An infinite journey starting from paradise

The monster before him was indeed very similar to a certain behemoth from the Summoner's Rift, with the same stone body and the same head on its chest, but it had no facial features, only three huge eyes that looked like sensors.

【Name: Rock Guardian】

[Quality: Technological creation? Standard craftsmanship? Ordinary quality]

[Condition: Damaged joints, damaged core, insufficient energy]

【Producer: Jade Empire Industrial Department】

[Note: A defensive robot produced by the underground nation of the Jade Empire, it was tasked with guarding the empire's borders. Even though the Jade Empire has collapsed and vanished, forgotten in the depths of the earth, it still persists in its duties according to its programming.]

"The Jade Empire? A kingdom of underground people? Sure enough, since they've incorporated all the elements from the Sword Hero Legend, they're all going to appear. But why is it already destroyed?"

Lin Shangren put on the [Bruce Hearn's Mask], listened to the sharp explosions constantly emitted by the Rock Guards, and quickly learned the language of the underground people.

The Rock Guardians simply shouted phrases like "Intruder spotted" and "Requesting reinforcements." What truly amazed the Linshang people was its internal structure. It was completely different from the sophisticated machinery created by humans in the scientific world, and also different from the golems created by magicians on the continent of Midgard. It was a kind of "technology" that the Linshang people had never seen before.

"Instead of using electromagnetic force, isn't it directly utilizing heat energy? But this rock-like material has such excellent thermal conductivity, the energy loss should be huge... or perhaps, it doesn't need to consider heat loss at all."

Lin Shangren surveyed his surroundings. While the stone walls resembled karst landforms, the cave walls were primarily composed of limestone, with basalt being the most common. The floor also contained numerous dark gullies. It was conceivable that these cavities were once filled with rivers of lava. These thermally powered robots could readily draw energy from their surroundings.

"It seems the underground people are a species that can withstand high temperatures... Could they be so-called silicon-based creatures? No... While the temperature is high enough, there's basically no oxygen here, so there's probably no way they can inhale oxygen and exhale gaseous silica... Well, organisms don't necessarily rely on oxidation reactions to survive anyway. I must have encountered a similar species during the Great Galactic Crusade within Mrs. Evelia."

Lin Shangren tried to call upon the temporarily sealed memories and knowledge he had obtained in the Euphoria universe.

"I've roughly figured out the mechanism, and it's a type of machine that can only function properly in a high-temperature environment. Even so, its technological level is still far superior to that of humans in this world... Well... not necessarily. The human side also has monstrous scientists like Professor Agasa.

The problem is, at this temperature, even if it's fully charged, it'll naturally dissipate within two hours, not to mention the heat it consumes when moving. How could it possibly have the energy to move even now? Is someone charging it?"

While thinking, Lin Shangren used the black shadow to reversely modify the energy circuit inside the Rock Guardian, and used the Igni Seal and the Thunder God Pearl to inject high temperature into his energy core, and then released it.

The Rock Guard's program instructions were changed from "fight to the death" to "escape and seek help", so this stone robot that looked like Malphite "voluntarily" became the guide.

"Keep up with it."

"Ah."

The three followed the rock guard into the depths of the cave.

Although Lin Shangren can quickly perceive the overall picture of the entire underground network through shadow touch, the road conditions here are very complicated and winding, so having someone to lead the way will naturally make things more efficient.

After a while, Lin Shangren and his party followed it into a huge and empty cave. Inside the cave, there was a sentry-post-like building and a huge, tightly closed gate that was twenty meters high. It was obvious that this was the entrance to the so-called Emerald Empire.

Looking at the situation in the cave, Gloria behind Lin Shangren suddenly said, "It should be very hot in here, right?"

Gloria's body was covered by the shadow created by Lin Shangren and was trapped in the warm and comfortable dark space. Naturally, she could not feel the temperature of the surrounding environment. However, as long as she saw the huge door with lava flowing here and the dark red magma flowing around, she could tell that the temperature here was definitely not low.

