177: Chapter 177 Chaotic Nirvana, Demonic Energy Transformed into Nourishment

7 seconds in.

Lin Ye stood in place.

His right hand gripped the refined iron longsword brought back from the Trial Ancient Star. The gray crack in the center of the blade was pulsing frantically at a frequency of 0.5 seconds per beat—a sign that his Chaos Power was being squeezed to its limit deep within the Origin.

His HP: 76.9% → 75.0% → 73.1%.

1,890 points per second.

He could hold out for at most another 17 seconds.

His Chaos Power: 31% → 29% → 27%.

Every swing of the sword, every block, every moment maintaining the Chaos Domain, drained it.

And his opponent—Zachariah—stood between two projections of fallen ancient saints.

The first, [Dark Nether], Rank 70, HP 170,000, 153,000 remaining.

The second, [Soul Eater], Rank 68, HP 140,000, just summoned.

He himself, Rank 68 Abyss Devil Body, 98.3% HP, 71% Devilish Qi reserves remaining.

Zachariah did not attack immediately.

He watched Lin Ye.

He watched the Devilish Qi on Lin Ye's body being remotely purified by Su Qingyue.

He watched the icy blue figure in the spectator seats behind Lin Ye burning herself at a rate of 5% per second.

3 seconds.

He spoke.

"You have a good teammate," he said.

Lin Ye did not speak.

He just gripped his sword tighter.

"But her HP is only at 55%," Zachariah continued.

"5% per second."

"In 11 seconds, she will die."

"Not die in the game."

"But 'die'—the kind that also has consequences in reality."

Lin Ye's pupils contracted slightly.

He knew Zachariah was telling the truth.

He didn't know about the world outside the Magic-Sealing Domain.

But on this arena with 127 times gravity, in this place where the Prodigies of ten thousand races gathered—death was death.

Death in the game would cause the consciousness in reality to suffer shock.

Consecutive deaths would lead to permanent damage.

And what Su Qingyue was doing now was not death.

It was "burning."

Using her HP in the game to trade for his purification.

5% per second.

In 11 seconds, it would hit zero.

8 seconds in.

Lin Ye raised his head.

He looked at Zachariah.

3 seconds.

He smiled.

The smile was light, faint, and even carried a trace of... madness.

"11 seconds," he said.

"Enough for me to beat you to death."

8.3 seconds in.

He charged forward.

Not toward Zachariah.

But toward that Rank 70 projection, [Dark Nether].

Zachariah's brows furrowed slightly.

He did not understand this choice.

The priority of a projection was lower than the main body.

Why attack the projection instead of the main body?

But he did not stop him.

He only raised his staff.

[Abyss Magic: Devilish Qi Burst]

8.7 seconds in.

Lin Ye's sword pierced into the chest of [Dark Nether].

[Chaos Power: Erosion]

[Damage dealt: 17,000 points]

[Projection HP: 153,000 → 136,000]

At the same instant, the Devilish Qi Burst exploded behind him.

He did not dodge.

He took it head-on.

[Devilish Qi Burst damage: 11,000-14,000]

[Lin Ye HP: 73.1% → 61.3%]

9 seconds in.

His second sword strike.

[17,000 points]

[Projection HP: 136,000 → 119,000]

Devilish Qi erosion continued.

1,890 points per second.

HP: 61.3% → 59.4% → 57.5%.

9.3 seconds in.

Third sword strike.

[17,000 points]

[Projection HP: 119,000 → 102,000]

Zachariah's staff raised again.

[Abyss Magic: Shadow Stab]

Lin Ye did not dodge.

Fourth sword strike.

[17,000 points]

[Projection HP: 102,000 → 85,000]

Shadow Stab pierced through his left shoulder.

[Damage: 8,300 points]

[HP: 57.5% → 49.2%]

9.7 seconds in.

Fifth sword strike.

Sixth sword strike.

Seventh sword strike.

10.3 seconds in.

[Dark Nether] projection disintegrated.

[Kill: Rank 70 Projection]

[Experience gained: 170,000 points]

[Lin Ye Rank: Rank 64 → Rank 64 (97%)]

Zachariah stood in place.

He looked at the dissipating phantom.

3 seconds.

