, using specialized tools and even forging new, microscopic instruments from purified Covenant alloys. He carefully, meticulously, began to dismantle the Drone Core.
[FORGING SKILL (LV 1) PROGRESS: 99% TO LV 2.]
[ANALYTICAL SKILL (LV 1) ACQUIRED BY KAEL.]
[TECHNOLOGICAL INTEGRATION PROTOCOL (COVENANT) ACQUIRED BY KAEL.]
The drone core was a masterpiece of corrupted spiritual engineering. Its internal components were fused with incredibly dense, refined spiritual energy, allowing for unparalleled efficiency and precision. Kael observed the microscopic spiritual conduits, the way the energy pulsed through crystalline circuits. It was alien, yet familiar in its underlying principles.
"The Purge Unit's core was a raw, primal expression of this corrupted energy," Kael explained one evening, his eyes gleaming with newfound understanding. "This drone core, however, is a controlled, refined application. They've perfected their methods of integrating spiritual energy into compact, high-performance units. This 'Spiritual Lock' technology... it's not just a concept. It's a next-generation weapon designed to systematically neutralize cultivators by severing their spiritual roots. It requires extremely precise spiritual frequencies, unique to each individual cultivator. This drone might be a scout for those frequencies."
[SPIRITUAL LOCK TECHNOLOGY: THREAT LEVEL: EXTREME.]
Meanwhile, Prometheus tirelessly worked on the partial data Li Tian had siphoned. The 25% of fragmented logs were like pieces of a dark, sinister puzzle.
"The 'Purge Protocol Gamma' details systematic surveillance and targeted abductions of individuals exhibiting nascent spiritual sensitivity," Prometheus revealed, projecting a list of coordinates and names onto a holographic display. "These individuals are then transported to undisclosed 're-education centers' – highly likely places where the 'Spiritual Lock' technology is being tested or applied."
Li Tian felt a cold dread. They weren't just fighting the Covenant; they were fighting a systematic extermination of their kind. The thought of young cultivators, perhaps like Xiaoli or Lira, being subjected to such a horrific process fueled his resolve.
"Can we decrypt more of this data?" Li Tian asked, his voice tight.
"The remaining 75% of data is protected by multiple layers of adaptive encryption, designed to resist brute-force attacks and spiritual decryption," Prometheus admitted. "Each layer changes its key dynamically. It would require an immense amount of processing power and time, perhaps even a direct interface with their central network, which is impossible without further infiltration."
"What about the drone core?" Li Tian asked, turning to Kael. "Can its components give us a backdoor, a way to crack their encryption?"
Kael looked up from his meticulously arrayed tools. "Potentially. The core contains a small, highly advanced quantum entanglement processor. It's designed for real-time communication and data sharing within their elite units. If we can reverse-engineer its spiritual-tech interface, we might be able to create a universal decryption key, or at least a powerful spiritual-frequency jammer that could disrupt their network long enough for Prometheus to extract the rest of the data remotely."
The task was monumental. Reverse-engineering alien, spiritually-infused quantum tech was beyond Kael's current Analytical Skill (Lv 1).
"Prometheus, what are the chances?" Li Tian thought.
"Li Tian, the quantum entanglement processor within the drone core is a direct link to the Weng faction's secure internal network," Prometheus confirmed. "If Kael can successfully analyze and integrate its spiritual-tech interface, it could provide us with unparalleled access. However, Kael's Analytical Skill is currently insufficient for a full reverse-engineering. He requires Level 2."
[QUEST ALERT: ADVANCED ANALYSIS.]
[OBJECTIVE: ASSIST KAEL IN REACHING ANALYTICAL SKILL (LV 2) BY PROVIDING RESOURCES AND SPIRITUAL ENERGY.]
[REWARD: UNIVERSAL DECRYPTION KEY (PARTIAL), COVENANT NETWORK ACCESS (TEMPORARY), TECHNOLOGICAL INSIGHTS.]
Li Tian relayed the information to Kael. Kael's eyes gleamed. "Level 2... I can do it. I just need more high-purity spiritual materials. And sustained spiritual energy to push my analytical capabilities during the breakdown process. It's incredibly demanding, but the reward... a universal decryption key! We could unravel their entire operation!"
Grandma Mei Lin, who had been silently observing the intricate schematics and listening to the analysis, spoke, her voice soft but firm. "The earth provides, Li Tian. The spiritual node grows stronger each day. We have more Grade 2 spiritual crops ready for harvest. Their unique properties can sustain Kael's efforts."
