Deep Sea Starship Apocalypse

The night rain continued, its mournful drizzle slanting down upon the desolate ruins of the city, blurring the lines between heaven and earth into a chaotic gray-black. Lead-gray clouds hung low, as if about to collapse and engulf the city, now a living hell. At Jiang Duyue's doorstep, crimson water seeped slowly through the cracks in the broken bluestone, raindrops splashing against it, creating tiny, eerie silver sparks—the lingering starlight emanating from Yu Moyan and Jiang Duyue, drawing a faint yet dazzling light across the ravaged, lifeless ruins, like the sole spark in an abyss of despair.

The surrounding buildings were no longer what they once were; crumbling walls leaned precariously, exposed steel bars piercing the night sky like withered bones, their surfaces gleaming a cold, rusty color from the rain. The wind howled through the ruins, mingling with the sound of rain lashing against decaying matter, weaving a chilling dirge. A persistent, putrid stench permeated the air—the mingled smell of rotting flesh, dust, and filth, pungent and nauseating, making one's stomach churn with every inch of it, yet numbed by long-standing accustomedness.

Yu Moyan helped the still trembling Jiang Duyue to her feet, his fingertips slightly cool, carrying the unique warmth of star power, gently brushing away the raindrops clinging to Jiang Duyue's shoulder. With a slight movement of his star power, a wisp of pale silver light swept across, instantly evaporating the water on Jiang Duyue's shoulder, leaving only a faint warmth. Jiang Duyue had just successfully broken through to the Spirit Illumination Realm, and the powerful yet still somewhat immature aura hadn't fully dissipated. A pale silver mist slowly swirled around him, reflecting the mysterious star patterns appearing in Yu Moyan's palm. The two star powers, sharing the same origin, resonated with each other, actually forcing back some of the pervasive putrid stench, creating a small, clean space in this polluted world.

"Don't get too excited. The Spirit Illumination Realm is just the beginning." Yu Moyan's voice was still a little hoarse, a trace left by days of fighting and suppression, but the previous deathly silence and despair had faded, replaced by a calm and iron-like sharpness. He looked up into the depths of the ruined city, his gaze piercing through the rain, carrying a hint of solemnity. "That monster lurking in my neighborhood is a Spirit Illumination Realm cultivator who has broken through to the Profound Rank. Your realm has just stabilized, and your Star Power still needs careful refinement. You absolutely must not rashly confront it head-on."

Jiang Duyue clenched his fists, starlight slowly flowing through his palms, a pale silver light flickering between his fingers. His once paper-white cheeks were now tinged with color, and the emptiness in his eyes, once filled with despair, was now completely consumed by burning hatred and the hope of rebirth. He looked at Yu Moyan, his voice trembling slightly, yet utterly resolute: "Brother Yu, I understand. I will master this power as soon as possible. Once we've established ourselves, we'll kill those monsters, and Cang Yuanmi..."

The moment the murderer's name was mentioned, the air seemed to freeze. The starlight surrounding the two suddenly intensified, its pale silver radiance surging dramatically. Even the raindrops drifting in the air seemed frozen by this chilling aura, hovering in mid-air for a moment before slowly falling. An invisible killing intent emanated from the two, clashing with the deathly silence of the ruined city, yet appearing all the more tragic against the backdrop of despair.

Just then, Yu Moyan frowned slightly, his divine soul following the soul-refining method of the "Star River Divine God: Silver Starry Sky Sacred Body Technique," extending outwards like an invisible net. Within a thousand meters, all auras were reflected in his sea of ​​consciousness—three faint yet eerie fluctuations were slowly approaching from the outer perimeter of the residential area. The fluctuations carried a dense sense of decay and chill, exactly like the monster encountered in the stairwell earlier, but with an added ferocity, clearly predators attracted by the star power fluctuations earlier.

"Something's coming." Yu Moyan instantly shielded Jiang Duyue behind him, his star power rapidly gathering, and several tiny, dust-like silver blades appeared in his palm, their sharpness fully revealed. He lowered his voice, his tone grave, "At least three. Their cultivation levels aren't high, but we've only just gained power, our foundations aren't stable, so it's not advisable to linger in battle. Let's retreat to the ruins outside the city, find a safe place, and then carefully cultivate and refine our skills."

