Translator: AnubisTL
Just as Jieming had anticipated, they encountered several more waves of "sentinels" in various forms as they continued their descent.
Some had evolved compound-eye-like structures, allowing them to monitor faint light disturbances from multiple directions simultaneously. Others had flattened their bodies, clinging to the rock walls like glowing moss, blending seamlessly with the background energy radiation. There were even those that had abandoned physical forms entirely, transforming into a faint light mist that filled the air within the rift. Any solid object passing through would cause an anomaly in the mist's flow.
Anya reaped the vitality of these sentinels with the silent efficiency of a Grim Reaper, her astonishment evident through their mental link.
"How can the same species of elemental creature evolve so many specialized variants for stealth and reconnaissance in such a short time? This speed and direction of evolution are simply astounding."
Jieming, however, was lost in thought, suspecting he knew the reason behind this phenomenon.
The "Ignition of Intelligence" performed by Wizard Starfall was essentially a process of enlightenment using spiritual energy.
In the wizard's worldview, these creatures would all fall under the broad category of "light elemental lifeforms." But if one applied the conceptual framework of the cultivation world...
They should actually be classified as the "Demon Race," Jieming reasoned inwardly. The defining characteristics of the Demon Race are twofold: first, individuals who achieve enlightenment often diverge from their original species, becoming unique "variants." Second, their racial classifications are incredibly granular. Especially for mountain spirits, water monsters, and nature elves, each enlightened individual—due to differences in their origin, fate, and the intent of their enlightener—can often form a tiny, independent race of their own.
So, from a wizard's perspective, this is a group of "light elemental life." But from a cultivator's perspective, this is a collective of "light spirits" who have just awakened their consciousness, sharing a similar origin but belonging to distinct races! Precisely because each individual inherently possessed unique "racial traits" at the moment of enlightenment, they were able to mutate so rapidly in completely different, specialized directions under pressure.
As they continued their sweep, though Anya's methods were clean and efficient, the sentinels' silent and successive disappearances were bound to leave a trail.
Both knew that the light elemental colony underground must have already been alerted, aware that a powerful "enemy" had infiltrated their secret base.
However, as long as they didn't reveal their true identities and forms, keeping the enemy in a state of vague awareness—knowing only that an "unknown threat" had infiltrated—might actually spur them to accelerate their "Great Plan." This, in turn, would provide an excellent window to observe their social behavior and crisis response.
After descending several kilometers, the rift gradually widened, barely allowing a person to stand upright. The environment also became increasingly complex, with various energy turbulences and hidden vigilance spells beginning to appear.
"At this point, moving together makes us too big a target," Jieming told Anya through their mental link. "We'll split up. I'll sneak directly into the core region for close-range observation and data collection. You stay here, manipulating the shadows and these sentinels to keep them occupied and distract them."
Anya considered for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Understood. I'll create the illusion that the 'enemy is still infiltrating and has not yet reached the core.'"
With their plan set, the two went their separate ways.
As Jieming emerged from the shadows, his figure blurred, as if an invisible eraser had wiped him from the main space. He silently entered a temporary parallel phase space.
Once inside the phase space, his movements became more stealthy and efficient, and the surrounding reconnaissance and surveillance measures no longer took effect.
Jieming descended rapidly along the widening underground fissure. After plunging several more kilometers, the path ahead suddenly opened up!
Through the dimensional membrane of the phase space, Jieming beheld a colossal subterranean cavern.
The cavern's scale far exceeded his expectations, vast enough to contain a small city.
At this moment, the cavern was densely packed with countless Light-Cluster Elemental Lifeforms.
The light they emitted was not a single hue, but a magnificent spectrum of red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, and even more composite, resplendent colors. This transformed the originally pitch-black underground space into a dreamlike ocean of light.
Waves of light surged, and energy hummed, creating an atmosphere of solemnity and fanaticism.
The most striking feature was the massive light cluster in the center of the cavern, its size dwarfing its kin with a diameter exceeding one hundred meters!
It was like a restless miniature sun, its internal energy churning violently, releasing terrifyingly unstable fluctuations. Its light strobed wildly between blazing white, golden-red, and deep purple.
Tiny bolts of energy lightning continuously erupted from the light cluster's edges, striking the surrounding rocks and leaving scorched marks.
Judging by the ceaseless release of energy fluctuations and its violent activity, this thing resembled a super-massive energy bomb, forcibly contained and ready to detonate at any moment.
Dozens of light clusters orbited the central mass in orderly rings.
The innermost ring continuously funneled pure light-element energy into the colossal central sphere, their own brilliance rapidly fading as they depleted their reserves. The moment a cluster's energy was exhausted, leaving it withered and translucent, a waiting cluster from the outer rings would immediately slide into its place to continue the transmission.
