Chapter 186
Since Lu Chuan had returned, Starry Ming quickly announced the news to the world. It acted as a strong shot of reassurance for the investigators, whose morale had been shaky.
Of course, Starry Ming was not shy about dumping a good portion of work onto Lu Chuan.
He wanted Lu Chuan to see that the city he, Starry Ming, managed was in no way inferior to Lu Chuan’s.
Lu Chuan also wanted to understand the city’s current state, so he agreed.
But once he took over, he realized the books were an absolute mess.
Starry Ming’s sheer strength meant he could suppress many problems with brute force. But if someone without his ruthlessness took over, the city would likely collapse overnight.
Lu Chuan eventually tossed the ledgers and documents aside.
“Forget it. Better to kill Number 6 as soon as possible and get out of here. That’s far easier than sorting through this mess.”
#888, who had already scanned the ledgers, wholeheartedly agreed.
At present, Number 6 — now the God of Devouring — was building his own divine kingdom.
Only, in His kingdom, there were almost no believers or retainers. He raised only disasters and low- to mid-tier gods He found barely worthy enough to eat.
The God of Devouring understood the danger of killing off the pond to catch the fish. After regaining His mind, He no longer devoured recklessly. Instead, He raised some surrendered mid- and low-tier gods with strong recovery abilities, taking a bite every now and then. With divine resilience, as long as the wound wasn’t fatal, they would eventually heal. And the more followers a god had, the faster they would recover.
This was the main reason the God of Devouring wanted to attack Star City.
After years of development, Star City was widely recognized as humanity’s safest settlement. Nearly half the world’s remaining population lived in or around it. Once Star City fell, humans would provide endless faith to the gods — and the God of Devouring would never have to worry about food again.
That was the common belief.
But Lu Chuan knew better. The God of Devouring had regained His memories. What He wanted most was revenge against the Main God System. But first, He had to leave this instance.
Back when He was only Number 6 the Executor, leaving was already difficult. Now, without the Main God System’s help, His only way out was the most brutal and straightforward:
Destroy the world. Collapse the instance. End it by force.
Unless Lu Chuan found another way to bring Him out, they were destined to clash.
It was a dead end — they had no choice but to kill Number 6.
The problem was, even when He was only Number 6, Lu Chuan couldn’t defeat Him. Now that He had become the God of Devouring, His strength had multiplied. Lu Chuan, Starry Ming, and a group of investigators would be nothing but fodder. Their strongest fighter, Wen Renxu, was still asleep, and waking him might prove difficult.
Lu Chuan had no choice but to sit down with Starry Ming to discuss how to awaken Wen Renxu’s main personality.
That was their best hope of resisting the God of Devouring.
“The Guildmaster said before falling asleep that he wouldn’t have many chances left to wake again, but as for how exactly to rouse him, I don’t know.” Starry Ming sighed. “We’ll have to study what he left behind and see if there’s any clue…”
“Wait—the Guildmaster’s lockbox!” Lu Chuan nearly forgot. Wen Renxu had given him the password.
“It’s with me.” Starry Ming quickly retrieved it.
Lu Chuan’s own lockbox held his divine seed, the Father of Nature’s divine seed, and some tools and gold — items for his personal survival.
By the same logic, if Wen Renxu had suspected he might lose control, he should also have sealed something away.
Lu Chuan entered the password, and the lockbox opened.
Starry Ming immediately leaned closer to see what was inside.
When they finally saw it, their eyes widened.
“The Guildmaster… really is incredible.”
“With this, we don’t have to worry anymore.”
The God of Devouring, once known as Number 6, came to Star City again.
He didn’t approach too closely, but watched from afar.
He had heard of Lu Chuan’s return. He had also heard of the Main God System’s orders.
Just as He would rebel against the Main God if He left this place, here the Main God System was willing to risk exposure to the God of Time rather than let Him live — commanding the other players to kill Him.
But He had already been killed once. This time, He would not wait for death!
Those human players were nothing more than the Main God System’s enforcers.
Executors were almost all transformed gods. Some came from a single god, others from many fused together. But those made from multiple gods almost never recovered their memories. Even if they devoured gods and entered this half-free world, conflicting memories and authorities drove them insane.
For Him to recover His memories was a stroke of immense luck — and it would only happen once.
