Chapter 149: The Dirt‑Eating Lion

Seeing the lion‑like beast emerge from the golden pyramid, all the undead beings respectfully fell to the ground.

Now they are all sincerely obedient.

Even they take pride in following Chen Mo.

The massive lion before us is their king!

"Crow, this is for you."

Chen Mo casually tossed the "Golden Battle Armor of Anubis" to Ice Dark Crow.

This armor can only be equipped by undead creatures; he cannot use it himself, and leaving it unused would be wasteful, so Chen Mo decided to grant it directly to Ice Dark Crow!

"Crow!" (Your Majesty, you… you intend to bestow it upon me?) Ice Dark Crow's voice trembled slightly.

In the previous projection, Ice Dark Crow had witnessed the armor's effect throughout.

Undoubtedly, this is a peerless treasure! "Hmm, your performance in the earlier trial was quite good."

Chen Mo nodded.

After receiving Suanni's affirmation, Ice Dark Crow dared to gently touch the golden "stone" with its claw.

In an instant, the stone turned into liquid metal, rapidly covering Ice Dark Crow's body surface.

Besides its skeleton being coated with a layer of gold, countless golden feathers sprouted between its wings.

At this moment, Ice Dark Crow gained a mysterious aura, as if a messenger from the Nether Realm.

Seeing its feathers return, Ice Dark Crow was overjoyed! "Your Majesty, if you wish, I will spare no effort to become the sharpest blade in your hand!"

Ice Dark Crow's pale soul fire flickered violently.

If undead creatures could shed tears, it would probably burst into sobs now.

Watching Chen Mo casually bestow the "Golden Battle Armor" upon his subordinate,

the Ghost Wolf Leader and the Undead Giant Snake Leader both wore expressions of disbelief.

Does Your Majesty not know the value of this golden battle armor?

Even in the Nether Realm, such armor is priceless, capable of buying a dozen absolutely loyal King Realm undead servants!

Yet it was given to a transcendent‑level but not high‑lord undead creature?

This left them utterly astonished.

At the same time, these undead leaders felt a burning zeal in their hearts.

Now they are also Your Majesty's kin; if they perform well, might they also receive similar gifts? Chen Mo was about to study the usage of Nether River soil and Nether River water when the voice of the Sphinx resonated in his mind:

"Congratulations, you have passed Lord Anubis's trial."

"If you wish to go to the Nether Realm, I can open a passage for you."

The giant beast's tone was friendly.

After Chen Mo became the Chosen One and displayed terrifying power in the trial, the Sphinx naturally no longer regarded him as a "junior."

On this planet where spiritual energy has just begun to revive and resources are scarce, reaching such a level is remarkable.

After becoming the Chosen One, Suanni's power will inevitably increase dramatically!

This Suanni's future achievements are boundless.

"No rush for now."

Chen Mo nodded, his tone calm.

When the thought of entering the Nether Realm arose in his mind, a strong sense of crisis surged.

This danger foresight is far stronger than that of heading to the Snowy World! "Alright."

The Sphinx was not in a hurry either.

"Indeed, you can take your time; the Nether Realm has many strong beings, and it's not too late to go after you ascend to the Catastrophe Realm."

"Can you tell me about the state of the Nether Realm?"

Chen Mo asked.

He yearned to know more about information concerning other worlds.

"Fine! I'll give you a rough overview of the Nether Realm's history and current situation; you'll learn these sooner or later anyway."

"The Nether Realm was established tens of thousands of years ago by Lord Anubis and three other deities as a Dao Hall."

"Originally, under Lord Anubis's order, both living and undead beings in the Nether Realm were orderly."

"Around ten thousand years ago, a colossal insect nest the size of a planet suddenly descended upon the Nether Realm."

"Countless bizarre insects ravaged the Nether Realm, crazily devouring living beings and undead souls, bringing great disaster."

"The insect nest also housed deity‑level entities."

"Lord Anubis and the three other deities fought it together, yet could not kill it completely."

"Thus a prolonged war began."

The Sphinx spoke slowly:

"This war has lasted nearly ten thousand years; both sides have suffered massive casualties, even several deities have fallen."

"In this war, the Nether Realm's living beings suffered heavy losses and needed replenishment from other worlds, so Lord Anubis built nine golden pyramids."