He smiled.

"7 strikes," he said.

"The 17 seconds aren't up, and you've struck 7 times."

"How much HP do you have left?"

Lin Ye did not answer.

His HP: 49.2% → 47.3% → 45.4%.

1,890 points per second.

10.7 seconds in.

He turned around.

Facing the second projection, [Soul Eater].

[Soul Eater] had no physical form.

It was a mass of writhing deep purple mist.

In the center of the mist, countless tiny tentacles, like a baby's arms, were slowly extending.

[Abyss Magic: Soul Eater]

[Effect: Devour 1% of the target's maximum HP every 0.5 seconds, converting it into a shield for itself]

[Duration: Infinite]

Lin Ye charged into the mist.

His sword stabbed toward the densest part in the center of the mist.

The blade sank in.

[Damage dealt: 11,000 points]

[Projection HP: 140,000 → 129,000]

But at the same instant, countless tentacles wrapped around his body.

[Soul Eater: Devour]

[Every 0.5 seconds - 1% maximum HP]

[Current HP: 45.4% → 44.4% → 43.4%]

1,890 points per second + 470 points every 0.5 seconds = 2,830 points per second.

11 seconds in.

Su Qingyue's HP: 55% → 50% → 45% → 40%.

Lin Ye's second sword strike.

[11,000 points]

[Projection HP: 129,000 → 118,000]

Third sword strike.

[11,000 points]

[118,000 → 107,000]

Fourth sword strike.

[107,000 → 96,000]

11.7 seconds in.

The mist of [Soul Eater] began to thin.

But Lin Ye's HP: 43.4% → 40.6% → 37.8% → 35.0%.

2,830 points per second.

He could hold out for at most 12 more seconds.

12 seconds in.

Su Qingyue's HP: 40% → 35% → 30%.

Lin Ye's fifth sword strike.

Sixth sword strike.

Seventh sword strike.

12.7 seconds in.

[Soul Eater] disintegrated.

[Kill: Rank 68 Projection]

[Experience gained: 140,000 points]

[Lin Ye Rank: Rank 64 (97%) → Rank 65]

He stood in the center of the two dissipating phantoms.

His HP: 35.0% → 32.2% → 29.4%.

2,830 points per second.

Zachariah watched him.

3 seconds.

He clapped.

The applause sounded light and slow on the arena with 127 times gravity.

"7 seconds," he said.

"Two projections."

"17 strikes."

"You won the first round."

Lin Ye did not speak.

He just gripped his sword tighter.

13 seconds in.

Zachariah raised his staff.

[Abyss Magic: Devilish Qi Domain - Full Power]

[Cost: 50% Devilish Qi]

[Range: 100-meter radius]

[Effect: All enemy units within the Domain receive 1,700 points of "Devilish Qi Erosion" damage per second, and movement speed -50%, attack speed -30%]

Deep purple mist poured out frantically from the tip of the staff.

They covered the entire arena within 0.3 seconds.

The concentration was 3 times higher than before.

The Devilish Qi erosion on Lin Ye's body.

1,890 per second → 3,700 per second.

HP: 29.4% → 25.7% → 22.0% → 18.3%.

3,700 points per second.

He could hold out for at most 5 more seconds.

13.3 seconds in.

Zachariah teleported in front of him.

The staff pressed against his chest.

[Abyss Magic: Devilish Qi Piercing Body - Final Form]

[Cost: Remaining 21% Devilish Qi]

[Damage: 27,000 points]

[Effect: Inject all remaining Devilish Qi into the target, causing a continuous "Ultimate" state]

[Every second -5,000 HP]

[Movement speed -80%]

[Attack speed -70%]

[Casting speed -90%]

Lin Ye did not dodge.

He also did not block.

He just reached out his left hand.

And gripped that staff.

Zachariah's pupils contracted violently for the first time.

"...Are you crazy?"

13.7 seconds in.

27,000 points of Devilish Qi Piercing Body damage.

Lin Ye's HP: 18.3% → 0%.

[Forced retention of 1 HP]

[Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body - Passive]

[Cooldown: 72 hours]

He stood in place.

HP 1 point.

But his hand still gripped the staff.

