114: Returning to the Abyss and the "Purifiers"

Leaving the barren forest, they returned to the Dragon Fall Abyss.

This time, the three's moods were vastly different from before.

It was no longer about curiosity or a craving for Opportunity, but carried a heavy sense of mission to uncover the truth and a faint uneasiness.

The closer they got to the Dragon Fall Abyss, the thicker the chaotic, bloody aura in the air became.

Compared to their last visit, the Evil Qi and resentment here seemed to have settled, like a solidified swamp, exuding a suffocating, deathly silence.

The outskirts of the abyss, once bustling with people, were now desolate.

Only a few Cultivators, either fearless or blinded by greed, were still cautiously rummaging through the ruins like rats foraging in a garbage dump.

"It seems the last 'Scavenger' purge scared most people out of their wits," Senior Brother Zhang said in a low voice.

Wen Youyi nodded, his gaze scanning the surroundings vigilantly.

The star core fragment in his embrace transmitted a continuous, faint sense of warning, indicating that this place was still full of danger.

They did not linger on the outskirts.

Following the decrypted coordinates, they snuck directly toward the area below the abyss, where the star core bait had previously erupted and the "Scavengers" had appeared.

The sights along the way were shocking.

Trenches from the battle crisscrossed the ground, scorched earth and dried bloodstains were visible everywhere, and some broken Magical Artifacts and scraps of clothing were scattered among them, silently telling of the tragedy that had occurred.

The last coordinates transmitted by the "Co-frequency Person" pointed to an inconspicuous crack near that area.

The crack was hidden behind a collapsed boulder, wide enough for only one person to pass through sideways, and the interior was deep, dark, and exuded a cold aura.

"Is it here?" Zhao Iron Pillar gripped his heavy sword.

Wen Youyi carefully sensed the fluctuations from the star core fragment, confirming the coordinates were correct.

"Let's go in and take a look. Everyone be careful."

The three of them squeezed into the crack one by one.

The interior was narrow and cramped at first, but after moving forward several dozen zhang, it suddenly opened up to reveal a huge underground karst cave!

Stalactites emitting a faint, eerie blue light hung from the ceiling of the cave, illuminating the scene inside.

And the sight before them made the three of them hold their breath instantly!

In the center of the cave, it was not the secret treasure or ruins they had imagined, but a gigantic "nest" made of countless dark red, meridian-like substances!

The nest pulsated slightly like a living thing, and its surface was stuck with some partially dissolved Yao Beast and Cultivator remains, exuding a rich, bloody, and resentful aura.

And around the nest stood over a dozen figures!

They wore uniform, damaged, silver-white standard uniforms, similar in style to the "Scavenger" armor, but simpler and without that cold, metallic texture.

They stood with their backs to Wen Youyi and the others, facing the pulsating nest, their hands forming seals, chanting, and emitting a pure, gentle, yet firm white light from their bodies!

That white light was like a warm flame, scorching the dark red meridians and resentment on the surface of the nest!

Where the white light scorched, the dark red quickly receded, the resentment melted away like ice and snow, and even the pulsation of the nest slowed down!

These people... were purifying this evil nest?!

Wen Youyi and the others watched this scene in shock.

Who were these people?

The energy fluctuations on them were the same source as the "Scavengers", yet completely different!

There was less cold ruthlessness and more human warmth and firm will.

Seemingly sensing the movement behind them, the leader of the dozen or so people slowly turned around.

It was a young woman with delicate features, but her eyes held a sense of vicissitudes and exhaustion.

When she saw Wen Youyi and the others, especially when her gaze fell on Wen Youyi, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes, followed by a gentle but weary smile.

"Greetings, holders of 'Starfire'," the woman's voice was clear and calm, as if she had long expected their arrival.

"I am a 'Purifier', you can call me 'Ying'."

"Purifier?" Wen Youyi was shaken to his core!

This was a title he had never heard of!

Moreover, the other party had seen through at a glance that he possessed a star core fragment (Starfire)!

"You... are not 'Scavengers'?" Zhao Iron Pillar asked vigilantly, holding his heavy sword horizontally in front of him.

"We once were," the woman named Ying said frankly, her gaze sweeping over her companions who were still focused on purifying, carrying a hint of complexity.

"Or rather, we were once reserve 'Scavengers'."

"But we... woke up."

"Woke up?"

"Yes."

Ying's gaze returned to Wen Youyi, carrying a sense of shared fate.

"Realizing the truth of this 'cradle', realizing that we were nothing more than programmed executioners, realizing that the so-called 'Ascension' and 'ark' were nothing more than higher-level harvesting traps."

Her words exploded in the ears of Wen Youyi and the others like a thunderclap!

The "cradle" was fake!

The "ark" was a trap!

It was actually confirmed by these former "Scavengers"!

"What... exactly is going on?" Wen Youyi's voice was a bit dry.

Ying pointed to the nest that was still being purified, her tone heavy: "This is a part of the 'cradle' maintenance System — the 'Heart Demon Mother Nest'."

"It spreads 'Opportunity', catalyzes desires, amplifies Heart Demon, and collects the negative emotions and life energy that erupt when living beings die, as nourishment for the 'higher-ups'."

"And our 'Scavenger' task is to periodically clear out 'viruses' that are too powerful (such as you), and recycle the mature 'fruits'."

"Then what about the 'ark'?" Wen Youyi asked urgently, "Why do you say the 'ark' is a trap?"

A deep sorrow and mockery appeared on Ying's face: "Because all 'ark' projects that attempt to establish an 'independent energy cycle' and break free from the 'spirit net', their core technology and theoretical source were deliberately leaked by the 'higher-ups' themselves!"

"When an 'ark' is successfully established and operates to a certain degree, it is no longer a shelter, but a more efficient, purer... energy extractor!"

"What it extracts is no longer ordinary spirit power, but the 'civilization spark' that condenses rebellious will, independent consciousness, and the purest Origin!"

"That is the highest-level 'tribute' that the 'higher-ups' truly crave!"

Wen Youyi was struck by lightning, staggered back a step, and his face instantly turned pale!

All his efforts, all his hard work, the "ark" he fought for... was it a trap meticulously designed by the enemy from the beginning to harvest the most precious "fruits"?!