343: Chapter 278: Encountering a Wraith, the God King's Remaining Spirit After His Death

The sky of the Ancient Battlefield held no sun, moon, or stars; there was only an eternal, suffocating grayness. Time seemed to lose its meaning here, with only the faint, low whimpering echoing from the depths of the bone mountains, sounding like the sole pulse of this deathly silent world.

After successfully obtaining the two damaged divine weapons, the God-Slaying Saber and the Heaven-Warding Shield, Lin Zhou's team did not stop to rest. The throbbing from the god-king fragment acted like an invisible thread, leading them deeper into the core of the bone mountains. The sensation grew clearer, even causing a slight resonant tremor deep within Lin Zhou's godhead, as if responding to something of the same origin, yet far more ancient and vast.

However, the environment also became increasingly eerie and perilous.

Beneath their feet was no longer loose ash or shattered bone fragments, but had gradually turned into a dark red, crystalline ground that looked like congealed plasma. Stepping on it wasn't hard; instead, it had an uncomfortable stickiness and elasticity, even sinking slightly with each step and making a "squelch" sound like squeezing rotting flesh. The concentration of the "God-Fall Curse" in the air hadn't increased significantly, but the omnipresent, heavy pressure was climbing exponentially!

Environmental Attributes (Bone Mountain Core Area):

Gravity Anomaly: Base gravity is 1.5 to 3 times that of the outside world (regional fluctuations), Divine Power consumption increased by 20%.

Sluggish Rules: The spatial structure is more stable but also more brittle (prone to spatial fissures rather than distortion), Divine Thought detection range compressed to 30% of normal, skill casting delay increased by 0.1-0.3 seconds.

Mental Pollution: Continuous exposure to weak mental erosion (willpower check every minute; failure results in slight visual/auditory hallucinations), source unknown.

Energy Inertia: Free energy (Spiritual Qi, elements, etc.) activity is extremely low, absorption and recovery efficiency reduced by 40%.

“The Laws here... are heavily distorted.” Su Yueyao’s cold voice carried a rare gravity. The Lunar Radiance around her was compressed until it could only shroud herself and the adjacent Lin Zhou. The edges of the glow constantly rubbed against invisible pressure, sparking tiny points of light. “My Lunar Perception is severely interfered with. Ahead... is a blur of darkness, filled with nothing but pure malice and resentment.”

The pale gold light of the Net of Law around Qin Qing also flickered unsteadily. She frowned and said, “The definition of Law is being strongly rejected here, as if the 'rules' themselves are resisting 'Order'. My Divine Power consumption is several times that of the outside world.”

Wang Meng and Zhou Yan were even breaking out in sweat. Wang Meng's Behemoths were restless, letting out low growls, while the lava luster flowing on the surface of Zhou Yan's Lava Titans had dimmed considerably, clearly under immense pressure. Li Mo's projection had long since dissipated due to the excessive maintenance cost, leaving only a sliver of Divine Thought to keep watch.

Lin Zhou said in a deep voice, “Stay close, keep the Divine Kingdom link at maximum power, and share Divine Power and status.” Behind him, the phantom of the Hundred Schools Divine Kingdom loomed, with the river of civilization flowing around it, emitting a stable and inclusive Aura that barely offset part of the environmental suppression. He could clearly feel that the prayers of the believers within the Divine Kingdom seemed to have become distant and intermittent, and the transmission of the Power Of Faith experienced a slight delay.

Lin Zhou's Current Status (Rough):

Godhead Rank: LV420 (High-tier Lesser Divinity)

Divine Power Reserves: Approx. 85,000/95,000 (continuous slow consumption to maintain Divine Kingdom projection, resist environmental suppression, and supply teammates)

Divine Kingdom Area: Approx. 300 square kilometers (50 square kilometers in the core area highly developed)

Core Vassal Races: Civilization Elves (approx. 12,000, avg. LV45), Creation Dwarves (approx. 8,000, avg. LV43), Tianxian Mermen (approx. 5,000, avg. LV42)

river of civilization Stability: 87% (slightly decreased due to environmental suppression)

god-king fragment Resonance Intensity: High (continuously guiding the way)

After continuing forward for about three kilometers and passing through a natural archway formed by several interlaced ribs, the scene before them suddenly changed.

