Chapter 154: You're Planning to Dry This Place Out?

In the swamp area, the most dangerous threats are Star Demons combined with the harsh environment.

The terrifying swampland, at its most perilous zones, can swallow even Star Spirit Martial Artists.

Beneath the swamp lurk Star Demons, and a single misstep could trap even those at Star Spirit Peak.

The research institute plans to establish an outpost here, and according to regulations, they must survey the nearby environment.

Of course, it’s also because the swamp area holds many treasures.

Aside from items left behind by Martial Artists who perished here, there are also various stones and rare medicinal herbs.

Some herbs can only grow in swamp regions, making this area particularly important to the institute.

The institute chose to cooperate with Anding Bang not only because his Martial Arts Association has many members with generally strong abilities,

but also because of the Earth Element Art.

The Earth Element Art is an earth-attribute martial skill. Once activated, it can greatly assist the institute’s operations.

Although the institute has some equipment to withstand the dangers of the swamp, it is too costly and less convenient than relying on Martial Artists proficient in the Earth Element Art.

Every time a research team comes here, they bring several practitioners of the Earth Element Art, at a minimum of Star Gate level.

“They have combat armor, so they should be able to hold out until we arrive,” An Yuanshan said.

“I’m not sure,” Xu Qian replied anxiously. “I wish we could go faster.”

“Then, Brother An, I’ll take Sister Qian ahead first.”

With a single step, Jiang Changkong combined the Spirit Control Art with the Profound Yang Step and vanished instantly.

An Yuanshan: “…”

Where did he go?

Isn’t your speed a bit too fast?

In the blink of an eye, Jiang Changkong had already become a distant speck.

“Y-you… your speed surpasses even that of a mid-grade sixth-tier combat armor,” Xu Qian exclaimed in shock.

“Then your mid-grade sixth-tier combat armor must be pretty weak,” Jiang Changkong remarked calmly.

The wind howled around them, but Invisible Star Power shielded the two, leaving them unaffected.

“It is a bit weak, after all. The energy driving the combat armor isn’t from a sixth-tier Star Stone,” Xu Qian explained.

“Not a sixth-tier Star Stone?” Jiang Changkong raised an eyebrow. “Then what powers it?”

“Purified Star Power from lower-tier Star Stones is used to create Star Power energy sources. The quantity is immense, but the quality is somewhat inferior,” Xu Qian elaborated.

“Could you show me the energy source?” Jiang Changkong asked with a hint of curiosity.

If Star Power is purified and the quantity increases, could that quantitative change lead to a qualitative transformation?

Xu Qian rummaged through her belongings and produced a metal sphere the size of an eyeball, containing a terrifying amount of Star Power.

Jiang Changkong glanced at it and shook his head. “Put it away. It’s not interesting.”

Perhaps it was because the quantity wasn’t enough to trigger a qualitative change.

This metal sphere lacked Essence.

But then again, considering how long this energy source had likely been manufactured, even if it once had “spirit,” it would have dissipated long ago.

As they spoke, the two had already arrived at the edge of a vast swamp.

The swamp was lush with vegetation, looking much like any other area.

Xu Qian activated location sharing, and Jiang Changkong stepped onto the plants, advancing rapidly.

“Don’t step on anything other than plants, even if it looks like solid ground,”

Xu Qian warned.

Jiang Changkong nodded to show he understood.

Roar!

Just a kilometer into their journey, the soil beneath them churned, and an ugly Star Demon burst from the ground.

Its gaping maw emitted a foul stench, mixed with the scent of earth.

“Be careful!” Xu Qian tensed, preparing to activate her combat armor.

“Don’t worry,” Jiang Changkong said calmly. The charging Star Demon instantly exploded, turning into a shower of gore.

A Star Stone flew into his hand—Star Gate Initial Stage, he kept it for himself.

Extracting the corpse’s Essence, only 2 points.

Continuing on their way, many Star Demons charged out. To save time, Jiang Changkong swiftly dodged past them.

Within a few breaths, the two saw a massive metal plate floating in the air, with over a dozen people standing on it.

Star Demons roared all around, streaks of starlight surging upward to strike the metal plate.

The metal plate emitted a barrier, protecting the dozen or so people.

One person clad in battle armor unleashed waves of starlight, blocking the Star Demons’ Star Power.

However, there were too many Star Demons underground, two of which were at the Star Spirit Initial Stage.

The armored person could only barely withstand part of the Star Power, while the rest struck the metal plate, causing it to shake violently.

“Is that a flying device?” Jiang Changkong asked, looking at the metal plate.

“No, it’s just floating. The Federation strictly regulates flying devices, and there are Star Demons in the air as well,” Xu Qian replied.

