Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

After Hugh finished recounting his experience, he seemed to have all his strength drained away.

He leaned back on the sofa, looking up at the ceiling. His face, which always wore a lazy smile, was now filled with exhaustion.

His eye sockets were deeper than a few days ago, his stubble on his chin was thicker, and he hadn't had time to clean up the wrinkles and stains on his clothes.

He remained silent in that position for about ten seconds, then slowly stood up, supporting himself on the handrail.

He waved to Lin Yi, his figure disappearing at the end of the corridor, his footsteps fading into the distance until finally falling silent.

Lin Yi withdrew his gaze, wrapped the blanket around himself again, and leaned back in his chair to continue resting.

The fire in the fireplace had waned considerably, and the embers from the burnt wood glowed a dark red light in the hearth, casting shadows throughout the room.

Just as Lin Yi's consciousness was about to sink into chaos, an extreme malice descended without warning.

The malice came too fast; before Lin Yi's brain could process the information, his body had already reacted instinctively.

He sprang up from his chair, his entire demeanor shifting from relaxed to combat in the blink of an eye.

But that malice completely ignores these defenses; like an undercurrent in the deep sea, it seeps silently into the skin, into the blood, and into the bone marrow.

Lin Yi felt as if his consciousness was being gripped by something.

That grip wasn't a physical pressure, but something more essential and primal, like an eye opening in nothingness, coldly watching everything.

There was no murderous intent, no anger, no emotion in that gaze; the gaze itself was enough to break a person.

Lin Yi considered himself to be knowledgeable and experienced, having killed ancient gods, fought deities, and seen all sorts of strange and unusual things.

But compared to this malice, all the guys he had encountered were just small fry; the two sides were not even in the same league.

Like ants and elephants, no, like ants and planets, they don't even have the right to be compared.

Just as that malice was about to invade Lin Yi's consciousness, a force pressed down from the void.

The Void Tree has made its move.

That malice emanated from every inch of the rest area, like a wild beast chained in chains, raging and roaring in anger, yet unable to break free.

A few seconds later, everything returned to calm.

Lin Yi stood there, his back soaked with cold sweat.

His breathing was a little rapid, and his fingers were trembling slightly. It wasn't a lingering effect of fear, but rather an instinctive reaction of his body when faced with forces far exceeding its limits.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his discomfort, and turned his gaze toward the direction from which the malice was emanating—the place where Su Xiao was resting.

Su Xiao sat on the sofa with the Dragon Slayer Blade lying across his lap, but he was in very poor condition.

That usually expressionless face was now covered in cold sweat, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead and down his nose, leaving a dark, damp stain on his clothes.

His lips were pale, his breathing was rapid, and his chest was rising and falling more than twice as much as usual.

His hands were trembling, not just a slight tremor, but his entire hand was shaking violently, causing the box in his hand to tremble slightly.

It was a palm-sized box, completely black, with no patterns or decorations on its surface.

The box was made of a very special material, which Lin Yi recognized at a glance—a black maple tree trunk.

The value of this thing is self-evident. Anything that can be used as a container by a black maple tree in the void is far more precious and dangerous than ordinary people can imagine.

The box lid was half open, and a certain indescribable scent was seeping out from a small crack.

Su Xiao's fingers gripped the lid of the box, veins bulging and knuckles turning white.

He gritted his teeth and used all his strength to press the lid down.

The movement was so slow it was like pushing a mountain; every inch of pressure required immense effort.

The lid made a very faint click during the struggle and finally closed completely.

In that instant, the lingering oppressive feeling in the lounge completely dissipated.

The flames in the fireplace flickered again, the temperature in the room returned to normal, and even the air felt fresher, as if those few seconds had just been a nightmare.

Su Xiao placed the box on her lap, braced herself against the sofa armrests, and gasped for breath.

His face was still very pale, the color in his lips had not returned, and he looked like he had just been pulled out of the water.

His hands were still shaking, but it was much better than before; at least he could hold things.