They had arrived at the true core of the bone mountains—a massive, bowl-shaped sunken basin. The "walls" of the basin were composed of countless bones so enormous they were beyond imagination, layered and twisted together. The color of those bones was no longer grayish-white but showed eerie colors like dark gold, purple-black, and crimson, with dim but heart-pounding energy lusters flowing across their surfaces. In the center of the basin was not the expected God King's remains or Treasure Trove, but a bottomless dark pit over a thousand meters in diameter.

The edge of the pit was extremely irregular, jagged and hideous, as if it had been crudely "torn" or "swallowed" by some terrifying force. From the pit, a thick black mist, almost solidified into substance, surged out continuously. This black mist was different from the "God-Fall Curse"; it was more solid, more... possessed of "consciousness." Within the mist, one could vaguely see countless distorted faces, severed limbs, and phantoms of broken weapons, silently wailing, struggling, and devouring each other, emitting a pure, extreme resentment, unwillingness, and desire for destruction.

Just standing on the edge of the basin and gazing at that pit, everyone felt a sharp pain in their Divine Soul, as if countless cold needles were piercing their innermost Souls.

“Is that... the place where the God King fell?” Zhou Yan's voice was dry. Under the invisible erosion of the black mist, tiny black markings like rust began to appear on the surface of his Lava Titan body.

“More than that.” Su Yueyao’s Lunar Pupils tried their best to see through the black mist, but only saw a deeper darkness and chaos. “Gathered there are... countless residual thoughts of the fallen, especially... the core resentment of a supreme existence. It has become the 'core,' attracting and fusing all the death and unwillingness around it...”

The god-king fragment inside Lin Zhou's body throbbed more violently than ever before, even conveying a sliver of... an emotion woven from sorrow and anger? At the same time, the river of civilization surged abruptly. The waves within the river, representing civilizations of different eras, all turned toward the dark pit, emitting waves of vigilance and rejection.

Danger! Extreme danger!

Lin Zhou made an instant judgment: “Retreat! Leave this place immediately!”

However, it was already too late.

As if sensing the Aura of the "living" and the "outsiders," especially the presence of that god-king fragment in Lin Zhou's body (which, though insignificant, possessed a sliver of the essence of the same Rank) and the river of civilization (a power diametrically opposed to pure deathly resentment), the center of that dark pit suddenly churned violently!

“Wooo——!!!”

An indescribable shriek, acting directly on the Soul level, erupted from the depths of the pit! That sound didn't travel through the air but exploded directly within the consciousness of all living beings! It contained endless pain, anger, madness, and hatred for all the living!

[Warning! Ultra-high intensity mental attack detected! Intensity: God King Level (Residual Thought)!]

[All members must undergo a forced Willpower Check!]

A pale gold notification box, visible only to Lin Zhou, instantly popped up before his eyes.

“Ah!” In the team, several slightly lower-ranked (below LV40) Tiangong Dwarf Engineers and Law Murloc Inquisitors were the first to scream. Blood seeped from their seven orifices as they clutched their heads and collapsed to the ground, their sanity falling into chaos. On their personal attribute panels, their [Spirit/Will] values were flashing and plummeting wildly!

Wang Meng's Behemoths let out pained roars, their eyes turning blood-red, and some even began to attack indiscriminately. The lava on the surface of Zhou Yan's Lava Titans erupted violently as they tried to combat the pervasive mental invasion, but their movements clearly became sluggish and frenzied.

Su Yueyao let out a muffled groan, and her Lunar Radiance contracted sharply. Her face was pale, and a trickle of pale gold divine blood leaked from the corner of her mouth. The Net of Law around Qin Qing snapped inch by inch. She leaned on her sword, forcing herself to stay conscious, but her eyes were already unfocused.

Lin Zhou himself felt a splitting headache, his Divine Soul feeling as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer. But the Fire of Civilization in his godhead burned fiercely, and the river of civilization roared as it encircled his Divine Soul, neutralizing, absorbing, and transforming the vast majority of the shriek's impact into distant sighs representing the struggle of civilizations within the river.

Lin Zhou's Willpower Check (Passive Trigger of river of civilization Protection): Passed!

Suffered slight mental shock; Divine Thought operation efficiency temporarily decreased by 10%.

“Hold on! Group up on me!” Lin Zhou roared, fully activating the Divine Kingdom projection. A more solid phantom of the Hundred Schools Temple emerged behind him, emitting a warm and resolute light of Enlightenment and power of Order, forming a temporary sanctuary Domain a hundred meters in diameter.

