Chapter 116: Black Carbon vs. Parasite Species [Part One]

Countless parasitic seeds traveled upward through cracks in the earth, boring through the fissures in the floor of the Summer Palace and then drifting out through the southern gate of the ruins, spreading across the entire city of Little Xia.

Large numbers of parasitic seeds floated through the air, resembling purple clouds beneath the illumination of the lights.

The sight was noticed by many people outside the ruins of the Summer Palace, but no one grew wary. Everyone assumed it was merely a spectacular phenomenon. Many even opened the camera function on their Emperor’s Heart Rings and recorded the scene.

Very soon, however, abnormalities began to occur. After discovering the large crowds, the parasitic seeds began to infest them frenziedly.

In barely one or two minutes, nearly all of the thousands of tourists surrounding the ruins of the Summer Palace had been infected.

Only a small number of people noticed something was wrong in time and fled into hiding.

The life radiance within the infected tourists was quickly devoured by the parasitic seeds. As their life radiance drained away at an alarming rate, one person after another collapsed to the ground.

Yet this was far from over. More and more parasitic seeds continued to drift out through the southern gate of the ruins, spreading toward an even wider area…

Deep beneath the ruins of the Summer Palace, the battle between Black Charcoal and the scarlet vines grew increasingly fierce.

Sensing the scarlet vines’ aura surging, Black Charcoal abandoned its long-range dragonflame attacks and began grappling with the vines at close quarters.

Its teeth and claws were razor-sharp, and nearly every attack tore off another section of the scarlet vines.

At close range, the dragonflame it spat was even more powerful than before.

Under Black Charcoal’s relentless assault, the scarlet vines shrieked incessantly. Its counterattacks were almost entirely ineffective against Black Charcoal’s formidable defenses.

Black Charcoal finally displayed the terrifying close-combat prowess of a dragon-blooded creature.

Its two claws were like pincers forged from fine steel. Every time they raked across the scarlet vines, several ghastly wounds appeared. The fangs in its mouth were equally terrifying; each bite tore the scarlet vines’ body into fragments.

Black Charcoal’s body was like a battle machine born for combat. Even the pair of wings on its back possessed a frightening, blade-like cutting power.

Once the fight became close-quarters combat, the scarlet vines quickly fell into disarray. Their lashes were almost completely ignored by Black Charcoal. Several times, they attempted to bind it, only to be forcibly torn free by its immense strength.

Its regenerative ability, however, was truly astonishing. Even sections bitten clean through by Black Charcoal quickly reconnected and healed as though they had never been severed.

As the intensity of its aura continued to soar, a faint silver radiance gradually began to emanate from the scarlet vines.

“This is bad. It’s already advancing to the Silver Realm…”

Lin Huang, watching from the side, grew anxious. Once the scarlet vines advanced to the Silver Realm, their strength would increase dramatically. At that point, it would be difficult to say whether Black Charcoal could continue suppressing them.

“Blackie, is there any way to deal with this parasitic creature?” Lin Huang truly could not think of a solution himself. Its regenerative ability was simply too powerful. Unless he possessed a means of attack stronger than Black Charcoal’s, there was no way to kill it.

【The host’s existing cards cannot resolve the current problem.】

“What about the Fragment Shop? Is there anything that can handle the situation?” Lin Huang asked again.

【The most suitable card for resolving the current problem is the Novice Instant-Kill Card. It can completely erase any designated living creature whose combat strength is below the Transcendent level.】

【The first exchange requires one million card fragments. The host does not possess enough fragments.】

“Besides the Novice Instant-Kill Card, are there any other options?”

【The Novice Instant-Kill Card is already the optimal solution. The other options require even more card fragments and are likewise unavailable to the host.】

The answer from Blackie caused Lin Huang’s brows to knit tightly.

“Does that mean I can only retreat for now and come back after Black Charcoal and I become stronger?”

Blackie heard Lin Huang’s quiet mutter and immediately offered a new prompt.

【Now is the best time to kill this parasitic creature. Once this opportunity is missed, the host will never have another chance to kill it.】

“That can’t be right. My cultivation speed is already extremely fast. I may even be able to advance to the Transcendent level within a year, and Black Charcoal might be able to undergo another evolution…”

Lin Huang had not finished speaking when Blackie interrupted him.

【With the support of the aberrant energy, this parasitic creature’s growth rate will surpass that of every other living being in this world. My life-form analysis indicates that it took less than twenty days to grow from the seed stage to its current state. At its present rate of growth, it will need no more than two months at most to advance to the Transcendent level. Moreover, when it reaches that level, it is highly likely to undergo a third mutation.】

“Less than twenty days, and it has already reached the third rank of Bronze—and it’s already mutated twice…”

Lin Huang had originally assumed that the parasitic creature had existed underground for many years. He had never expected Blackie’s analysis to yield such a result.

“This remnant of aberrant energy is so powerful. Could it be because Xia Hao’s cheat ability was far stronger than yours, Blackie?” Lin Huang asked, puzzled. In theory, Blackie was the complete cheat ability and should have been more powerful than this remnant energy.