Jiang Duyue nodded emphatically, his eyes showing no fear, but rather a burning desire to try. He imitated Yu Moyan, focusing his mind to channel the stellar energy within his body. Tiny silver stars gradually appeared at his fingertips. Though still immature and clumsy, and his movements slightly hesitant, the extraordinary nature of his Sacred Body Technique was already evident. Those silver stars shimmered in the rain, like stars fallen to earth, carrying a power to purify evil.

The two exchanged a glance, needing no words, their hearts in perfect harmony. Without further hesitation, they leaped into the inky black rain, their figures like two silver rainbows, swiftly traversing the broken walls and ruins. Behind them, in the dilapidated living room of the Jiang family, beside the cold bodies of their parents, a wisp of silver light quietly fell from Yu Moyan's fingertip, slowly condensing into a small, intricately patterned star seal—a simple protective seal Yu Moyan had laid down with his own star power. Though not powerful, it could temporarily protect the two elders' bodies from being desecrated by evil spirits, preserving a sliver of their final dignity.

The crimson puddles were shattered by the rushing footsteps. A silvery figure darted past among the broken walls and ruins, followed by a low growl and the grating sound of bones grinding together, like the relentless pursuit of death. The growl even contained a hoarse plea for help, rough and broken, like the wailing of a dying man, sending chills down one's spine. But Yu Moyan's mind was clear. He knew perfectly well that this city had already become a living hell. Apart from him and Jiang Duyue, there was no one else alive. This so-called plea for help was nothing more than a despicable trick by the monster to lure its prey.

"System, how many people are left on this planet?" Yu Moyan asked the system in his mind as he sped along.

"Host, there are currently about 1800 million humans remaining on this planet. They are living in federal shelters and are safe for the time being." The system's cold, mechanical voice rang in your mind, devoid of any emotion.

Yu Moyan's pupils constricted sharply, a storm raging in his heart: "System, tell me, how can a population of billions dwindle to only 1800 million in just a few days?"

"Host, no comment." The system's voice remained cold, refusing to reveal anything.

Yu Moyan ignored it, his brows furrowed, his unease growing stronger. Before he could think further, an aura far more powerful and repulsive than the previous three eerie fluctuations was slowly approaching from the ruins ahead. The aura was so thick it was almost impenetrable, rotten, foul, and violent, mixed with a sickeningly putrid smell, like countless decaying corpses fermenting together. Just a whiff of it was enough to make one dizzy and nauseous.

"Something's coming, much stronger than the last one." Yu Moyan grabbed Jiang Duyue and stopped abruptly, shielding him behind her. A silver blade materialized in her palm, and her expression became extremely solemn.

A "creature" slowly emerged from the rain ahead—or perhaps, it couldn't even be called a creature.

It was a grotesque monster pieced together from countless rotten flesh, decaying bones, and filth, standing a full eight meters tall, its massive body towering like a small mountain in the rain. Its body lacked any complete outline; its surface was covered with layers upon layers of rotting flesh, a nauseating bluish-black color. Beneath the flesh, ghastly white bone spurs protruded menacingly, piercing like sharp blades, some even piercing through the rotting flesh, pointing diagonally towards the sky, stained with dark red pus and dark green putrid liquid.

With each step it took, its massive body trembled violently, chunks of rotting flesh falling away and splashing into the scarlet pool of water, creating murky sprays. Countless white maggots burrowed and wriggled within its decaying flesh, and as the flesh fell, the maggots rolled off, struggling and crawling in the rainwater. The sight sent shivers down one's spine, sending a wave of nausea straight to the head.

The monster's head was even more grotesque and terrifying, lacking clear facial features, consisting only of a blurry mass of rotting flesh with a huge gash in the middle—its "mouth." Inside, there were no neat teeth, only a few jagged, yellowed, and blackened bone fragments, constantly dripping a dark green, corrosive liquid that sizzled on the ground, etching small pits into the bluestone pavement. From its mouth came hoarse, broken roars, interspersed with intermittent cries of "Save me!" The voice was rough and dry, like the straining of a broken bellows, or the final lament of a dying man—eerie and terrifying, echoing in the deathly still rainy night, sending chills down one's spine.