"It's okay, around 60 degrees. It's far from the real asthenosphere," Lin Shangren replied. "But it solves a problem for a while. The Rock Guard operates in cruise mode and can return here to recharge once an hour or so. But the question is, why is there still lava flowing here at the entrance, while the other side of the gate is cold and silent?"

Lin Shangren used his shadow touch to sense the situation within the so-called Emerald Empire beyond the gate. While the ten-kilometer radius of shadows couldn't possibly cover the entire underground kingdom, it confirmed the current state of the area near the entrance—deserted, silent, and cold. Everywhere were dilapidated mushroom-shaped and pyramid-shaped buildings, but no trace of life.

"Why did the Mother Goddess want to inject such powerful energy here? And how did this underground nation perish?"

While thinking, Lin Shangren extended his shadow towards the pyramid-shaped building that looked like a sentry post not far away. Lava was still flowing down from the top of the pyramid. Perhaps there were survivors of the underground people inside.

"There's no living thing on the first floor. Is this a warehouse? It's full of box-like things. Second floor... third floor..."

Just as Lin Shangren was investigating the situation inside the pyramid outpost from a distance, the Rock Guard robot had already entered the pyramid. Shortly after the Rock Guard entered the pyramid, unusual movements occurred on the top floor of the pyramid.

Because the Linshang people changed the rock guard's program from fighting to the death to escaping for help, after it entered the pyramid outpost, it awakened the defense system.

The pyramid's tip unfolded, and boiling lava surged out. And within the lava, four figures emerged. Four figures in the shape of young girls.

"Owner!"

Seeing the enemy appear, Edna and Gloria were on alert again, while Lin Shangren looked at the four "girls" standing on the top of the unfolded pyramid with interest.

"Don't tell me that underground people actually look like humans, and they even have a bad taste for making mechanical soldiers look like beautiful girls."

Lin Shangren's eyes were fixed on one of the short-haired girls who took off her cloak and hood. Looking at her face that looked very similar to Ayumi Yoshida from the Young Suicide Band, Lin Shangren was sure that she must be a character from the original "Sword Hero Legend" and should be the new character who appeared in the unbroadcast underground chapter of the animation version.

[Name: Imperial Guard Defense Warrior, Codename Lanna (Emerald)]

[Quality: Technological creation? Master craftsmanship? Legendary quality]

[Status: Combat mode is on, sufficient energy]

【Producer: Jade Empire Industrial Department】

[Note: A bionic mechanical warrior responsible for guarding the Jade Empire, specialized in defense, with the ability to create energy shields and rapidly repair itself.]

"A bionic robot?"

As the robot girl codenamed Lana took off her hood, the other three girls did the same. Beneath the hoods, their faces were surprisingly identical, the only difference being the hairpins holding up their short hair by their ears, each inlaid with a different gemstone.

Lana's hair ornaments were inlaid with emeralds, while the other three's were inlaid with rubies, sapphires, and diamonds respectively.

"Hey, mass-produced models like the GM and Gilai have armor distinctions for different features. You're using a hair accessory as a distinction. Isn't that a bit sloppy?"

The four mechanical girls, who only knew how to execute program commands, naturally had no way of responding to Lin Shangren's complaints. After the pyramid tip was fully deployed, they instantly rushed towards Lin Shangren.

Chapter 425: Review

While the four mechanical girls looked identical, their capabilities varied. The leading girl, codenamed Lana, specialized in defense. As she charged towards Lin Shangren, green energy emanated from her body, enveloping the four men in a protective shield.

Walking side by side with her, the girl codenamed Lina, wearing a ruby ​​hair ornament, is a warrior of "force", with a strong energy flow and the strongest output.

"Shield" and "Force" fought in the front naturally in order to test the strength of Lin Shangren and his party first, so that the two people in the back could analyze their intelligence.

Among them, the girl wearing a diamond hair accessory is code-named Mona. She has the strongest computing power in her imagination and can analyze enemy data and battlefield conditions. She can also analyze and predict the enemy's next move like a low-profile, simple, rough version of Laplace's demon.

The girl wearing the sapphire hair accessory is code-named Anna. She is called a "skill" warrior and has a special analysis module built in that can replicate and imitate local abilities. She can be called a low-profile ninja who steals jokes.

