I can receive unlimited protection; my parents handed me over to the state.

"You want to...go to the Earth's core?"

Su Lie and Oppenheimer, on the other end of the communication line, almost fainted on the spot when they heard Lu Yuan's nonchalant words.

What place is that?

That's the Earth's core! An absolute forbidden zone that even modern technology cannot reach!

Let alone a person, even if you throw the strongest alloy in, it will be vaporized instantly by the terrifying high temperature and pressure!

He actually said he was going there to "open the skull" of that awakened ancient god?

"Commander-in-Chief! Please calm down!" Oppenheimer was sweating profusely. "The situation in the Earth's core is far more complex than we imagined! According to our models, that ancient god is deeply intertwined with the entire planet's ecosystem and geomagnetic field! If you make a move there, the slightest mistake could trigger a global chain of disasters! Even if you win, Earth will be finished!"

"Yes, Lu Yuan!" Su Lie hurriedly advised, "This matter needs careful consideration! We still have time; we can first evacuate the people, build an underground city, and make thorough preparations!"

"Ready?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Yuan scoffed.

"By the time you're ready, the daylily will be cold."

"Now that Gaia is awake, do you think it'll leisurely wait for us to finish building the dungeon before coming out to play house with us?"

"Right now, with every breath it takes and every heartbeat it makes, it is changing the underlying rules of this planet, transforming it into an environment suitable for its survival. When it fully awakens and breaks through the soil, this planet will no longer be our home, but its 'garden'."

"At that time, all of us humans will become 'fertilizer' in its garden."

Lu Yuan's words were like a bucket of ice water poured over everyone's heads.

They all overlooked the most crucial point.

The enemy will not come according to your script.

"The best defense is a good offense."

Lu Yuan uttered his famous quote once again.

"While it's still not fully awake."

"Take advantage of its weakest moment."

"Let's storm its lair and beat it to a pulp!"

"This is the most effective and direct method."

"But... the Earth's core..." Su Lie was still worried.

"Don't worry, old man Su," Lu Yuan smiled, "I'm not going to cause trouble."

"I'm going to perform a 'surgical operation' on our Mother Earth."

"Help her remove the 'malignant tumor' growing in her heart."

"I'm careful what I do."

After saying that, he didn't give Su Lie and Oppenheimer a chance to speak again and unilaterally hung up the communication.

"You...you really want to go?"

Yan Ji grabbed his hand, her beautiful heterochromatic eyes filled with worry.

She has just gained god-level power.

But she could sense it.

That being slumbering in the Earth's core is far more terrifying than her cheap brother, Baal!

It is a more ancient and profound power.

It was as if it had become one with the whole world.

"Of course we're going." Lu Yuan took her hand in his and squeezed it. "Otherwise, are we just going to keep it for the New Year?"

"I'll go with you!" Yan Ji said decisively.

"You?" Lu Yuan looked her up and down, then shook his head.

"You can't do it."

"Why?!" Flame Princess exclaimed anxiously, "I'm a god now! I can help you!"

"Your strength attribute is too similar to it."

Lu Yuan explained patiently.

"Gaia's essence is an abyssal rule based on life and devouring. And your flames, though powerful, also belong to the realm of 'life'."

"If you go, you won't be of any help; instead, you might become its 'nourishment,' making it even stronger."

"Therefore, you have a more important task."

"What mission?"

"To protect the home."

Lu Yuan pointed to the blue planet below.

"When I go to the Earth's core to perform 'surgery,' Gaia certainly won't be lying there obediently."

"It will definitely cause all sorts of trouble on the surface."

"For example, causing all the volcanoes in the world to erupt at once, or turning all plants into killer vines."

"At that time, you and the rest of the 'League of Gods' will be needed to deal with these 'complications'."

"Do you understand?"

Although Yan Ji was still very unwilling after hearing this,

But she also knew that what Lu Yuan said was true.

She nodded.

"it is good."

"But you must promise me."

