Chapter 178 Neurotoxin

"Neurotoxins?" Vivian frowned. "Are you sure neurotoxins will work on this thing?"

"I don't care what it is, just prepare a vat of it," Hao Ren said, walking to the edge of the pool. The red liquid churning within was gradually radiating a brighter light, its abundant vitality making it as dazzling as liquid rubies. The "heart" immersed in the pool beat more powerfully with each pulse. "Neurotoxins, anesthetics, acids, bases… Just prepare them all! Of course, not to pour directly in – that might just shock it awake. We'll set up some timed traps here, and when it wakes up, we'll hit it hard!"

"I never realized you could be so wicked…" Vivian looked at Hao Ren in astonishment, then agreed it was indeed a good idea!

The vampire girl immediately began using her blood to create a magic array around the "heart." These spells could be remotely activated to generate a wide-ranging corrosive blood mist. Though it was uncertain how effective such corrosion would be against a super-organism hundreds of kilometers wide, even a moment of stiffness would be helpful!

The data terminal was right. This was a creature whose size defied common sense. Even its life-form severely violated the Creator God's design specifications. Therefore, no conventional attack could kill it—not even Hao Ren's Inspector handgun would be effective. Against something hundreds of kilometers long, even two hundred sticks of dynamite would only create a pinprick. The thing's sheer size was its ultimate defense!

Therefore, any attempt to eliminate this ancient, awakening monster would inevitably trigger a major catastrophe. All that could be done now, besides immediately evacuating the residents of the Bainz region, was to prepare for the ensuing battle.

But Hao Ren hadn't yet figured out what kind of "battle" it would take to destroy such a terrifying creature. This world had no nuclear weapons, and frankly, he had ample reason to doubt their effectiveness against such a supernatural being!

Vivian quickly set up the traps around the pool. It was a two-meter-wide array of runes, dwarfed by the thousand-meter-wide "heart" like a sesame seed. Considering that this "heart" was merely the most inconspicuous of the Twisted Woodland's many circulatory organs, Hao Ren felt a growing sense of powerlessness. Would this setup even work?

"That's done here," Vivian said, wiping sweat from her brow. "Shall we check the other caverns for more 'hearts'?"

Hao Ren shook his head, casting aside useless worries, and pulled out the data terminal. "Lead the way!"

The group wasted no time, traversing the sprawling, chaotic underground world as quickly as possible. With the data terminal recording their path, they didn't fear getting lost. Soon, they found one cavern after another, each containing a "heart," and each echoing with a "thump, thump" sound that grew more powerful with each new find!

As Vivian set up the seventh magic array, she gasped for breath, looking at the massive creature before her. "At this rate, I'll be the world's first anemic bloodkin… After all this blood, I'll probably only leave a pinprick! How did this thing get so big!"

"The Creation Goddess back then might not have been as good as Raven 12345…" Hao Ren said with a wry grin, "But she was definitely more badass than us! Let's just do what we can and leave the rest to fate. Let's get out of here and meet up with the others."

They immediately left the cavern, leaving behind only a small magic array to accompany the "heart" immersed in the blood pool, slowly pulsing. The "thump, thump" echoed from behind, like a kind of invisible mockery.

They returned to the cave where they had first fallen, finding only two people: Aufra and Elson. Elson nodded to the group, appearing unharmed despite his bewildering journey. He must have been brought out later by the bearded man and the others. Aufra hurried to Hao Ren's group. "The news is true?"

There was little point in asking that now, but she needed to say it to reassure herself.

"Do you think anyone would joke about this?" Hao Ren said, spreading his hands with a wry smile. "The bearded man and the parish head went back?"

"They used a teleportation stone to return directly to town and issue the evacuation order, leaving me here to wait for you," Aufra said, her brow furrowed. "The four masters brought the message. It has a holy seal that cannot be faked. I know what it says is probably true… But it's really unbelievable!"

"I know this is hard for you religious types to accept," Hao Ren said, waving his hand. "But now is not the time to argue about messed-up biblical interpretations! Let's get up there. Your Knights can help."

Aufra looked at Hao Ren in surprise, feeling increasingly certain that he was no ordinary mercenary. He spoke as if he were not addressing a Marshal of the Kingdom, but merely someone he had met on the road. However, she didn't dwell on it, simply nodding vigorously, then taking out a small gem from her bosom that shimmered with silver light. "Let's use a teleportation stone to go directly up… You may not have used one before. Stand closer."

Teleportation stones were extremely precious. Even generals and marshals could only use them in emergencies. However, Hao Ren waved his hand to stop her. "Let's use our teleportation technology. It's more precise than yours."

He remembered that he advertised himself as a space magic master.

Before the teleportation glow lit up, Hao Ren casually asked, "Oh, by the way, did you and Parish Head Gerton find the Holy Coffin?"

Aufra shook her head. "No. It seems the Holy Coffin has been buried by the silt at the bottom of the pool… And according to the four masters, even if we found the Holy Coffin now, it would be useless. The Origin Ancestor inside should have expired."

The teleportation glow flashed, and when Hao Ren opened his eyes again, he found himself standing in a house in Leyton Town. Judging by the feminine touches, this must be Aufra's residence.

The rain outside the window had stopped, but the dark clouds had not yet dissipated. Intermittent rumbles of thunder still came from the clouds, adding to the already oppressive atmosphere.

Aufra and Hao Ren left the room, finding that it was next to the Knights' Garrison. Hao Ren looked around and saw many hurried church warriors and priests rushing down the street, while some bewildered civilians looked at these tense church members, wondering what was happening.

Just then, the Leyton Town bell suddenly began to ring urgently.

Parish Head Gerton was summoning the townspeople to issue the evacuation order.

A rapid sound of hooves came from the other end of the street. A white-robed monk who appeared to be of high rank dismounted in front of Aufra. "Marshal, the Parish Head asks you to dispatch the Royal Knights to notify the personnel in the northern villages and strongholds. He is busy coordinating other matters and cannot spare the time."

"I understand. This is an emergency, no need for formalities," Aufra said, taking the reins handed to her by Elson from the side, mounting the horse with a heroic air. She looked down at Hao Ren and the others. "I'm going to gather my Knights. You can return to the villa and rest for now. I'll come to you if anything happens."

Hao Ren was going to offer to help maintain order and evacuate people, but then he thought, what if the Marshal was an honest person and really agreed? His group was only a bunch of half-baked mercenaries, how could they help in this chaotic situation? So he didn't say much, just nodded vigorously. "Be careful in everything."

"You are a very strange mercenary. Each of you has a secret," Aufra suddenly said with a strange smile. "If we are all safe after this, I must dig out your secrets…"

Leaving these inexplicable words, the heroic female Marshal had already ridden away, leaving Hao Ren puzzled. "What does she mean?"

No one answered, but suddenly Nangong Wuyue's voice came from not far away. "Oh, you're back?"

Hao Ren turned his head and saw the siren girl was sitting on her horse not far away, accompanied by the Knights' soldiers who had gone with her to investigate the heretics.

"What's going on?" Nangong Wuyue dismounted and ran to Hao Ren's side. "I saw the atmosphere here was so solemn…"

"Let's talk in detail when we get back." Hao Ren didn't announce the situation discovered in the underground world in public, but led the team directly back to the villa where they were temporarily resting.