This was the essence of their existence. The farm was their foundation, their power. Their farming directly fueled their fight against the Covenant.
Xiaoli and Jax, understanding the gravity of the situation, immediately set about assisting Kael. Xiaoli began preparing concentrated spiritual infusions from the Grade 2 crops, designed to provide Kael with bursts of spiritual energy and mental clarity, sustaining his focus through long hours of work. Jax, meanwhile, volunteered to meticulously search the outer areas of the farm for any residual spiritual fragments from the Specimen 47 battle, small pieces of purified alloy that Kael might be able to use for his delicate instruments.
Li Tian knew his role. He couldn't just stand by. His own Spiritual Integration Protocol (Tech) was unique, allowing him to interface with spiritual technology. He could perhaps aid Kael directly, acting as a bridge, a translator between his raw spiritual senses and Kael's scientific analysis.
He spent hours by Kael's side, channeling his spiritual energy into Kael's refined analytical instruments, sensing the subtle spiritual currents within the drone core as Kael dissected it. It was a meditative process, a spiritual dialogue with alien technology. Li Tian felt the core's resistance, its programmed secrecy, but with his focused spiritual will, combined with Kael's genius, they were slowly, meticulously, breaking it down.
He also cultivated intensely, drawing from the farm's boundless spiritual energy. Each cycle purified his spiritual energy, preparing him for the next push. The farm, in return, pulsed with his efforts, the crops growing visibly faster, the air becoming even denser with spiritual essence. It was a symbiotic relationship, the very core of "Solo Farming in the Tower" principle. His spiritual power wasn't just for combat; it was for growth, for nourishment, for unlocking secrets.
Weeks blurred into a relentless cycle of cultivation, analysis, and discovery. Kael, pushed beyond his limits but fueled by the spiritual infusions and Li Tian's spiritual guidance, began to make breakthroughs.
"Li Tian! I've found it!" Kael exclaimed one exhausted morning, his eyes bloodshot but gleaming with triumph. He pointed to a microscopic, crystalline component within the core. "This is the primary spiritual-frequency modulator. It's the key to their encryption. It translates spiritual signatures into digital keys. If we can mimic its output... we can create a universal decryption key!"
[ANALYTICAL SKILL (LV 1) PROGRESS: 95% TO LV 2.]
He just needed a final push, a burst of concentrated spiritual energy to fully comprehend and replicate the modulator's complex function. Li Tian, having cultivated diligently, provided the necessary spiritual energy, channeling it directly into Kael's mental focus.
A powerful surge of spiritual energy erupted from Kael. His eyes rolled back for a moment, then snapped open, filled with an incandescent understanding.
[ANALYTICAL SKILL (LV 2) ACQUIRED BY KAEL.]
[QUEST COMPLETE: ADVANCED ANALYSIS.]
[REWARD: UNIVERSAL DECRYPTION KEY (PARTIAL), COVENANT NETWORK ACCESS (TEMPORARY), TECHNOLOGICAL INSIGHTS.]
Kael immediately began furiously working on a new device, a small, intricate spiritual-tech key, vibrating with a complex array of spiritual frequencies. "This... this isn't just a partial key, Li Tian," he breathed, almost reverently. "This is a Master Decryption Key. It will allow Prometheus to bypass almost any standard Covenant encryption. And it will grant us temporary, untraceable access to their internal networks for a limited time."
[MASTER DECRYPTION KEY FORGED.]
[NEW ABILITY: COVENANT NETWORK HACK (TEMPORARY) UNLOCKED FOR PROMETHEUS.]
The revelation hung in the air, a silent, profound shift in their strategic standing. They no longer had to infiltrate blind. They could now peer into the very heart of the Iron Covenant's operations in New Shanghai. This was the "new level" of research, a game-changer.
"Prometheus," Li Tian thought, his heart racing. "What can we access with this Master Decryption Key? What kind of intel can we gain?"
"Li Tian, with the Master Decryption Key, I can now access the full Purge Protocol Gamma logs," Prometheus confirmed, its voice now resonating with a new depth of capability. "I can pinpoint the precise locations of the 're-education centers,' identify the individuals targeted, and ascertain the timeline of their operations. Furthermore, I can access detailed blueprints of their anti-cultivator technologies, including the full schematics of the 'Spiritual Lock' device itself."
