Chapter 38: Self-Sustaining Infinite Flow (Bonus Chapter for Juice King!)

Seeing the flames burn ever brighter, consuming the carcasses of the numerous beasts, Zhou Chu finally spoke: "You must have read those novels or watched movies set in the Magic Universe, where descendants of the Crystal Wall aliens mourn the glory of their ancestors, right?"

Lü Rang nodded repeatedly: "Watched them, read them! Like 'The Succubus Princess and Her Eighteen Orc Guardian Knights'."

Yuan Zhu’s ears twitched. Judging by the title, was that some kind of otherworldly magical smut?

Ignoring the mohawk-wearing man, Zhou Chu continued: "Among the many magic-themed novels, the 'Root-Grabber' trilogy is the most famous, having been remade multiple times and adapted into stage plays. In 'Root-Grabber', there is a detailed description of a terrifying outer plane known as the [Bottomless Abyss, the Endless Abyss]. In the Crystal Wall Universe, the essence of the [Abyss] is eternal chaotic evil, the negative pole of the universe, spawning infinite demons that engage in endless, irrational slaughter. They not only fight among themselves but also wage an unending Blood War against another evil plane called [Hell]."

"The [Mother of Filthy Bones] is said to be the product of a small portion of the [Abyssal Consciousness] that arrived in Duling alongside the continental plate, combining with a similar 'source of pollution' native to Duling. Consequently, monsters of the Filthy Bone lineage always manifest a chaotic, evil, and irrational nature of slaughter. The [Mother of Filthy Bones] can be seen as the Duling version of the 'Abyssal Consciousness,' and the Filthy Bone monsters are a perverse, indigenous variety of demon. Once discovered, they must be eradicated!"

Although Yuan Zhu hadn't read the local 'Root-Grabber' trilogy, he had played Dungeons & Dragons and was well-acquainted with the horror of the [Mother of the Abyss]. He couldn't help but ask: "Is Duling’s [Mother of Filthy Bones] as terrifying as the [Bottomless Abyss]? Doesn't that mean our current situation is equivalent to an 'Abyssal Invasion' from those novels? Captain, let’s run for it!"

The Captain shook his head and pointed out: "There are many similarities, but the differences are greater. The [Mother of Filthy Bones] is not as terrifying as the [Abyss] in the Crystal Wall Universe, nor did it give birth to its own 'Bottomless Abyss plane.' It simply lurks within the foam layer, occupying and transforming small worlds into nests, frequently invading the [Spirit Realm Layer] and infiltrating the mortal world. Filthy Bone monsters can infect any flesh-and-blood creature, yet they have not formed a racial lineage like 'demons'... In short, the differences are significant. However, you can treat them as degraded demons; after all, Duling doesn't have the species known as demons anyway."

*These Filthy Bone monsters don't really feel like demons,* Yuan Zhu thought to himself. *Based on the description, they seem more like something out of Resident Evil. There’s even a perverse pleasure in slaughtering them like mutated zombies. This is the monster version of the G-Virus!*

He sighed inwardly: "What a naturally evil, filthy world Duling is! In just two days, I've seen too much pollution and evil. I need a pair of eyes that haven't been contaminated."

The sprite chimed in: "Who’s to say otherwise! It’s too evil; it’s practically a demon’s lair! I want to go back home, I want to practice proper cultivation!"

Meng Xi, who had spent her middle school years reading 'Root-Grabber' by candlelight, asked curiously: "Duling has no demons? Wasn't the continental plate that descended upon Duling suffering from an Abyssal invasion? During history class, a professor once said they launched a continental-level teleportation spell to escape the engulfment of the Abyssal plane, tearing through the layers, only to accidentally crash into the planet Duling."

Yuan Zhu perked up his ears: *Is that really how it happened? My collection of strange knowledge has increased! As expected of a versatile university student, she knows everything.*

The Captain replied: "Of course there were demons back then, but demons rely on the [Abyss] to breed and hatch; they evolve from Abyssal insects. How many could they produce just by mating? The planet Duling has no Abyssal will, no Abyssal insects, and certainly no high-magic environment suitable for demons to survive. Those demons that remained on the continental plate quickly 'kicked the bucket' (suffocated due to a lack of magic) because of the rapidly deteriorating environment where magical elements plummeted. The few that survived were either dragged into laboratories for vivisection or used by ancient physicians as ingredients for medicine. If you go to an old-fashioned pharmacy now, you might still be able to find some non-renewable, out-of-print demon materials kept as shop treasures."