If He failed here, He would likely be turned into an Executor again. Worse, the Main God System might even drive the other Executors to kill Him and devour Him, plunging them further into madness.
Who could have imagined it? Once, the God of Devouring had been among the highest of the gods, commanding countless followers. Yet now, even after devouring so many gods, regaining His memories, His strength was still less than half of what it had once been.
Among the gods that had revived, only the hated God of Desire, rejected by all the others, was steadily advancing toward full resurrection.
As for Him, His temporary restoration through the Authority of Devouring was only a fleeting spark.
Even He didn’t know how long He could last.
So be it — Heaven’s will toys with gods all the same.
But even if His strength was temporary, He would leave this instance, confront the Main God System, and wash away His humiliation!
“They’re here.” Starry Ming already sensed the looming crisis. Yesterday, he had ordered all the best investigators back to the city. No more forces were to remain outside.
This would be their final war.
If they failed, Number 6 would destroy the world without hesitation. Even those investigators who dreamed of preserving humanity’s last spark wouldn’t succeed.
This time, they had to gamble everything.
“Lord City Master, where is Lord Lu?” an investigator asked curiously.
“He went to see Lord Wen Renxu and will be here soon,” Starry Ming said softly. “All of you—hold your defenses. Keep your potions and weapons at the ready. When the fighting begins, whoever is best prepared will be the one most likely to survive to the last moment. Understand?”
“Understood!”
The God of Devouring saw Star City spring into motion, clearly aware of His presence.
One drawback of regaining memory and power was that the Authority of Devouring was too domineering, and He hadn’t fully restored Himself yet. It was hard to control His strength, so being discovered was natural.
The God of Devouring thought for a moment, then shifted His form back into His old appearance as Number 6.
He hated this form, but it was the one most familiar to Him.
“Starry Ming.” Number 6 raised His head. His voice wasn’t loud, yet it carried clearly into everyone’s ears. “You and I have been locked in this stalemate for so many years. You should know by now you cannot defeat me. Why cling to these humans? Even if I destroy this world, if you’re willing, I can take you with me when I leave.”
They were players, not the same as this world’s humans. Why throw their lives away for them?
But Starry Ming only sneered.
“Save your kindness. We’ll choose our own path. If we follow you, it won’t be long before we’re left with no burial place at all.”
Number 6 had already been branded a traitor by the Main God System. If they left with Him, the very next moment a full-game kill order would descend.
To be honest, although the Devouring God is powerful, in the hearts of the players, the Main God System is still the most powerful.
Besides, Starry Ming wasn’t someone with a heart of stone. His time living in this world far exceeded that of Lu Chuan and Wen Renxu. He personally built Star City into his ideal form, trained one investigator after another until they became trustworthy subordinates. He had poured in so much effort and time that he couldn’t just let it all go to waste, abandon them—Starry Ming could not do it.
Starry Ming was ruthless toward enemies, but he was extremely protective of his own people.
Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many people supporting him as Guildmaster.
“It seems there’s no more room for negotiation.” Number 6 sighed. “In that case, I’ll destroy you along with this city! As for Lu Chuan—stop hiding like a turtle and come out already.”
At this moment, Lu Chuan was cautiously entering the chamber where Wen Renxu was trapped, hoping to wake him.
But when Lu Chuan arrived with the tool at Wen Renxu’s prison, he saw that Wen Renxu, who had been asleep, was now staring straight at him.
Though Wen Renxu stared at him, he said nothing—just bared his white teeth, his eyes filled with hunger.
[H-host… host, the way the guildmaster is staring at you feels familiar,] #888 stammered. [It’s kind of like the Executor before he regained his memory, wanting to eat you.]
“Calm down, Little System. This is just one of Wen Renxu’s personalities.” Lu Chuan steadied his nerves and said calmly, “As long as we awaken the guildmaster’s main personality, everything will be fine. This personality’s appearance is already abnormal.”
Lu Chuan took out an S+ grade item.
It was the same one he and Starry Ming had retrieved from Wen Renxu’s safe.
Just as Lu Chuan had put his most important lifeline inside his safe to substitute his own death, Wen Renxu had placed his hope of awakening himself inside.
Because he knew the only person who could open the safe was Lu Chuan, he placed all his hope in him.
The item Lu Chuan now held was called Time Magic, Wen Renxu’s highest-grade reward from the Forbidden Zone of Humanity dungeon.
