Global Era of Star trekking Chapter 1696 - 829: [Torch Empire No. 5]

The Primordial Emperor Insect’s true lethal strike was only just beginning.

Its massive frame suddenly coiled, causing the chaotic markings across its carapace to glow intensely. A stifling, heavy pressure descended upon the local space—

“Crack——!”

The fabric of the void fractured like a shattered mirror. A gargantuan black hole manifested before the creature, its terrifying gravitational pull instantly locking onto the vessel, ensuring even light could not flee!

[Warning! The void state has been compromised by unknown variables and is reaching its end.]

Song Chi frantically calculated potential escape routes, but the black hole's gravity had already warped the fundamental laws of physics. The warship was being dragged inch by inch into the maw of total destruction.

He decided to take one final gamble. Activating the [Soul Devouring Altar] replica and evolving the golden engine to black, he pushed the [Antimatter Energy Evolution Engine] into a desperate overload. He forced the mirror image warship to its limits, trying to break free from the devouring gravitational field.

However, the suction generated by a mythical creature was simply too overwhelming. Despite the mirror image warship’s violent struggle, it remained trapped within the pull.

Watching the darkness close in, Song Chi could only let out a helpless sigh.

In the following instant, the Primordial Emperor Insect’s colossal claw tore through the hull, and the mirror image shattered completely.

[Challenge Failed!]

Back within the Zhu Tian Ruins Market, Song Chi suppressed the sharp pain thrumming in his mind, his features remaining composed.

He wasn't shocked by this outcome. Without the ability to utilize the power of the Zhu Tian Ruins Market, and lacking the peak combat potential of the original Heavenly Ruins Cang Qiong, defeating a mythical power with a mere mirror image was an unrealistic dream.

In truth, that the mirror image warship lasted as long as it did against the Primordial Emperor Insect had actually exceeded Song Chi’s own hopes.

Furthermore, the engagement wasn't a total loss. This direct confrontation allowed Song Chi to grasp the sheer terror of mythical beings and highlighted the current shortcomings of the Heavenly Ruins Cang Qiong.

The primary issue was the insufficient defensive capability of the ship's armor. At the eighth rank, the colorful lower-grade [Mythical Pulse Energy Shield] and [Neutron Star Core Armor] provided a significant edge against ninth-rank foes. However, against a mythical entity, the colorful lower-grade status of these components was clearly not enough.

Song Chi calculated that he would require colorful upper-grade energy shields and armor, both enhanced beyond lv110, for the Heavenly Ruins Cang Qiong to truly stand its ground against mythical creatures.

Additionally, the [Antimatter Energy Evolution Engine] currently equipped was proving inadequate. Not only did it fail to provide the thrust needed to escape the Primordial Emperor Insect’s gravity, but as more high-rank components were added to the Heavenly Ruins Cang Qiong, the energy output of this colorful lower-grade engine was beginning to fall behind.

...

Despite these flaws, reaching level 349 in the challenge was not without its merits.

If Song Chi chose to return to the [City of Transcendence] right now, he could claim the ultimate challenge prize immediately.

However, he had no such intention.

The rewards from the [Bosha Transcendence Tower] are a one-time affair. While one can challenge it repeatedly, no further prizes can be obtained after the first claim.

He knew the mirror image warship currently fell short of the Heavenly Ruins Cang Qiong’s true potential. Once the [Mirror Image Splitting] component reaches colorful high-rank quality, the mirror image's strength will skyrocket. Song Chi was in no rush to squander his single reward opportunity before then.

Based on his inquiries in the transcendence zone, the [Bosha Transcendence Tower] followed the same logic as the [Bosha Heritage Tower]: the higher the floor cleared, the better the prize.

The gap between level 349 and level 350 might only be a single floor, but it represented the vast chasm between a Ninth Rank Dominator and a Tenth Rank Myth.

Song Chi estimated that if he could break through this specific layer, the final reward would likely increase in value by an entire major grade.

...

While waiting for the cooldown of the [Mirror Image Splitting] component, the recruitment and acquisition plans within the Torch Domain were moving forward at full speed.

Mobilized by the Dragon Spine Song Family, the entire Torch Civilization had been swept up in a massive hunting wave targeting the "Prides" of various Alien Races for several decades.

The Golden Bird Flower Kingdom, a vassal to the Holy Hall Federation, contained six Immortal Powers. The most prominent among them was the Sric Family, the Royal Lineage of the Golden Bird Flower.

Following the war with the Eight-Armed Snake Demon Civilization and the defense of Human Emperor City, the Sric Family’s strength had surged over the last few millennia, much like other factions in the Torch Civilization. They now boasted four Annihilation Starship Captains.

On this particular day, all four of these powerful captains had convened.

“Bob, are you talking about that public mission issued by the Dragon Spine Song Family?”

“A pride at the river system community level being worth a silver oddity regardless of life rank sounds enticing, but such geniuses are rare. Bob, are you certain this is why you summoned us?”

“Be patient, Klaus. What if I told you I have found the trail of an alien pride at the ultra river system community level?”

“Are you sure?”

The eyes of everyone in the hall lit up instantly.

Per the rewards listed by the Dragon Spine Song Family, an ultra river system community-level pride could be traded for a golden component.

Even for a royal family with ten thousand years of history, a golden ship-mounted component was a treasure of immense value.

Shortly after, secret intelligence reports from other forces within the Golden Bird Flower Kingdom began to circulate: “Several Star Annihilating Ancestors of the Sric Family appear to be making abnormal military movements.”