Lin Yi walked over quickly and sat down next to Su Xiao.

He didn't rush to ask questions, but simply picked up the kettle from the table, poured a glass of warm water, and handed it to him.

Su Xiao took it and gulped down a large mouthful of water, which spilled from the corner of his mouth and dripped down his chin, but he didn't bother to wipe it away.

He finished the glass of water, placed the empty glass on the table, leaned back on the sofa, closed his eyes, and his chest was still heaving violently.

About half a minute later, his breathing gradually calmed down.

Lin Yi looked at him, waiting for him to recover.

Su Xiao opened her eyes, her half-closed eyes filled with exhaustion.

He didn't speak, but simply pushed the black maple box on his lap in front of Lin Yi, gesturing for him to see it for himself.

Then he leaned back on the sofa, barely able to move a finger.

Lin Yi took the box, and the moment he held it, he felt a cool sensation seep into his palm from the box's walls.

The box was very light, so light that you could hardly feel its weight, but the feeling of it pressing down on your heart was so heavy that it was hard to breathe.

He took a deep breath and slowly opened the lid of the box a very small crack, so that Lin Yi could close it at any time if things went wrong.

Perhaps due to the Void Tree's judgment, Lin Yi did not encounter any backlash when he opened the box this time.

Inside the box lay a section of umbilical cord, about the length of an adult's index finger, grayish-black in color, with a dry and wrinkled surface, like a withered root that had been buried in the soil for a long time.

One end of it has a vague knot, and the other end naturally tapers into a pointed tail. Its overall shape is twisted, as if it has been twisted by something.

But Lin Yi sensed something was wrong the moment he saw it.

The dried-up umbilical cord had no eye-like organs on its surface, yet it still had vision.

Lin Yi felt as if he were being pierced through by that gaze; his skin, muscles, bones, internal organs, consciousness, and soul were all clearly visible, leaving no room for concealment.

[The Umbilical Cord of the God of the Underworld]

Origin: Meteorite
Quality: Special

Type: Bloodline props/Functional props/Lethal props

Effect 1: After consuming the umbilical cord of the Underworld God, you will be corrupted by the power of the gods (ancient). If you do not die within 3 hours and remain sanity, your true strength, true agility, and true stamina attributes will be greatly increased.

Note: Consuming the umbilical cord of the God of the Underworld will cause irreversible mutations, such as the growth of tentacles and the partial transformation of the body into an ancient god.

Effect 2: By integrating mental energy into the umbilical cord of the God of the Underworld, one can have a short-term mental exchange with the God of the Underworld (ancient god).

Warning: Given the Hunter's current mental and soul strength, communicating with the God of the Underworld is extremely risky. It will inevitably cause irreversible mental and soul damage, intermittent rage (irreversible and permanent), and there is a very high probability of being corrupted by the God of the Underworld's spiritual power, thus being dragged into the Meteorite Star.

Note: If you successfully communicate with the God of the Underworld, you can trade with him by consuming Soul Crystals or Soul Coins. This is an extremely unequal trade.

Effect 3: Can throw the umbilical cord of the god of the underworld at the enemy. If the umbilical cord of the god of the underworld touches the enemy's skin, the enemy will be affected by the filthy murmurs, resulting in death or partial collapse of the body.

Reminder: After using the umbilical cord, it needs to be destroyed within 10 minutes.

Disposal method: Add sheep manure to distilled water, acidic chitin powder, nectar powder, and Sacred Oak roots.

Brief Introduction: One must not peer into the God of the Underworld, nor communicate with him, nor listen to his voice, nor look directly at his face, nor recite his name.

Selling Price: Cannot be sold, can be discarded, can be traded.

Lin Yi's gaze swept across the text line by line, and with each additional line he read, his judgment became clearer.

Hades.

If he remembered correctly, this name was the collective name for the supreme being of the Fallen Star.

Simply put, the God of the Underworld is the eldest among the eldest brothers in the ancient pantheon, the source of all ancient gods, and the being that all twisted, insane, and indescribable things must ultimately look up to.

