New concept of the mysterious way to ascend to immortality

Chapter 95 [Viral Universe] and the Truth of the World
In a private room at a restaurant, Yuan Zhu ordered a feast and feasted with the Sword Immortal Guan Quan. However, the young Sword Immortal's strength was limited, and he wasn't even half full when the other party was already full? What a weakling!
Seeing Yuan Zhu still eating with gusto, Lu Rang felt envious. He also understood the basic common sense that 'appetite = strength'.

Unfortunately, he couldn't eat anymore, so he found a new topic to ease the awkwardness: "Brother Yuan, what are you doing now? Are you short of people? Do you want me to work with you?"

Yuan Zhu asked back: "What about you?"

"I'm unemployed at home right now, practicing my flying sword every day, but the process is so arduous. I can only sustain it for half an hour before the pain becomes unbearable and I have to recuperate." He looked at his bandaged fingers, a look of lingering despair and fear on his face. "Occasionally, I report to the nearby security bureau for some skills training. I went on a mission with them once, helping out the entire time. I couldn't participate, and they even thought I was in the way. My old friends have also become distant from me, and life has been really boring lately."

After understanding the other party's situation, Yuan Zhu shook his head and said, "You don't need to hang out with me. I have a lot of part-time jobs and I can only make a living. You should practice hard and accumulate strength, so as not to die in the next mission. Oh, right, take some time to learn martial arts and swordsmanship. Your power posture is too amateurish. I can't help but want to kick you when I see it."

Lu Rang nodded in agreement. "I've had this thought, too, but I haven't had time to act yet. It took me a week to establish a basic connection with my flying sword. The sword sacrifice process was incredibly painful. Once I'm done with my flying sword, I'll go to the sword academy and sign up for training."

Looking at the man's finger bandage that was still oozing blood, Yuan Zhu suddenly remembered his job, and then a milky white holy light lit up under the cloth on his wrist: "Come, stretch out your hands, I will heal you."

"what?"

Lu Rang raised his hands, his expression still a little dazed, and he still couldn't equate Yuan Zhu with treatment.

At this time, Yuan Zhu had already raised his hand and clenched it. A rectangular protective force field suddenly appeared and held Lu Rang's hands tightly inside. Then holy light burst out in the force field, and a soft but not dazzling white light appeared, making the other party feel an indescribable warmth.

A tingling sensation spread from the wounds on his fingertips, and the cuts on his ten fingers healed quickly. When Yuan Zhu withdrew the holy light, the lingering tingling sensation still lingered on his fingertips and even inside the flesh-encased phalanges.

"Holy crap! What just happened? It's so magical."

After removing the bandages and looking at his ten fingers that had fully recovered, Lu Rang was so shocked that he couldn't close his mouth.

If he had tried his best but failed to break the shield that Yuan Zhu had casually put up before, which made him feel unwilling to give up; then his healed hands now made him feel a little desperate and discouraged.

They are obviously newcomers, so how come the gap between them is so big after just a few days of not seeing each other?

Yuan Zhu continued to eat and drink calmly, and finally said, "My strength has increased quite rapidly recently, and I've come up with some treatment methods. They look magical, but they actually overdraw the life potential of your hands, using holy light to stimulate cells to divide faster. Ultimately, it still depends on your own recovery ability."

Even so, in Lu Rang's eyes, the oppressive feeling Yuan Zhu brought him was no less than that of Zhou Chu and the others. What on earth had he, a sword immortal, cultivated? Was it just for nothing?

"Brother Yuan, if I had chosen Holy Light..."

Yuan Zhu spat out a clean chicken bone and interrupted the opponent's spellcasting: "Stop dreaming. You can't even get started with practicing Holy Light. You'd better focus on refining your flying sword!"

He wasn't lying. [Holy Light] was truly built on burning life. One life lost equals one gain. Even if one took the shortcut of burning external objects, one still needed to constantly ignite oneself at the lowest possible level, burning together.

How could an ordinary person like Lu Rang, who couldn't even heal a finger wound quickly, have the abundant life force to support the Holy Light? His current Holy Seal level would take an ordinary person at least three years to reach.

