[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-monsters-are-coming":3,"chapter-the-monsters-are-coming-monsters-are-coming-chapter-256":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Monsters Are Coming",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2250105,4069,"Chapter 256: Real-World Issues, I Am the Nutrient (Requesting Monthly Tickets)","monsters-are-coming-chapter-256",256,"\u003Cp>The Primordial Sacrifice Altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Sheng was browsing forum information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the invasion crisis ended, the players' development model returned to the right track.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Multiple spatial nodes were simultaneously exploring and expanding outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The area with the greatest change was undoubtedly the Emperor Tomb Mountain Range region, which had attracted a large number of players who had originally been struggling in other nodes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While browsing, he noticed something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A newly released post, after its popularity skyrocketed, had already climbed onto the forum's hot list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, the content discussed in the post had nothing to do with the game Monster World; the main content came from the real world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Explosive Content from the Upper Realm Creatures' New Product Launch Event, Brothers, Here Come the Benefits!]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Poster: Dark Night Evil Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Content:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just went offline to swap my nutrient canister, worked up a sweat, and while lying on the sofa scrolling through my phone, a latest news alert popped up. After reading it, I immediately came to the forum to share it with you brothers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gist of it is this: the Moon Eclipse Clan's newly developed virtual game pod, \"Future,\" is about to go online.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key point is that this latest game pod is equipped with the most advanced autonomous exercise system!!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The biggest problem for us Monster World players in reality is that staying offline for long periods causes certain damage to the body, and we can only alleviate physical issues by regularly drinking \"Regulation Liquid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this smart fitness system is incredibly awesome.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Moon Eclipse Clan representative at the press conference said that the newest game pods are installed with thousands of micro-vibration sensing devices that will intelligently adjust vibration frequency and intensity based on the real-time state of our players' bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The general principle is that through feedback analysis of the player's heart rate and muscle electrical signals, it judges the fatigue level of various body parts, then automatically performs muscle relaxation and exercise training for us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it's aerobic exercise for leg muscles or strength training for upper body muscles, the built-in system of the game pod will automatically advance according to scientifically planned training regimens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that's not all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It also includes bio-electrical pulse stimulation of the heart's nerve endings, prompting the player's heart to undergo autonomous contraction and relaxation training.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It can also regulate the air pressure inside the pod, creating scenarios similar to running or mountain climbing to guide the breathing frequency of the lungs and improve lung function.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are a host of other functions which I won't detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In summary, as long as you have the newest model game pod, you don't need to worry about any problems occurring with your body in reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All you need to do is go offline regularly to swap the nutrient canister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Upper Realm Creatures certainly cannot help solve this problem, as it is an issue of urban infrastructure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To achieve the technology that allows players to stay offline for a lifetime, like the Upper Realm Creatures players do by supplying nutrient fluid through pipelines and having automatic waste purification systems, requires city management to step in and procure the technology; ordinary players shouldn't even think about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the launch of the newest game pod is absolutely a good thing for us Monster World players.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Any brother on the forum can buy one with just a little sacrificial power; there's no need to worry about not being able to afford it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most awesome part is that this launch includes versions of the game pod for different races.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It can be said that each model is specifically designed for a particular race, so there are no issues of incompatibility for specific races.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below are the prices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Upper Realm Creatures have priced the newest game pod at 200,000 credit points, which is equivalent to twice the release price of the Dark Lands at the time (128,888 was the price for selling to their own race including taxes).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It is foreseeable that once the game pod officially goes online, it will be snapped up instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, everyone need not worry about long queues; the Moon Eclipse Clan representative stated at the press conference that the newly built automated assembly line factory has a very fast production speed, so orders won't be backlogged for long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spokesperson also stated that this newly released game pod supports qualified players purchasing it with sacrificial power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And they possess priority purchasing rights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason is quite funny; at the briefing, the Moon Eclipse Clan spokesperson jokingly stated that since they did not receive special preferential treatment from the Star Net in the game, they also did not have enough sacrificial power to use, so they could only obtain sacrificial power revenue through this method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, the Moon Eclipse Clan representative also indicated that they are considering launching nutrient fluid with longer endurance in