They were slightly behind, their eye sensors keeping a close eye on Lin Shangren and the other two, ready to provide support to Lana and Lina at any time.

Such a four-man team would definitely be a formidable, even terrifying, challenge to opponents of similar strength, but it was no match for Lin Shangren and the witches.

Without any extra movements, Lin Shangren simply used the Thunder God Pearl in his palm to control the electric current in their bodies, causing the four people who came with great momentum to short-circuit in mid-air and fall directly to the ground.

Edna and Gloria weren't surprised to see the four mechanical girls falling to the ground one after another. After all, they knew their men were incredibly strong. However, Fululu raised a questioning sound in Lin Shangren's mind.

[Huh? This isn't right? Why are the butt and the little girl so bouncy? It's already weird enough that a combat weapon is designed to look like a girl. Is it really necessary to recreate the little girl's details? The little tip is quite pink.]

"Not only are they small and sharp, but they're also very lifelike." Lin Shangren said as he withdrew his shadow touch from the four short-circuited mechanical girls.

[lifelike?]

"It's quite real. It has hair and membranes, and four different types of housing. There's even a complete reproductive system inside." Lin Shangren replied.

[Hiss~ A sex doll transformed into a weapon girl? This setting really gives off a strong sense of déjà vu... Is this another trap from that Mother Goddess? They led you here, and then placed four little slaves here for you to play with. Is there actually a drug hidden in their vagina?]

"Probably not. She doesn't need to do it to this extent. Compared to her, I think it's more like 'me' or 'this universe' did it." Lin Shangren thought.

The scene during his first simulated dream and the silver ring that had always protected Jian Qiming proved that Lin Shangren, "at some point in the future," was somehow helping his "present self." To prevent any temporal paradoxes or adverse chain reactions, Lin Shangren simply noted the incident and didn't delve into it. When the time came, he would naturally know what to do.

"It's not 'me' who did it..."

Judging from the awkward chain reaction that occurred when the simulated dream world was first used to pull Bei Yejianzhen into the dream world, "Future Lin Shangren's" ability to interfere with the present is very limited, and its influence is also very limited. Therefore, Lin Shangren is more suspicious of these four girls than himself. They are the work of "this universe".

When Lin Shangren visited Koizumi Hongzi the day before, he didn't get to meet the so-called evil god Lucifer as he wished, but he still got an important message from Koizumi Hongzi: "The world is trying to please him, the world is fawning over him."

"Beauty, wealth, treasures... everything will come to you, just to satisfy you." Koizumi Hongzi said, "Even I will be treated as a gift and become your plaything... Haha, this is only natural. After all, I am the most beautiful and charming woman in the world. Oh, oh, oh, oh~"

Excluding Koizumi Hongzi's narcissistic statements, her words revealed two important pieces of information. First, this universe also has a cosmic will similar to Evelia in the Euphoria universe. Second, the cosmic consciousness wants to please Lin Shangren.

Lin Shangren did ask Koizumi Hongzi about cosmic consciousness, but she herself knew very little about it. She only said that the evil god Lucifer mentioned that the world was "afraid."

Was it afraid of Lin Shangren, so it wanted to show its goodwill to him, asking him not to destroy the universe? Or was it afraid of something else, so it wanted to please Lin Shangren and ask him to help it?

Lin Shangren believed it was the latter. And today, after being attacked by the Mother Goddess, who was suspected to be his first experience with Hou Rong, Lin Shangren was even more convinced of this.

He recounted the Mother Goddess's plan. First, in the world of the Dark Bible, she had him learn the Curse of Corruption and the magic of the Dark Bible through Slaanesh, and then heralded his soul's transformation from pure blue psychic energy to pink. Then, in the world of the Maggot Bait, she had him infected with evil thoughts, causing the abstract evil side of his humanity to run rampant. Although Lin Shangren ultimately regained control, he still absorbed the witches' power, transforming from a purely human clown into a demonic being.

After the witches' psychic energy merged with Slaanesh's psychic energy, when Lin Shangren transformed into a demon, he was able to produce this thick fog that covered everything. This was also one of the foundations for the success of the Mother Goddess' plan.

