HBWnovel Chapter 225: Cavern Space, Active Pollution!
Chapter 225: Cavern Space, Active Pollution!
Demonic Eye Sponge, internal Cavern, Dharma Conch space.The Collector's analytical capabilities were once again displayed to their absolute fullest!
Even without personally stepping into the Cavern, merely looking through the perspective of the Abyssal Water Cave Crab allowed the true appearance of the Immortal Item to be presented clearly before his eyes.
What was even more rare was that the Myriad Command Earth Dharma Conch was not unobservable and unapproachable like Liu Kun's Searing Hawk. It acted as if it were the master of this secret realm, calmly exposing itself to his field of vision without the slightest intention of isolating itself.
The perspective zoomed in to about two meters, and Cheng Ye paused.
If he were physically inside the actual Cavern at this moment, this distance would have been more than enough for him to complete the Containment. He would only need to open the specially made Containment Box and place the Dharma Conch inside, and the domain of pollution it emitted would instantly dissipate.
At that point, even if the Elder did not intervene, the Transcendents and military forces of Happiness City would arrive immediately. The Crab-men underwater and the remaining tentacles of the Demonic Eye Sponge would no longer be able to stir up any trouble.
Unfortunately, everything within the information space was merely an illusion. No matter how realistic the image was, he could not touch the true Immortal Item.
Cheng Ye forced himself to calm his mind and focus, carefully observing the full appearance of the Dharma Conch with just his naked eyes.
Its shell gathered upward in a spiral shape, the curvature so smooth and round that it did not seem like a naturally grown organism. Instead, it looked like an artifact polished according to a precise mathematical model, with every curve exuding a sense of rhythm that approached perfection.
The overall light purple color was not evenly distributed. Instead, it slightly deepened at the turns of the spiral, forming intersecting layers of light and dark, as if a Nebula in the twilight had been kneaded into the shell.
The most astonishing feature was the light purple Runes on the surface of the shell. Each Rune was small and exquisite, yet they did not just float on the surface. They seemed to have grown out from the inside of the shell, seamlessly integrating with it. At the very top of the spiral, all the Runes converged into a small star-shaped symbol, emitting a faint glow that was brighter than its surroundings.
"Is this really just a fragment?"
Cheng Ye could not help muttering to himself. This single fragment before him already exuded an indescribable mystery. He dared not imagine to what tyrannical heights a complete Myriad Command Earth Dharma Conch could reach.
Of course, because what was being analyzed were not the Traits of the Myriad Command Earth Dharma Conch itself, even if he had just clearly seen the shape of the Runes, the impression in his mind would instantly blur the moment he looked away. He could not even accurately remember the specific form of the shell, only barely managing to recall its position floating above the Lake.
Only by casting his gaze back onto the image could he reconfirm its existence and location.
"No wonder Humans cannot actively locate and search for Immortal Items, and can only rely on luck to encounter and secure them in Containment..."
Cheng Ye clicked his tongue secretly. "Even a Transcendent like me can't remember its details. If an ordinary person took a look, they probably wouldn't even retain a blurry impression."
From this, he could infer.
He could remember Liu Kun's Searing Hawk vividly, yet he could not recall the details of this Immortal Item, indicating that the level of Immortal Items was higher than that of Transcendent Creatures.
However, the fact that he could still barely remember the Immortal Item's location meant that the level of the Runes on the shell was even higher than the Immortal Item itself. After all, even the Immortal Item was influenced by the Runes, making it difficult for an observer to memorize.
Having figured this out, Cheng Ye stared at the Dharma Conch for a long time before pressing the play button again.
The perspective was instantly pulled back to the Abyssal Water Cave Crab, beginning to demonstrate the rules of the "Command Chamber Patterns." But in the next second, an even more miraculous change occurred!
On the surface of the Myriad Command Earth Dharma Conch above the Lake, those light purple Runes suddenly began to flow slowly. Like living beings, they wandered along the spiral trajectory of the shell. Every movement stirred up fragmented purple light that fell upon the lake's surface, dying the clear water with a dreamy purple Halo.
