Chapter 751 - 473: Turbidity

Chapter 751: Chapter 473: Turbidity

Returning to Gaia, Zhou Chen saw Jiang Che off to work before his figure instantly appeared inside the Thirteenth District.

The Thirteenth District was considered one of the more relaxed of the Stars Association’s secret divisions. The vast majority of its work was handled by Eva, the Prayer System’s intelligent AI. Department members only needed to observe and promptly report any anomalies.

"Director, your timing is perfect. There’s something that requires you to make a trip."

A supervisor in a white lab coat quickly walked up to Zhou Chen with a tablet. "Fifteen minutes ago, a nuclear power plant on the coast of America was infiltrated by Abyssal Cultists. They detonated five high-explosive bombs, causing a nuclear reactor leak that produced hundreds of tons of nuclear wastewater. The explosion also caused a geological collapse, and now those hundreds of tons of wastewater are pouring into the ocean through the breach."

The tablet displayed a long-shot view of a nuclear power plant. The sky and earth were dark, and a tangible Abyssal sedimentation storm swirled in mid-air, like a horde of wandering, vengeful spirits. Even through the screen, one could feel the chill brought by the storm.

The view then switched to live satellite footage. Bubbles churned in the ocean as a viscous, jet-black substance, like crude oil, continuously rose to the surface. In just a short time, it had already spread over a large area, polluting the seawater and turning it into a foul, dirty ditch.

"Those Abyssal Cultists also created a source of pollution. The contamination is currently holding at Level Six. All personnel inside the nuclear power plant have lost contact, and the first rescue team that arrived also went dark ten minutes after entering the polluted zone. The main problem now is that the plant’s fourth generator unit’s system is down. If the reactor isn’t shut down in time, it’s very likely to explode, and several nearby cities will be affected."

The supervisor paused, then said, "Director, this is a perfect opportunity for you to act. Many people are very interested in you, the new Crowned King. If you can handle this matter perfectly, it will be a great boon to the establishment and development of the Prayer Church."

"I understand."

Zhou Chen nodded. "What are the coordinates?"

·

In front of the Belias Nuclear Power Plant, where an ominous wind was rising, a sweat-drenched commander answered a call from his superior. After a brief conversation, he finally let out a sigh of relief. He pulled a crumpled cigarette from his pocket, lit it, and took a long drag to calm his nerves.

"What is it?" his adjutant asked, confused.

"The higher-ups are sending a Tier Five to handle it."

The adjutant immediately breathed a sigh of relief. If a Crowned King was coming to handle it, he could finally relax.

A few seconds later, under everyone’s watchful eyes, a young figure materialized out of thin air in front of the Alchemy Matrix Barrier that enveloped the entire nuclear power plant.

"Mr. Zhou Chen, thank you for coming," the commander said, stepping forward to greet him.

As the world’s most talked-about figure recently, Zhou Chen was known to all.

Zhou Chen looked at the raging Abyssal sedimentation storm behind the Matrix Barrier, and at the ferocious demonic silhouettes that flickered within it, his eyes narrowing slightly.

’Something... isn’t right.’

With a thought.

In the silence, the storm of black miasma, born of the Abyssal Contamination, visibly began to subside. As the winds died down, the scene inside the nuclear power plant was revealed to all: deformed monsters, dripping with black slime and composed of dirty yellow plastic bags, foul-smelling green soil, and concrete fragments, wandered within. The moment the storm dissipated, countless scarlet eyes snapped toward them, staring intently at the living people outside the Barrier and bringing with them a bone-chilling cold.

Shreds of rescue team uniforms hung from some of the deformed monsters. It was clear the first team that went in had met a terrible fate, corroded by the contamination.

"What are these things..." the commander frowned. He had never seen this type of mutated monster before.

"It’s ’environmental pollution.’"

Zhou Chen calmly raised his palm, and a pale fire erupted, burning fiercely as it engulfed the horde of mutated monsters.

The Authority of the King of Forging activated, analyzing their fundamental structure.