the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone, look forward to it intensely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That concludes this news flash transporting information from the real world; meeting adjourned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Comment Section:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Jiang Xian: Finally, I've waited long enough. Right now, the two things I hate most are, first, going offline; every breath burns my throat until it feels fiery and painful, making me feel like every time I go offline it's a form of torture. Second is swapping the nutrient canister; each swap requires carrying things back and forth over a dozen trips, and I often have to place orders. In short, it's all sorts of trouble. The place I live doesn't have robot service yet, so I rely entirely on physical strength to swap them, ending up drenched in sweat every time I finish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Heng Heng Da Wang: I hope it goes online soon. The Moon Eclipse Clan's efficiency is so high this time. I remember when the Dark Lands were preparing to go online, they mentioned possibly launching a fully automatic exercise game pod, saying it would be five years later, but now it's about to be put on sale. I must place an order; I'll buy it with sacrificial power then, since sacrificial power allows for priority queuing. The sooner you get it, the sooner you enjoy it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Da Xue Sheng Xiang Yao: I just went offline to check the news. Purchasing with sacrificial power allows for direct pre-ordering, while purchases through other channels still require waiting. This means the newly launched game pod is primarily serving us qualified players. I see many tourists in the live streams cursing; this feeling of special preferential treatment is truly satisfying. Indeed, it's not that people dislike privileges, but that they dislike not having privileges themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This post reposting real-world news sparked heated discussion on the forum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the topic gradually shifted from the game pod to a discussion of problems in the real world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cause was the content of a reply posted by a player.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Da Gong Zhan Shi:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reading the post, what I want to say is that the launch of this game pod makes me somewhat worried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our disconnection from the real world is becoming increasingly severe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All daily necessities production factories are operated by AI robots; members of all races do not even need to serve as assembly line workers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Take food production, for example; it is entirely handled by robot farms. Even the catering industry is gradually being replaced by robots. Everything is highly automated; where is there any so-called real economy in the true sense?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now we are also becoming more and more dependent on the virtual world. If this continues, the real world will soon lose its meaning of existence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of this, I have a conjecture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is a conspiracy by the Moon Eclipse Clan to bind us through virtual games, eventually gaining absolute control over the real world without lifting a finger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Such a vicious conspiracy! Everyone, quickly sell your sacrificial power and return to reality; don't let the Upper Realm Creatures succeed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hui Fei De Mao replied to Da Gong Zhan Shi: You're only realizing this problem now? Decades ago, the internet fiercely discussed the impact of highly intelligent society. In fact, it's not as difficult as you think for the Moon Eclipse Clan to control Earth. Don't forget that the smart brains of all racial cities are managed by the Star Net; they could return you to primitive society in minutes. I suspect you just want to incite panic and then rake in a huge amount of sacrificial power (slippery.jpg).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ren Cheng Zui Lao replied to Da Gong Zhan Shi: The problems you worry about were already worried about by the older generation. You are not unclear about the issues in the real world: various pollutions, invasion crises that appear from time to time—it's like a mess. Spending long periods in virtual games is the inevitable trend of the future; there's nothing to worry about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hei Ye Jiang Zhi replied to Da Gong Zhan Shi:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Your concerns are not without reason; this is a worry that inevitably arises among contemporaries during every era of progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, every technological revolution has been viewed as a flood and fierce beast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking back at history, there are many similar cases.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, in the 19th century, when the train was invented, there was a societal concern that the high speed of trains would cause human internal organs to shatter, or even destroy social morality (because men and women sat in mixed carriages).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the result? Trains became the transportation cornerstone of the next era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then in the 20th century, television was invented. At that time, quite a few intellectuals harshly criticized that TV would make people stupid and alienate family relationships. But looking at that historical stage from our current era, we feel that TV was merely basic entertainment, and those worries were meaningless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most typical case must be the invention of the smartphone in the 21st century.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Early public opinion believed smartphones would destroy Iron Face-to-Iron Face social interaction, but instead, they became the core tool for socializing; only the form changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, there were still many voices issuing criticisms against smartphones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The situation at that time was actually somewhat similar to modern times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Imagine the scene back then: as soon as the morning alarm rang, our ancestors' fingers would instinctively swipe to unlock their phones. While brushing their teeth, they would use phone stands to play short videos, wiping foam off the screen in a race against time. Even during couple dates, both parties would frequently check the content displayed on their phones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Scrolling through phones occupied most of our ancestors' time outside of sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most perplexing problem for the elderly at that time was that the whole family sat in the living room, yet each person smiled at phone screens of different sizes, lacking too much direct communication. This equipment that subverted the development of the era truly made them feel difficult to understand, and they didn't want to understand it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even street beggars had updated their equipment; QR code signs replaced broken bowls.