Ahead, the main base constructed of dark red crystals became increasingly clear.

It was a massive architectural complex covering the entire bottom of the ocean trench; all the buildings were made of a translucent dark red crystal with black vein-like patterns flowing across the surface.

At the center of the complex, a crystalline giant tree rose thousands of feet high; at its crown, a dark red fruit, pulsating like a heart, was slowly growing.

The seed of world purification.

It was already seventy percent complete.

Bai Cheng could feel that with every pulse, the fruit was extracting life force, memories, and all beautiful things from the belief networks of the Emerald Sea's islands, converting them into the purest energy for the upper echelons of the Enforcement Officers to enjoy.

Below the fruit, thousands of dark red light streams flowed in from all directions of the trench, each stream connected to a corrupted island.

“They are sacrificing the entire Emerald Sea.”

Zi Yuan's voice came through the belief connection, carrying suppressed fury.

“More than that.” Data streams poured frantically through Leng Ningxue's icy eyes. “Detected the presence of at least eighteen King-level Mind-Eroding Demon Generals, and... three fluctuations that surpass King-level, approaching the Star Lord level.”

“The three ‘Purifiers’ of the Enforcement Officers.”

Bai Cheng said softly, her silver eyes staring at the three blurred figures sitting deep within the crystalline giant tree. “They are the true rulers here.”

The train stopped quietly in a seabed fissure three hundred nautical miles from the edge of the complex.

This was the limit of concealment; any further, and they would be captured by the Enforcement Officer's detection network.

“The plan.” Bai Cheng turned to look at her companions.

Zi Yuan gripped her blade. “A direct frontal assault isn't advisable; we need to distract them.”

Qingniao grinned. “I'll go to the east side to create chaos; the commotion from the Thunder Dragon's explosion is loud enough.”

Lu Duo said softly, “I can infiltrate the life energy transport pipes below and destroy the growth foundation of the seed of world purification.”

Yu Nian stroked the vines. “The Power of Heart Purification can temporarily shield a small area of the corruption network to buy you all some time.”

Leng Ningxue pulled up the architectural diagram. “The central control room is located at the base of the crystalline giant tree; that is the control core of the seed of world purification.

If we can destroy it, the entire refining process will be interrupted.” 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Bai Cheng nodded. “Zi Yuan and Qingniao will be responsible for the feint on the east side. Lu Duo will infiltrate the pipes, and Yu Nian will provide cover.

Ning Xue, stay here and be ready to provide support at any time. I will go to the control room alone.”

“Miss—” Zi Yuan was about to speak.

“That's an order.”

Bai Cheng's silver eyes were calm. “At least one of the three Purifiers is bound to be a Guardian in the control room. If you go, it's a death sentence.

I have five clusters of Starfire and the emperors imprint; at least... I have the strength to fight.”

She paused and looked at everyone:

“If I haven't come out after the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, or if the pulsation of the seed of world purification hasn't stopped...

You all evacuate immediately, return to Star Chart Island, gather all the islands that can still fight, and make a final stand.”

No one spoke.

In the carriage, there was only suppressed silence and the light in everyone's eyes that refused to be extinguished.

Bai Cheng turned, pushed open the door, and stepped into the cold seawater.

The Star Rail Gate unfolded completely behind her, and the light of the five clusters of Starfire bloomed without reservation in reality for the °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° first time, like five suns in the dark deep sea, illuminating everything around.

Step by step, she walked toward the dark red buildings.

With the first step, the emperors imprint on her forehead fully manifested; the pale gold patterns covered ninety-five percent, with only the final step remaining for it to be completely whole.

With the second step, the light of the five clusters of Starfire began to merge, condensing into a suit of shimmering starlight armor on her body.

With the third step, a longsword condensed from pure belief appeared in her hand—it was no longer shimmering with starlight but had returned to a simple transparency, with only a five-colored halo flowing at the edge of the blade.

The moment she stepped into the outskirts of the complex, the entire dark red crystal lit up simultaneously.

A piercing alarm resounded through the seabed.

Eighteen King-level auras soared into the sky, and three terrifying fluctuations approaching the Star Lord level awakened from deep within the crystalline giant tree.

The climax of the hunt, the final battle, finally began in this Deep Sea Forbidden Zone.

And in the distant rotten marrow mist, the Twelve Star Guards simultaneously gripped their weapons.

The Lion Star Guard raised his spear, a cold arc spreading at the corners of his mouth:

“The show has begun.”

The long wail of the alarm tore through the deathly silence of the deep sea, and the architectural complex built of dark red crystals suddenly came to life like an awakened giant beast.

Countless dark red light flows surged from the crystal surfaces, instantly weaving into a web that covered the sky and earth. In the center of the web, thousands of Eyes of Malice composed of pure corrosive energy opened simultaneously, their cold gazes locking onto the lone silver figure moving forward.

“Intruder, halt.”

An overlapping, grand voice, as if roared by countless souls simultaneously, rumbled out from deep within the crystalline giant tree.

That was one of the three Purifiers.

Bai Cheng did not respond, nor did she stop.

She only raised the transparent longsword in her hand, the five-colored halo flowing on the blade becoming clearer.

The prayers of Broken Shell Island, the solemnity of Sighing Cliff, the hope of the Forgotten Corridor, the persistence at the Edge of the Fallen Void, and the rekindled Starfire of Cuiluo Bay—

Five-colored beliefs gathered at the tip of her sword, finally condensing into a point of pure silver-white sharpness that seemed capable of piercing through all darkness.

She lightly thrust a sword strike toward the web of malice.

There was no earth-shattering roar, no aftershock of energy collision.

The moment the blade touched the web, the tens of thousands of Eyes of Malice on the web trembled together, then vanished silently like stains wiped away by an eraser.

Wherever the silver-white sharpness passed, the dark red web disintegrated inch by inch, revealing the frantically flashing alarm runes below.

“The power of Starfire... pure belief suppression...” For the first time, a fluctuation appeared in the Purifier's voice; it was no longer pure majesty but mixed with astonishment and... a hint of greed.

“As expected, you are the best fuel, far more capable of nourishing the seed of world purification than those mundane beliefs.”

Boom!

The ground beneath the crystalline giant tree exploded, and eighteen dark red figures, carrying King-level pressure, lunged toward Bai Cheng like cannonballs.

Those were the eighteen Mind-Eroding Demon Generals. They took various forms—some were clad in twisted heavy armor, while others were composed entirely of churning dark red mist—but their eyes were equally hollow and fanatical, locked onto the emperors imprint on Bai Cheng's forehead.

Bai Cheng's footsteps didn't stop. Facing the lunging demon generals, she simply held her longsword horizontally in front of her.

The radiance of the five clusters of Starfire flowed down from her armor, forming a strange field ten feet in radius around her.

Within the field, the five types of aura—warmth, solemnity, hope, persistence, and rebirth—interwove and flowed, forming a stable and harmonious cycle.

The first demon general to charge into the field suddenly jerked to a halt.