Even more miraculously, as the Abyssal Water Cave Crab was controlled by the Chamber Patterns to walk toward the Lake, a soft buzzing sound suddenly echoed in Cheng Ye's ears. This sound did not come from the outside world, but seemed to reverberate directly within his mind.
At the same time, a faint Numbness transmitted from his fingertips, as if fragmented energy was being passed over along his line of sight. It was highly similar to the sensation he felt when he touched the Demonic Eye Sponge's eyeball earlier!
"What's going on?"
Cheng Ye shook his head vigorously, trying to confirm if the buzzing in his ears and the Numbness in his fingertips were a Hallucination.
But in the next second, the Dharma Conch in the image suddenly underwent a new change. The flowing speed of the Runes on the shell abruptly accelerated, and the originally dim golden lines lit up accordingly. As purple and gold intertwined, a few wisps of light purple mist actually emerged above the Lake.
The mist rapidly condensed into blurry patterns—resembling meandering Mountains and Rivers, or perhaps twinkling stars. They vanished in a flash, so fast it seemed like an illusion.
Yet, this brief change ultimately did not escape the Collector's capture.
The light blue panel gently popped open.
[Unknown biological fluctuation detected. Recorded by the Collector. Currently analyzing...]
[Analysis successful. The Trait of the Myriad Command Earth Dharma Conch has slightly increased!]
"The Trait increased?"
Cheng Ye's eyes widened abruptly, his heart beating faster uncontrollably.
Previously, he had slaughtered thousands of Crab-men, yet the Trait progress of the Myriad Command Earth Dharma Conch hadn't even broken into the single digits. How could taking one look in the information space allow him to collect Traits instead?
'No, could the meaning of a Trait be...'
Cheng Ye immediately reacted. The so-called Trait should essentially be the Information Deconstruction of the target organism.
The rhythm collected from the Crab-men was information, and the purple mist fluctuation emitted by the Dharma Conch just now was naturally also information.
This provided him with a new line of thought.
If he encountered an ultra-strong creature that couldn't be directly analyzed, perhaps he could start with its associated creatures and environment, collecting information indirectly. It might not be impossible to slowly piece together its Traits this way.
Opening the index, he jumped to the entry for the Myriad Command Earth Dharma Conch.
Ocean Current, River Luo, Mountains and Rivers—none of the three Traits had changed.
The ??? Trait also remained mysterious and could not be analyzed.
However, the progress of the Aquatic Edict had jumped from less than a single digit previously to nineteen percent. Although there was still a long way to go before reaching one hundred percent, at least it was no longer an unattainable pipe dream.
'I wonder if repeatedly entering the information space will allow me to repeatedly collect this fluctuation?'
Cheng Ye suppressed the excitement in his heart and patiently continued watching the analysis of the Command Chamber Patterns.
In the image, the Abyssal Water Cave Crab had already walked into the Lake. Just as it tried to approach the central area where the Dharma Conch was located, the Chamber Patterns on its body suddenly flickered with a cyan-purple light, tightening around its torso like a constricting chain.
"Creak..." The Abyssal Water Cave Crab let out a painful wail. Under the restraint of the Chamber Patterns, it could only clumsily change direction and hide to the left.
But after moving only two steps, the Chamber Patterns tightened even further, forcing it to turn to the right.
It wasn't until it retreated into a water-filled depression in the lower right corner of the Lake that the Chamber Patterns gradually faded away and stopped tightening.
Yet, the moment it tried to step out of the depression's range, the Chamber Patterns instantly lit up again, dragging it back with piercing pain.
"This command is far too crude... It actually relies on pain punishment to restrain it?"
The information space shattered amid Cheng Ye's shock.
The Command Chamber Patterns were far less powerful than he had imagined. They didn't possess the ability to "control all Infection Sources with a single thought." They only relied on the most primitive pain to bind them.
This was absolutely good news. It meant that the Demonic Eye Sponge had no way to micromanage the Crab-man army to concentrate their destruction once they went ashore. It could only drive the Crab-men to the shore, after which it would have to rely entirely on the Infected Bodies' own instincts to act.