This was it. This was the intel they desperately needed to save innocent lives and to devise a true counter-strategy. The farm had provided the foundation. Kael had forged the tools. Li Tian had taken the risks. And now, their combined efforts had yielded a weapon far more potent than any physical blade: knowledge.
But with this knowledge came a chilling realization. The Iron Covenant was not just a military force; it was a silent, insidious threat, seeking to extinguish spiritual cultivation from Terra. They needed to act, and they needed to act fast. The time for passive defense was over. Their research had just revealed the true scale of the fight. The next step, guided by this hard-won knowledge, would be far more dangerous.
Their research had taken them to the brink, revealing the true, chilling extent of the Iron Covenant's operations. The Master Decryption Key pulsed with potential in Kael's hands, a silent promise of knowledge, and a heavy burden.
"The Purge Protocol Gamma," Prometheus's voice resonated, now imbued with a newfound clarity, "is not merely a localized operation for New Shanghai. The fragmented data indicated it is part of a larger, system-wide initiative, codenamed 'Project Silence.' Its ultimate goal is to consolidate and then eliminate all independent spiritual energy sources across Terra and, eventually, the entire Orion system."
Li Tian felt a cold knot form in his stomach. This wasn't just about New Shanghai. This was about the very future of cultivation, the very spiritual essence of their ancestral planet. The scale of the Covenant's ambition was terrifying.
"Project Silence..." Li Tian muttered, the words tasting like ash. "They want to turn Terra into a spiritual desert."
"Precisely," Prometheus affirmed. "The 're-education centers' are merely initial containment and experimentation facilities. The full implementation of the 'Spiritual Lock' technology would involve atmospheric dispersion of neutralizing agents, or large-scale spiritual suppression devices targeting specific ley lines. The Weng faction's base in New Shanghai is one of many regional hubs in this system-wide network."
Kael, having grasped the terrifying implications, ran a hand through his soot-streaked hair. "This means they're not just looking for cultivators to neutralize; they're trying to prevent anyone from awakening spiritual sensitivity. They want to maintain their technological dominance by erasing the very possibility of natural spiritual growth."
"Yes," Prometheus confirmed. "Their primary fear is a resurgence of powerful cultivators, like those from the ancient wars. They believe cultivation is inherently chaotic and incompatible with their vision of absolute order and technological control. Their steam-powered tech is a tool for control, yes, but their true power comes from their monopolization and corruption of spiritual energy."
The weight of this revelation settled heavily upon them. They weren't just defending a farm; they were inadvertently at the forefront of a desperate struggle for the planet's spiritual future.
"So, what's their next move for New Shanghai?" Li Tian asked, cutting to the chase. "What does the Purge Protocol Gamma specifically target here?"
Prometheus projected a detailed timeline from the decrypted data. "Within the next two weeks, the Weng faction is scheduled to initiate a mass apprehension phase. Their targets include dormant spiritual sensitives identified through covert scanning, as well as individuals previously deemed 'anomalous' – those with unusual resilience to Covenant influence, or those who display an unusual affinity for nature or old-world crafts. They will be rounded up and transported to a newly established, high-security 'containment facility' on the outskirts of Sector Delta-9."
"A new facility?" Lira's voice was sharp. "That wasn't in any of the old intel. Where is it located?"
Prometheus zoomed in on the map. "Its exact coordinates are now confirmed. It is a repurposed ancient industrial complex, heavily fortified and shielded from external spiritual detection. It is designed for long-term containment and spiritual experimentation. This is where they intend to test the more advanced stages of the 'Spiritual Lock' on live subjects."
The image of innocent people, possibly even children, being subjected to such a horrific process, filled Li Tian with a cold, righteous fury. This was not just intel; it was a call to action.
"We have to stop them," Li Tian declared, his voice low but firm. "We have to rescue those people before they're used for these experiments. And we have to destroy that 'Spiritual Lock' technology. Every single component we find."
"It would be a direct assault on a highly fortified Covenant facility, Li Tian," Prometheus cautioned. "Unlike the military intelligence base, this facility is designed for containment, making escape incredibly difficult. Its defenses will be geared towards preventing both entry and exit. The risk to all involved would be extreme."
"But we have the intel now," Li Tian countered, looking at his companions, seeing the same fierce resolve reflected in their eyes. "We know their timeline. We know the location. We know their tech. We have the Master Decryption Key for their network. We have Kael's enhanced Analytical Skill and his Forging Skill. We have Xiaoli's spiritual cuisine strengthening us, and Lira's mists and Jax's brute strength. We have Grandma Mei Lin's wisdom and the farm's endless spiritual energy. We are stronger than we've ever been."