The world of science is by far the one she has most influenced and the one she has most far-reachingly planned. She spread the red pebble "Seed of Desire" into this world, interfering with and overwriting its course. She then used Hayashi Naoto's severed arm, Kuroya Naori, Shirasaki Mizan, and Tokita Misaki to shape this world into its current state, which is both familiar and unfamiliar to Hayashi Naoto.

"She set this trap two thousand years ago. Only to descend into this world with her own consciousness at this very moment and personally push me into the pit she dug."

Lin Shangren recalled the scene today when the Mother Goddess wrapped herself around him through Mousse's body, squeezing him and mocking him constantly.

"She mocked me for being hypocritical and hypocritical... She wanted me to... abandon my humanity. Perhaps her primary goal was to taunt me face to face. Using the powder mist emanating from my body to create a silver ball and use the energy generated to activate something in this dungeon was a secondary goal."

Regardless, judging by the intelligence Lin Shangren currently possessed, the Mother Goddess or Hou Rong's schemes spanned multiple universes, and she herself was at least a multiverse-level being. It was simply that, temporarily limited by some reason, she couldn't take direct action. She could only intervene indirectly and cultivate her lackeys.

"Slaanesh in the world of Dark Bible, that eccentric nun who can travel between two worlds... and the continent of Midgard, the catastrophe in that world might also be related to her. Such a mysterious and unpredictable villain of multiverse proportions, it's only natural that the world would fear her.

As for her purpose, maybe it's the same as Ego, the father of Star-Lord in the movie, who wants to infect the universe and then annex it.

So, in order to survive, this universe instinctively sought help from me, an "outsider." Unlike Mrs. Evelya, who possessed a complete sense of autonomy, it could only win my favor by offering me beautiful women and treasures of opportunity.

The fact that they happened to meet and rescue Eri and Reiko that day must have been its doing."

Although it was a romantic encounter arranged by the cosmic consciousness, Lin Shangren was not annoyed about it. After all, their feelings for him and his feelings for them were sincere.

[Hehe, what if it was that Mother Goddess again? She must have other traps and tricks up her sleeve, maybe even buried right next to you.]

"No," Lin Shangren answered firmly. "No. Now it seems that the two of them have nothing to do with her schemes against me. I still tend to believe that most of my romantic encounters in this world and the treasures like the Water God Pearl I obtained were gifts from this universe."

[Why do you say that?]

Fululu was a little confused.

"If they simply wanted to guide me to the Okinawa Islands, they would have only needed Taira Ie. There was no need for the Water God Pearl. Imagine if I didn't have the Water God Pearl today, and if I didn't send that rain in time, even if I pulled the nearby residents into the simulated dream in time, the pink smoke would still spread like a biochemical virus. My power is limited, but as long as the simulated dream ends, everything will proceed according to her plan.

"But these two crucial beads, the Water God Pearl and the Thunder God Pearl, landed in my hands as if they were given to me for free, very deliberately. It's clear that this is the cosmic consciousness rebelling against the Mother Goddess," Lin Shangren explained to Fululu.

"Would you like to make a bet with me, Fururu? The consciousness of the Scientific Universe gave me more than just these thank-you gifts. Besides these four little mechanical lolis, there are other things here."

[Who's betting with you? You must have sensed something with Shadow Touch, so you're saying that.]

"Ha, that's pretty clever."

As he spoke, Lin Shangren took the four mechanical girls who had short-circuited and were unconscious into the dark shadow space, and then teleported with Edna and Gloria to the pyramid-shaped outpost.

On the fourth floor of the pyramid outpost, in a room filled with red light and with a temperature of nearly a thousand degrees, Lin Shangren and his party saw the body of the last survivor of the underground people.

He resembled a human, except for his gray-green skin, which resembled reptile scales, though they were quite dense. He also had organs on his back that resembled a tortoise shell. One of his legs was broken, and he wore a special alloy cane under his armpit. The markings on his body indicated that he was the commander of the Jade Empire's security department.

