Chapter 621 - 573: The Sentient Nirvana Source

Shi Ming and the two aberrations chatted as they wandered through the Sea of Chaos. After meandering for about four hours, the aberration leading the way came to a stop.

They had arrived at their destination.

"Ahem."

"The boss is in seclusion up ahead. You two wait here and don’t move. I’ll go report to the boss."

The rat-like Squeak Aberration said.

Hearing this, the Croak Aberration at its side puffed up its cheeks, showing clear displeasure.

’Why should you be the one to report?’

’I was the one who found this Cataclysm General. This is a huge recruitment opportunity, so I should be the one to report it. Only then will the boss see that I’m loyal, not like you, wandering the Sea of Chaos every day with nothing to do but eat and drink...’

"No, you wild rat. You must be tired from leading the way. You should rest. I’ll go report to the boss."

"I’m not tired! I’ll report!"

"I’ll go!"

The two aberrations started to argue.

Shi Ming took this opportunity to sense his surroundings.

A thick fog permeated the area ahead. A simple scan with his Spiritual Power revealed nothing unusual. However, an indescribable power was mixed into the chaos, preventing even his formidable Spiritual Power from seeing everything clearly. A forceful probe might yield some results, but such a sudden and violent action would surely provoke the other party’s hostility.

"Stop arguing."

"You’re both capable officers under the boss. Why don’t you just go together? Besides, with our King String’s power, he’s probably already sensed this visit. He might be waiting for you to make the introduction right now. If you’re late because you’re arguing here, he might get angry."

The two aberrations stopped arguing.

"That makes sense."

"Let’s go together."

A bizarre power seeped from the surface of their bodies and merged with the fog ahead. Within the fog-filled Sea of Chaos, a narrow, illusory passage opened. The other end of the passage connected to an isolated, sealed space, somewhat similar to the Banded Dream Realm Shi Ming had once visited.

"Please wait here, General. We’ll be right back."

The Croak Aberration and the Squeak Aberration stepped into the passage.

The passage closed instantly.

Aside from secretly sending out a hidden parasitic worm to follow them, Shi Ming made no other moves. He stood his ground, quietly waiting for the right moment.

...

...

...

After traversing a long audience corridor, the two aberrations arrived in a space resembling a cavern. Just before reaching the deepest part, they stopped.

"Boss, we have something important to report."

"What is it?"

A sound with an extremely low frequency, as if produced by the friction and vibration of space itself, emanated from the end of the cavern.

The sapient Nirvana Source, [String], was currently in a beast form, lying dormant alone in this independent space. Where the String Beast rested, a black plant radiating evil thoughts and malice grew. The plant itself was not large, only about twenty centimeters tall. Its root system was intricate, with millions of tendrils spreading to unknown destinations, absorbing a gushing flow of energy. At the top of the plant were two black, unopened buds.

Like the plant itself, the buds seemed to contain all the malice in the world. There was no sign of them blooming yet. Even so, if a creature from the Star Sea were to merely glance at them, countless evil thoughts would likely sprout in its heart.

The Croak Aberration and the Squeak Aberration lowered their heads and vied to be the first to report:

"Boss, in the Sea of Chaos, we met a wandering Cataclysm General... It found some clues about Star Beasts and wants to cooperate with you, Boss, to hunt them."

"Boss, that General is incredibly strong! Its body is a riot of colors. You can tell it’s no ordinary being just by looking at it..."

The String Beast—which had four hooves, a deep and translucent body, and a single, pure black horn on its head—raised its head.

"Oh?"

"A Cataclysm?"

"It’s been a very, very long time since I’ve seen an aberration reach the Cataclysm realm. If this is true, you could say you’ve performed a great service..."

A strange rhythm began to vibrate from its single horn. Riding along the roots of the black plant, these vibrations passed through the passage the two aberrations had taken, extending into the Sea of Chaos like undetectable radio waves.

’Hmm...’

’Not bad.’

’Dazzlingly colorful... it is indeed at the Cataclysm realm. Judging by the overflowing power, it should belong to Slaughter Heaven or Sinful Heaven... The purity of its corruption is quite noble. Its age... I can’t tell. Its approximate strength... hmm? I can’t tell that either.’

’This Cataclysm is that mysterious? It can actually block my sight?’

The String Beast let out a frustrated grunt.

As if it could understand the beast’s nature, the black plant beside it quivered. A drop of liquid fell from one of the buds and floated onto its horn. This provided the String Beast with more power and a higher station, allowing it to discern more information.

’Its approximate strength... is not beneath my own.’

The String Beast became vigilant.

It was, itself, a numbered Nirvana Source born in the Star Sea. After evolving intelligence, its strength was enough to suppress an ordinary Pillar Stone. Having been steeped in the influence of this black plant for over a hundred thousand years, it had mastered a pure form of aberration power, making it one of the strongest of the strong. A target whose strength was on par with its own had to either have had a special opportunity or be an ancient being that had lived for a million years or even longer.

It continued its probing.

’Age...’

???

’Only a little over twenty years?’

’Wrong! How could there be such a young Cataclysm?!!!’ At first, the String Beast, which had only been slightly wary, froze. It then realized this was a trap and shot up from its place in the cavern!

"Idiots! Idiots!"

"That’s a Star Beast!"

"A powerful Star Beast! Even stronger than the one that mastered [Void] that I encountered over 120,000 years ago! Dammit! Dammit!"

Cosmic strings instantly vibrated throughout the cavern. Before the two loyal aberrations could even react, they were touched by [String]. Their entire bodies, along with their Spiritual Power, consciousness, and everything else, were instantly wracked with excruciating pain. They had no time to let out agonized screams or beg for mercy before they melted away in agony, reverting to the most fundamental form of corruption.

Numbered Nirvana Skill: String!

The black plant by the String Beast’s right hoof stirred. It absorbed the corruption, drawing it into its buds and turning it into a tiny dewdrop to nourish itself. This power had originally been separated from it, so now it had been returned to its source.

"Useless."

"Idiots!"

"Can’t even tell the difference between an aberration and a Star Beast, and you brought it right to me... That Star Beast’s disguise is truly excellent. If I hadn’t borrowed the lingering failsafe left behind by Evil Thought Heaven before its fall, I would have been deceived by him as well."

"I’m at a critical period of my evolution right now."

"I don’t need to deal with it."

The String Beast sealed the entire cavern, ensuring no creature could probe it or exploit any openings. But in the next second, it realized this was likely a futile effort.