Deep Sea Starship Apocalypse

Inside the secret chamber, the ripples of time and space slowly subsided, and the distorted flow of the ancient formation of Lingyao Chen Palace gradually returned to normal. In the outside world, a day had finally come to a complete end.

The surging holy radiance surrounding Yu Moyan and Jiang Duyue had completely subsided, their hundred-foot-tall holy body phantoms dissolving into their physical forms. Only a faint halo of cinnabar and silver light remained, lingering around their bodies like the most exquisite divine runes—unassuming yet concealing a terrifying power capable of overturning a star field. The previously surging torrent of star power, like a celestial river, had long since ceased. On the four walls forged from the Flowing Star Jade, the star patterns of the Gathering Star Array and the Tranquilizing Array gradually dimmed, shifting from extreme brilliance to a gentle, flickering glow. The countless fine lines slowly subsided, no longer frantically drawing in the spiritual energy and fragments of laws from heaven and earth.

The light of the spiritual vein node in the center of the secret chamber dimmed slightly. The spiritual pools of the True Form Myriad Convergence Spring and the Clear Serene Sky Liquid had long since run dry, leaving only a thin layer of spiritual mist at the bottom. The golden stardust overflowing from the Emperor Chenyuan Vein Spring had also completely dissipated. The extremely pure star power in the air had been completely absorbed by the two, leaving only a faint lingering warmth of Daoist rhyme in the tranquil space. On the ground where the two sat cross-legged, there remained a mark interwoven with pale gold and dark silver. Deep within the mark were engraved the Zhou Tian Star Chart and the patterns of the cosmic galaxy, Daoist traces left when the Holy Body manifested. Even after so long, they still exuded a heart-palpitating pressure.

From the moment he broke through his cultivation realm and awakened his sacred body, to the moment when the strange phenomena dissipated and his aura returned to his body, a full three hours had passed.

During these three hours, Yu Moyan and Jiang Duyue did not slack off in the slightest, remaining immersed in consolidating their cultivation. The previous day, they had broken through nine realms in succession and reached the peak of the third level of the Qiongji Realm. Although their realms had risen too quickly, thanks to the support of star power and spiritual essence, and the strong suppression of their sacred body origin, there was still a slight sense of instability in their meridians, dantian, and soul. Although the circulation of star essence was smooth, it had not yet reached the ultimate state of perfect harmony and effortless control.

The two were of one mind, and together they closed their eyes and focused their minds, immersing themselves in their dantian and carefully refining the vast stellar energy within their bodies.

Yu Moyan focused his mind, his sea of ​​consciousness clear and bright. The phantom of the five-clawed true dragon, carrying the remaining fortune of five million humans, coiled in the center of his consciousness, its eyes slightly closed, breathing in and out purple qi. He guided the fifty-zhang-long golden meteorite core in his dantian with his will, slowly pulsating. Each pulsation smoothed out the surging star essence within his body, making the violent star essence gentle and long, and making the foundation of his floating realm increasingly solid and stable. The Dao traces of the Emperor's Suppressing Fortune Sacred Body traveled through his meridians, filling the tiny gaps left during his previous breakthrough. The human fortune and star essence perfectly merged, each strand of star essence imbued with imperial might, as heavy as a mountain and as majestic as the heavens. The stagnation in his meridians completely disappeared, the fatigue in his soul vanished, and even the incomplete gaps in the nascent Sacred Body were nourished by the pure star essence and fortune, becoming increasingly solid.

Jiang Duyue used the origin of cosmic stellar remains as a guide, sinking his will into the dark silver meteorite core within his dantian. Within the core, the cosmic galaxy patterns spun rapidly, and the black hole phantom slightly pulsed, repeatedly condensing and compressing the sharp, heavy stellar essence within his body. The stellar essence, already far surpassing others of its rank, became even more refined under this repeated tempering, each strand weighing immensely and sharp as a star's blade. The bones, flesh, and stellar essence of the Celestial Stellar Body became completely integrated, the resonance between his physical body and the cosmic void growing stronger. The aura of the nebula storm and the black hole phantom surrounding him became increasingly restrained, no longer outwardly displaying overwhelming pressure, but instead appearing even more unfathomable. His divine soul, already as profound as the universe, was now nourished by the stellar essence, becoming as stable as an ancient star, remaining unmoved even when facing the impact of extraterrestrial laws.

