Chapter 189 Second Defense Line

Amidst the lightning storm-like spatial turbulence, a silver, rhomboid-shaped spaceship with shields deployed cleaved through the waves, traversing at high speed, like a small boat in a raging sea, pitching and rolling incessantly.

Han Xiao and Kaxiu Ye were both in the cockpit, observing the world map model of the secondary dimension.

"We're going deeper and deeper..." Han Xiao smacked his lips, looking at the constantly jumping coordinates. "Are you sure you haven't taken a wrong turn?"

"My sensory direction has always been this way. Based on my experience, we should be almost there." Kaxiu Ye nodded.

The two had departed from the Void Dimension aboard an exploration vessel specifically designed for secondary dimensional worlds, beginning their journey toward their destination.

Because Kaxiu Ye hadn't been able to enter the target secondary dimension, he couldn't anchor coordinates, and could only transit through the known secondary dimensions to shorten the distance as much as possible, before traversing the spatial turbulence.

The two had flown for many days, long since leaving the control range of the three major civilizations, venturing deeper and deeper into the secondary dimensional world, passing through one bizarre secondary plane after another.

Secondary dimensional worlds, like the main universe, were constantly expanding, with countless secondary dimensional worlds being born or dying every second. The three major civilizations had only explored a portion of the more stable regions, which they called the "Shallow Layers," while the unknown regions were called the "Deep Layers," but this was just a difference in name. In reality, there was no essential difference between the Deep and Shallow Layers of the secondary dimension.

Here, without coordinates, it was impossible to move an inch. The two could only rely on Kaxiu Ye's senses, which was the only navigation. Fortunately, he had been there twice before, proving that this method was feasible.

Just then, a nearly imperceptible rift suddenly appeared in the spatial turbulence ahead.

Kaxiu Ye's eyes lit up. "That's it!"

Hearing this, Han Xiao immediately steered the spaceship, making an arc and rushing into the rift.

*Thump!*

Logically speaking, encountering a spatial wall rift in a spatial storm should lead directly into a secondary dimension, but this time was different. The two only felt a slight jolt in the hull, and the world outside the porthole was still a spatial storm, but it seemed to have shifted its position. Before them was an endless honeycomb-like spatial wall, presenting a mysterious blue-purple color—the exterior of a secondary dimensional world.

Outside the spatial wall, a large group of bizarre creatures wandered, the very monsters Kaxiu Ye had mentioned.

"This is it?"

"Yes, be careful. These creatures are highly aggressive, very durable, have amazing resistance to mental and energy attacks, possess powerful regenerative abilities, and can release a kind of energy similar to dimensional lightning. Moreover, the energy of each individual can resonate, forming a huge shield covering the spatial wall, isolating the outside world. We can't break through this shield unless we kill these creatures. That's why I couldn't get in." Kaxiu Ye instructed.

Han Xiao carefully examined these creatures. They were quite large. Although there was no reference object, he estimated their body length to be around 300,000 meters. Structurally, they had the characteristics of beetles, with milky-white exoskeletons that were long and segmented, looking a bit like footless centipedes at first glance. However, along the seams of the carapace and abdomen, there was a circle of light blue membranous wings, giving them a bit of a planktonic feel.

Every segment of the membranous wings had a bone joint similar to a limb, with hollow bone tubes at the end, like respiratory organs, constantly inhaling and exhaling spatial turbulence. On their abdomens were two rows of symmetrical chelate legs, extending all the way to the tail. The head had no visual organs or mouthparts, only a huge cone covered with rows of holes, so dense that it was almost impossible to distinguish the head from the tail without careful examination.

"They really grow arbitrarily. Is it because no one can see them, so they just grow however they want?" Han Xiao muttered to himself.

As the two were chatting, these wandering creatures discovered their spaceship and immediately launched an attack. The monsters inhaled large amounts of spatial turbulence, and black-purple lightning suddenly appeared, coursing through their bodies before being abruptly fired at the spaceship.