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the worries of that time, viewed by our generation, were obviously meaningless as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Switching the perspective to the modern day, the virtual world is the era we inhabit, the next stop in technological development.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as our ancestors adapted to trains, televisions, and smartphones, we will also adapt to the virtual world becoming a part of life, or even the main part.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Secondly, what the person above said is quite right; pollution and resource crises in the real world will not disappear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The call to return to reality is essentially nostalgic panic; the older one gets, the more one has such concerns.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the elderly at that time missed the era without mobile phones, no one in the next generation truly wishes to return to that age without mobile phones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I think Old Moon's layout is more about wanting to make the real world more manageable, reducing the troubles caused by our activities during the process of optimizing the environment (personal opinion, no flaming).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Final summary: Technological progress is like a 19th-century coachman cursing the birth of the train, but ultimately the rails were laid toward the future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Technophobia is cyclical, but progress is irreversible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as humans went from riding horses to taking high-speed trains, from writing letters to watching short videos and sending messages, it is merely another upgrade in lifestyle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most importantly, you kid don't truly want to oppose virtual games.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just clicked on your homepage and found it displays: \"Buying sacrificial power at high prices.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You kid have bad intentions. I suggest the Moon Eclipse Clan issue a permanent ban in the name of disrupting forum order (slippery.jpg).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reading the content of the post, Qi Sheng did not find it strange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Moon Eclipse Clan was always under the monitoring of the Guide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main purpose of releasing the game pod early this time was naturally not for the sake of the players, but to curry favor with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The longer players stay in Monster World, the faster their strength will inevitably grow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The optimized nutrient fluid launched subsequently serves the same purpose.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is also the core future development direction of the Moon Eclipse Clan under the leadership of the Star Net.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the Star Net told Executive Officer No. 16: The starting point for the Moon Eclipse Clan's development both inside and outside the game must first serve the will of the High-Dimensional God.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After understanding the details of the players' development, Qi Sheng's consciousness followed the Guide and jumped to the Colorful Mist Coast region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ascension Sea Domain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The war between Shu Yan and the Ascension Clan was still continuing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the very moment this battle began, Shu Yan wagered everything, engaging in the war with the desperate resolve of one who has burned his boats.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Shu Yan's eyes, even Ascended clansmen stronger than himself could serve as whetstones to sharpen his own edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also, in Shu Yan's heart, a dangerous shortcut to climbing to the peak of the Monster World.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paving the way with the corpses of powerful clans, every victory over a stronger opponent marked a giant stride toward the summit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, a great battle in the Ascension Sea Region was gradually reaching a white-hot intensity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having revealed his trump card, Shu Yan, modeling himself after the Black Black Tide, created a troop Cultivation Mode similar to an all-systems approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He forged an Army of Books adapted to his own rules.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within Shu Yan's domain, ink-colored energy surged like a deep abyss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless book pages danced wildly within the scene, each page bearing a complete military system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rustle!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A page turned, and the Immortal-Demon Epoch appeared!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ink power collapsed, transforming all generated troops into ink energy, which then rapidly re-condensed according to the systemic rules within the book.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, sword light split the sky; countless white-robed sword cultivators stepped forth from the clouds, with a Demon-Slaying Sword Formation that obscured the sun and sky floating behind them. Their piercing killing intent sliced elemental shockwaves into countless fragments, while sword qi crisscrossed thirty thousand li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the onrushing army of the Ascended, the continuously injected ink power condensed in the air into trajectories resembling a galaxy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sword cultivators began to move, each person becoming a node in the sword formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the elemental torrent collided with the sword formation, millions of sword qi automatically generated a defensive sword net, shattering the incoming elemental torrent into scattering points of light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, an Ascended warrior enveloped entirely in golden elemental energy broke through the sword net, only to be met by the lead female sword cultivator pointing two fingers at him; instantly, the black hair at her temples snapped, transforming into three thousand sword qi strands as fine as ox hairs that repelled the golden