After three hours of focused consolidation, the stellar essence within their bodies was completely integrated, their cultivation foundations as solid as a rock, without a trace of instability. Their peak cultivation at the third tier of the Qiongji Realm perfectly merged with the nascent forms of their two Sacred Bodies, achieving a unified whole of physical body, soul, stellar core, and Sacred Body, reaching the pinnacle of what this realm could bear. With a wave of their hand, stellar power flowed; with each step, space and time resonated; and wherever their gaze fell, all evil bowed down. Even when they concealed all their aura, an invisible pressure still surrounded them—the innate domineering power of their Sacred Bodies, the confidence forged by a talent rarely seen throughout the ages.

The young mistress of Xingchen had already retracted her Starry Sky Wings and landed at the entrance of the secret chamber. The solemnity and shock on her face gradually faded, replaced by a relaxed and proud expression. She looked at the two figures in the secret chamber whose auras were becoming increasingly steady, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in her golden eyes. With her hands behind her back, she tiptoed lightly, and the worry she had felt earlier due to the restlessness of the Myriad Evil Blood Cocoon had now largely dissipated.

Dozens of Liuchen Little Spirits also snapped out of their awe, their light-spotted bodies regaining their brightness, and their clear, chirping sounds resumed, though still soft, not daring to disturb the two Holy Lords who were consolidating their cultivation. They danced around the Star Lord, their tiny intelligence filled with worship, occasionally peeking into the center of the secret chamber, their eyes filled with reverence and longing for the two Holy Bodies.

A moment later, Yu Moyan and Jiang Duyue slowly opened their eyes at the same time.

A flash of golden light appeared in Yu Moyan's eyes, and the faint phantom of a five-clawed dragon swept across them. Imperial majesty blended with refined immortality; his gaze was gentle yet carried an inherent pressure as he swept across the secret chamber, sensing the harmonious power within him. A faint smile played on his lips. Jiang Duyue's eyes swirled like a galaxy before returning to stillness. His deep, dark silver gaze was unwavering, his cold, lonely aura restrained, and only a faint cosmic primordial Daoist aura emanated from him. He clenched his fist slightly, sensing the terrifying power within his body. His gaze remained indifferent, yet now held a hint of resolute determination.

"My cultivation is now stable, with no more superficiality." Yu Moyan spoke softly, his voice gentle yet carrying an undeniable power. "My Sacred Body's origin and realm are completely in harmony. Even now, I can easily crush a fourth-level Qiongji Realm cultivator."

Jiang Duyue nodded slightly, her voice clear and cold as ice, her tone concise: "With refined star essence and an unparalleled physical body, one can fight."

Just as the two stood up, a gentle yet ancient and profound voice of an intelligent life form suddenly resounded in Yu Moyan's sea of ​​consciousness. This voice originated from the core essence of Lingyao Chen Palace, the innate intelligence nurtured in the Inheritance Hall, which governs the operation and inheritance of the entire Chen Palace. It had been dormant since the fall of Emperor Lingyao, until Yu Moyan inherited the Chen Palace's inheritance and awakened the Chen Emperor's Sacred Body, at which point it was fully awakened and recognized the voice as its master.

[Master, congratulations on your successful breakthrough with Lord Jiang Duyue, awakening the rudiments of the Dual Saint Body, and stabilizing your cultivation at the peak of the third tier of the Qiongji Realm.]

The intelligent life form's voice was peaceful and respectful, carrying an unchanging composure: "[This subordinate has ruled the Lingyao Chen Palace for countless ages, and has something to report to Master—this Inheritance Hall you are in is not merely a place for trials and inheritance; it is itself a supreme treasure containing the essence of stars and the fortune of humanity, ranking among the upper echelons of cosmic treasures.]"

A hint of surprise flashed in Yu Moyan's eyes. He paused slightly and asked, "A cosmic treasure? How are they graded? What's so special about this palace?"

He knew that there were countless treasures in the myriad realms, but he never imagined that this inheritance hall, which had accompanied him through his trials and breakthroughs, was actually a true treasure. Jiang Duyue, standing to the side, also glanced over, a barely perceptible hint of curiosity flashing in her dark silver eyes, clearly quite interested in the matter as well.

