Chapter 58: Divinity Consciousness

Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Divinity Consciousness

Chen Shang crouched down to examine the giant python’s condition.

The creature had a powerful body, but its mind was complete mush. It had basically lost any independent consciousness—clearly, this was the price to be paid.

"Keep digging."

The Ben Bo’Erbas continued to dig downward. Suddenly, the ground trembled as if something was pushing up from below.

The soil churned, and countless bizarre creatures surged up from the ground.

There were giant pythons, centipedes, scorpions, and even earthworms. Without exception, they were vastly larger than their natural sizes, their minds reduced to mush. They charged recklessly at the Huluwas.

"Tsk, tsk. To think I’d get to witness a classic showdown of the Huluwas battling the Snake and Scorpion Demons here."

Chen Shang then issued a command, "Everyone, fall back!"

The Warriors immediately retreated, and the Ben Bo’Erbas formed a defensive line in front of him. The Huluwas fell back to his sides.

Chen Shang pulled Natural Fury from his Space Book. Gripping the Magic Staff tightly, he channeled his Spiritual Power into its fourth Energy Circuit.

"Forest Fury!"

The Gemstone at the top of the Magic Staff flashed, shooting out countless beams of light like a shower of arrows.

As the light hit the ground, the soil, rocks, and dead wood all cracked open. Thick vines whipped out from within, growing wildly at a visible rate.

The creatures, corroded by Divine Power, were entangled by the vines. The plant life dug deep into their flesh and bones, then sprouted out from their mouths and even their internal organs.

In just a few breaths, the area in front of him transformed into a sea of plants. However, this ocean of flora impaled every single creature, making for an incredibly eerie sight.

Chen Shang lowered his Magic Staff, and without his Magic Power to sustain it, the forest rapidly collapsed.

After clearing away the corpses, the Ben Bo’Erbas resumed their excavation. Fifteen minutes later, they completely pierced through the soil layer, revealing a deep, dark opening.

A gust of damp wind blew out from the hole, carrying a rich scent of Divine Power.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Shang ordered the Ben Bo’Erbas to go down first and scout the way.

He waited for fifteen minutes. Hearing no unusual sounds and feeling no loss of Warriors through their Spirit Link, he finally jumped down as well.

He plummeted for over ten seconds before landing. The wind howled past his ears, and darkness surged from all directions.

This subterranean space was much emptier than he had anticipated. The vaulted ceiling was high, and the dense presence of Divine Power made it extremely difficult for him to project his Spiritual Power.

White crystals lay scattered across the uneven ground. Chen Shang picked one up to examine it closely; it appeared to have once been saturated with Divine Power but had since shattered into dregs.

"Only high temperature and immense pressure, combined with the aura of Divine Power, can produce this kind of crystal," he noted.

"What do you mean?" the Golden Crow poked its head out.

"I mean this underground cavern wasn’t formed naturally. Long ago, a Divine Country Fragment crashed here alongside flames and a Star Fall, forcibly smashing this space into existence."

Chen Shang began to explore forward while the Ben Bo’Erbas scattered around to scout.

There were still some grotesque creatures lingering in the subterranean space, but since they didn’t bother Chen Shang, he couldn’t be bothered with them either.

"RUSTLE... RUSTLE..."

Not long into their advance, a rustling noise echoed from the darkness ahead, sounding like countless snakes slithering over sand.

The Golden Crow’s feathers puffed up as it shrank behind Chen Shang’s neck. "What is that?"

The sound grew closer and louder. It wasn’t just one creature; it was a swarm... or rather, a mass.

Countless slender, tentacle-like objects surged out of the darkness, dense and overwhelming.

They weren’t animals, but roots. Some were as fine as strands of hair, while others were as thick as arms. They writhed in the shadows, swarming toward Chen Shang from all sides.

Luna Xiya flew out from Chen Shang’s cloak, hovering in midair as she activated her racial talent.

Countless fine mycelial threads began to sprout from the ground, tangling with the dark brown roots.

The two masses of living matter rolled and tore at each other on the cavern floor, like endless pits of vipers biting and thrashing.

Siwa stepped forward and thrust both hands out. A column of crimson fire erupted from its palms, sweeping across the roots in a wide arc.

The roots charred in the flames, producing a fierce CRACKLE as they rapidly shrank back into the darkness like a receding tide.

The corruption here was much more severe, infecting not just the animals, but the plant life as well.

Chen Shang pressed on. After walking for about a hundred meters, the space ahead suddenly opened up.

A massive cavern presented itself. The vaulted ceiling was embedded with countless tiny, glowing Crystal Stones, emitting a light akin to fireflies.

This illumination cascaded down, highlighting a solitary object in the center of the hall.

It was a shattered throne.

Perhaps it had once been grand, but now it was fractured into countless pieces. The backrest and armrests were entirely gone. All that remained was the seat, split cleanly in half, and various small fragments scattered across the floor, half-covered by moss and vines.

Several bright green vines coiled around the remains of the throne—the very same ones that had just attacked Chen Shang.

Just as Chen Shang was about to step closer, a fluctuation of Spirit emanated from the direction of the throne.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

Chen Shang stopped in his tracks. He narrowed his eyes at the throne before him. There was actually an entity capable of communication down here?

He responded in kind, projecting his Spiritual Power. "I am an explorer. And who might you be, Your Excellency?"

The consciousness fell silent for a brief moment before an intense wave of pleasant surprise surged from its fluctuation of Spirit. "Excellent! Finally, an intelligent creature capable of communication stands before me! Could you do me a favor? I will reward you handsomely."

Chen Shang subtly took two steps back. He tucked his hands into his sleeves, secretly accumulating Energy. Siwa’s Flame Rune flickered briefly, while Da Wa’s root system also prepared to strike.

"Oh? What kind of favor?"

"I am a naturally born wisp of consciousness. I have been trapped here for a very long time—so long that I can no longer remember how much time has passed. I would like to ask you to take me away from this place."

Chen Shang’s eyes narrowed. "A natural consciousness? So, you’re trapped inside this throne?"

"Yes," the consciousness sighed.

"A long, long time ago, my consciousness was awakened by Divine Power, but as fate would have it, I became trapped inside this throne, unable to move.

"Various passing flora and fauna have been unknowingly absorbing my Power. If you can help me leave this place, I am willing to share all the mysteries of the throne with you."

"What mysteries does the throne hold?" Chen Shang asked aloud, sounding as though his interest had been piqued.

The consciousness immediately became eager. "The throne still holds a great deal of residual Divine Power. It can be used for a baptism that will completely reinvent your physical body, and it can even help you master Divine Arts."

Chen Shang suddenly laughed. "Would I also happen to gain a massive amount of memories, but with one tiny, little flaw... where I lose my own memories?"

The consciousness froze, and its fluctuation of Spirit abruptly ceased.

Chen Shang extended his left hand, and pale Blue Energy roared in his grasp. Siwa’s Flame Rune lit up in his palm, casting a dazzling crimson light throughout the dim subterranean space.

Meanwhile, Da Wa’s root system violently burst from the ground, having already sealed off the entity’s escape route.

"Idiot, your story has too many holes!"

In the very next moment, Chen Shang ruthlessly launched his attack.