Chapter 38: This Spring Water Can Cleanse the Soul and Enhance Cultivation

"Final Boss? A world glitch?" Lin Feng arched an eyebrow. Far from being afraid, a glint of greed flashed in his eyes.

In his perception, bosses were meant to be cleared, and glitches were meant to be exploited. The greater the risk, the higher the reward!

"System, locate that anomaly! And analyze its origin for me," Lin Feng commanded, full of confidence.

[Ding! Localization initiated... Localization failed! The target possesses an incomprehensible spacetime shroud!]

[Ding! Analysis initiated... Analysis failed! Data stream consumed by unknown laws!]

[Warning! This system is being reverse-tracked by an unknown source! Warning! Firewall breached instantaneously! Warning! Core code being tampered with!]

[Ding... Zzzzt...]

The blue light screen flickered wildly before collapsing into a string of distorted garbled text.

[Detected... higher... level... counterpart... Suggestion... kneel... and sing for mercy...]

The confidence on Lin Feng’s face froze instantly.

He stared blankly at the system screen, now reduced to a pile of gibberish, as a chill shot from the soles of his feet straight to his scalp.

His system—his greatest reliance, the very foundation of his unchecked dominance since he transmigrated—had simply tried to analyze that so-called "anomaly," and it... it went insane?

Kneel and sing for mercy?

What kind of ridiculous prompt was this? Had his system been possessed?

He tried to summon the system, but the only response was the crackling sound of electricity and the meaningless, dancing symbols on the screen.

Fear—an unprecedented, overwhelming fear—gripped his heart.

He was no fool; he realized immediately that he might have kicked an iron plate. No, not an iron plate—it was perhaps a neutron star, a terrifying existence whose density and mass were beyond the limits of his imagination, one he couldn't even approach.

"What... exactly is that thing?" he muttered to himself, his eyes filled with horror and bewilderment.

He did not know that at the very moment he ordered the system to analyze, back in the Gu family courtyard in the Tianyuan Realm, Gu Changsheng, who was drinking tea on a recliner and preparing to nap, suddenly felt an itch on his forehead.

It was as if an invisible mosquito was trying to bite him.

"So annoying."

He subconsciously raised his hand and scratched his brow.

It was such a simple, mundane action that any mortal might perform. Yet, a will that defied description—transcending causality, time, space, and concept itself—traced back along the path of that prying gaze.

This will was not consciously emitted by Gu Changsheng; it was merely an instinct of his nature as the "Primordial Ancestor."

Just as a mortal would instinctively swat at a mosquito, his very "existence" performed an instinctive "purification" of any unauthorized prying.

This will instantly crossed infinite dimensions and descended into the core hub of Lin Feng’s "Super Treasure Hunting System."

It did not destroy the system, for it represented "Order" and "Rules" itself; it understood the system better than the system did.

It simply felt the "little thing's" logic was a bit messy, so it casually "optimized" the code and corrected the "bug."

Thus, the underlying logic of Lin Feng's system was rewritten.

It changed from [Assisting the host in hunting treasures, plundering destiny, and becoming the strongest in the heavens] to [Assisting the host in better understanding the true meaning of 'lying flat,' letting go of fantasies early, and returning to mediocrity.]

Hence, the friendly tip: "Kneel and sing for mercy."

This was a "dimensional strike" from a higher-level existence—silent, invisible, yet undermining everything at the root.

Lin Feng could not possibly understand any of this. He only knew he was in monumental trouble.

He scrambled out of his cave dwelling, staring at the sky as if a massive, invisible eye were watching him. He acted decisively, burning his life essence to unleash his strongest escape technique. Transforming into a streak of light, he fled frantically in the opposite direction of the system's warning, never looking back.

He decided that before he figured out what on earth that "Gu family" was, he would hide—hide to the ends of the earth and never come out again!

...

In the Gu family courtyard, peace reigned.

Gu Changsheng finished scratching his itch, felt much better, and continued happily sipping his "spring water tea."

Uncle Fu had already begun preparing dinner.

He glanced at the Primordial Divine Spring and the willow tree that had transformed into a World Tree, a flash of realization crossing his eyes.

"This old servant understands. The Young Master must find our usual ingredients too pedestrian, so he personally took action to upgrade our 'vegetable garden'."

He walked respectfully under the World Tree and plucked a few of the freshest willow leaves.

Each leaf contained rich laws of life and was a supreme healing medicine.

Then, he went to the Primordial Divine Spring and drew a ladle of water.

This water could cleanse the soul and increase cultivation.

Finally, he scooped a few spoonfuls of rice from the kitchen jar. This rice was grown by the Gu family itself; each grain was crystal clear, as if formed from stars, known as "Star Rice."

Uncle Fu used the Primordial Divine Spring water to wash the Star Rice before placing it in the pot. Then, he chopped the World Tree leaves and sprinkled them in as a garnish.

He used no ordinary fire, but instead channeled a wisp of "Chaos True Fire" from beneath the stove as the heat source.

Soon, an indescribable aroma drifted from the kitchen.

The scent wafted into the noses of Ye Qingxian and Ji Ruxue, who were meditating.

Both women felt their bottlenecks loosen instantly.

Ye Qingxian’s sword cultivation had already seen a qualitative leap due to the "Ten Thousand Weapons Paying Homage," but now, smelling this fragrance, she felt her understanding of the "Sword" climb to a brand new level. Her sword intent was no longer just about sharpness and submission, but now possessed a hint of "vitality" and "creation."

Ji Ruxue felt the Empress Origin within her being cleansed and reshaped by a higher-level power. The Great Dao she had previously cultivated seemed crude and shallow in the face of this aroma.

The two exchanged glances, seeing shock in each other’s eyes.

Just smelling the aroma had such miraculous effects?

If they were to eat a single bite...

They dared not imagine.

Soon, Uncle Fu brought out a few simple "home-cooked dishes."

A bowl of plain white rice, a plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables (grown in Chaos Soil), and a bowl of seaweed egg drop soup (made with the egg of an Undying Divine Phoenix and Primordial Purple Qi).

"Young Master, dinner is served."

Gu Changsheng stretched and walked over to the stone table to sit down.

He picked up his chopsticks and put a mouthful of rice into his mouth.

"Hmm, the rice is good today, softer and stickier than usual." He nodded.

He took a sip of the soup.

"The soup is also fine, quite fresh."

He ate quickly, like a whirlwind, finishing in no time.

Afterward, he habitually poured the remaining grains and soup from his bowl to the little black dog crouching by his feet, wagging its tail.

The little black dog gave a happy bark, stuck out its tongue, and licked the bowl clean.

Then, it let out a burp.

Boom!

A visible shockwave erupted from the center of the little black dog, expanding violently.

Ripples spread through the space of the courtyard.

The willow tree, which had just become a World Tree, was buffeted by the shockwave and swayed violently; its billions of willow branches rustled, as if in alarm.

Gu Changsheng's recliner was overturned by the blast.

"Xiao Hei! You're farting randomly again!" Gu Changsheng said, somewhat annoyed, as he patted the little black dog's head.