In the dark and silent depths of the ocean, the silence did not last long.
The Gu Yue Imperial Dynasty and the other four overlord forces possessed ancient legacies. Since they had resolved to eradicate the source of the disaster, they would naturally not have been unprepared.
At this moment, the situation had not yet exceeded their expectations.
"Use the Number Three Weird Device."
The Radiant Demigod spoke.
Madam Gong retrieved a uniquely shaped weird device from the palace, presumably a type of weird device.
This device was cone-shaped, entirely silver-white, and covered with dense, arcane runes. Staring at it for too long seemed to plunge one into a vortex of knowledge.
Madam Gong inserted this cone-shaped device in front of the palace and then extracted one 'nail-like' component after another from it, instructing the experts and scholars to insert these nail-like objects into the surroundings.
Following this, silver beams of light emanated from the conical core and the nail-like components, weaving together to form a silver-white net that encompassed the entire surrounding area.
The net gradually contracted, emitting a humming sound, as if some incomprehensible rule change from mythology were occurring.
The next moment, nothing happened.
The silver net and silver beams of light vanished.
"Did it fail?"
"Did we find the wrong place?"
The mythological figures exchanged glances and mumbled. However, the Radiant Demigod, Madam Gong, and Old Man Nan Li, the three prominent figures of the Gu Yue Imperial Dynasty, remained composed, as if this failure had been anticipated.
Xing Jinglei understood what was happening!
Under the 'Weird Evil Tracking' vision, he saw what was presumably the source of the disaster: a black and red, filthy sphere, approximately several hundred meters in diameter. It was located seven to eight thousand meters away from the palace.
The net formed by the peculiar weird device was only one to two kilometers in diameter.
Just now, the silver net had been cast out, but it had not ensnared the target, the source of the disaster, missing by several thousand meters.
With the vision of Xing Jinglei, Yiluoxi, and Qianqiu, and even with the ability to zoom out to an overhead perspective, Fang You's view was even clearer and more intuitive than that of the three.
He stroked his chin, "It appears that the Gu Yue Imperial Dynasty's detection methods can only pinpoint a general location and cannot see the 'source of disaster,' this black and red giant sphere."
"However, this peculiarly shaped weird device should not be merely for locking onto the source of the disaster."
...
The cone-shaped weird device was extracted, relocated, and reinserted, the plug-ins arranged, the silver net cast, and then fruitlessly retracted. This process was repeated a full five times.
Not only the mythological figures were expressing doubt and anxiety; Fang You himself was gradually becoming impatient for them.
The situation was not yet dangerous. Over half an hour had passed, and only one seven-star level weird evil had appeared. The rest were mid to low-level weird evildoers that had been swarming in.
However, everyone understood that the environment could not remain peaceful forever. A great crisis could erupt at any moment, perhaps in the next hour, or perhaps in the next second.
When the Gu Yue Imperial Dynasty made their sixth attempt, the location finally matched!
Under the interweaving silver beams of light, a colossal shadow slowly emerged from the seabed of this deep ocean. It was not the black and red sphere that Fang You had seen through the weird evil tracking vision, but a more concrete and hideous object.
— A fleshy growth that pulsed like a heart.
The surface of the growth was covered with dark red blood vessels. Its existence was more conceptual than solid, as if it were an object that had never truly existed, forcibly materialized under the silver net. Consequently, its surface constantly shifted. In addition to the blood vessels, there were often countless hideous faces appearing, sometimes black arms extending out, and at other times, chilling eyes opening from the gaps.
Previously, through the weird evil tracking vision, the dark red streams of foulness flowing towards the giant sphere had transformed into massive blood vessels, several meters in diameter. These blood vessels were rooted in the seabed and extended into the depths of the Sea of Filth, their ends unseen. Once they surpassed the range of the silver net, they disappeared from view.
"What is this!"
The mythological figures looked up, feeling a repulsive aura and a tremor from the depths of their souls emanating from this colossal, ugly growth.
"This is likely the perpetrator that causes disaster in our Shattered Sea every two to three hundred years, the materialized source of disaster... or rather, one of them."
The Radiant Demigod also gazed into the distance, and after a long while, he spoke.
His expression indicated that this was likely the first time he had seen the physical form of the source of disaster.
He said, "Esteemed sirs and madams, strike now! Eradicate the source of disaster and restore clarity to our Shattered Sea!"