"Reporting to Master, the supreme treasures of the universe are divided into nine categories: Mortal, Spiritual, Profound, Earthly, Celestial, Star, Universe, Cosmic, and Primordial Chaos. Each category is further divided into five levels: Lower, Middle, Upper, Peak, and Perfect." The intelligent life form explained slowly and clearly, each word imbued with Daoist wisdom. While sharing the same treasure ranking system as the novel *Swallowed Star*, it possessed unique characteristics of the Star Race. "The Lingyao Chen Palace Inheritance Hall was forged by Emperor Lingyao using the core of his own natal star, billions of star iron divine gold, and the crystal essence of human destiny, taking countless ages to complete. It is inscribed with three supreme formations: the Ancient Star Array, the Human Race's Fortune-Suppressing Array, and the Spacetime Stabilizing Array. Its grade ranks as a high-grade Star Rank supreme treasure."

Yu Moyan was shocked. A top-grade Star Rank treasure!

Although he was not very familiar with the ranking of cosmic treasures, he could still feel the terrifying weight of the word "star level". This was far beyond the ordinary natural treasures in the outside world. It was a supreme treasure containing the origin of stars and capable of shaking the star field.

"This palace has three unique features," the intelligent life form continued. "First, it possesses a built-in spacetime distortion array, allowing for the free manipulation of time flow both inside and outside. At its fastest, a day outside can equal a thousand years inside, making cultivation, healing, and seclusion twice as effective. Second, the palace connects to seven major spiritual veins, including the Chenyuan Imperial Vein and the Zhenyi Wanhui Spring, enabling it to autonomously absorb stellar power, spiritual energy, and fragments of laws, nurturing its own spiritual treasures without external replenishment. Third, this palace is bound to the destiny of humanity, capable of suppressing evil influences in the region, protecting human life, and resisting the erosion of extraterrestrial evil forces. Even against the ultimate evil lord, it can withstand the onslaught of the array for a time, ensuring the safety of all beings within."

Upon hearing this, Princess Xingchen's face was filled with pride as she raised her chin and said, "Of course! This is the core of the Imperial Palace, personally forged by the Emperor. How can it be compared to those mortal treasures? With this Imperial Palace in hand, Master is essentially possessing a mobile cultivation holy land and an indestructible defensive fortress!"

The little spirits of Liuchen chimed in, chattering and shouting, recounting the power and prestige of Lingyao Chen Palace.

Yu Moyan was overjoyed. With such a high-grade Star-rank treasure in hand, he would have another trump card to use in the future to fight against the myriad evils and revive the human race. He looked into his sea of ​​consciousness and asked in a deep voice, "Since this palace is a treasure that recognizes its master, may I store it within my body and carry it with me?"

[The master may collect it at his own discretion.] The intelligent life form responded immediately, [This subordinate will now impart to you the secret method of suppressing the fortune of the Imperial Palace left behind by the Emperor. This method uses the fortune of the human race as a guide and the Imperial Emperor's sacred body as its foundation. With just a thought and the recitation of the incantation, the entire Lingyao Imperial Palace can be shrunk and stored in the meteorite core of the dantian for nurturing. It can be used at any time without consuming excess star energy.]

As soon as he finished speaking, a profound and complex secret technique mark suddenly appeared in Yu Moyan's sea of ​​consciousness.

The mark was engraved with golden patterns of human destiny and a celestial map, profound and difficult to understand, yet perfectly compatible with his Emperor Chen's Suppressing Destiny Body. Yu Moyan only needed to concentrate for a moment to fully comprehend the essence of the secret technique. This technique did not require complicated hand seals; one only needed to use their will to activate the power of destiny to easily control the Imperial Palace.

Yu Moyan took a deep breath, focused his mind on his dantian, and guided the power of human destiny within the meteorite core, softly chanting an incantation:

"The Imperial Palace returns to its source, the stars are suppressed, and with my imperial power, I will unite heaven and earth!"

