CHAPTER 632.5: GONE! ALL GONE!

Chapter 632.5: Gone! All Gone!

...

"Gu Changsheng!"

Chen Huaian activated the Soul Invitation Talisman and shouted solemnly.

The talisman emitted a faint silver glow, and a mysterious, elusive aura spread outward like ripples across water.

Wherever this aura passed, plants fell silent, leaves hung suspended, insect chirping ceased, and all sounds vanished.

The world seemed to have been muted, but then quickly returned to normal.

The aura finally seemed to find direction, splitting into countless silver threads that surged toward the heavens.

"Could it be... this Saint Grade Spirit Invocation Talisman can actually open a passage between Earth Star and the Upper Realm?"

Chen Huaian narrowed his eyes.

If the Spirit Invocation Talisman could truly do this, it would be a good opportunity to see what the Upper Realm was like.

However, directly observing the Upper Realm might not be such a good idea...

...

Meanwhile—

Upper Realm.

This was not a celestial palace surrounded by auspicious clouds, but rather a gray, barren wasteland.

Spiritual Energy was as sparse as water vapor in a desert.

The earth was cracked, and the sky was a depressing leaden gray.

The faint vibration from the opening of the passage between Upper and Lower Realms, along with the influx of a wisp of pure spiritual energy from the Lower Realm, was like a stone thrown into stagnant water.

Instantly, countless "immortals" lurking in the shadows were startled awake.

They emerged from behind jagged rocks, beneath dry riverbeds, and from deep caves—varying in form but all sharing the same characteristic—emaciation.

"Spiritual Energy! Such pure spiritual energy!"

"There's spiritual energy? Are the Lower and Upper Realms about to connect?"

"Hahaha! Spiritual energy, I want spiritual energy hahaha!"

Amid countless howls filled with greed and anticipation.

The tiny passage, smaller than a single Formation Core, was surrounded layer upon layer.

These 'immortals' crowded around the passage, wrestling, cursing, and even killing each other, all to absorb just a little more of that wisp of spiritual energy. Ȓá𝐍ОＢĘ𝒮

Their appearances grew increasingly bizarre.

The humanoid ones resembled skeletons draped in wrinkled human skin, with hollow eye sockets.

The non-humanoid ones were twisted and grotesque, with dull shells and limbs as thin as withered branches.

However, an even more ferocious, more ravenous aura suddenly erupted.

Roar—!

A piercing cry echoed through the barren world.

A massive golden figure shot out from the largest nearby cave—the true form of the Golden Scale Heaven-Piercing Python.

But compared to its avatar in the Lower Realm.

Its true form seemed somewhat ridiculous.

The originally golden scales had lost their luster, emitting a deathly grayish-white hue.

The massive body exuded a withered feeling, as if drained by time and scarcity, yet this didn't diminish its power.

Its giant tail swept through with the force of wind and thunder, easily scattering the crowded "immortals" like sweeping away fallen leaves.

"Scram! All of you, get away from this immortal!"

Those who knew better than to mess with the Golden Scale Heaven-Piercing Python immediately turned and fled.

But there were always stubborn ones who remained clinging to the passage, sucking greedily.

The Golden Scale Heaven-Piercing Python opened its massive mouth and mercilessly devoured those unfortunate few who couldn't escape in time.

It crunched and chewed, but little blood seeped from its mouth—only the dry sound of bone and flesh shattering.

This bloody warning instantly subdued the scene.

The remaining "immortals" scattered in terror, retreating to their respective corners, watching greedily and resentfully from the shadows.

Satisfied that the annoying insects had obediently hidden away, the Golden Scale Heaven-Piercing Python coiled itself before the passage entrance.

Its wrinkled eyelids lifted with effort, its turbid eyes fixed intently on the dissipating silver light spots.

Finally, a faint soul aura, carrying a completely different essence from this realm, was expelled from the passage.

How to describe that aura?

It was like a fresh, fragrant little flower growing in a filthy slaughterhouse.

Completely out of place, yet driving one mad with desire to possess it.

The Golden Scale Heaven-Piercing Python's massive forked tongue flicked out, carefully gathering the soul before its eyes.

Although its avatar in the Lower Realm had been killed, it had transmitted crucial information.

When it digested that information, a wave of ecstatic joy surged through it.

A cultivator's soul from another world!

Wasn't this exactly the 'variable' those great beings wanted?

As long as it offered this soul, those "great beings" would surely bestow precious immortal fruits.

It could finally escape this endless hunger and desiccation, even if only for a brief moment.

The Golden Scale Heaven-Piercing Python frantically returned to its cave.

The place reeked of decay and foulness, bearing no resemblance to an immortal's abode.

But among countless skeletons emitting putrid and bloody odors, there was one pure spot.

There stood a small statue, only the size of an adult's fist.

Snake-headed with a human body, but its face was eerily blank.

The Golden Scale Heaven-Piercing Python carefully coiled around the statue, emitting obscure, incomprehensible hisses, as if communicating with some mysterious existence.

As its chanting grew louder, another tail lifted Gu Changsheng's soul and placed it before the statue.

However, just as it focused its will, preparing to complete the sacrificial ritual—

Countless silver threads suddenly entangled Gu Changsheng's soul.

Poof—!

Gu Changsheng's soul vanished.

As if erased by an invisible hand in an instant.

The Heaven-Piercing Python's massive body froze rigidly, its turbid eyes filled with disbelief and shock.

It frantically scanned the surroundings with its spiritual sense, but found nothing except barren rock and earth, and the emaciated figures watching from afar.

Gone!

The variable its avatar had worked so hard to hunt down had disappeared right before its eyes!

"Hiss—ROAR!!!" Its heart's fury erupted into a roar that cracked mountains and stones.

But immediately after, a majestic will suddenly descended.

The Golden Scale Heaven-Piercing Python's rage was doused like cold water, instantly extinguished.

[What is this commotion? Have you found the variable I require?]

A cold, emotionless voice spoke directly from the blank-faced statue, reverberating deep within its soul.

The Golden Scale Heaven-Piercing Python stood frozen in place, its massive head involuntarily lowering, trembling as it transmitted its thoughts: "G-great being... I did find it, but just now, as I was preparing to sacrifice the variable... it... it suddenly disappeared..."

[Disappeared?] The voice showed no fluctuation, yet was filled with a chill that could freeze souls.

[The thing we require was lost right before your eyes? What use are you?]

Without allowing any opportunity for explanation.

An invisible force suddenly descended, like billions of steel needles piercing fiercely between the Golden Scale Heaven-Piercing Python's scales, stabbing into its flesh, blood, and marrow.

The Golden Scale Heaven-Piercing Python's massive body twisted and rolled in agony.

Its hard scales shattered piece by piece under the invisible lashing, revealing equally withered flesh beneath.

Intense pain drove it to madly crash against the ground, sending rocks flying and dust billowing.

It wanted to roar, but its voice was choked off by that power, leaving only silent convulsions.

[Waste.] The voice snorted coldly: [You shall receive nothing from now on. Reflect well on your sins in suffering!]

[I will send other servants to replace your duties. Get lost!]

The lashing abruptly stopped.

The Golden Scale Heaven-Piercing Python lay limp in the pile of shattered rocks, covered in wounds.

Its withered body now bore countless deep, bone-exposing injuries, dark golden blood slowly seeping out, quickly absorbed by the parched earth.

Its massive head hung powerless, the last flicker of light in its turbid eyes completely extinguished, leaving only boundless despair.

No more immortal fruits.

Had it been abandoned by those great beings?

From now on, would it have to endure...

the endless hunger and thirst in this dead, barren wasteland?

...