Yu Moyan and Jiang Duyue froze on the spot, their pupils shrinking, their faces filled with shock and disbelief. Could this deformed, disgusting thing before them have ever truly been human? The twisted body, the rotting flesh, the wriggling maggots, and the sounds mixed with human wails and monster roars all spoke of past tragedy and present evil.

"System, what realm is this monster?" Yu Moyan suppressed his shock and disgust and asked in a deep voice.

"Host, this monster has only recently broken through to the Spirit Realm. With the combined strength of the two of you, you can still handle it," the system's voice sounded at the right time.

Yu Moyan breathed a slight sigh of relief, then turned to look at Jiang Duyue with a serious expression: "This monster has only recently broken through to the Spirit Realm. The two of us working together have a fighting chance. But it's blocking our way, and if we don't take it down, we simply can't get through."

Jiang Duyue nodded, the shock in his eyes fading, replaced by a fierce fighting spirit. He clenched his fists, his star power rapidly circulating within him, and a pale silver light once again enveloped his body.

The two exchanged a glance, their minds in perfect harmony, and simultaneously activated the stellar energy within their bodies, transforming it into weapons.

A bright silver light shone from Yu Moyan's palm, and a Tang sword, entirely silver, slowly materialized. The blade was long and slender with smooth lines, gleaming with a cold starlight. Fine star patterns were engraved on the blade, each containing the rhythm of star power, its sharpness fully revealed, exuding a chilling aura.

Before Jiang Duyue, star power condensed into a battle blade. The blade was entirely black, like the deep night sky, adorned with countless silver starlight, resembling a vast cosmos, mysterious and majestic. The interplay of black and silver conveyed both composure and sharpness.

"Be careful, this monster is covered in corrosive liquid, you must not get splashed with it." Yu Moyan gripped his Tang sword and warned in a deep voice.

Jiang Duyue nodded emphatically, gripped the Starry Sky Battle Blade in his hand, and charged forward first. Yu Moyan followed closely behind, the two figures moving left and right like two silver rainbows, rushing towards the enormous, deformed monster.

In the blink of an eye, the two had rushed to the monster's side. Yu Moyan flicked his wrist, and the silver Tang sword, accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, slashed horizontally towards the monster's torso; Jiang Duyue, on the other hand, leaped up, and the Starry Sky Battle Blade slashed down from above, fiercely striking the monster's shoulder.

"clang!"

The blade struck the monster's rotting flesh, producing a dull thud as if striking tough leather, not the expected clean cut. Immediately afterward, the monster's rotting flesh and pustules burst open, and a dark green, corrosive liquid gushed out like a fountain, carrying a pungent, fishy stench, splattering all over Yu Moyan.

The liquid fell onto Yu Moyan's clothes, instantly corroding the fabric into ash. The moment it touched his skin, a piercing pain shot through him, and his skin quickly became red, swollen, and ulcerated, covered with countless blisters. Yu Moyan groaned in pain and involuntarily took a few steps back.

"Jiang Duyue, be careful! Don't get splashed by the sap, it's highly corrosive!" Yu Moyan shouted a warning, enduring the excruciating pain.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Duyue immediately withdrew his attack, retreating rapidly to avoid the splattered juice. He looked at Yu Moyan's swollen and festering arm, his eyes filled with worry: "Brother Yu!"

"I'm fine!" Yu Moyan gritted his teeth and swung his sword again. But after two strikes, he was shocked to find that the monster's seemingly rotten body had extremely strong resilience. Apart from splashing out more corrosive juice, it did not suffer any substantial damage. Instead, it was enraged and let out a deafening roar.

The monster's massive body lurched violently, its exposed bone spikes gleaming coldly as it slammed into Yu Moyan.

"System, does this monster have no weaknesses? How can I defeat it?" Yu Moyan asked anxiously in his mind while dodging.

