The genius who counterattacked the mainland

The airship hurtled through the vast universe, the stars twinkling around it like dazzling gems inlaid on black satin. Xu Tiancai and the others stood at the bow, gazing at the endless darkness ahead, their hearts filled with anticipation for the unknown journey and a wariness of potential danger.

"I hope we can successfully reach the edge of the universe and find the true source of the dark power." Lin said softly, her eyes revealing a hint of determination. A Gang gripped the giant axe tightly and nodded, "No matter what difficulties and obstacles we face, we must overcome them."

However, as the airship passed through a dense region of nebulae, something strange began to happen. Faint shadows began to appear on the previously peaceful cosmic path. These apparitions varied in form, some resembling the wreckage of ancient warships, others like gigantic cosmic creatures. They flickered in the void, as if projected from another time and space.

"Everyone, be careful! These phantoms aren't quite right," Xu Tiancai warned. He attempted to sense them with his stellar power, but the moment it made contact, it felt like it was mired in a quagmire, pulled away by a mysterious force. The phantoms gradually became clearer, and a massive, ancient warship emitting a faint blue light appeared before them. Its hull was covered in intricate patterns, like the writing of some ancient civilization, telling of the glory and vicissitudes of a bygone era.

The battleship's guns suddenly flashed, and a faint blue energy beam shot towards the airship. Xu Tiancai quickly exerted his power, forming a light shield around the airship. The light shield and the energy beam collided, emitting a dazzling light and a deafening roar. The airship shook violently, and everyone almost lost their balance.

"What the hell is this thing?" Agang roared, brandishing his giant axe, ready for a possible close combat. Lin quickly adjusted the airship's defensive formation, attempting to strengthen the light shield.

At that moment, more apparitions appeared. There were giant octopus-like creatures, their tentacles like thick ropes covered with sharp suction cups; there were also ghostly humanoid figures, which drifted in the void and emitted eerie cries. These phantoms swarmed towards the airship, and a melee was about to break out.

Xu Tiancai combined the power of the stars, the phoenix, and the Galaxy Guardian Bracelet, firing a series of multicolored beams at the octopus-like creature. The beams struck the octopus's tentacles, sending up a puff of black smoke, but the tentacles merely trembled slightly before continuing toward the airship. Lin cast an ice spell, attempting to freeze the ghostly humanoids. Ice arrows and chains were fired at them, but the ghostly figures easily passed through the ice attacks, continuing their speed toward the airship.

A-Gang zeroed in on an octopus tentacle approaching the airship, leaped high, and slashed at it with his massive axe. A burst of faint blue light emanated from the axe's impact, severing a section of the tentacle, which quickly grew back. "These guys seem unkillable!" A-Gang shouted.

Xu Tiancai frowned, knowing that if this continued, the airship would eventually be breached. He concentrated, trying to find a flaw in the phantoms. He noticed that each time the phantoms launched an attack, there was a slight delay in the energy fluctuations at their power cores. "Attack their power cores! There's a delay there!" Xu Tiancai shouted.

Upon hearing his cry, his teammates immediately adjusted their tactics. Lin cast a massive spell, enveloping the surrounding phantoms in an energy field. This field slowed the phantoms' movements, buying them time to attack the energy core. Agang zeroed in on the octopus-like creature's energy core, a glowing sphere at its center. He rushed toward it, and upon reaching it, he unleashed the lightning power of his great axe to its fullest, striking it fiercely. As the axe struck the energy core, the octopus-like creature roared in pain, its body twisting before gradually dissipating.

Xu Tiancai fired beams at the energy cores of the ghostly figures. The beams accurately struck the energy cores of the ghostly figures, and they began to disintegrate, vanishing into the universe in wisps of smoke. With the combined efforts of everyone, the phantoms were gradually driven back, and the cosmic channel returned to calm.

"Where exactly do these phantoms come from?" Lin asked, still apprehensive. "I don't know, but it's definitely connected to the dark forces we're looking for," Xu Tiancai said. They continued to pilot the airship forward, but no one dared to let their guard down.

After a long voyage, they discovered a massive asteroid ahead. Its surface was covered in craters and strange rocks, emanating a mysterious aura. "Let's stop here and inspect the airship for any damage," Xu Tiancai suggested. The airship slowly landed on the asteroid, and everyone disembarked to inspect its condition.

During his inspection, Gang discovered some strange marks in a valley on the asteroid. They looked like the marks of a massive object crawling across it. The marks were deep, crushing the surrounding rock. "Something's been here, and it's massive," Gang shouted. Upon hearing this, Xu Tiancai and Lin rushed over.

Following the trail, they discovered a cave deep in the valley. A pungent odor filled the air, and the walls were covered in a glowing mucus. "This cave could be dangerous, everyone be careful," Xu Tiancai warned. They cautiously entered the cave, which was dark and damp, and the temperature grew higher as they went deeper.

At the far end of the cave, they saw a massive, lizard-like creature. Its body was covered in tough scales, streaked with red lines that resembled burning flames. Its eyes, like two enormous red lanterns, radiated a fierce light. The lizard creature lay crouched over a pile of glowing ore, seemingly absorbing its energy.

The lizard creature, sensing the intruder, raised its head and unleashed a deafening roar at Xu Tiancai and the others. The roar echoed through the cave, jarring their eardrums. "Prepare for battle!" Xu Tiancai shouted. Ah Gang, brandishing his great axe, charged at the lizard creature first. The axe collided with the lizard's scales, sending up a shower of sparks, but it didn't cause much damage.