In that staff, Zachariah's remaining 21% Devilish Qi was frantically pouring into his body.

[Devilish Qi Rampage - Ultimate]

[Every second -5,000 HP]

[But HP is only 1 point]

[Logically speaking, he should have died already]

But he did not die.

Because that 1 HP was locked by the passive of the Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body.

And the Devilish Qi was still pouring in.

5,000 points of damage per second, but his HP did not drop further.

That Devilish Qi—had nowhere to go.

14 seconds in.

The Chaos cyclone inside Lin Ye's body began to act up.

It was not resistance.

It was "attraction."

That Devilish Qi with nowhere to go was drawn in by the instinct of the Chaos cyclone.

[Chaos Power vs Abyss Devilish Qi]

[Law conflict - Judging...]

14.3 seconds in.

The Chaos cyclone made a choice.

Not resistance.

It was "devouring."

[System Prompt: Chaos cyclone mutation detected]

[Mutation type: Devour mode activated]

[Devouring target: Abyss Devilish Qi]

[Devouring efficiency: 17% → 31% → 47% → 62%]

The concentration of Devilish Qi inside Lin Ye's body began to drop.

Not because it was dispersed.

But because it was being "digested."

That Devilish Qi, which should have killed him 5,000 times per second, was now being broken down, converted, and absorbed bit by bit by the Chaos cyclone.

[Devilish Qi conversion rate: 17%]

[Obtained Chaos Divine Power: +470 points/second]

[Devilish Qi erosion damage: 5,000 points/second → 4,150 points/second]

14.7 seconds in.

Conversion rate 31%.

[Obtained Chaos Divine Power: +830 points/second]

[Devilish Qi erosion damage: 4,150 → 3,450 points/second]

15 seconds in.

Conversion rate 47%.

[Obtained Chaos Divine Power: +1,170 points/second]

[Devilish Qi erosion damage: 3,450 → 2,650 points/second]

Zachariah watched all of this.

His staff was still held in Lin Ye's hand.

He could feel that the Devilish Qi he had injected into Lin Ye's body was disappearing at an astonishing speed...

It was not being dispersed.

It was being "eaten."

"...You." He spoke.

For the first time, there was a tremor in his voice.

"You are... absorbing my Devilish Qi?"

Lin Ye did not answer.

He simply looked at him.

Those eyes—the ones that had been stained purple by the Devilish Qi just a moment ago—were recovering at this very moment.

Gray pupils.

The mark of the Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body.

15.3 seconds.

Conversion rate: 62%.

[Obtained Chaos Divine Power: +1,700 points/second]

[Devilish Qi erosion damage: 2,650 → 1,800 points/second]

Lin Ye's Divine Power value: 27% → 31% → 35% → 39%.

15.7 seconds.

Conversion rate: 78%.

[Obtained Chaos Divine Power: +2,100 points/second]

[Devilish Qi erosion damage: 1,800 → 900 points/second]

Divine Power value: 39% → 44% → 49% → 54%.

16 seconds.

Conversion rate: 91%.

[Obtained Chaos Divine Power: +2,500 points/second]

[Devilish Qi erosion damage: 900 → 200 points/second]

Divine Power value: 54% → 61% → 68% → 75%.

16.3 seconds.

Conversion rate: 100%.

[Abyssal Devilish Qi · Complete Devour]

[Obtained Chaos Divine Power: +3,100 points (one-time)]

[Devilish Qi erosion damage: 200 → 0 points]

Lin Ye released the scepter.

He stood where he was.

Health points: 1.

Divine Power value: 75%.

Chaos Domain—fully activated.

Gray light exploded from beneath his feet, instantly swallowing the entire Prodigy Arena.

The moment Zachariah was enveloped by the Chaos Domain, he felt his Abyssal Devil Body—that Level 68 fully awakened Abyssal Devil Body—for the first time, feel "suppression."

[Chaos Domain · Evolution]

[Original effect: Enemy all attributes -30%, Ally +20%]

[New effect: Enemy all attributes -35%, Ally +25%, additional -15% against Dark/Devilish Qi type units]

His Devilish Qi circulation had been cut off.