Except for a few individuals maintaining a perimeter to guard against surprise attacks from weird evildoers, the remaining dozen or so mythological figures attacked simultaneously.
Yiluoxi spread her fingers slightly, and as water rippled around her, thousands of lightning spears materialized in an instant.
Qianqiu's technique was much more straightforward. He simply wielded his massive scythe, unleashing sharp blade-lights hundreds of meters long with each swing.
The other mythological figures also displayed their unique abilities, erupting in bursts of brilliant and terrifying light at the bottom of the dark sea, directly striking this colossal growth.
Tides surged, space vibrated, and countless chilling rifts tore open.
Pairs of eyes watched the center covered by the energy tide.
"Destroyed?"
"It seems not!"
The combined full-power strike of over a dozen mythological figures was something even veteran demigods like Xiguang, the Pillar of Cold, would not dare to face head-on. Moreover, the source of disaster growth was merely an object with no ability to resist, left to their mercy.
However, at this moment, the entire colossal growth remained largely intact, though its surface had become pitted and scarred. Dark red blood vessels had broken, and the faces on its surface had become twisted and hateful.
"Hiss—"
"Roar!"
"Waaah~ Waaah~!"
Sharp, piercing screeches emanated from the swelling and contracting colossal growth. Invisible sonic waves instantly spread for hundreds of thousands of kilometers. The mythological figures directly facing the growth felt as if they were surrounded by dozens of seven-star level weird evildoers, with sharp, deafening roars exploding right beside their ears!
The mythological figures' eardrums buzzed, their pupils dilated, their brains hummed, and countless visions of weird evildoers appeared before their eyes, with whispers lingering in their ears.
This was a pollution impact!
Since ascending to the mythological realm and facing seven-star world-ending level weird evildoers without fear, the mythological figures could not recall how long it had been since they had experienced a pollution impact.
This long-lost experience made them momentarily groggy.
More than a dozen experts and scholars operating special weird devices trembled violently, their faces turning ashen, their pupils gradually losing their vital spark.
Some collapsed with a thud, bleeding from all seven orifices.
On some, it seemed as if fine snakes were slithering beneath their skin, and the next moment, their entire bodies exploded with a series of pops.
Others experienced mutation, decay, exhaustion, and other rapid changes. The only thing they had in common was that they were all... beyond saving.
The Radiant Demigod was among the first to recover from the impact, followed by Madam Gong and Old Man Nan Li, two top-tier mythological figures. Xing Jinglei and the others also recovered quickly. After all, such pollution impacts were not unfamiliar to them. Not long ago, he was still a weakling who would feel chills and terror when facing a four-star level weird evil.
Of course, more importantly, Xing Jinglei and his companions had exceptionally solid foundations. They had ascended to the mythological realm in a 'perfect state' and their personal pollution levels were close to zero. Compared to other mythological beings, Xing Jinglei and his group had stronger resistance to 'pollution impacts.'
When Guang Jian Sheng (Shining Sword Saint) Chen Tianxuan awoke from his daze, he instinctively looked in Xing Jinglei's direction.
He was slightly surprised.
"Was the daze from the pollution impact shorter than mine? As expected of a tough guy who remains strong even when severely injured. Compared to him, I am still slightly lacking in this regard."
The mythological figures' daze lasted for a very short time. Upon recovering, they rapidly retreated as if startled, watching the colossal growth before them with wariness and trepidation.
At this time, sea tides also surged from the gray and black seabed, and more and more weird evildoers were emerging with their ferocious bodies from the darkness.
"Once the fleshy growth is injured, it will disseminate information affecting surrounding weird evildoers! Hurry!"
"Start by severing the surrounding red blood vessels!"
The mythological figures attacked again, first shattering the dark red, thick blood vessels rooted in the seabed, and then turning their attention to bombard the colossal growth relentlessly.
Indeed, as those dark red blood vessels were severed, the attacks of the mythological figures became more effective.
With their defenses prepared, the mythological figures no longer fell into a daze easily. Although facing 'high-yield' pollution impacts repeatedly was difficult, they gritted their teeth, mustered their resolve, and unleashed their killing moves with all their might.
Several minutes later,
"Ah—!!!"
A hoarse, ear-splitting shriek echoed through the dark seabed. Under this impact, the mythological figures' faces turned even paler, but seeing the colossal growth now shattered into pieces, dissipating into specks of black and red light in the dark seabed, they still revealed expressions of relief and excitement.