The flames erupted. A scorching, incendiary heatwave passed through the Barrier and washed over everyone’s faces, bringing a furnace-like heat. A large number of the mutated monsters were incinerated in the fire, turning to ash.

At the same time, dazed faces were reborn from the sea of fire. The Twist and mutation caused by the Abyssal Contamination faded away bit by bit in the flames, replaced by human flesh and blood.

When the last trace of Abyssal Contamination in their Souls was incinerated by the Cyan Flame, the rescue team members startled awake from a long Nightmare. They gasped for air, dispelling the indescribable chill from their Souls. Looking around in confusion, they had no idea what had happened, and were immediately teleported out of the Barrier by Zhou Chen.

The detection instruments on-site gave a reassuring yet shocking reading—

Contamination Level: 0

"..."

The commander from the Raven Legion stared, stunned, nearly forgetting to breathe.

It wasn’t just him; the minds of everyone who witnessed this scene went blank with disbelief.

’He reversed the irreversible corruption and mutation, healing rescue team members who had been completely corroded by Abyssal Contamination...’

’This... This is an out-and-out miracle!’

Zhou Chen, however, was unfazed. The cost of saving these people was far lower than he had expected; it had only required a single Tiny Miracle.

He continued to explain the nature of the mutated creatures in a low voice, "To be precise, this is various kinds of environmental pollution created by human activity. Ocean pollution, soil pollution, air pollution, industrial pollution..."

As human civilization developed, it continuously exploited the planet. All kinds of environmental pollution occurred unavoidably, bringing with them a host of problems: species extinction, toxin accumulation, irreversible damage to the greater environment...

When the environment becomes foul to a certain degree, corresponding pests will naturally be born—flies and cockroaches in garbage dumps, woodlice and centipedes in damp environments, hordes of rats in filthy corners...

And over two hundred years ago, when the entire world was madly developing its tech tree, global environmental pollution reached a certain, extremely terrible level. At that point, a being named "Turbidity" was given substance by the Abyss and was thus born.

—The fruit condensed from all the pollution and evil karma of the entire world, an Abyssal Evil God created by humanity itself.

Surprisingly enough, Turbidity is actually an Abyssal King, an existence comparable to the Gods. But his presence is extremely low-key. Even during the Night of the Sun’s Fall, he merely played a supporting role, creating chaos around the globe without personally taking action.

Yet no one dared to underestimate him.

Because to humanity, he is more threatening than any other Abyssal King—to this day, he has become the very incarnation of the concept of "pollution."

Abyssal Contamination, mental pollution, memetic pollution, environmental pollution...

All forms of pollution are inextricably linked to him.

Just as was happening right now.

"Hahahahaha..."

Amidst the abrupt laughter, exhaust fumes and toxic fog spread out. A figure slowly emerged from within the multicolored, malevolent haze. He was a dark-skinned man who looked no different from a human, yet he wore a robe stitched together from dirty plastic and various kinds of trash, as if adorned with countless lavish jewels. His eyes were a pure, pitch-black, radiating a cold, sinister aura condensed from the very essence of the Abyss.

At that instant, alarms blared at both the local Stars Association branch and the Stars Association Headquarters.

The Abyssal King, Turbidity, had descended as a projection!

"Don’t get excited. I just came to take a look at the so-called Lord of Prayer."

The King from the Abyss faced the chilling, murderous intent filling the air and smiled nonchalantly at Zhou Chen. "Interested in making a bet?"

Zhou Chen frowned, remaining vigilant, unsure of what this Abyssal King was planning.

’This nuclear power plant leak was likely his doing.’

"The world-ending war has already begun. Next, I will spare no effort in polluting this World. Let’s bet on whether or not you can stop me. How about it?" Turbidity issued his challenge.

"I refuse," Zhou Chen rejected him without hesitation.

’Making a bet with an Abyssal King was ten million times worse than signing a Soul Contract with a Demon.’

"A pity. You have no room to refuse."

Turbidity sneered mockingly. "The pollution has already begun. By all means, savor the bitter fruits of humanity’s own making. End, there will always be a seat waiting for you in Hell."