'Then if I analyze the Command Chamber Patterns, would I also be able to obtain this kind of binding ability?'
The moment this thought popped up, Cheng Ye immediately replayed the intelligence on the Command Chamber Patterns.
Unfortunately, it seemed the fluctuation of the Myriad Command Earth Dharma Conch could only be collected once. Even when he saw the mist flash again, the panel did not provide any new prompts, and the Trait progress remained firmly stuck at nineteen percent.
'Perhaps that single wisp of fluctuation represents the Core Information of the Aquatic Edict. Repeated information cannot be collected a second time.'
The information space shattered with a boom, and the analysis regarding the Command Chamber Patterns concluded once more.
Cheng Ye leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping his knee as his mind rapidly sorted through the information he had grasped.
At this point, the Traits of the Demonic Eye Sponge could be considered completely dismantled and understood.
The Chamber was divided into two layers.
The first layer was its digestive and absorptive organ. It was used to absorb organisms to replenish energy, and it was also responsible for Screening candidate fighters who failed the test, directly converting them into Nutrients.
The Second Layer was a captive breeding space. The previously analyzed blue sponge had occupied a cliff space, while this Demonic Eye Sponge had clearly occupied a massive Cavern formed by unknown means.
Regarding the Runes of the Chamber, although there was currently no detailed information, judging from the change in the Abyssal Water Cave Crab shrinking in size after entering the Second Layer, there was definitely a Rune that could alter an organism's physical size.
Only this way could it accommodate the massive army of Crab-men.
And the logic of the Chamber Patterns had also gradually become clear. The passage, command, and symbiosis Chamber Patterns did not exist independently; rather, they were functional fragments of the entire Spiral Chamber Pattern System.
The symbiosis Chamber Patterns were the foundation, used to capture fighters and food. Once a creature entered symbiosis, it would become a vassal of the Demonic Eye Sponge and could never break free.
The Pass-Chamber Patterns were more like a Subordinate Authority of the symbiosis Chamber Patterns. Only by carrying them could one pass the Constraint Eye's judgment and freely enter or exit the Chamber.
The Command Chamber Patterns were a Restraint Tool, relying on pain punishment to force the fighters to obey rules and execute commands.
As for the Constraint Eye, it was the gatekeeper guarding the Chamber and the steward managing the internal order.
'Right now, I only need to enter the interior of the Chamber. As long as I can deceive the gatekeeper, that will be enough. I won't need the symbiosis and command abilities for the time being.'
Once his line of thought was finalized, Cheng Ye immediately opened the index panel, preparing to exchange for Items related to the Pass-Chamber Patterns.
It just so happened that the Trait progress for the Pass-Chamber Patterns was at two hundred percent, enough to redeem twice.
He attempted to invest twenty-five percent of his Recharge Value, selecting to generate a physical Item.
Lines of prompts instantly flashed across the panel:
[Trait exchange successful!]
[The Item generated for this exchange is: Pass-Chamber Suit]
[The Item has been automatically stored in the space]
After the prompt disappeared, Cheng Ye raised his Pendant and sure enough, he saw the phantom image of an additional Item in the grid on the bottom right corner.
He silently commanded it to be extracted, selected a location, and an article of clothing resembling a ghillie suit fell from the void, spreading flat on the floor of the truck.
However, unlike the grassy green color of a ghillie suit, the surface of this Pass-Chamber Suit was covered with faint purple spiral patterns. It felt exceptionally light to the touch, thin as paper, so much so that he could barely feel any weight.
Even more miraculously, when he pressed the suit against his arm, it actually seemed to come alive. It instantly clung to his skin and rapidly materialized into a layer of light purple Chamber Patterns, perfectly fusing with his flesh. Without looking closely, it was completely undetectable.
Taking it off was simple as well. He only needed to pinch a corner of the Chamber Pattern on his arm and pull gently, and the patterns would gather back into the form of clothing, peeling off his body.
"Not bad, this wearing experience far exceeds expectations!"