"You must come back safely!"

"Don't worry." Lu Yuan smiled. "I'm still waiting for you to pay off your debt."

After saying that, he released Yan Ji's hand.

Then, his entire body transformed into a golden streak of light.

With a "whoosh".

It plunged straight into the sea below!

He did not look for any weak points in the earth's crust.

They didn't utilize any volcanic passages either.

Instead, they chose the most direct and brutal method—to force their way in!

"The Realm of Gods: Analysis of All Things!"

"Rule grafting, material assimilation!"

As Lu Yuan descended at high speed, he frantically channeled his divine power!

An invisible force field formed around his body.

The moment seawater comes into contact with this force field, it is broken down into the most basic element: water.

Then, it was assimilated into his body.

He was like a fish that had merged into the sea.

No, it's even more exaggerated than a fish.

He transformed directly into the ocean!

During the descent, he encountered no resistance whatsoever!

The terrifying water pressure, enough to crush even the most advanced submarines, was like a gentle breeze to him.

Ten thousand meters...

Fifty thousand meters...

One hundred thousand meters...

Soon, he pierced through the deep ocean and arrived at the hard crust of the earth.

"It's a bit hard."

Lu Yuan looked at the thick rock layers composed of granite and basalt in front of him and muttered something.

Then, he extended a finger and gently pointed forward.

"Rule rewriting - matter annihilation".

"Buzz—!"

Suddenly, the rock strata in front of him vanished without a sound!

It was completely erased from the concept!

A straight passage with a diameter of more than ten meters appeared in an instant!

Lu Yuan used this unreasonable method to continue his downward journey!

Earth's crust...

mantle……

External nuclear...

Wherever he went, all matter was forcibly erased, leaving behind an absolutely smooth and straight abyss passage!

If a satellite were to be able to look down from space at this moment, it would reveal an extremely terrifying scene.

In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a huge, bottomless black hole has appeared!

Countless tons of seawater are rushing in!

Lu Yuan, on the other hand, is like a highly efficient drilling machine, advancing toward the heart of the earth at an unbelievable speed!

soon.

He arrived at that place that even the gods feared—the Inland Core!

This is the core of the entire planet.

Temperatures exceed 6,000 degrees Celsius, and pressure is three million times that of the Earth's surface!

All matter here exhibits a strange form that exists between solid and liquid states.

The flow of time here becomes extremely slow.

However, the moment Lu Yuan stepped into this place, he sensed it.

An unimaginably vast life force.

And... a consciousness filled with resentment and greed.

"You...finally...have come..."

An ancient and sinister voice resounded directly in his soul.

"I...have been waiting for you...for a long time..."

"A delicious...soul..."

Lu Yuan floated in this golden ocean made of liquid metal, looking ahead.

In the center of that endless golden ocean, a black "ball of flesh" so enormous that words could not describe it was slowly pulsating.

Every pulse resonates throughout the entire planet.

That is Gaia's true form!

A terrifying entity that has used the entire Earth's core as its "womb"!

"Yeah?"

Lu Yuan looked at the huge ball of flesh and smiled.

"What a coincidence."

"I can't wait any longer, I'm going to give you a C-section."

Lu Yuan floated in a golden ocean of liquid metal, his gaze fixed on the enormous, indescribable black "fleshball" before him. Each pulsation resonated throughout the entire planet—Gaia's true form. A terrifying being that used the Earth's core as its "womb."

"Really?" Lu Yuan looked at the enormous mass of flesh and smiled. "What a coincidence." "I, too, can't wait." "I'm going to give you a 'cesarean section'."

The moment he uttered those words, the ancient and sinister consciousness in the air instantly became agitated.

"Mortal...you are...provoking...the great...Gaia..." The voice carried a chilling coldness, echoing deep within Lu Yuan's soul. The anger and killing intent contained within it caused violent ripples to spread across this ocean of liquid metal.

