In this swamp, an occasional bubble would surface, shattering into the air. Ye Chen approached slowly, scanning his surroundings but detecting nothing unusual.

His gaze flickered, and he stepped toward the center of the mire, his feet treading on the air barely two inches above the swamp surface, one measured step after another. The perimeter of the entire swamp was choked with thickets, withered forests, broken logs, and towering miasma, resembling a primeval wasteland.

Ye Chen moved only a few paces, and still, the swamp remained still. His eyes flashed, and his body gradually relaxed, feigning a lapse in vigilance as he let out a light breath.

Just then—swish! A black shadow erupted from the depths of the swamp, shooting upwards, its cavernous maw wide open to viciously snap down on him.

“Halt!” Ye Chen tapped a finger, and the entire space-time continuum nearby froze. The shadow, moments from severing his foot, was rigidly suspended in mid-air.

The creature resembled a monstrous feline, its head like a bizarre fish, yet its entire body was covered in fur—upon closer inspection, those hairs proved to be countless small tentacles. Ye Chen’s expression turned cold.

With a flip of his palm, he opened the Rune Space and, with a great grasp, yanked the little Black out. “Hurry and enter its body; take control of it,” Ye Chen whispered.

The body Little Black currently inhabited belonged to the patriarch of the Fengyue family, an elderly man in black robes, whose face was now etched with astonishment. “What is this?” Ye Chen frowned.

Little Black immediately ceased speaking. Through long acquaintance, it was intimately familiar with Ye Chen’s habits.

With a swift motion, it crawled out of the black-robed elder’s ear. Its sphere-like body navigated toward the monster’s mouth—which was still dripping with swamp muck—and burrowed inside, fusing with the flesh and blood.

When this monstrous beast had been immobilized by the Replica Universe Disc, its brain cells had already been destroyed by Ye Chen. It was merely a corpse; defeating a Pseudo-God level creature was effortless for a domain-type divine artifact like the Replica Universe Disc.

The corpse of the black-robed elder floated suspended in the air. With a thought from Ye Chen, it was drawn into the Rune Space.

He cancelled the control exerted by the Replica Universe Disc over time and space, and instantly heard Little Black’s voice emanating from the beast’s mouth: “Boss, I’m set up. What now?” Ye Chen did not hesitate.

“Swallow me.” “Uh…” Little Black was momentarily stunned. “Hurry,” Ye Chen urged, frowning.

The beast was thirty feet long, so swallowing Ye Chen was no great feat; its stomach capacity was more than sufficient. Little Black said no more, and following Ye Chen’s command, it opened its massive jaws to their full extent.

Ye Chen moved his body, slipping into the mouth, feet first, then his head. His entire being felt like it was sliding down a slick, slimy intestinal tract, accompanied by a pervasive stench of rot.

He suppressed his sense of smell, burying himself deep within the beast’s abdomen, transmitting a message via brainwave directly to Little Black: “Did you locate this monster’s memories? We need to head for the passage leading to the Central Zone of the Great Dark World.” Little Black’s voice returned: “Received.

Settle in, I’m taking off.” Ye Chen lay still in the monster’s belly, feeling the intense gastric acid beginning to burn the surface of his clothes. Fortunately, these garments were a peak Pseudo-God set, not easily corroded.

Once Ye Chen was settled, the beast slowly hauled itself out of the mire. With a surge, it bolted toward the distance, traversing the desolate, sandy ground.

Not long after, it arrived at a city. Within this city, there were no residents, only strictly disciplined soldiers, patrolling lights, and intelligent system detectors shrouding the vicinity.

The monster’s arrival immediately drew the attention of the Dark Creature soldiers on the ramparts. One soldier, six feet tall, sporting six heads, covered in red scales and flicking a serpentine tongue, brandished a long spear and barked, “What business do you have here?” Little Black’s voice issued from the monster’s mouth: “I wish to enter the interior of the Great Dark World.

I request passage, esteemed one.” The soldier peered down at the monster, a sneer playing on his lips, and stated coldly, “You, a low-caste subject of our clan, seeking entry into the sacred interior, require application and payment. Furthermore, you may only remain on the outer periphery for three days.

When the time is up, those inside will summon you out.” The monster nodded hastily. “Thank you, esteemed one.” “Your fee?” The six-headed, red-scaled figure, hideous in appearance, raised an eyebrow.

“One and a half God-Tribute for a Pseudo-God Heart.” The monster fell silent. At this moment, Little Black queried Ye Chen via telepathic link: “Boss, should we go in?” Ye Chen transmitted back: “Yes.” Little Black gave a wry chuckle.

“But I don’t have a heart.” Ye Chen pondered briefly. “Dig out the black-robed elder’s heart and give it to him.” Little Black paused, then managed a wry smile.

“Very well.” Cooperating with Ye Chen, it opened its jaws and spat out the Rune Space. The black-robed elder’s body tumbled out before the monster’s mouth.