Flying Swords are more accessible. Everyone has their share of suffering and pain, but not everyone has the luxury of burning their lives. Feel the pain, and sharpen your strength.

At this moment, Yuan Zhu's true intentions became clear, and he casually said, "Oh, right? You said you've just gotten started, and participating in the Security Bureau's missions feels out of place and burdensome. You're eager to become stronger, but you can't find a way, right?"

"Yes! What does Brother Yuan have to teach me?"

Yuan Zhu put down his bowl and chopsticks, looking as if he was putting himself in your shoes. "I have a way. The profit is a bit low, but the risk is not high. You have a magic sword and a uniform to protect you, so you are safe. Although the environment is harsh, it will sharpen your will and greatly improve your combat experience and ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Most importantly, it can benefit society and quietly protect the peace and tranquility of the people of Running."

Yuan Zhu's description of this job immediately made it seem quite impressive, and even a young man like Lu Rang was filled with enthusiasm. Having also received Zhou Chu's letter, he had taken the initiative to report to the Security Bureau and actively participated in various missions, which clearly showed that Lu Rang had some ideals and awareness, and was very interested in such a big deal.

"Brother Yuan, what's going on? Tell me quickly. I'm not afraid of pain or suffering."

"Enter the sewer system and clean out the goblins. I'll provide you with a full set of gas masks, goggles, and potions to trap them. Wearing a uniform and holding a pipe wrench, you can enjoy fighting the evil goblins underground, honing your swordsmanship and combat experience. Ultimately, you'll severely injure them and bring them to justice! I'll buy them for 50 yuan each, which is a deposit. I don't care if they're disabled or seriously injured, as long as you keep them breathing."

As he spoke, Yuan Zhu slammed the 2 yuan he had prepared earlier on the table again, leaving Lu Rang no chance to refuse.

The ardent swordsman was also stunned. He hadn't thought there was such a way to hone his swordsmanship. But after thinking about it carefully, it was indeed very reliable.

He had the protection of his uniform and the [Protection of the Sword], so as long as he didn't commit suicide, he could escape unscathed from the sewers. And goblins, in his upbringing, had always been villains.

Even local adults would scare children by saying, "If you don't behave, goblins will steal you at night!" In fact, cases of goblins stealing children for secret sacrifices have occurred around the world, but they are not as frequent.

Having him go deep into the sewers to fight the goblins would indeed hone his sword skills and increase his combat experience, and Yuan Zhu was even willing to pay for the goblins. He seriously suspected that this was an excuse that Brother Yuan had made up to give him money.

Brother Yuan is such a good person. Not only did he want to give me money, he also helped me with strategies and found a practical method to hone my martial arts skills, while also benefiting society. It was like killing two birds with one stone. At this moment, Lu Rang was so moved by his own imagination that he fell into the trap of self-PUA and could not extricate himself.

Completely ignored, a 2 yuan deposit had been placed to order 400 goblins. According to the number of 12 goblins per trip of the tiger demon, it would take a month of hard work to drill the sewer.

Besides, the goblins aren't fools, and they can't spawn endlessly. If a large number of deaths occur in an area, they'll naturally change their activity area and become more cautious and careful.

After a meal, Lu Rang left with 2 goblin funds, Yuan Zhu's discarded night vision goggles, and a gas mask, carrying a pipe wrench. He showed no fear of the harsh environment of the sewer, only a heart full of fighting spirit.

Watching him retreat, Yuan Zhu had a premonition. A Goblin Slayer-like "Sewer Sperm Killer" story was about to unfold in Running.

The legendary swordsman's journey to kill sperm.

……

After saying goodbye to Lu Rang, Yuan Zhu took great pains to get the wolverine and two lame deer into the haunted house, divided them into two groups, and continued to pollute it with [shadow] and [disease].

Because these animals have limited spiritual power, are not big enough, and have lower intelligence... they have absolutely no potential to become minions, so he simply uses them to prepare high-energy ingredients (highly polluted meat), and by the way, see what they will become under the two kinds of extraordinary pollution?
After doing all this, the sky gradually darkened and Yuan Zhu walked home.