Cheng Ye nodded in satisfaction. He immediately used the remaining Trait progress to exchange for a second Pass-Chamber Suit, stuffed both of them into his Backpack, pushed open the truck's cargo door, and walked toward the Riverside.
The rain outside had not grown heavier. It was still scattered with light raindrops, slightly cold as they patted against his cheeks, completely matching the forecasted drizzle.
Luo Kuke was already doing warm-up exercises by the water. Seeing Cheng Ye take out two peculiar pieces of clothing from his Backpack, he was instantly surprised and delighted. "Are we going to wear these big things into the water?"
"You'll know the effect once you try it." Cheng Ye smiled as he first put on his Obsidian Battle Armor, then pressed the Pass-Chamber Suit onto the armor's surface.
The suit instantly clung onto it, quickly forming rings of light purple Chamber Patterns on the battle armor. They looked almost identical to the Chamber Patterns on the Crab-men they had seen earlier, only the color was lighter and the width of the patterns was slightly narrower, looking as though an exquisite "gift ribbon" had been tied around the outside of the armor.
Seeing this, Luo Kuke immediately followed suit. After changing into his own Obsidian Battle Armor, he pressed the other Pass-Chamber Suit onto it.
The exact same change occurred. The suit smoothly transformed into Chamber Patterns and attached itself to the armor without any discomfort.
However, precisely because of this, having grown accustomed to the painful torment every time he clashed with an Infection Source...
He couldn't help but feel a bit suspicious. "Can this thing really help us enter the Demonic Eye Sponge's... Chamber?"
Since the two of them were the direct discoverers of the Demonic Eye Sponge, there was no problem with whatever they decided to name things.
So, after Cheng Ye proposed the term "Chamber," Luo Kuke quickly accepted it and formed a clear concept in his mind.
"Let's go. We'll know once we go down and try it," Cheng Ye said.
Cheng Ye took out his Defense Terminal and checked the time. It was exactly 4:01 PM. "There's still more than two hours before dark. We have plenty of time."
"We're not bringing the Containment Box?"
"Not for now. Let's go down and assess the situation first. As for the Immortal Item..."
Thinking of the Myriad Command Earth Dharma Conch floating above the Lake in the information space, Cheng Ye gently shook his head.
Discovering the fragment was a difficult hurdle, but Containment would be even harder.
Not to mention him, even an Elder who appeared completely invincible would not be able to block the directional pollution of the Dharma Conch.
This required conducting further research and judgment on the Dharma Conch to devise a corresponding Containment strategy.
Splash!
The two jumped into the water one after another. Cheng Ye reached out to grab Luo Kuke and activated his Accelerated Energy.
An invisible energy jetted from their waists, enveloping the two of them as they dove downward rapidly like swimming fish.
They soon reached the bottom of the water. That barrier glowing with Purple Glow was indeed still covering the Demonic Eye Sponge, tightly shielding it in the center.
Seeing that the Ruin-level Infection Source had actually shrunk into a ball and even retracted its tentacles, Luo Kuke instantly revealed an expression as if he had seen a ghost.
For Humans to push a Ruin-level Infection Source to such an extent was simply unheard of!
In the future, whether he went to a neighboring shelter city or Inspectors from other shelter cities visited Happiness City as guests, he would never again have to worry about lacking material to brag about.
Just the act of forcing back the Demonic Eye Sponge was enough for him to boast about for a decade, an unforgettable lifelong achievement.
While lost in his wild thoughts, the two continued to descend, soon arriving before the barrier.
Just as Cheng Ye was pondering how to cross the barrier, a tentacle eyeball on the main body of the Demonic Eye Sponge suddenly slowly opened, its light purple pupil sweeping over the two of them.
But after looking for just a few moments, it slumped back down weakly, as if it didn't take them seriously at all.
Clack!
Luo Kuke rapped on his battle armor, reaching out to gesture.
His hand, covered in the Chamber Patterns, slowly reached forward and landed on the barrier. Unexpectedly, it wasn't obstructed by the purple barrier and passed right through.
