Deep Sea Starship Apocalypse

The sky above the End of the World has long lost the normal rhythm of the changing of the sun, moon, and stars. There is no gentle dawn, no tranquil nightfall; only a murky, dark, chaotic background, like a giant curtain soaked in billions of years of withered bones and malevolent energy, pressing heavily on the heavens and earth. Even light is chewed up and swallowed by this heavy gloom, and the surroundings are forever a deathly silence interwoven with oppressive gray and inky black.

This is a desolate place abandoned by all the heavens and myriad worlds, a final ruin where even gods would turn to dust upon their fall.

The golden doors of the Inheritance Hall slowly closed behind Yu Moyan and Jiang Duyue, the heavy metallic clang like the beating of a drum, cutting off the gentle, peaceful imperial light within. The next moment, an extreme natural disaster, powerful enough to crush the bodies of ordinary saints, swept in without restraint, like a raging beast, threatening to bury these two intruders in this desolate wasteland.

The first thing to arrive was a massive, reddish-yellow sandstorm that blotted out the sky.

That was no ordinary desert dust storm, but billions of tiny, knife-like, and iron-hard grains of sand from a barren mountain. These grains originated from the weathering of bones over millions of years in the barren mountain, each one imbued with the malevolent energy of the end times. Swirled up by the raging winds of the void, they transformed into several yellow tornadoes that stretched across the heavens and earth, surging in from all directions. Wherever the tornadoes passed, the air was churned into sharp whistles, even the hard, black rock mountains were eroded layer by layer, the flying stone chips producing a piercing metallic scraping sound, like countless sharp blades frantically slicing through the giant rocks.

Vision was completely swallowed by the overwhelming yellow sand; beyond three zhang (approximately 10 meters), everything was a blur. The chaotic gray-yellow blurred the boundaries between heaven and earth, and even breathing was filled with sand, choking one's throat and making it taste metallic. The moment one's divine sense extended outward, it was shattered by the raging sandstorm. The sea of ​​consciousness surged with a stinging sensation, making it impossible to perceive the surrounding environment in the slightest, as if an invisible barrier had blocked all perception.

The sand and gravel struck the air with a series of crisp, crackling sounds, and even the space itself rippled and distorted as it hit the void. This was the unique, malevolent power of the dry mountain sand and gravel; ordinary protective auras would shatter upon contact, and even the defenses of a saint would be carved deep into the sand and gravel layer by layer.

Before the sandstorm had subsided, a torrential downpour of black rain suddenly lashed down, as if a dark hole had been pierced through the sky.

The raindrops, as large as thumbs, were a deep, inky black, carrying a chilling, malevolent aura that corroded souls and bones. They struck the skin like red-hot iron beads, scalding it with a sizzling sound. Even the protective aura of ordinary saints couldn't withstand this black rain for even a moment; it was pierced by the raindrops, the chill seeping into their meridians and freezing their vital energy, causing it to stagnate. This was not the gentle rain of heaven and earth, but a malevolent blood rain formed from the accumulated malevolent energy and turbid air of the withered mountain's corpse over the years.

The black rain fell on the ground, instantly corroding small pits that emitted black smoke. A foul, black stench rose from these pits, making one's stomach churn. Even the hard, black rocky mountains were continuously eroded by this evil rain, the stone surface gradually softening and turning into pools of inky, foul-smelling black water. Wherever the black water passed, even the roots of grass and trees were corroded away, leaving only a scorched wasteland.

In the central region, where black rain and sandstorms intertwined, a blizzard of goose feathers poured down wildly, as if the sky had overturned an icy jade bottle, intending to freeze this doomsday land into a frozen inferno.

The snowflakes, as large as palm-leaf fans, gleamed with a chilling blue light. Their frigidity was so intense it could freeze stellar essence and seal divine souls. Where the snowflakes fell, even the void itself cracked with a thin layer of ice crystals, spiderweb-like ice patterns spreading outwards. Wherever they passed, the air instantly solidified into a crystalline mist. The black rain that had just fallen was instantly frozen into glistening ice beads, then crushed by the raging sandstorm. The ice particles mixed with sand and inky rain, creating a cataclysmic triple calamity of sand, rain, and snow.

The gale howled, whipping up sand and gravel, its sharp cry like the roar of a giant beast; the sand and gravel cut like knives, leaving fine, bloody scratches on every inch of skin; the blizzard carried a bone-chilling cold, freezing one to the bone; the evil rain corroded the soul, causing a surge of cold, malevolent thoughts in one's mind, making one drowsy and sleepy, as if one were about to sink into endless darkness at any moment.

