Chapter 22: Primordial – Mockery

Chapter 22: Primordial – Mockery

Qi Sheng’s consciousness circled the golden crystal, following Guide’s lead as it swept across every corner of the fifth layer of Gloomspire Caverns.

Beyond the icy husk of Glacier Blade and his fallen Black-Armored Legion, Qi Sheng’s awareness detected a deep burial pit in the temple’s corner, filled with countless skeletal remains.

[These likely belonged to Glacier Blade’s kin who fled underground but perished due to resource shortages.]

“What about the Dungeonkin? What’s their origin?”

[They’re subterranean creatures controlled by Glacier Blade’s kin through unknown means. They sustain themselves by consuming ore, eliminating food scarcity. After their masters died, they continued following implanted commands—directing Iron Shellworms to mine spiritual ore and feed the crystal’s energy core.]

Guide’s analysis struck Qi Sheng as logical.

His consciousness shifted to the rear of the hall, where a fist-sized pale-blue crystal floated, its surface veined with black fungal tendrils. Beside it pulsed a jet-black orb resembling a beating heart.

“Is this the domain node?”

[Precisely. Consider it a core fragment of the Monster World. Countless such fragments form its entire framework.]

As Guide explained, data streamed into Qi Sheng’s mind:

Domain Node: Gloomspire Caverns

Domain Type: Resource

Domain Trait: Spirit Ore Cultivation

Trait Description: Continuously refines spiritual ore resources.

Domain Status: Corrupted by Black Tide Energy (Unclaimed)

Qi Sheng’s gaze settled on the pulsing black orb beside the crystal—the corruption core.

Claiming the node required purifying the crystal and eradicating the corruption. But this wouldn’t be easy.

Earlier, Guide had analyzed the Black-Armored Legion’s corpses, finding them transformed into Cursed Soldiers (Malevolent Entities) with hunting levels averaging 25+.

Thankfully, Glacier Blade’s hollowed shell remained uncorrupted. More accurately, it had been utterly spent in battle—nothing left to exploit. Even sacrificial refining would yield no power.

Had Glacier Blade stood at full strength, with a hunting level surpassing 500 and continent-shaking might, no player could hope to challenge him.

After collecting data on Gloomspire Caverns’ fifth layer, Qi Sheng’s consciousness returned to Dizhong Village with Guide.

As for Glacier Blade’s energy crystal—meant for the next Imperial Omen—Qi Sheng had no urge to claim it. Not due to disinterest, but lack of funding.

Players explored freely through a combination of core gameplay and microtransactions (Stellar Vein, body cultivation, etc.), but Qi Sheng’s excursions consumed power like a subscription model.

When the Four Divine Servants had infused Dizhong Village with the last of their Sacrificial Power (over 80 million units), it enabled Qi Sheng to roam undetected as an Imperial Omen, evading malevolent entities. That’s when he’d recruited the Hawk-Headed Demon, Black-Scaled Serpent, and Gargoyle.

Now, with only five-digit reserves, maintaining his Imperial Omen form cost over 1,000 Sacrificial Power per second. Survival demanded frugality.

Seizing domain nodes would fall to the players.

Though this recon mission yielded no immediate rewards, Qi Sheng now had cause for optimism.

Glacier Blade’s energy crystal alone could yield tens of millions in Sacrificial Power—enough to recruit ten thousand players, accelerating early-game development.

Cross-legged atop the altar, Qi Sheng closed his eyes, shifting to his Imperial Omen form before switching perspectives entirely to the player viewpoint.

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Gloomspire Caverns

Fresh from another battle, players began looting the battlefield. They gathered fallen Iron Shellworm carapaces, then activated the altar’s sacrificial interface, consuming the remains for Power.

After days of combat, players had mastered the Iron Shellworm’s patterns.

The creatures attacked in two phases: first ensnaring prey in silk, then dragging them forward to tear apart with sickle-like mandibles. The silk-cooldown window offered the best opportunity to strike.

Experienced players now evaded attacks with practiced ease.

The only challenge remained the cramped cavern terrain. During swarms, skill mattered less than brute-force charges.

Victory brought joy—level-ups enhancing physical stats, Sacrificial Power gains from offerings, and the camaraderie of shared triumph.

After looting, the remaining players pressed deeper, descending to the second subterranean layer.

The second layer stretched wider, its walls hollowed by mining. A pale-green shimmer coated the stone. Focusing on it revealed an effect:

[Spirit Gathering: Channeling celestial and terrestrial energies, perpetually cultivating spiritual ore…]

Recognizing the renewable resource, players remained unfazed, continuing their descent.

After dispatching more Iron Shellworms, they halted at a carved stone gateway.

Muffled roars echoed from within.

Li Zheng of the Liver God Squad threw a torch ahead. It arced through the air, rolling to a stop and illuminating the chamber.

At the far end, eight chains pierced the cavern wall, binding a colossal creature.

Its beetle-like form bore overlapping white scales forming chaotic patterns—a terrifying visage like a ghostly face. A pair of massive pincers flailed wildly, while glowing crimson eyes burned like lanterns in the gloom.

Imprisoned for untold millennia, it still lived.

[Mockery (Second-Generation Primordial)]

Hunting Level: 29

Guide Analysis: A specialized monster wielding the Mockery Primordial Power. Capable of weaving mental illusions that drive victims into berserk states, compelling them to attack the source of their rage.

Warning: Targets struck by Mockery will experience distorted memories based on personal recollections, with the caster becoming the central figure of hatred in these fabricated narratives.

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Seeing the analysis, Gargoyle specialists erupted in excitement.

Marble: “Haha! The perfect second Life Soul for Gargoyles—mockery generates aggro while Stone Gaze tanks damage. This outclasses the Hawk-Headed Demon’s Bonefire build any day. I can already see Gargoyles rising to dominance.”

Beaverbeats: “The Gargoyle players’ long-awaited breakthrough has arrived. Mockery + Petrification—this is the definitive top-tier defensive build.”

Xiaoban Banzhang: “Petrification’s great for boosting survivability, but being rooted mid-fight is crippling. Now with Mockery forcing enemies to focus you, this build’s insane. Add damage reflection and it’d be absolute perfection.”

Voice channels erupted in heated discussion.

While Hawk-Headed Demons and Black-Scaled Serpents already had optimized second Life Soul paths, Gargoyles had lagged—until now.

The imprisoned second-generation Primordial Monster had become their beacon of hope.

“Kill it!”

At someone’s cry, the players surged forward as one.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end