Ling Cage: I am a spiritual master, devouring source matter to become a god.

"Do you think this Devouring Beast is an ordinary Devouring Beast? It wasn't originally a Devouring Beast; it was Mark, the city lord of our Lighthouse!"

Bai Yuekui told him that as long as he was transformed into a Devouring Beast, he could end the Mana ecosystem!

Mark was prepared to sacrifice himself in order to save everyone.

And the result? In her eyes, Mark was merely an experimental subject, a subject that could be discarded at will if the experiment failed.

“I have no intention of abandoning Mark!” Bai Yuekui explained from the side.

"You said you wanted to extract his life essence for experiments! What if it fails again next time? Try extracting it again?"

This time, Bai Yuekui was speechless; she truly could not guarantee the success of the experiment.

"Jingyuan, you've misunderstood the boss! The experiment failed, but that's not the result the boss wanted. This is the end of the world; without sacrifices, we can't gain this experience."

Mark sacrificed himself, and we remember his sacrifice, but these sacrifices were necessary!

Jingyuan looked at the person speaking and realized it was Ulan Aodeng.

Jingyuan said sadly, "Was Maiduo's sacrifice also necessary?"

Ulan Aodeng was stunned; his daughter's sacrifice had always been a pain in his heart.

"Two people died building a single shielding tower, and that was with Bai Yuekui leading the team. Do you think that's normal?"

Jingyuan stared at Bai Yuekui and said, "Before this, I didn't understand, but now I understand."

Bai Yuekui, Mark has come to you three times to ask for your help in collecting materials for the Soul Extinction Tower, but you have refused each time.

Given the Lighthouse's capabilities, many people will inevitably die during the material gathering process.

Your goal is to make Mark watch his companions die, to make him deeply feel the powerlessness in the face of the apocalypse.

Only in this way will Mark willingly become your guinea pig.

Mark was present when Mydo died.

You made Mark realize that even enlightened beings are not omnipotent, and that enlightened beings can also die.

Only when Mark is driven to despair will he agree to your plan.

Tell me, am I right or wrong?

Sui Xing shouted angrily, "Jing Yuan, what nonsense are you spouting!"

Although Jingyuan didn't say it directly, his meaning was clear.

It was all a trap set by Bai Yuekui for Mark.

Even Maido's death was part of a trap.

“Joining the experimental program was Mark’s own decision!” Bai Yuekui insisted.

From the crowd, Shan Da stepped forward, blood still dripping from the corner of his mouth, his eyes filled with hostility towards Jing Yuan. "Since becoming the boss's guinea pig was Mark's decision, you have no right to criticize him here!"

"I'm not qualified?"

"Yes! Even if the boss's experiment failed, if he could contribute to humanity's fight against the Mana ecosystem, he would have died a worthy death! So what gives you the right to stand here and criticize Boss Bai?"

"Yes! To be able to sacrifice oneself to fight against the environment is a worthy death!"

Among the crowd, Bai Yuekui's supporters began to echo his sentiments.

“None of us have not sacrificed ourselves in the fight against the ecosystem. Do you know how many people have died in Longgu Village over the years? All our experience in fighting the ecosystem was gained by our people with their lives.”

"In comparison, what have you lighthouses done?"

“You only sacrificed one person and you come here to cause trouble. Don’t you even ask yourselves what contributions your Lighthouse has made to combating the environment?”

"While we were fighting the Devouring Beasts on the ground, you Lighthouse people only knew how to hide in the sky. What right do you have to point fingers at our Dragonbone Village?"

Jingyuan listened to what these people were saying and laughed in anger.

Chapter 245 Then please make a sacrifice!

Jing Yuan looked at these people and smiled coldly: "Very well!"

Instantly, a strange pressure enveloped everyone.

Jing Yuan stared at them: "Since you are so noble and willing to sacrifice yourselves to fight against the ecosystem, then I'll trouble you to make that sacrifice now!"

As soon as Jing Yuan had a thought, the mental pressure intensified even more.

"Jingyuan, what are you going to do?"

"What for?" Jing Yuan glanced at Bai Yuekui. "Let me tell you! I have a superpower: I can become stronger by absorbing life essence. Since you people of Dragon Bone Village are so selfless, then please offer me your life essence. Once I become stronger, I can go and destroy the Mana ecosystem!"

Jingyuan continued to exert pressure, and his words terrified Penny, Ranbing, and Jingnan behind him.

