Chapter 158: Chapter 150: Triggering the World-Clearing Quest

"Wait!"

Wang Yi felt he was on the verge of learning the core secret, maybe even how to clear this world. How could their conversation be interrupted now?

"So what if that Liu Nan is coming to kill us? I can have the Monkey King carry you and we can escape, right? Let’s keep talking!"

Mr. Jin gave a bitter smile and shook his head. "My ecological foundation is here. I cannot leave! The moment I do, the Source Body will erase me instantly."

"Then I’ll help you fight off Liu Nan, and we can keep this conversation going!"

As he spoke, Wang Yi walked to the window and looked down. Below was already a sea of fire. Countless Flaming Wood Knot Monsters were gathering in the valley, as if awaiting the order for an all-out assault.

And a bit further off, a colossal, burning monster resembling an Ancient Nine-headed Serpent was slowly approaching.

"That must be Liu Nan, right? Worthy of a King Level. Just look at its size—it’s on par with Godzilla!"

Wang Yi marveled for a moment, then pointed a hand to the sky and shouted, "Refining Mountains as Armor, Refining River into Soldiers! Suspended River Sword, Dark River Sword, appear at once! Get to work, unleash a flood, and drown these fire freaks!"

As he spoke, Ten Thousand Points of Chaos Energy were consumed. Two points of light flew from between Wang Yi’s eyebrows and swiftly transformed into two Small Swords—the Suspended River Sword and Dark River Sword he had obtained through River Refinement.

At Wang Yi’s command, the two swords plummeted into the valley. With two loud BOOMS, it was as if two springs had burst forth from the ground. Jets of water erupted, dousing the surrounding Flaming Wood Knot Monsters. Steam billowed up instantly, shrouding the area in a vast white mist.

Then, a series of RUMBLES echoed as some of the Wood Knot Monsters doused by the river water exploded violently.

Even those that didn’t explode immediately froze in place as soon as the flames on their bodies were extinguished by the water, as if they had lost all life.

The normally useless Flood Swords were now displaying their might, as if about to reenact the legendary flooding of the seven armies.

Far away, Xue Shentian was still leading his troops, searching for Transcendence Valley.

Suddenly, an Intelligence Scroll appeared before Xue Shentian.

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Intelligence Report 1: A great flood has erupted in Transcendence Valley, obstructing the advance of the Flaming Wood Knot Monster army.

Intelligence Report 2: A Player with the surname Wang is currently conversing with the golden story character, Mr. Jin.

---

’A flood? Why would there be a sudden flood? This Player with the surname Wang must be Wang Shanhe. He met a golden story character? Damn it, he snatched another opportunity!’

Frustrated, Xue Shentian shouted, "All troops, listen up! Pick up the pace, catch up to the Flaming Wood Knot Monster army, and seize this opportunity!"

The troops reacted with indifference, their horses trotting along at a leisurely pace.

「Back in Transcendence Valley」

Mr. Jin walked to the window. He was taken aback by the scene below.

Wang Yi said, "The five elements generate and overcome one another. Mr. Jin, what do you think of my flood-summoning move?"

Mr. Jin replied, "Truly worthy of a high-dimensional being. Your methods are Beyond Imagination. If you could summon a great, surging river and restore the eco-system here, Liu Nan should retreat."

Unsure if his two Flood Swords could generate enough water, Wang Yi said hurriedly, "Time is precious, Mr. Jin! Let’s continue!"

"Continue with what?"

"Our chat! Let’s talk about Liu Nan, about the eco-system, about the world, about all the information you’re unwilling to tell High-dimensional Descenders, and about this world’s ultimate secret!"

’As a golden story character, how could Mr. Jin not drop some bombshells fitting of his status?’ Wang Yi thought to himself.

Mr. Jin’s expression returned to an emotionless mask. He pointed below and said slowly, "The King Earth Deity, Liu Nan, controls three types of Eco-Warriors. The first type is the Flaming Tree Stumps down there. They are the lowest-level, weakest, prototype Eco-Warriors, but they are also the main force of Liu Nan’s eco-system. They can burrow out from underground, pull out their roots to become Flame Tree People, and expand the ecological territory. However, they can only survive for a maximum of three hours after being created, as they will burn to ashes and return to the earth by then."

"There is only combustion and destruction, no creation or cycle. A flawed eco-system—that is Liu Nan’s affliction. The more ferocious It becomes, the closer It gets to self-destruction!"

Mr. Jin then pointed to a Flaming Wood Knot Monster with a massive head. "That is a Flaming Ascetic. Strictly speaking, it’s a Wood Knot Monster, a type of Metamorphosis Body Eco-Warrior. It’s humanoid and possesses a huge head filled with Petroleum. They have stronger attack and defense than Flame Tree People, can spew fire from their mouths, and will self-destruct upon receiving fatal damage, burning out completely in 24 hours."

"Mr. Jin, don’t bother introducing these insignificant mobs. Please get to the point. Maybe you can tell me how to kill Liu Nan!"

But Mr. Jin, unhurried, pointed to another flaming monster below that resembled a giant, wooden-tentacled octopus. "The Fireline Shooter, also a Metamorphosis Body Eco-Warrior. It has propulsion abilities and can spray a continuous jet of fire up to 200 meters. Wherever its flames burn, Liu Nan’s ecological territory expands. But it too will burn out after 24 hours."

