Helping each other with countless me.

Chapter 608 The Heart of God
Under Li Zhongren's macro-guidance and with the full support of Empress Isabella, the entire state apparatus of the Red Empire began to allocate resources to the "Sacrifice Gloves" project with unprecedented efficiency.

Countless scientific elites, massive amounts of resources, and state-of-the-art equipment converged like rivers flowing into the sea at the top-secret, extraordinary research base. At the heart of this storm was the highly anticipated genius researcher, Doyle Hawkins.

In the year following receiving his special gloves and being entrusted with a great responsibility, Doyle almost completely immersed himself in exploring the secrets of the gloves.

He is not only a user, but also a pioneer in the field.

With his unique telekinetic talent and increasingly profound mastery of "telekinetic writing," he led his team to iterate and improve the gloves several times, optimizing the energy circuit and increasing the efficiency of blood crystal utilization. However, two fundamental questions continued to linger in his mind.

One year later, a report marked "Top Secret" and "Highest Priority" was delivered directly to Isabella and Li Zhongren.

The person giving the report was Doyle.

Standing in the familiar briefing room, Li Zhongren's height is now close to Isabella's chest. His face has lost most of its childishness, presenting the appearance of a handsome young man. Only his eyes are still as deep as the starry sky.

His growth rate was astonishing, but everyone took it for granted. What's so strange about someone who could break through the atmosphere as an infant growing faster?
Doyle stood in front of the holographic projection, his eyes showing fatigue, but even more so an excitement and solemnity as if he had discovered a new continent.

“Your Majesty, Mr. Zero, after a year of in-depth research, we have identified two core issues.”

Doyle got straight to the point.

"The first and most important discovery is that energy is not conserved. The energy output provided by the glove far exceeds the biochemical energy contained in the blood, which violates the physical laws we know."

The holographic projection displayed a complex energy flow comparison diagram, with the input blood crystal energy bars being short, while the output extraordinary power bars were towering like mountain peaks.

"this means."

Doyle's voice trembled slightly.

"Blood is not actually 'fuel,' it's more like a 'key,' or a 'coordinate'! In the process of sacrifice, it unlocks some kind of vast energy that we have not yet recognized, that exists outside the world!"

Li Zhongren nodded slightly, seemingly unsurprised.

"go on."

"Based on the first point, we began our second exploration: can we replace the 'key'?"

Doyle manipulated the projector, displaying a list of countless failed substances.

"Directly replacing blood is almost impossible; its composition is too complex and seems to contain unique life information. However, we have changed our approach."

The projected image changed, revealing an extremely complex array of three-dimensional runes composed of hundreds of basic psychic characters. Its ingenious structure far surpassed any combination shown before.

“We tried to use telekinesis to ‘simulate’ and ‘amplify’ the process of sacrifice itself.”

Doyle explained.

“We no longer rely on the glove itself, but are trying to directly build a stable and controllable ‘sacrifice ritual’.”

In the scene, the rune array is activated by a powerful energy supply, and the central space begins to distort and blur, eventually tearing open an unstable, oval entrance with edges flashing a dangerous red light, barely wide enough for one person to pass through.

Inside the entrance was a deep, viscous void, seemingly composed of dark red light, from which faint, chilling roars and an inexplicable allure emanated.

“We succeeded, but we also failed.”

Doyle turned off the projector and smiled wryly.

“We have indeed opened a passage, an interdimensional portal that seems to connect to that enormous energy source, but we cannot stabilize it, much less explore it in depth. The energy fluctuations coming from the other end of the portal are extremely chaotic and corrosive. Our detectors lost contact and were assimilated in less than ten seconds after entering. My abilities, and our current understanding of telekinetic writing, come to an end here. The next research must be led by you, Mr. Zero.”

Li Zhongren looked at Dao Er, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

He stood up, walked to the huge observation window, and looked down at the well-organized base.

“You did very well, Doyle. You found not the end, but the real beginning.”

He turned around, his gaze sharp.

"Now that we've found the door, why shouldn't we open it? This is not only an adventure, but also an excellent opportunity for training."

He looked at Isabella.

“I propose that we form an advance team of the ‘Sacrifice Legion’. It doesn’t need to be too large, about a thousand people. We should select the best and most determined soldiers from the National Guard and from good families who have passed the loyalty vetting.”

Isabella frowned slightly, a hint of worry appearing on her beautiful face.

"The situation in another dimension is unknown, the risks are too great, you..."

Li Zhongren walked to her side, now tall enough to naturally and gently hold her hand. He leaned close to the Empress's ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, carrying a reassuring power.

"Don't worry, don't forget, I am a god. I will bring them back safely, and bring back even greater power for us."

As Isabella looked at his face, which was already beginning to take on sharp features, so close to hers, and felt the absolute confidence in his words, her worries gradually subsided.

She shook his hand in return and nodded.

"Okay, I believe you."

Orders were issued quickly.

The empire's war machine was running efficiently once again.