In his view, the opponent's level was conservatively estimated to be at the supreme level. Such an existence could not be measured by ranks; it was the rule itself, the oldest and most primal fear in this void.

No wonder Su Xiao was in such a bad state just now.

Ancient gods of this level, let alone their fallen organs, would cause beings below the ninth rank to mutate simply by looking at you.

The fundamental differences in their life essence are so vast that there is no point in comparing them.

Like an ant standing in front of the sun, it doesn't even realize what it is before it's burned to ashes.

Just from the description of the Paradise of Reincarnation, one can see how terrifying the God of the Underworld truly is. He cannot be spied upon, cannot be communicated with, cannot be listened to, cannot be looked at directly, and cannot be invoked.

These five "don'ts" all tell you the same thing in the most straightforward language: stay away from them, the further away the better.

This thing is a deadly weapon capable of mutual destruction. Based on what Lin Yi sensed earlier, if this thing were brought out, no being below the ninth rank would be able to withstand it.

The malice leaked out only a tiny bit from the gap in the lid, and it almost overturned the entire rest area. If it had been fully opened, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

But conversely, this also means it can kill anyone.

This stuff is far more terrifying than poison; an enemy could die instantly from mere skin contact.

If its powder were secretly mixed into the enemy's food or water, and the enemy accidentally drank it, the consequences would be predictable.

Even more dangerous is that once the enemy touches this thing, the entire umbilical cord of the god of the underworld must be destroyed within ten minutes, or there will be serious consequences.

The methods of disposal were clearly listed: sheep dung, distilled water, acidic chitin powder, nectar powder, and sacred oak roots.

These materials are not rare on their own, but when put together, they are very deliberate and clearly the result of calculation. They are designed to ensure that the holder is not helpless due to not being able to collect all the materials, while also making destruction too easy.

If Su Xiao is truly forced into a corner with no way out, it would be wise to take a gamble with the Underworld God's umbilical cord.

This is a trump card, a trump card that should never be revealed unless absolutely necessary.

Lin Yi gently closed the lid and pushed the box back in front of Su Xiao.

Su Xiao leaned back on the sofa, looking at him. The fatigue on her face had not faded, but she was in much better condition than before.

He didn't say anything, but simply reached out and took the box, then put it into his storage space.

The fire in the fireplace was almost out, with only a few pieces of burnt charcoal still glowing a dark red. Occasionally, a spark or two would jump out from the ashes, trace a thin arc in the hearth, and then go out.

Just as the two were preparing to rest, there was a knock on the door.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet lounge.

Lin Yi stood up, walked to the door, and opened it.

There were three people standing outside the door; they were all acquaintances.

Shangyue stood at the very front, her black wings slightly folded behind her, and her silver eyes held an undisguised solemnity.

She changed her clothes; no longer was she wearing the leather armor stained with sea salt and blood from the Viking Sea, but a dark robe with a simple design and exquisite fabric. Her hair was tied back with a silver ribbon, revealing her fair neck.

Mond stood half a step behind her, his rugged face unusually free of a silly grin.

The witch stood at the very back, wearing a dark red robe with the hood pulled low, revealing only a few strands of short silver hair.

Her hands were tucked into her sleeves, her posture casual as if she were out for a stroll, but Lin Yi noticed that her fingers were slightly curled inside her sleeves, with a very faint elemental light flowing around her fingertips.

She was on guard, but she was very discreet about it.

The three people appeared at the door at the same time; this combination was neither a coincidence nor strange.

Shangyue and Mondstadt had been following Lin Yi and his group throughout the Viking Sea. Although the witch had not been seen since Turtle Island, her witch community and the Abyss Healers had always maintained a good relationship.

The three people were awakened at the same time by that malice and rushed over to check the situation. Although their reasons were different, the result was the same.

Lin Yi stepped aside to clear the doorway, gesturing for them to come in.

The three people entered without any formalities.

