The Seventh Base

Several days later, in the Desert Land, Xu Mo and his team stood before a Sand Monster. This Sand Monster was extremely ugly, with a huge head and a round body covered in tentacles, capable of spitting out highly radioactive slime.

"What kind of monster is this? It's really disgusting," Lowell said, somewhat disdainfully.

"I don't know, let's just call it a Sand Beast," Xu Mo casually gave it a name. There are too many species in the Universe, and in the eyes of the Monsters, humans might be the real aliens. Ultimately, it's survival of the fittest; whoever is stronger rules over the other species.

"Do we need to control so many Sand Beasts?" Lowell asked, as Xu Mo had already controlled quite a few.

"Of course, they are useful." Xu Mo released the Sand Beast, and it instantly burrowed into the desert. The sand beneath their feet flowed violently, and soon the Sand Beast vanished without a trace.

"The Sand Beasts I control have had their memories read. They share a common trait: these Sand Beasts have strong perception. They absorb a certain energy from the desert, which comes from some kind of mineral in the desert and might be beneficial for the cultivation of spiritual power," Xu Mo speculated based on the memories he acquired. "However, these common Sand Beasts can only absorb residual energy from the desert, and their hierarchy is very strict, with stronger Sand Beasts enslaving them."

"There can't be Skywalker-level beings here, so they must be at the brink of extinction," Lowell said. "So, are these minerals the opportunity we're looking for?"

"Yes," Xu Mo nodded. "According to the memories I read, Sand Beasts are the dominant Monsters in the desert, occupying the desert area. However, there is another Monster Race within this desert. Their numbers should be very rare, and they are mysterious. Even these Sand Beasts don't know what they are; there's only a vague concept of their existence in the desert, and they are very apprehensive of them. It's possible that the minerals from which they absorb energy are related to that race."

Lowell's eyes twinkled. In ancient times, the Universe was full of countless life races. Later, humans came to rule the known Universe, and many races gradually went extinct. But quite a few still exist, some very mysterious. It's not surprising to find unique life forms in the Empire Trial Field.

"What should we do now?" Lowell asked.

Xu Mo's elder brother cultivates spiritual power, and according to his speculation, those minerals might be useful for cultivating spiritual power.

"Use these Sand Beasts to find the leader-level Sand Beasts. Those Sand Beasts should have minerals, and their memories might be richer," Xu Mo said. In his perception, one Sand Beast after another moved in different directions, becoming his 'eyes.'

In different regions, he discovered various squads, walking through the desert, all searching for something.

Previously, they had encountered a team from the Coriade Star Domain, carrying advanced instruments. Everyone entering the Empire Trial Field had their methods, and many people must be searching in this vast desert.

Just as Xu Mo had guessed, in one location, a team was holding instruments, detecting energy fluctuations in the desert. The instrument was very sensitive, capable of radiating extremely far, much stronger than human perception.

In another direction, a group walked directly through the desert, all of whom had extraordinary auras, descendants of the old Empire Royal Family, the Lin Family.

"Do we really need to spend time capturing an Ancient Beast?" someone asked softly. The Ancient Beast is exceptionally good at hiding, elusive, and capturing it is extremely difficult. In his view, spending time here trying to capture an Ancient Beast seemed not worth it.

Moreover, there's a high probability they would return empty-handed. After all, not only is the Ancient Beast elusive, but its combat power is also extremely formidable. They might even suffer losses here.

"You're aware of the value of an Ancient Beast. During the Empire era, members of the old royal family first came to the Empire Trial Field to capture Ancient Beasts. Which direct bloodline of the old royal family hasn't been accompanied by one?" someone responded. As a descendant of the Lin Family, even after many years, they still understand the old royal family's affairs far more deeply than outsiders.

In the Empire era, coming to the Empire Trial Field was a necessary path of growth for the royal family, and gaining the recognition of an Ancient Beast was a symbol.

Therefore, several groups from the Lin Family had come to this desert to search for traces of the Ancient Beast.

The person who asked the question pouted. Just how many people in the current Lin Family still have pure royal blood? He doesn't cultivate spiritual power, so capturing an Ancient Beast is meaningless, and it's not for him anyway.

Moreover, they would already be quite lucky to capture a single Ancient Beast; catching several is an impossible feat.

Thus, he was reluctant to take on this task, but ultimately said nothing further, continuing to cooperate with their actions because they were a team.

...

Several days later, Xu Mo and his team were still flying through the desert.

Just then, a flash of crimson suddenly appeared in his mind, making his heart twitch violently. A Sand Beast under his control had been killed.

"Be careful," Xu Mo said. In the distance, the desert churned and roared, forming a terrifying sandstorm. Flying sand and stones, this sight made Xu Mo's expression change slightly. He said, "There are many Sand Beasts."