*Buzz!*

Light flashed in Kaxiu Ye's eyes, and a huge psychic shield popped out, protecting the spaceship. All the black-purple lightning bombarded it, detonating bursts of electric light, but he continuously poured energy into it, making the psychic shield stand firm—with a massive mana pool to support him, Kaxiu Ye was not afraid of consumption at all.

"They're thick-skinned and have amazing mental resistance. My efficiency in attacking them is very low... Black Star, it's up to you." Kaxiu Ye turned his head.

"You defend, just watch me output."

Han Xiao nodded, opened the secondary dimension barracks, and mechanical soldiers surged out, unleashing a torrent of fierce firepower. This area had become the battlefield of the mechanical legion.

The Army Style Mechanic was best at large-scale group battles. Although Kaxiu Ye was also skilled in AoE, his psychic power was better suited for dealing mental damage. As long as he faced targets with high mental resistance, his output efficiency would decrease.

Psionic cannons bombarded the monsters, blasting charred gaps in their exoskeletons. The resistance of these monsters was indeed amazing, but Han Xiao was not what he used to be. After his advancement, his attributes had skyrocketed, his attack power had increased in sync, and his mechanical force bonus was even stronger. Under the concentrated fire of a large-scale mechanical force, the monsters were easily blown to pieces, exploding into scattered biological tissue.

At this time, more and more creatures rushed over, seemingly endless, without the slightest fear, fighting the mechanical forces one after another.

Their energies resonated, connecting with each other, constructing an extremely thick black-purple shield, covering each individual, which slowed down the rate of casualties. And as more and more creatures arrived, the strength of the attack and the shield continued to increase. The more there were, the higher the amplification.

The battle outside was fierce, while the two remained in the spaceship without moving.

Observing the battlefield outside the porthole, Kaxiu Ye's expression was somewhat surprised.

"Black Star, how is your mechanical force's lethality so high?"

He had fought these creatures before and knew their defensive power. In his opinion, although Black Star could solve the enemy, he shouldn't be doing it so easily.

Kaxiu Ye and Manison had known each other for many years and was knowledgeable. At this time, the battle power displayed by Black Star's mechanical legion exceeded his expectations. The Hela rescue battle was the only time Kaxiu Ye had personally experienced Han Xiao's battle power, but compared to then, Black Star's improvement was too great.

"Oh, it's nothing, my level is just average."

Han Xiao waved his hand with a smile. He didn't want to reveal his secrets.

Seeing that Han Xiao was unwilling to talk about it, Kaxiu Ye didn't press him, suppressed his shocked emotions in his heart, changed the topic, and shook his head with a sigh. "Mechanics are really convenient. Sitting in the spaceship without having to do anything, you can solve the problems that have been troubling me."

"Each to their own. Although we mechanics have many subordinates, many weapons, and a lot of money, we can adapt to almost any situation, especially an anomaly like me who can even fight martial artists in close combat... but I don't have psychic powers." Han Xiao laughed.

"... I don't feel any comfort from what you said."

The two chatted casually, and Han Xiao opened the panel to look at the battle information—Old K didn't know the origin of these creatures, but he had the panel, and could check what these creatures were.

After glancing at it, the panel named these creatures "Space Lice." Their average level was between 240 and 260, and they were just special creatures with powerful talents. Judging from their attributes and skills, the strength of a single Space Louse was slightly higher than a Calamity Grade, but far from reaching Super A Grade. Their main strength was their amazing resistance. They lived in spatial turbulence and endured the tearing of spatial storms at all times. Compared to them, the Star Wanderers of the past were weak.

Space Lice had an important talent for sharing energy. The more members of the same race there were within a certain range, the greater the amplification, which could be used to share damage, transfer attributes, and other operations, but there was a limit to the amplification. If the peak was reached, their resistance would be so strong that they could even resist the attacks of peak Super A Grades.

"This kind of creature is still quite powerful. As long as there are enough of them, they can be comparable to a peak Super A Grade. I can get a bunch and raise them, but I don't know what their habits are, and whether they can survive in the main universe..."

Han Xiao stroked his chin and muttered.