The lizard creature swung its massive tail, sweeping towards Agang. Agang dodged nimbly, but the blast still sent him back a few steps. Lin cast an ice spell, attempting to freeze the lizard creature's movements. The ice arrow struck the lizard creature, forming a layer of frost on its scales, but the intense heat from the creature quickly melted it.

Xu Tiancai fused the power of the stars with the power of the phoenix, firing beams of light at the lizard creature. The beams hit the lizard creature, leaving burn marks on its scales, but the lizard creature didn't seem to feel any pain and continued to attack everyone.

"This lizard's scales are too tough. We need to find a way to break its defenses," Xu Tiancai said. He observed the lizard and noticed that when it attacked, the scales on its abdomen would open slightly, revealing some relatively fragile skin. "Attack its abdomen!" Xu Tiancai shouted.

Upon hearing the command, Agang charged at the lizard creature once more. He deftly dodged its attacks, then, seizing the perfect moment, swung his axe at its abdomen as its scales opened. The axe struck the lizard creature's abdomen, sending a shower of blood. The lizard creature roared in pain, its attacks becoming even more frantic.

Lin and Xu Tiancai seized the opportunity to launch a more intense attack. Lin cast a massive frost spell, freezing the entire space around the lizard creature and restricting its movement. Xu Tiancai, unleashing the full power of his Galaxy Guardian Bracelet, fired a powerful multicolored beam at the wound in the lizard creature's abdomen. Upon impact, the lizard creature's body trembled violently.

Under the combined force of their attacks, the lizard creature finally collapsed, collapsing. Its body gradually dissipated, transforming into a stream of energy that merged with the surrounding environment. "It seems this creature is also affected by the power of darkness," Xu Tiancai said. They rested in the cave for a while, then continued to inspect the airship.

After ensuring the airship was safe, they prepared to leave the asteroid. However, when they returned to the airship's parking area, they found an old man. He was dressed in a tattered black robe, with white hair and a face covered in wrinkles. He stood in front of the airship, quietly watching Xu Tiancai and the others.

"You shouldn't come here. It's fraught with danger." The old man's voice was hoarse and deep, as if it came from a distant time and space. "Who are you? Why are you here?" Xu Tiancai asked. The old man smiled slightly and said, "I am a wanderer in the universe. I am here to wait for my destined person."

"A destined person? What does that mean?" Lin asked doubtfully. The old man looked at them and then slowly said, "You are looking for the source of the dark power, right? I know some clues about it, but these clues may bring you greater danger." "We are not afraid of danger. We must stop the dark power from destroying the balance of the universe," Agang said firmly.

The old man nodded. "Your courage is commendable. The source of the dark power is hidden in a place forgotten by time and space, where countless traps and guardians are hidden. To find it, you must pass an ancient trial." "What trial?" Xu Tiancai asked. The old man pulled out a crystal ball emitting a mysterious light from his black robe. "This crystal ball will guide you to the trial site. Only by passing the trial can you obtain the key to the source of the dark power."

Xu Tiancai took the crystal ball. When his hand touched it, he felt a powerful surge of energy. A blurry image emerged on the crystal ball, depicting a place filled with mysterious runes and light. "Thank you, but why are you helping us?" Xu Tiancai asked. The old man sighed. "I've been wandering in the universe for too long. I hope someone can end the disasters brought about by the dark forces and restore peace to the universe."

After bidding farewell to the old man, they followed the crystal ball's guidance and flew towards the trial ground. As they flew, the crystal ball's light grew brighter, and the surrounding space began to distort. "Everyone, get ready! We might be entering a special dimension," Xu Tiancai warned.

The airship passed through a distorted film of light and entered a completely new world. This world was filled with all sorts of bizarre buildings and lights. The architecture was ancient and mysterious, some resembling giant pyramids, others like rings suspended in the air. The lights were red, blue, green, purple, and other colors, interweaving to form brilliant curtains of light.

"Is this the trial ground?" Ah Gang looked around in surprise. "It should be. We have to be careful. There are definitely many dangers here," Xu Tiancai said. They flew through this world in an airship, searching for the beginning of the trial.

As they passed a massive pyramid, the airship was suddenly sucked in by a powerful force. They tried to control the airship to escape, but to no avail. The airship was sucked into the pyramid's interior, revealing a vast space whose walls were covered in intricate runes and patterns.

"It looks like the trial has begun," Xu Tiancai said. They disembarked from the airship, ready to face the impending challenge. Just then, a swarm of mechanical puppets emerged from all directions. These puppets were different from those they had encountered in the ruins before. Their bodies were more flexible, their weapons more advanced, and their eyes gleamed with a blue light.

The mechanical puppets attacked Xu Tiancai and the others, their weapons emitting beams of energy. Xu Tiancai and the others quickly dodged and then began to counterattack. Ah Gang, brandishing his great axe, rushed towards the mechanical puppets. His axe collided with the mechanical puppets' weapons, making a crisp metallic clang. Lin cast an ice spell, attempting to freeze the mechanical puppets' movements. The ice arrows struck the mechanical puppets, condensing a layer of frost on their bodies, but the puppets quickly broke free of the frost and continued their attack.