"It's done!"
"We have eradicated the source of disaster!"
"Only one, only one."
Yet, it was still a feat worthy of great praise. Moreover, the entire process seemed not too difficult.
Breaking through the surging tide of weird evildoers, the dozen or so mythological figures thought to themselves.
Of course, it wasn't entirely easy. Putting aside the ambushes from weird evildoers along the way, the process of eradicating the source of disaster had been dangerous and perilous.
Throughout the entire process, they had endured at least a dozen unavoidable 'massive yield' pollution impacts. Furthermore, as the injuries to the colossal growth worsened, its influence on the surrounding weird evildoers intensified.
Lord of Shadow Island remembered that by the time the fleshy growth shattered, there were already six seven-star level weird evildoers appearing in the vicinity, and the number of mid to low-level weird evildoers was enough to make even mythological figures feel pressured.
If it weren't for the fact that the shattering of the fleshy growth simultaneously caused negative impacts on the surrounding weird evildoers, throwing them into chaos, the mythological figures would have had to pay a considerable price to break out.
Even now,
Lord of Shadow Island checked his own injuries. His divine sense was somewhat damaged, and his body had been infiltrated by a lot of filth. To fully recover, it would likely take a considerable amount of time and valuable resources.
Of course, there were gains. After the colossal growth shattered and dissipated into black and red particles, the residual foul energy condensed into divine crystals and mountains of weird crystals.
However, all these crystals were formed from foul energy. Weird crystals were fine; they could be used as ordinary energy, and even if they contained pollution, their impact on equipment would not be significant.
But divine crystals were for mythological beings to recover and cultivate; they required purity. These divine crystals, heavily polluted, instantly dropped from treasures to being of little use. While not entirely worthless, their value was truly less than one-tenth.
Polluted and broken divinity could still be refined to extract information. What could polluted divine crystals do?
Lord of Shadow Island and the other mythological figures found it a great pity.
Of course, their 'disaster eradication operation' was undertaken with a noble mission, not for 'such a small' reward, but to restore clarity to the Shattered Sea.
The four overlords had also collected a large amount of resources for this purpose, and these resources would serve as part of the reward for these mythological figures. Those with money would pay, and those with strength would contribute.
On this basis, with the considerable gains from the source of disaster, the mythological figures became even more motivated.
...
The source of disaster was not singular, but plural.
The exact number was still unknown, but the Gu Yue Imperial Dynasty used some means to detect it, and the results indicated that there were a second and a third source of disaster in this area.
After a brief rest, recovery, and resupply, the lavishly equipped mythological disaster eradication team plunged into the Sea of Filth once more to search for and eliminate the disaster growths.
"I heard the other three factions were also successful, each finding and destroying one disaster growth."
"It wasn't entirely smooth sailing. The disaster growths are quite troublesome. Both the other three factions and our team have many injured. It is said... it is said that one mythological figure from the team of Da Mi Luan City was killed."
Another mythological figure had fallen!
Of course, in the memories of the mythological figures, their Shattered Sea had seen the demise of numerous mythological beings over the past few centuries due to various disasters, cult servants, and power struggles.
However, the fact that a mythological figure engaged in the same endeavor as them, doing the same thing, had fallen so simply and directly, made them feel a pang of sadness.
Composing themselves, the mythological figures continued their mission.
The eradication of the second source of disaster also proceeded relatively smoothly. With the experience gained, it was no longer the first time. The mythological figures spent less time this time to shatter the disaster growth, and their personal pollution-related injuries were lighter.
On the way to find the source of disaster, they did not encounter a frenzy of weird evildoers like they did the first time.
Lord of Shadow Island and the other mythological figures' faces showed smiles again.
Following this pattern, after another three days, they eradicated the third source of disaster. Then, after resting for four more days, they found the fourth source of disaster.
This was likely the last one in this area.
"Let's put in some more effort! Once this battle is over, we'll return and divide the spoils!"
Lord of Shadow Island and the other mythological figures were in high spirits, unleashing brilliant killing blows upon the disaster growth.
At the same time, they were fully prepared to defend against 'pollution impacts.'
The disaster growth let out a shriek.
The gray and black sea tides gradually surged, and one weird evil after another emerged from the darkness. Seven-star level weird evildoers also appeared under the influence of the disaster growth.