The moment the incantation was completed, the entire Lingyao Chen Palace suddenly lit up with a dazzling golden light. The flowing star jade on the four walls rapidly shrank, and the main hall, secret chamber, spiritual vein nodes, and star pattern array all shrank, transforming into a dazzling golden light spot, the size of a dust particle. Carrying the original aura of the entire main hall, it rushed into Yu Moyan's dantian meteorite core along his meridians.

In the blink of an eye, the vast Lingyao Palace vanished without a trace, leaving only an empty space with faint traces of starlight and Daoist energy in the air. The Star Lord and dozens of Liuchen Little Spirits were also taken into Yu Moyan's dantian along with the palace, settling peacefully in the fortune space beside the meteorite core, still managing the subtle operations of the palace.

Yu Moyan felt much more at ease as he felt the Imperial Palace treasure being nurtured within his dantian. He turned to look at Jiang Duyue and said with a faint smile, "The Imperial Palace has been taken. Next, it's time to meet the evil monsters in this apocalyptic world."

A cold glint flashed in Jiang Duyue's eyes, and he nodded, saying, "Practical training to hone combat skills."

The two had broken through to the peak of the third tier of the Qiongji Realm, possessing the combat power of a Sacred Body. However, they had never truly fought against monsters of the same or even higher tiers. No matter how strong their cultivation was, without practical experience, it was ultimately just theoretical knowledge. Only by honing their combat skills and familiarizing themselves with the power of the Sacred Body in life-or-death battles could they truly unleash the terrifying power of their dual Sacred Bodies and face the eight ultimate evil lords who would soon emerge.

Without further delay, the two transformed into two streaks of light, one gold and one silver, breaking through the airspace where the Imperial Palace had been and speeding towards the desolate ruins of the End of Heaven.

This planet, on the verge of destruction, has long been corrupted by evil. The land is crisscrossed with ravines, gushing putrid liquid, and raining down corpses; the air is thick with a stench of filth. Everywhere are the figures of mutated monsters, each with a unique and terrifying form, all transformed from beings corrupted by evil power. Their cultivation levels range from the Spirit Illumination Realm to the Jade Pool Realm. Scattered throughout the ruins, they wantonly slaughter the remaining humans, the most common scourge in this apocalyptic world.

Yu Moyan and Jiang Duyue moved with incredible speed, their streaks of light traversing the leaden-gray sky. In no time, they arrived at a vast, decaying wasteland.

This ruin was once a prosperous city of the human race, but now it has been completely devoured by evil. Broken walls and ruins stand everywhere, black rotten pulp soaks the dilapidated buildings, and the air is filled with a nauseating stench. Countless mutated monsters roam and howl in the ruins, their shrieks deafening. The evil power is so dense that it has materialized, enveloping the entire world.

The two concealed most of their aura, retaining only a faint fluctuation of star power, and stepped into the ruins like ordinary cultivators.

The first thing that caught my eye was a group of mutated monsters at the first level of the Spirit Realm.

These monsters were short, about half a person's height, with twisted and deformed bodies. Their skin was blackish-purple, rotting and oozing pus, covered with sores and maggots. Their limbs were as thin as withered branches, yet they had sharp, knife-like claws. Their heads were enormous, without eyes, only a gaping maw that stretched to their ears, filled with fine, sharp teeth that dripped black venom. As they roared, the venom dripped down, corroding the ground with a sizzling sound. They were numerous, densely packed in front of the ruins, dozens of them, tearing at a human skeleton, the stench of which was overwhelming.

"First level of the Spirit Realm, perfect for practice," Yu Moyan said calmly, without pausing his steps.

Jiang Duyue flashed forward and rushed out first.

Without using any combat techniques, relying solely on the physical strength of his Celestial Body, he raised his hand and threw a punch. A deep, dark silver fist light flashed and disappeared in an instant. There was no earth-shattering roar, but it contained the immense power of stars. With one punch, the three mutated monsters at the front were instantly blasted into mincemeat, black rotten blood splattered, and their evil aura instantly dissipated. They didn't even have time to scream before they perished completely.

Yu Moyan also made his move, flicking a wisp of golden star essence from his fingertip. The star essence transformed into a sharp blade of energy, lightly slicing through the void. Wherever the blade of energy passed, the bodies of several mutated monsters were instantly cut in half, their rotting bodies crashing to the ground. Their evil power was purified by the Emperor's Qi, turning into specks of black energy and dissipating.

