"You always speak of destiny. What is your destiny, and can it not be changed?"
Fu Yafang asked from not far behind Lai Jing Fan Nan.
At this moment, the two stood on separate hover boards, descending into the depths of the mountains.
Lai Jing Fan Nan said softly, "The Qihai Pre-recording states that a woman will help me become Heaven and Earth."
"In Black Star slang, only the dead are worthy of being called Heaven and Earth..."
"And my interpretation is that I can become the Heaven and Earth that governs the world."
"It is precisely because 'Heaven and Earth' has two meanings that ambiguity fills my heart. Therefore, I have been making preparations for both possibilities, to change the outcome of my death, or to become the god of this world."
Fu Yafang said, "You didn't kill me because of the prophecy in the Qihai Pre-recording. But what if the prophecy is mistaken, or if it's altered?"
Lai Jing Fan Nan was very patient. "Now, the only one who can change my destiny is Gu Ya. My fate is intertwined with his."
"The Qihai Pre-recording says that he and I will eventually have a final battle. After the war, he will vanish into nothingness, and I will become Heaven and Earth."
Fu Yafang sighed inwardly. Such cults still existed in the world. Gu Ya's fate was to vanish into nothingness. Nothingness did sound very much like death, but why not just say death directly?
Could it be that even prophecies could not truly determine the final fate of the two?
Since it could not be determined, could it be understood that... the prophecy might not be entirely accurate?
Vanishing into nothingness could also be interpreted as going into seclusion, or living in some unknown place.
If that were the case, Gu Ya's fate seemed to have a turning point.
The two had reached the deepest part of the mountain. A thousand elite guards were stationed here.
These tall and mighty soldiers stood motionlessly in the darkness like sculptures, resembling countless demons.
After walking through a long and wide corridor, they reached a magnificent underground city palace at the end.
Fu Yafang felt a sense of awe, wondering how much manpower and resources Black Star had spent to build such a lavish palace.
Hovering lamps of various designs floated on the ceiling, making it feel like a magical world.
The floor was made of solidified pseudo-alloy, which felt very comfortable to walk on, and a sense of power surged from the soles of her feet, making her steps as light as flying.
The two walked into the depths of the palace. As they approached the main hall, a petite and elegant young girl stood at the entrance.
Judging by her appearance, this girl bore some resemblance to Lai Jing Fan Nan.
"Xi Zhao, when did you arrive?" Lai Jing Fan Nan asked softly.
The girl's bright eyes warily sized up Fu Yafang for a moment before responding steadily, "Father, as soon as you gave the order, your daughter set off from Hui Ye City and has just arrived."
In just a few words, Fu Yafang felt a hint of concern for this eldest daughter of Lai Jing Fan Nan.
In terms of appearance, talent, personality, and astuteness, she was a hundred times superior to her sister, Lai Jing Xi Mei.
The three entered the main hall one after another.
What was called the main hall was actually a very spacious area.
The alloy floor was flat, with no supporting pillars.
Walking within the main hall, gazing at the unreachable ceiling and the wall located at a great distance, Fu Yafang felt the insignificance of humans.
She sighed in her heart, "This is the venue that will decide the future destiny of the world..."
Xi Zhao lightly followed Fan Nan and asked behind him, "Father, when do you plan to modify me and make me your subordinate?"
Lai Jing Fan Nan replied in a soothing tone, "No hurry, no hurry. Go and do something for me."
Xi Zhao glanced at the information in her wristband and calmly said, "Understood. Your daughter will go and handle it now."
As she was leaving, Xi Zhao glanced sideways at Fu Yafang, her eyes sharp and hiding a deep murderous intent.
After Xi Zhao left,
Lai Jing Fan Nan walked alone to the alloy throne situated in the center of the main hall.
He looked down on everything and said calmly, "Fu Yafang, don't forget your identity. You are the daughter-in-law of my Lai Jing family!"
"Wait a moment longer. When Gu Ya and his group break into the hall, I want you to watch them die at my hands and sever your last hope."
"After this battle, you will stay by my side with peace of mind, simply as a witness to history."
With that, two guards in exoskeleton armor emerged from the areas beyond the reach of the lights.
They cuffed Fu Yafang with electromagnetic handcuffs, held her on either side, and lifted her upwards.
A square platform descended from the ceiling, suspended by four metal rods.
The three flew onto the platform, and pale blue holographic glass rose around them, forming a holographic observation room.
From the observation room, Fu Yafang could clearly see the entire main hall.
At this moment, the distant sound of explosions could be heard from outside.
Fu Yafang knew that it was Gu Ya and his group who had broken in.
A few hours ago, Lai Jing Fan Nan had informed her that Gu Ya and his group had killed the First Subordinate Xi Mei and had found their location through data streams.
This was Lai Jing Fan Nan's plan to lure Gu Ya into a trap.
Within Black Star, without Gu Ya's participation, the Black Star army would soon be able to drive away the foreign enemies, reclaim lost territories, convert Black Star citizens, and expand the mutated army.