One, two, three, four...
"Wait!"
Catching sight of the terrifyingly massive shadows emerging halfway from the darkness, Lord of Shadow Island broke out in a cold sweat.
If his count was not mistaken, the number of seven-star level weird evildoers that had appeared this time was... eighteen!
Eighteen, which was comparable to their own number of mythological beings.
If they were on land, they might have a chance to win, but here, in the depths of the Sea of Filth, and right next to the source of disaster, their combat effectiveness was greatly weakened by the environment, and they also had to face seven-star level weird evildoers with terrifying regenerative abilities.
How could they fight this? This was impossible to fight!
And, and...
Among the eighteen weird evildoers that emerged, there was one even more terrifying. Even looking at it directly made their souls tremble.
One eight-star level disaster source class weird evil!
Its form was indescribable, as if it were a conglomerate of several seven-star level weird evildoers, possessing both the tentacles of the Abyssal Devil Octopus King and the eyes of the Evil King Devil. It was like a terrifying monster formed by the aggregation of countless disasters.
This terrifying giant creature pushed aside the seawater and space, and lunged towards the team.
Its size also continued to grow, from its initial size several times that of a seven-star level weird evil, to tens of times, hundreds of times.
Seven-star level weird evildoers seemed like ants before it.
Faced with this indescribable monster, so enormous that their vision could only grasp a corner, the mythological figures had no inclination to resist.
The visual and mental shock it brought was too great!
At this moment, brilliant divine light erupted from the palace. The Radiant Demigod, clad in a cloak and wielding a silver spear, also attacked!
He took a step forward, and his form also grew in an instant.
Tens of meters, hundreds of meters, thousands of meters... He was like a giant, a giant who trod upon the earth and held up the sky.
This was the demigod's body, the demigod's form!
Light met the monstrous, indescribable creature that was charging towards them. The slight ripples created by their clash tore through space and annihilated everything around them.
Even if he could block the eight-star level disaster source class weird evil, the Radiant Demigod understood that the current situation was extremely unfavorable. To eradicate the source of disaster under these circumstances would undoubtedly be wishful thinking.
"Withdraw!"
"Break through, escape the Sea of Filth!"
"Forget about the source of disaster!"
The mythological figures naturally understood that they could not provoke this colossal growth further at this time. But they did not attack, and the colossal growth, at this moment, began to swell and contract violently, letting out a shriek several times more intense than before.
"#%￥@&—!!!"
Lord of Shadow Island trembled, his very soul seemingly about to fly away.
He inwardly cursed his misfortune. With great willpower, he continuously called to himself. When he snapped out of his daze, he saw a terrifying giant hoof descending from the sky. Lord of Shadow Island narrowly dodged it, and as his peripheral vision swept around, he noticed that a mythological figure not far away was being pounced upon by a seven-star level weird evil and dragged into the depths of the earth.
He naturally had no time to concern himself with the unfamiliar mythological figure. Survival was paramount at this moment, and breaking out was the priority.
He dodged frantically, cutting down strange evildoers, scanned his surroundings, and then quickly rushed towards Qianqiu.
At this moment,
The entire team had fallen into complete chaos, forced to break out individually.
The team could be roughly divided into four groups: The first was the Radiant Demigod, holding back the eight-star level weird evil while continuously launching powerful attacks at the surrounding weird evildoers.
The second group consisted of Madam Gong and several mythological figures, breaking out to the west.
The third group was Old Man Nan Li leading several mythological figures, breaking out to the north.
The fourth group was Qianqiu and the three of them, along with the Shining Sword Saint and other mythological figures, breaking out to the northeast.
The mythological figures could only seek out teams nearby for support. However, compared to the first two teams, the one led by Qianqiu lacked top-tier seven-awakened beings. The strongest mythological figure was an elder from the Chen family of the Shining Sword Saint, the Vastness Sword Saint Chen Anping.
He unleashed streaks of sword light, each capable of cleaving a seven-star level weird evil's body.
However, compared to Madam Gong and the two others, this Vastness Sword Saint was slightly inferior. This slight inferiority gave the weird evildoers space to continuously recover.
The weird evildoers pressed in!
"Die, for this great master!"
A familiar, massive body appeared once more.