Ascended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side of the battlefield, a blinding purple light flashed suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A large number of Ascended warriors fused into elemental giants, compressing spheres of mixed elemental light between their palms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Already aware of the Ascended's combat characteristics, Shu Yan waved his brush to write; the sword cultivators within his domain collectively reversed their sword arts, causing all their innate flying swords to vibrate at high frequency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the light spheres crashed down, three million beams of sword light rose simultaneously; the sword qi resembled a galactic vortex, shredding all the elemental energy to pieces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the fierce offensive of the Ascended was not yet over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless elemental runes connected in the air, morphing into millions of fire crows that tore across the firmament like a rain of falling meteors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Empowered by rule elements, every feather of the fire crows refracted multiple elemental glows as they burned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cloud wisps they swept over instantly evaporated into seven-colored rainbow mist, while the elemental torrents raised by their wingbeats plowed twisted fire scars into Shu Yan's domain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ink traces along the edge of the Rule Book suddenly began to bleed outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the independent space, Shu Yan's consciousness trembled slightly as the Rule Book turned another page.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swish!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A new page unfolded, and the Age of Abyssal Magic descended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pitch-black grimoire hovered in the sky, causing billions of runes to explode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Undead dragons, elemental monarchs, death knights... countless troop types descended roaring amidst the surging ink power, while destructive forbidden spells poured down like rain, turning the battlefield into a purgatory ravaged by death magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the fierce battle continued for a long time, noticing that the Ascended had changed their war Cultivation Mode once again, Shu Yan's consciousness swept across the Rule Book like a hand plucking a zither.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A new chapter opened, and the Deus Ex Machina arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A torrent of steel crushed and pierced the elemental torrent; the main cannons of stellar warships pierced through space, while mechanical warriors advanced as a silver tidal wave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One page, one world; one thought, one army.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relying on the perfect story systems provided by the Inspiration World, Shu Yan's growth was rapid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was also, in Qi Sheng's eyes, a descending force with great potential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how the Ascended battle formations surged forward amidst the torrent of troop types Shu Yan switched frantically, they struggled to make any substantial breakthrough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Shu Yan stood at the center of an independent world, surrounded by circling book pages and surging ink power, his cold gaze piercing through the spatial barrier to watch the course of the war.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also, in Shu Yan's eyes, a moment for training troops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The perfection of the systems continued, and all he needed to do was to utilize every system to its utmost limit, making himself a perfect master of war like the Black Black Tide Evil Spirit Warriors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This war ultimately ended with the withdrawal of the Ascended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, the scene within Shu's Domain froze, as if time itself had been halted at this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Realizing the war had ended, the players hiding in the mist around the domain's perimeter withdrew one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They prepared to fish and feed outside the domain, waiting for the next opportunity to scoop up leftovers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These players generally wanted to capture a Shu Yan Warrior, then generate their desired non-growing pet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ascension Island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the morning light first broke, the entire island was wrapped in sea mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only a palace at the island's center pierced through the mist, like a crimson blade stabbing toward the firmament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The palace was built entirely from dark red energy crystals; before the hall, a thousand stone steps wound upward like a dragon's spine, flanked by twelve towering stone pillars. Rough reliefs coiled around the pillar bodies, depicting not auspicious clouds or beasts, but twisted living beings struggling amidst flames, until their chests burst open to give birth to new Ascended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sea breeze swept over the eaves, echoing within the palace with a sound resembling surging lava.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, on the throne deep within the palace, the Ascended leader, \"Crimson Flame,\" slowly opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His figure was not particularly tall; his body was compacted and infused with rich vital blood and qi, appearing at first glance like a cluster of blazing flames. Dark golden spirit runes flowed over his surface, resembling lava slowly moving beneath blood-colored glazed glass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This half-flesh, half-energy bodily structure was also the key to the Ascended's skilled manipulation of elemental energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze shifted toward the outside of the hall at this moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside came the roaring sound of Ascended warriors returning to their nest; many broken bodies crashed onto the square before the hall, falling like meteors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crimson Flame could perceive the state of every clansman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shattered crystal bones, dissipated energy cores, fragmented wills howling for revenge—they should have been summoning elemental torrents within Shu Yan’s domain, yet now they returned in a pitiful state, like charcoal blocks doused by a heavy rain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crimson Flame suddenly let out a low laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This group of immortals refined from the flesh and blood of cultivators had actually been blocked in their development by a fellow who merely wielded a brush and spilled ink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, this fellow could not even be counted as a warrior.