Leaving his human subordinates behind to divert attention, Zhang Nu immediately activated his Spatial-Temporal Dragon form. His shadowy golden body transformed into an ethereal silvery hue, almost dreamlike and surreal.
In this state, all attacks were ignored. Whether it was the magical beams from the magitek guardians or the physical strikes from the sealed giants, they all passed through him harmlessly. Zhang Nu existed in a spatially ethereal state.
Moreover, in this form, the world as seen through Zhang Nu's eyes, the movement of all things, seemed to slow down drastically. Everything became exceptionally sluggish. He transcended the resistance of time and space, advancing forward at an astonishing speed. He nearly became a streak of silver light, traversing the entire hall within an instant. It was too fast. Neither the immortal subjects nor the magitek guardians could keep up with this speed.
Disregarding traps and obstacles, Zhang Nu rapidly moved through various sections of the fortress. In response, Immortal Subject No. 1 acted accordingly.
"Intruder is breaching the Level 3 security zone!"
"Activating Immortal Subject No. 8. Transmitting Immortal Subject No. 8!"
Before Zhang Nu, a flash of light occurred, and seven monsters appeared -- seven magitek machine creatures.
[Immortal Subject No. 8: Bio-Magic Mechanoid] Level 6 lord unit...
These were yet another form of immortal subjects. Every aspect of their humanoid bodies, including flesh, organs, and even their brains, had all been modified into potent magitek components. This meant that every part of their bodies was replaceable or upgradable.
This approach seemed significantly more promising than the previous two. It resembled the concept of mechanical immortality often depicted in contemporary science fiction films. Utilizing magitek sensors, these creatures even possessed normal sensory perception.
However, it was clear that they were still not perfect eternal beings. Like undead, they only addressed the issue of physical immortality but could not prevent the decline of their souls. Using such an artificial body, the soul deteriorated even faster than those within undead bodies.
High-level sentient undead could endure for thousands of years, but these magitek bio-mechanoids would lose their emotions and consciousness after at most five to eight hundred years, ultimately becoming lifeless machines. These experimental subjects had no consciousness whatsoever. Even if they were sealed, the extended period had already consumed their souls and minds.
Although they were only Level 6 lords, Zhang Nu did not take any action against them. He phased through the wall into another area. These magitek bio-mechanoids had no hope of catching up to him.
Immortal Subject No. 1 had no choice but to react once more: "Activating Immortal Subject No. 7, transmitting Immortal Subject No. 7!"
Without engaging in combat, Zhang Nu continued to evade.
"Activating Immortal Subject No. 6..."
"Activating Immortal Subject No. 5..."
"Activating Immortal Subject No. 4..."
Using the potent abilities of the Spatial-Temporal Dragon form, Zhang Nu repeatedly traversed the various areas of the citadel, luring out each Immortal Subject one by one. Although he could defeat them, he chose not to engage, opting to toy with them instead.
During this process, he utilized his cheating ability, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the entire structure of the Citadel of Eternity. Zhang Nu smoothly acquired the location of the core nexus within the Citadel of Eternity, and after the final batch of minibosses was activated and sent out, it was nearly over. Immortal Subject No. 1 had no more minibosses to summon! The dozens of minibosses were dispersed throughout various locations, unable to return in time to assist Immortal Subject No. 1 or to confront Bai Jin and Bai Jie.
Zhang Nu seized the opportunity and hurriedly entered the concealed core chamber. This chamber was not particularly large; it was devoid of any objects except for a massive crystal sphere floating at the center, surrounded and protected by a barrier.
Zhang Nu gazed at the crystal sphere.
[Immortal Subject No. 1: Eternal Consciousness] Level 1 normal unit.
...
Description: The greatest achievement of the Citadel of Eternity, where researchers succeeded in separating the mind from the soul, allowing the mind to function independently, generating wisdom, and achieving the eternal immortality of thought.
As he looked at this enormous crystal sphere, Zhang Nu was utterly astonished. Was this Immortal Subject No. 1? Why was it so completely different from the others? This immortal subject concept resembled the consciousness upload and quantum immortality from science fiction works in his previous life, where a person's thoughts and consciousness were digitized.
