"It's finally evolved."
Han Jue gazed at the Star-Eating Grass nestled within his World Ring, its thousand vines spreading outward like a living constellation. When curled together, they covered an area exceeding hundreds of thousands of kilometers, a parasitic plant life form of truly staggering proportions.
The Star-Eating Grass had been midway through its evolution before entering the Seven Flames Palace, but surprisingly, it had taken nearly half a year to complete the breakthrough. The delay hadn't concerned him particularly, greatness couldn't be rushed, and the results spoke for themselves.
According to the optimal cultivation plan outlined by Rimuru and confirmed through extensive research, a Thousand-Vine Star-Eating Grass having just broken through to World Master level would already possess combat strength equivalent to a fifth or sixth-level human World Master despite being only first-level in cultivation. Its attack method remained brutally simple: entangle and kill. A single-strike specialist, perhaps, but devastatingly effective.
With the protection of a Star-Eating Grass of this caliber, finding a rival within the Void Emperor Treasury would be virtually impossible. Any World Master capable of matching the Star-Eating Grass wouldn't bother venturing to such a location merely for Holy Flame Sparkles, they'd have access to far more valuable resources through their own channels and connections.
With the Thousand-Vine Star-Eating Grass, Han Jue's plans for the treasury would proceed much more smoothly than originally anticipated.
"Brother, the lava lakes lie ahead," Yaoguang's second son warned, his voice carrying a note of genuine concern.
This lava lake region even surpassed the area they'd initially entered when descending to the second level, occupying nearly one-third of the entire World Master level section. The sheer scale spoke to the Void Emperor's obsession with creating comprehensive challenges for his theoretical successors.
Han Jue looked up and saw lava lakes of varying sizes scattered across the landscape not far ahead. Even before approaching closely, he could already sense the intense heat radiating outward, temperatures comparable to the surface of a star, capable of vaporizing most organic matter instantly.
Fortunately, Han Jue had cultivated his Ice-Evolved Body to the fourth stage, adapting his physical form to withstand such extreme environmental conditions. The heat that would incinerate most cultivators felt merely uncomfortable against his enhanced constitution.
Yaoguang's second son was already sweating profusely despite standing at a relatively safe distance, his Domain Lord cultivation insufficient to completely negate the ambient temperature. Han Jue noted his companion's distress with brief assessment.
"Wait here," Han Jue instructed. "I'll search for the puppet alone."
"Brother, be very careful!" Yaoguang's second son said with obvious concern, his voice carrying genuine worry despite their relatively brief acquaintance. The poison binding them had created an unusual bond, the young noble recognized that his continued survival depended entirely on Han Jue's wellbeing.
"Don't worry," Han Jue waved his hand dismissively and flew deeper into the lava lake regions without further ceremony.
The Thousand-Vine Star-Eating Grass was no longer portable in any conventional sense, at its current size and power level, it had to remain within his World Ring until deployment became necessary. He could still summon it instantly when combat demanded, but casual manifestation would be impractical.
Following the detailed map left by the Void Emperor within the tower's engravings, Han Jue flew tens of thousands of kilometers across the volcanic landscape. Eventually, he glimpsed a vast lava lake in the distance, and above it, a group of cultivators besieging a gigantic puppet that towered several hundred meters tall.
After clearly observing the puppet's combat capabilities and the devastating attacks it unleashed, Han Jue couldn't help but mirror Puyang Wan's earlier assessment.
Is this really third-level World Master strength? he wondered with growing skepticism. The Void Emperor's classification system seems... generous.
The scene at the battlefield was tense.
Puyang Wan and Qi Yunxian barely managed to coordinate their attacks to hold off the lava puppet's relentless assault, but seeing the seemingly untouched lava lake beneath the construct, its obvious power source, still filled them with mounting despair. They'd been fighting for over an hour without making meaningful progress.
"I'm increasingly convinced that there truly is a Primordial Flame hidden here," Qi Yunxian cursed inwardly, her water-based techniques proving frustratingly ineffective against this opponent. "The Void Emperor wouldn't create such an absurd guardian for mere Holy Flame Sparkles."
