Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: Skycore Citadel and the Psi Corps Uprising

🌐 Earth, Year 2065 – Six Months Later

Floating 30 kilometers above Earth's surface, Sky core Citadel shimmered like a crown of light.

Built using the newly discovered Graviton-threaded Titanium and powered by the Cosmic Reactor Core Mk-II, the station served as the headquarters of Planet Earth's First Unified Civilizational Government. A nexus of administration, war, science, and spirit. And at its center, sitting cross-legged in a void chamber surrounded by cosmic energy threads, was Hong.

[SYSTEM INTERFACE OPEN]— Civilization Advancement Index: 4.62/10— Current Era: Planetree-Tech Fusion Stage— Dominant Threats: Alien Herald Response Units, Psi Corps Rebellion (Tier 2 Internal)

Hong's eyes opened slowly.

The Psi Corps…

He had expected resistance. But not from the very people he uplifted.

⚡ The Psi Corps – Creation and Corruption

Originally, the Psi Corps were elite warriors hand-picked from Earth's most spiritually gifted youth. Led by the best Psionics Masters, trained in both Martial Cheat: Mind Echo Control and Mental Core Expansion, their role was to ensure mental stability and spiritual defense for colonists in deep-space habitats.

But power... breeds corruption.

After gaining mastery over Psi Web Protocols, several upper-echelon Psions began manipulating minds covertly—installing thought triggers, suppressing free will.

They believed themselves the rightful architects of Earth's future.

Their leader? Ragna Mo, codename Whisperspike—a former disciple of Hong, cast out for forbidden soul control experiments.

And now? They had seized Luna Outpost and hijacked a third of Earth's Virtual Nexus Grid.

⚔️ Emergency Meeting at Skycore Command

"Traitors within our ranks!" General Lie Shen slammed his gauntlet into the table, leaving a spiderweb crack. "They've hijacked 14 Mindwave Beacons. Civilians are being mass-brainwashed."

Across the room, Luo Feng stood, arms crossed, dressed in the dual mantle of a Sword Master and a Psi Disciple. His aura rippled—half sharp, half still.

"Send me. This is my domain now."

Hong nodded. "You'll lead the mission. Take the Blade Corps and Psi-neutralizers. But leave Whisperspike to me."

Luo Feng grinned faintly.

"Understood."

🌠 The Battle at Luna Outpost

Luna's surface glittered with psionic towers, each tuned to control thought frequencies across Earth's hemisphere. Cloaked Psi Units guarded them—hovering like silent ghosts.

But from orbit, a spear of light descended.

Luo Feng, riding his Psychic Blade Manifestation, led the charge.

"Activate Cheat Tree: Sword-Net Rainfall!"

Dozens of light blades formed behind him like shooting stars. His mind split into dozens of thought channels using Psychic Thread Control Lv.4. Each sword danced independently.

Psi Guards fell in droves.

Ping!A Sword Net cleaved through three stealth towers, disabling the broadcast field.

"Blade Corps—secure the Mind Beacons!"

Luo Feng somersaulted midair, flipping into a deep psi-dive, entering the Mental Plane.

🧠 Meanwhile… in the Psionic Abyss

Inside the mental world—an endless city of memories and will—Hong stood before Whisperspike.

The traitor hovered like a phantom made of shattered thoughts. He wore a cloak of living minds—souls he had bound.

"Teacher. You made us too strong."

"No," Hong replied. "I just didn't purge weakness fast enough."

He stepped forward. All six elemental cores activated within him, forming the Elemental Mind Ring.

"Let me show you why we transcend."

🌪️ The Final Blow: Elemental Mindstorm

Hong raised his hand.

Flames spiraled with ice. Lightning fused with gravity. Wind sharpened into spears. His Elemental Mindstorm, a cheat built entirely from fusion understanding, unleashed an explosion in the mental plane that echoed into reality.

"Cheat: Primal Core Collapse!"

Whisperspike screamed.

Then silence.

🎖️ Victory and Cleanup

Earth's Virtual Grid went silent.

Luna returned to the fold. The Psi Corps remnants were sealed in soul cages, stripped of memory for rehabilitation.

The Civilization Index ticked upward:

✅ Civilization Advancement Index: 5.02/10✅ Internal Threat Neutralized✅ Soul Regulation Tech Tree Unlocked

🔚 Chapter Ends With…

Luo Feng standing before Hong.

"I want to evolve further," he said. "I've tasted true combat. I need more than just sword and mind."

Hong nodded. "Then let's begin your next transformation."

"You'll walk the path of the Soul-Forged Transcendent."

[End of Chapter 22]