Ye Chen froze for a beat before snapping back to awareness, quickly turning his head to see that Bai Yijun, in the passenger seat beside him, was unharmed. Seeing her only slightly furrow her brow as she surveyed their surroundings brought him a sliver of relief.
“Are we in an electromagnetic storm zone?” Bai Yijun murmured.
Ye Chen swiftly glanced at the main screen displaying the mech’s system diagnostics, immediately realizing that all major systems of the Heavenly Dao Armor were paralyzed, unable to display any data. Even the energy transmission systems and conduits were being interfered with by the electromagnetic waves, rendering them inoperable.
Ye Chen frowned, glancing at the swirling electromagnetic waves encircling them. He knew that entering these waves meant all machinery would cease to function. High-end armaments on the Ancient Continent, for instance, were riddled with miniature systems—anti-vibration, fire resistance, electricity defense—integrated into the armor. Weapons, though outwardly resembling simple blades, housed countless internal systems for shock absorption and reinforcement, propelled by billions upon billions of micro-turbines smaller than an ant's muscle fibers. It was this churning of countless tiny engines that achieved their peerless power.
Weapons forged purely from durable metal and materials simply couldn't compare to mechanized weaponry.
In this environment, where everyone was essentially a walking mechanical weapon, entering the electromagnetic storm zone was tantamount to being instantly disarmed.
Ye Chen’s brow tightly knitted. He manually pushed open the emergency hatch of the Heavenly Dao Armor, ushered Bai Yijun out, and then recalled the entire mech into his Rune Space. He looked around. Everything was suffused with pale violet electromagnetic waves. A tingling numbness washed over his skin—a sensation that felt strangely comfortable, yet upon internal inspection, Ye Chen watched in horror as the flesh and blood on his body rapidly succumbed to the radiation, cells transforming into necrotic tissue in droves.
Ye Chen clenched his jaw, frantically accelerating his internal power to promote cell regeneration, pitting it against the destructive force. His life essence drained rapidly; in just a few breaths, he lost hundreds of years of lifespan. At this rate, a single minute could cost him ten millennia of vitality!
He twisted around to check on Bai Yijun, saying urgently, “How does your body feel?”
Bai Yijun smiled sweetly. “I’m fine; my body isn’t affected by these electromagnetic waves at all.”
Joy surged through Ye Chen, quickly followed by astonishment. “How can you be unaffected? If my own genetic cells weren't Red D times that of ordinary life, I believe our bodies would have been instantly annihilated the moment we arrived here.”
Bai Yijun shook her head. “I don’t know, but these surrounding electromagnetic waves truly have no influence on me whatsoever.”
Ye Chen reached out and clasped her small hand, probing her condition. Satisfied that she was truly unharmed, he said with renewed vigor, “If that’s the case, then you can leave. Legend says no one has ever exited this electromagnetic storm zone throughout history. Haha, you will become the first person ever to walk out!”
Bai Yijun’s eyes darted toward him. “Then what about you?”
Ye Chen stiffened, his laughter instantly ceasing. In his initial elation, he had forgotten his own predicament. Hearing her question now, his brow slowly furrowed in thought. After a moment of contemplation, he sighed. “If I stand here, far from the storm belt, my life force depletes violently. If I move closer, I will likely perish instantly.”
Bai Yijun frowned delicately. “If we try to force our way through, perhaps if you absorb the life essence from those peak God-Emperor corpses, you could sustain the journey?”
Ye Chen shook his head. “We have no flight craft, and the electromagnetic interference prevents teleportation. My domain world cannot even be deployed. Rushing through on sheer physicality will be incredibly difficult. I recall the Ancestor saying the smallest of these electromagnetic storm zones measures tens of millions of kilometers in radius. At my top speed, a mere one hundred and forty li per second, it would still take two or three hours to cross. We don’t even know the true extent of this storm—if the radius is a hundred million kilometers, or even a light-year, I might have to run for years just to escape.”
Bai Yijun tapped her chin thoughtfully. “How about this: I’ll go scout the radius of the storm zone first, and then we can discuss a long-term plan, calculate the lifespan cost, and see if we have a chance of breaking out.”
Ye Chen flatly refused. “Absolutely not!”
“Why?” Bai Yijun frowned.
Ye Chen looked at her, his gaze softening. “This electromagnetic storm zone is a natural catastrophe. I’ve heard that within it grow naturally occurring Electromagnetic Beasts. These beasts possess boundless power, harnessing intense electromagnetic waves. Their innate speed and strength are only comparable to the Divine Spirit Realm, and rarely do we encounter beasts in the God-Emperor realm. However, within this storm, they are in their element, moving with ease, and their bodies are pure electromagnetic energy. Even peak God-Emperors flee at the mere sight of them, terrified of approaching and losing their vital energy.”
Bai Yijun smiled faintly. “Mere Electromagnetic Beasts? Don't worry about them. My body is peculiar and immune to the waves. Those fierce beasts are no different than ordinary wild beasts in my eyes.”
Ye Chen’s brow tightened. “You are unaffected standing here, but what if you venture deep into the storm zone, or encounter an Electromagnetic Beast? If you are subjected to such intense electromagnetic forces, can your body truly withstand it? If you can’t, and you’re trapped deep inside the storm, it means certain, unburied death. I cannot let you take that risk!”
