Chapter 25: Extracting the World's Essence

The next day.

The War Church dispatched two Transcendent Masters of the Eighth Transcendent Rank to Nav Fort for an in-depth investigation and to track the traces of the Mechanical Angel.

However, by the time they began their investigation, Gune had already entered the depths of the southern highland desert, starting his search for the Dominator's flesh.

Gune was well aware that his first strike had caught them off guard, and it was normal that no expert had arrived in time.

But now, they would surely be on guard, and a second strike would be dangerous.

Therefore, Gune had no intention of striking again.

At least not in the short term.

All Gune needed to do was find the Dominator's flesh and steadily increase his strength by idling.

After all, the Secret Pattern Potion had already entered mass production.

Many Transcendents were advancing rapidly.

On the battlefield, the Northern Transcendent Association held a great advantage.

Moreover, Senior Nigel and he himself had the potential to ascend to godhood.

By idling and steadily improving, the Southern Church and those evil gods would face a slow death.

…

Luoyu Saint Kis Mountains, at the end of the southernmost range.

Deep within a dark ruined cave.

In a corner, Gune slowly opened his eyes.

A week ago, following the Cthulhu Compass, Gune had found this deeply hidden piece of Dominator's flesh deep within the ruined cave.

At the same time,

Dark mist had already begun to emerge from the depths of the ruined cave.

Based on the information he had gathered, Gune roughly inferred that in the Black Abyss Cave deep within the cave, dark creatures would soon crawl out.

The creatures hidden in the darkness on the dark side of the world were also eager to try.

Before long, dark creatures would descend upon the Oya Continent.

With a leap, Gune flew straight up and then headed outside.

“In nearly a month, I have obtained three pieces of Dominator's flesh, each no smaller than the piece of bone flesh I got before.”

“Normally, these three pieces would take me nearly ten years to digest, but as the Blood Pool gradually expands, that ten years will be shortened—at least five years should be enough.”

“In five years, I should be about ready to advance to the Saint Rank.” Gune mused silently.

Soon, Gune flew out of the cave and quickly ascended above the clouds.

He looked northwest, where the War Church's territory lay.

After a moment's thought, Gune shook his head.

“The War Church must be fully focused on capturing the Mechanical Angel. It's dangerous to go there now. I'll return to the Star Observation Tower first.”

Concealing his trail, Gune flew while meticulously observing his own changes.

In the month or so since leaving the Star Observation Tower,

Gune's Seventh Transcendent Rank had fully stabilized at the early stage and was beginning to advance toward the middle stage.

The Blood Sea was also expanding with daily sacrifices.

Meanwhile, under the Blood Dream Elf's manipulation, the Blood Dream Arena was also growing.

During this time, many more people had entered the Blood Dream Arena.

Moreover, the arena was now almost always full, with battles taking place at all hours.

And the Blood Dream Elf had cleverly begun to open more small arena grounds, allowing more Transcendents to participate in combat.

The Blood Dream Arena had now become Gune's best means of steadily expanding his Blood Sea.

The Blood Sea divine ability scripture, the [Blood Source Sea Divine Scripture], was also one of Gune's powerful core methods.

It was even more powerful than the esoteric scripture [Demon Annihilation Erosion Blade].

“The only pity is that Sogra Kadlec doesn't have any better potion scriptures either.”

“High-level soul potions are a bit of a headache.”

“Do I really have to go to Saint Haijar?”

Recently, Gune had contacted Sogra Kadlec, the Dawn Source Clan Master, but unfortunately, they had no powerful potion scriptures to offer Gune for cultivation.

And without a powerful potion scripture, Gune had no way to research a stronger potion that could transform a soul into a leader-level soul.

Gune, flying above the clouds, suddenly stopped.

Narrowing his eyes, Gune looked around warily.

The clouds below began to stir unnaturally, torn apart.

At the same time, the surrounding source energy trembled slightly.

Even the entire sky seemed to tremble faintly in Gune's perception.

“What… is this?”

Gune looked around cautiously.

Sensing something, Gune's heart stirred as he looked toward the distant War Church and Healing Church.

Then, a silent, soft lament rippled gently through Gune's perception.

That silent lament was like the sigh of the world.

Gune even felt a sense of sorrow lingering in his heart.

Immediately, Gune closed his eyes, merging himself into the World Esoterica, extending his senses toward the entire world.

The moment he fully unleashed his perception and merged with the world,

Gune's mind trembled.

He felt it.

The entire framework of the Oya Continent had been torn open with a deep wound.

And a strange, grotesque force was preventing the world from healing itself.

As a result, the world's energy was continuously leaking out, and had even begun to be extracted at an accelerated pace.

Slowly withdrawing his perception, Gune's expression stiffened slightly.

“The world's essence is being extracted.”

“The War and Healing Churches have fully allied with the evil gods. They would rather see the world destroyed and their own districts' residents suffer death and calamity from corruption than break with the evil gods.”

Clenching his fists slightly, Gune's killing intent grew sharper.

Immediately, Gune activated the Mechanical Angel and flew rapidly toward the teleportation point.

Since the Church and the evil gods had directly begun extracting the world's essence,

the Transcendent Association would surely have to take countermeasures.

This might involve him.

Gune needed to reach the Star Observation Tower as soon as possible.

About three hours later,

Gune arrived at the teleportation array.

Using the array, he quickly teleported back to the secret chamber of the Star Observation Tower.

…

In the silent secret chamber,

The Guying Gate stood to one side.

Mist swirled within it endlessly.

Gune's form teleported back directly through the Guying Gate.

Everything was exactly as he had left it.

Moreover, Gune had set up measures so that if Muland Elkrley sought him, he would sense it immediately.

Glancing at the Guying Gate, Gune withdrew it with a thought.

Such a world-class wondrous item as the Guying Gate

could not be known to anyone.

After a moment's thought, Gune sat down cross-legged on the cultivation seat in the small chamber.

Sure enough, half an hour later,

“Hum!”

The Transcendent Gate of the chamber lit up.

At the same time, Muland Elkrley's voice sounded.

“Gune, something important has happened. Come out quickly.”