Ch 127: Forbidden Domain

Ji Chuan appeared beside a rural cottage, his gaze sweeping around in a somewhat bewildered manner.

A peaceful and serene atmosphere prevailed; smoke rose from the cottage chimney, and the fragrant aroma of food wafted outwards.

The wooden door opened, revealing a little boy gazing at him with surprise.

He flung himself into Ji Chuan’s embrace, exclaiming, “Brother!”

Ji Chuan responded to the hug in a dazed manner, only then realizing that he was roughly the same height as the boy.

“Jiayi, you’re back! Quickly wash your hands; Mom has made plenty of delicious food.”

The little boy pulled Ji Chuan’s hand, leading him into the house, where a wooden table displayed a feast of food far exceeding the rustic setting of the cottage.

A gentle woman bustled about in the kitchen, lightly wiping the sweat from her brow while offering Ji Chuan a natural smile.

Ji Chuan looked around curiously.

He sensed the flow of energy, a smile gracing his lips.

The woman kept glancing at Ji Chuan, her expression gradually turning uneasy.

Ji Chuan approached the little boy, gently pressing a finger to his forehead.

The woman rushed out of the kitchen anxiously, saying, “Jiayi, what are you doing? Don’t bother your brother before dinner!”

“Is this your host?”

Upon hearing Ji Chuan’s words, the woman accidentally knocked a bowl to the floor, the shattering sound jarring.

Black Qi emanated from Ji Chuan’s body; the little boy’s form had vanished, replaced by a pale-skinned youth.

That was Ji Chuan’s original appearance beneath the mecha.

“How… why can you still retain your consciousness?”

The woman’s expression was one of shock; this was clearly her domain, and those within should have slowed mental processes, playing their assigned roles.

“Because I…”

A One-Eyed Demon appeared beside Ji Chuan, proudly circling him in flight.

“Black Crystal Core?!”

The woman’s form began to shift, her face contorting.

“Mom?…”

The boy felt his consciousness fading, losing consciousness as his body gradually dissolved.

The woman reverted to her true form: clad in a Medieval robe adorned with intricate decorations—upon closer inspection, human bones—she held a Soul Lamp emitting a blue-green glow, her eyes entirely black, devoid of emotion.

Dozens of small skulls floated around her.

“Even without losing consciousness, you cannot kill me in my domain.”

The cozy house vanished; the once peaceful village was now a scene of carnage, the sky a blood-red, low and gloomy.

Corpses on the ground began to rise, shambling towards them like the undead.

“Is that so?”

Ji Chuan continued to use the God of Death ability on her. He felt his Special Ability had definitely hit its mark, and she had tried to escape when first attacked; but why did it seem ineffective?

“You can see, your attacks are useless against me.”

“Oh? Then why is your energy decreasing?”

Ji Chuan continued to unleash the God of Death; with his sustained intent, the Crystal Core Spirit’s face finally showed panic.

“Stop!”

“Master, the opponent is transferring the damage to the humans they have absorbed.”

Hearing Xiao Hei’s warning, Ji Chuan looked around and found that many of the risen corpses had fallen again.

Apparently, this gray Crystal Core’s reckless consumption of humans not only strengthened it but also treated them as its own life force.

Absorbing enough humans seemingly granted immortality—a truly powerful Special Ability.

With each use of the God of Death by Ji Chuan, the opponent lost one absorbed life.

The God of Death’s effect was Instant Death; the sheer number of lives absorbed had masked the effect, but the opponent understood what was happening and tried to escape.

“What you’ve absorbed isn’t enough to keep me from killing for five more minutes.”

The woman finally trembled; he had seen through her.

Recently awakened and undeveloped, her strength was far inferior to his.

“Stop! If you kill me in my domain, you’ll be trapped here forever!”

Ji Chuan’s expression remained unchanged.

“Is that so? What if this is no longer your domain?”

The previously closed gate reappeared before the woman. She had found this gate ominous, sensing the threat it posed.

The gates of Hell opened; terrifying sounds echoed through the blood-red village. The immense suction force overwhelmed the Plague Ceremony Crystal Spirit; she struggled to maintain her form, her expression turning to terror.

“No! No!”

She was sucked into the vortex of immense suction.

It was a lava Hell, surrounded by magma and black rock; the sky was perpetually night.

In the center of Hell stood a Throne of Skulls, upon which a young man with crimson eyes observed him, a smile playing on his lips.

“Why can you break my domain?”

The Plague Ceremony was incredulous; her domain shouldn’t have been broken unless…

“Because this is my Forbidden Domain, and my Special Ability far surpasses yours.”

“Impossible, I’m a Monochrome Crystal Core; we’re of the same level!”

The Plague Ceremony felt it was a bluff; it was impossible for a Crystal Core of the same level to overwhelm her Special Ability with such a decisive advantage.

She raised her hand, raising her Soul Lamp to unleash her plague upon Ji Chuan.

Nothing happened; to her astonishment, the Soul Lamp’s light had vanished!

“Forbidden Domain means you cannot use any Special Abilities within it.”

Ji Chuan’s words filled her with immense fear; she had no means of resistance.

“Xiao Hei, is there any threat in consuming her?”

“Reporting to Master, no threat is sensed; consumption is possible.”

The Plague Ceremony’s black eyes trembled violently. What was he saying? He could consume her? Was this the secret to his overwhelming strength?

She too had the opportunity to continuously absorb humans and become the ruler of the world… How could…

“Wait! Don’t consume me! I have even greater value!”

Ji Chuan gestured for her to continue.

“I can sign a contract with you! My host and I will loyally serve you! I possess a very useful ability; I can spread plagues to lifeforms and control the onset of the disease. In danger, I can teleport myself into the pathogen!”

“If you are within my domain, I can transfer us together!”

This was a much-needed ability for Ji Chuan; travel was too time-consuming.

“Wouldn’t absorbing you and using that ability achieve the same result?”

“No! I can constantly search for targets to spread plagues for you, saving you time! And my domain can hold many people. I can be your driver! It would befitting your status!”

Ji Chuan was moved. While the opponent’s Special Ability was useful, moving forward he would be like a bus, responsible for carrying all members of the stronghold. Having this tool would make a big difference.

Moreover, the opponent’s attack method was a bit ostentatious; large-scale absorption of humans wasn’t suitable for him.

Monochrome Crystal Cores were indeed powerful. If the Plague Ceremony had absorbed all the people of Jinglian City, it could probably rival him.

“Let’s establish a contract.”

“As you command, my host and I will loyally serve you.”

“You will be called…”

Ji Chuan hesitated; the name Xiao Hei was already taken.

“You will be called Xiao Ji.”

“As you command, my name is Xiao Ji!”