No one knew exactly how Wen Renxu obtained it, but at this moment, it was undoubtedly his best chance of recovery.
Time Magic—an S+ grade item, with a cooldown of ten dungeons. When used, it could send a chosen target back to a state before a specific time point, lasting for ten days. After ten days, the effect would end, and everything would revert to its original state. However, there was a chance of failure due to time distortion, and if successful, the target would bear the mark of the God of Time and be specially flagged by the Main God System.
It was nothing short of a divine artifact. If used well, it could even bring someone back from the dead, albeit only for ten days. It was the most heaven-defying tool Lu Chuan had ever seen.
Lu Chuan placed the item before Wen Renxu and activated it.
[Player “Arrival of the God of Wealth” has used the item Time Magic on player “Polaris.”]
[Time Magic has taken effect. Target has been restored to a state before the creation of their eighth personality.]
[The effect will last for 10 days. After 10 days, the state will revert. Please be advised.]
After a moment, Wen Renxu reopened his eyes.
He glanced at Lu Chuan, then at his own bound self, and quipped, “Why are you still standing there like an idiot? Hurry up and unlock these chains, or are you waiting for Number 6 to come in and kill us both?”
Lu Chuan quickly stepped forward, unlocked him with the key Starry Ming had given him.
Wen Renxu was back to the man they all knew.
Rubbing his wrists, he strode out of the chamber with Lu Chuan, asking about the situation along the way.
He didn’t ask why Lu Chuan had restored him to the time before his eighth personality emerged. He understood, and Lu Chuan also understood why that personality had appeared.
“Guildmaster, we’ll definitely win this time.” Lu Chuan asked, “The fact that you still remember me after using Time Magic is proof enough.”
If the eighth personality had emerged before they entered this dungeon, Wen Renxu shouldn’t have any impression of Lu Chuan at all.
“Of course.” Wen Renxu smiled at him. “You and Starry Ming will both make it out of this dungeon. Don’t worry—you two are the future of the Star Guild.”
Lu Chuan looked at him but didn’t press further.
The two of them reached the city gate, which was already in dire straits.
The corpses of investigators were scattered everywhere, but new ones continued charging forward to the front lines.
Lu Chuan had never seen the true form of the Devouring God, but he had seen Number 6’s prototype form.
The enormous being looming outside the city now was far more terrifying than that—its oppressive presence alone was crushing.
The weaker-willed investigators had to keep downing calming potions just to approach the gate without collapsing into madness at the sight of it.
Starry Ming fought at the frontlines.
Armed with countless items, he unleashed his full power defensively, doing everything he could to stop the Devouring God from entering Star City.
He had to buy Lu Chuan and Wen Renxu time!
“Xiao Ming’s come so far. I remember when I first saw him at the orphanage, he was only knee-high. Now look at him, all grown.” Wen Renxu chuckled as he watched the battlefield. “If it weren’t for you, he’d make a fine guildmaster.”
“Guildmaster, I’m strong too.” Lu Chuan was worried Wen Renxu might change his mind.
“That’s why it’s a pity.” Wen Renxu smiled. “But he’s always listened to me. After this dungeon, he won’t be your enemy anymore.”
Just as the Devouring God’s tentacles were about to pierce through Starry Ming, Wen Renxu used Teleportation to pull him to safety.
Starry Ming was drenched in sweat, barely able to stand. Seeing Wen Renxu and Lu Chuan beside him, he choked out, “P-guildmaster…”
“I can hold him back, but I don’t know what kind of power he’ll unleash once restrained. So when the time comes, you’ll need to unleash your strongest attacks.” Wen Renxu said calmly. “After you complete the Main God System’s task, focus on protecting yourselves. Once this timeline converges, I don’t know if you’ll be able to leave this dungeon, but I think… one or two more crossings should be enough to mend it.”
“Guildmaster, won’t you come with us?” Starry Ming asked, summoning his courage.
“Xiao Ming, in this you’re not as sharp as Lu Chuan. He understands—it’s not that I don’t want to leave, but that I can’t.” Wen Renxu smiled. “Even in outside time, I’ve been trapped here for over twenty years. How could I leave? You didn’t meet me in the future—you came to the past, to me twenty years ago. You can’t change that, and I can’t go with you. Xiao Ming, you’re talented, but born at the wrong time. The vice guildmaster is old and wants to retire. Take his place.”