Along the way, he saw many urban hunters carrying hunting rifles, compound bows, revolvers or hunting knives on their waists, patrolling the city in groups on motorcycles, drinking and driving drunk, and parading through the streets.

These individuals often come from gangs. Once selected, they divide up their hunting territories. They hunt wild beasts entering the city from the Misty Mountains at night, as well as prey transported via the space shuttle. This has a slightly positive effect.

Yuan Zhu sensed the slightest signs of pollution from some individuals, all of whom had special skills.

As we continued walking, we occasionally saw small statues, shrines, and simple temples built on the roadside. Their number and frequency were about the same as the roadside trash cans and bus shelters in Chinese cities.

Because belief in gods is common and integrated into every aspect of life, stone statues, special totems, and bronze statues frequently appear in every corner of the city.

Some streets even integrate deity reliefs and totems onto utility poles and streetlights, creating the illusion of advertising space for rent. However, the artwork is exquisitely crafted and artistically executed. These sculptures are carved piece by piece onto the poles by professional craftsmen, sometimes even blessed. If they were anywhere in the world, they would be popular photo-op spots.

For some higher-ranking deities, a single stone statue is surrounded by pillars on either side, topped with a curved eaves to protect it from the rain, creating simple shrines and temples for worship. These temples range in size from telephone booths to public toilets to earth temples, and their styles vary greatly, with some offering an artistic feel and others an industrial feel.

Yuan Zhu, simply passing by, couldn't help but take a second look at the various shrines and temples dedicated to the gods. Their significance served as unique advertising spaces for different deities, while also serving as urban art and architecture, exorcising evil spirits, and offering prayers and wishes, making them very popular among locals.

If it weren't for the unspoken rules of interference, suppression, and the rule of "kings don't meet kings" among the deities, ordinary residents would be eager to have two hundred statues within a hundred meters of their homes. The blessings of various deities piled on top of each other, operating endlessly 24 hours a day.

Seeing all sorts of bizarre statues, Yuan Zhu couldn't help but marvel at the unique religious culture of the West Coast, which was truly diverse. He inexplicably thought of the suburbs of his hometown on Earth, where the tombstones looked so high-end.

At this moment, the elf suddenly said, "Maybe one day, there will be statues and temples of our gods on the roadside?"

Yuan Zhu immediately dismissed the idea of a grave: "I don't know what the purpose of setting up these statues is. I always feel that there is a hidden reason behind this."

...

Walking along the road at night, about seven or eight kilometers from home, Yuan Zhu suddenly heard a call from afar. This feeling... was [Happy Home]!
He paused on the spot, carefully distinguishing the signal received on the spiritual level. This was not a gathering notice before the mission began, but someone was calling him from inside the [Happy Home].

He felt the 7 coins left in his pocket, looked around to make sure there was no one around, turned into a hidden corner, and used a coin to enter the [Happy House].

When he opened his eyes again, he saw Number 3, hiding behind the Captain, half of his delicate mechanical face poking out and making faces at him. The Captain was still wearing a clean, snug-fitting uniform, looking elegant and refined, having stayed at Happy Home specifically to wait for him.

Yuan Zhu was the first to greet: "Hello, Captain!"

The other person stared at him, then nodded in response, "Good evening. You've become much stronger, beyond my expectations. No wonder you were so anxious to see me. Do you have a lot of questions in your mind?"

"Yes, I have a lot of questions. But for the moment, I don't know where to start?" Yuan Zhu didn't expect the captain to receive him suddenly, which made his mind full of questions, but he was so confused that he couldn't summarize them.

The captain gestured for No. 3 to bring over two chairs, then soothed him, "Don't worry. We have plenty of time today, so let's talk slowly. Let me answer a question for you first. I've tested the 'contaminated plant' you gave No. 3. The contaminant behind it comes from one of the eight outer universes, the Virus Universe."

"[Viral Universe]?"

