Free Web NovelChapter 402: Chapter 394: The Nirvana: I Allow You to Challenge Me
As the *She Ri* sped across the sea, a notification from the Eye of Destiny flashed before Shi Ming’s eyes.
It was like a great rebirth.
He had replaced Quintetra and evolved completely. Not only had he fully mastered the numbered Nirvana-rank skill, "Borer," but his stats—especially his Attack Power—had increased dramatically.
[Attack Power: 3412] (+2563)
[Physical Strength: 1311] (+539)
[Endurance: 1132] (+313)
[Defense Power: 1632] (+816)
[Spiritual Power: Unknown]
[Touch of Extreme Evil increased to: 4,512]
Thanks to Quintetra’s lopsided stats, which were heavily skewed toward Attack Power, Shi Ming’s own Attack Power skyrocketed by over 2,000 points upon his ascension to the Nirvana rank.
Of course, the increase in Endurance wasn’t nearly as high, at only 313. However, since Shi Ming’s own Endurance was already astonishing, the total value still broke the 1,000-point threshold. It was a case of adopting its strengths while mitigating its weaknesses.
As for his Defense Power, it had exactly doubled.
"Ah Jian."
In the blink of an eye, the *She Ri* had left the core of the Extreme North Ice Eye and was skimming past the outer edges of the Ice Sea.
One of Ah Jian’s duplicates was hidden here.
Before heading to the Extreme North Ice Eye, Shi Ming had made thorough arrangements to handle any unforeseen circumstances. In addition to hiding *Da Yun* in the Light Cone World, he had Ah Jian, with her ability to create infinite duplicates, split into dozens of copies. These copies were stationed in different sea regions and on various ships to monitor the seas for any anomalies.
Soon, this duplicate of Ah Jian connected to Shi Ming’s now much more powerful Spiritual Power channel.
After breaking through to the Nirvana rank, Shi Ming felt his Spiritual Power had become much more substantial. ’This change doesn’t feel like an increase, but more like my inherent potential has been unlocked and released.’
"Master."
"Wandering Ship 001, the *Nirvana*, returned to Earth at 01:00 standard time."
"He has gathered countless Wandering Ships in the European Sea Region."
"Under the influence of the Celestial Net, most captains seem to have lost control of their ships. Because of the Celestial Net Chip, the *Nirvana* can easily control the life and death of all humans. However, the Xirang Research Institute has discovered a way to temporarily crash the Net and disable it. This method can only be used at the most critical moment."
...
"The captain of the *Nirvana* calls himself ’God’."
"His goal is a pendant called the Eye of the Divine."
"The King-level Wandering Ship, the *Kindling*, was sliced into four pieces by him in a single move. The edges of the cuts are filled with a strange energy. Some of the *Kindling*’s people were injured. Analyzing their wounds, we found that they cannot heal, regardless of whether the injury is minor or severe. They just keep bleeding..."
Ah Jian calmly relayed the intelligence gathered from all her duplicates.
Standing atop the *She Ri*, Shi Ming’s gaze grew even colder.
"Where is the *Nirvana* now?"
"In the European Sea Region, near the ruins of the Pantheon on what was once Mount Olympus."
’The Pantheon?’
’Not a bad place for it.’
...
...
...
The *Nirvana* hovered in the air.
’For the first target, which beast should I choose? The Creation Celestial Pillar? Or the Candle Mirage?’
’...Never mind.’
’These ants down below seem quite dissatisfied with my divine decree. Even if they obey, they won’t be truly subservient. They probably still harbor some wishful thinking. That kind of hope must be completely crushed.’
’The first target will be humanity, then.’
...
The youth had a profound understanding of human nature.
Thirty years ago, he had activated the Unceasing Water, unleashing disaster upon the world. He had witnessed the struggles of these tenacious ants back then. They would never give up hope unless they were at the end of their rope. And even when all was lost, countless humans would still struggle, refusing to die.
Hmph!
Slicing the *Kindling* apart was a punishment.
The second strike needed to be a demonstration of power!
To break their spines!
The best targets for establishing dominance are the troublemakers and the pillars of their society.
No troublemakers had emerged just yet, but the pillars were the spiritual backbone of their society. As long as he uprooted them and showed these people even one percent of a "god’s" power, he could extinguish any lingering hope.
The youth stretched lazily.
The *Nirvana*’s AI actively infiltrated the databases of the six King-level Wandering Ships via the Celestial Net and quickly compiled a report.
The top 10 most powerful natives on the seas.
The youth lazily tapped the floating screen before him.
10th Place: Charlton Wall, codename "Abyss," skill [Abyss of Devouring], combat record...
Tch.
’This can rank 10th?’
The youth sneered, as if looking at a pile of garbage.
’Natives will be natives.’
9th Place: Rong Bing, skill [Kingly Dominion], combat record...
8th Place: Petrovsky, skill [Chronicles of the Ages], combat record...
7th Place: Olivia Angela, codename "Angel," skill [Advent of the Unbound Demon], combat record...
6th Place: Zhou Huaijin, skill [Veiled Light, Hidden Dust], combat record: none.
5th Place...
The youth’s reading speed wasn’t fast.
Perhaps he was sizing up his prey, or perhaps he just didn’t care all that much.
Soon, he saw the first name on the list, and his interest was finally piqued.
1st Place: Shi Ming,
SSS-rank Awakened, suspected skills [Black Tortoise Shield], [Descent of the Titan], [Ragnarok]. Combat record: Killed the Deep Sea Titan, killed the Dusk Whale, defeated Quert, suspected of destroying the *Black Society* ship, suspected of killing 3 S-rank Awakened who were hunting him, killed the Moonlight Ripple Beast in a joint effort with Rong Bing, single-handedly killed the Great Black Heaven Dragon, suspected of killing an unknown sea beast in the depths of the Sea of Boiling...
Oh?
’Interesting.’
’A mere human, an SSS-rank Awakened, was actually able to kill a Holy Hall-level Sea Beast like the Great Black Heaven Dragon?’
’The skill of that Holy Hall-level Sea Beast probably fell into his hands, then! The number one among these natives is actually not bad.’
’Humans are short-sighted, like frogs in a well. With a "strong" person like this among them, how could they not cling to some wishful thinking?’
’In times of crisis, they yearn for the "advent of a hero"!’
’A hero?’
’How could a hero possibly exist in this world?’
Thirty years ago, he played the part of a false hero. Thirty years later, he had decided to exterminate every hero in this world.
"Analyze Shi Ming’s current location."
While the *Nirvana*’s AI was running its calculations, the youth’s interest was further piqued. He used "the Net" to once again transmit a message to the tens of thousands of Wandering Ships queuing to depart in an orderly fashion below.
"Humans,"
"God is merciful,"
"I have decided to use my precious time to hold an instructional battle with the strongest among you humans."
"This is a god’s mercy."
"If anyone dares to challenge God and can last for three minutes, I will change my strategy and adopt a more lenient approach toward you... You may sign up now. God will be here, accepting the challenges of mortals."
...
His voice was rich and magnetic.
It spread through the Net into the minds of everyone who had a Celestial Net Chip.
Aboard the *Divine Comedy*, "Angel" furrowed her brow. At the same time, on the *Constantinople*, the ship closest to the *Nirvana*, a scorching aura erupted. The scars on Quert’s body burst open as he gathered his strength to leap from the deck.
But at that moment,
a chill cold enough to freeze the soul descended from an infinite height.
A three-hundred-meter-long Frost Greatsword, as if carrying the absolute chill of the Extreme North Ice Eye itself, descended from the heavens.
