"Well……"

An extremely faint groan, like the groan of a newborn bird breaking out of its shell, sounded softly in the deadly green abyss.

Pei Du's head dropped sharply, the muscles in his arms, covered in dark gold lines, tensed instantly like a fully drawn bowstring. His molten-gold pupils fixed fixedly on the pale, almost transparent face in his arms. Xu Shuangyao's eyelashes trembled ever so slightly, like the wings of a startled butterfly, quivering once, then again. Each tremor felt like an invisible thread, tugging fiercely at Pei Du's icy heart, tempered by the core of a star.

Her brows were furrowed, as if she were enduring some unspeakable pain. Even in her coma, her stubbornness was still palpable. From her slightly parted lips, a breath, faint as a gossamer, yet carrying a hint of the warmth and moisture of a living being, gently brushed against the skin of Pei Du's wrist, which was covered in dark gold patterns. This subtle touch, like the first ray of candlelight in the darkness, instantly dispelled the numbness and emptiness that remained in Pei Du's consciousness, brought on by the annihilation of chaos and the washing away of the Mother Tree's will.

She's still alive!

The immense impact of this realization was so profound that even the dark gold lines covering his body glowed faintly with a warm halo. He subconsciously folded his arms, wrapping the slender, cold body that bore the weight of his protection even tighter, almost clumsily, against his chest. It was as if he wanted to use his newly reshaped body, still bearing the mark of the Throne of Thorns, to shield her from all the malice and coldness of the world.

However, the excitement of surviving the disaster did not last long.

Buzz——!

A massive, chaotic, and painful torrent of will, yet carrying an unprecedented... clear direction, descended with a thunderous force, like a giant star beast that had slumbered for billions of years, slowly opening an eye. This will did not originate from the outside world, but rather came directly from the cold, majestic Throne of Thorns beneath Pei Du, entwined with new thorns and withered roots!

Pei Du's golden pupils suddenly shrank!

This will was familiar to him! It was the Mother Tree! It was that vast, tormented, chaotic mass of life! But now, this will pierced through the previous madness and hunger, the weakness and chaos brought on by the detonation of the annihilation field, and became clearer than ever before... Clearer than ever! As clear as an icy blade, it reached the very core of his consciousness!

"source……"

"assimilation……"

"Integrate...into..."

The vast, chaotic fragments of thought, no longer vague calls or painful screams, carried an unquestionable, almost commanding will, like billions of cold vines, instantly entwining Pei Du's mind! It pointed clearly to one goal: integration! Completely merge with this wasteland, with the will of this suffering mother tree! Become part of its chaotic life form, become part of the root of its suffering!

"Ugh!" Pei Du groaned, and the dark gold lines covering his body erupted with dazzling light in response, like a branding iron plunged into icy water, emitting a sizzling sound of resistance! The high-level instincts of the "source blood" that originated from the deepest part of the star core source blood produced a fierce, essential rejection of the mother tree's forced "assimilation" will!

The Throne of Thorns trembled violently! Countless sharp thorns entwined within it uttered a grinding sound, growing madly, twisting, and pointing towards Pei Du at the center of the throne! Newly sprouted shoots, emitting a faint, pure green light, were driven by the mother tree's will, like greedy tentacles, rapidly entwining themselves around Pei Du's body! The pitch-black roots beneath his feet, like animated giant pythons, surged upward, attempting to drag the entire throne, along with Pei Du, into the chaotic core deep beneath the earth!

Assimilation! The Mother Tree exploited the Throne of Thorns as a crucial juncture, taking advantage of Pei Du's weakness, as he had just rebuilt his body, hadn't yet fully mastered his power, and had established a deep connection with the throne. It launched a final, forced assimilation! It wanted to completely devour this "source," making him a part of its chaotic life!

"Get out of here!" Pei Du roared, suppressed with fury! He suddenly straightened his back, and the dark golden lines covering his body flowed and lit up like molten gold! A cold and domineering will, emanating from the core of the star's blood, slashed fiercely at the entangled chaotic assimilation will like a fierce blade unsheathed!

boom!

The invisible collision of wills exploded on the plane of consciousness! The Throne of Thorns groaned under the weight of its weight, and the thorns and tender shoots that had entangled it were instantly shattered and withered! But more vines and roots surged in like a tide! The Mother Tree's will was vast and chaotic, like a viscous swamp. Pei Du's sharp yet isolated will to resist was like a blade stuck in the mire. Every strike consumed a huge amount of energy, but it was difficult to truly escape the ubiquitous assimilation and erosion!

What shocked him even more was Xu Shuangyao in his arms!

The moment the Mother Tree's will forcibly descended, attempting to assimilate Pei Du, the unconscious Xu Shuangyao's body trembled violently! An extremely abnormal, pale green aura, like plant veins, instantly appeared on her pale face! That aura rapidly flowed beneath her skin, carrying a chaotic vitality, creating a violent conflict with the remaining energy of the Cradle Program within her body, which had been forcibly suppressed by Pei Du!

"Hmm..." Xu Shuangyao groaned in pain. Even in her deep coma, her body instinctively curled up, as if resisting the crazy tearing of the two forces in her body! Her weak breath, which had just stabilized due to the protection of Pei Du's true spirit, became disordered and rapid again!

The assimilation and erosion of the Mother Tree's will was not just aimed at Pei Du! Its chaotic energy and will were also trying to contaminate and assimilate the "special container" in Pei Du's arms that had absorbed the star core blood and the essence of the Mother Tree!

My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!