The four extreme dangers combined simultaneously, forming an insurmountable natural barrier. Even Yu Moyan and Jiang Duyue, who had just repaired their armor and fully recovered from their injuries, instantly felt an unprecedented heavy pressure.

"What a terrifying natural disaster..." Jiang Duyue sighed softly, his voice torn apart by the gale and almost dissipated into the chaotic world. The dark silver starry patterns on his body suddenly lit up, and the Zhouxiao Star Remains Armor radiated layers of starlight. A light blue void barrier slowly formed around him, as solid as if it were forged from a star core.

Even so, the barrier was still being battered by the sand and gravel, its silvery-blue starlight constantly dimming under the impact. The chilling blue blizzard air seeped into the armor through the tiny gaps, penetrating his meridians and causing a slight stagnation in the flow of his stellar energy. The circulation of his stellar power was like a frozen stream, slow and difficult.

Yu Moyan was clad in the reforged and restored Imperial Dragon Scale Armor, forged from ancient dragon scales and inlaid with imperial runes. Its golden imperial aura swept across the area like a miniature sun, repelling all sand, rain, and snow within a three-foot radius. The reforged armor was indeed extraordinary, not only offering far superior defense but also possessing the profound power to suppress fortune and ward off evil.

The malevolent black rain fell on the armor, instantly evaporating in the blazing imperial radiance, dissipating into wisps of inky mist; icy snowflakes pelted the dragon scale armor, shattering under the imperial might, unable to even freeze the armor in the slightest. The imperial golden light continuously flowed across the armor's surface, completely purifying the bone-corroding malevolence and piercing cold upon contact.

However, the natural disasters outside were too violent. Sandstorms were like omnipresent beasts, obscuring the sky and making it impossible to distinguish east from west. Black rain, carrying evil power, eroded the soul, making people's consciousness dull and their awareness gradually blurred. Blizzards froze the star essence, making it difficult to exert full strength in cultivation, and even the mobilization of star power became sluggish.

With the triple calamity intertwined, even the air became thick and heavy, like mud filled with sand and ice shards. Every step forward required several times more effort than usual, as if one were stepping not on the earth, but on solidified evil mud.

Yu Moyan stood firmly in place, his feet sinking into the soft mud corroded by the black rain, the soles of his boots riddled with tiny pits from the inky, evil liquid. His golden eyes pierced through the thick curtain of wind, sand, and rain, scanning his surroundings, but all he could see was a chaotic scene of swirling yellow sand, torrential black rain, and swirling snow. Even distant outlines were completely obscured, making it impossible to distinguish east from west, north from south, or even the location of the core of the barren mountain.

"The environment of this End Land is ten times worse than we imagined." Yu Moyan said in a deep voice, his tone heavy. "Sandstorms obscure divine sense, black rain erodes the soul, and blizzards freeze star essence. When these three are combined, even a fifth-level Moon Clarity Realm expert can easily lose his way and eventually be worn down to death."

Jiang Duyue nodded, her starry eyes narrowing slightly. Star power surged around her, attempting to draw upon the cosmic star power of the Zhouxiao Star Remains Saint Body to trace the trajectory of the stars and pinpoint her location. However, the void of the End Land was in utter chaos, disturbed by natural disasters and evil spirits. The trajectories of star power were disordered, like a scrambled star map, making it impossible to pinpoint any coordinates: "The void turbulence has been stirred up by the natural disasters, causing orientation to be distorted. Ordinary methods of star guidance are no longer effective. If we blindly wander, we might end up back where we started, or even stumble into an even more dangerous abyss, leaving us with no way out."

The two stood still, their star power and imperial might pulsating around them as they resisted the impact of the natural disasters. Their brows furrowed as they pondered a way to break through. Just as they were locked in this stalemate, that soft, sweet, childlike voice rang out again in Yu Moyan's mind, like a clear spring, exceptionally clear amidst the chaotic, malevolent aura.

Immediately, a small figure that only he could see silently reappeared on his shoulder.

That was the system's physical form. She had pink ribbons tied in her pigtails, wore a mini-skirt adorned with star patterns, and stood on Yu Moyan's shoulder armor with her arms crossed. Her little brows were tightly furrowed, and her round pink eyes looked through the chaotic natural disaster at the world-destroying scene outside, her little face full of disdain.

"Tsk tsk tsk, this place is so run-down. It's sandstorm, raining, and snowing. It's filthy and freezing. I don't even want to come out." The little girl pouted, her pink skirt swaying slightly in the wind. "If it weren't for the fact that you owe me a Star Crown, I wouldn't bother with your mess."