The two attacked with lightning speed and simple, unpretentious moves. Every strike hit the monster's vital points precisely, achieving maximum results with minimal effort.

These first-level Spirit Realm monsters were like ants before the two, utterly vulnerable. In less than half an incense stick's time, all twenty first-level Spirit Realm mutated monsters were killed, their corpses lying on the rotten ground, their decaying bodies quickly eroded and dissolved by evil power, leaving only pale black star cores.

The star cores, about the size of a thumb, contain the evil power absorbed by monsters and a trace of spiritual energy. They are excellent materials for cultivators to refine their weapons and forge their own. Even for those with low cultivation levels, accumulating them little by little can yield a considerable amount. Yu Moyan casually waved his hand, and the golden aura swirled, and twenty first-tier Spirit Illumination Realm star cores fell into his hand and were stored in his storage space.

The two continued deeper into the ruins, and not far ahead they encountered a group of even stronger mutated monsters—second-tier Spirit Realm monsters.

These monsters were much larger than the first-tier monsters, about the height of a person. Their bodies were even more ferocious, with sharp bone spurs all over their backs. The bone spurs were as black as ink and stained with putrid venom. A scarlet eye grew on their heads, radiating a ferocious light. Their limbs were thick and their claws gleamed with an eerie light. They were much faster than the first-tier monsters. They roared and pounced on the two of them. There were about a dozen of them.

"Ten Spirit Realm Level 2, just right," Yu Moyan said softly.

Jiang Duyue's figure flashed, transforming into a ghostly silver afterimage as he weaved through the horde of monsters. His physical body was incomparably strong; even when struck by the monsters' claws, only a shallow white mark remained. His sacred physique was completely impervious to these monsters' attacks. He raised his hand and grabbed a monster's bone spike, gently snapping it in two. Then, he punched the monster's single eye, causing it to scream in agony as its body exploded, its star core scattering.

Yu Moyan then used the power of his luck to condense a shield. The pale golden shield enveloped his body, blocking all the monster's attacks. He then condensed star essence at his fingertips, transforming it into beams of imperial energy. These beams shot into the monster's single eye, instantly destroying its core soul.

In the short time it takes for an incense stick to burn, all ten second-tier Spirit Realm monsters were slain, and the ten pale gray second-tier star cores were collected by Yu Moyan. The two of them became more and more skilled in combat, their use of the power of their Holy Body became more and more fluid, their practical experience accumulated rapidly, and their attacks became more and more fierce and decisive, without the slightest unnecessary movement.

As they ventured deeper into the ruins, the evil aura grew stronger, and the level of the mutated monsters also increased.

In the ruins of a dilapidated palace, more than twenty monsters at the third level of the Spirit Realm were lurking.

These monsters were already beginning to take the form of evil beasts, with bodies reaching two zhang in height, their entire bodies covered in rotting black scales, black pus flowing from beneath the scales, their heads resembling rotting wolf heads, fangs protruding, saliva dripping, their limbs strong, and a long tail covered in barbs trailing behind them. With each sweep of the long tail, fragments of stone flew, their speed was swift and their strength formidable. A dense evil power surrounded them, and their roars shook the dilapidated palace.

Sensing the presence of the two, they roared and pounced, their long tails sweeping and their fangs tearing, their evil power condensing into black waves that crushed towards the two.

"More than ten people at the third level of the Spirit Realm, let's take them out all at once." A glint flashed in Yu Moyan's eyes.

The two no longer held back, slightly activating their sacred aura.

A faint purple aura rippled around Yu Moyan, his imperial might spreading outwards. The attacking monsters froze instantly, stunned by the oppressive aura, their bodies stiffening. He raised his hand and struck out with a palm, a golden palm print enveloping the surroundings. As the palm struck, several monsters were instantly crushed into a pulp, their star cores scattering. Jiang Duyue, meanwhile, drew upon the power of the universe, his stellar essence condensing into galactic blades. These blades danced like a killing machine, slicing monsters to pieces wherever they passed, their evil power devoured by the primordial power of the universe, dissipating into nothingness.

The battle lasted for nearly an incense stick's time, and all fifteen third-tier Spirit Realm monsters were killed. The fifteen dark gray third-tier star cores were taken into Yu Moyan's possession.