[Abyssal Devil Body · Suppression]

[Devilish Qi recovery speed -70%]

[Movement speed -50%]

[Attack speed -40%]

[Casting speed -60%]

He stood where he was.

Looking at Lin Ye.

Looking at that opponent who had been on the verge of death just a moment ago, but was now standing in the center of the Chaos Domain, as if he were a completely different person.

3 seconds.

He smiled.

There was no anger in that smile, no humiliation, not even the unwillingness of a loser.

There was only one thing—genuine, heartfelt—appreciation.

"Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body," he said.

"Able to devour Devilish Qi."

"Able to convert Devilish Qi."

"Able to—"

He paused.

"Turn the enemy's power into one's own nourishment."

Lin Ye did not speak.

He simply raised his sword.

The tip of the sword pointed at Zachariah.

17 seconds.

He took a step forward.

The Chaos Domain moved with him.

Zachariah stood where he was, not moving.

Because he knew that in this Domain, he could not move.

17.3 seconds.

Lin Ye's sword pierced his chest.

Not a fatal spot.

It was the location of the "Abyssal Contract Mark."

[Hit: Abyssal Contract Mark]

[Chaos Power · Erosion]

[Abyssal Contract · Remaining 1 summon — Permanently Sealed]

Zachariah lowered his head.

Looking at the mark on his chest—that Abyssal Contract Mark that had been bound to him since Level 60 and had never failed—it was slowly turning gray.

And then.

It shattered.

17.7 seconds.

Lin Ye withdrew his sword.

Stepped back.

Stood 3 meters in front of him.

Zachariah raised his head.

Looked at him.

3 seconds.

He spoke.

"You won."

[Battle Ended]

[Time taken: 17.7 seconds]

[Winner: Night Emperor (Heavenly Court)]

[Evaluation: Desperate reversal, comprehended new ability]

[Advancement: Top 32]

Lin Ye stood where he was.

His health points were still 1.

But his Divine Power value—75%.

His Chaos Domain—had evolved.

Inside his body—there was an extra gray vortex slowly rotating.

[New Skill Unlocked: Chaos Devour (Passive)]

[Chaos Devour]

[Type: Passive Skill/Origin Talent]

[Grade: ??? (Bound to Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body)]

[Description: In a desperate situation, the Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body awakened its true Origin ability—Devour. This skill does not need to be actively activated; as long as the Chaos vortex exists within the body, it can automatically devour all negative energy attempting to erode the main body and convert it into Chaos Divine Power.]

[Current Effects:]

[1. Immune to all "persistent negative states" (including but not limited to: Devilish Qi erosion/Blood Poison/Curse/Weakness/Paralysis)]

[2. Any "attribute damage" received has a 17% probability of being converted into Chaos Divine Power (conversion rate 1:0.3)]

[3. Linked with "Chaos Domain": Every time an enemy unit within the Domain suffers a negative state, Chaos Divine Power recovery +100 points]

[4. Limit: None]

[5. Next stage unlock condition: Absorb Saint-Grade or higher Origin energy x1]

Lin Ye looked at the line "Immune to all persistent negative states."

3 seconds.

He closed the panel.

He turned around.

Looked toward the spectator stands.

There, Su Qingyue was still standing in the same spot.

Her health points: 30% → 25% → 20% → 15%.

5% per second.

From the 7th second until now, she had been burning for 11 seconds.

Lin Ye did not say anything.

He simply looked at her.

3 seconds.

She smiled.

That smile was very light, very faint.

Then she stopped burning.

[Su Qingyue · Current Status]

[Health points: 15%]

[Divine Power value: 0%]

[Status: Extremely Weak]

She sat back down in her seat.

Closed her eyes.

Lin Ye withdrew his gaze.

He walked off the Prodigy Arena.

In the spectator stands, 3,000 people.

No cheering.

No gasps.

Only silence.

A 17.7-second battle.

From near-death to reversal.

From Devilish Qi erosion to Chaos Devour.

From 27th place to the Top 32.

The first to speak was Sword Nameless.

He was standing in the very corner of the spectator stands.

His voice was very soft.

But every word was clearly transmitted into everyone's ears.

"Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body," he said.

"Interesting."

The second to speak was Cang Xuan.

The Dragon Clan Alliance's number one battle general.

He stood up.