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had merely been fighting against illusory lives sketched by his pen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The return of his clansmen now meant that this round of great battle had concluded, and the Ascended still had not captured Shu Yan's domain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paid no further attention to his clansmen, lowering his head to look at the glowing communication gem in his hand; there were now more important matters awaiting his handling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His form transformed into a streak of light, flying toward a minor world passage on the island.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, his figure appeared above the sky of the minor world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below, countless cultivators had assembled and were making pre-battle preparations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon seeing the sky tear open, all the cultivators below looked up; accompanied by a shout, they flew into the sky one after another, condensing into a formation and standing ready for battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-haired elder at the front looked at Crimson Flame at this moment, his voice trembling as he said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"We will never compromise.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crimson Flame swept a cold gaze over the group of cultivators wishing to resist him, his heart devoid of any emotional fluctuation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shu Yan's layout had already taken effect in this minor world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What he faced now was precisely one of the cultivator organizations wishing to resist Ascended rule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You have no right to choose the future; only I can decide your fate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Crimson Flame's cold reply, the white-haired elder's eyes filled with anger:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why must we bear this? What have we done wrong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing these words, Crimson Flame laughed dryly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you are not wrong, does that mean we are?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You regard us as evil demons, yet you forget that the spiritual qi filling heaven and earth, the heavenly treasures and earthly materials nurtured between mountains and rivers, and even the cultivation methods that help you extend your lives and break through the shackles of the mortal body—all these were bestowed by us. Yet now you wish to rebel against us.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even so, you should not treat us as flesh incubators,\" the elder said with suppressed rage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Should not? The core of this question is not about 'should' or 'should not,' but that we are far more powerful. Thus, the rules of the game were set by us from the very beginning. If our roles were reversed, you would do the same. The survival of the fittest is the only truth in this world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking thus, Crimson Flame's gaze locked directly onto the white-haired elder:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you think that without us, you inferior livestock of the lower realm would not crush each other for profit?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crimson Flame's voice rang out like cold iron clashing, echoing above the firmament.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked down upon the lower-realm cultivators beneath his feet, who seemed like ants, a trace of mockery rising in his eyes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When you raise demonic beasts to take their inner cores, did you ever ask them if they 'should'? When the strong plunder the weak, have they ever shown mercy to the weak, or asked them if they 'should'?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, Crimson Flame raised his hand and made a grasping motion in the void; not far away, a mountain peak collapsed with a thunderous crash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst the dust and smoke, countless birds startled into flight; several Green-Winged Dark Birds fell wailing, precisely the alchemy materials lower-realm cultivators dreamed of obtaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"See, your first reaction is not mercy, but greed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crimson Flame released his palm, allowing the drifting green feathers to brush past the great formation arranged by the cultivators:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The only difference is that we are far stronger than you—so strong that your very resistance appears ignorant and laughable.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white-haired elder's lips trembled, yet stubbornness refusing to yield still shone in his eyes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No matter what, we will not compromise; we will continue to uphold the righteousness in our hearts.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crimson Flame's patience vanished, and he said softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You are simply not strong enough, so you need righteousness to maintain the justice related to your own interests. But I care nothing for these; now, you have lost all value to continue living.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You should have been grateful for my clan's gifts, yet you chose to resist in ways you deemed correct. Next, I will strip away everything I once gave you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With these words, elemental runes connected above Crimson Flame's head, and the elemental torrent transformed into endless waves that swept across the earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the elemental torrent subsided, Chi Yan turned and departed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the development of a minor world deviated from its established trajectory, the most correct course of action was to reset it, format everything, and start anew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, all existing living beings would be thrown into the furnace to reshape their lives; new cultivators and demonic beasts would be bred once more upon this land, multiplying and thriving, until they finally stepped back onto the desired path of development.