Lu Yuan ignored its threat. Provocation? He never thought this thing was anything special. In his eyes, it was just a large and rare piece of "material." He was simply thinking about where to start to dissect this "material" efficiently and completely.

"Stop talking nonsense." Lu Yuan curled his lip impatiently. "I don't have time to play word games with you. Are you going to cooperate and save me some trouble, or should I just dismantle this whole ball?"

His words carried an undeniable air of dominance, causing Gaia's consciousness to visibly falter. It hadn't expected this insignificant mortal to be so arrogant.

"Foolish... mortal..." Gaia's voice turned low and dangerous, like magma churning deep within a volcano, "You... will... regret..."

The moment he finished speaking, the ocean of liquid metal surrounding Lu Yuan suddenly boiled. An invisible force surged from all directions, instantly enveloping him. This wasn't a simple physical attack, but a conceptual "compression." He felt his existence being infinitely shrunk, as if he were being compressed into a singularity. At the same time, a viscous, corrosive energy attempted to penetrate his skin, drill into his bone marrow, and devour his soul.

"Hmm? The erosion of the abyss? The same old trick." Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow, his face showing no sign of panic. He could sense that this power originated from the same source as the "Abyssal Moss" he had encountered in the Northern Territory, only here, it was amplified billions of times. This was not merely material erosion, but assimilation in terms of rules. Gaia was attempting to turn him into a part of it, to become a new life nurtured in its "womb," or perhaps, new "fertilizer."

"Blessing of All Things: Rule Analysis!"

With a thought, Lu Yuan's "divine seed" began to spin at an unprecedented speed. The force field around him instantly became transparent, and the forces that were trying to squeeze and penetrate were no longer a chaotic torrent in his eyes, but rather clearly visible chains of rules. He saw how Gaia used the extreme temperature and pressure of the Earth's core to weave together the rules of "devouring" and "life," forming a huge, slowly rotating "abyssal millstone."

"Interesting," Lu Yuan muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He discovered that while Gaia's rules were ancient and powerful, they also seemed somewhat... crude. It was more like an instinctive, primitive application of rules, lacking precise control and meticulous arrangement.

"But you think you can assimilate me with such inefficient rules?" Lu Yuan scoffed. "You're still too green."

He stretched out his right hand and gently grasped the layers of chains of rules in front of him.

"Rule rewriting - Existence erasure!"

"Snap—!"

A sharp crack echoed deep within the Earth's core. It wasn't a physical sound, but the sound of rules being forcibly twisted and torn apart. The powerful squeezing and corrosive force surrounding Lu Yuan instantly collapsed as if its power had been cut off. The chains of rules that had tried to assimilate him turned into wisps of smoke in his hands and dissipated into nothingness.

Gaia's consciousness once again fell into a brief stagnation. It hadn't expected that its "origin assimilation" would be ineffective against this mortal. Moreover, the other party could so easily "erase" its rules! This was beyond its comprehension.

"You...you...what...are...you?" Gaia's voice carried a hint of surprise for the first time.

"I told you, I'm a blacksmith." Lu Yuan shrugged, looking completely innocent. "A blacksmith who specializes in taking apart 'large' items like you guys."

He stopped wasting words and took the initiative. He knew Gaia's physical form was enormous, and its power was bound to the entire planet. Here, physical attacks would be far less effective. He had to start from the level of rules, directly targeting Gaia's "divine core" or "consciousness core."

"Since it's a 'cesarean section,' we need to find the 'uterus' first," Lu Yuan muttered to himself, a glint of gold in his eyes.

"The Realm of Gods: Analysis of All Things!"

His divine sense instantly expanded, penetrating Gaia's massive black sphere of flesh at a speed exceeding the speed of light. He saw countless complex life channels, energy networks, and rule runes, intertwined like a living galaxy. He even saw many tiny, embryonic consciousnesses slowly developing within Gaia's body.

"I see..." Lu Yuan's lips curled into a cold smile. "You really do treat the entire Earth's core like your own nursery. These little things are your 'Abyss Seeds' for invading other planes, aren't they?"

