Chapter 145: The Eight Devils of Desire!
—Struck three times by the Blood-Melting God Blade, their genes collapse, and they're reduced to nothing but ash.
—Hit by a puppet joint attack, the heavens and earth shatter, leaving not even the gods' bodies behind.
With methods like these, there would hardly be any corpses left, let alone a heart of a duke to harvest.
Moreover, considering the nature of the undying divine bodies, the heart also contains their soul power, making it fundamentally different from simply taking an organ.
To seize the heart of an immortal, one would first have to wear down their divine power to below 10%, force them into slumber, and ensure they didn't self-destruct.
Master and servant fell into deep thought.
"Anna, how is your cultivation of the Mystic Crystal Nine-Refinements Body going?"
"With the treasures you purchased, Master, I've already reached the fifth level, achieving a ninefold body amplification."
Jiang Zhe did a quick calculation.
"3,000 × 9… that's 27,000 times a World Lord's strength. Your regular combat power can already harm a high Marquis-level being in essence."
He stood from the sofa. A classic dark purple battle armor materialized on his body, completing its fitting.
"That's good enough. Let's head out."
Bermington had long parked the ship in the sky above the manor. Jiang Zhe walked out of the stilted bamboo house and flew into the ship's cabin, which then departed Wuchen Space-Time.
Outside Wuchen, he switched vessels and was escorted by a squad sent by Virtual Universe Company to his next mission site— the Abyss World.
In the dark universe, a sword-shaped spaceship was traveling faster than light.
"Your Highness, we are en route to the Abyss World. The ship has reached 35 times light speed and will arrive in about 23 hours," reported a pink-haired, golden-tailed fox girl, who looked like she'd stepped out of an anime. "I'll inform you when we're close. Meanwhile, you may rest in the meditation chamber."
"Alright, thank you."
Jiang Zhe nodded, finished his wine, and headed into one of the ship's meditation chambers.
He locked the door with his authority permissions—no one could enter without his consent.
Inside his world ring, Jiang Zhe appeared before the treasure Panling, stroking the crystalline armor lovingly.
He infused it with spiritual force and gene origin energy—but there was no reaction.
"Anna, try using world energy. Perhaps my energy is too low in quality to forge a bond."
But Orianna suggested, "Master, Panling's transformations depend on genetic levels. Maybe it requires a blood recognition to assess your life genes first."
"Oh? That makes sense."
Jiang Zhe sliced open his wrist, controlling the wound to keep it from closing. Crimson blood flowed onto the transparent armor.
Sizzle—
The armor drank the blood, turning from clear to pink, and finally to a ruby-like crimson.
Vein-like patterns formed inside, blood light coursing through them, making the armor seem alive.
"That's enough. It's recognized me as its master and has been nourished too."
Jiang Zhe stopped feeding it blood. His original force suit changed back into a simple robe, and he donned the blood-colored armor.
Before recognizing him, it was so heavy he couldn't even lift it. But after bonding, wearing it was surprisingly light—yet carried a reassuring sense of weight.
"Change color."
The treasure Panling responded to his will, shifting to a dark violet, like violet diamonds, still brilliantly dazzling.
He understood the triggers for its three forms. With his 1,810-fold life gene level, he could fully unleash them all.
A billion World Lord force reduced by a thousandth… an attack with a million times World Lord strength could still pulverize him and Orianna.
"But then, why would I provoke a universe overlord for no reason? At this stage, I can't even meet a peak Marquis opponent."
He patted his chest, the armor chiming like a crystal wind chime, making him feel incredibly secure.
23 hours passed quickly.
"Your Highness, we are about to exit the dark universe and return to the original universe."
The fox girl reminded him softly. As the ship gave a slight tremor and then stabilized, she opened the external view.
In the void, a molten palace tens of thousands of kilometers wide blazed like a star, illuminating the dark region.
Above stood the grand palace. Below was a "planet," eerie and pulsing.