[Hundred Schools Temple · Temporary Sanctuary Domain]

Effect: Mental resistance of friendly units within range +150%, slowly recovers mental damage, resists external mental erosion.

Cost: 300 Divine Power per second.

Range: 100 meters in diameter.

Under the radiance of the temple, the teammates' sanity barely returned to clarity, but the horror in their eyes had not diminished in the slightest.

And the existence in the pit was clearly enraged by this "resistance."

The churning black mist suddenly contracted and condensed toward the center! A dark shadow so massive it was suffocating slowly rose from the pit!

It had no fixed form, looking more like a mass of writhing, shifting darkness. Its "body" was composed of countless wailing Soul fragments, broken rule chains, shattered Divine Kingdom scenes, burning divine fire residues, and at its very core, a mass of God King level resentment that pulsed like a black sun, filled with madness and the will to destroy. Its volume occupied nearly half the basin, and the shadow it cast completely enveloped Lin Zhou's team.

Just the pressure emitted by its existence alone caused the space to make an overburdened "creak," and the radiance of the sanctuary Domain was drastically compressed and dimmed!

[Unknown Vengeful Spirit Aggregate (Dominated by God King Residual Thought)]

Rank Evaluation: LV600+ (Status is far beyond current numerical values; cannot be accurately determined due to special state)

Alignment: Absolute Chaotic · Evil · Vengeful Resentment

Characteristics:

God King Residual Thought: Possesses a sliver of the core will of a God King level existence after falling (madness/resentment version); possesses extremely high-tier pressure over all non-resentment creatures (those with a godhead Rank lower than it will have all attributes suppressed by 10%-50%, depending on the godhead gap).

Vengeful Aggregate: Formed from the Fusion of the resentment of countless deities, vassal races, and even world fragments that fell here; extremely high physical/energy resistance, and can absorb most negative emotions and death energy to recover itself.

Law Erosion: Surrounded by distorted Laws of "Fall," "Ending," and "Decay," continuously eroding the vitality, Divine Power, and even the concept of existence of all living beings within range.

Instant Death Connection: Attacks have an extremely high probability of carrying an "Instant Death Check," related to the target's strength, status, and resistance.

Estimated Threat: World-Ending Level (for the current team)

“Ants... living beings... the scent of civilization... nauseating... destroy... devour...”

A blurred consciousness, overlapping countless voices, sounded directly in everyone's minds, each word carrying cold killing intent and a frantic hunger.

On the ever-shifting "body" of the Wraith Collective, hundreds of "slits" of varying sizes suddenly split open, each one aimed at Lin Zhou's squad below. There was no buildup, no warning—

In the next instant, hundreds of ink-black, hair-thin rays of light shot out silently!

Wherever these black lines passed, they left faint, lingering black trails in space, as if space itself were being contaminated by the concepts of "death" and "finality."

"Defend!" Lin Zhou's pupils constricted. He could feel the terrifying threat contained within each black line—it wasn't just an energy attack, it carried a potent "Instant Death" Law!

Su Yueyao reacted first, her moonlight condensing into a massive, translucent [Moonlight Prism] to block the front.

Qin Qing forced herself to deploy the Net of Law once more, defining "Instant Death attacks" as illegal in an attempt to weaken their Law-based effectiveness.

Wang Meng roared as the Behemoths formed a wall of flesh and blood, while Zhou Yan's Lava Titans erupted with a torrent of white-hot lava in an attempt to intercept the attack.

"Chichi chi—!"

The moment the Moonlight Prism touched the black lines, it was corroded with countless holes, shattering after barely holding for a fraction of a second! The faint golden light of the Net of Law clashed with the black lines, producing a piercing sound like metal grinding on metal; its light dimmed rapidly, and Qin Qing spat out another mouthful of blood as the glow of her Godhead flickered.

The Behemoths' flesh and the lava torrent fared even worse; the black lines pierced through them almost without resistance! The struck Behemoths and Lava Titans showed no visible wounds, but the life in their eyes vanished instantly. Their massive bodies collapsed like puppets with their strings cut, falling silent forever—their Divine Fire (the life core for hero units) was directly extinguished by the "Instant Death" Law within the black lines the moment they made contact!