"I'm not concerned about that right now." Kaxiu Ye waved his hand. At this time, he only wanted to enter this secondary dimension to find the opportunity for divinity transformation.

"That's right, let's do the job first."

Han Xiao nodded, preparing to have the mechanical forces focus their fire to blast open the shield of the Space Lice swarm, creating a passage into the secondary dimensional world.

But just then,

*Boom!!*

A surge of powerful energy suddenly erupted in the distance, rapidly approaching.

Sensing this surge, Han Xiao and Kaxiu Ye's expressions changed.

"This energy..." Kaxiu Ye's expression was solemn.

"There's no mistaking it. This is the energy of a true peak Super A Grade, and their level is no lower than you or me!" Han Xiao frowned.

Within the range of their perception, the source of this energy was approaching rapidly, bringing a strong sense of threat.

The two of them moved and finally left the spaceship, and released their own auras as well, looking towards the source of the energy surge from afar.

Before long, a meteor shot towards them and stopped in front of them, revealing a figure about three meters tall, wearing a strange suit of armor that covered the entire body, without revealing any skin, only two blue dots lit up in the eyes of the helmet.

Han Xiao and Kaxiu Ye looked the newcomer up and down, and secretly exchanged glances, communicating on a mental level.

"You didn't meet this person the last two times you came here?"

"No, his aura is very unfamiliar. He doesn't seem to be someone I know."

"Could he be a guy who has been hiding in the secondary dimensional world and cultivated to the peak Super A Grade?"

"It's possible."

"Communicate with him and see what's going on."

The two quickly reached a consensus. Kaxiu Ye immediately released gentle psychic power, indicating that he had no hostility, and sent a mental message, trying to communicate with the other party.

Han Xiao did not interfere in the two's communication, and waited for more than ten seconds. He found that Kaxiu Ye's expression suddenly became unsightly, and immediately asked:

"What did he say?"

"No matter what I say to him, his reply is exactly the same, demanding that we leave here, or he will kill the invaders."

"He calls us invaders?" Han Xiao said in surprise. "Could this secondary dimension be his territory?"

Considering the difficulty of the mission, he knew from the beginning that it would not be so easy, but he originally thought that this secondary dimension was the nest of the Space Lice, but now it seemed that he had guessed wrong. Moreover, the surrounding Space Lice did not attack this mysterious man, as if they were being raised. The truth did not seem to be so simple.

"How would I know? It looks like there's no room for negotiation. Prepare to fight." Kaxiu Ye narrowed his eyes. He was determined to obtain the opportunity for divinity transformation, and would never compromise.

"Okay, but there's no need to entangle with him. We just need to temporarily force him back, and we can directly enter the secondary dimension and see what's going on inside." Han Xiao suggested.

Kaxiu Ye nodded, without objection, and suddenly burst out, his psychic power instantly going berserk, surging out, shattering the surrounding spatial turbulence.

The mysterious man instantly counterattacked, and surging blue energy erupted, colliding violently with Kaxiu Ye's psychic power.

*Boom!!*

A violent energy shockwave suddenly exploded, irresistible, and all the surrounding Space Lice and mechanical forces were swept away.

Kaxiu Ye's mana was almost infinite, and his fighting style had always been open and unrestrained. However, the other party was not stingy with energy either, and the psychic power and energy were locked in a stalemate in mid-air, bursting out shockwaves.

The strength of this mysterious man was surprisingly on par with Kaxiu Ye!

Seeing this, Han Xiao didn't say anything and launched a righteous two-on-one attack, with mechanical force shooting out and dragging countless mechanical soldiers towards himself.

The next moment, a slightly smaller Mechanical Deity descended with a bang and swung a blade out.

The other party's battle power had undoubtedly reached the SS rank, and the effect of \[Unyielding Heart] was immediately activated!

*Swoosh!!*

The Star Destroyer Blade instantly cut through the energy the mysterious man used as a shield like a hot knife through butter, sending the other party flying away, turning into a meteor and disappearing from sight.

Kaxiu Ye's psychic power struck empty, and he almost didn't react in time, his tone stunned:

"You... you just sent him flying? That was too fast, wasn't it?!"