It spanned over a million kilometers, shaped like a gigantic heart. It throbbed, and from volcano-like holes on its surface spewed black smoke laced with sparks. Even through the simulation, Jiang Zhe felt he could smell pungent sulfur.
Unlike the dreamlike mist of Bloodfall World, this abyss, shrouded in dark smoke, perfectly matched his past imaginings of "the abyss" and "demons."
"Your Highness, this palace is the Flame Demon Heavenly Palace. Our Virtual Universe Company's super existence—the Flame Demon Lord—sits here to oversee the Abyss World," the fox girl explained. "The black smoke contains countless micro-particles that prevent acceleration to light speed.
Also, the Abyss World you're entering is like a 'world container.' Unless you violently break space, there's no exit.
You'll need to notify us via the Virtual Universe, and then we'll send an immortal who can bring you out via God Country teleportation."
Jiang Zhe frowned.
That exit method was risky, with plenty of opportunities for foul play.
'I'll have to probe my teacher, the Holy Spirit King, see if he has any deadly rivals stationed outside the Abyss. Otherwise, once inside someone's God Country, I'd be meat on a chopping block.'
Just like how City Lord Luo was ambushed twice in Demon Mountain World. Even after he rose to power, he only managed to punish Moro; Pokyu Marquis was protected by True Yan.
The lesson was clear—"cross the river by stepping on Luo Feng's stones."
Taking Luo Feng's experience as a warning, Jiang Zhe grew cautious. Even with Orianna's 3,000-fold World Lord force and the treasure armor, he wouldn't drop his guard.
He still preferred driving his own ship like in the Ancient God World and Bloodfall World. This method, relying on others for safety, he found distasteful.
"Your Highness?" The fox girl noticed his distraction and called.
"Yes, I'm listening." Jiang Zhe asked, "So next, do I wait here for an immortal to take me into the Abyss?"
"Your Highness, I was speaking of how to leave the Abyss. To enter, you simply pilot an E-class or higher ship into any of the 'volcano mouths' on the surface, and you'll be drawn in, randomly placed on one of the nine levels."
"And as you're a spiritual force user, remember—never use soul attacks on demon kin. This triggers their frenzy and causes severe soul backlash."
"Your Highness, a failed mission can be redone, but if you lose your life, that's the end."
"Lastly, I wish Your Highness every success and eternal life."
"Thank you." Jiang Zhe nodded with a smile and headed for the hatch.
Across three cultivation worlds, he had received goodwill.
Perhaps in Tianchi Palace, it was thanks to his own talent. But in the Ancient God World and here, it came from the escort squad members—likely due to "connections."
After all, even if his teacher the Lord of Darkness was reclusive, the influence of his lineage was still terrifying.
Whoosh!
The hatch opened. Clad in violet diamond armor, Jiang Zhe flew out into the void.
With a casual wave, an E-class pinnacle silver pyramid ship appeared.
He entered, letting Orianna take control, and set course for the heart-shaped, eerie "planet."
"Anna, disguise the ship as an ordinary meteorite."
"Yes, Master."
A kilometer-wide gray-brown meteor looked entirely unremarkable, yet hurtled toward the "Abyssal Heart World." It plunged into a "volcano mouth," driving straight for the planet's core.
"Master, this black smoke carries a baleful energy that affects intelligent life's minds. Prolonged exposure leads to cruelty, madness, bloodlust.
Of course, the impact on you is negligible," Orianna reported after analyzing collected samples.
Jiang Zhe raised an eyebrow.
"Similar to the fiendish aura in the Ancient God ruins of Bloodfall World?"
"Roughly, but clearly stronger here."
Jiang Zhe eyed the blackened rock walls, then had a sudden idea.
"Anna, they say this 'planet' is the corpse of a supreme being. If we chip off some rock, could we use the genetic material inside to create a split body of that same race?"
His Trio-Self Dao Severing Art wasn't limited by the material's level— even with a true god's flesh, he could produce a split body at his own strength level.
Orianna agreed it was worth trying. The ship's mechanical arm reached out to pry at the rock.