"Primordial Flames are controlled by Immortals and don't escape easily," Puyang Wan shook his head, though doubt crept into his voice. "However, the rumor about three Holy Flame Sparkles being stored here must be accurate. This level of defense confirms valuable treasures await."
"Master Qi, we're almost at our limit!" one of Qi Yunxian's four companions shouted desperately, his voice cracking with exhaustion.
The subordinates were struggling merely to dodge the endless barrage of lava shells while using their energy reserves to withstand the terrifying ambient heat. Their cultivation levels, mostly first-level World Masters with a few Domain Lords mixed in, simply weren't sufficient for sustained combat in this environment.
The only remotely encouraging development was that the lava puppet's targeting accuracy seemed imperfect, missing direct hits more often than not. Perhaps the Void Emperor had programmed intentional limitations to keep the challenge theoretically survivable.
"Wait," Puyang Wan suddenly stiffened, his enhanced perception detecting something unexpected. "Someone else is approaching."
A figure materialized in the distance, flying through the superheated air with apparent ease.
Puyang Wan couldn't make out the newcomer's specific features yet, but simple deductive reasoning narrowed the possibilities considerably. Four of the six entrances to the second level of the Void Emperor Treasury were already occupied by his group and Qi Yunxian's forces. This meant the approaching cultivator could only have entered through one of the remaining two passages, suggesting either exceptional luck or genuine strength.
"He reached the second level alone?" Qi Yunxian muttered, her eyes narrowing with wary assessment as she tracked the approaching figure. "That requires real capability. This could be an expert."
If the approaching person proved too weak, they couldn't meaningfully assist against this monster. If they proved too strong, they might simply steal the spoils after everyone else had exhausted themselves. Neither outcome particularly appealed to Qi Yunxian's current predicament.
Just as these calculations ran through her mind, everything changed.
"Star-Eating Grass," Han Jue whispered calmly, his voice carrying across the distance with unnatural clarity despite the roaring flames.
Swish!
A massive parasitic plant instantly manifested above the lava lake, its thousand vines spreading like a grasping hand large enough to envelope entire cities. The Star-Eating Grass moved with frightening speed and coordination, dozens of thick vines wrapping around the lava puppet's four cannon-like arms, immobilizing the construct with shocking ease.
The remaining vines attacked the puppet's rocky shell directly, tearing away chunks of the E5-grade metal exterior and devouring them with visible enthusiasm. For a plant life form capable of consuming entire planets given sufficient time, mere lava and metal posed no threat whatsoever, they were simply another form of nourishment.
Even though the lava puppet bore intricate engravings representing the fundamental laws of fire etched directly into its structure, the Star-Eating Grass subdued it with overwhelming physical power. The plant even had sufficient spare strength to lash out defensively at the stunned onlookers, preventing any interference.
Puyang Wan and Qi Yunxian suddenly found themselves among the Star-Eating Grass's priority targets, dozens of vines whipping toward them with lethal intent!
"What kind of parasitic plant is this?" Qi Yunxian demanded, genuine shock breaking through her usual composed demeanor as she desperately dodged the attacking tendrils.
"I don't know!" Puyang Wan grunted with effort, struggling unsuccessfully to free himself from the vine that had caught his left arm. His considerable strength as a high-ranking member of the prestigious Puyang family proved insufficient against this monster.
Even the renowned Dulan family, famous throughout multiple star regions for their mastery of parasitic plant cultivation, had never produced anything remotely comparable to this terrifying specimen. The gap in power seemed almost insurmountable.
What kind of genius possesses such a plant life form? Puyang Wan wondered desperately as he fought for survival.
Far in the distance, high in the superheated sky above the battlefield, Han Jue observed the proceedings with detached interest.
The Thousand-Vine Star-Eating Grass had essentially dominated the entire engagement single-handedly, as expected. Its overwhelming physical power and biological adaptability created an insurmountable advantage against opponents ill-equipped to handle such a creature.
Given this decisive superiority, a simple conclusion presented itself: the contents of the Void Emperor Treasury should rightfully belong to him. With overwhelming power came straightforward solutions, no need for elaborate schemes or lengthy negotiations.
