But on second thought, the Survivors of the #1 Channel shouldn't be able to absorb this energy.

But what if the ones absorbing this energy weren't those guys?

All the signs before them indicated that these powers were being gathered in one place, constructing some unknown object.

"Could it be that this valley is special precisely because of this energy?" Yu Nian asked curiously.

"They are using the energy from these terrains to nourish this valley?!" Liu San's voice was chilling.

Everyone instantly understood the purpose of those special Survivors from the #1 Channel who were roaming around but avoiding direct combat.

They were collecting nutrients for this place!

Moreover, looking at the current situation, the energy seemed about to reach its threshold.

In other words, the mastermind behind the #1 Channel was about to achieve his goal.

"We absolutely cannot let him continue!" A fierce light flashed in Ye Liangchen's eyes.

Before his words fell, he shot out like an arrow released from a bowstring, his long saber drawn from its sheath, generating a mournful, emerald-green Saber Light that fiercely slashed toward the nearest Dark-Gold Chain!

"Clang—!!!"

A deafening sound of clashing metal echoed throughout the valley, and sparks flew everywhere.

However, the Saber Light, powerful enough to split giant rocks, only left a fleeting white mark on the surface of the chain. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

The chain remained completely still, and the energy transmission didn't even slow down slightly.

The force of the rebound made Ye Liangchen's hand web numb, forcing him to take two steps back, his face filled with disbelief.

"Everyone, attack!" Leng Ningxue growled, condensing Frost Power onto her fist and smashing it down forcefully;

Yu Nian and the other team members also used their respective methods: flames, ice cones, energy blasts... brilliant yet deadly attacks rained down on different chains.

Roaring sounds followed one after another, and turbulent energy overflowed, stinging people's cheeks.

But the results were exactly the same.

All the attacks were like a clay ox entering the sea, at most causing the chain's light to ripple slightly, completely failing to inflict substantial damage.

These chains seemed to have merged with the entire valley, and even with the terrains from which the power was being drawn, becoming incredibly tough.

Bai Cheng stepped forward in silence, the huge Scythe in her hand—which had severed countless strange attributes—quietly appearing.

Seeing this, Yu Nian and Leng Ningxue immediately retreated, expressions of joy appearing on their faces.

"That's right, how could we forget your ability, Xiao Cheng!"

Liu San and Ye Liangchen looked confused upon hearing this, so Yu Nian continued to explain.

"Xiao Cheng's Scythe possesses the trait 'Unbreakable Severance'; any object struck by the Scythe will be destroyed!"

Liu San was instantly delighted, and Ye Liangchen also sighed in relief, wisely stepping back.

Bai Cheng concentrated and calmed her mind, infusing the power—which was sharper yet somewhat unfamiliar after "Losing Her Shackles"—into the Scythe. A deep Black Glow, seemingly capable of devouring light, appeared on the blade.

She swung the Scythe, and a crescent-shaped Black Slash silently swept through space, accurately hitting the middle section of one chain.

There was no loud noise, only a subtle, grating hiss, as if space itself were being torn apart.

The Black Slash did embed itself slightly into the chain, but immediately, the flowing energy—lava, frost, and forest light—on the chain rapidly flickered, and a mighty counter-force surged out.

It not only instantly shattered the Black Slash but also rushed back along the invisible connection, making Bai Cheng's wrist numb and forcing her to take a step back.

Not even the Scythe could sever it!

Everyone's hearts sank.

The direct method of cutting off the energy supply was not working.

"Go to the source!" Bai Cheng retracted her Scythe and decisively gave the order.

Since they couldn't cut the branches, they had to face the root directly.

They cautiously proceeded along the direction where the chains converged, moving through the shadows of the Deep Blue Crystal Clusters and Jagged Strange Rocks.

The hum of the surging energy grew louder, and the concentration of energy filling the air was suffocatingly high. Every breath carried a strange mixture of scorching heat, icy cold, and sickly sweetness.

The terrain gradually sloped downward, and they entered a bowl-shaped depression.

In the center of the depression, there was neither the monstrous lair nor the evil altar they had expected.

All the thick Dark-Gold Chains ultimately connected to a slightly raised stone platform in the center of the depression.

And on the stone platform, a person sat cross-legged.

A living human male, wearing tattered clothes that could vaguely be identified as a uniform.

His eyes ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) were closed, his expression calm, even slightly fatigued. His short black hair was disheveled, and his cheeks were gaunt.

No violent energy leaked from his body; instead, he was like a black hole, absorbing every drop of the terrifying and complex Earth Power surging from the chains, digesting and merging it within himself.

His very existence was incompatible with this valley full of plunder and chaotic energy, yet he strangely became the sole terminus for all energy flow.

As far as they knew, there were no human Survivors within the #1 Channel.

So, who exactly was this person before them, who was drawing the power of the world's terrains?

Was he truly the mastermind behind all the special Survivors of the #1 Channel?

Bai Cheng and the others held their breath, quietly gripping their weapons. All their confusion and vigilance peaked at this moment.

In the depression, there was only the roar of the surging energy and the faint but steady breathing of the sitting figure.

"He's actually absorbing this energy?" Yu Nian found the sight unbelievable.

The others also couldn't figure out what was going on.

However, since bizarre things had already happened with Bai Cheng's Scythe earlier, they were not as surprised this time.

At this moment, Qingniao seemed to notice something, stepped forward, and said in a deep voice.

"Miss, look, the energy surging from those chains isn't entering his body when it passes through him; instead, it's flowing elsewhere..."

Alerted by Qingniao, everyone else also noticed the anomaly.

The guy in the center of the valley wasn't absorbing the terrain energy; he was using himself as a vessel to guide and condense it toward a single point.

"He must be using this energy to forge something," Qingniao's explanation came again.

"Can you sense any aura from that guy?" Yu Nian asked, frowning.

She asked this because, despite being King-tier, she couldn't sense any aura from the man at all.

Therefore, Yu Nian could only try asking Qingniao, who was the strongest person present.

But Qingniao also shook her head.

"The surroundings are saturated with the aura of the terrain energy; I can't sense anything else."

Bai Cheng frowned and said decisively, "Let's attack directly. Killing him will end everything."

After all, completing the mission was the priority.

Even if they couldn't discern the guy's strength, so what?

No matter how strong he was, he was likely only King-tier. It was impossible for him to have reached the supreme level of Emperor Lord, right?

Hearing this, everyone nodded and prepared for battle.

But just as they were about to make their move, the man not far away suddenly opened his eyes.

No aura was released; the man wore a warm and gentle smile, yet he exuded a profound and unfathomable presence!

"Hello."