But they gained nothing.
"Master, by our assessment, these rock walls are roughly as hard as G-class metal. Probably only a peak Marquis or Venerable could chip off a piece."
Jiang Zhe silently gave the black rock wall a thumbs-up.
"Master, shall we search for loose fragments nearby?"
"No need, let's get inside the Abyss first. Small matters can wait until later."
"Yes, Master."
The ship sped on.
After traveling about 100,000 kilometers through choking black smoke, the surroundings suddenly lit with fiery red light. The ship was forced to stop. Then a violent tremor—Jiang Zhe sharply sensed the space around him shift.
They had arrived at one of the Abyss World's nine layers.
Ninth layer of the Abyss.
A carnival for demon grand dukes.
Amid chaotic flows high above unfathomable void, eight strands of thought gathered.
"My dear brothers, long time no see. Feel it? Someone new just entered."
"Heh, so what? Another bunch of worthless humans who can't even digest degraded demon hearts. Completely useless!"
"Yes, worthless!"
"Pathetic weaklings!"
"Lonely~ Perhaps we should change species. Other than that White-Clad True God, the rest of humanity are just mud that can't stick to the wall. Lonely~"
"Shut up, you lazy freak. If not humans, who? Those brainless beasts? Those vain females? Those lumps of iron? Or maybe run straight to the Original Universe Will for capture? Humans are still the most promising."
"True, though this generation of humans is indeed trash, I agree—humans are numerous, easy to find geniuses. Like that White-Clad True God, sure to become a Void True God and reach Origin Continent."
"I think he could reach Eternal True God."
"I say he might become a Saint."
"Lonely~ Lonely~ Eyes on me, everyone look—I announce: that White-Clad True God? I think he could become a God King! Lonely~"
"You again, lazybones? Shut up. You think God Kings grow on roadside weeds?"
"Traitor! Shut it!"
"We don't need you. Log off."
"Lonely~ Lonely~ I'm only lazy in body, my mind is swift. I love talking to you… fine, you don't like it, all telling me to shut up. I'll nap then. Lonely~"
One thought dropped offline. The remaining seven continued.
"Brothers, where were we?"
"White-Clad True God, White-Clad True God."
"Oh right. Pity he ignored us, refused our blood, our soul reforging. Doesn't know what he missed. I hear he provoked the Original Universe later and got suppressed? Hahaha, fool!"
"Fool!"
"Fool!"
"Fool!"
The seven thoughts proved themselves echo chambers.
"Brothers, we really should plan ahead. Why not pick a decent human, groom him into a Law Master, and have him take us beyond the Original Universe?
Not hiding it—I'm terrified staying here.
When this reincarnation era ends, we'll become the Original Universe's personal collection.
Huge loss! Massive loss! Thinking about it makes me want to puke blood!"
"Eh… it's not that dire, is it?"
"Maybe not so exaggerated, the era just started. Still ages to go."
"But he has a point. We should prepare."
"Agreed. That's why I called this meeting. Let's start by seriously evaluating that new arrival."
"Fine. Motion passed. Good luck, worthless newcomer."
"Wait, why him? Why start with him?"
"Yeah, why? You summoned us over this? Kept steering things to benefit him… traitor! What's your game?"
"Traitor! Spit it out! Took his bribes? Share with us!"
"Hey, don't pin this on me. I just caught a familiar scent on him."
"Ooh~ Familiar? You have old flames we didn't know about?"
"No worries. Didn't know before, we know now. His old flame is ours too, hehe~"
"Ugh, can't stand you freaks. Always talk, never act. Unlike me— I've already peeked… hmm? That scent is familiar indeed."
"Let me see… huh? I feel it too."
"Familiar! Truly familiar!"
"Who is this? Brothers, I can't recall."
"Don't look at me. My head itches—seeing him feels like it's making me grow a brain."
"Uhh… +1."
"Lonely~ +1!" The "lazy one" was still lurking, chiming in.
"+1!"
"+1!"
"+1!"
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