Chapter 1730: Chapter 1731: Pursuit

“This should be the official entrance to the research institute, but seeing this room, don’t you think it looks familiar?”

Following Dou Yanlan, they ran up the stairs. Looking at the surroundings, Feng Yuan spoke with an odd expression. Just then, a sound of metal collision rang out, and the quiet machinery in the corner slowly rose. Upon seeing it, Zhang Cheng was stunned and exclaimed,

“This thing is here?!”

Previously, when everyone dug through the boundary, they had seen this giant robot, though the cables restricted it at that time, preventing it from leaving the room. But this one before them, as it stood up, the cables behind it all detached; evidently, the restriction doesn’t exist here.

“Spirit-based weaponry? Destroying the surrounding spirit quality generators should weaken this thing’s power.”

Noticing the hidden spirit quality generators nearby, Dou Yanlan spoke while immediately directing Cotton and Ah Mu to attack the nearby spirit quality generators. Others also turned their gaze to the surrounding devices, but compared to Dou Yanlan, many found it difficult to accurately locate the concealed spirit quality generators amid the chaotic equipment.

“Why not just destroy everything nearby completely? You’re not conducting an investigation mission now, there’s no need to ensure the integrity of the facilities, right? If you’re concerned about affecting the building structure, isn’t using flame-type ultimate moves to burn it a solution?”

Seeing everyone only aim for spirit quality generators to attack, Feng Yuan couldn’t resist chiming in. By now, the giant robot was slowly awakening, and as it started moving, the time left for everyone was running out.

“Don’t hold back! Destroy everything in your path!”

Zhang Cheng shouted decisively, unconcerned with any possible repercussions unlike Dou Yanlan. He couldn’t afford to care much; this thing would soon attack them. If they kept hesitating, they might be defeated here, and he didn’t believe they could handle it.

The facts didn’t disappoint; when a beam of light struck, the barrier they hastily set up shattered instantly. The residual light beam was blocked by Feng Yuan with a pitch-black greatsword, which he casually tossed to revert back to nine small shields. Glancing at everyone, Feng Yuan said,

“The strength of this thing is quite formidable.”

He sensed that the attack’s power had already exceeded the limits of the power borrowed from Xiao Ji. However, the additional strength from his own power prevented the attack from breaking the greatsword, but the strength clearly was beyond their ability to cope with.

“Go!”

Seeing the thing fully activated, Zhang Cheng immediately called everyone to run towards a nearby door. The drones and robotic dogs in their way were shattered by the ultimate moves unleashed in turns, with no time to hesitate, and the group smashed through the door, rushing out.

Behind the door was a huge metal corridor, capable of accommodating four trucks side by side, with rows of white lights illuminating the area.

The giant robot behind them approached slowly. Although it didn’t move quickly, its massive body ignored the obstacles on the road, pressing in on them with immense pressure.

With each step it advanced, its speed remained unchanged, and devices or even structural components in front of it couldn’t pose any obstruction.

“Interesting.”

Glimpsing at Qi Chen and the others’ concerned faces, Feng Yuan chuckled strangely to himself. Xiao Ji glanced at Feng Yuan in confusion; it seemed like he was watching for entertainment. But… wasn’t this thing dangerous?

Though Xiao Ji felt confident in its own strength, it still sensed a deadly threat from the giant robot. This thing was indeed dangerous! Xiao Ji trusted its instincts, and they were right. Right now, Xiao Ji didn’t have the capability to confront this terrifying giant robot.

“Do you have a map of this floor?”

Zhang Cheng turned to Dou Yanlan with a hint of expectation and asked. Dou Yanlan thought for a moment, shook her head, and said,

“No, but we can figure out how to find an exit. Since this place is designed according to the structure of the research institute, there are some things they can’t avoid. Let’s move.”

Dou Yanlan said while leading the way. The structure of the research institutes was mostly the same; even if they would cut down on convenience for safety, in a normal research institute, they couldn’t completely ignore one issue: how to transport large equipment from the outside.

Of course, they could choose to dismantle and reassemble them after bringing them in or use space equipment and the like, but both methods had fatal flaws, as they could cause irreparable damage to certain high-precision large devices. At best, accuracy would be lost; at worst, they would be directly scrapped.

This also explains why underground labs rarely design confusing corridors internally. Aside from being originally built for research, a maze-like layout just creates huge problems regularly for internal teams, not to mention the big equipment transportation issue.

As for building those devices by pure hand assembly? Those who have this capability already have the strength to ensure they aren’t easily discovered or infiltrated. Once facing such issues, it would be either the Alliance or the Divine Beast Hall taking action, and in such times, maze-like pathways wouldn’t be of much use.

Blocking them? It’s laughable in the face of Legendary Level Spirit Beasts, especially when both these organizations have good relations with Divine Beasts. Events involving research institutes usually incur the wrath of Divine Beasts.

Hence, Dou Yanlan believed that as long as they found the main material transport route, they might be able to find a way back to the surface. As for the obstructions they would encounter on their way?

Given the threat of the giant robot behind them, even if they attacked with all their might, it would only slightly increase the chances of collapse here, not to mention the deliberately triggered explosion had already destabilized the lower levels.

With careful observation, it could be seen that the ground was continually cracking as the giant robot advanced, potentially leading to total collapse soon, of course, nobody thought this alone would trap the fearsome giant robot.

Drones surrounded them in pursuit and blockaded them, while the giant robot relentlessly closed in. They had no time to rest; yawning briefly, Feng Yuan added Divine Runes to the nine small shields but remained in his current form, calmly following everyone.

With no time for unnecessary thoughts, the group traveled down quite a few wrong paths. Although the ground occasionally caved in, causing the giant robot to fall to lower levels, its built-in flying apparatus quickly returned it to their floor.

This relentless chase led them through three floors of the research institute area, finally reaching the elevator hall on the top level. Staring at the massive elevator, Feng Yuan glanced at the giant robot chasing right behind them and said,

“If we don’t stop this thing, I imagine it’ll dismantle the elevator.”

“Although I could hold it off for you, won’t you at least attempt to fight back a bit more?”

Crossing his arms, Feng Yuan looked at Qi Chen and the others, his smile odd. This giant robot was beneath his notice; if not for the trial, he could easily destroy it on a whim. Dou Yanlan thought for a bit and said,

“Activate the elevator, and then… attack the ground beneath it!”

Upon hearing Dou Yanlan’s idea, everyone recalled the earlier situation, their eyes brightened. Immediately, they split up; some worked to impede the giant robot’s advance, causing it to continuously fall below, while others climbed onto the elevator, starting it up. Soon, as the elevator began to rise, they stopped holding back.

Terrifyingly powerful ultimate moves were unleashed continuously. The entire hall swayed precariously. Zhang Cheng thought of something and instructed everyone to attack the distant ceiling. The ceiling farthest from the elevator couldn’t withstand it, collapsing entirely, bringing down heavy dirt that forcefully pressed the giant robot to the bottom level of the research institute.

Only, at that moment, its weapons were fully operational, causing continuous vibrations, while the elevator ascended until they could no longer see the hall below. The collapse was already creeping close to the elevator.

Despite the vibrations causing slight deformation in the elevator, it hadn’t been affected yet, although Dou Yanlan and the others anticipated potential issues arising.

Feng Yuan transformed into the Little Husky form and climbed onto Xiao Ji’s back. After quickly delegating tasks, everyone promptly had their beasts use ultimate moves to swiftly fly towards the sky.