The battlefield devolved into a stalemate once more with Liu Xiaoxiao's departure.
The win rate between the Special Task Force soldiers and the psychics once again settled at a fifty-fifty split.
In everyone's eyes, the battle would now hinge not on strength, but on willpower.
This was because both sides had sustained tremendous attrition by this point.
Even with restorative elixirs, the cultivators were no match for the sheer numbers of the psychics.
Thus, despite their high morale, neither side could break the balance.
More critically, Han Lang and the others had only recovered a third of their spiritual energy after consuming the restorative elixirs gifted by Liu Xiaoxiao.
Under such intense combat, this meager amount of spiritual energy would soon be depleted.
And once Han Lang and his comrades lost their combat effectiveness, Liu Xiaoxiao alone would be incapable of holding off dozens of S-class psychics.
Mulling this over, Han Lang's brow furrowed once more. He urgently asked,
"This won't do, Squad Leader Liu. How many restorative elixirs do you have left? This amount is far from enough!"
Liu Xiaoxiao's expression darkened at his words, and she replied with a sigh,
"None! Do you think I'm some rich young lady? Restorative elixirs are incredibly precious. After battling SSS-class psychics for so long, I've already used them all up. What I gave you was the last of it!"
Hearing this, everyone felt a chill, their hearts filled with bitter amusement.
Only Tang Geng maintained a basic level of optimism.
"No matter! Although we're all exhausted, these psychics aren't faring any better. As long as we can hold out until they fall first, we can still win this war!"
Han Lang knew Tang Geng was stating a fact, but his greatest worry was not knowing who would fall first between himself and these psychics.
Just as he was at a loss, a strange sensation suddenly arose within him.
"Crack, crack!"
Faint cracking sounds, imperceptible to others, reached his ears.
Initially puzzled by the sound, Han Lang soon turned his worry into joy.
He even exclaimed with excitement,
"It seems heaven is on our side after all. Everyone, I will be the one to break the battlefield's balance from now on!"
His words left everyone utterly perplexed.
Liu Xiaoxiao, in particular, was filled with concern. Unsure what reckless idea this troublesome new recruit was hatching, she quickly asked,
"What do you mean, Han Lang? What outrageous thing are you planning now?"
Han Lang chuckled and replied,
"Squad Leader Liu, you don't need to worry. From now on, I might indeed have to do something a bit outrageous!"
Just as Liu Xiaoxiao was about to say more, the cracking sounds within Han Lang's body grew increasingly distinct.
Simultaneously, at his dantian, all his spiritual energy, as if guided, began to condense ferociously.
Before long, a massive vortex of spiritual energy formed.
The vortex spun faster and faster, even beginning to absorb vigorously, drawing all of Han Lang's spiritual energy into a single point.
With a "boom."
A blinding flash of light erupted from the center of the vortex. No matter how Han Lang tried to look inward, he couldn't discern the situation within.
However, the surging energy within his body allowed him to feel the palpable surge of power.
"Boom."
Another faint rumble.
As the blinding light dissipated, not a trace of free-floating spiritual energy could be seen in Han Lang's dantian. All the energy had been condensed into a golden core, quietly suspended within his dantian.
Gazing at this core, Han Lang was overjoyed. His body, which had felt somewhat depleted due to immense exhaustion, was now replenished to an unprecedented degree.
He felt as if he had been reborn, brimming with power.
"It's done?"
Han Lang was ecstatic. He spread his arms slightly, and a gentle fluctuation of spiritual energy emanated from him.
Liu Xiaoxiao and the others watched this scene, dumbfounded.
Ma Long and Tang Qin were especially astonished.
This scene was remarkably similar to their own breakthroughs.
"This... Young Master, could it be that you..."
"Is it a breakthrough? Han Lang. Have you broken through to the Golden Core stage?"
Prompted by their words, Liu Xiaoxiao finally realized what was happening.
Recalling her own state upon entering the Golden Core stage, she saw that Han Lang's current condition was exactly the same.
She was overjoyed.
"Excellent! With your breakthrough to the Golden Core stage, the balance of this battle will surely be broken. Han Lang, you will become the greatest hero in the history of the Special Task Force!"
Hearing Liu Xiaoxiao's words, Tang Geng and Zhao Wu were also genuinely happy.
Their joy stemmed not only from the camaraderie of fellow soldiers but, more importantly, from seeing a glimmer of hope for victory in this battle.
Han Lang himself, however, was the most excited.
Without even responding to the others, he spread his arms wide, as if receiving a baptism, and slowly began to levitate.
Hovering in mid-air!
Was this not the unique ability of the Golden Core stage?
With this, what further words were needed to respond to Liu Xiaoxiao and the others?
As Han Lang gradually ascended, the psychics below were equally shocked.
"Damn it! This kid actually broke through!"
"What are we going to do now? Can we still hold them off?"
"Whether we can or not, we must go all out! While his cultivation is not yet stable, brothers, charge!"
The S-class psychics went mad. They even abandoned Tang Qin and Ma Long, charging towards Han Lang.
Perhaps sensing the threat, Han Lang's eyes snapped open. Six golden needles shot out like speeding bullets, flying towards the heads of the nearest psychics.
The difference between the Golden Core and Foundation Establishment stages was vast; the power of golden needles wielded by two different cultivation levels was naturally incomparable.
The psychics were greatly alarmed. They dared not meet the attack head-on and could only dodge.
But Han Lang, his body now filled with abundant spiritual energy, would not give them another chance, continuously attacking with his golden needles.
With his Golden Core cultivation and the Divine Grade Shen Nong Needle Technique, Han Lang's overall strength subtly surpassed even Liu Xiaoxiao's.
If not for the fact that he had only just broken through and was not yet fully accustomed to the Golden Core stage, he would have believed that even Liu Xiaoxiao was no match for him.
Soon, the tide of the battle turned dramatically due to Han Lang's breakthrough.
The S-class psychics who previously required Ma Long and Tang Qin to contain were now entirely occupied by Han Lang.
The psychics, struggling to deal with Han Lang, Liu Xiaoxiao, and Tang Geng simultaneously, also had to constantly guard against the attacks of Ma Long and Tang Qin.
This was a complete reversal of the battlefield situation.
Perhaps due to being suppressed for too long, or perhaps due to the pent-up frustration from prolonged defense, Ma Long looked smug as he watched the psychics descend into chaos.
"Haha... you curs, ready to face judgment from your grandpa?"
Liu Xiaoxiao and the others were equally delighted. While continuing to fight the psychics' attacks with all their might, they were also amused by Ma Long's words, eliciting a long-lost smile.
However, they were unaware that another event, one that would further turn the tide, was silently brewing!