Chapter 672: Chapter 492 When Terror Strikes!

Most of the active population was concentrated on Green Mountain and the adjacent small cave, including members of the Think Tank, soldiers, and others. The reduced range of activity was conducive to both vigilance and refuge.

However, at that moment, a scream came from the reconnaissance room.

“Report, Snake-man Palace… has undergone a major change!!”

A strange, mysterious rainbow appeared above the palace.

This rainbow was so breathtakingly beautiful, even viewed through satellites and separated by a screen, its beauty was soul-stirring, as though even your spirit was drawn out by its resplendent light, melting into the gorgeous colors.

Even stranger, in a corner of the palace, a long-dry fountain suddenly produced a pool of crystal-clear spring water!

Upon seeing this pool of spring water, Lu Yuan distinctly felt the Eternal Spark within his body tremble uncontrollably!

“That is…”

Immediately afterward, “Sizzle–” the screen went black!

“What happened?” Lu Yuan shouted through his headset.

The computer team’s Hai Zhiyun replied, “The Idealist Interference is too strong. The satellites we deployed have been compromised by intense Idealist Radiation.”

“Wait, our backup satellites, and those of the Lanpeng Civilization… are barely functional… I’m instructing them to transmit the footage over.”

Lu Yuan was slightly startled and puzzled. What exactly was that spring water to be capable of interfering with satellites so remotely?

A thought formed in his mind: [Ghost]!

“The essence of the [Ghost]… is actually spring water? How could this be?”

The looming threat of mortality surged through his nerves.

“No, no, let’s observe a bit more. Don’t rush,” he calmed himself.

After a while, the Lanpeng Civilization’s satellite feed was connected. Their Materialistic sciences were indeed slightly more advanced than humanity’s.

The Lanpeng people, showing their cleverness, applied heavy mosaic coverage to the pool of spring water. Without delving too deeply into its information, nothing overly serious seemed to happen.

Eyes widened as they watched a faint white mist emanate from the fountain!

The nearby Snake-men, upon encountering the mist, began to move.

At this moment, everyone was drenched in cold sweat, yet their unblinking gazes stayed fixated on the scene.

The Snake-men began to ravenously consume the Mandala Fruits scattered across the sprawling plains! Thousands, tens of thousands, over a hundred thousand Snake-men roamed the grasslands.

Some of the younger Snake-men began mating on the spot, laying eggs.

Their white, speckled eggs were carefully placed in some of the remaining intact buildings.

Older Snake-men, after eating the Mandala Fruits, visibly aged at a speed discernible to the naked eye.

Their scales began to lose luster, their faces grew bewildered, staggering in slow, aimless steps before plunging into the bizarre fountain with a resounding “thud.”

In mere blinks, the flesh and blood of these Snake-men dissolved completely.

Even their bones disappeared without a trace, as if devoured by a terrible entity.

Soon, more Snake-men scrambled to leap into the fountain, turning the phenomenon into a grotesque revelry.

The parched land, the withered grass and trees, the pervasive white mist, and the blazing Sun overhead–all combined to form a surreal, haunting tableau. Even the cobblestones of the streets lost their former gloss. No one could tell that these aging Snake-men had ever existed in this world; it seemed their sole purpose in life was to become ephemeral splashes in the fountain’s waters.

…

Inside the reconnaissance room, an oppressive silence prevailed.

The stark contrast between life’s vitality and desolate death clashed simultaneously in the Snake-man City.

The sounds of bodies splashing into water and the primal frenzy of young Snake-men mating–though impossible to hear at such satellite distance–were vividly imagined by all present, steeped in absurdity and eeriness.

“Is this nurturing life?” muttered a new-generation soldier, his skin crawling with goosebumps as he shivered involuntarily.

…

Lu Yuan licked his dry lips, his face pale with dread–even as someone experienced with many bizarre occurrences, this incomprehensible spectacle still sent chills down his spine.

The Lanpeng people on the monitor were visibly consumed by extreme tension.

“Was this the work of the [Ghost]?” Jin Bote croaked out hoarsely. “Should we drop a nuclear bomb?”

“We’re not sure; don’t rush to conclusions. It might also be the work of a [Monster].” Lu Yuan replied, “We should wait and observe without acting rashly.”

But if humanity faced the same plight…

When stripped of all culture, reduced to naked, helpless poultry, could humanity still be called humanity?

No, humanity wouldn’t even have the chance to barely eke out survival!

Human offspring’s viability is too weak, and human reproduction rates are woefully low. A Snake-man only needs to lay an egg for normal hatching, and their hatchlings, even without parental care, can survive on Mandala Fruits. Humans… however, cannot.

Within a single generation, humanity would be extinct!

…

That terrifying scenario persisted until evening.

The dazed Snake-men populace–most had jumped into the fountain.

Those remaining were of a younger demographic; Mandala Fruits, although quickening aging, still allowed survival for months or even a few years.