Yu Moyan felt a sense of relief, his tense nerves relaxing slightly. He spoke softly in his mind, his tone filled with urgent pleading: "System, do you have any way to help us break through this natural disaster barrier? If this continues, we won't even be able to find our direction, let alone continue exploring the inheritance. If we delay any longer, something even more dangerous might be attracted by this natural disaster."

The system swayed its twin ponytails, its short legs swinging gently in mid-air, and gave a haughty snort. A sly glint flashed in its pink eyes: "Want my help? Then you'd better praise me properly and promise me that you'll remember to sign in every day from now on, and you're not allowed to forget me again, nor are you allowed to owe Xingmian anything. Otherwise, this system will just watch you get swallowed up by natural disasters in this godforsaken place, and this system will go back to its system space to drink milk tea."

Yu Moyan chuckled helplessly, the image of the system's arrogant little face flashing through his mind, and his tension eased somewhat. He quickly went along with it, coaxing, "Okay, okay, my good system, the most powerful system, the most powerful in the whole world is you! Not only can you help me repair my armor, but you can also help me overcome natural disasters. I will definitely sign in every day from now on, rain or shine, to pay off my debt as soon as possible, and I will never neglect you. Please help me and Du Yue, otherwise we really won't be able to get out of here."

The system then raised its small face in satisfaction, a slight smile playing on its lips. It stretched out its delicate white hand and waved it gently. A faint golden starlight burst forth from its fingertips, streaking across the chaotic world like a shooting star and piercing straight into Yu Moyan's eyes.

In an instant, Yu Moyan felt the scene before him suddenly change.

The raging sandstorm, the soul-corroding black rain, and the icy blizzard instantly became transparent and illusory in his eyes, like a shattered illusion, dissipating layer by layer. His vision seemed to pierce through layers of obstacles, clearly seeing the true terrain beneath the natural disaster—the undulating, withered black mountain ranges, like sleeping behemoths, their skeletal outlines appearing and disappearing under the chaotic sky; the black earth, crisscrossed with ravines, was covered with traces of evil corruption, and bottomless pits constantly emitted inky evil mist; he could even vaguely see on the distant peak of the withered mountain, a huge, mountain-like phantom of a corpse, exuding a chilling aura of death.

At the same time, a gentle astral power surged from Yu Moyan's body, transforming into an invisible barrier that completely enveloped him and Jiang Duyue. This barrier was formless and intangible, yet indestructible, keeping out the sand, black rain, and blizzard, rendering them completely unable to interfere with the two. The previously sluggish flow of stellar energy and imperial might became incredibly smooth, and the chill and evil energy between their meridians were quietly purified by the astral power. The two felt completely refreshed, as if they were in a pure land free from wind and rain.

"I'll temporarily shield you from the interference of natural disasters and guide your way, but this will only last for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn." The voice of the little system girl rang in Yu Moyan's mind, carrying a hint of admonition. "The power of the Star Crown consumes a great deal of energy, and it will be exhausted after the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. You need to hurry on your way, otherwise you'll be trapped in this awful weather again once the energy is depleted, and then this system won't be able to help you easily."

Yu Moyan was overjoyed, a gleam of delight flashing in his golden eyes. He quickly said to Jiang Duyue beside him, "Duyue, I can see the road ahead now, come with me!"

A hint of surprise flashed in Jiang Duyue's eyes. He could clearly feel the interference of the natural disaster around him suddenly dissipate, and the flow of star power returned to normal. He didn't ask any questions about the reason, but simply nodded slightly and followed Yu Moyan's footsteps. The two figures were like two streaks of light, quickly heading towards the direction indicated by the system.

The wind howled in their ears, the inky rain pelted behind them, and the blizzard swirled around them, yet the two were completely protected by the Star Crown Barrier, not even a speck of sand or cold rain could touch them. Yu Moyan's steps were steady and quick, each step leaving shallow footprints on the barren, dark earth, which were then quietly covered by the wind and sand.

The system on his shoulder sat obediently, its pink eyes occasionally glancing at Yu Moyan's profile, a hint of worry barely perceptible on its small face. She watched the approaching phantom of the withered mountain corpse, her pink brows furrowing slightly, as if sensing some danger. She said nothing, silently circulating her Star Crown power to reinforce the barrier.

Deep within the endless calamities before them, in a desolate region shrouded in yellow sand and blizzards, a pair of blood-red giant eyes slowly opened. These eyes perched atop a colossal peak piled with withered bones, their pupils a murky blood-red, the whites covered by dark, rotting flesh, and black, malevolent mist and eerie blue ice shards constantly seeping from their slits.