"Whenever a world with revived spiritual energy appears, a golden pyramid descends here to conduct trials and absorb outstanding talent."

"Compared to the Nether Realm, even though our world has begun spiritual energy revival, its concentration should still be far lower, right?"

Chen Mo asked with some doubt.

"Lord Anubis and the other masters need the elite among the elite!"

"On the Nether River battlefield, not even beings below the King Realm, even Catastrophe Realm or Legendary Realm entities are mere minnows."

"Only those with Advancement Totems and invincible power of their tier can play a role on the frontline battlefield."

"And in a world where spiritual energy has just revived, under great fortune, exceptionally gifted beings will rise."

They possess extraordinary potential and could grow into totems or even deities, just like you.

Lord Anubis built the Golden Pyramid precisely to select these exceptionally gifted individuals.

When they mature, they will be able to share the pressure of the Ming River Battlefield.

The Sphinx said plainly.

Since Suanni has already become Lord Anubis's divinely chosen one, under its subtle influence it will sooner or later become Lord Anubis's most loyal follower.

Chen Mo digested the information the Sphinx revealed.

It turns out that in a world where spiritual energy has just revived, strong beings appear more readily! No wonder countless "Secret Realms" are descending worldwide now; many are probably here to select "talent"!

Of course, Ice Phoenix is an exception! It is already dead, and the Snow Mountain Secret Realm's arrival is still to find a "person" to revive it.

But how can these deities ensure that the extraordinary beings of Blue Star will willingly pledge loyalty, even travel to their world? After all, any creature singled out by a deity is already a strong one on Blue Star, ruling there; many would surely refuse to go to a dangerous other world.

Chen Mo did not ask such a sensitive question.

After the trial ended, he returned to the Lion King Palace near the Golden Pyramid Secret Realm.

The palace had been constructed only recently.

Frost Lion Xiongba took on the role of overseer, directing countless undead creatures in the construction.

Undead creatures are perhaps the best "workforce"—they labor without complaint, and a single piece of rotting flesh can keep them working for 24 hours straight!

Through their effort, this massive palace was erected in less than a month.

After sitting inside the palace, Chen Mo began examining the Ming River Soil and Ming River Water, seeking their methods of use.

After all, these are cataclysm‑level treasures, and the analysis by the Observation Lion also requires time.

Chen Mo observed for a full half hour before obtaining their "opening method".

Ming River Soil must be blended with several other undead‑type spirit plants and minerals to create something akin to a "demon elixir".

The production process is very complex.

Moreover, the quality of these spirit plants is generally Tier 3 (King level) or even Tier 4 (Cataclysm level), found only in the Underworld.

Chen Mo currently cannot find any.

However, besides making a "demon elixir", there is a very simple and brute‑force alternative use.

That is, eat it directly!

Under the effect of the Gluttonous Lion, the death‑origin energy hidden in the Ming Soil gradually transforms Chen Mo's existing death energy until it is completely converted into death‑origin energy.

Although the effect is certainly not as good as when combined with other spirit plants, as long as there is enough Ming River Soil, it can theoretically support Chen Mo's advancement.

Thus, Chen Mo transformed into an undead form and began gulping down the soil.

Ming River Soil looks like golden quicksand; when eaten, it is jelly‑like, melting in the mouth, though it has no real flavor.

It is a bit tastier than Chen Mo imagined.

The Gluttonous Lion granted Chen Mo an extremely enhanced digestive ability; the Ming River Soil, once swallowed, instantly turns into pure death‑origin energy, which then gradually merges into Chen Mo's glowing skeleton.

This thin strand of deep‑gray death‑origin energy feels heavier than Chen Mo's existing death energy, and its color is darker as well.

The moment the two energies meet, they begin to assimilate each other.

Chen Mo manipulates his internal spirit power to gradually "gnaw" the death‑origin energy, then puts it to his own use.

Roughly one hundred strands of ordinary death energy can successfully convert into one strand of death‑origin energy.

Currently Chen Mo possesses 99,999 strands of spirit power; if all are converted, he can ascend to the Cataclysm Realm!

Unfortunately, using only the "eat soil" method, the conversion speed and efficiency of death energy are utterly dismal.

