Chapter 648: Succeed
Chapter 648: Succeed
Translator: Translation Nation Editor: Translation Nation
TL note: For those who see a bugged content for the previous chapter, it should only happen for app users. Just remove the novel from the reading list and re-add it. It should be fine after that.
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Chapter begins:
As this scene unfolded before his very eyes, Sheyan released a deep sigh.
"Ah indeed, it’s true…...Mbenga, you even know the supreme secret of the Ndipaya Tribe!! Then, could it be your true identity is....I really hope I’m wrong, otherwise, will the ultimate standoff be between us?"
Within this short span of time, those big black ants ultimately fulfilled their use; the toxins of the Sun Altar had been finally neutralized. Like a black tide, they flooded in; their goal wasn’t the Flower Terrace in the middle, but the blooming vegetation that coiled around the Sun Altar.
Those ants swiftly crawled up the stems of plants, before sinking their incisive mandibles into the flowers. After chomping what they needed, they transported it back into their ant nest.
Only with these flowers, would the ant tribe be able to propagate a new assembly of fledgling ants. Actually, the flowers aren’t a cure for ants fertility, instead, it was the only method to breed herculean ants. It was no wonder these ants abandoned their lives to pillage the Sun Altar.
Sheyan soon discovered that it wasn’t that the ants weren’t interested in the ‘Stairway of the Sun’ within the Flower Terrace. Instead, to them, the canal encircling it was like a heavenly moat. Any ant that plunges in would be instantly corroded by the mysterious liquid.
Since the toxins had been neutralized, Sheyan took a deep breath. He could no longer wait and didn’t dare to tarry any longer because time was mercilessly elapsing. After all, he couldn’t be too sure how much time Mbenga could win for him outside. To prevent this reverie from metamorphosing into a nightmare, risks ought to be taken.
Sheyan directly stepped onto the tiny walkway of skulls. Immediately, a tinge of elasticity feedbacked against the bottom of his feet. It was unclear what sort of method had been used to preserve a fresh moisty state, resembling flesh and blood, onto these skulls that had been exposed for countless hundreds of years.
Once he acted, Sheyan raced towards the Sun Altar without a sliver of hesitation. Bright sunlight cascaded onto his head; clear and radiantly, he could seemingly observe the dust hovering in the air.
The rich and diverse leaves of the ‘Stairway of the Sun’ swayed as they revealed a slight translucency. One could observe plants' distinct venation, that was as comparably clear as that of human veins. The plants were seemingly brimming with nutrients as fluids coursed through their xylem.
Sheyan took a deep breath. In his mind, the intoxicated warnings from Mbenga still flowed with great clarity.
"When harvesting the ‘Stairway of the Sun’, you must only pluck the dried leaves. Your action must be swift but you mustn’t touch other branches of leaves, otherwise, you will meet with unforeseeable consequences."
However, at this moment, Sheyan noticed that amidst the soil of this Flower Terrace, the craggy edge of an azure colored stone had been exposed.
The grain and luster of this ‘stone’ was exceedingly mystifying, not resembling at all something that belonged on earth.
Stirred emotionally, Sheyan carefully examined around. Eventually, he noticed similar edges of those azure ‘stone’ protruding out from the surrounding cavern walls.
Instantaneously, a thought flashed through Sheyan’s eyes.
Several thousands, or perhaps, several million years ago, a meteor streaked past the sky of the African continent. Nearly destroyed by the friction from the atmosphere, it smashed into the ground and crumbled into pieces; with fragments scattering sporadically around. Still, it had successfully crashed through a hidden underground karst cave, thereby forging an averagely sized skylight over this enclosed cave. This was probably the reason for the bizarre cavern ceiling hole.
After the meteor settled, the largest fragment had landed onto the middle region, now known as the ‘Sun Altar’. Perhaps due to this meteorite carrying an unprecedented wave brand of radiation, it ‘alien-ized’ the existing vegetation here. Either that, or seeds of life had already been concealed inside the core of this meteorite previously.
With such unique environmental conditions supplying suitable warmth, moisture content and light, a prodigious plant, never seen by the likes of earth, was born….....….nevertheless, it remained incapable of propagating extensively, due to its harsh growing demands.
Eons of years later, a tiny group known as the ‘Ndipaya Tribe’ coincidentally discovered this place.
After years of exploring, they uncovered methods to tap on the energy source of this mystical plant, and flourished into a magnificent kingdom....They believed, buried within this plant, were powers bestowed by the sun god. Only by obtaining such powers, would one be conferred the way leading to the sun god.
As such, it was given the name – ‘Stairway of the Sun’.