The captain explained, "The Virus Universe, or the Disease Universe. It's also the last of the extraterrestrial universes to emerge and establish a deep connection with the [Duling]."

Yuan Zhu hadn't expected the "Disease Garden" to have such a history. He was cultivating "Shadow Eggplant" in a haunted house. Was this considered a "Plant Universe vs. Virus Universe"? Alien minions versus alien crops.

He quickly asked, "Is this [Virus Universe] dangerous? How does the pollution level compare to the 'Tomato Man' in the bubble world? Or, in other words, does that small garden space I discovered have hidden dangers?" Faced with Yuan Zhu's question, the captain frowned and pondered, then asked, "Do you have any knowledge of the external universe and the division of the extraordinary eras of the Duling?"

Yuan Zhu recalled the fragments of his previous life's memories and said, "I remember from the textbook that the [Fall of the Magic Plane] over four hundred years ago can be used as a dividing line. The period before that is ancient times, and the period after that is modern times. Modern times can be divided into three stages: the first magical revival (modern times), the second extraordinary industrial revolution (modern times), and the current 'contemporary times'."

The captain nodded. "Pretty much. Before the [Magic Revival], there were no supernatural powers in ancient Duling. At least for the past two thousand years, although many time travelers appeared and influenced the course of history, no one possessed any supernatural powers, and no one could achieve immortality or fly. It wasn't until the fall of the magic plane that the balance of Duling Planet was disrupted. As the magical elements dissipated, they also released the 'Ancient Source of Pollution' that was suspected to have been sealed within the planet."

According to the captain's introduction, the modern history of Duling is completely different from that in the textbooks.

It's not just the [fall of the magic plane], which causes the magic elements to escape and leads to the first 'resurrection of magic (aura)'.

During this process, the falling of the plane blocks also broke the ancient seal deep within the planet, releasing a large amount of suppressed ancient pollution sources...

Therefore, various ancient "sources of pollution" took over and relied on the extraordinary rules and phenomena of various [magical universes] to manifest on the Duling planet, and appeared in the form of myths and legends that were more in line with the recognition of Duling's native creatures (humans).

The so-called [Kunlun Mother (Peaches)], [Huangtian (Taoism)], [Buddha], [Holy Temple], etc., first existed in religions and scriptures in ancient times.

During this period, "Kunlun, Huangtian, Buddha, and Holy Hall" were just fictitious religious terms, concepts, and myths compiled by religion.

Then, during the [Magic Resurrection] era, Duling Star established a stable connection with the first outer universe. Instead of the occasional ordinary travelers, the power (magic) from the [Crystal Wall Universe] began to leak within Duling Star.

If Duling was just a simple planet, then [Magic Revival] would most likely evolve into the invasion and colonization of an unfamiliar universe by [Crystal Wall Universe].

A massive amount of magical energy spread and released, integrating into the atmosphere and ecosystem, transforming the planet's natural environment. Using the plane blocks as a springboard, the "magic rules" of the Crystal Wall Universe were also infiltrated, and the "Magic Web" was then established, and magical species began to proliferate.

Ultimately, this zero-magic planet would be gradually transformed into a low-magic planet and then a medium-magic planet, laying a solid foundation for cosmic-level invasion and expansion.

...

But it turned out that [Crystal Wall Universe] picked the wrong "soft persimmon".

On the surface, it seems like the "resurrection of magic power", but in fact it has destroyed an ancient "pollution seal (septic tank)" with a longer history. Countless terrible and incomprehensible "pollution sources" have appeared along with the resurrection of magic power, and have quickly parasitized and taken over various "magic rules".

Polluted energy first took over different magical rules, integrating them into itself to replenish energy and sustenance. Just like the [Great Wilderness Immortal Scripture] devoured [Shadow Pollution] and developed 'Shadow Aura' for its own operation.

The local pollution sources regard the [Crystal Wall Universe (Magic Universe)] as a big sucker, permanently solidifying the channel to the outer universe, and continuously extracting/drawing energy from the opposite side (Crystal Wall System) to replenish and strengthen themselves.

