Gong Shuxu remained unmoved. On a massive rock in front of him, a Void Devourer Beetle landed, its grim insect eyes scanning for prey. The next moment, influenced by Gong Shuxu's ability, it opened its mouth towards the sky and spat a string of explosive larvae at another Void Devourer Beetle diving down, killing its kin. Soon after, it too met a violent end, killed by the concentrated fire of its own kind.

Chen Gu spoke again, "It's been nearly half an hour since those Troop Nest Beetles arrived. The swarm's main force should be here soon. You can certainly escape, but I'm afraid the others might not be as capable."

Gong Shuxu hesitated for a moment, then turned to release Chen Gu from the safety shackles. He placed the shackles securely under a rock. Perhaps they'd be needed for Chen Gu again once the battle was over.

Chen Gu flexed his limbs. Meanwhile, Gong Shuxu, searching for his next target, spotted a Void Devourer Beetle plunging down. With a mere thought, he captured it using his ability.

But Chen Gu called out from behind, "Don't waste it!"

Gong Shuxu frowned. Waste? He gave Chen Gu a somewhat dissatisfied glare, but Chen Gu was unconcerned. "Leave it to me," Chen Gu said.

Gong Shuxu suddenly sensed a rather unsettling power surge from Chen Gu, manifesting as invisible tendrils that wrapped around the Void Devourer Beetle.

Even as a Sixth Energy Level practitioner, Gong Shuxu couldn't help but blurt out, "A Brain Domain Hacker?"

Chen Gu didn't reply. Protected by Gong Shuxu, his Mind Remote Control over the Void Devourer Beetle progressed very smoothly, and he succeeded in no time!

Gong Shuxu was stunned as well. The professions of Brain Domain Hacker and Psychological Spy had a long-standing feud. Nearly all Brain Domain Hackers looked down on Psychological Spies, a fact that the Psychological Spies could never convincingly refute.

This was because, in the early stages, Psychological Spies were, in every aspect, far inferior to Brain Domain Hackers. Anything a Psychological Spy could do, a Brain Domain Hacker could also do, and often even better in other areas.

This led to a fixed notion among the vast majority of low-Energy Level professionals, such as Marcus: Psychological Spies had terrible direct combat abilities.

In the later stages, however, Psychological Spies developed strong resistance to Brain Domain Hackers and could often emerge victorious in confrontations.

But how many high-Energy Level professionals were there? Such battle instances were correspondingly rare. Furthermore, high-Energy Level professionals needed to maintain their dignity and couldn't be seen arguing like children, shouting everywhere, "We Psychological Spies power up in the late game; we're not weak at all!" Consequently, not many knew this truth. Even if someone spoke out, few in the current environment would believe it.

Therefore, Gong Shuxu was frustrated. Neither Psychological Spies nor Brain Domain Hackers knew that their abilities could actually synergize and enhance each other when they cooperated!

In the past, they would give each other the cold shoulder upon meeting. If they were enemies, they would fight fiercely enough to beat each other's brains out; cooperation was out of the question.

Today was just an accident.

Chen Gu took control of this Void Devourer Beetle. Without hesitation, he charged out, vaulted onto its back, and cried, "Hyah!" The beetle roared and soared into the sky with Chen Gu aboard.

His Riverwash Sword erupted with over twenty meters of crimson sword-flames. Chen Gu fought like a dragon. Combined with the Void Devourer Beetle's explosive larvae, he decimated the group of seven or eight Void Devourer Beetles in mere moments!

Watching from below, Gong Shuxu nodded in silent approval. His abilities focused on psychological suggestion. He could make Void Devourer Beetles attack their own kind, or even manipulate their behavior to some extent through suggestion. However, he couldn't directly control them as Chen Gu did.

Whenever he controlled one to release a burst of explosive larvae, other Void Devourer Beetles would quickly kill it. In contrast, Chen Gu could control one to perfectly coordinate with him, slaying seven or eight enemies in one go.

It wasn't that he was inferior to Chen Gu, but rather that their skills had different focal points.

This swarm of Void Devourer Beetles in the sky had already been reduced by nearly half by Gong Shuxu. After Chen Gu's assault, only about half of the original number remained.

Ma Shuwen and the other professionals also emerged, each displaying their abilities. The battle proceeded very smoothly.

Gong Shuxu found it hard to maintain his composure. If I don't show some real skill, Ma Shuwen and the others will probably think Psychological Spies are inferior to Brain Domain Hackers again, won't they? Fortunately, the distance was now sufficient.

He stepped out slowly. Suddenly, with a mere exertion of his will, all the Void Devourer Beetles circling in the sky were influenced by his ability, and they began to attack each other indiscriminately, friend or foe alike.

These Void Devourer Beetles were circling overhead, not far from Gong Shuxu, entirely within the range of his fully exerted abilities.

From the sky, huge Void Devourer Beetles fell like dumplings, THUD, THUD, THUD, gouging out a series of deep pits as they struck the ground. One moment Chen Gu and the others were in the thick of battle; the next, they were suddenly idle. Falling Void Devourer Beetles and flying debris even splattered onto Elton's face, causing the Elemental Navigator to hop about awkwardly in evasion, looking rather embarrassed.

After these Void Devourer Beetles had completely slaughtered each other, Gong Shuxu, hands clasped behind his back, unhurriedly walked before the group. "Take stock of the losses," he said.

Upon counting, everyone's spirits instantly plummeted: three professionals had died!

All of them had been in flyers that crashed. Disoriented and unable to escape in time, they were killed by pursuing Void Devourer Beetles that blew them up within the wreckage.

Including Gong Shuxu, the reconnaissance team initially had nine members. Now, with three lost, seven remained, including Chen Gu.

Gong Shuxu calmly retrieved the safety shackles and gestured towards Chen Gu. Chen Gu was exasperated. "With a formidable enemy right before us, you really want to do this?"

Gong Shuxu was adamant.

On Witch Star, Gong Shuxu had unjustly detained Chen Gu for over half a month. Later, feeling guilty, he had proactively helped him contact a military transport ship for his return. As a result, Chen Gu had run into this current predicament—making Gong Shuxu feel even more indebted to him.

Still, he said, "This matter is of great importance; we cannot afford to be careless."

After a pause, he personally stepped forward, fastened the safety shackles on Chen Gu, then patted his shoulder. "If, after we return this time, it's confirmed that you're completely in the clear, then this old man will owe you two favors. If you need anything in the future, just one call, and I'll be there!"

Then, the old man stubbornly added, "But only those two favors! Psychological Spies and Brain Domain Hackers are irreconcilable!"

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