The area around the base was thankfully devoid of volcanoes and situated away from plate boundaries, ensuring a relatively stable crust. This was a prime location specifically chosen by the former owner of the Mercury.

However, this stability didn't entirely preclude seismic activity; slight tremors were occasionally felt, posing little threat to the base, which had been constructed to the highest anti-seismic standards precisely for such contingencies.

Yet, this level of violent shaking was unprecedented, and the intensity showed every sign of escalating. The First and Second Masters floated mid-air, watching the entire space convulse with a mix of alarm and uncertainty, their vigilance fixed on each other, neither daring to make a move.

The entire complex of Ke Dong's base, spread across four sectors, might not even equal the size of the Mercury, but the elevators connecting the four sectors—each spanning nearly five thousand meters—represented a relative weak point; in such a severe earthquake, their structural integrity was questionable.

Though the First Master was consumed by worry, he could not afford a moment's distraction. His adversary was too powerful; the slightest lapse in concentration could spell irreversible doom. His brothers would handle the environmental concerns; he had to pour every ounce of his focus onto this arch-nemesis.

The intense vibration traveled upward—first shaking Sector Four, then Sector Three, then Sector Two, until finally, even Sector One, near the surface, was affected. The rioters near the blast zone gates, catching the tremor, quickly quieted down, their previous chaos forgotten.

Feeling the earth heave beneath her, Wei Wei’s usually composed features contorted in terror. The ground shook with increasing violence, making her perch precarious. She instantly shot up into the air.

From this vantage point above, the entire visible landscape seemed to undulate, the vast forest transforming into a turbulent, surging green sea.

Clutching her chest, she stared toward the base entrance, her face pale.

Suddenly, an invisible pressure surged upward from the ground. She felt the normally inexhaustible power within her stutter, nearly losing control of her form and dropping several meters.

She hastily stabilized herself and didn't hesitate, rocketing upward to nearly a thousand meters high, stopping only when the subterranean pressure faded.

Composing herself, she looked down. The base entrance was now a mere dark speck, too small for even her enhanced vision to resolve clearly.

This earthquake was profoundly strange; it actually emitted an invisible energy capable of harming living beings. She had never heard of an earthquake behaving this way.

If the impact from this altitude was so severe, what must those inside the base be enduring? She dared not consider it further.

Zhong Yun, you must be alright.

After about ten minutes, the tremors rapidly subsided, and the green ocean of the forest returned to stillness.

Sensing the oppressive force recede, Wei Wei tentatively descended. Indeed, the invisible energy was gone. She landed lightly and hurried toward the base, her heart hammering against her ribs.

The violent shaking had ceased; the base seemed largely undamaged by the quake.

A moment later, the hatch leading to the Mercury hissed open, and Zhong Yun emerged. He surveyed the chaotic space and the two bloodied figures lying on the floor.

His gaze lingered on the First Master for a beat before shifting to the Second Master. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes—the man still registered a faint life sign.

There was no doubt: Zhong Yun had caused the earthquake. In a fit of rage, he had activated a unique wave weapon aboard the ship. This weapon was peculiar; it could not destroy metal, flesh, or matter, but it possessed devastating lethality against living organisms, harming them invisibly.

It was a weapon designed for capturing ships intact, ensuring the vessel remained undamaged while everyone aboard was neutralized. It was profoundly inhumane.

Of course, to Zhong Yun, applying the term "humane" to a weapon seemed almost farcical.

The loss of the "Origin Stone" had temporarily derailed his plans for returning home. If not for the stone's supreme importance, the loss of two cargo holds of supplies would have meant little to him.

But the Origin Stone—he needed it too badly. He had to retrieve it.

To maximize the disruption and minimize obstacles from the Ke Dong family concerning the Origin Stone, he decided to wipe out the entire base in one go.

He was unaware, however, that this action had nearly annihilated the Ke Dong clan; nearly ninety percent of their high command structure was present in that very facility. In a single thoughtless moment, they could have all been consigned to hell, dying ignominiously.

Zhong Yun was truly astonished to find that the mysterious figure—who shared his objective and was intricately linked to the Ke Dong family—had survived.

This room was the closest to the weapon's aperture, separated only by a single wall, meaning it bore the brunt of the impact. That he still lived was testament to an almost unbelievable tenacity.

His hand instinctively reached for the hilt of the ionic vibrator blade at his waist, ready to deliver a finishing strike, but he paused, hesitating. He pulled his hand back, instead retrieving a small, black metallic sphere from his inner coat pocket and tossing it onto the chest of the Second Master, who barely clung to life.

Countless thin, black filaments snaked out from the sphere, wrapping around the man until he resembled a tightly bound truss.