Perhaps due to forcefully exerting himself during his injury, this time the Burst Fist Martial Saint looked even more tragic. His body constantly cracked and then forcibly healed, only to crack again. Faint lightning could be seen within the cracks, and his bare upper body had turned an unhealthy shade of purple.
His condition was dire, but at this moment, no one dared to tell him to retreat.
Chen Tianxuan merely spread out his 'Sword Rain Domain,' enveloping the surrounding space with tens of thousands of fine sword threads, forming a spherical shield that repeatedly blocked attacks from the outside.
*Bang*—
*Bang bang bang bang*—
He resisted with difficulty, but there were too many seven-star level weird evildoers around! He even thought he glimpsed a few figures that did not resemble weird evildoers. They were mythological beings from the evil god faction!
"Pfft—!"
Chen Tianxuan spat out a mouthful of golden-red blood. Dozens of sword threads under his control shattered, and an assassin from the evil god faction, exploiting the loophole in his defense, delivered a heavy blow.
This is bad.
Chen Tianxuan thought to himself, his gaze flickered to the other side, where Xing Jinglei was resisting the attack from the right.
This Martial Saint's body had already grown to thirty meters. Despite being covered in wounds, his aura was still incredibly strong, appearing even stronger than someone who had just been injured.
Chen Tianxuan: "???"
Weren't you a severely injured patient who fought through the pain?
Did you recover in these past few days? But continuing like this would also...
Chen Tianxuan gritted his teeth and continued to maintain the Sword Rain Domain. A few breaths later, he encountered trouble again, spitting out several mouthfuls of golden-red blood, his expression becoming somewhat weak.
But when his peripheral vision swept to that location, he saw that the giant had grown to over forty meters tall, wielding the limb of a massive weird evil as a weapon, sweeping left and right in an unparalleled manner.
Moreover, the cracks that had appeared on his body before seemed to have healed considerably.
Chen Tianxuan: "???"
Although Xing Jinglei was resilient, he could only endure, and he could not protect everyone. If this continued, they would still be dragged into an abyss by the tide of weird evildoers.
"Are you ready?!"
"Soon, it's time for this Empress to perform!"
Yiluoxi declared with firm resolve.
Although the environment here was not ideal for her, in a moment of crisis, wasn't it precisely when she, Empress Yiluoxi, needed to turn the tide?
Hoo hoo hoo hoo, next, you will all open your eyes wide and watch how this Empress breaks through the encirclement, no, watch how this Empress incinerates these weird evildoers!
Hearing their conversation, Lord of Shadow Island, Chen Tianxuan, and Chen Tianxuan's elder, along with several other mythological beings, all turned their gazes.
Their eyes were filled with hope.
This young-looking, newly appointed goddess did not seem entirely reliable, but since she spoke with such confidence, perhaps their Burning Flame Merchant Association still had some trump cards they hadn't used.
"Go, goddess of the Burning Flame Merchant Association, try to carve out a path."
The mythological beings, struggling to hold on, cheered inwardly.
"To completely kill these weird evildoers with extremely strong recovery abilities, one needs sufficient instantaneous output."
Yiluoxi understood this, which was why she wasn't carelessly unleashing skills. She was preparing. Around her, spatial ripples unfurled like a curtain.
This time, she would not win by quantity; she would convert quantity into quality.
And this was her harvest from the past few months.
The Gate of Infinity began to contract.
Ten times meditation! Twenty times meditation! Fifty times meditation!
Yiluoxi's divine sense was boiling. She was ready, it was time to perform!
*Pop*—
She seemed to hear something, the sound of a bubble bursting.
A fleeting glance revealed a mysterious symbol slowly fading from Qianqiu's eyes. The surface of his fading eyes reflected a monstrous image of a weird evil.
Not far away, a certain seven-star level weird evil suddenly froze. Red lines spread across its massive body, and the next moment, it exploded into thousands upon thousands of pieces.
Immediately after, a second, a third, a fourth, a fifth.
Within seven seconds, five consecutive world-ending level weird evildoers froze, red lines of death appearing on their bodies, shattering completely.
And at this moment, the mysterious symbol deep within Qianqiu's eyes finally dissipated completely.
"This, this is the trump card of you Burning Flame people?!"
Pairs of eyes filled with horrifying astonishment couldn't help but turn towards Yiluoxi.
Yiluoxi was also stunned. Looking at Qianqiu, who was breathing heavily, she slowly formed a question mark.
"?"