But the rules and magic of the Crystal Wall Universe are merely foreign. Simply blending in would be like joining an alien world, becoming a pawn of the Crystal Wall's invasion and colonization.

The pollution source of Duling itself contains unique "rule information". Of course, it must take root in the Duling planet and use its own ideas, pollution properties, and presentation forms to arbitrarily transform and distort its own planet to create a home (demon cave) that suits it.

So these pollution sources, while exploiting the resources of the 'Crystal Wall Universe', selected religious classics and mythological stories with similar 'pollution properties' to their own, and used them as 'image anchors' to descend into the world for the first time.

And this is the true [First Magic Revival].

[Magical Universe] and "magic power" are just a fuse. Kunlun, Huangtian, Buddha, Holy Hall and other mythological systems belonging to the native text of Duling were truly born, appeared and descended during this period.

Before that, they were just religious culture, folk tales, and false civilization heritage.

After this, they became truly existing mythological systems. [Sources of Pollution], cloaked in the guise of Buddhism, Taoism, and Holy Light, truly took on a physical form. Furthermore, their respective "pollution (mythological) systems" also deeply merged with the "mythical stories" of Duling history, transforming themselves and transforming the false into the real.

In the textbook, the end of the [First Magic Revival] is naturally the complete decline of the "magic element" and the rise of the new "super steam civilization" brought about by the [industrial universe].

Behind the scenes, many "pollution sources" of Duling are competing with each other for the rules, resources, and magic of the [Magic Universe], and plundering each other's ownership of different "mythological images and civilization concepts" in the cultures of their native (Duling) countries, leading to rounds of brutal wars.

A series of polluting systems emerged one after another, with vicious internal conflicts, internecine slaughter, and the big fish devouring the small ones. Externally, they engaged in a frenzied feud with the invaders from the Crystal Wall Universe, slaying countless alien gods and brutally dismembering the Abyssal Will (branch), completely consuming all the invading resources invested by the Crystal Wall Universe...

Eventually, one super source of pollution after another officially came into being in the form of [holy light, Kunlun magic, Huangtian fairy way, Buddhism...], giving birth to the first batch of primitive gods and demons, who debuted as idols.

Therefore, the "Magic Revival" naturally ended in a disastrous failure, but the [Crystal Wall Universe] has always been connected with the Du Ling.

At this point, the first external universe was forced to become the blood bag of [Duling Star], constantly drawing blood from the crystal wall system to supply local pollution sources.

At the same time, the first group of magical races gradually adapted to the living environment of the Duling people, integrated into this planet undergoing drastic changes, and gradually became indigenous people, or were upgraded to primitive gods and demons.

If the 'Age of Magical Revival' was just an accident caused by the [Crystal Wall Universe].

Then, when the "Ancient Pollution Sources" collectively escaped and rioted, everything completely spiraled out of control. The second victim, the Industrial/Steam Universe, appeared, heralding the beginning of a new era.

……

The extraordinary pollution system that appeared in the image of the "gods" in the local culture, after digesting the resources of the [Crystal Wall Universe], giving birth to its own gods, and creating its own practice system (pollution system), began to use the special features of the [Duling Star] to capture the second outer universe.

Then Dulingxing took the initiative to attack, imitating the entire process of [The Great Invasion of the Magic Race (Crossing)], exporting cosmic-level pollution disasters to the outside world, and reaching a deep strategic bond with the [Industrial Universe].

While extracting resources from the new universe, it also takes out various laws and alien systems, allowing more jailbroken pollution sources to take over bodies, undergo magical modifications, transform... and emerge.

At the same time, the local pollution system further split and shattered the rules of the [Magic Universe], leaving no possibility for the Crystal Wall System to compromise or expand secretly.

The "belief in gods system" of the Crystal Wall Universe is excellent, and many local humans want to become gods through this system, but it also inadvertently increases the voice of the Crystal Wall Universe in the Duling.

Therefore, during the "Second Extraordinary Industrial Revolution" of Duling, the "Crystal Wall Godhead System" was completely destroyed from the root.