The most remarkable aspect was that Immortal Subject No. 1 possessed only thought and no soul. It seemed that the researchers of the Citadel of eternity had finally realized that mortal souls were destined to decay, akin to irreversible entropy. Regardless of the method employed, unless one became a true god, the demise of the soul was unavoidable.
Therefore, they made the decision to retain only consciousness itself, ultimately creating the "Eternal Consciousness" before him. This was undoubtedly a great masterpiece, but unfortunately, it was still far from achieving the perfect immortality pursued by the Citadel of Eternity. In theory, it could exist eternally, be endlessly duplicated, and constantly backed up, but it lost the fundamental aspects of life, such as emotions, desires, and self-awareness. It was nothing more than a super artificial intelligence!
Zhang Nu cast aside these thoughts. Now was not the time to admire the technological prowess of the magitek empire. He had to quickly destroy this Immortal Subject No. 1 . It was the brain controlling the entire citadel. It was precisely because of Immortal Subject No. 1's continued consciousness that had kept the citadel awake for tens of thousands of years, constantly maintaining it against the erosion of time.
Now, to capture this area, he had to eliminate this citadel's brain!
Zhang Nu summoned a mighty thunderflame attack, but it could not penetrate the barrier. It only dimmed the barrier slightly.
"Warning!"
"Intruders have breached the core area!"
"Initiate the ultimate contingency plan, activate Immortal Subject No. 0!"
What's going on? There's even a No. 0!
"To prevent the leakage of the empire's top-secret technology data, initiating self-destruct sequence immediately. Countdown: 5, 4, 3..."
Never in a million years did Zhang Nu expect that Immortal Subject No. 1 would initiate self-destruct directly. At the same time, a terrifying aura suddenly descended upon the hall, an aura so familiar that it made Zhang Nu feel uneasy.
[You are being corroded by Evil God Aura. HP -0!]
[You are being corroded by Evil God Aura. HP -0!]
[You are being corroded by Evil God Aura. HP -0!]
[...]
This was a monstrous creature, nearly indescribable. Zhang Nu believed that anyone with a sound mind would be severely mentally contaminated upon seeing this creature, their consciousness completely disrupted by insane illusions, making it impossible to determine the truth.
[Immortal Subject No. 0: Evil God Abomination] Level 6 overlord unit.
...
Skills: Evil God's Flesh (S rank), Evil God Aura (A rank), Mad Will (A rank), Undying Body(A rank), Soul Domination (A rank), etc.
...
Description: A hidden experimental subject of the Citadel of Eternity, this is a creature forged with the flesh of an Evil God, creating a deranged abomination...
This was not an Evil God, and it was not even an Evil God fragment. An Evil God fragment was the life and power core of an Evil God, endowed with immense divinity, making it indestructible, only capable of being sealed. The creature before Zhang Nu now was something different entirely.
It had been created from the remnants of an Evil God that had been defeated and sealed away. It was made from what was left of the Evil God, essentially its discarded flesh and blood. While it was just ordinary Evil God flesh, it still possessed a trace of divinity.
After countless failures, the Citadel of Eternity decided to experiment with divinity, resulting in the creation and preservation of this Immortal Subject No. 0. It was insane. However, it seemed that there were no further developments. The experiments with Immortal Subject No. 0 had just begun, for some unknown reason, only to be abruptly terminated. The entire Citadel of Eternity had been abandoned, and all personnel had evacuated. Now, all that remained were the failed experimental subjects, the magitek guardians, and the Eternal Consciousness guarding the base. Millennia had passed in the blink of an eye.
The self-destruct sequence of the Citadel of Eternity was imminent. Zhang Nu had only a mere three seconds left.
Leaving aside the fact that the Eternal Consciousness had incredibly strong protection, the presence of this powerful Evil God Abomination in front of him meant that three seconds were simply insufficient. Once the base self-destructed, Zhang Nu would surely survive. However, his two human subordinates would unquestionably perish, and if the challenge ended in failure, all their efforts would have been in vain.
No way! Zhang Nu would not accept a loss like this!