"Host, this monster's star core is hidden in its abdomen. Cut open its rotting flesh, take out the star core, and the monster will perish. Moreover, this star core contains pure star essence, which will greatly benefit your cultivation," the system immediately replied.

Yu Moyan was overjoyed and no longer hesitated. He gripped his Tang sword tightly and suddenly accelerated, like a silver lightning bolt, circling around to the side of the monster. Taking advantage of the monster's roar, he suddenly leaped up, poured all his star power into his Tang sword, and slashed fiercely at the monster's abdomen!

"Sizzle!"

The sharp Tang sword easily sliced ​​through the tough, rotting flesh of the monster's abdomen, and dark green fluid and decaying entrails gushed out, releasing a stench several times stronger than before, making one want to vomit. Within that filth, a fist-sized star core, radiating a pale silver glow, was slowly pulsating, gleaming brightly.

Sensing a deadly threat, the monster instantly went berserk. It let out a shrill, inhuman roar, its massive body shuddered violently, and its enormous fist, carrying a gale and a corrosive aura, slammed fiercely towards Yu Moyan's chest!

Yu Moyan had no time to dodge. With a loud "bang," he was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the broken wall behind him. A mouthful of blood gushed out, and he felt excruciating pain in his chest as several ribs snapped. The corrosive liquid from the monster's fist seeped into his body through the wounds, corroding his muscle tissue, and waves of excruciating pain swept over his entire body.

"Jiang Duyue, hurry and get the star core! If you take it out, you'll die!" Yu Moyan shouted, enduring the excruciating pain.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Duyue did not hesitate for a moment. He gripped his Starry Sky Battle Blade, leaped into the monster's belly, and, ignoring the gushing corrosive liquid, reached out to grab the pulsating star core. The instant his fingertips touched the star core, a burning and corrosive sensation surged through him simultaneously. His palm was instantly corroded into a bloody mess, with the white bones faintly visible.

But Jiang Duyue gritted her teeth, endured the excruciating pain, and with a sudden burst of strength, forcibly pulled the star core out of the monster's body!

The moment the star core detached from the body, the monster's massive form stiffened abruptly, its roar abruptly ceased, and the eerie aura surrounding it rapidly dissipated. Then, its body, pieced together from rotting flesh, deflated like a punctured balloon, slowly collapsing to the ground, utterly lifeless, leaving only a pile of nauseating rotten flesh and bone spurs, gradually melting away in the rain.

Jiang Duyue clutched the scalding star core, his forehead covered in cold sweat, his face as pale as paper. Ignoring his bloodied and mangled hands, he staggered to Yu Moyan's side, his voice trembling, "Brother Yu, are you alright?"

Yu Moyan struggled to his feet, the excruciating pain in his chest causing his breath to be tinged with blood. He waved his hand weakly, saying, "It's nothing... let's find a place to rest."

Supporting each other, the two limped into a relatively intact abandoned house nearby. The house was dusty and cobweb-filled, dark and damp, with rain dripping in through the broken windows and pattering on the floor. But for now, it was the safest shelter they could find.

"System, sign in." Yu Moyan leaned against the cold wall and silently recited in his mind.

"Congratulations, host, on successfully signing in. You have received 5,000 Star Crowns and two bottles of low-level healing potions. The 5,000 Star Crowns have been automatically deducted. The host still owes 116 million Star Crowns." The system's voice carried a hint of schadenfreude. Yu Moyan vaguely felt that the system seemed to have gradually developed intelligence over this period of time, and was no longer the cold, mechanical voice it had initially been.

Hearing that there was medicine available, Yu Moyan breathed a sigh of relief. The monster's punch had not only broken several of his ribs, but the corrosive liquid had also penetrated deep into his muscles. Without medical treatment, he probably wouldn't have lasted much longer.

He raised his hand, and two crystal-clear bottles of healing medicine appeared in his palm, emitting a faint fragrance. Yu Moyan handed one of the bottles to Jiang Duyue: "Duyue, drink this, and your injuries will heal quickly."