Jiang Changkong nodded and quickly approached within five hundred meters of the metal plate.

Boom!

Star Power collided, shockwaves rippling in all directions, earth flying into the air, and Star Demons roaring.

“That position isn’t good.”

Jiang Changkong frowned slightly. Within five hundred meters below the metal plate, it was all swamp, with no solid ground to stand on.

And the metal plate, under the impact of Star Power, was slowly drifting away.

If it drifted any further, it might enter the depths, where real danger awaited.

“Let’s lure the Star Demons,” Xu Qian suggested after a moment of thought. “If we draw them over, once the big turtle arrives, we can walk across as if on flat ground.”

“He can walk across as if on flat ground? It seems this place isn’t particularly dangerous.”

Jiang Changkong analyzed.

“Don’t act recklessly. This place could very well swallow a Star Spirit,” Xu Qian quickly warned.

“It’s Assistant Xu!” a surprised cry rang out.

On the metal plate, the dozen or so people all turned to look at Jiang Changkong and Xu Qian.

The armored person, surrounded by dense starlight, called out, “Assistant Xu, put on your battle armor and jump up with all your strength. We’ll cover you.”

“Alright,” Xu Qian agreed immediately, taking out her battle armor and preparing to put it on.

The other Star Demons also noticed the two but made no move.

“Don’t move. There are Star Demons below.”

Jiang Changkong held Xu Qian back, frowning as his ears caught the sound of movement underground.

More Star Demons were lurking below, and others were approaching from afar.

Moreover, among them were two at the Star Power Initial Stage—Anding Bang?

If he waited for him to arrive, they’d all likely end up dead here.

“There are more Star Demons?” Xu Qian paled, a hint of fear in her expression.

“Get on my back. Don’t move around later.”

Jiang Changkong directly carried Xu Qian on his back.

“What are you doing—”

Boom!

Before she could finish, a surge of violent Star Power erupted, vast starlight blossoming, and golden rays shining in all directions.

Countless golden rays, terrifying high temperatures—Jiang Changkong seemed to transform into a blazing sun.

Under the golden light, the mud beneath his feet quickly dried and solidified. The starlight underground trembled, directly evaporated by the Blazing Sun Star Power.

“You’re not planning to dry this place out, are you?” Xu Qian asked in alarm.

Do you have enough Star Power for that?

“Just five hundred meters. It’s effortless,” Jiang Changkong said calmly.

He stepped onto the solidified ground, the intense heat causing the surrounding plants to burst into flames.

The mud dried and hardened, as if walking on flat ground.

Roar!

Sensing Jiang Changkong’s intent, the surrounding Star Gates trembled, and several Star Demons forcibly burst out of the ground.

“Blazing Sun.”

Jiang Changkong uttered calmly, golden light erupting from within him, transforming into countless blade rays that slashed outward.

With a resounding boom, the blade’s radiance passed through, and the Star Demon exploded.

“What’s happening down there?” On the metal plate, over a dozen people stared in shock at the scene below.

Even from the air, they could feel the terrifying high temperature.

Some with weaker Star Power struggled to endure, drenched in sweat from head to toe.

Roar!

Several Star Demons roared, leaping directly onto the dried soil, while others from the distance also jumped up, closing in for the kill.

“So many Star Demons, four at the early Star Spirit stage. Are you sure you don’t want me to put on the battle armor?”

Xu Qian nervously gripped his shoulders, her legs tensing with anxiety, almost riding on his back.

“Next time, I’ll let you see a group battle. This time, let’s finish it quickly.”

Jiang Changkong knew Xu Qian was worried about her colleagues and decided not to delay any longer.

He drew his long blade, a top-tier sixth-grade weapon.

Since acquiring it, he had yet to use it.

The evening glow burned like fire, crimson as blood.

Over the swamp, a dazzling radiance lit up.

Swoosh!

A faint whistling sound echoed as the glow flashed, crisscrossing and swirling.

In an instant, the long blade was sheathed, and the ground was littered with Star Demon corpses, not a single one left alive.

“Done.” Jiang Changkong retracted his long blade, the golden light around him fading inward. “Tell your colleagues to come down. This ground won’t stay dry for long.”

He had forcibly dried the surface, but deep below, it remained a muddy swamp.

Unless he stayed here drying it for a full month, the ground would not remain solid for long.

“Oh, right.” Xu Qian was still in a daze but quickly contacted her colleagues above upon hearing his words.

Jiang Changkong began collecting the Star Stones. The harvest was decent: four from early Star Spirit stages, three from peak Star Vault stages.

There were four top-tier Star Gate stones, five high-grade ones, and none of medium or lower quality.