[Battle Notification: Unit "Berserk Behemoth LV46" hit by "Wraith Deathline," triggering Instant Death check... Check failed! Unit deceased!]

[Battle Notification: Unit "Lava Titan LV48" hit by "Wraith Deathline," triggering Instant Death check... Check failed! Unit deceased!]

...

A series of crimson notifications flashed through Lin Zhou's consciousness! In just one strike, over twenty elite Behemoths and three Lava Titans had fallen! And they were all killed instantly by "Instant Death"!

"No!!" Wang Meng's eyes nearly burst from their sockets. These Behemoths were his carefully nurtured core kin, and he shared a deep bond with them.

Zhou Yan also roared repeatedly, the loss of his Lava Titans causing him immense pain.

But this was only the beginning. The Wraith Collective seemed to watch the struggling ants below with "amusement." Those "slits" opened again, and even more black lines began to condense, thicker and more solid than before!

"Run!" Lin Zhou made a split-second decision, his voice raspy. "Everyone, abandon everything and retreat toward the entrance at full speed! I'll cover the rear!"

He could see that this was not an existence they could currently face. Rank, status, and understanding of Laws—they were being crushed in every aspect! Their only chance of survival was to escape this Core Basin as fast as possible while the enemy didn't seem to be taking them completely seriously yet!

"Lin Zhou!" Su Yueyao looked at him anxiously.

"Execute your Orders!" Lin Zhou roared. Simultaneously, he pushed the river of civilization to its limit. The river's waters surged up, transforming into a [Wall of Civilization] spanning the space between the wraith and the squad. Countless images of ancient sages and texts from classic tomes appeared on the wall, attempting to use the indestructible principles of civilization to temporarily block that Law of death.

With bloodshot eyes, the team members knew that hesitation meant total annihilation. Gritting their teeth, they took their heavily injured comrades, activated all their speed skills, used precious escape scrolls, and sprinted frantically back the way they came.

The Wraith Collective let out a mocking screech, seemingly indifferent to its prey's flight. On its massive body, even more "slits" split open. This time, they didn't fire black lines; instead, they all turned in unison, aiming at Lin Zhou, who was constructing defenses, and the retreating backs of the others.

Then, at the center of all the "slits," a point of profound darkness began to gather and swirl, like a vortex capable of swallowing Souls.

Warning bells blared in Lin Zhou's mind! A sense of crisis ten or a hundred times more terrifying than the black lines descended!

Then, he "saw" it—at the center of the Wraith Collective's ever-shifting body, within that core of resentment that resembled a black sun, an eye suddenly snapped open!

What kind of eye was that! It was composed purely of the deepest darkness, the most twisted Laws, and the maddest resentment. There was no white, no pupil—only a swirling void that seemed to lead to the end of all things. When this eye opened, time in the entire basin seemed to freeze for a moment; all sound, light, and even thoughts were drawn toward it.

[Warning! Ultra-high-tier Instant Death skill lock-on detected!]

[Skill Identification: Godfall Gaze (God King Remnant Version)]

Effect: Targets locked by the gaze will undergo a mandatory "Instant Death Check." The check is based on multiple factors, including [Target Godhead/Life Rank], [Target Law Resistance], [Target's Current State], and [Status Gap between Target and Caster]. If the check fails, the target's concept of existence (Divine Fire, life core, Soul imprint) will be directly "erased," bypassing most defensive skills and resurrection methods.

Current locked targets: Lin Zhou (Primary), Su Yueyao (Secondary), Qin Qing (Secondary)... (All escaping team members are affected by the Aura.)

Estimated check success rate (for Lin Zhou): Less than 5% (Influenced by factors such as the river of civilization, god-king fragment, Godhead Rank, etc.)

Skill activation countdown: 3... 2...

The cold countdown echoed in Lin Zhou's consciousness like a death knell.

There was no escape! At least for him, who was the primary target, and Su Yueyao and Qin Qing, who were heavily affected; at this distance, it was almost impossible to escape the range of effect before the skill activated!

Was he going to die here? Die on this forgotten battlefield, at the hands of a mad God King Remnant that held nothing but resentment?

No! Absolutely not!

Lin Zhou's gaze suddenly became incredibly sharp as he frantically pushed every ounce of power in his body. The Fire of Civilization burned fiercely, the god-king fragment was forced to emit a sliver of light, and the river of civilization let out a tragic yet impassioned roar! He was going to gamble—gamble on that less than 5% success rate, gamble on the indestructible nature of Way of Civilization!