After rigorous screening and political vetting, one thousand soldiers with impeccable physical and mental qualities and loyalty were selected.

They were given the latest mass-produced "standard power gloves," optimized by the Dor team, and equipped with ample blood crystal energy modules and special protective gear adapted to alien space environments.

Li Zhongren personally participated in the final mobilization and inspection.

He stood on the high platform, looking down at the thousand soldiers below, their uniforms impeccable and their eyes filled with a mixture of tension and excitement, and spoke in a deep voice.

"Gentlemen, you are about to step into unknown territory, a dangerous battlefield, but also the first step the empire takes towards a new era! Remember your training, trust your equipment, and obey my orders! Glory be with you!"

"For the Empire! For the Empress!"

A thousand people roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

everything's ready.

Inside the newly constructed giant experimental field at the deepest part of the base, the unstable interdimensional entrance was once again forcibly opened by massive energy and a complex array of psychic texts.

The dark red light illuminated the soldiers' resolute faces.

Li Zhongren stood in front of the entrance and turned back to Isabella one last time.

"Maintaining the entrance requires a stable energy supply, especially blood, and that's up to you."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of everything here."

Isabella gently held Li Zhongren's hand.

"Before you return, anyone who approaches this area without authorization will be executed without trial. I will guard this place and await your triumphant return."

Li Zhongren said no more, turned around, and took the lead in stepping into that dark red, viscous void.

Behind him, a thousand soldiers of the Sacrifice Legion, equipped with power gloves, followed without hesitation, like streams flowing into the sea, disappearing into the light of the entrance.

After the entire group had entered, the fluctuations at the entrance subsided slightly, but an ominous aura still lingered.

Isabella stood there, like a beautiful guardian deity, her gaze fixed on the entrance. Around her were the most loyal guards, armed to the teeth and given orders to kill without mercy. The empire's first proactive interdimensional expedition and military training had officially begun.
-
Dividing line

Li Zhongren was the first to step into the dark red, viscous void. An indescribable sense of stagnation and a cacophony of whispers instantly enveloped him. The sacrificial legion soldiers who followed closely behind also felt this extremely uncomfortable environment.

After passing through a brief, seemingly thin membrane barrier, the view suddenly opened up, but what followed was an even stronger spiritual shock.

They seemed to be inside a gigantic tunnel, but the tunnel's "walls" were not made of rock or metal, but rather of slowly writhing, dark red flesh covered with thick blood vessels and nerve bundles.

The walls were slippery and sticky, emitting a strong, pungent smell that was a mixture of rust and rotten sweetness.

Occasionally, cracks would appear in the fleshy walls, revealing pulsating, organ-like structures behind them, or seeping out viscous liquid that emitted a faint phosphorescence.

A deep, resonant energy permeated the air, like the dying groans of countless lives, directly impacting the depths of one's soul.

The light, appearing from nowhere, was a morbid, pulsating dark red that tinged everything with an eerie and insane hue.

This place doesn't resemble any known natural or man-made structure; it's more like inside a living, unimaginably massive creature, or rather, the slowly decaying remains of a colossal beast that isn't quite dead yet.

"Activate gloves for all! Construct an 'Iron Wall' formation!"

Li Zhongren's voice rang clearly in the minds of every soldier, carrying an unquestionable calmness.

The moment the order was given, the power gloves on the left hands of a thousand soldiers simultaneously lit up with a dark red light, and the blood crystals in the crystal bottles began to steadily release energy.

It's not just about improved muscle strength and reaction speed; an invisible force originating from the soul is also being activated and connected.

Through specific telekinetic circuits built into the gloves and coordinated training, the auras of a thousand independent souls, like trickling streams, quickly converged into a resilient mental field, enveloping the entire team.

The sanity drop caused by the suffocating whispers and distorted visions was significantly weakened by this combined force field.

The soldiers felt the ground beneath their feet, which had been soft and sticky, trying to cling to the flesh and blood of their boots, become firm and smooth, as if they were walking on flat ground.

"Follow me, maintain formation!"

Li Zhongren gave the order and then stepped forward.

His mental power had already spread out in all directions like an invisible tide, exploring this intricate tunnel system, which resembled a capillary network.

A moment later, a look of understanding flashed in his eyes.

His perception penetrated through layers of writhing flesh and blood, glimpsing part of the truth.

This is not some natural alternate dimension, but a corpse!
A colossal, unimaginably large, corpse of an Outer God who has been dead for countless years!
They are now walking within the remaining body of this fallen god.

The power of time is immense. Most of this corpse has dissipated or turned into cosmic dust, leaving only the most core and resilient part. The remains, mainly the heart area, are still slowly functioning under some kind of inertia or lingering instinct.

His telekinetic power locked onto the deepest part of the ruins, to the most powerful, decaying yet still terrifying source of energy—a heart as large as a mountain, still faintly beating! That was the final core of this Outer God's power!

A plan instantly took shape in Li Zhongren's mind.