Jiang Duyue didn't hesitate at all, took the medicine bottle, tilted her head back, and drank it all in one gulp. As the medicine entered her throat, a warm and soothing power instantly swept through her entire body, nourishing her damaged meridians and flesh. Yu Moyan also drank from another bottle, and the same warm and soothing power flowed through her body. The excruciating pain in her chest quickly subsided, her broken ribs slowly healed, and her corroded muscle tissue repaired at a visible speed.

In a short while, their injuries were completely healed. Jiang Duyue's bloody and mangled hand was restored to its original state, without even a scar; the redness and ulceration on Yu Moyan's chest also completely disappeared, and his breathing became steady again.

"Duyue, bring the star core over. This thing can help us cultivate," Yu Moyan said.

Jiang Duyue immediately handed over the star core in her hand. The star core still emitted a pale silver glow, containing pure and abundant star essence, which appeared particularly dazzling in the dim room.

"System, how do I use this star core?" Yu Moyan asked.

"Host, simply sit cross-legged, draw upon the star power, and absorb the star essence within."

Yu Moyan nodded, sat cross-legged on the ground, formed hand seals, and began to absorb the pure star essence from the star core, drawing upon the star power within his body. A pale silver light overflowed from the star core, seeping into his body through his pores, merging and refining with his own star power.

An hour later, Yu Moyan's body shone brightly, his aura suddenly surged, and he successfully broke through to the second level of the Spirit Realm! He opened his eyes, a hint of joy flashing in them, and looked at the star core in his hand, which had shrunk by one-third, with most of its star essence consumed.

Yu Moyan handed the star core to Jiang Duyue: "Take it, sit cross-legged, and absorb the remaining star essence."

Jiang Duyue did as instructed, sitting cross-legged, grasping the star core, and beginning to absorb star essence. A pale silver mist swirled around him, much denser than when Yu Moyan circulated it, clearly indicating that his Sacred Body Technique had a stronger affinity for star essence.

Two hours later, the star essence within the star core was completely absorbed, turning into a speck of ash and dissipating. Jiang Duyue's body shone brightly with starlight, and his aura surged, directly breaking through to the third level of the Spirit Illumination Realm!

He opened his eyes, which were filled with surprise and excitement.

Yu Moyan looked at him, feigning envy as she shook her head: "No way, you've progressed too fast, you're already a level above me in the blink of an eye?"

"Brother Yu, it was pure luck." Jiang Duyue's lips curled up, unable to hide his pride. His youthful spirit was especially precious in this desolate and ruined city.

Yu Moyan smiled, but he knew in his heart that this battle was nothing like the exhilarating and triumphant victory depicted in novels. They were in a sorry state, nearly losing their lives. If it weren't for the system pointing out their weaknesses and the healing medicine, they would have already become food for the monsters. The danger of this ruined city was far more terrifying than he had imagined.

He looked out the window; the rain was still falling obliquely, incessantly. "Togetsu, this rain has been going on for a week now, hasn't it?"

Jiang Duyue nodded, her expression also becoming solemn: "That's right, ever since Cang Yuanmi descended and the disaster broke out, it has never stopped."

Yu Moyan fell into deep thought, his unease growing stronger. He asked himself again, "System, what's going on with this rain? Why is it so continuous?"

"Host, this is the domain power of Half-Heavenly Remains - Cang Yuan Mi. Its presence here has caused strange phenomena in the world. Moreover, the sea level is slowly rising, the land area is constantly shrinking, and the living space left for mankind is becoming less and less."

Yu Moyan fell silent. The vast abyss, the dwindling population, the rising sea levels, the ubiquitous monsters… this planet was on the verge of collapse. He knew clearly that if he couldn't quickly improve his strength and gain a foothold in this inferno, he would sooner or later become just another rotting corpse in this ruined city.

He rubbed his temples wearily, looked at Jiang Duyue, and said in a tired voice, "Duyue, let's rest first, get some rest, and continue our exploration tomorrow."

"Okay, Brother Yu!" Jiang Duyue's eyes still sparkled with excitement, full of anticipation for tomorrow's exploration.

In the dimly lit room, the two leaned against the wall and gradually fell asleep. Outside the window, the night rain continued, still telling the story of the despair and sorrow of this ruined city, while their journey had only just begun.