CHAPTER 136: CHAPTER 131: SO PITIFUL

In the deep underground cave, the temperature was very low, roughly four or five degrees.

Such a low-temperature environment was not suitable for biological survival. The tunnel also appeared very clean, devoid of any peculiar little bugs.

The intricate tunnel system resembled an underground maze, without any markers. The intense electromagnetic interference rendered all detection and scanning equipment useless.

Yet none of these could block Gao Xuan’s Spiritual Power. Even with strong interference, he could always find the correct path.

After walking along the tunnel for two hours, descending dozens of kilometers underground, Gao Xuan arrived at an incredibly spacious cavity.

The enormous cavern was as large as dozens of stadiums, with the dome above reaching over a thousand meters high. The air was filled with fine silver light, illuminating the gigantic space brightly.

Spacious and bright, that’s the most immediate feeling the cavern gave.

After walking in the narrow, dark, and cold underground passageway for two hours, arriving at the giant cavern suddenly felt like returning to the surface for Gao Xuan.

Moreover, the temperature here was about thirty degrees, and the humidity was quite high. One could distinctly feel the humid heat.

These weren’t particularly special, what truly caught Gao Xuan’s attention were the black insect eggs covering the ground.

The well-leveled ground was neatly lined with tens of thousands of black insect eggs.

These insect eggs were over a meter high, their black shells somewhat resembling semi-transparent eggshells, both hard and translucent.

Through the shells, one could vaguely see the insect race inside, all Quick Blade Mantises.

Amidst the neatly arranged insect eggs, there was a small stone platform, where a man in black sat, with eyes closed and posture stiff like a corpse.

Behind the man in black was a large black round mirror. Various strange lights flickered on the mirror, looking like a screensaver display.

Gao Xuan could sense a peculiar and powerful Source Power on the round mirror. This round mirror was obviously a passage left by Negative Space in Positive Space, or a gateway.

The energy balance between Negative and Positive Space made this spatial passage appear very stable, smooth as a mirror.

"It’s really a Negative Space passage, you’re going to get rich."

Nuwa projected onto Gao Xuan’s retina; she could share Gao Xuan’s senses and sense the surrounding environment through Gao Xuan’s smart wristwatch.

Of course, there was no electromagnetic signal here. Nuwa was just a standalone electronic spirit. Only when reconnected to the network could she retrieve the avatar’s data records.

Gao Xuan said, "Just for this Negative Space passage, I should get at least tens of thousands of points, right?"

"No way."

Even though Nuwa was just a clone, her personality settings and basic data logic were the same.

She said, "A stable and reliable Negative Space passage is worth two thousand points. If the passage leads to a valuable Negative Space, the point value could double. If you discover a passage leading to another planet, then you could get ten thousand points..."

Negative Space is a very special space, a pure energy world, vastly different from the Material World.

Entering Negative Space, there might be nothing, just endless negative energy.

This is quite normal. Negative Space is also a vast universe. Encountering nothing when entering a random passage is actually standard.

Only those stable energy life aggregation areas are more valuable.

Negative Space and Positive Space have countless channels. Entering Negative Space from this passage and then finding another channel into Positive Space can achieve spatial crossing, even crossing star systems.

If the two passages connect livable planets, the value is even greater.

Completing space jumps through Negative Space is the fastest known way to traverse space. Even though this mode of transportation has many dangers, it still holds immense value.

Of course, it’s best to find powerful energy life, the so-called divine beings, then the points would be even higher.

However, with Gao Xuan’s small stature, encountering a deity from Negative Space would be certain death. Even if he earned those points, he’d have no life to spend them.

After Nuwa’s introduction, Gao Xuan excitedly said, "With so many points, it’s worth going in to try."

Nuwa warned, "Negative Space has countless dangers, your life is valuable, don’t take risks lightly."

"Fortune comes from danger!"

Gao Xuan responded using the words Nuwa just said.

He actually had a plan. With the Six-winged Celestial Cicada’s early warning, he could ascertain the danger level on the other side; if it was truly dangerous, he wouldn’t go in.

Nuwa said, "I think this man in black is alive, you’d better think about dealing with him."

Nuwa couldn’t sense the Source Power either, nor could she determine whether the man in black was alive or dead. But seeing so many insect eggs, she knew this man in black was alive.

"Doesn’t matter, the living will soon become the dead."

Gao Xuan suddenly raised his voice and said, "Brother, how do you address yourself?"

His voice wasn’t loud, but it had immense penetration power.

The black-clad man, seemingly startled awake by Gao Xuan, slowly raised his head, moving stiffly like a puppet, not at all like a living person.

The eyes of the man in black were two clusters of crimson flames, like a ghost.

He didn’t speak but instead transmitted a clear message through a powerful spiritual wave: "Human, submit to me, and I will grant you power and immortality."

"Still trying to fool people, seems you’ve got some brains."

Gao Xuan curiously asked, "What exactly are you?"

The energy lives in Negative Space are strange and varied; humans still don’t know much about them, only having regular interactions with some races.