The Constrictor. This device had been plundered from a research institute belonging to the Hong Xian Federation, rumored to be an ultimate tool capable of restraining a martial artist at Level Thirty.

Seeing the man completely immobilized, Zhong Yun relaxed, walked over, hauled him up, and carried him back onto the Mercury.

Returning to the base one last time, he was followed by over a dozen robots. He assigned a few to each sector with a single, chilling order: "Kill any living person you find."

Exiting the base, the golden sunlight had deepened into the hue of twilight. He looked up at the half-hidden, crimson sun peeking over the distant mountains and slowly exhaled.

"Zhong Yun."

A faint voice sounded beside him. He turned. Wei Wei stood less than ten meters from the doorway, her features obscured by shadow, her expression unreadable. She simply stood there, the wind lifting the hem of her skirt, the brilliant sunlight stretching her shadow long and thin.

"I'm back," Zhong Yun said, smiling at her.

When Zhong Yun and Wei Wei reached the city, the riots had been quelled. To maintain order, the city was placed under temporary martial law. As soon as they approached, they were stopped by soldiers maintaining security. The corporal glared, his weapon pointed casually yet deliberately at Zhong Yun.

Zhong Yun glanced at Wei Wei; from the looks of the surrounding soldiers, he knew the harassment was entirely because of this troublemaker.

"Apologies, Officer. It was too rushed leaving school; I didn't bring any identification," Zhong Yun said, aiming to de-escalate and appearing cooperative. "We're both students from the Ke Dong family academy. You can check." The corporal sneered, "Don't try to play games with me."

Zhong Yun froze, his eyes sweeping the area. Noticing a hint of schadenfreude in the eyes of the nearby soldiers, a cold knot formed in his stomach. He frowned and asked, "What is your..."

"Still playing dumb?" the corporal barked. "I suspect you were involved in terrorist activities. Take him away."

A dozen surrounding soldiers instantly surged forward.

"Hold it—" Zhong Yun shouted.

Clack. A dozen guns snapped up, aimed directly at him. Facing the dark muzzles, Zhong Yun narrowed his eyes. "On what authority are you making an arrest?"

Seeing his composure remain unshaken despite the weapons, the corporal felt a prickle of unease. Did this kid have some kind of powerful backing? Then, he quickly reassured himself: even if he did, so what? Right now, on Ke Dong Star, the Fourth Fleet called the shots.

This thought emboldened him. "Take him. If he resists, neutralize him immediately."

Hearing this, Zhong Yun's eyes sharpened, purple energy erupted from his body, and a powerful gale blasted outwards from him. The dozen soldiers, just beginning to close in, were swept back by an irresistible force.

"Oof!" "Ah!" cries echoed.

Everyone except Wei Wei was hurled over five meters away, crashing heavily to the ground; several were knocked unconscious instantly.

"That was white," Zhong Yun said, his smile tinged with mischief, looking at the flushed Wei Wei. Although the gale hadn't thrown her back, it had dramatically lifted her skirt. Before she could react, Zhong Yun had a perfectly clear view of what lay beneath.

"Big brute!" Wei Wei retorted, both angry and embarrassed, turning her head away from him. He laughed heartily, then suddenly looked toward the northeast. "Let's go."

The two took flight together, vanishing quickly. Less than a minute after they left, a contingent of soldiers arrived. They were on a nearby patrol, having rushed over following a report of residual terrorists.

When they arrived, the targets were gone, leaving only a collection of disheveled, dazed soldiers. Fortunately, their injuries were not severe.

"What happened here?" the squad leader in charge demanded loudly.

"Report, Officer! We encountered terrorists heading in that direction," reported the corporal who had antagonized Zhong Yun, now nursing a split scalp.

The squad leader’s expression turned grave, and he immediately notified other patrol units. He then asked, "Did you get any photos?"

"Yes, sir."

Zhong Yun remained oblivious that he had just been officially labeled a terrorist and was now wanted. He and Wei Wei flew directly into the school grounds, avoiding contact with anyone along the way to save time.

Their dormitory was relatively undamaged. During the initial riot, he and Odin had the foresight to slip out before the mobs reached their floor. Many others, seeing them flee, followed suit, quickly emptying the surrounding dorms.

The rioters were intent on chasing people; since this area had fewer targets, no mobs bothered to stop here. "This is probably the best-preserved structure in the school," Zhong Yun observed, stepping into his room. A moment later, he emerged holding two tubes of high-energy ration paste, shrugging. "This is all I could find. What flavor do you want?"

As he spoke, he suddenly snapped his head toward the doorway, his expression turning frighteningly grim. He sensed a large formation of mechs and fighter craft rapidly approaching their location.

: There is one more chapter. (To be continued, for further developments, please log in to .**.m for more chapters and to support the author and legitimate content.)