With a slight slit of its grotesque fangs, it carved an opening across the elder’s chest. Mobilizing Pseudo-God power, it formed a hand and reached inside, extracting a bloody heart.

The soldier’s eyes lit up instantly upon seeing the heart. He exclaimed in delight, “A Pseudo-God Heart!” Little Black, controlling the monster’s throat cavity, asked, “Is this acceptable?” The soldier nodded repeatedly, excitement coloring his tone.

“Of course, of course!” Little Black inquired, “Can I enter now?” The soldier’s attitude immediately softened toward Little Black, and he smiled. “You may.

Enjoy your visit!” Saying this, he took the heart, his eyes shining with joy, and stepped aside to clear the passage. Little Black crawled through unhurriedly.

Once inside the city gate, it immediately accelerated. Beyond the gate was a long tunnel lined with small metallic compartments.

The tunnel tube seemed forged of crystal, transparent and gleaming, extending from this planet out into space, connecting to the distant darkness of the night sky. Little Black arrived before this passage.

Several rows of impassive guards stood before the tunnel. Upon spotting the monster, they simply opened a metal door.

A guard stepped inside, and Little Black followed. The metal door sealed shut, revealing a compartment that was surprisingly luxurious and spacious, containing only Little Black and the cold-faced guard.

Little Black swayed its head, looking around curiously. “This is how one enters the interior?

We ride this?” The guard glanced at it dismissively. “This is a Metal Space Conduit.

We are currently aboard an orbital vessel. Though it resembles a compartment, it is actually a ship, traveling at ten times the speed of light—superimposed upon light speed!

That is, traveling at 10x Light Speed!” Little Black gasped in astonishment. “Ten times light speed?” The guard nodded slightly, showing a flicker of impatience.

Little Black asked curiously, “How long will the journey take?” The guard stated flatly, “Ten days!” Little Black exclaimed, “Ten times light speed still takes ten days?!” The guard’s expression grew impatient. “Are you finished yet?” Little Black considered this.

“For now, yes.” The guard nearly choked on his own breath and rolled his eyes. “You will remain here for these ten days.

I am going for a rest. Don’t touch anything; there are many mechanisms inside.” Little Black grinned.

“Time is long; why don’t we chat and enjoy some drinks?” The guard sneered. “A low-caste subject is always a low-caste subject.

I’m not as idle as you; I still have cultivation to attend to.” Little Black was unconcerned. “You cultivate so diligently, yet you’re only at the Half-God realm.

I’m already Pseudo-God level. Who exactly is this ‘subject’ you keep mentioning?” The guard felt stung by the remark and couldn't help but flare up.

“I’m talking about you! What?

Do you dare fight? This vessel has built-in safety measures.

If I activate them, even your Pseudo-God strength will be reduced to dust!” Little Black yawned. “I know.

So, I’m the subject. You rest; I’ll rest too.

Don’t stoop to a subject’s level.” The guard clearly missed the verbal trap Little Black had set and sneered, “Good that you know. Being of low lineage requires the awareness of a low lineage!” Little Black nodded repeatedly.

“Yes, yes, I am low. So very low, beneath even a subject.

Alas, what shame, what shame!” The guard said calmly, “You don’t need to be overly self-deprecating, just remember to carry that subject’s awareness from now on.” Little Black nodded. “I feel my awareness of being a subject is quite high.” The guard frowned, sensing something amiss but unable to articulate it.

He impatiently waved his hand. “Stop the nonsense and don’t disturb me.” He then walked into the rest area and closed the door.

Watching his retreating back, Little Black spat contemptuously. “That little worm, daring to call me a subject in front of your Grandpa Black!

I’ll subject your sister, your whole family, your ancestors! I’ll subject you to death!” Ye Chen, disinclined to listen to language so devoid of human decency, stated coldly, “Do not cause further trouble.” Little Black rolled his eyes.

“If it were you, this kid would probably be dead by now. And you’re lecturing me.” “We rest for these ten days,” Ye Chen said, settling down inside the monster’s belly and closing his eyes.

His final words were, “He is already a dead man; there is no need to pay him any mind.” Before coming here, he had gleaned some information about the Dark Creatures of the Great Dark World and was not surprised. In that world, the bloodline hierarchy was extremely rigid.

If one possessed noble lineage, their status was higher, allowing them to command Dark Creatures of lower bloodlines as servants, regardless of their own strength. The system of bloodline hierarchy here was exceptionally severe.

Therefore, even though this guard was only a Half-God realm creature, he dared to treat the Pseudo-God level monster controlled by Little Black with such contempt, illustrating how exaggerated the bloodline system was here. After speaking, Ye Chen drifted into a deep slumber.

The intense effort expended in meticulously engraving the secret patterns onto the Blazing God Hammer had left him utterly exhausted. He had been relying solely on stimulants to maintain his mental clarity.

Now, trapped inside this monster’s gut, unable to access the virtual world or deploy the Blazing God Hammer, sleep was his only recourse. And in that sleep, it felt as if a thousand years passed.