At this moment, Sheyan also noticed that beside the main stem of the ‘Stairway of the Sun’, there were unexpectedly several independent seedlings. Moreover, right above it, the vines and leaves of the ‘Stairway of the Sun’ were mysteriously shaped to look like a womb. It seemed as though even the ‘Stairway of the Sun’ needed to breed out younger generation, and unexpectedly in the form of viviparity.
However, to his matchless dismay, Sheyan realized the majority of the seedlings had withered! Furthermore, they withered due to the tight constrictions of several tentacle-like roots of their own mother.
How ruthless and intelligent was this plant!!
It could definitely sense that the nutrients and water content of the atmosphere, were only sufficient for its own growth. If it allowed these fledglings to mature, they would assuredly vie for the limited existential resources present. The mother plant would ultimately perish. Therefore, even though this plant had adorned the primitive instincts of propagation, it wisely eliminated its descendants to ensure its very own survival. How callous and heartless this was!
Although Sheyan was moved by this scene, his gaze was fixated on the largest, most vigorous seedling. This seedling was similarly coiled tightly by its mother’s roots.
Yet even though its brothers and sisters had all withered into oblivion, it persistently resisted death as its tiny branch maintained a ray of hope.
Observing such obstinate tenacity, Sheyan was stirred as he lashed out without hesitation.
A contestant’s superhuman strength was naturally incomparably to an ordinary person. With a flick, Sheyan attempted to directly snap the coiling root around that seedling. Yet when he tugged, he realized that root wouldn’t budge; it was essentially like pulling a steel wire.
Nevertheless, Sheyan exerted his full might and finally snapped off that root. Mild yellowish sap spewed out from the snapped ends of the root, a scene analogous to that of ripping a human’s arm apart.
After snapping the root, Sheyan stabbed his hand into the soft moist soil. Gently excavating out that live seedling without harming it, he tossed it into the party storage. Following that, Sheyan grabbed that fist-sized azure stone fragment and turned to flee.
It may seem like this sequence of actions was complicated, but it was as smooth as the moving clouds and flowing water! It only took a mere two seconds.
After feeling its roots being ripped apart, the mother ‘Stairway of the Sun’ became wildly infuriated. Its thick vines trembled violently, as soil and sediments instantly scattered. Then, it unexpectedly whipped towards Sheyan ferociously like a man-eating flower!
On the contrary, after committing this evil deed, Sheyan hadn’t the slightest guts to block the assaulting plant. With a hasty roll forward, he scrambled to escape.
At this moment, a single notion jolted through his mind with lightning pace.
"Do I go ahead and consume the ‘Stairway of the Sun’ now? No! Absolutely not! I have no interests in metamorphosing into a Licker or a Plaga Host."
Yet just as Sheyan was joyously making his getaway from this Sun Garden section, his pupils shrank. The berserking mother ‘Stairway of the Sun’ had actually triggered a mechanism.
Towards the left of Sheyan, a stone door coated with dust suddenly shuddered and swung forth.
Inside, a crooked, bony, dark, moist and shriveled figure trembled slightly, before leisurely standing up! Centuries of accumulated dust repeatedly roiled around his body.
Sheyan inhaled deeply.
He knew, this was the ultimate test for doing as he pleased and not listening to Mbenga’s advice.
That shriveled figure marched unhurriedly towards him like a robot. One could scarcely notice its grizzled hair, shabby attire and stooped posture. Under the sunlight, even its gum could be seen beneath its yellowish and blackened teeth. Nevertheless, dry muscles remained forcibly anchoring its teeth; maintaining a chewing motion.
Evidently, this was similarly a Plaga Host that Sheyan had encountered before. Yet unknown why and unexpectedly, the Ndipaya natives bestowed it the responsibility of being the last line of defense!
"AH~~~~~~~~~!"
This shriveled figure abruptly released a drawn-out sigh. In response, Sheyan’s facial muscles twitched reflexively. This was his first time encountering a Plaga Host that could talk. Undoubtedly, that implied it possesses a definite level of intelligence....
As such, it also implied this would be an incomparably bitter fight; a grueling battle bordered by life or death!!
"How many years has it been since I last saw sunshine? A century, or two centuries? Dwelling within that endless darkness, how I thirst for the warmth of sunshine."
That Plaga Host raised its arms and cried out. Yet while executing its actions, tattered cloth rags rustled off it and slumped to the ground; revealing its crackling bony vertebra.
At this instant, it suddenly shifted its gaze towards Sheyan, before unleashing a frenetic roar filled with rapacious thirst.
"BUT! I thirst more for the sweetness of flesh. Ah, the juiciness of steaming intestines and a beating heart. Oh, how wonderful the satisfying chew of splashing blood!"