He found it. Deep within Gaia's core, a core composed of pure "life" and "abyss" rules was pulsating slowly but powerfully. It was like a giant, beating heart, the source of all of Gaia's power.

"Found you." Lu Yuan's eyes gleamed.

"Rule grafting, material assimilation!"

He stretched out his hands and made a grasping motion towards Gaia's core. He no longer tried to erase it, but instead attempted to "understand" and "assimilate" it. He wanted to graft his own rule-based power, like a virus, into Gaia's rule network, thereby gaining control over it.

"No...impossible!" Gaia's consciousness screamed shrilly, "You...cannot...touch...my...core!"

It felt an unprecedented threat. This mortal was actually trying to steal its power from the very foundation!

Gaia began to tremble violently. The entire Earth's core shook, and the ocean of liquid metal surged with waves tens of thousands of meters high. Streams of black torrents composed of pure "abyssal rules" erupted from Gaia's body, like billions of venomous snakes, coiling towards Lu Yuan. These torrents not only attempted to erode Lu Yuan but also tried to sever his connection with Gaia's core.

Lu Yuan snorted coldly, knowing this was Gaia's last-ditch effort. He had already integrated a portion of his divine consciousness into Gaia's core and had gained a preliminary understanding of its rules.

"I say, the rule of ice freezes the abyss!"

The "seed of divinity" in his sea of ​​consciousness erupted once more. An extreme "absolute zero" rule instantly spread from Lu Yuan's body, colliding head-on with the abyssal torrent gushing forth from Gaia.

"Sizzle—!"

A piercing sound erupted at the level of rules. The black abyssal torrent was forcibly frozen the moment it came into contact with Lu Yuan's "Absolute Zero" rule! It was no longer flowing energy, but solidified black ice chains, firmly stuck to Gaia's body.

"What?! Ice... Frozen... Abyss?!" Gaia's consciousness was filled with disbelief. Its Abyss Rule was the ultimate in life and devouring, the nemesis of all rules. How could it possibly be restrained by a mere "ice" rule?

"Don't think you're the only one who knows how to play the rules of the game," Lu Yuan mocked. "I told you, you're too simplistic. The essence of rules is concepts. When you elevate the concept of 'ice' to 'absolute zero,' what's frozen isn't just matter, but... the rules themselves."

He didn't stop. Taking advantage of Gaia's brief pause, he intensified the "rule grafting." His divine sense, like countless fine tentacles, frantically penetrated towards the core along Gaia's network of rules.

"You...want...to...take...my...core?!" Gaia roared in fury. It felt its core being "eroded" little by little by Lu Yuan, a feeling that terrified it more than any physical injury.

"It's not about taking it away," Lu Yuan corrected. "It's about recycling it. If you keep this thing, it will only pollute the entire planet. If I keep it, at least it can be reused as a good material."

His eyes gleamed with fanaticism. He had already seen the internal structure of Gaia's core, the "Source of Rules" composed of countless ancient runes and life imprints. If he could thoroughly analyze and master it, he would gain ultimate control over the rules of "Life" and "Abyss".

"The abyss... is... invincible..." Gaia's voice grew weak, yet still filled with venom. "You... will... be... devoured..."

"That's not necessarily true." Lu Yuan sneered. "I'm the kind of person who loves to challenge the impossible."

He slammed his hands together, instantly retracting all the grafted rule power, and then pulled hard towards Gaia's core!

"God's Realm - Rule Stripping!"

"boom--!"

A deafening roar erupted deep within the Earth's core. It wasn't just a sound, but a violent tremor at the level of the Earth's very rules. The entire core trembled, as if emitting a painful wail.

Gaia's body contracted and expanded violently, like a dying beast struggling. It felt its core being forcibly torn from its body, and the pain caused it to let out an unprecedentedly shrill scream.

"Ah—! Mortal! You...you...will...pay...the...price...for this!"