'It's that simple?'
Cheng Ye was both surprised and delighted. He immediately brought Luo Kuke along and accelerated, the two of them passing through the barrier without any hindrance and entering the Demonic Eye Sponge's "protective circle."
Almost simultaneously, a rift opened on the main body of the Demonic Eye Sponge. It was exactly identical to the opening the Crab-men had used to enter and exit earlier, like a passage intentionally opened just for them.
'We slipped in just like that?'
Cheng Ye suppressed the pleasant surprise in his heart, his mind operating at high speed.
Although past Experience could not be fully applied, one ironclad law was verified once again: Infection Sources, regardless of their level, would always obey their own rules.
As long as he could perform Rule Analysis, he could find a breakthrough point, even for Ruin-level or Extinction-level Infection Sources.
And the key to measuring the strength of an Inspector's ability was precisely the speed and accuracy with which they discovered these rules.
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing determination in each other's eyes.
The most difficult step of gaining entry had been accomplished. Having reached this point, there was absolutely no reason to shrink back.
Cheng Ye activated the Accelerated Energy again. With a flash, he carried Luo Kuke along, plunging steadily into the rift of the Chamber.
Whoosh!
As soon as they entered the Chamber, a warm sensation enveloped the two of them. It felt like rushing into a bathroom on a freezing day and turning on the hot shower. The icy coldness and pressure of the river water vanished completely. Even breathing became smooth, as if they had returned to dry land.
Cheng Ye immediately went on high alert, sensing the changes brought by the Runes inside the Chamber.
To his surprise, however, the Pass-Chamber Patterns on the surface of his body suddenly glowed with a faint cyan-purple light, acting like a protective film that isolated them from the influence of the first layer's Runes.
'The Pass-Chamber Patterns actually have this benefit?'
'Since the Chamber Patterns can block the influence of the Runes, what would happen if we spoke or released our Essence inside?'
A question arose in Cheng Ye's mind. He tried slightly parting his lips, exhaling a breath of stale air.
He was already prepared. If the Demonic Eye Sponge showed any unusual activity, he would immediately activate Size-as-Desired and burst out from the inside.
But a few seconds passed, and the Chamber remained quiet. The Demonic Eye Sponge exhibited no reaction whatsoever.
"It seems the Pass-Chamber Patterns act like an ID Card. As long as we don't do anything too outrageous, we won't be detected."
Cheng Ye breathed a sigh of relief and then spoke out loud, "We can talk normally now. You don't have to hold it in."
Luo Kuke jumped in fright, instantly stopping his snooping around. Looking left and right, he asked, "Is the Chamber only this big? I don't see the Immortal Item Fragment. And where did all those Crab-men go?"
"Follow me!"
Although this was his first time stepping into the Demonic Eye Sponge's Chamber, relying on the analysis from the information space, Cheng Ye already knew the layout like the back of his hand. Walking through it felt as familiar as returning to his own home.
This was the advantage of having intelligence!
He didn't waste time studying the Runes on the walls, leading Luo Kuke straight toward the entrance to the Second Layer.
It was a circular depression flush with the ground, its surface covered in faint Chamber Patterns. The Abyssal Water Cave Crab from before had passed through here to enter the Second Layer Cavern.
Stepping up to the depression, Cheng Ye tapped his foot slightly, and the ground immediately "came alive." The Chamber Patterns squirmed rapidly, and the depression slowly sank downward.
Hum!
An invisible fluctuation swept over the two. Suddenly, the ground beneath their feet disappeared, and a Falling Sensation was instantly transmitted to them.
When he had experienced it in the information space, it felt rather thrilling, like being on a drop tower ride.
But experiencing it in person, he realized it was more like riding a Biological Elevator, slowly transferring via the internal structure of the Demonic Eye Sponge.
About three or four seconds later, the light before their eyes became increasingly apparent, and a light purple ripple barrier appeared below.
At the same time, a mysterious fluctuation wrapped around the two of them.