By this point, the two had slain twenty first-tier Spirit Realm monsters, ten second-tier monsters, and fifteen third-tier monsters, totaling forty-five mutated monsters, and collected forty-five Star Cores. In actual combat, the two became increasingly familiar with the power of their Sacred Bodies, the circulation of their Star Essence, and the execution of their combat techniques. From their initial tentative attacks to their current ease and skill, their combat experience improved rapidly. Even when facing monsters several times their size, they could easily handle them without sustaining any damage.

Deep within the ruins, the stench was so intense it almost solidified into a thick, blackish-red fog, reducing visibility to less than three meters. The stench in the air grew increasingly pungent, a mixture of rotting flesh, malevolent energy, venom, and the stench of death, making one want to vomit. A deathly silence reigned all around; there were no howls of monsters, no sounds whatsoever, only the bubbling of rotting matter, eerie and terrifying. The oppressive atmosphere was overwhelming, making one's chest tighten and a sense of suffocation gradually rise within.

Yu Moyan and Jiang Duyue paused slightly, exchanged a glance, and both saw seriousness in each other's eyes.

Such a deathly silence is no ordinary occurrence; there must be a high-level monster lurking here.

"His realm is not low, probably the Qiongji Realm," Yu Moyan said in a deep voice, his body shimmering with golden light as he prepared for battle.

Jiang Duyue nodded, a cold glint flashing in his dark silver eyes. His body tensed, and the power of his Starbone Saint Body quietly circulated. "His aura is very strong, far exceeding the third rank, at least the fifth rank."

The two moved slowly forward, their steps light and silent as they trod upon the broken stone bricks. The thick, dark red mist obscured their vision, and even their spiritual senses were hampered by the evil power. They could only vaguely sense a terrifying, bloody, and utterly corrupt aura emanating from ahead. That aura contained boundless malice and slaughter, like an ancient, lurking ferocity. The mere presence of that aura sent shivers down their spines, and the feeling of suffocation intensified, as if an invisible hand had gripped their throats, making it difficult to breathe.

After walking several dozen steps, the evil mist gradually dissipated, revealing an even more dilapidated core ruin.

In the center of the ruins, an enormous, monstrous figure was coiled up, instantly capturing the attention of both of them.

The visual impact was explosive, and the feeling of suffocation was instantly overwhelming. The terrifying, bloody, rotten, and disgusting appearance caused even the two people with their sacred bodies and Dao hearts to frown slightly and feel a sense of unease.

This is a supreme evil monster at the mid-level of the fifth rank of the Qiongji Realm, named the Ancient Corrupted Beast. It is an ultimate ferocious creature that has been corrupted by the evil power of the Myriad Evil Blood Cocoon for ten thousand years, devouring countless human beings and mutated monsters. It has been entrenched in this place for a hundred years, slaughtering countless surviving humans, and is the absolute overlord of this ruin.

The ancient rotten beast was enormous, standing ten zhang tall, lying across the center of the ruins like a moving mountain of rotting flesh. Its body was five zhang wide, with not a single piece of intact skin on its body. It was made up of rotten flesh, broken bones, pustules, and maggots, making it extremely disgusting.

Its body was covered with a thick layer of black, rotting flesh, dark purple in color, decaying and oozing a viscous, blackish-red putrid liquid. This putrid liquid contained bits of flesh, bone fragments, human hair, and monster remains, dripping onto the ground with a sizzling, corroding sound, carving deep pits into the stone bricks. A stench soared into the sky, even more pungent than the foul odor of the Blood Cocoon of Ten Thousand Evils. The rotting flesh was densely covered with fist-sized pustules, swollen and threatening to burst, some already ruptured, oozing yellow pus and white maggots. The maggots wriggled and gnawed frantically within the rotting flesh, making a faint rustling sound that sent chills down one's spine.

The monster's head was enormous, like a rotting mountain, without a fixed shape, resembling a haphazardly piled mass of decaying flesh. In the center of its head, instead of normal eyes, stood nine grotesque, blood-red eyes of varying sizes, the largest comparable to a millstone, the smallest the size of a watermelon. The eyeballs were murky, filled with bloodshot veins and rotting flesh, radiating endless ferocity, madness, and decay. The nine grotesque eyes moved simultaneously, locking onto Yu Moyan and Jiang Duyue, their malice overwhelming, sending chills down their spines.

