https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-581-7th-Rank-Corruption-Indigestion-in-the-Dead-World/12852413/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-583-Need-Some-Clues-I-ll-Give-You-a-Few/12852416/
Chapter 582: Rebellion, Reconnaissance, and Planning
Chapter 582: Rebellion, Reconnaissance, and Planning
"The Dead Realm actually got indigestion from digesting a 7th Rank?"
"That's not right; the Dead Realm doesn't have any digestive capabilities at all."
Qin Muye, who was restraining the Dead Realm, was confused as he looked at the information fed back by his avatar. He had roamed around a lot but hadn't seen any signs of the Dead Realm digesting anything. After all, the Dead Realm itself was just a corpse.
Decomposition and digestion are two different concepts. Previously, the decomposed materials were used to fight against the Star Gods and to set up the anti-essence field that Qin Muye had established.
In other words, there was no actual digestion process involved.
"The avatar's durability is running low, and that's a problem. Repairing it isn't the issue, but the materials are."
Qin Muye knew that the Sage's Book shadow gear within the Dead Realm could repair itself, but the real problem was the energy and materials. The decay force of the Dead Realm was too peculiar, likely because the world's remnants were too powerful after its death, leading to various issues.
"Even if I were to do the repairs myself, it's not feasible to repair it every few days. In just three days, it has already consumed nearly 40% of its durability."
He had considered using materials that could resist the decay force, but Qin Muye found that the decay force of the Dead Realm wasn't a numerical damage but a percentage damage. No matter how good the material, it would still lose the same percentage of durability, with no reduction at all.
Therefore, using materials wasn't a viable solution. There was another way, though: using the abyssal force to resist.
However, Qin Muye was hesitant, unsure what would happen if the Dead Realm, which had already been revived, encountered the abyssal force again.
"It seems I'll have to be more cautious and repair it every three to five days."
This wasn't a big issue. It was just a repair, and it could be done remotely without even opening the anti-essence field, taking no more than a minute to complete.
"The decomposed 8th Ranks have all been used to resist the anti-essence field. The 7th Ranks' sluggishness is likely due to their numbers."
"This world had a high energy level before its death, at least not lower than the Shining Universe Server."
Qin Muye began investigating the 7th Rank decomposition issue. He already had an idea of how to turn the entire Dead Realm into a treasure, though it was only at the stage of opening a document and deciding on a title.
He probed his senses into the Dead Realm, though he found the feeling very unwelcoming. Still, he could endure it, after all, he wasn't consuming it.
Seeing, smelling, and eating are three different experiences. Using his senses, Qin Muye was just observing.
"Indeed, it's a matter of quantity." Qin Muye quickly found the reason for the Dead Realm's indigestion.
Since the Dead Realm itself was dead, it couldn't handle anything related to life during the decomposition process. The 7th Ranks, after being decayed, were in a semi-alive state.
This was a matter of quantity, not quality. The weight of souls in the Dead Realm was equal, regardless of the strength of the soul. When facing a world, the concept of "heaven and earth being indifferent to all life" was fully realized. Whether you were an 8th Rank or a 7th Rank, you were just a living being, not a powerful entity.
This led to the same issue as stuffing a stomach with one bun versus a hundred steamed buns. An 8th Rank was like a bun; it had filling, but one bun wouldn't cause indigestion.
A 7th Rank was like a steamed bun, perhaps not as tasty as an 8th Rank, but a hundred of them would be impossible for a normal person to consume without getting indigestion.
The Dead Realm's current situation was similar to a normal person eating a hundred steamed buns. While it wasn't dead yet, it was close.
However, since the Dead Realm was already dead, it couldn't die again, even if it were to be "stuffed." Despite actively addressing the issue, it was clear that decomposing so many 7th Ranks in a short time was not easy.
This was just the first time. Subsequent decompositions of 6th Ranks would likely result in repeated cycles of "stuffing" and digestion, though the process would take longer each time.