Cheng Ye abruptly lowered his head, shocked to discover that his body was rapidly shrinking. His nearly six-foot frame contracted like a deflating balloon—thirty inches, twenty inches, twelve inches... finally locking in at the height of an adult's forearm. Throughout the whole process, there was no discomfort; it was just like passing through a sizing tunnel.
Pop.
A gentle Thrust came from behind, pushing the two of them forward and sending them straight through the purple ripple barrier.
An extremely intense purple light instantly exploded outward. Cheng Ye instinctively squinted, but before his vision could recover, an utterly refreshing scent rushed into his nasal cavity.
With just a light sniff, the Fatigue throughout his entire body dissipated by more than half, filling him with a heavenly comfort.
"We're in?"
Cheng Ye slowly opened his eyes, adapting to the residual purple light.
Once his vision cleared, the scene before him was exactly the same as in the information space. It was a massive Cavern, yet it didn't have the slightest hint of being dark and damp.
Above their heads was a faintly glowing Rock Wall, and beneath their feet was a layer of Soft Moss. Strange plants taller than a person grew all around them. Thick trunks pierced straight into the sky, looking like Giant Trees hundreds of meters tall. It was completely a Magical Secret Realm.
"Is this... inside the Cavern?" Luo Kuke was thoroughly dumbfounded, his mouth gaping so wide a fist could fit inside.
Humans in the Post-Wasteland Era had long grown accustomed to barrenness and decay.
Especially the Humans living in Shi Province. Although they weren't lacking in green vegetation, under the influence of the Petrification Curse, all those plants carried a thick aura of deathly stillness. They had never imagined that such a place full of vitality still existed in the world; it was almost like stumbling back into the transcendent era of the past.
Cheng Ye didn't answer. Instead, he first turned to look behind them. That purple Light Gate still stood in place, reaching all the way to the top of the Rock Wall. It seemed likely that its location could be seen from anywhere.
Having confirmed that their retreat path was still there, he safely sank his consciousness into the information space, opening the analysis screen of the Command Chamber Patterns once again.
Comparing the two, their current position was completely identical to the drop point where the Abyssal Water Cave Crab had entered the Second Layer.
"It's simple from here on out. If we follow the Abyssal Water Cave Crab's route, we'll be able to find the Lake and the Dharma Conch."
Cheng Ye quickly marked out a few geographical features in his mind, then closed the panel and shouted in a low voice,
"Let's go!"
Luo Kuke immediately kept up. The two of them had shrunk in size by six times, but their physical attributes hadn't diminished in the slightest. Their sprint remained swift as they traversed through the dense "jungle." After running for about four kilometers, the vegetation ahead gradually thinned out, and moist water vapor carrying a refreshing Grassy Scent rushed toward their faces.
The silhouette of a massive Lake could already be seen through the gaps in the trees. The lake water rippled with faint Fluorescence, matching the scene in the information space without a single discrepancy.
Running forward for another few hundred meters, their field of vision abruptly opened up.
From a perspective shrunk six times, this Lake looked like an endless, boundless ocean. The surface of the lake was calm and unrippled, with only the Fluorescence flickering gently underwater, so beautiful that it left one in a trance.
Luo Kuke was completely entranced, standing in place muttering to himself, completely unaware that Cheng Ye's expression beside him had suddenly darkened.
His gaze was dead set on the sky above the center of the Lake. It was completely empty; there wasn't even a trace of purple light.
'Where is the Dharma Conch?'
'Where is the Myriad Command Earth Dharma Conch that was floating above the Lake?'
The sky above the Lake was completely bare. There was no shadow of the Myriad Command Earth Dharma Conch anywhere!
'But the information space clearly showed the Dharma Conch suspended in the middle of the lake. How could it just vanish?'
'Was the timing of our entry wrong? Did we miss the cycle when the Dharma Conch stays here?'
'Or does this Immortal Item move on its own, drifting through the Cavern like an Ocean Current?'
A series of questions exploded in Cheng Ye's mind. This accident outside the bounds of his intelligence made his heart sink heavily.
But soon, Cheng Ye's heart suddenly tightened as an even more terrifying possibility surfaced in his mind.