The hundreds of people in Dragon Bone Village felt the mental pressure, and even the Awakened Walker was suppressed. No one doubted Jing Yuan's strength.

As Jing Yuan released his mental pressure, Bai Yuekui got up and attacked Jing Yuan, but Jing Yuan dodged it.

Why should we be the ones to sacrifice?

"Yes! Why should we be the ones to sacrifice! You Lighthouse have so many people, why don't you go and absorb them!"

Jing Yuan stared at Bai Yuekui and said, "Did you hear that? Why should you sacrifice yourselves? Then why should Mark sacrifice himself!"

Jing Yuan shouted, "What? You're willing to sacrifice others, but not yourself?"

Jing Yuan released the mental pressure and said to the people of Dragon Bone Village, "I'm too lazy to argue with you! I don't care about your life essence. Today, I'm taking our Mark away. Anyone who tries to stop me, just try!"

“Jingyuan, you can’t take Mark away!” Bai Yuekui stepped forward.

"Then try it!"

Jing Yuan unleashed a punch imbued with the essence of the "Nine Rivers Saber Technique".

A powerful energy blasted at Bai Yuekui, sending him flying.

Although Bai Yuekui was injured and unable to exert his full strength, Jing Yuan's punch was still far too terrifying.

Bai Yuekui fell to the ground. She could sense that Jing Yuan's strength was no longer what it used to be.

If she were to fight by force, she might not be able to defeat Jing Yuan before she dies.

Moreover, Jing Yuan knew Bai Yuekui's situation; he only needed to stall for time to wear her down.

Seeing that Bai Yuekui had no intention of continuing his attack, Jingyuan did not pursue the matter to the bitter end.

Jing Yuan used his mental power to control the operating table to continue flying towards the village entrance. The other awakened practitioners, seeing Jing Yuan force Bai Yuekui back with a single punch, dared not step forward.

……

Jingyuan flew back to the lighthouse with Mark.

It was daytime, and people were coming and going on the outer ring of the lighthouse.

He didn't deliberately avoid the people at the lighthouse, so many people saw Jing Yuan return to the lighthouse with a Devouring Beast.

Jingyuan understood that if Mark woke up, he would have to live in this form, so there was no need to hide it.

Jing Yuan didn't stop along the way and took Mark directly to the Ecological Research Institute.

Penny's spaceship followed closely behind, and after asking around, they learned that Jingyuan had gone to the Ecological Research Institute.

When Penny and her two friends arrived at the Ecological Research Institute, Dr. Carrie had just arrived as well.

Carrie looked at Jingyuan with a puzzled expression. "Jingyuan, why did you call me over in such a hurry? Is there something you need?"

Jingyuan gestured for Jiali to look at the operating table next to them.

Carrie looked up and saw a humanoid Devouring Beast!

Carrie was startled and took a step back, then a hint of surprise appeared in her eyes.

“This is a new type of Devourer Beast! Where did you get it?” Carrie stepped forward and examined Mark’s Devourer Beast body as if it were a work of art.

“I’ve always wanted a typical Devouring Beast specimen, but you kept saying you didn’t have time.” Carrie looked at Jing Yuan, her eyes filled with joy. “It seems you still care.”

At this moment, Jing Yuan was in a bad mood, and only calmly said, "This Devouring Beast is Mark!"

Carrie didn't react at first, then after about ten seconds, she exclaimed in shock, "You said it's Mark!"

"How could it be Mark?"

“He is Mark,” Jing Yuan explained. “He was implanted with a spinal cord parasite, which is why he became like this.”

"Implanting a spinal cord worm?" Carrie asked, her eyes wide. "Implanting a spinal cord worm can turn a person into a Devouring Beast?"

"No!" Jingyuan didn't know how to explain for a moment, but in order for Carrie to cure Mark, Jingyuan had no choice but to tell her everything.

“Mark is not human. He was originally a clone of a humanoid Devouring Beast that had its non-human genes removed. After being implanted with the Spine Worm, he became an ecological chimera and that’s how he looks.”

Carrie opened her mouth after hearing this, but didn't know what to say.

Jing Yuan said directly, "He has been in a deep sleep since undergoing a modification surgery. I want you to wake him up!"

Carrie stared at Jingyuan, her face full of confusion: "How do I wake him up?"

Carrie didn't know, and neither did Jingyuan.

Jingyuan only knew that in the original story, the surgery Carrie performed on Mark was successful.

After Mark was transformed into a Devourer, at least he was alive, instead of sleeping.