The [gods and godhead] parts were grafted onto the 'steam totem' of the [industrial universe], creating a new pollution system of the [industrial god].

By doing this, the extraordinary civilizations of the two universes of "magic" and "industrial" will never have the opportunity to paralyze and infiltrate Duling Star and transform it into a colony of the "magic" or "industrial" universe.

Instead, they allowed the pollution sources of Duling to absorb and combine in various ways, giving birth to Duling's own "pollution system".

Therefore, in the second era, more "super pollutants" were born. The Duling used the same trick again, capturing and anchoring the third and fourth external universes.

The planet has plundered and absorbed too many resources and laws from the outer universe.

The sources of pollution are competing viciously with each other, fighting for the ownership, discourse power, and definition power of the planet, and vying to become the [Du Ling Tian Dao], and a series of fierce battles have broken out internally.

Due to its excessive energy, the Duling spirits simultaneously collapsed inwards and expanded outwards. Thus, the [Spiritual Layer], [Foam Layer], and [Astral Layer] were born, serving to relieve pressure and better plunder and devour from the 'outer universe'.

As for why the outside universe did not retaliate?
According to the captain, each of the "sources of pollution" of the Duling spirits was a supreme evil, a "will of the abyss" that had no chance of growth. These disgusting creatures, after consuming the resources of the outer universe and mastering its laws, became deadly "cancer cells and lethal viruses" in the eyes of the "outer universe," leaving no time for escape.

The 'connection' between the Duling and the outer universe is the breeding ground for numerous young Abyssal demons. Letting them in would be a deadly threat to their own universe. It would be enough to isolate them, but why would they fight back?!

In the third era, Du Ling has already suspended eight external universes at the same time. The "cosmic rules" and resources absorbed from the outside are too much, and the "large and small pollution sources" bred inside are even more rampant.

If the first generation is the resurgence of pollution (origin), the second generation is the rapid expansion of pollution sources (growth).

In today's era, we are witnessing an internal war among the major pollution systems. We are already transitioning from the feudal states of the Zhou Dynasty to the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period.

[Virus/Disease Universe] is the outer universe captured by the [Du Ling] in the third generation.

It appeared very late. Unlike the [Magical Universe and Industrial Universe], the cosmic laws and extraordinary resources were divided up, giving rise to many early sources of pollution.

In this era, super pollution sources (Kunlun, the Holy Temple, Anti-Law...) have already taken shape, grown bigger and stronger, and each has become a "small heavenly way" existence, nurturing its own [mythological civilization system] in the "inner/outer layer" outside the present world.

The laws and resources brought by the [Disease Universe] are contested by many newly emerging "small and medium-sized pollution systems", which try to absorb and integrate them and evolve new "pollution systems" as the foundation for their own foothold and development in Duling.

Therefore, the captain said it was difficult to answer Yuan Zhu’s question.

The Disease Universe, unlike other external universes, is itself a massive source of pollution, perhaps even extraterrestrial pollution. Its danger index is extremely high, with viruses and diseases at the core of its transcendental systems. Simultaneously, within Duling itself, numerous polluting systems attempt to contact and absorb this "disease pollution," mutating into even more disgusting and terrifying systems, hoping to carve out a niche in the increasingly difficult (and insanely inward-looking) Duling world.

Therefore, some of the native inhabitants of the "Disease Universe" actively integrated into the vast quagmire of the Duling, beginning to localize. Some local pollution sources also embraced the possession of disease pollution, creating localized "disease systems." Furthermore, even large-scale pollution systems were engaging with the "Disease Universe," attempting to branch out and begin utilizing its resources.

So the 'disease plants' and even the 'garden' that Yuan Zhu discovered might seem small and cute, but what forces were hidden behind them? The captain couldn't explain.

Perhaps it was a minor fight between a small faction and a few individuals, or perhaps it was a large-scale deployment by a larger faction. Yuan Zhu stumbled upon a spot and began to stealthily harvest.

After hearing the captain's explanation, Yuan Zhu was speechless. The more he knew, the less he knew. Instead of resolving his confusion, it only made him more confused.

(End of this chapter)