The silence lasted for a few seconds.

None of them spoke, but their expressions said it all.

Lin Yi was silent for a few seconds, then said that it was nothing.

When those two words came out of his mouth, everyone understood what they meant—this matter ends here, don't ask any more questions.

The witch emerged from the corner and sat down on another sofa.

She didn't ask what that was, she just said, "It's good that you're alright."

The elders of the witch community had specifically instructed her to keep Lin Yi's safety in mind.

No matter what, we absolutely cannot allow ourselves to become enemies.

This isn't just polite talk; it's a statement of opinion.

She was telling Lin Yi in the most straightforward way that the witch world was on his side.

Lin Yi nodded without saying anything more.

Some things don't need to be said; those who are meant to understand will understand.

The group sat in the lounge for a while, and only left one by one after confirming that the malice would not reappear.

When Shangyue left, she paused at the door, glanced back at Lin Yi, and said, "Get some rest."

The door closed.

The lounge fell silent again.

The next few days were quite lively around Lin Yi.

After the third round, there were not many participants left in the battle for supremacy.

The statistics released by the Void Tree are very clear: a large number of people were eliminated in this round. Those who survived were either strong enough, lucky enough, or both.

Most of these people were from forces that Lin Yi had come into contact with.

People from the Star Clan have come, people from the Demon Clan have come, and several representatives from the Feather Clan, besides Shangyue, have also come. People from the Witch Clan have been visiting almost every day.

Mond treated Lin Yi's lounge like his second home, arriving promptly every day, settling on the sofa and starting to chatter about all the gossip he'd heard in the lounge over the past few days.

Lin Yi welcomed all the visitors.

The identity of the Abyss Physician carries far more weight in the void than he had anticipated, and he had no reason to refuse the olive branches extended to him by those forces.

Moreover, in a battle for supremacy, it's always better to have one more friend than one more enemy.

He greeted each group of visitors, chatted with them, listened to their experiences in the Viking Sea, and occasionally talked about his own experiences.

He didn't deliberately try to win anyone over, nor did he deliberately distance himself from anyone. He simply let everyone know one thing—the door to the Abyss Physician faction was open, and as long as they didn't become enemies, everyone could get along well.

Su Xiao's side was much quieter.

You can see just how low his charm level is from these past few days.

Those who came to visit Lin Yi would unconsciously quicken their pace and look away from Su Xiao when passing by him, not daring to even glance at him again.

It's not fear, it's an instinctive avoidance.

Just like when a person encounters a wild beast in the wild, their body will automatically react by walking around it, avoiding eye contact, and not attracting attention.

Mond did try to get close to Su Xiao a few times, but each time he was driven back by Su Xiao's aura that kept strangers at bay.

Su Xiao herself didn't care at all.

What he needs is strength; connections are never necessities for those who destroy the law.

He spent most of his time in his room these past few days, either meditating or studying the alchemical diagram he had looted from Agati's treasure room.

When he occasionally comes out, he just sits on the sofa, with the Dragon Slayer Sword lying across his lap, and closes his eyes as if he's dozing.

Before we knew it, several days had passed.

Lin Yi's condition is getting better and better. The fatigue and damp cold accumulated during those days in the Viking Sea have completely receded from his bones, and his body has recovered to its best condition.

[Reminder: The fourth round of the battle for hegemony is about to begin. 】

[Location for this round: Elstar Baro Arena (one of the three major arenas in the Void).]

Number of participants: 167.

This round uses an elimination points system, and the tally is handled by the Void Tree.

If the hunter defeats their opponent, they will receive points based on the battle time, winning streak, and other factors.

The top ten players in the standings will advance to the fifth round of the Battle of the Strongest (i.e., the Battle of the Ten Strongest).

The points leaderboard is in public mode.

The Barrow Arena is open to spectators and has a capacity of 300,000. Only members of the same clan or family of the participants are permitted to attend; all other individuals are not eligible.

[Teleportation is about to begin.]

...(End of this chapter)