The underground commander's corpse was clutching a square object made of rock. It resembled a tablet, but lacked the familiar LCD screen. However, the human tech tree didn't include a tool designed to operate normally in temperatures approaching 1,000 degrees Celsius.

Lin Shangren picked up the "stone tablet" from the corpse's arms and fiddled with it for a few times in the shadows, but he didn't know how to use it. So he had to put it away for the time being.

Then his eyes fell on a translucent device similar to a petri dish placed in the center of the room. In the petri dish was placed the heat source that supported the normal operation of this outpost.

"Look. I said my analysis was correct."

While talking to Fululu, Lin Shangren used shadow touch to take out the fiery red bead with the word "fire" written on it from the petri dish.

"Fire Bead, get da ze!"

Chapter 426: Pagoda Meat Made from an Entire Race

Controlling fire is one of the most common abilities in fantasy fiction. Its power ranges from "burning the heavens and recreating the world" to "only being able to light a cigarette." Its versatility extends from simple high-temperature flames to a variety of properties, including cold fire, poisonous fire, and soul fire.

But from a physics perspective, flame is just the hot, glowing gasified part of an object when it burns. It is a common phenomenon that occurs when small solid particles mixed with gas release energy during combustion.

The ability of the Fire Orb is to control the "flame combustion phenomenon" in the physical sense: to ignite something, to make something burn and release heat, and to control the trajectory of the burning flame.

This ability may not sound very powerful, but its development ceiling is quite high.

However, compared to testing the ability of the Fire Pearl, Lin Shangren was more curious about the reason why it appeared in this underground urban outpost.

"From what we've seen so far, the underground people are a race that relies on the heat of magma to survive. For some reason, the magma in this city has completely cooled. Did the underground people become extinct? Or did they move somewhere else? And this guy is surviving here, relying on the heat emitted by the Flame Orb."

Lin Shangren looked at the corpse on the ground and scanned everything in the room.

Because the underground people's living environment is completely different from the surface world, they have developed a technological system completely different from humans. Even though Lin Shangren has understood the underground people's language and has basically analyzed the mechanisms and operating principles of the rock guards and the four mechanical girls, he still has no idea what the purpose of the incomprehensible equipment in the room is.

"Try using Laplace's Demon? Forget it. Today's energy consumption is too high. Let's find some key clues in that city before using it."

While thinking, Lin Shangren put everything in the room, including the corpse, into the dark shadow space, and then prepared to take Edna and Gloria into the underground city behind the gate.

The underground city lay within a hollow cavity within the asthenosphere, isolated from the outside world. Sunlight could never penetrate it, and the lava rivers within had long since cooled into obsidian. Even the luminous minerals in the outer corridors were gone. The entire city was shrouded in absolute darkness.

In such an environment, Lin Shangren, who can control the darkness, is the absolute master. He can perceive all the details of everything shrouded in darkness.

But out of his habit as a "human" and to take Edna and Gloria's feelings into consideration, Lin Shangren used the power of the Flame Pearl to create a huge fireball in front of his hair for lighting.

Following the fireball's glow, Lin Shangren and his group passed through the gate and entered the narrow tunnel leading to the city. The tunnel walls were made of smooth basalt, as if polished by something, gleaming with a faint, dark red sheen. The latticework within them revealed the pipes that once carried molten lava and heat.

Lin Shangren attempted to use the power of the Flame Orb to reignite the magma in the pipe, which had already cooled to basalt. As the energy from the Flame Orb was injected, the grid on the wall began to pulsate like blood vessels. However, the magma within the pipe, having "ignited," quickly cooled again. Lin Shangren suddenly felt a pang of pain in his balls—something was rapidly draining the energy from the Flame Orb, even directly absorbing a significant amount of his energy through it.

He quickly withdrew the power of the Flame Orb from the tunnel wall and reached out to touch the rock wall a few more times. The moment Lin Shangren's palm touched the rock wall, the materialized black shadow in his palm was also absorbed into the rock wall in the form of pure energy.

Lin Shangren quickly warned Edna and Gloria, "Be careful. It's best not to touch the wall directly with your hands."

"Ah."