These giant eyes were fixed on Yu Moyan and Jiang Duyue, the two tiny figures who had intruded into its territory. The eyes were filled with a bloodthirsty and greedy rage, like a wild beast that had smelled fresh flesh and was slowly awakening.

Yu Moyan and Jiang Duyue raced through the natural disaster, protected by the power of the Star Crown. They broke through layers of sand and ice, getting closer and closer to the illusory image of the withered mountain corpse. The withered black mountain range along the way became increasingly rugged, and the ground was covered with the long-decayed bones of giant beasts. Some were tens of meters long, with traces of evil corrosion still remaining on their bones, while others were broken into dust and embedded in the yellow sand and black mud.

Just as the two were less than a hundred miles from the core of the barren mountain, the system on Yu Moyan's shoulder suddenly changed its expression, its pink eyes widened sharply, and its small body tensed instantly: "Oh no! Something has awakened! It's...it's the Blood Cocoon! That thing is about to hatch!"

Before the words were finished, a terrifying tremor came from the direction of the illusory corpse of the withered mountain. It was not a sound wave vibration, but pure bone conduction. It spread along the earth, the void, and the gravel, causing the black earth beneath their feet to tremble slightly, and even the star crown barrier around them to ripple.

Immediately afterwards, an extremely terrifying roar suddenly erupted from the direction where the blood cocoon was located!

That roar was neither an ordinary beast's howl nor a human's croak, but rather the roar of a colossal beast from the deep sea, filled with boundless violence, greed, and despair, mixed with the madness of breaking free from its cocoon. The voice was deep and hoarse, like countless withered bones rubbing together, or like icy liquid churning in the throat, each syllable carrying the power to shatter the very soul.

Low, meaningless syllables emanated from the blood cocoon.

"Squeak...squeak..."

Like the sound of teeth rubbing against bone

The roar pierced through the sky-covering sandstorm, pelted down torrential black rain, and cleaved through the blizzard, echoing across the land of the end. Wherever the sound passed, the yellow sand was shaken to the sides, the black rain was shaken into a sky full of inky mist, and the blizzard was shaken into tiny ice shards.

Yu Moyan and Jiang Duyue stopped in their tracks at the same time, their expressions changing drastically.

The roar was terrifying; it didn't come from a single being, but seemed to resonate throughout the entire End of the World. That power traveled through their bones, drilling into their meridians, causing their stellar energy to surge and even their souls to tremble. Jiang Duyue clutched her chest, a metallic taste rising in her throat, and the starlight on her Zhouxiao Star Remains Armor dimmed slightly. Yu Moyan's Chenhuang Zhenyun Dragon Scale Armor, while having withstood most of the impact, also felt a stinging pain in her brow, and her golden eyes flickered slightly.

"What... what is that roar?" Jiang Duyue asked in a deep voice, barely suppressing the shock to her soul, her voice trembling slightly.

The little system girl's face turned deathly pale, her pink eyes fixed on the direction of the illusory image of the withered mountain corpse. Her small voice carried a hint of fear: "It's the Blood Cocoon! That's the ultimate evil creature nurtured by the master of the withered mountain corpse! The Blood Cocoon is finally about to hatch! This roar is its announcement of breaking free from the cocoon, and also its deterrent!"

The roar didn't stop as soon as the words were spoken; instead, it grew even more violent, with wave after wave of sound waves crashing towards the two of them like raging torrents. The bone conduction vibrations grew stronger and stronger, and the ground beneath their feet cracked open into bottomless fissures. Dark, malevolent mist poured out from the fissures, and eerie blue snow froze into ice pillars at the edges of the fissures. The sandstorm was shaken apart by the sound waves, revealing the direction where the blood cocoon was located.

Following Yu Moyan's gaze, he saw that atop the illusory image of the withered mountain corpse, a cocoon of blood, constructed from billions of withered bones, was radiating an intensely rich, crimson light. The cocoon stood a thousand feet tall, resembling a blood-red mountain peak. Its surface was covered with twisted blood vessels and veins, within which flowed dark red, malevolent blood, constantly writhing as if something was struggling within.

At the top of the blood cocoon, where the cocoon's mouth was originally tightly closed, a crack was slowly opening, and a pair of huge, bloodshot eyes were staring intently at Yu Moyan and Jiang Duyue through the crack. The eyes were at least ten zhang in size, with pure blood-red pupils, the whites of the eyes covered by dark, rotting flesh, and eyelashes that were like bone spurs, constantly dripping with inky, evil liquid.

Then, a second eye, a third eye... On the surface of the blood cocoon, countless eyes slowly opened, each radiating a violent red light, staring at the two of them as if they wanted to devour them alive.