They likely encountered the leader of the Sand Beasts. This level of Monster has high intelligence and determined that the Sand Beast he controlled had led them here, so it directly killed one of his controlled Sand Beasts.

The terrifying sandstorm swept in, and Xu Mo released his perception, ready for battle.

Augustus's Gravity Domain was unleashed, covering the surrounding area, while Zero's silver hair fluttered as he entered combat mode.

The sandstorm engulfed this space, with several monsters suddenly charging out, but affected by the Gravity Domain, the ordinary Sand Beasts felt extremely heavy when leaping, unable to jump up.

Lowell and Hudson struck simultaneously, clearing the flying Sand Beasts with incredible speed, and suddenly, a rain of blood poured down within the sandstorm.

"Be careful." A sandstorm carrying a hurricane came from not far away, the scene was astonishing. Xu Mo stared below, releasing his perception to the limit, and a gigantic creature appeared in his senses.

Suddenly, tendrils shot out, curling towards Xu Mo in the air. Xu Mo's Mecha moved exceedingly fast, soaring into the sky, but the monster beneath him was not so fortunate, instantly entangled by the tendrils and then yanked fiercely into the desert.

A gigantic beast appeared within the desert, opening its bloody mouth to swallow the enormous monster whole, then burrowed back into the desert without emerging for battle, extremely cautious.

The desert is its true domain.

"This monster is cunning," Xu Mo thought to himself, hiding beneath the desert—the Sand Beast leader, with SS-level peak strength.

"Intercept the surrounding monsters," Xu Mo instructed Augustus and the other two.

"Alright." Augustus responded, the three flying through the sandstorm, while Xu Mo locked onto the giant Sand Beast leader. With his Mecha as the center, a terrifying Thunderstorm erupted, and the War Saber's blue Energy Light dazzled brightly.

The Sand Beast kept moving, trying to shake off Xu Mo, but found Xu Mo mirroring its movements above, immediately emitting an angry roar. A clattering sound rang out, sand and stones flew, the hurricane tore through the space, and countless tendrils covered the skies, encircling Xu Mo completely.

"Boom..."

The Thunder Light erupted fiercely, illuminating the sandstorm, transforming the scene into an apocalyptic sight.

Simultaneously, Xu Mo and Zero's spiritual power locked onto the enemy, launching an invasion, while the Mecha shot straight down, the War Saber piercing directly downwards, tendrils blocking the front.

Rumble... The violent Thunderstorm raged, tendrils struck by lightning turning charred, and the Sand Beast leader burrowed deeper into the desert, trying to flee, sensing a strong crisis.

Accompanied by a loud noise, a Thunder Pillar appeared, tearing through the desert. The Mecha charged directly into the desert, plunging deeper, with Xu Mo and Zero's spiritual power still locking onto and attacking the target.

But this Sand Beast leader's spiritual power was also very tenacious, not collapsing but resisting.

The desert was torn open by the Thunder Pillar, and the Mecha burrowed deep into the desert. The Sand Beast leader roared madly, countless tendrils reaching through the sand, attacking Xu Mo and Zero again.

Zero's sword slashed out explosively, a radiant sword light halo appeared, directly severing the tendrils. Xu Mo continued downwards to stand before the original form of the beast. The terrifying War Saber stabbed down, making a horrifying sound as it pierced through killer tendrils and continued stabbing, the terrifying Lightning Power savaged its body relentlessly.

Xu Mo's spiritual power issued a command, and finally, the Sand Beast leader stopped resisting, allowing Xu Mo to cease his assault.

A rustling sound was emitted as the Sand Beast leader carried Xu Mo and Zero traversing through the desert, breaking out. Sand continuously slid off Mecha and Zero's Armor.

The spiritual powers of both did not stop attacking, still invading the enemy's mind until the Sand Beast leader fully submitted, releasing its memories, and immediately, images emerged in Xu Mo's mind again. He saw the dazzling Desert Crystal, which should be those minerals.

"Hand over what's on you," Xu Mo issued a command. A tendril extended, coming to Xu Mo, with several brilliant Energy Crystals upon it.

Xu Mo's spiritual power acted upon them, instantly transforming the Energy Crystals into strands of Energy Light, which Xu Mo consumed, and before long, they disappeared from his hand.

"Useful." Xu Mo looked at Zero and said, "It's a Spiritual 'Energy Mineral'."

"Let's go."

As Xu Mo commanded the monster leader to move, several beams of strong light shot over, making a continuous piercing sound, and within the desert, one Sand Beast after another was slain directly.

In the air, a team silhouette appeared, precisely the 'Mechanics' Xu Mo had encountered before from the Coriade Star Domain.