"Master, I've analyzed the puppet's structural weaknesses," Rimuru's voice echoed in Han Jue's consciousness, his AI companion having completed a thorough scan during the brief combat. "Its lower body connects directly to the lava lake beneath. If you can sever that connection within the lake itself, you'll cut off the puppet's primary power source and significantly reduce its combat effectiveness."
"The puppet's exterior shell consists of E5-grade pure metal inscribed with secret patterns representing the Origin Law of Fire," Rimuru continued his technical assessment. "However, the engraving depth only reaches the quality level of common fifth-tier Force weapons, as though the Void Emperor applied them personally rather than commissioning master craftsmen. Functional, but not exceptional by Immortal standards."
"In summary," Rimuru concluded, "this lava puppet possesses combat strength roughly equivalent to a sixth-level human World Master, but with numerous exploitable limitations. It functions essentially as a fixed defensive turret, formidable within its operational parameters, but ultimately no more threatening than a standard E-tier laser cannon for someone of your capabilities."
"Under the lake?" Han Jue murmured thoughtfully, his analytical mind already formulating approach strategies.
The puppet's vulnerability seemed relatively obvious in hindsight. After all, the construct hadn't moved from its original position since the battle began, simply firing projectiles from a static location like an automated defense system. Any experienced combatant would recognize that pattern as indicative of connection-dependent power sources.
Unfortunately, not everyone possessed the capability to penetrate molten lava lakes and survive the experience. The environment alone would kill most World Masters before they could even attempt sabotage.
With his [No Limit] defensive technique providing comprehensive protection and his Ice-Evolved Body granting extreme temperature resistance, Han Jue decided the direct approach remained optimal.
Splash!
The lava lake's surface glowed with intensified orange-red luminescence as Han Jue slipped beneath its surface. A small bubble rose where he'd entered, the only visible indication of his descent, easily overlooked by combatants focused on avoiding the Star-Eating Grass's aggressive vines.
The weaker World Masters and Domain Lords among the two groups had already fainted from exhaustion and environmental stress, hovering on the verge of being devoured by the Star-Eating Grass's opportunistic tendrils. Only Puyang Wan and Qi Yunxian remained conscious and actively resisting, their superior cultivation barely sufficient to maintain defensive positions.
Deep within the lake's molten depths, complex mechanical structures gradually emerged from the glowing haze before Han Jue's enhanced perception.
"Rimuru," Han Jue called softly through their mental connection, his voice calm despite the surrounding inferno.
"That configuration appears to be the primary energy collection device," Rimuru analyzed immediately, his processing speed allowing instant assessment. "Destroy it, and the lava puppet should become unable to fire additional projectile attacks. Its offensive capabilities will be severely compromised."
"However," Rimuru added with characteristic thoroughness, "to completely neutralize the construct's threat, you'll need to extract the puppet's core directly. That should be located, "
"In the spherical head," Han Jue finished, having already reached the same conclusion through observation and deductive reasoning.
But first, he needed to eliminate the energy collection system currently maintaining the puppet's operational status.
"Sui Han!" Han Jue announced, activating one of his signature sword techniques.
His blade descended with explosive force, carving through the superheated lava as though it were merely water. The attack struck the collection device's primary conduit with devastating precision, yet to his mild surprise, only a deep scar appeared on the reinforced pipe rather than a clean severance.
Han Jue felt no discouragement at the result. If the mechanism could be destroyed so easily, it wouldn't have survived as the Void Emperor's final test for ten thousand years. The old World Master had been many things, but careless wasn't among them.
Bang!
He slashed again with increased force, channeling more of his considerable physical strength into the strike. His blade bit deeper into the exotic metal, stress fractures spreading outward from the impact point like spiderwebs across glass.
As Han Jue prepared for a third devastating blow, he suddenly became aware of his surroundings with heightened clarity, his Six Eyes ability processing environmental details with enhanced focus.
His expression gradually became solemn as realization dawned. This wasn't merely a collection device, it was part of a much larger, more sophisticated system than Rimuru's initial scans had suggested.
The true nature of the Void Emperor's final test was revealing itself, and Han Jue suspected the challenges ahead would prove considerably more complex than simple mechanical sabotage.