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although doing so would cause the Ascension Clan to suffer considerable losses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like livestock raised in captivity dying overnight just before being released from their pens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this was the only solution when no other options remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Passing through the spatial tunnel and returning to the Ascension Clan's main hall, Chi Yan sat upon the throne, a trace of exhaustion rising in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the war against Shu Yan, the Ascension Clan still held the advantage, but this superiority was vanishing with Shu Yan's rapid growth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the foreseeable future, the Ascension Clan would walk toward a dead end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beset by internal troubles and external threats, the future of the Ascension Clan had reached a historical turning point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regarding the internal troubles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the minor worlds controlled by the Ascension Clan, rumors that \"Ascension is a hoax\" were spreading rapidly; the seeds Shu Yan had planted had already begun to affect the Ascension Clan's development plans in some minor worlds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for external threats, Shu Yan's challenges continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing Shu Yan, who commanded a multi-legion system, the Ascension Clan could no longer control the course of the war with the same overwhelming momentum as when they first made contact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more dangerous was the situation to the northwest: the Ancient God Clan of the Death Sea Region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a force more terrifying than Shu Yan, following a path of elite cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The combat power of just one Champion Fighter was enough to counter twelve elite members of their own clan; he could not imagine how strong the yet-unseen members of the Ancient God Clan might be.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just recently, three clansmen had been captured by a Champion Fighter and taken to the Ancient God Arena.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In his view, this act was undoubtedly a provocation, and also a probe by the Ancient God Clan, seeking to see exactly how he would respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, the Ascension Clan's energy was entirely tied up by Shu Yan, leaving them unable to spare any core strength to confront the Ancient God Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If things continued this way, the Ascension Clan would be completely dragged down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Chi Yan closed his eyes, sweeping his consciousness over the minor worlds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw those ants, beguiled by the \"Ascension hoax,\" raising banners of rebellion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He also saw that outside the Ascension Clan's islands, Shu Yan's Domain Legions, like a gangrene clinging to the bone, continued to slowly gnaw their way into Ascension Clan territory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Farther away, captured clansmen were sent onto the arena floor; a golden war spear pierced their chests, splashing blood across the fighting stage carved with divine runes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a naked humiliation of the Ascension Clan by external forces.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he mocked the living beings of the minor worlds, the law of the strong devouring the weak applied equally to them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was also a desperate situation the Ascension Clan had never before faced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling the years before descending into the Monster World, they were not the world's rulers, but its creators.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As consciousness swept over the river of memory, he saw the ancestors of the Ascension Clan using flesh and blood as a catalyst to open up numerous minor worlds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They bestowed spiritual veins, sowed seeds of the Dao, and personally sculpted the sun, moon, and stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The natural laws revered by lower-world beings as \"the supreme principles of Heaven\" were merely precepts casually written by the ancestors of the Ascension Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You regard me as a demonic evil...\" Chi Yan suddenly chuckled softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yet you have forgotten who gave you the right to gaze up at the starry sky.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chi Yan stroked the ancient cracks on the throne, left behind when the first clan leader fought to the death with the Chaos Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back when the Ascension Clan swept across the Eight Desolates worlds, they were creator gods in the eyes of the minor world's living beings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But what of now?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rubbed the cracks while muttering to himself, yet endless fury rose in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Weakness... is indeed the original sin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chi Yan's laughter echoed through the main hall, carrying a hint of self-mockery and a touch of madness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, he made his decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the future of the Ascension Clan, he would activate the Breeding Plan forbidden by the Old Ancestor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was time to reveal this trump card.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Half a day later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Ascension Clan arbiters, notified by Chi Yan, arrived at the main hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this time, thirty-eight dark golden seeds hovered in the center of the hall; they pulsed like living creatures, each one having emerged from hundreds of millions of candidates, bearing the perfect life sequences refined through the Ascension Clan's long evolution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seated on the throne, Chi Yan's gaze, sharp as a blade, swept over the arriving clan arbiters before finally settling on the thirty-eight pulsating seeds in the center of the hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dark golden patterns flowed across the surface of each seed; this was the Ascension Clan's most primitive life code: the Parasitic Seed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do you all still remember the origins of our clan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chi Yan's voice was low, causing the very air in the main hall to tremble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The arbiters fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course they remembered; the Ascension Clan had never grown stronger through cultivation, but through devouring, parasitism, and plunder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They turned the strong into hotbeds for breeding offspring, making each generation more perfect than the last.