He abruptly turned his head to look at Luo Kuke, only to see that Luo Kuke's eyes were vacant. A faint purple light was reflecting in his pupils, and an idiotic smile hung on the corners of his mouth. He looked as if his mind and soul had been completely captivated by something.
'Pollution?'
'Could it be that you have to suffer the Mental Pollution of the Dharma Conch to be able to see its specific location?'
Realizing this terrifying possibility, Cheng Ye abruptly reached out and slapped heavily onto Luo Kuke's helmet.
But Luo Kuke had no reaction at all. His eyes remained vacant, and the purple light in his pupils grew increasingly dense. He looked as if his very soul had been entirely drawn out, not even twitching a finger.
"Fuck!"
Cheng Ye's heart sank, instantly throwing the thought of searching for the Dharma Conch to the back of his mind.
If Luo Kuke collapsed right after entering the Cavern, only he would be left for the subsequent exploration, and the risks would instantly double.
"Wake up!"
"Wake up!"
He reached out and delivered a continuous flurry of slaps directly onto Luo Kuke's face.
However, the protective layer of the Obsidian Battle Armor was incredibly hard. The slaps only let out muffled "thump-thump" sounds, unable to even break through his defenses.
'Do I have to destroy his battle armor to force him awake?'
'But Mental Pollution... Reminds me of Huang Liang, who was forcefully turned into a Vegetative State after being forcefully awakened.'
Cheng Ye took a deep breath, paused, and suddenly grit his teeth, directly opening his personal interface.
If you do not enter the blade's lair, how can you obtain the blade.
Mental Pollution would not cause immediate death; only a large-scale outburst tide of pollution could be fatal. Since only by being polluted could one pierce through that layer of "invisible boundary" and see the true Dharma Conch, there seemed to be only one path left to take right now.
His gaze fixed on the crimson Heart-Protecting Fire, and then flashed across the evaluation at the very bottom.
Transcendence was also a besieged fortress. Having gained something, one inevitably had to lose something. For ordinary Transcendents, it was impossible to be like him, possessing the opportunity to freely jump in and out of this fortress.
Just like Liu Kun—even if he could come here, it would be impossible for him to permanently abandon his Transcendent Searing Hawk just to see the Immortal Item.
And since the panel had indicated that in order to explore more places and obtain more harvests, some sacrifices were valuable.
Cheng Ye no longer hesitated, silently chanting 'Uninstall' in his heart.
Whoosh.
The connection between him and Little Flame was instantly severed as the Heart-Protecting Fire disappeared from the Skill Bar.
Unable to care about checking the next prompt that popped up on the panel, Cheng Ye only felt a wave of dizziness in his head, like just waking up from a hangover. His five senses instantly blurred, and an icy spiritual force frantically drilled into his brain through the space between his eyebrows. The scene before his eyes began to twist.
'Hold on!'
He bit down hard on the tip of his tongue, barely maintaining his clarity through the stinging pain. He groggily raised his head and looked toward the Lake once again...
This time, that vanished Myriad Command Earth Dharma Conch shockingly appeared right in the middle of the Lake!
Only, its volume was countless times larger than what he had seen in the information space. It stood tens of meters tall. The shell, rippling with an ethereal purple glow, looked like a small mountain, yet also resembled a purple sun suspended in mid-air. The golden patterns on the shell flowed, and every flicker caused the surrounding air to ripple.
What alarmed Cheng Ye even more was that the ground surrounding the Lake was densely packed with kneeling Crab-men.
They were lined up in neat formations, stretching from the lake's edge all the way deep into the dense forest, extending beyond the limits of his sight.
All the Crab-men had their heads bowed. Only the two pincers on their backs were trembling slightly, as if they were conducting a bizarre "pilgrimage."
A muttering whisper came from beside him. Cheng Ye turned his head again, only to see that Luo Kuke finally no longer wore that foolish look. Instead, he had turned his head as well, his face revealing a somewhat pleasantly surprised smile:
"The Immortal Item Fragment is right there!"