Chapter 085: A Single Warrior Holds the Pass

Although everyone had some understanding of the perilous “Black Forest Law” of the paranormal world, thanks to the shelter provided by the LDH Paranormal Oversight Division, they had avoided premature exposure to environments that were too dangerous. Thus, they lacked a real sense of the brutal death struggles between extraordinary creatures. Compared to those seasoned veterans who had honed their skills during the “chaotic period” of the paranormal realm, these new-generation paranormal warriors still seemed rather inexperienced. Whenever they encountered situations that far exceeded their capabilities, panic and helplessness overwhelmed them, making it difficult to keep their composure.

Bai Yuxi glanced back, gritted his teeth fiercely, exhaled deeply, and slowly closed his eyes. The next moment, Bai Yuxi suddenly opened his eyes and forcibly entered the superhuman “Universal Insight” state, instantly compelling himself to calm down amid the chaos. With the advancing plasma toads pushing him back, Bai Yuxi’s retreat halted; he stood alone halfway up the slope of the sinkhole, facing the swarm of plasma toads that leapt closer and closer.

These plasma toads, mutated by the contamination of X particles, not only cooperated in battle, but also knew how to break through by detouring when their escape was blocked, and even understood how to sacrifice themselves for the collective with fearless determination. This behavior clearly surpassed the natural instincts of amphibian toads, exhibiting a rudimentary “social” consciousness similar to that of ants or bees.

Whether their “suicidal” attacks were spontaneous or controlled by higher-level individuals was uncertain, but at the very least, they still preferred survival if possible. Once they had driven away those blocking the exit, the third-generation plasma toads stopped self-detonating and switched to launching plasma balls, attacking Bai Yuxi who barred their path.

The plasma balls shot by the third-generation spawn were obviously much more powerful than those of the fourth generation, with damage levels rising from 10~30 degrees to nearly 100 degrees. Yet this made little difference to Bai Yuxi, whose brain was in a state of super-frequency.

After fierce battles, Bai Yuxi’s internal active energy level had dropped to less than a third of his peak, though he still had over a hundred thousand units to use. The X energy condensed within him, thanks to his “energy micro-manipulation,” had barely been depleted, and under the “super aggregation” state, it recovered faster than it was consumed, maintaining him at almost peak condition.

Thus, when Bai Yuxi activated “Universal Insight” and substituted X energy for the loss of active energy, he instantly blocked the advancing plasma toads halfway up the sinkhole slope, preventing them from threatening those behind him.

“He’s out! He’s out!”
“Little Bai’s about to unleash his ultimate move!”
“Four ounces move a thousand pounds! Grand Shift of Heaven and Earth! Return their own tricks upon them!”
Willie danced and shouted excitedly, “Hoo hoo ha hee...”

Those who had never witnessed Bai Yuxi in this battle state stared in awe as he stood alone, repelling the plasma balls with fists or palms, sometimes even redirecting them to strike the plasma toads themselves. Everyone was dumbfounded—how was this possible?

Although the plasma toads were covered in a sticky, apparently “insulating” fluid to protect themselves from their own plasma secretions, once the plasma turned into balls and was launched, they could not withstand the discharge’s damage. This explained why plasma toads rarely used plasma balls to attack in confined spaces or when their companions were densely packed.

Thus, when Bai Yuxi redirected the plasma balls, they became his remote weapons against the toads. Even if he could not kill them outright, he could drain their protective active shields, leaving them paralyzed and helpless.

Unlike his previous “Drill Through the Rain” experiment with his unique abilities, Bai Yuxi now stood stationary, barely moving unless necessary. He ignored attacks that would not touch him or his companions behind, minimizing his brain’s computational load to ease the strain and energy consumption during “brain superfrequency.” All the martial techniques he had hurriedly studied now revealed their power; he melded their principles of leverage and force redirection into his own battle style, deflecting incoming attacks with a light touch.

Unfortunately, this “defensive counterattack” style was still imperfect, and required the “brain superfrequency” state to barely function.

Given the current situation, however, blocking the plasma toads’ assault for now was enough to buy time for Su Xiaoke to construct the energy diversion device.

Su Xiaoke, in the midst of her frantic work, glanced up. With her own “brain superfrequency” ability, she knew Bai Yuxi, who had just awakened such power, could not maintain it for long. The goddess of scholarship bit her lip, activated her own superfrequency, and her pale hands moved so swiftly they blurred, assembling scattered parts into a strange, ugly contraption.

Amid the crackling flashes of plasma balls, Bai Yuxi’s expression remained calm, but blood soon seeped from his nostrils, staining his isolation mask red.

Willie and Drumstick exchanged a glance, steeled themselves, and took position behind Bai Yuxi. Injured Xia Youyou and Maya likewise struggled to their feet, joining Willie and Drumstick to form a fragile human wall.

Only Luo Fei, guarding Su Xiaoke, dared not urge her, merely sweating anxiously as he watched the busy scholar and his companions ready to risk everything.

A faint click sounded; Su Xiaoke pressed Bai Yuxi’s level-6 M crystal into the energy diversion device. The apparatus, anchored by her information terminal, suddenly glowed bright, two streams of orange energy pouring from the M crystal to the low-grade E crystals installed in the twin particle disruptors.

“It’s done!” Luo Fei shouted in delight.

But before those blocking the front could retreat, the soil beneath their feet trembled and began to slide toward the bottom of the slope.