Once Gu Ya died here, no one in the world would be able to stop the Black Star Empire.
To welcome Gu Ya, Lai Jing Fan Nan had made thorough preparations, awaiting this final battle.
Fu Yafang closed her eyes, feeling excited, expectant, yet also deeply sorrowful.
In the face of the final life-and-death battle, her stratagem seemed pale and powerless.
At this moment, she could only pray to heaven to bestow all her good luck upon Gu Ya and his group,
to kill Lai Jing Fan Nan and end it all.
"My life is nothing, but if the world loses Gu Ya, humanity will have no future..."
...
Khorne's space-class giant cannon fired, instantly piercing a circular hole through the towering mountain range.
The Oriole-class mechs quickly ascended, and all five of their Divine Burst Cannons fired simultaneously!
The continuous Black Star mountain range, under the overwhelming firepower, saw its peaks disappear and its ground churn.
"Lai Jing Fan Nan!! Your days of hiding like a turtle will not last much longer!!"
Gu Ya wished he could dig three feet into the ground and drag Lai Jing Fan Nan out to beat him severely!
In the distance, a mountain peak suddenly cracked, spewing rocks, the mountain ceasing to exist!
A colossal mech slowly stood up from the mountain range!
Ning Yu, Liu Feng, and Wu Ji quickly moved out to meet the challenge.
The Red Beast Mech's enraged hammer struck the giant mech, but the resulting flames were minuscule.
Wu Ji's sweeping combat skills appeared insignificant before it.
Finally, Ning Yu summoned tens of thousands of exoskeleton armored warriors, who burrowed into the giant mech's armor and destroyed it from within, defeating the colossal mech.
Gu Ya watched the battle and asked Ning Yu, "What level of mech mechanic are you now?"
Ning Yu smiled and said, "Master, don't you know? Every Divine Power user has a unique name."
"You are a mech mechanic, and I am an exoskeleton armor master. Our talents are not entirely the same. I reached the legendary level long ago."
Gu Ya asked, "Have you encountered a Mechanical God? What is your destined fate?"
Ning Yu's tone became somber. "The Mechanical God has not sought me out. I clearly remember that when I first obtained the Mechanical God's Urn, an old man mysteriously told me that I was a twin body. I still don't understand what that means."
Gu Ya gave a soft "hmm" and, no longer dwelling on the matter, was about to order everyone to continue destroying the Black Star mountain range to force Lai Jing Fan Nan out when,
Bai Ying suddenly said, "Hai Yang's data stream! Dad, it's at the 13 o'clock position below and to the right!"
Gu Ya reacted quickly, maneuvering the Oriole-class mech to change direction. The five Divine Burst Cannons on its body simultaneously charged.
Three seconds later, the five giant cannons exploded simultaneously!
The entire mountain was blasted away by the beam cannons, its hard rock melting into lava, and pungent smoke filled the air.
A massive, semi-circular blue holographic energy shield emerged from the mountain, and lava flowed down its surface, forming a lava river.
Gu Ya gathered energy again, and the five Divine Burst Cannons fired at the energy shield once more!
The devastating artillery fire only melted the remaining mountain, while the energy shield remained intact.
Within the energy shield, a magnificent and technologically advanced palace could be clearly seen.
The Red Beast Mech quickly charged down and swung its giant hammer, smashing forcefully against the energy shield!
The energy shield seemed to sense the immense impact and quickly resonated, dissipating the force.
The remaining energy was returned to the attacker, and the Red Beast Mech was repelled by the force of its own hammer.
Just as Gu Ya was preparing for another round of attack,
Lai Jing Fan Nan's image appeared simultaneously on all the mechs' screens.
He looked at everyone with a calm expression and said, "Gu Ya, and all of you. If you have the courage, come and see me in person."
"I have meticulously prepared the venue for the decisive battle."
"Your destiny and the future of the world will be decided here!"
After speaking, Lai Jing Fan Nan's image disappeared.
A small square door, only large enough for one person to pass through, then opened on the energy shield.
Ning Yu urgently said, "Master! We can't go! It must be a trap inside!"
Tao Na also said calmly, "Captain Gu, our combat power will be greatly reduced without our mechs! I'll go in first to scout. You all wait outside for my news!"
Letting teammates charge into danger was not Gu Ya's style. He bared his teeth and laughed grimly, "This is a decisive battle, and the opponent has sincerely invited us. What reason is there to refuse?"
"No matter what is inside, I must brave it!"
Liu Feng rejoiced, "Then we'll go together! Not one less, hahaha!"
Everyone spoke in unison, all expressing their willingness to follow!
Gu Ya smiled with relief and, without delay, piloted his mech to dive rapidly.
The decisive battle with Lai Jing Fan Nan had finally arrived.
Gu Ya felt comforted, "If this is my final resting place, it's not too bad. At least, I have a group of comrades willing to share life and death with me."
"As for the outcome, there's nothing to worry about. Just fight."