Although Gao Xuan had the experience of two lifetimes, his knowledge of Negative Space was still limited. He couldn’t figure out what the thing in front of him was.

Though the entity appeared human, it definitely wasn’t. Humans couldn’t manifest energy in their bodies like that. It was clearly an energy being.

"I am the Black Horned God. An omnipotent divine,"

Before the black-cloaked figure could finish speaking, Gao Xuan interrupted, "Oh, give me a break. If something like you is a god, then a dung beetle is a Divine Dragon!"

Gao Xuan said, "You energy beings, could you get a clue? Don’t you know your own level?"

Gao Xuan wasn’t just speaking; he used his powerful Spiritual Power to directly strike the opponent.

The Spiritual Power of the black-cloaked figure wasn’t bad, but it was nothing compared to the monstrous power of Gao Xuan.

Under Gao Xuan’s mighty Spiritual Power, the black-cloaked figure’s body began to undulate, as if it might disintegrate and shatter at any moment.

"Impudent!"

The Black Horned God was furious. He had dealt with some humans before, absorbing their consciousness and memories, and thus had developed significant emotions.

The flames in the eyes of the Black Horned God flared up suddenly, ready to unleash Spiritual Power.

But Gao Xuan was faster. He shouted sternly, "Impudent."

His Spiritual Power turned into a sharp, unrivaled Sword Intent, striking directly at the Black Horned God.

Pegasus Star, although it limited Source Power, prevented the Sword Intent from having much substantial power.

Yet for the energy being Black Horned God, the Sword Intent was exceptionally effective.

Gao Xuan’s Aurora Sword Intent was even more sharp and acute, with mystical variations. It couldn’t be compared to the instinctive application of Spiritual Power by the Black Horned God, not to mention the fundamental massive gap in Spiritual Power between the two.

With a low shout, Gao Xuan blasted the Black Horned God into a dissipating cloud of black smoke.

Wisps of black smoke twisted and struggled but never managed to coalesce again.

The core of an energy being is the Spirit Core. With the Spirit Core shattered, the energy being is finished.

Nuwa was a bit amazed, "This Black Horned God was too weak. Did he die just like that?"

Without a database and unable to connect to the Heart of Data, she couldn’t accurately assess the Black Horned God.

Judging by the Black Horned God’s performance, he indeed seemed too weak. He actually got scared to death by just one word from Gao Xuan.

"It’s not that he was weak, but that I’m too strong."

Gao Xuan was smug, then added another explanation, "Besides, he’s not completely dead yet."

As Gao Xuan spoke, he turned around, not knowing when a giant silver mantis over four meters long appeared behind him.

This mantis was entirely shrouded in silver light, with a slender body and six exceptionally robust legs, its large compound eyes shining with a strange light.

The massive size of the mantis always gives a huge sense of oppression. The overall silver glow adds an indescribable mystery to the giant mantis.

Undoubtedly, this giant mantis was quite formidable.

Gao Xuan was slightly surprised, "I’ve never seen such a disgraceful god, choosing a bug as its body."

Energy beings have an unusual desire for material bodies, so it’s normal for the Black Horned God to choose a material being to inhabit. But opting for a mantis as its body was simply low beyond measure.

It’s known that the Quick Blade Mantis is a low-tier soldier within the Insect Race, holding a very low status, completely a cannon fodder level expendable.

The form of the Quick Blade Mantis is destined to be only suitable for combat, incapable of handling any other complex and precise tasks.

However, this Black Horned God probably didn’t have any better choice.

"You’re doomed."

The Black Horned God’s spiritual fluctuations grew more intense, indicating his emotions were highly unstable.

His intense spiritual fluctuations also summoned dozens of giant mantises.

Most of these mantises had bodies with silver spots, clearly a very special breed.

"The situation looks a bit grim."

Nuwa assessed the combat strength, not feeling optimistic about Gao Xuan’s chances.

If it were just a few Quick Blade Mantises, there’d be no threat. Dozens of Quick Blade Mantises, however, posed a significant danger.

Moreover, the opponent was an energy being. As long as the core remained intact, it could continuously switch bodies.

Gao Xuan, however, was indifferent, "How many subordinates do you have? Call them all out."

The Black Horned God’s spiritual fluctuations intensified more, and the unearthed insect eggs on the ground began to crack, with each black Quick Blade Mantis crawling out.

These mantises had very soft bodies initially, but once in contact with air, they immediately became hard and full of texture.

In just a few dozen seconds, over a thousand mantises had hatched.

The dense mass of mantises formed multiple layers, surrounding Gao Xuan, making him appear exceptionally small, lonely, and helpless.

In Nuwa’s view, Gao Xuan had little chance of escape. Even if he took out the insects one by one with his sword, he would have his Source Power drained dry.

With Gao Xuan’s good looks, he’d soon be torn and devoured by a swarm of insects.

Nuwa couldn’t help but sigh, "Gao Xuan, how pitiful you are..."