Bring this heart back to the real world, purify and control it, and it will become an inexhaustible source of extraordinary energy for the Red Empire!

A truly divine power center!

However, they were not the only ones coveting this heart.

Over countless years, the decaying and mutated cells of the Outer God's corpse, combined with the energy dissipated from its heart, gave birth to all sorts of twisted, bloodthirsty flesh monsters.

They parasitize the remains like maggots, clinging to life by drawing power from the heart.

To get the heart, these "parasites" must first be removed.

And this is precisely the purpose for which Li Zhongren brought this army: to train troops in actual combat and to use these monsters to forge the empire's first extraordinary blade!
Under Li Zhongren's guidance, the allied forces, like a red-hot blade, swiftly traversed the writhing tunnel of flesh and blood, avoiding areas of extreme energy chaos and danger, and thrusting straight into the core.

Finally, they broke through the labyrinthine network of tunnels and found themselves in a vast space that defied description, a space that resembled the remnant chest of an Outer God.

The "sky" of the space is a twisted, enclosed, dark red fleshy wall, like a withered dome.

And beneath that "sky dome" floats an enormous heart that is still slowly beating!

The heart was a sickly dark purple, its surface covered with twisted blood vessels and tumor-like growths. Each weak pulsation caused the entire space to tremble slightly. Thick, mountain-like blood vessels extended from the heart, connecting to the surrounding flesh, stubbornly and futilely trying to provide a meager amount of energy to the last corner of this enormous, long-dead body.

The heart itself exudes a chilling pressure, yet also radiates an alluring, pure aura of power.

Countless monsters crawl and roam on the "ground" below the heart and on the surrounding fleshy walls.

They come in all shapes and sizes. Some resemble a combination of a skinned humanoid creature and tentacles, while others are wriggling giant mouths made of pure rotten flesh and blood. Still others are like arthropods wielding bone blades. But without exception, they all exude extreme malice towards life and greed for the power of that heart.

"Legion, heed my command!"

Li Zhongren's voice echoed in the empty space of his chest.

"Disperse and clear out all visible monsters in squadrons! I will stay here to cover your retreat. I will not intervene unless something appears that you cannot handle. This is a test for you, and also your moment to earn merit!"

"Yes, Mr. Zero!"

A thousand people roared in unison, their voices echoing through the strange space.

The military formation changed instantly, transforming from a concentrated defensive formation into several offensive wedge formations.

Legion Commander Andrew Sterling was positioned at the tip of a wedge formation at the very front.

He was a tall young man with a resolute face and sharp eyes.

After putting on the gloves, his body underwent even more significant changes. His muscles bulged, and his skin faintly shone with a metallic sheen, making him resemble a giant. Not only did his strength increase dramatically, but his defense and recovery abilities also became extremely astonishing, making him the undisputed sharpest blade in the legion.

At this moment, Andrew's feelings were complicated.

Excited to finally step onto the real battlefield of the extraordinary, terrified by the bizarre and incomprehensible sights and monsters before my eyes, but more than anything, I felt determined!
He knew that everything he had, his future, was firmly tied to the Queen's grace and the guidance of Mr. Zero.

But he was not without ambition; he craved power, status, and the chance to leave his mark on this magnificent and extraordinary era!

The battle before us is the best stepping stone!

"For the Empire! Charge with me!"

Andrew roared, activating the glove's maximum output power. His body swelled up again, and like a war god, he charged towards the nearest group of flesh-twisted creatures.

He threw a punch, and the resulting gale shattered a monster into pieces, splattering dark red blood everywhere.

Behind him, the soldiers worked closely together, their combined mental field not only providing protection but also interfering with the monsters to some extent, and even guiding each other's power.

They wielded specially made alloy weapons engraved with basic armor-piercing and sharp psychic runes, or directly fought against the swarming monsters with their glove-enhanced fists and feet.

A crimson light flickered on the soldiers' gloves and weapons, weaving together with the roars of monsters and the sounds of flesh being torn apart into a brutal war song.

The expeditionary force demonstrated astonishing combat power and adaptability. With the support of Li Zhongren's improved military formations and standardized equipment, they managed to drive back the massive monster horde.

In the distance, Li Zhongren hovered silently in mid-air, coldly watching the battlefield, especially Andrew, who was tearing through the monster lines like a sharp knife.

He clearly sensed Andrew's complex emotions—a mixture of loyalty, fanaticism, and personal ambition. Ambition is not to be feared; people strive for higher goals to maximize their potential. As for the possibility of things getting out of control...
The foundation of the empire is the telekinetic script he invented. Those who use this script are subject to his control; how could it possibly spiral out of control?
After a moment of contemplation, he focused his gaze on the heart, the heart of God that hung beneath the withered sky!
His gaze darkened slightly; he had been too simplistic in his thinking.

The heart is a good thing, but which of the external gods is easy to deal with?

Sacrifice, sacrifice—his power spread to countless worlds, all to maintain the beating of this heart, and from within it, to give birth to entirely new life.

(End of this chapter)