“You!” Bai Yijun was momentarily angered. “Then what? Are we supposed to just wait here until we find a solution?”
Ye Chen choked, falling silent.
“Even if we stay put, you will die eventually,” Bai Yijun stated, her clear, bright eyes fixed on him. “If you die, I, Bai Yijun, will never live on alone!”
Ye Chen’s heart jolted. He gazed at the peerlessly beautiful woman before him, inhaling her delicate fragrance that settled deep in his soul. Deeply moved, he grasped her hand. They stared at each other silently for a moment, and Ye Chen’s resolve hardened. “If that is the case, then go quickly and return swiftly. Do not stray far. If you sense danger, call out to me immediately! If you do not return within one month, I will take my own life!”
Bai Yijun gave him a wry look, though her heart swelled with happiness. She nodded. “Rest assured, I will monitor the time. After walking for two days, even if I haven’t cleared the storm zone, I will immediately turn back, report to you, and then venture out again.”
Ye Chen nodded.
“I’m going now.” Bai Yijun did not linger. She gave Ye Chen a long, deep look, then gracefully turned and flashed into the electromagnetic storm zone, vanishing within a few blurs of movement.
Ye Chen watched her, stunned, for a long time before finally withdrawing his gaze. He let out a long sigh and sank onto the ground, staring at the sandy earth before him, overwhelmed by feelings he couldn't name. He had stumbled into an absolute dead end, a place no one in history had ever escaped—the sheer peril of this electromagnetic storm zone was staggering!
After staring at the ground for a while, Xian suddenly stood up, clenching his fist. “For them to expect Ye Chen to sit here and wait for death? This little electromagnetic storm zone doesn't have that privilege!”
He immediately turned and began scouting the surroundings, searching for a way out.
He saw peaks surrounding them on all sides. Because the air was choked with electromagnetic storm, visibility was extremely low, though he could clearly make out an area about ten li around him. To the east and west lay empty stretches of yellow sand, while the northwest and southwest each held a small hill. They appeared to be boulders that had fallen from unknown heights, enduring here in the electromagnetic storm zone for countless ages.
Ye Chen approached, checking behind the two rock formations, but found nothing. He sighed internally, realizing that only the central area had relatively little electromagnetic interference; the surrounding areas were enveloped in intense waves, even the sky covered by a thick electromagnetic blanket. The sand and stones beneath his feet, having endured eons, now contained stored electromagnetic energy; touching them felt like being pricked by needles!
Ye Chen floated a few zhang into the air, sat down cross-legged, and desperately tried to devise an escape route. Suddenly, a thought sparked in his mind. He mused, If Xiao Jun can find a way out, I need to dramatically increase my own speed if I’m to follow her.
With this thought, the first thing that came to mind was the Myriad Heavens Furnace God Art!
“This secret manual was created by Wan Renxiong, the former master of the Demon God Palace. This man was a powerful figure, a warrior from the previous Great Saint War. Something passed down with such solemnity must be extraordinary. With my current abilities, I can learn the first two layers, which allows me to devour the genes of strong cultivators from formidable civilizations, thereby gaining that civilization’s racial (innate talent)!”
Ye Chen’s eyes gleamed. The act of stealing the innate talents of other civilizations was world-shattering; it was the dream of top scientists, yet no one dared imagine stealing vast numbers of civilization talents merely through a single manual!
With a flicker of thought, Ye Chen opened his Rune Space. He immediately noticed that the connection point felt sluggish, and there were clear signs of corrosion. His heart lurched.
“Even the spatial bag is being consumed! If this continues for long, everything within the Rune Space, especially the items stored in the Fire Civilization section, will likely be exposed to the electromagnetic storm zone. The imprisoned peak God-Emperors inside will suffer the ravages of the storm until their life essence is depleted and every cell and gene dies!”
Ye Chen’s brow furrowed. He swiftly plunged into the Rune Space, leaving a note at his original position. If Bai Yijun returned now and saw the note, she wouldn't worry excessively about his location.
Once inside the Rune Space, Ye Chen felt the surrounding electromagnetic waves lessen, though the waves still clinging to his body acted like venomous insects, drilling into his skin and irradiating threads of cells to death.
“Master.” The scores of peak God-Emperor experts within the Rune Space bowed in unison upon seeing him.
Ye Chen nodded slightly, then looked toward the old man in the green rune within the Rune Spaceship. “You, Green Rune Elder, pick any one of the peak God-Emperor corpses in there, quickly assemble a laboratory, and extract the cells from each one.”
The Green Rune Elder rubbed his hands together, chuckling. “That’s generous! I won't be polite, then. I’ve had my eye on several bodies in there already. Um, what do you need their cells for?”
Ye Chen frowned sharply. “Hurry up!”
The Green Rune Elder flinched, his body trembling slightly, and he quickly selected a corpse. He then activated the Rune Spaceship, dismantled several parts from within, and rapidly assembled a makeshift laboratory.
The dozens of peak God-Emperors, hearing Ye Chen’s command, stood respectfully in line for gene extraction. Moments later, the genetic cells of the gathered peak God-Emperors were extracted and placed into a small green vial, which he handed to Ye Chen.
Done. Whew. Time for dinner. Brothers, rest well after reading tonight. Taking care of my health, Oumi Toufo [A concluding, nonsensical utterance often used by web novel authors].