About two hours later, Chen Mo opened his eyes.

In those two hours, he had already devoured a full 200 kg of Ming River Soil! If he were to take on the Eat Soil Lion self‑discipline challenge, he could easily finish it!

Those 200 kg of Ming River Soil contain roughly five strands of death‑origin, but he only managed to convert one of them! Overall progress: one‑thousandth.

He made a rough estimate.

With ample Ming River Soil, even working nonstop like a 007 agent, converting all internal death energy into death‑origin energy would still take about a hundred days! Next, Chen Mo ingested high‑quality Ming River Soil and Ming River Water.

Compared with ordinary Ming River Soil, high‑quality Ming River Soil and Ming River Water are far more effective.

Conversion efficiency is higher, and the speed is faster.

High‑quality Ming River Soil converts at roughly twice the rate of ordinary soil! The effect of Ming River Water is even stronger! Chen Mo spent four hours to convert all the death‑origin energy in an entire bottle of Ming River Water.

He converted a full fifty strands! The progress bar leapt to 5% instantly.

"If only we had more Ming River Water."

Chen Mo couldn't help but think.

"If we pass the Ninth Trial, I wonder what the reward will be?"

"If only we had twenty bottles of Ming River Water."

"But the Suanni combat method still has room for improvement; better to spar with the Female War Goddess for a few more days first."

"And we should try to gather as much high‑quality Ming River Soil as possible."

——————————

Early the next morning.

Chen Mo went back to the Golden Pyramid and initiated the trial.

In the first six trials, Chen Mo showed no restraint, ruthlessly suppressing foes with the Demon‑Suppressing Domain and gathering as much Ming River Soil as possible.

Consequently, the freshly repaired "Golden Statue" became shattered again, even worse than before! Soon, the Seventh Trial began.

The Tot God Statue awakened from its slumber.

"How come another challenger shows up? Didn't we just finish yesterday? Wait… could it be…"

The Tot God Statue's heart skipped a beat, conjuring a terrifying possibility.

He opened his eyes, saw the familiar figure, and instantly felt …

This guy probably failed the later trials, so he came to challenge again today.

First meeting: I want to play a while longer.

Second meeting: Get lost! This undead giant lion possessed the power to nullify spells, and could also suppress the death ability and movement within his body.

It was simply too counter to him!

"Wait! Don't attack yet! I'll do it myself!"

the God Thoth spoke up.

He was preparing to directly commit suicide.

Since he couldn't win in a fight anyway, and compared to being beaten up, the God Thoth would rather Chen Mo simply skip past his stage.

Why must there be fighting and killing! Chen Mo paid no attention to the voice of the God Thoth's statue, acting as if he hadn't heard at all, and went all out.

After all, he coveted the high-quality River Styx earth on the God Thoth's body.

After activating Ancient Recovery and entering his strongest form, Chen Mo made short work of thoroughly shattering the God Thoth's statue, then collected a small portion of high-grade River Styx earth.

Soon, the eighth stage trial began once more.

The statue of the Goddess of War Sekhmet slowly opened her eyes, and upon seeing Chen Mo's figure again, she felt somewhat surprised and couldn't help asking, "You didn't get past that fellow Anubis?"

In her view, the Anubis statue was not as formidable as herself.

Since the suanni before her could defeat her and still have energy to spare, then he should also be able to defeat the Anubis statue.

"No. After I defeated you, I gave up on continuing the trials. That way, I can come challenge you every day."

Chen Mo answered calmly.

"So that's how it is!"

Hearing this, a trace of delight showed in Sekhmet's eyes.

This way, not only could she awaken every day, but she could also fight to her heart's content every day! Just thinking about such a life made her feel great!

She found Chen Mo more and more to her liking!

The giant lion before her was indeed a battle-crazed lion too! Worthy of the lion clan, with the blood of battle flowing through their veins! "Fight another round?"

"Good! Let's fight!"

Sekhmet's tone was excited, her eyes filled with unreserved battle intent.

This time, Chen Mo did not use Ancient Recovery, but simply used the Suanni Battle Art, fighting with physical strength alone.

This time, after the Suanni Battle Art was fully integrated, the two sides gradually went from evenly matched to Chen Mo gaining the upper hand (End of chapter)