Since it was a dead world, only some residual rules were reacting, and there was no self-regulation like the cosmic will would do for the entire universe.
Thus, it was very rigid, and Qin Muye even suspected that these residual rules were a kind gesture from the cosmic will.
Previously, after being cut into mincemeat, part of it was thrown into the Dead Realm, which successfully activated it. The residual rules must have come from there.
"Speaking of the cosmic will, this thing seems to be quite restless lately, always wandering among the Star Gods in the mental network."
"It even sneaked over to the border of the Dead Realm to investigate, looking like it's not giving up."
"If it weren't for my avatar, it might have really managed to fool me."
Qin Muye complained, this thing was indeed quite capable, almost getting discovered. If it weren't for his superior skills and the fact that the cosmic will was in a weakened state, it might have found some clues.
If it really did discover something, Qin Muye would have to refresh its memory again; otherwise, what else could he do?
Otherwise, would he really wait until it recovered to the 9th Rank and came after him? At the 8th Rank, Qin Muye could still bully it using the Star God avatar, but once it regained its strength, it would be the one to beat him up.
"For the next two to three months, there won't be any peace," Qin Muye knew that the cosmic will wouldn't let its guard down until it recovered.
Especially regarding the Dead Realm, since it probably assumed that the blank spot in its memory was due to a battle with the Dead Realm. After all, theoretically, all life forms in the Shining Universe Server had been destroyed, leaving only the Star Gods.
So, the Dead Realm had to take the blame; otherwise, would it be Qin Muye? He was hiding very deep, even bringing the Endless Abyss with him, making it impossible for the cosmic will to discover him.
When the cosmic will used the Star God's body to inspect, Qin Muye's heart almost jumped to his throat. After not finding anything and several more attempts yielding no results, he finally relaxed.
"However, the progress has been very smooth. The Star God hatchery is advancing very well, and the mental network is gradually improving, seemingly already forming the initial structure of a gestalt consciousness."
The top layer of this structure would definitely be Qin Muye, the second layer would be the cosmic will, and the third layer would be the Star Gods.
Qin Muye had disguised himself; otherwise, the cosmic will would have noticed something was off. This was thanks to the insect hive mind the insect race had given him, without which he might not have succeeded.
The insect hive mind and gestalt consciousness share some similarities, but the gestalt consciousness is more centralized, with all decisions made by the top layer, while the rest are more like puppets.
"Still, I need to be cautious of the cosmic will to avoid it finding anything." Qin Muye was not entirely at ease with the constantly vigilant cosmic will.
Although it is currently no match for Qin Muye, it was once a 9th Rank and cannot be underestimated.
The best approach would be to keep it quiet for a while, ideally until just before it recovers.
Erasing its memory wouldn't work because Qin Muye would need to target all the Star God avatars, which is not feasible since they are performing their duties, hatching and raising the second generation of Star Gods.
Continuously erasing their memory would create gaps in their actions, causing the entire plan to stall, and it would only address the symptoms, not the root cause.
"Keeping it quiet might not be possible. If that fails, I could make it busy?"
As long as the cosmic will cannot trace the relevant truths and remains vigilant, it would be fine if it focuses on the Dead Realm.
Ideally, it should be wary but not send all the Star Gods to attack like last time. He needs to control the degree well.
"Plus, through the mental network, I can indirectly influence the cosmic will. As long as nothing goes wrong, I should be able to divert its attention and prevent it from focusing on the return of the gestalt consciousness."
The idea is good, but implementing it is not easy. Qin Muye can talk a good game, but putting it into action is a different story.
"I need to have the Sage's Book shadow gear avatar come over. It's just idling anyway, and it can use the Homeworld to attract the cosmic will's attention."
"Great idea. If it's exposed, it can self-destruct to clean up any traces, and the cosmic will won't notice any loopholes."
Qin Muye thought that since the avatar was idle anyway, it might as well do some work.
(End of Chapter)
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