"And we are the only ones who know," Grandma Mei Lin added, her voice a calm counterpoint to the rising tension. "The spirits of this land… they cry out. You hear them, Li Tian. To do nothing would be to deny your very essence."
Li Tian nodded. The whispers of the land, the subtle vibrations he felt through his connection to the farm, confirmed Grandma Mei Lin's words. The world itself was suffering under the Covenant's iron grip, and it was demanding liberation.
"Our strategy must evolve," Li Tian stated, turning to the holographic map. "We need to hit them where it hurts. Not just rescue, but disrupt their Project Silence. Kael, can you use your new Technological Integration Protocol (Covenant) to design a counter-device for the 'Spiritual Lock'?"
Kael's eyes narrowed in thought. "A full counter… that would require deeper analysis of their 'Spiritual Lock' schematics, which Prometheus can now download. But a temporary disruption device? A spiritual frequency disruptor that could jam their lock-inducing fields, or even reverse them temporarily? That might be possible. It would be complex, requiring high-purity spiritual materials and a specific frequency modulator I could only replicate after understanding their schematics intimately."
[NEW BLUEPRINTS GENERATED: SPIRITUAL FREQUENCY DISRUPTOR (ANTI-LOCK), TEMPORARY FIELD CREATION DEVICE.]
"Prometheus, download those schematics to Kael's interface immediately," Li Tian commanded. "Kael, start designing that disruptor. Make it powerful enough to disable their Spiritual Locks, even temporarily, and portable enough for me to carry."
[DOWNLOAD COMPLETE. KAEL'S INTERFACE UPDATED WITH SPIRITUAL LOCK SCHEMATICS.]
While Kael plunged back into intense research and design, Li Tian refocused on his cultivation. He knew the coming confrontation would demand every ounce of his spiritual power. He spent hours in the spiritual fields, drawing energy from the vibrant crops, from the very soil, feeling the farm respond to his needs. His spiritual energy surged, his senses sharpening, his Dantian solidifying.
[HOST CULTIVATION PROGRESS ACCELERATED.]
[MINOR SPIRITUAL SENSE ENHANCEMENT.]
The companions, invigorated by Xiaoli's spiritual meals and their shared purpose, also redoubled their cultivation efforts. Jax, Lira, and Xiaoli spent long hours in the spiritual plots, their spiritual energy becoming more refined, their unique elemental affinities growing stronger. They were a unified force, preparing for a battle that would determine not just their fate, but the fate of countless others.
The next few days passed in a blur of focused preparation. Kael's forge hummed with renewed intensity, creating the new spiritual frequency disruptor. It was a masterpiece of intricate spiritual-tech engineering, a sleek, almost invisible device designed to unleash a focused wave of counter-spiritual energy.
"This device is your primary tool for neutralizing the 'Spiritual Lock' technology within the facility," Kael explained, presenting the finished disruptor to Li Tian. It fit snugly into his palm, vibrating with a subtle power. "It will require constant spiritual energy channeling from you to maintain its field, especially when active. It's designed to be a temporary counter, not a permanent solution, as the Covenant's spiritual lock technology is constantly evolving."
[SPIRITUAL FREQUENCY DISRUPTOR (ANTI-LOCK) FORGED.]
Li Tian nodded, strapping it to his other wrist. This was the key.
Prometheus, having fully processed the decrypted data, outlined the revised infiltration plan. "The new facility is located in a repurposed industrial complex on the western edge of Sector Delta-9. It features triple-layered automated defenses, specialized anti-cultivator suppression fields, and a permanent garrison of elite Covenant forces. My analysis of their internal schematics has identified a vulnerability in their waste disposal system – a rarely monitored conduit that leads directly into the lower levels of the facility, bypassing the main suppression fields."
"This will be far more dangerous than the last infiltration," Li Tian acknowledged. "But we have a clearer objective: rescue the captives, destroy the Spiritual Lock tech, and severely disrupt Project Silence."
The weight of the mission settled upon him. He was a farmer, yes, but also a warrior. And the seeds he had cultivated, the spiritual energy he had harvested from his thriving farm, were now his weapons in a war for Terra's very soul. The stakes were higher than ever, and there was no turning back. The stage was set for their most perilous journey yet.