Wang Yi sighed. "Alright, you can continue."

Mr. Jin went on, "Because of me, Liu Nan’s eco-system is constantly withering and self-destructing, earning it the Source Body’s rejection. The Source Body will not continuously replenish Its Eco Energy. Theoretically, if you can drag Liu Nan into a battle of attrition and exhaust Its Eco-Power, It will self-destruct."

"So, you’re saying we just have to keep defending?"

Mr. Jin was noncommittal. He continued in a somber tone, "Liu Nan is already beyond saving. Its Eco-Power is insufficient to support another large-scale crusade. Therefore, this battle will be the final showdown between It and me. A fight to the death. One of us must be victorious!"

"Please, continue."

"Right now, I am also a Divine in essence. Liu Nan can devour me, and I can devour It. If Liu Nan devours me, the Source Body will accept It again. If I devour It, then the moment I complete the act, the Source Body will certainly move to obliterate me. I will perish along with Liu Nan. My fate is death, and mutual destruction is perhaps the best end I can hope for."

Mr. Jin smiled. "My high-dimensional friend, I am now going to tell you the secrets I have uncovered over many years. After I fall, I hope you can use this information to challenge the Source Body, to end this damned eco-system, and let everything return to an orderly, natural state!"

Wang Yi’s spirits lifted. "Mr. Jin, please speak!"

Mr. Jin looked up at the sky. "The Source Body is in the sky! She was the first high-dimensional being to descend, and She is the source of all calamities. She is the first Divine, and Her name is Jiya!"

"Jiya?"

"That’s right! As the Source Body, Jiya can connect to all Earth Deities. She looks down upon everything from the sky, manipulating disasters and ruling over the fate of humanity! But according to my research, Jiya is not invincible! She can rule the eco-system, but She herself is an independent existence outside of it—or rather, above it. She is not a World Incarnation, not the Will of nature, not an ecological collective. She is an outsider who can be killed! Perhaps that is why She floats high in the sky, daring not to touch the ground."

Just as Mr. Jin finished speaking, Wang Yi suddenly received a system prompt: "DING! You have obtained a crucial plot clue. The world boss, Source Body Jiya, floats in the sky. She was the first Descender, is the source of all disasters, and rules over all Earth Deities!"

Mr. Jin continued, "I have spent my entire life searching for a way to kill Jiya. As long as She is killed, as long as this first Source Body is terminated, this world will surely undergo a massive change. Perhaps the Earth Deities, who are Incarnations of disaster, will disappear, and the entire world’s eco-system will become naturally harmonious! My high-dimensional friend, are you willing to fulfill this wish for me?"

"DING! A story quest has been triggered. Mr. Jin has issued you a quest: Terminating the world boss Source Body Jiya will cause a major change in the World of Suffering and is one method of clearing the world. Do you wish to accept this quest?"

"DING! Only by accepting the quest will you receive system authorization for a legitimate kill. Killing the world boss without accepting the quest will not result in system recognition."

"DING! Terminating the world boss Source Body Jiya is one of the world-clearing quests for the World of Suffering. It runs parallel to other world-clearing quests. This quest can be triggered in multiple ways. If any world-clearing quest is completed by anyone, the World of Suffering will end, and all Players and Descenders will return to their original worlds."

"DING! Notice: The one who completes the world quest ahead of others will gain exclusive travel rights to the World of Suffering. The world’s start and end times will be recorded. If the duration is less than ten years, access will be granted for the remaining time. Please explore for specific details."

Wang Yi was deeply shaken.

He had finally triggered a world-clearing quest.

’Heh heh, kill the world boss, the first Descender, the source of all Earth Deities, Jiya! Now this is an exciting quest!’

Wang Yi immediately responded to the system and chose to accept the quest.

At that moment, Mr. Jin continued, "Source Body Jiya floats high in the sky and is extremely powerful herself. Killing Her will be very difficult. My high-dimensional friend, if you are interested, you must collect three items!"

"The first item is hidden in the A22 ruins at the center of the Kun City ruins. It is a Sky Pointer. When I achieved the rank of King, I spied Jiya’s celestial coordinates and recorded them on that Sky Pointer. Only by finding that pointer can you find Jiya."

"The second item is a Blast Source Crystal, hidden beneath the old site of Yuan City in the Crimson Federation. It is the most powerful explosive weapon remaining from the old world and is capable of inflicting a certain amount of damage on Jiya."

"The third item is hidden in the A-rank ruins at the center of Rong City in the Coastal Empire. It is the strongest Sky Ship remaining from the old world. Only with this Sky Ship can you fly into the sky and approach Source Body Jiya!"

"Alright, my high-dimensional friend, I have told you all the secrets. My mission should now come to an end! It is time for my final battle with Liu Nan. This is the perfect opportunity for you to head to the A22 ruins and search for that Sky Pointer!!"

Having said this, Mr. Jin gave a carefree laugh and walked slowly out of the wooden hut.

At the same time, the ground of the valley trembled. Three enormous vines suddenly burst through the earth. Each of these massive vines had a Wood Knot on it. The Wood Knots throbbed, then suddenly shattered, giving birth to three giant Wood Knot Monsters.

One was a giant Flame Tree Person, one was a giant Flaming Ascetic, and the last was a giant Fireline Shooter.

But their master was not Liu Nan. It was Mr. Jin.