Chapter 544: 遗迹

The background worldview of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, particularly the ancient mythical era, needed to be refined.

For previous sandbox worlds, it was fine to let players imagine things themselves; it didn't matter much. But now, it was different. Popularizing the worldview and collecting their faith was crucial for the ancient mighty beings suppressed in the Underworld's hell to truly "resurrect" and become living, powerful entities.

Even a false thing, if repeated a hundred times, will become the truth.

"This is even more true now; if enough people believe, it will manifest."

Xu Zhi shivered slightly and looked up at the huge, crimson sun, nearing its setting.

Under the desolate and ancient cosmic sky, observing the lively, mysterious treants, each one forming into a massive ancient tree amidst crater-like ruins, presented a scene reminiscent of a mythical apocalypse. This aesthetic was perfect.

"Since I'll be staying on Mercury for a while longer anyway, I might as well get some things done."

Xu Zhi extended a hand, and a massive metal slab rose from the ground. Ancient, weathered inscriptions slowly emerged, conveying an imposing presence as if they had existed for countless years, imbued with the sense of time's passage.

"I don't know if there are ancient civilization ruins on Mars, but Mercury's ruins have already appeared."

Cloud Heaven Realm.

Cloud Emperor had unified the Celestial Path for nearly a century, with Incineration Emperor of the Incineration Heaven Realm and Devotion Emperor of the Devotion Heaven Realm both submitting to him.

"Devotion Emperor, can you traverse it?" Cloud Emperor asked.

Devotion Emperor's talent was related to space, a unique and rare teleportation ability. In combat, it was unfathomable, allowing him to hide in spatial dislocations, making it seem as if his limbs were dismembered and attacking from all directions—a truly bizarre ability.

Yet, at this moment, he could not resist the fate of kneeling.

This kneeling ability, though seemingly simple, was the bane of many heaven-defying talents.

The only way to resist Cloud Emperor's kneeling ability was through mental fortitude, to prevent him from planting inner demons and shattering one's spirit. And Cloud Emperor, precisely, specialized in psychological warfare!

At this moment, Cloud Emperor was the only one standing in the entire area. Incineration Emperor and Devotion Emperor, whose combat power was exceptionally high—even surpassing Cloud Emperor in direct confrontation—were also kneeling.

This was because once a shadow was planted in their hearts, it became almost impossible to overcome.

Devotion Emperor gritted his teeth and replied while kneeling, "The passage has been reopened, but the other end seems somewhat strange. All the mountains and rivers of the Incineration Heaven Realm have vanished, replaced by a peculiar plant, and the air exudes an extremely ominous aura!"

No one wanted to answer while kneeling, especially a dignified Celestial Emperor like him. Where was his pride? Yet, he understood that the more he hated and cared about his dignity, the heavier the inner demon would become, making it even harder to break free and bravely stand up. It was an unsolvable Catch-22.

The principle was simple: once the spine bends, it can never straighten again.

"Ominous? Send the warriors of the Preta Path that have been mass-produced over the years."

Cloud Emperor waved a hand and commanded coldly.

One by one, fierce, humanoid weapons with twisted muscles strode into the spatial tunnel.

Cloud Emperor added, "Cloud Mirror, monitor the movements in that realm."

"Understood!"

An elder spoke, kneeling, and with a wave of his hand, a thin mirror-like surface appeared before them.

Everyone watched intently, immensely tense. The Celestial Path comprised three realms, and losing one out of nowhere was an unbearable loss!

In the projection of the thin mirror, the dispatched Preta Path warriors entered a patch of eerie emerald trees. They hadn't even taken two steps before their faces flushed red, veins bulged, and then blood began to flow from their seven orifices.

Every cell was bursting.

Within ten seconds, they slowly collapsed to the ground, dying instantly, a truly bizarre and chilling sight.

"This..." Everyone present was startled.

It happened too suddenly, beyond everyone's expectation, and was unbelievable.