Under the sway of a mysterious force, the Snake-men gathered around the fountain… as if they sipped a tiny taste of its water?

At this point, confusion mounted: why was this happening?

Because that particular area had been mosaicked.

If the resolution were increased, the satellite would immediately become unavailable due to interference.

Information within the idealist world holds weight; even purely Materialistic technology cannot escape forced disruptions.

“Now they’re drinking the spring water? Did the [Ghost] get consumed by the Snake-men? What is going on?” Lu Yuan scratched his head.

This scene must signify something–but humanity’s limited access to information prevented them from clearing the thick fog of mystery.

After pondering for a while, he gave up trying to piece it together–let the smart ones analyze the situation. His role was… to make decisions! That’s right, even a wrong decision was better than being rudderless.

And so, as the Sun dipped lower, dusk arrived.

The Snake-men retreated to their respective territories and curled up to rest.

“The day… is over…”

An ounce of relief softened human tension, though they were still forced to remain apprehensive.

“Everyone take shifts… we have enough people awake. It’s unnecessary for everyone to keep vigil.” Lu Yuan said, “Divide into three shifts; if it’s not your turn, go to the small cave to rest. The Insect Race lab there happens to be empty now.”

The [Ghost] had neither visibly attacked nor revealed its true form; meanwhile, the Snake-men carried out bewildering behaviors…

Humanity and the Lanpeng Civilization scrambled to launch more detection devices urgently.

Unknowingly, a drizzle began to fall, bringing a hint of coolness to the scorched earth.

Just as Lu Yuan planned to catch a quick nap, an inexplicable sense of unease gripped him.

He caught a drop of rain, sniffed lightly, and noticed how peculiar it smelled–tinged with an odd, alluring fragrance.

The pleasant scent climbed down his throat and lingered in his lungs; Lu Yuan felt the Eternal Fire in his body surging with unprecedented agitation, making his frame shake.

His mind fell prey to chaos.

Far away, as if hearing the seductive invocation of a peerless beauty–voice after voice–he felt irresistibly drawn, compelled to approach the fountain and drink its water.

Moving even faster was the Undying Giant Turtle!

The Undying Giant Turtle chuckled foolishly, “What could possibly smell sweeter than my little sister? I’ve gotta eat it!”

It began drinking the rainwater voraciously, its turtle-face growing increasingly cunning and greedy.

Not satisfied, it sped off toward the distant fountain in a mad dash!

“I must have it!”

It was only then Lu Yuan regained clarity, biting hard on his tongue–his sharp pain brought a measure of sobriety.

But inside his mind, there was an overwhelming itch, like scores of crawling creatures–it was impossible to shake the obsessive urge to drink the fountain water, a longing akin to withdrawal after drug addiction.

The Eternal Spark within him clashed ferociously against this terrifying whisper.

The intensity of the battle made his body feel like a live bomb; countless alveoli in his lungs began to rupture one by one.

He glanced at Hai Zhiyun beside him, her flushed face showing signs of struggling against temptation. It crossed his mind to punch her gorgeous face.

“No, no–don’t hit me! I can resist the temptation,” Hai Zhiyun saw his intent and quickly shielded her face, crying out in grievance.

Lu Yuan pulled out two gas masks from his Storage Space, handing one to Hai Zhiyun, and donned the other himself for some relief.

Then, a sudden realization struck him, prompting him to leap downstairs.

Down below, the warriors were fighting furiously with the Flying Snakes!

Human warriors, holding fast, clenched their teeth and barely resisted the insidious allure.

But ordinary Insect Race members–the Flying Snakes–had already gone berserk. Their compound eyes sparkled with hysteria, eager to dash uncontrollably toward the distance.

Even the High-level Insect Clan “Flying Dragon” gnawed relentlessly at its reins, itching to charge toward the Snake-man Palace.

“Has everyone gone mad!”

With swift reflexes, Lu Yuan grabbed the fraying reins just before they snapped.

The “Flying Dragon” turned with a fierce growl, baring its menacing visage, and even spewed out a corrosive spray of liquid acid.

Lu Yuan’s body began to glow red. With superior gear, he endured the hit unharmed–then clenched his fist and struck the dragon’s jaw hard.

Its mouth drooled liquid, terror flooding its massive form as it trembled like one electrocuted.

“Buzz! This esteemed one!” the “Flying Dragon” crouched deferentially, roaring plaintively in submissive humiliation.

Lu Yuan patted the huge beast’s side and shouted loudly, “Everyone–hold your breath! Don’t inhale the raindrops! Take immediate shelter in the caves for emergency refuge!”

The unexpected drizzle triggered numerous chain reactions.

A mass migration of life swept across the grasslands, allured irresistibly toward Snake-man Palace.

Among them lurked the betraying Undying Giant Turtle yet again.

The colossal anomaly of a turtle barreled through the plains on its towering legs, bellowing incessantly: “I must taste what’s so delicious!”