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason Leader Chi Yan had summoned them this time had already been explained in advance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They all knew what would happen next and had made their preparations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seated on the throne, Chi Yan raised his right hand, and under his guidance, one seed floated into his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment the seed touched his body, the dark golden patterns on its surface suddenly erupted, like a hungry viper stabbing into his skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His body of qi and blood instantly tensed, revealing rapidly flowing energy trajectories; his pupils contracted to the size of needlepoints as he continued in a hoarse voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Twenty thousand years ago, our clan parasitized the Chaos Clan, giving birth to the first generation of Ascenders.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, a fissure split open along Chi Yan's spine, new flesh rapidly growing and writhing within:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Eight thousand years ago, we parasitized the Horned Demon Clan, gaining immortal divinity...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Now, the Ascension Clan has reached a moment of life and death.\" Speaking thus, Chi Yan spread his arms, and the remaining thirty-seven seeds simultaneously erupted, shooting toward every arbiter present like meteors:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For the future of the Ascension Clan, it is time to use ourselves as nutrients; only we can breed a stronger next generation...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the attacking parasitic seeds, none of the arbiters present resisted; they calmly accepted Leader Chi Yan's decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A female arbiter let out a shriek as a seed pierced her abdomen, but she quickly suppressed the pain; with a resolute expression, she endured the agony through sheer will, while dense elemental runes surfaced beneath her skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Shu Yan's War Legions will be the whetstone for our next generation.\" Chi Yan's mad voice resounded through the main hall:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When the newborn children burst from their bodies, they will be nurtured in cradles made from the corpses of the Ancient God Clan to breed an even stronger next generation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In this Monster World cast from blood and laws, survival has never been a gift, but a trophy torn out with fangs.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If one cannot become stronger, one can only become fish and meat upon the chopping block.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For the future of the Ascension Clan, anything can be sacrificed, including ourselves.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feeling the pain of the seeds taking root within him, his flesh and blood rapidly devoured by the catalyzed seeds, Chi Yan's consciousness remained exceptionally clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a fleeting moment of trance amidst the excruciating pain, a figure as immovable as a mountain range emerged in his memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the previous clan leader of the Ascension Clan; that old fellow always liked to sit enthroned, even preferring to hover on his throne while participating in battle, and he enjoyed laughing at him with a hoarse voice, saying:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Kid, remember, the Ascension Clan does not live on mercy; we survive by being more ruthless than our enemies.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, it was his turn to become that \"more ruthless\" clan leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The seeds spread along his spine, tearing at the body he had forged from qi and blood, yet Chi Yan smiled happily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He recalled the look in the old clan leader's eyes before death; there was no fear, only expectation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that time, he did not understand why one could be so happy when life was about to dry up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, he understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze swept toward the other arbiters in the hall; they too were enduring the pain of parasitism, yet not a single one retreated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elemental runes exploded beneath their skin, yet they all still fiercely protected the seeds within their bodies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had once thought that becoming a clan leader meant power, strength, and supreme rule.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now he understood more clearly that a true leader is not the last one to fall, but the first to step forward as a pathfinder, paving the way for the clan's future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning one's spine into a bridge, allowing those who come after to climb higher by treading upon one's back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Chi Yan lowered his head to look at his chest, a ferocious smile appearing on his Iron Face:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Little ones... devour me, then surpass me, and continue writing the new chapter of your Ascension Clan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the final moments of his life, Chi Yan lifted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze pierced through the dome of the main hall, looking out at the vast and magnificent world beyond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Countless memories flashed back in his mind like sparks of fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He saw the moment the first-generation Ascenders burst forth from the corpses of the Chaos Clan; he saw the Horned Demon Clan's temple collapse beneath the feet of the Ascension army... he saw three hundred civilizations turned into fuel for evolution in their hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His vision finally returned to the azure sky above the sea region.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This world is too vast, but our endpoint has been reached... I truly look forward to your performance.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Grinning broadly, Chi Yan's consciousness rapidly dissipated, and the entire main hall finally fell into silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long afterward, thirty-eight brand-new predators, bearing the inherited information of the dead, tore open their cocoons of flesh and blood; eyes burning like flames one after another lit up in the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",6115,"2026-06-19T09:20:37.851Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","9f9fb217f8dcad262360d84bf26569b707d764f36a59bb480974fecb4b1dc4a4","monsters-are-coming-chapter-257","monsters-are-coming-chapter-255",393,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmonsters-are-coming-cover.jpg"]