"A gruesome death, bleeding from seven orifices. Is it poison? Is the air toxic?"

"It looks like poisoning, yet it's also as if the entire space is violently compressing their bodies, crushing their flesh, bones, and limbs like a piece of paper, wadding them up! Exploding them alive!"

All of this severely defied their understanding of common sense, subverting their perceptions, and deeply impacting everyone's minds.

How did our Incineration Heaven suddenly turn into this?

Become so dreadful? Transformed into a terrifying dead zone?

"Cloud Sovereign," Cloud Emperor uttered, clenching his fist, his face contorted in rage.

One-third of their territory had become so bizarre and terrifying; no great emperor or sovereign would remain calm.

"Yes!" Cloud Sovereign understood. A translucent barrier of hazy clouds enveloped a Preta Path warrior, who was then sent into the spatial tunnel. This time, the barrier protected him from the air, isolating him from the outside, and he remained unharmed.

"This time, it's fine."

Everyone immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

They then let an Asura Path warrior continue walking, but he hadn't walked for two minutes before his body gradually began to bleed and rot, quickly collapsing.

"How is this possible? The air was clearly isolated!"

"A second type of toxin?"

"With terrifying penetrative power, piercing through the cloud barrier?"

They were utterly astonished.

Cloud Emperor's expression remained impassive. "Cloud Sovereign, add another protective layer, and have the other Asura warriors retrieve that body."

Soon, several Asura Path warriors entered and dragged back the rotting, festering corpse, which appeared to have died from radiation.

Cloud Emperor crouched down, his expression unchanged. After a quick glance, he fell silent for a moment. "The entire structure of the body is destroyed. This toxin is too terrifying and extremely penetrative; it still lingers on the body."

Suddenly, a Celestial woman nearby, holding a small rabbit, convulsed and slowly collapsed as well.

"Bunny!" she cried out, tears streaming down her face in agitation.

Cloud Emperor's face grew even more serious at the sight. "The corpse still carries residual toxins; it might take hundreds of years for them to completely dissipate. While we are strong, some residual toxins won't cause us much harm. However, ordinary first and second-tier creatures approaching it will die instantly. Common soil and wooden coffins cannot prevent this toxin from seeping out. You must use metal coffins to seal it for centuries."

As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding Celestials distanced themselves from the corpse, their faces filled with horror.

The toxins carried by the corpse were contagious upon proximity?

For hundreds of years, this would be a source of toxins, impossible even to approach!?

"How can such terrifying fire poison exist in this world!" someone roared.

At that moment, something even more terrifying happened: the Asura Path warrior who had quickly brought back the corpse also slowly slumped to the ground, on the verge of death.

Everyone's expressions changed completely. "This... this toxin is too terrifying!!"

This was the terrifying power of nuclear radiation.

In reality, the sun is constantly undergoing terrifying, massive nuclear fusion, emitting approximately 2.86 x 10^26 watts of energy. At such close proximity, the scorching temperature of over 400 degrees Celsius wasn't the most terrifying aspect; that was merely an accompanying effect. The most terrifying thing was the incredibly high concentration of radiation.

The terrifying power of this level of nuclear radiation was unfathomable!

Even a Celestial Emperor could not endure prolonged exposure in such a horrifying environment.

If not for the Star Ancient Tree's ability to absorb cosmic rays, making it incredibly powerful, Xu Zhi would not have specifically sought out the Ishdarans, spent immense effort to create mechanical suits, and gone through such lengths to come here and build a solar nuclear power plant.

Simultaneously, it was precisely because this energy was so terrifying that Xu Zhi felt an intense longing and aspiration for it.

"Below Celestial Emperor, it's almost certain death," Cloud Emperor said, taking a deep breath after fully grasping the power. "But a Celestial Emperor can withstand it for a period. Gentlemen, come with me into this terrifying hot-toxic predicament!"