17: A desperate gamble! Devouring the laws of decay!

The world before his eyes was a monotonous shade of gray.

The sky was gray, with thick, heavy clouds obscuring all light.

The earth was gray; as far as the eye could see, there wasn't a single vibrant color.

There were no mountains, no rivers—only an endless, vast plain.

A light breeze blew past, kicking up dust from the ground.

That was no ordinary dust.

Su Jue could see clearly that it was powder from matter that had completely decomposed.

[Analyzing environment...]

[Welcome to... the Star of Wither.]

[Atmospheric Composition: 92% unknown inert gases, 7% high-concentration Decay particles, 1% other...]

[Warning: Decay particles can cause irreversible decomposition effects on all organic matter! Host, please activate your energy shield immediately!]

[Ambient Temperature: 21 degrees Celsius on the surface.]

[Energy Radiation: None.]

[Comprehensive Evaluation: A restricted zone for Life, a paradise for Death.]

"This is the Star of Wither."

Ao Ning's cold voice rang out beside Su Jue.

She had already transformed back into her ice-blue Winter Giant Dragon form.

A layer of crystalline frost shield enveloped her massive body, isolating her from the ubiquitous aura of Decay outside.

"How does it feel? Little brother."

She looked at Su Jue, her eyes carrying a hint of scrutiny.

Su Jue furrowed his small brow and didn't answer.

He felt very uncomfortable.

The moment the Life energy inside his body came into contact with the air here, it began to be slowly decomposed and assimilated.

It was like an ice cube meeting a branding iron.

Although the speed was slow, this continuous weakening was extremely distressing.

With a thought, a layer of pale gold True Essence shield appeared on the surface of his body.

The aura of Decay was temporarily blocked out.

"Not bad," Ao Ning nodded. "Being able to make the correct response immediately shows that your combat instincts are very strong."

"However, relying solely on a True Essence shield won't let you last long here."

"The Decay Law is pervasive; it will slowly corrode your energy until you are completely decomposed."

"If you want to survive here, you must learn how to counter it."

Like a dutiful mentor, Ao Ning began to explain the laws of survival here to Su Jue.

"There are two ways to counter the Decay Law."

"The first is like me: use another powerful law to construct an absolute defense, isolating it completely."

"This is the most direct method, and also the one that consumes the most energy."

"The second is to understand it, adapt to it, and even become a part of it."

"Imperial Mother's Life source left a seed within your body. You can try to comprehend it, using the power of Life to neutralize the Power of Decay, reaching a delicate balance."

"I suggest you choose the second option."

Su Jue listened, only half-understanding.

He only knew that he hated this place.

He wanted to quickly find that 'seed of immortal life' thing and then get out of here.

"Let's go, we need to find a relatively safe place first."

As Ao Ning spoke, she stepped forward and headed toward the depths of the plain.

Su Jue also moved his short legs and followed.

This gray plain looked flat and solid.

But stepping on it felt soft and spongy, like stepping on a pile of cotton.

With every step, he would sink half a foot deep.

It was very physically taxing.

"The surface here is composed of biological remains that have accumulated for at least a hundred million years."

Ao Ning explained as she walked.

"On this planet, nothing can exist for long. Even divine iron, if left here for ten thousand years... would be decayed into a pile of scrap metal."

"So, do not trust anything your eyes see."

Just as she finished speaking.

The ground beneath Su Jue's feet suddenly collapsed without any warning!

"Holy crap!"

Su Jue only had time to let out a cry of alarm in his mind.

His entire person fell right in!

He felt as if he had fallen into a swamp filled with viscous liquid.

Cold, foul-smelling sludge instantly submerged him.

A Power of Decay, a thousand times denser than that in the air, surged frantically from all directions, corroding his protective True Essence!

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...

The pale gold shield on the surface of his body began to turn dim and thin at a speed visible to the naked eye.

[Warning! Warning! Ultra-high concentration of Decay Law detected!]

[The Host's protective True Essence is being rapidly decomposed! It is estimated to completely fail in 10 seconds!]

[The Life energy of the Chaos Dragon Body is being corroded! Cellular activity is rapidly declining!]

[Warning! The Life Siphon divine ability is being suppressed! Unable to activate!]

The system's warning sounds rang frantically in Su Jue's head like a Death knell.

He was buried alive!

On the shore.

Ao Ning looked at the bottomless sludge pit, somewhat surprised.

But she didn't have the slightest intention of stepping in to save him.

She just watched quietly.

This was part of the trial.

Whether he lived or died depended entirely on himself.

She was curious: faced with such a certain-Death situation, what kind of choice would this little brother, who had repeatedly created miracles, make?

Beneath the sludge.

Su Jue felt his consciousness begin to blur.

The shadow of Death enveloped him once again.

His body was rapidly becoming weak.

The vitality within him was being frantically drained away.

Only a thin layer of the True Essence shield remained, threatening to shatter at any moment.

What to do?

What to do!

Crush the reverse scale?

Or use that leaf?

No!

That won't do!

Those are Life-saving trump cards given by Mom and Dad; I can't just use them so easily!

Su Jue's mind became incredibly clear at this moment.

His desire to survive was stimulated to the extreme!

System!

Quick!

Analyze for me!

[Extreme Analysis activated!]

[Deeply analyzing 'Decay Law'...]

[Analysis progress: 1%... 10%... 50%...]

[Analysis successful!]

[The 'Decay Law' is essentially the reverse application of the 'Law of Life'! It is the ultimate manifestation of the passage of time on living organisms!]

[It is not pure destruction, but a mandatory 'decomposition' and 'return'!]

[Countermeasure generated!]

[Option 1: Detonate the Law of Destruction within the body to perish together with the Decay Law, creating a brief chance for Life. Success rate: 30%. Side effect: Damaged foundation.]

[Option 2: Activate the 'Law of Time' affinity within the 'Chaos Dragon Body' to reverse the flow of time around oneself, forcibly canceling out the Decay effect. Success rate: 5%. Side effect: Massive consumption of soul power.]

[Option 3 (Optimal Choice): Give up resistance! Actively accept the 'Decay Law'! Using the 'Power of Creation and Destruction' as the core, introduce the 'Power of Decay' into the body to jointly construct a new, dynamic 'life-death balance cycle' with the 'Power of Life'!]

[Nourish Life with Decay! Counter Decay with Life!]

[Success rate for this option: Unknown!]

[Risk: Extremely high! Once it fails, the Host will be instantly assimilated by the Decay Law and turned into a puddle of pus!]

Looking at the third option given by the system.

Su Jue didn't hesitate for a second.

Let's do this! All in!

Wealth is found in danger!

He dispersed the last trace of the True Essence shield on his body.

Then he actively opened up his body and mind!

Unknown!

This is what's freaking exciting!

Others fear the unknown, but I fear having no chance!

Isn't it just risking my Life? From the moment I was thrown into the space-time wormhole, which day haven't I been risking my Life!

"System!"

"Execute Option 3!"

In the depths of his soul, he issued this command that could be called suicidal.