The entire process resembled a solemn, collective ritual of sacrifice.
"This is the place," Jieming confirmed within the phase space.
Whether this massive sphere of light was a "bomb" or something else entirely, it was the core objective of his mission.
However, remaining in the phase space prevented him from conducting a sufficiently detailed data scan, especially one needed to analyze the internal structure and energy flow patterns of the central sphere.
After a moment's thought, Jieming formulated a plan.
He exerted control over his body, which had been forged and tempered a thousand times by the Body Tempering Method, and began to actively "collapse" within the phase space.
Under his immense control, his muscles, bones, and internal organs underwent microscopic reorganization and compression. Aided by a size-reduction spell, his form rapidly shrank.
Ultimately, he transformed into a slightly irregular energy sphere less than half a meter in diameter.
Next, he simulated the energy characteristics of the light element, covering his body in a soft, ever-changing glow and emitting a perfectly mimicked light-elemental fluctuation.
From a distance, his current form was virtually indistinguishable from the ordinary Light-Cluster Elemental Lifeforms in the cave.
To enhance the realism, Jieming even adjusted his brightness to match the intensity of the light emitted by those elemental beings.
He locked onto an area near the cave wall, specifically designated for the "Withered Light-Clusters" that had exhausted their energy.
Seizing the moment during a brief flicker of light and energy disturbance caused by the massive central light cluster, Jieming switched from phase space back to the main plane. Like an inconspicuous little ball of light, he "rolled" behind a protruding rock in that area.
Under the cover of the dazzling light from countless surrounding clusters and the continuous energy flares from the central "sun," he, looking like a "somewhat weak little guy," successfully blended into the group of light clusters without drawing any extra attention.
"Universal Eye."
Having reached a sufficient distance, Jieming directly activated the Universal Eye.
A torrent of data flooded his mind. His vision instantly pierced through the superficial glow, delving into the levels of energy flow, structural stability, and law interference, as he began a comprehensive scan of the massive central light cluster.
Simultaneously, he used his mental power to connect to the terminal in his internal space, continuously transmitting a torrent of real-time data—energy spectra, pressure readings, structural stress, and spirituality fluctuation curves—back to Viola in the surface laboratory.
The data stream flowed steadily for about fifteen minutes.
Suddenly, Jieming's wrist vibrated slightly as the terminal received an urgent analysis report from Viola:
"Jieming, the situation has changed. Data analysis shows that the structural fragility of the Central Energy Aggregate has far exceeded the critical point, and the energy pressure has broken through the theoretical containment limit. According to existing models, it should have undergone an uncontrollable chain-reaction energy annihilation collapse 7 minutes and 32 seconds ago. But the reality is, it still exists."
"The only reasonable explanation is that some kind of 'internal constraint mechanism' or 'core structure' is forcibly maintaining its form, offsetting the vast majority of the internal pressure that would cause it to collapse. Preliminary speculation suggests this core may possess extremely high energy affinity and stability, and might even be active."
"Stay alert. The target's nature may not be a simple 'energy bomb'."
Jieming's heart jolted. Just as he was about to ponder the implications of Viola's warning, the scene before him changed abruptly!
BOOM!!!
It wasn't a physical explosion, but an irresistible tide of energy accompanied by a powerful spiritual roar, erupting violently from the central light cluster!
The entire underground cavern trembled violently, causing debris to rain down from the rock walls.
What truly stunned Jieming, however, was the aura of life that spread along with the energy tide—a distinct, vast, and rapidly ascending presence.
This was no mere summation of the countless Light-Cluster Elemental Lifeforms' auras. Instead, a single, unified, and higher-order life-will was awakening, expanding, and undergoing metamorphosis!
Damn it! Jieming instantly grasped the meaning of Viola's warning and realized how wrong their previous assessment had been. This isn't some "grand firework display"! They're pooling the strength and spirituality of their entire race, using some extreme method to forcibly catalyze the birth of a "King" or an "Ultimate Weapon" capable of carrying their people's hopes! They're forcibly breaking through their life-tier!
In his perception, the energy level within the central light cluster rocketed upward.
The newborn will inside solidified and grew with astonishing speed, its energy fluctuations effortlessly shattering the boundaries of the Fourth and Fifth Tiers. Without slowing, it surged toward the Sixth Tier!
The awe-inspiring, mountain-and-sea-like pressure of a pure and scorching Sixth-Tier lifeform erupted like a tangible storm of light, instantly sweeping through the entire underground space!
Every Light-Cluster Elemental Lifeform, whether it was currently channeling energy or not, emitted a radiant hum filled with reverence and ecstasy. Their light pulsed in rhythmic flashes, as if worshiping a newborn god.
(End of the Chapter)
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