【The functions of all cheat abilities are subject to strict restrictions imposed by the rules, and the host must also abide by those rules when using them. This remnant of aberrant energy, however, has separated from the cheat ability and now exists independently. It is therefore almost entirely free from its former restrictions, allowing it to support the parasitic creature’s growth without restraint.】

“I’m actually jealous of this parasitic creature…” Lin Huang could not help sighing.

【Unrestricted growth in power can lead only to destruction in the end. From the moment I developed an independent will, this was the first sentence engraved upon it.】

Blackie’s sudden reflection left Lin Huang stunned for a moment. He quickly recovered and began considering his options.

“The most troublesome thing about this parasitic creature is that its wounds can recover endlessly. If its regenerative ability could be suppressed, Black Charcoal should be able to defeat it quickly.” Changing his line of thought, Lin Huang asked, “Blackie, is there a card that can suppress its regenerative ability?”

【No. Its regenerative ability does not come from its own body but from the support of the aberrant energy. To make it lose that ability, I must first complete the devouring of the aberrant energy.】

“How do you devour it? How long will it take?” Lin Huang hurriedly asked.

【The host must place his hand on the aberrant energy and maintain contact for at least three minutes.】

“Damn it. If I get close, it’ll kill me dozens of times over in three minutes…”

Lin Huang was rendered speechless. He lowered his head and looked at his body. Although he was currently in the form of a shadow, this body’s physical defense was not much stronger than that of his real body. He would still die if struck by life energy.

With a helpless sigh, Lin Huang looked toward the aberrant energy. The sight suddenly brightened his eyes.

The bottom of the spherical energy mass was in contact with the ground, like a sun that had only just risen above the horizon.

“Can this energy mass be moved?” Lin Huang asked Blackie.

【No. There are only two ways to move it. One is to strike it with enough force to shake it, and the other is to use a new cheat ability to absorb it and carry it away.】

Blackie’s answer filled Lin Huang with delight.

“I’ve thought of a way. I’ll hide underground and extend my hand up from below. That way, I can reach its underside.”

Lin Huang acted immediately. His body sank rapidly into the earth, advancing quickly toward the energy mass.

He had only approached for a short distance when Blackie’s voice came again.

【You are too close. It has detected me.】

“So what if it has?” Lin Huang ignored the warning and continued accelerating toward it.

Above him, the scarlet vines grew increasingly frenzied. They had sensed the message transmitted by the will within the energy mass and realized that Lin Huang and Blackie were underground.

Their enormous body began pounding the ground madly.

Lin Huang could feel the earth trembling, but he paid no attention and continued toward the bottom of the energy mass.

Even when the layers of soil collapsed beneath the scarlet vines’ attacks, they could not affect him. As long as he was not struck by life energy, his current shadow form could not be injured.

Ignoring the scarlet vines’ assault, Lin Huang soon reached the point directly beneath the energy mass. He then slowly rose, extending his palm toward the mass above.

Only when his palm touched something warm did Blackie’s voice suddenly sound.

【Host, you must maintain contact with it for at least three minutes. You cannot withdraw before then.】

“Understood.” Lin Huang nodded.

Aboveground, the scarlet vines seemed to have realized Lin Huang’s intention. They abandoned Black Charcoal and began attacking the ground with frenzied force.

However, Lin Huang was directly beneath the energy mass, whose diameter was nearly ten meters. As a result, their attacks could not reach his position.

Although Lin Huang was safe, the situation had not improved in the slightest.

Driven by extreme emotions, the silver radiance on the scarlet vines suddenly erupted, and their aura began changing at an astonishing speed.

Lin Huang’s attempt to seize the energy mass had stimulated the scarlet vines, accelerating their advancement into the Silver Realm.

After reaching the Silver Realm, the scarlet vines’ strength surged severalfold. The ground itself began collapsing beneath their attacks.

Even their physical strength had become sufficient to contend with Black Charcoal head-on.

After attaining the Silver Realm, more purple flowers appeared on their body. Seemingly aware that they were losing the aberrant energy mass, the scarlet vines released all of the newly grown flowers as well, accelerating their absorption of the life radiance seized from the outside world.

Within Little Xia City, tens of thousands of people had already been infected by the parasitic seeds. The life radiance within them rapidly declined as it was devoured by the parasitic creature, while even more people continued to be infected.

The entire stronghold had fallen into panic.

Meanwhile, deep beneath the ruins of the Summer Palace, the scarlet vines did not stop plundering life radiance after reaching the first rank of Silver. Their aura continued to rise sharply, faintly showing signs of advancing toward the second rank of Silver…

Underground, Lin Huang’s view was blocked by the energy mass, preventing him from seeing what was happening outside.

But the pressure on Black Charcoal continued to increase. Lin Huang could clearly sense his opponent’s combat strength rising as though it were endless, without any limit in sight.