Looked at Lin Ye.

3 seconds.

He smiled.

"27th place," he said.

"Who made the ranking?"

The third to speak was Odin.

God Race Level 67 Sun God Body.

He did not speak.

He simply looked at Lin Ye.

Looking at that back figure walking toward the rest area.

For a long time.

Then he nodded slightly.

The fourth to speak was Blood Prince.

He was standing at the edge of another Prodigy Arena.

His 7th battle had just ended.

The opponent was a Level 62 Undead.

1.3 seconds.

Complete victory.

But he did not look at his own battle record.

He looked at Lin Ye.

Looking at that back figure that was moving away.

3 seconds.

His right hand—the hand gripping the Blood Soul Blade—tightened slightly.

His knuckles turned white.

[System Prompt: You have advanced to the Top 32]

[Next round opponent: Randomly matching...]

[Estimated wait time: 47 minutes]

[Current remaining rest time: 47 minutes]

[Suggestion: Recover status, adjust tactics]

Lin Ye did not look at that prompt.

He walked into the rest area.

All 9 people were there.

Su Qingyue was sitting in a chair in the corner, with her eyes closed.

Her health points were slowly recovering to 17%.

Yun Qianxue was kneeling in front of her, casting [Slow Heal].

Shi Potian walked in front of Lin Ye.

He looked at Lin Ye.

3 seconds.

He raised his left fist to his chest.

"17.7 seconds," he said.

"Faster than me."

Lin Ye looked at him.

"Your 4th battle took 17 seconds," Lin Ye said.

"The opponent was Cang Xuan's deputy."

"Level 64."

"I fought Zachariah."

"Level 68."

Shi Potian was silent.

3 seconds.

He lowered his left fist.

"...I understand," he said.

Lin Ye did not answer.

He simply walked to Su Qingyue.

Squatted down.

Looked at her.

3 seconds.

He spoke.

"Thank you," he said.

Su Qingyue opened her eyes.

Those ice-blue eyes appeared somewhat dim at this moment due to her low health points.

But she looked at him.

3 seconds.

She smiled.

That smile was the same as when she was burning herself in the spectator stands just a moment ago.

Very light.

Very faint.

"...You're welcome," she said.

Lin Ye stood up.

He turned around.

Looked outside the rest area.

There, the list of the Top 32 was scrolling on the holographic screen.

[Top 32 List · Prodigy Arena]

[1. Odin (God Race) — Level 67]

[2. Zachariah (Holy Demon Palace) — Level 68 (Awaiting revival in the loser's bracket)]

[3. Frost Burial (Kingdom of the Undead) — Level 65]

[4. Cang Xuan (Dragon Clan Alliance) — Level 64]

[5. Sword Nameless (Sword Pavilion) — Level 64]

[6. Xingyue (Garden of Nature) — Level 64]

[7. Blood Prince (Primordial Royal Court) — Level 63]

[8. Rex (Mechanical Cult) — Level 63]

[9. Yan Ji (Fire Spirit Clan) — Level 63]

[10. Shi Potian (Heavenly Court) — Level 63]

...

[17. Night Emperor (Heavenly Court) — Level 65]

17th place.

Compared to 27th place, he had advanced another 10 spots.

Lin Ye looked at that ranking.

3 seconds.

He closed the screen.

[System Prompt: You have obtained the new title "Devilish Qi Devourer"]

[Devilish Qi Devourer]

[Type: Special Title]

[Effect: Damage to Dark/Devilish Qi type units +20%, damage received from Dark/Devilish Qi type units -15%]

[Acquisition Method: Completely devour the Devilish Qi released by an Abyssal Devil Body Level 68 or higher in battle]

[Note: This title is a hidden achievement, obtainable by only 0.07% of players server-wide.]

Lin Ye did not look at that prompt.

He was simply feeling the newly born gray vortex inside his body.

[Chaos Devour · Passive] was pulsating at a frequency of 1.7 seconds/time.

With the [civilization spark chip] in his arms.

With the [Mother Empress Crystal Core] that was healing itself.

With the heartbeat of Blood Prince 300 meters away.

With the next battle coming in 47 minutes.

Completely synchronized.

[Chapter 177 · End]