Starry Ming trembled all over. Though already an old man in this world, in that moment he looked like a wronged child.
Wen Renxu’s meaning was clear—he wanted Lu Chuan as guildmaster even more.
“Guildmaster, I…”
“Lu Chuan, you must make the Star Guild thrive. Otherwise, when I break free and return one day, if you’ve failed, I’ll take back the presidency myself.” Wen Renxu laughed, then looked deeply at Lu Chuan. “Even if you have other things to do, take the guild with you. They’ll be your most reliable strength.”
Lu Chuan didn’t speculate what Wen Renxu knew—he just nodded firmly.
Without Wen Renxu, they couldn’t clear this dungeon.
“Enough. Step back.” Wen Renxu raised his hand, looking up at the Devouring God in the sky. “In this dungeon, you’ll be entangled with me for a long time. With your pitiful strength, don’t even dream of challenging the Main God System. You’ve already lost.”
Wen Renxu unleashed his ability—
God’s Descent!
The vice guildmaster had once said Wen Renxu’s ability, God’s Descent, could forcibly contract a god and make its power his own.
But because divine power was not something players could easily control, nearly all gods he had contracted were low or mid-tier. To contract a high-tier god was essentially suicide.
And yet, here and now, Wen Renxu succeeded.
He forcibly contracted the Devouring God.
The god in the sky struggled fiercely against Wen Renxu’s power—and against the Main God System.
All player powers came from the Main God System, and it had distributed bits of divine-slaying strength to qualified players, letting them hunt gods, weaken them, fight for it, and eliminate enemies it couldn’t deal with directly.
The Executor Number 6 receiving a mission related to Wen Renxu was no accident.
[Divine Descent] was successfully activated.
The contract was forcibly established.
“Please… erase, on your own, all memories and power that belong to the [God of Devouring].”
Wen Renxu spat mouthful after mouthful of blood. His body was ravaged by backlash from the ability; he could hardly stay upright, yet he still struggled to give the order.
He hadn’t ordered Number 6 to kill himself. First, because he couldn’t; second, because he didn’t want to satisfy the Main God System by letting a god who resisted it simply perish.
All of Wen Renxu’s various sub-personalities were forced to use every means possible to keep him alive.
They switched abilities back and forth, trying to pull Wen Renxu’s body back from the brink.
But in the end, it was like a drop of water against a raging fire.
The [God of Devouring] lunged at Wen Renxu in fury, wanting to drag this executioner of the Main God System down with Him.
To fall to a human for such a reason? Unforgivable. He refused to return to being that ignorant, unthinking Number 6.
Even if the contract had been forced on Him, He would never bow to a mere human, let alone become Wen Renxu’s weapon.
Lu Chuan saw the [God of Devouring]’s frenzied movement and, without hesitation, hurled himself forward to block the final strike for Wen Renxu.
God of Wealth skill activated.
Gold burned away madly, yet still could not fully block the attack.
All the gold in his personal storage was exhausted, buying at most 0.1 seconds.
If he kept holding out, even Shen Li’s “world of gold” would be drained by half.
Clenching his teeth, Lu Chuan brought out his own Money Tree.
Seeds could be found again; if the golden world was lost, it was lost forever!
If Wen Renxu died and the contract’s power failed to take effect, everything would be over. Rely on him and Starry Ming to withstand the [God of Devouring]’s assault? Better leave that to the Chairman.
[Host!]
888’s voice screamed in Lu Chuan’s mind.
[Host, you’re crazy! Don’t throw away your life for money. Even if you can die once, the pain of death doesn’t go away!]
It’s fine, Little System, I’ve never died once before.
He even handed the position of Chairman to me. I can’t just give nothing in return.
It was just… a pity about his Money Tree.
All Lu Chuan could truly feel was heartache.
Later he’d have to ask Cang Jiu to help find or condense another seed.
The [God of Devouring], forced into the contract, used His remaining strength to strike Wen Renxu in His final moment.
Thus Wen Renxu’s eighth personality was born: cruel, bloodthirsty, constantly struggling against the primary self.
To suppress this persona, Wen Renxu had no choice but to fall into slumber.
When new players entered the dungeon, everything began anew.
Time and space turned.
The power belonging to the [God of Devouring] vanished from the world.
Left in this dungeon was only one figure—restored to human form, once again the Executor Number 6.