Below the grotesque eyes was a gaping maw that stretched across the entire head, extending to the ears. There were no lips, only rotting gums covered in densely packed, black fangs of varying lengths, the longest a full half-zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) and the shortest a foot. The fangs were stained with dried black blood and rotting flesh, and the gaps between them were filled with human skeletons and monster remains, emitting a nauseating stench. Within the maw, a rotting tongue several zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) long continuously extended and retracted. The tongue's surface was covered in barbs, from which bits of flesh and pus clung, dripping putrid fluid with each contraction and extension—a truly horrifying sight.

The monster's body was covered with sixteen thick, deformed limbs. Eight of them resembled rotting elephant legs, supporting its massive body. The legs were covered with rotten flesh and bone spurs, and the ground would tremble violently with each step, splattering putrid liquid. The other eight were like twisted tentacles, each several meters long, covered with suckers and barbs. The suckers held rotten flesh and bones, and the tentacles could crush dilapidated buildings with a single sweep, their power terrifying beyond compare.

On its back, a huge, rotting fleshy tumor rose, about two or three zhang in size. Its surface was covered with blood vessels and maggots. At the top of the tumor grew an extremely sharp, pitch-black bone spur, about ten zhang long, which gleamed with a cold, evil light. It was its deadly weapon, capable of piercing through any defense and releasing putrid venom.

A gaping rift ran across the monster's abdomen, from which rotting entrails writhed and festered, exuding a thick aura of death. Countless maggots frantically gnawed at the rift's edges, constantly dropping fragments of viscera and rotten flesh—a truly gruesome sight. A dark red, malevolent mist swirled around the monster, carrying within it the howls of countless vengeful spirits—the remnants of human souls it had devoured, imprisoned by evil power, condemned to eternal damnation. The howls of these vengeful spirits intertwined with the monster's low roars, creating a sonic wave that shattered the very soul, chilling the mind to the bone.

The Ancient Corrupt Beast sensed the auras of Yu Moyan and Jiang Duyue, and felt the pure star power and holy body origin on their bodies. Its nine scarlet eyes instantly burst forth with a dazzling ferocious light, and a deep and violent roar came from its blood-red maw. The roar was deafening and swept in all directions. The broken ruins were instantly shaken, with stones flying everywhere and putrid liquid churning.

Having lingered there for a century, it had never seen such pure energy. The flesh and blood and essence of these two people were an unparalleled tonic for it. After devouring them, it would be enough to allow it to break through to the peak of the fifth level of the Qiongji Realm, or even touch the threshold of the sixth level.

Sixteen deformed limbs stirred simultaneously, and the rotting body slowly rose to its feet. Its colossal form, ten zhang tall, blotted out the sky. The leaden-gray sky was obscured by its decaying flesh, instantly dimming the light and plunging the entire ruin into darkness. Rotten pulp flowed incessantly from its body, instantly corroding the ground into deep pits. The howls of vengeful spirits grew increasingly shrill, and the malevolent mist surged wildly. The suffocating and terrifying atmosphere reached its peak, as if the entire world was controlled by this ancient, decaying beast, instilling despair.

Yu Moyan and Jiang Duyue tensed up, their holy auras quietly erupting, intertwining with pale gold and dark silver light to resist the overwhelming aura of corruption and the sonic waves of vengeful spirits.

"A mid-level fifth-order Qiongji Realm beast, a Desolate Ancient Corruption Beast, is perfect for testing combat strength." Yu Moyan's eyes blazed with imperial might, purple energy rose slightly, and his tone was firm.

Jiang Duyue's eyes swirled like a galaxy, radiating a chilling killing intent. He pushed his physical strength to its limit, a dark silver light enveloping his body. "Kill it, seize the star core, and practice my combat skills."

A terrifyingly powerful fifth-tier mid-level ancient corrupt beast of the Qiongji Realm, and two heaven-defying cultivators who have awakened their sacred bodies and reached the peak of the third tier of the Qiongji Realm.

A fierce battle to the death is about to erupt in this post-apocalyptic wasteland.