With a flicker of his will, the entire hall instantly lost gravity, as if falling into the deep space of the universe, as if plunging into an endless abyss. His domain skill was activated, but this was not an ordinary domain; it was a mythic sanctum! He could directly harness the power of the laws of time and space.
Three seconds, for anyone else, would have been merely a breath's time, but for Zhang Nu at this moment, it was enough to accomplish many things. Within the mythic sanctum, the flow of time and space was at least dozens of times faster than the outside world. Utilizing the difference in time flow, three seconds expanded to at least two minutes.
"Raarghh!" The Evil God Abomination let out a hysterical roar. This creature was entirely composed of anger, madness, and chaos. It sensed the powerful oppression emanating from the mythic sanctum and, in a fit of rage, charged toward the Demon King.
"Don't overestimate yourself!" If it were anyone else facing this monster, even someone as powerful as Yan Qianjun, they would have had no choice but to flee. Yan Qianjun's strength might surpass that of this monster, but he would still struggle to withstand the Evil God's aura it exuded. This aura was overwhelmingly potent and deadly to anyone. However, for Zhang Nu, it posed no threat because he had already absorbed two major fragments of Evil God.
Evil god fragments were the source of an Evil God's life and power. This abomination, on the other hand, was crafted from leftover scraps of an Evil God. It could not even begin to compare to Zhang Nu's power. When the abomination approached, enveloped in Evil God's aura, Zhang Nu immediately activated the Eye of Death. The aura of the Eight-Eyed Evil God surged forth in a frenzy, engaging in a battle with the creature.
It took only a few seconds to determine the victor. The Evil God Abomination's body began to crumble, but because it was made of the flesh of an Evil God, every crack that appeared in its flesh sprouted numerous meat buds, attempting to prevent its body from collapsing.
"Hmph! Delusional!"
Zhang Nu raised his left hand, and a mist of corrupted blood emanated from it. The abomination was enveloped in this tainted blood, and those restless flesh tendrils almost immediately ceased their growth, withering away.
In the end, amid chaotic and mentally corrupting roars, this unnameable, twisted monster exploded into fragments.
[You've slain Immortal Subject No. 0: Evil God Abomination. Gold +6.5 million!]
With the power of Evil God, Zhang Nu annihilated a creature that would typically be extremely challenging to kill. He then teleported immediately to the Eternal Consciousness.
"Abyssal Devour!" Zhang Nu activated the abyssal dragon's innate ability, using the power of devouring to corrode the formidable protective barrier.
Following that, a bolt of thunder flame appeared in his hand, resembling a razor-sharp blade, and he thrust it down. Finally, the mighty barrier could no longer bear the strain and shattered, sending shockwaves that obliterated the crystal sphere.
[You've slain the Eternal Consciousness. Gold +5!]
Zhang Nu felt a bit exasperated. Dealing with the Eternal Consciousness had been far more challenging than he had anticipated. However, it was ultimately powerless, being a purely spiritual entity, which was why it had only been rated as a Level 1 normal entity.
He deactivated his domain and returned to the hall. From slaying the Evil God Abomination to shattering the barrier and destroying the Eternal Consciousness, the entire process had taken just 0.5 seconds in the real world.
With the demise of the Eternal Consciousness, the entire Citadel of Eternity lost control, and all systems came to a halt. The self-destruct program was also terminated.
"I've finally caught up!"
"I really can't afford to be careless! I didn't expect this place to be so challenging!"
Overall, the monsters within the Citadel of Eternity, including the Evil God Abomination, were far less powerful than the Malevolent King. However, this place gave him a slightly more challenging feeling compared to the Corrupted Ancient Tomb.
Next, with a thought, Zhang Nu summoned the entire royal guard squadron, and it took about a day to completely clear the citadel.
[You've conquered the Citadel of Eternity!]
[You gained "Decrepit Stardust Diamond Chest" x1!]
Success!
This time, he obtained a chest similar to the diamond chest from the Corrupted Ancient Tomb. However, even though the chests were of the same tier, the quality was slightly lower by one or two minor grades. This was quite normal, considering the vast size of the Corrupted Ancient Tomb and the fact that the Malevolent King himself was a boss of monarch-level. Zhang Nu was already quite satisfied with obtaining a diamond chest this time.