Looking at the terrifyingly huge shadow, Song Chi was absolutely sure that this must be a Third Rank Level sandworm, and not just any ordinary one, but the kind at the Third Rank Peak, possibly even a pseudo Fourth Rank Level creature.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have been possible to inflict such damage on a Dark Matter Energy Shield Generator that had been enhanced to LV30.

To put it simply, a normal creature from the Starry Sea of the Third Rank, when faced with an Orange Quality Dark Matter Energy Shield Generator, would do well to deal more than fifty thousand points of damage. Those that aren't adept at attacking wouldn't even be able to break through the Dark Matter Energy Shield (their attack damage being lower than the defense value of the energy shield).

From this, it's evident how terrifying it was for a single strike to deplete over 800,000 shield points.

As time passed, and the dust and smoke around him gradually cleared, Song Chi finally got a clear view of the massive shadow beneath him.

It was almost exactly as he had surmised: indeed, it was a sandworm. However, compared to those of the First and Second Rank, its size was much more colossal.

With a diameter nearing a hundred meters, and a length surpassing a kilometer, anyone with a phobia of large objects would be terrified beyond compare at this daunting size.

However, for Song Chi, the impact was far less intense and could barely be considered out of the ordinary.

Just about ten days ago, he had personally witnessed a Fourth Rank Level Moruo Space-Escape Mech that was over two thousand meters in size, as well as the projection of his family's ancestor's mythical mech that exceeded ten thousand meters. In comparison to these two, the Third Rank sandworm before him didn't seem as impressive.

Of course, even if he somewhat overlooked its size, Song Chi's vigilance did not diminish in the slightest. He had a clear understanding of the combat power of a Third Rank creature. Although both the energy shield and the shipborne main cannon of the Cang Qiong were enhanced to the Third Rank, they were still quite a bit short of a true Third Rank being's capabilities.

His mind whirred at high speed; while continuing to increase the Cang Qiong's altitude, Song Chi also wrestled with the decision of whether to fight or retreat.

The reason for his dilemma was that although the Cang Qiong still had a significant gap with a Third Rank being, it was a relative gap, not absolute.

If it were to engage in close-combat with a Third Rank creature, with the energy shield ineffective, the Cang Qiong—merely equipped with Blue Quality warship armor and currently at an enhancement level of only LV29—would undoubtedly be crushed.

However, from another perspective, if they maintained enough distance, the Cang Qiong with its Third Rank Orange Energy Shield and Orange Main Cannon, actually had the capability to fight head-to-head with a Third Rank being. With its ability to withstand and attack, how could it not be qualified to match up against a Third Rank stellar sea creature?

That's why he seemed hesitant.

Of course, this hesitation was only for Song Chi, whose mind was operating at high speed. In the outside world, it was merely the span of two seconds.

Just as the Cang Qiong had ascended to three thousand meters, the Third Rank sandworm below refused to let up. Its wide maw, tens of meters across, with countless fangs over dozens of centimeters long at the center, was rapidly condensing a second ten-meter-wide pitch-black energy sphere.

Whoosh!

The pitch-black energy sphere once again shot upward, aiming directly for the hull of the Cang Qiong. This provoked the smoldering fire in the depths of Song Chi's heart; he no longer hesitated, dismissed the thought of leaving, and decided to have a head-on confrontation with the Third Rank Peak sandworm.

The Cang Qiong's combat power had just undergone a significant increase, and he was also curious to see just how effective the Third Rank Orange Main Cannon combined with the Third Rank Orange Energy Shield could be in combat.

The instant he made his decision, the engines of the Cang Qiong began to operate beyond their limits, while the newly installed Streaming Light Propulsors at the rear of the warship were responsible for converting the energy expelled by the engines into effective thrust for the Cang Qiong at the highest degree possible.

With both Purple Components powering up simultaneously, the Cang Qiong managed to execute a warship sidestep in just 0.5 seconds.

Humming!

It was due to this evasive maneuver that the energy sphere, ten meters in diameter, did not hit the Cang Qiong head-on but rather grazed by, brushing past the energy shield and causing some energy consumption. However, compared to the previous attack, the damage was much lesser.

Before Song Chi could feel relieved, his second stream of consciousness captured another piercing whistle from below.

"A third one, can this thing really fire without limit?"

His expression darkened as he once again pushed the Shadowcapture Antimatter Overstate Engine and Phantom Thruster to their limits. While the warship still managed a slight deflection, Song Chi's face visibly paled, and beads of sweat began to emerge on his forehead, clearly indicating the mental strain exerted by these minute maneuvers.

Thus, the third energy sphere still grazed past the Dark Matter Energy Shield. Although this time the inflicted damage was higher, the Cang Qiong's energy shield still retained over 70% of its shield points, maintaining its absolute combat power.

During the evasion, Song Chi's third stream of consciousness activated the Pure Yang Sword Beam Cannon, the ability to attack from a distance wasn't only restricted to the opponent.

"Enough is enough, it's my turn now!"

Inside the Cang Qiong, Song Chi spoke with a cold tone, and the next second the fully charged Pure Yang Sword Beam Cannon erupted fiercely. The ten-meter-long Sword Light Phantasm buzzed briefly before transforming into a streak of light that shot towards the giant shadow below.

Sizzling!

The ten-meter-diameter Sword Light Phantasm shot downwards at an astonishing speed, allowing the sandworm below no time to react; almost as if it had exited the cannon one second before, the next it had already landed upon its pitch-black body.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read