Yuan Zhu, a tiger demon, felt a chill in his groin. He knew all too well about Traditional Chinese Medicine!

Vile TCM practitioners believed that everything could be used as medicine... the more powerful the creature, the more potent its 'Yang' energy. A Fiend of the Abyss was so robust; if one traveled to Duling, it must be exceptionally nourishing, right?

...

After a massive fire incinerated the "wa-wa" crying green flesh chunks, the squad dragged the reluctant lamb along and continued to approach the Little Monk's gathering point.

For the rest of the journey, they encountered no further attacks. It seemed the green-blooded Filthy Bone monsters in the vicinity had been wiped out. By the time they reached the chaotic and dilapidated settlement, they found not a single living soul, not even severed limbs.

After searching the area, the Little Monk discovered a letter in a rock cave. The letter recorded that two days prior, a squad of martial monks sent by the Yefu Kingdom had repelled the green-blooded monsters and led the survivors back to the Buddhist nation for refuge.

The letter also documented a major event in the Buddhist nation: the new Abbot had found the power to seal and suppress the 'Buddha-Ghosts' and was about to hold a grand ritual to thoroughly liberate the souls in the city and bring everything back to order.

Therefore, the Abbot needed to assemble all the devout believers he could, especially ordained monks like Kuchao, hoping to use everyone's strength to summon the true Buddha to descend with divine power, destroy the Ghost King in the city, and save the world.

After reading the letter, Yuan Zhu and the others scoffed at the new Abbot's plan. The old Abbot had already bitten the dust; could a backup really pacify the disaster of the [Yellow Springs]?

Even if he did quell the [Yellow Springs], [Filthy Bone Blood] had suddenly popped up here, infecting a large number of big animals. Who knew how far it had spread? This stuff was similar to the G-Virus; its infectivity was far stronger than the [Yellow Springs], making it the natural enemy of all flesh-and-blood creatures.

Even if the Buddha-Lord quelled the Yellow Springs disaster, how much strength would be left to confront the tide of Filthy Bone monsters?

"Captain, is this world going to end? Are we really not going to run?" Meng Xi, who read the most and knew the most, couldn't help but urge the Captain to lead them in fleeing.

"I don't think we should go to this Buddhist nation! Safety first, safety first."

The Captain shook his head: "No rush. We’ll go to the Yefu Kingdom and take a look. If this new Abbot truly has the ability to pacify the [Yellow Springs], then it’s not impossible for him to contend with the [Filthy Bone Blood]. Even if he fails, we can record the intelligence and resell it to the demon gods of the [Filthy Bone lineage]. [King Mao-Mao]’s application for an exploration permit for a foam world is not cheap. I don't ask that you make a profit for the team, but at the very least, we must break even and support the next exploration."

Yuan Zhu: "Huh? Isn't the exploration of foam worlds by [Happy Home] a public welfare act funded behind the scenes by [Paradise of the Gods]?"

The Captain rolled his eyes: "How could that be? Even [Happy Home] was bought by [King Mao-Mao] with money. All exploration activities must be self-sustaining, so we have to earn a bit more before we can leave."

Yuan Zhu: *This is not 'Infinite Flow' at all!*

He quickly followed up: "Then after this mission ends, how long is the break, and when will the next mission be executed?"

The Captain: "It’s hard to say; we should get a long vacation. It depends on when [King Mao-Mao] has free time and has saved up enough divine power to pierce through the foam world to summon you again."

Yuan Zhu: ????!

*Is your [Happy Home] really this casual? Where is the urgency of 'Infinite Flow'? Where is the threat of erasure? Where are the teammates constantly traveling, increasing difficulty, and risking their lives for enhancements? It turns out we have to wait for [King Mao-Mao] to have time, leisure, money, and enough divine power to start.*

Seeing Yuan Zhu's puzzled expression, the Captain added a few more words: "[King Mao-Mao] has his own job and business, too. Exploring the foam layer is just preparing an extra path. Our main business is selling luxury children's clothing in other space-times. We, [Happy Home], are a legitimate clothing enterprise funded by deities."

Yuan Zhu: "Emmm..."