Although there was the reason for me to be in a stalemate with him, the strength of this mysterious man was almost the same as mine. You sent him flying with one blow. Isn't that a bit too much?!

Kaxiu Ye's mood was subtle. He only felt that Black Star at this time seemed to be a bit stronger than he had expected, and there was a huge discrepancy with the strength that Han Xiao should have in his impression.

"Alright, stop talking so much. I just sent him flying. We'll have to entangle with him again when he comes back. Let's go in and take a look first."

Han Xiao took action himself, unstoppable, and manipulated the Mechanical Deity to follow the blade, crushing all the Space Lice in the way, and blasting open the shield formed by the energy resonance of the Space Lice swarm. The spatial wall of this secondary dimension was exposed.

Seeing this, Kaxiu Ye didn't have time to dwell on the issue of Han Xiao's strength, and quickly followed. The two of them and a large wave of mechanical forces rushed into this secondary dimension.

Just then, the mysterious man finally flew back. Looking at the gradually closing spatial wall, the blue dots in his eyes flashed rapidly, suddenly turning red.

"The invaders have successfully broken through the second defense line. Immediately take the third set of response plans. Running mode is being changed... Change completed. Current mode—Annihilation!"

...

As soon as Han Xiao entered the spatial wall, his eyes were filled with blue-purple spatial turbulence, and a sense of stickiness and suffocation came over him, startling him.

"This feeling seems different from when I enter other secondary dimensions..."

Before he could feel it carefully, his vision suddenly changed.

Seeing the scene in front of him clearly, he was suddenly stunned, with an unexpected look on his face.

He was in the high sky, and a very prosperous interstellar city came into view, with tall buildings, brilliant lights, countless flying vehicles coming and going, and a continuous stream of pedestrians on the streets, and they were all races he did not recognize at all.

"What... what's going on here?"

Kaxiu Ye next to him was also startled. He didn't expect that it would be like this inside, inhabited by so many people.

Han Xiao's heart stirred, and he remembered that in the battle information just now, the mysterious man's name was "Supreme Guardian," and the object of his protection was this civilization?

Looking back, the two were stunned again, and they saw that it was not the spatial wall of the secondary dimension, but the starry sky like the main universe.

Just as the two were wondering, an anomaly occurred!

"Wuwuwuwu—"

A piercing alarm sounded throughout the city, the ground shook violently, the steel surface slid open, revealing one shelter entrance after another, and countless pedestrians and flying vehicles hurriedly flew into the shelters as if they had practiced it thousands of times.

At the same time, strange-looking turrets stretched out from the ground, all aimed at the two of them.

"Hey, we're being treated as inva... what the hell?!" Before Han Xiao could finish speaking, he suddenly sensed six surges of Super A Grade energy erupting, and his eyes widened.

In the distance, six figures soared into the sky from all directions of the city, rushing towards the two of them.

Looking at this scene, Han Xiao and Kaxiu Ye exchanged glances, with the same surprised look in their eyes.

Including the peak Super A Grade outside, there were at least seven Super A Grades shrinking in this secondary dimension!

What exactly is this place?!

"Fortunately, these six are only at the level of ordinary Super A Grades, and we can still handle them... huh?"

Kaxiu Ye stopped halfway through his words, and his expression became extremely wrong.

"What's wrong?" Han Xiao asked when he saw that his expression was not right.

"My connection with the Void Dimension... seems to be broken?" Kaxiu Ye's eyes widened slightly, uncertain.

Han Xiao frowned and felt it secretly, and found that he was the same, and he couldn't sense the Void Dimension anymore.

He opened the panel, wanting to see if he had suffered any abnormal state, but everything was normal in the state bar, and it was not affected by the space interference device.

But when he pulled down to the skill bar, he found something strange.

Not only had a large number of talents related to the Void Dimension turned gray and frozen, but even the Secondary Dimension Barracks and Dimension Factory had also turned into a frozen state and could not be used.

"What's going on here?"

Han Xiao was confused, feeling that this secondary dimension revealed an unspeakable strangeness.