However, in the very last moment before [Godfall Gaze] activated—

"Roar!!!"

An earth-shaking roar came from the rear flank! It wasn't Wang Meng, nor was it Zhou Yan!

Wang Meng, who had been sprinting away, had somehow doubled back! He wasn't alone; together with all his remaining Behemoths and all the Lava Titans under Zhou Yan's control, they formed a simple yet resolute formation. From the side, carrying an Aura of unstoppable determination to go down in flames, they crashed into the massive Wraith Collective!

"Brother Lin! Go!!!" Wang Meng's voice rang through the Divine Thought link with a raspy roar, echoing in Lin Zhou's mind. "Kill a few more of those foreign scum for me—!!!"

"Human kid, remember you owe me a drink!" Zhou Yan's gruff voice also rang out at the same time.

They had actually chosen to use themselves as bait, at the cost of their lives, to try and interfere with the lock-on of [Godfall Gaze], fighting to give Lin Zhou and the others a slim chance of escape!

"Wang Meng! Zhou Yan!" Lin Zhou's eyes instantly turned bloodshot.

In the next moment, the Behemoths' claws and the Lava Titans' fists, carrying all their vitality, Divine Power, and conviction, slammed violently into the Wraith Collective's shifting body!

The Wraith Collective clearly hadn't expected these "ants" to dare turn back, much less attack proactively. Although Wang Meng and Zhou Yan's attacks were almost negligible to it, they did indeed cause a momentary energy disturbance and a distraction.

That terrifying [Eye of God-Fall] shifted slightly, its cold gaze sweeping over the group of "insects" that were charging forward without fear of death.

[Godfall Gaze] activated.

But the lock-on experienced a miniscule deflection and diffusion caused by the interference.

Neither light nor dark, silent and soundless. A ripple that could not be described by any color—as if "existence" itself were being "denied"—instantly spread out from that eye.

Wang Meng and Zhou Yan, who bore the brunt of it, along with all the Behemoths and Lava Titans under their command, were completely frozen the moment the ripple passed over them. Then, like a pencil drawing being erased, their figures—along with their burning Divine Fire, boiling blood, and roaring will—bit by bit, silently... faded and dissipated.

There was no explosion, no scream—only the purest form of "erasure."

[Battle Notification: Hero Unit "Wang Meng" (LV45) hit by "Godfall Gaze"... Instant Death check in progress... Check failed! Unit has been erased!]

[Battle Notification: Hero Unit "Zhou Yan" (LV47) hit by "Godfall Gaze"... Instant Death check in progress... Check failed! Unit has been erased!]

...

In Lin Zhou's Divine Thought link, the points of light representing Wang Meng, Zhou Yan, and all their kin were extinguished in unison. It was so clean, it was as if they had never existed.

After erasing the group of "interferers," the terrifying ripple continued to spread toward Lin Zhou, Su Yueyao, and the others with undiminished momentum! Although its power had weakened due to the interference and distance, and the lock-on was no longer as precise, the Aura of death was still thick enough to be suffocating!

"Go!!!"

Lin Zhou let out a beast-like low growl, casting one last look at the place where Wang Meng and Zhou Yan had vanished; it was empty, without even a speck of dust left behind. He turned abruptly, using all his strength to shove Su Yueyao and Qin Qing, who were closest to him, forward. At the same time, he constricted the river of civilization, shielding his back like a buckler, and transformed into a streak of light, fleeing frantically!

The Wraith Collective let out a dissatisfied screech, seemingly enraged at missing its primary target. Its massive body began to move, churning the boundless black mist as it pursued the fleeing group. Though its speed didn't appear fast, the spreading Law of "finality" was constantly eroding the space ahead, slowing down the escapees.

A death chase with a despairing disparity in strength suddenly unfolded in this core region where a God King had fallen.

Lin Zhou's heart was bleeding, but he couldn't stop. The opportunity Wang Meng and Zhou Yan had bought with their lives could not be wasted.

They had to escape!

However, the cold and darkness behind them surged like a tide, drawing closer and closer. The Wraith Collective's intent, filled with a desire for destruction, was firmly locked onto them—especially the Aura of the god-king fragment and the river of civilization on Lin Zhou.

The cooldown for [Godfall Gaze] didn't seem long. When would the next gaze arrive?