All Realms and Worlds: The Lost Home

Lin Nannan collapsed within the purple-robed man's energy restraints, her limbs bent at bizarre angles. Blood seeping from her broken limbs congealed into tiny droplets in the void, only to be instantly torn apart by the gale. Shen Jianxin lay sprawled on the energy barrier not far away, blood still gushing from the wound on his chest. But the excruciating physical pain paled in comparison to the despair and rage surging in his heart.

He stared intently at the fragile body of the young girl, watching the purple-robed man's cold fingertips press against Lin Nannan's brow, watching her tightly closed eyes tremble slightly from the intense pain. The taut string in his mind finally snapped completely. "Nannan..." Shen Jianxin's voice was hoarse and broken, like a piece of iron being ground down by a gale. He tried to struggle to crawl over, but it felt as if all the bones in his body had been shattered. Every movement brought excruciating pain to his internal organs, and he could only let the feeling of powerlessness engulf him like a tidal wave.

Just then, wisps of black energy slowly seeped from Shen Jianxin's pores. The black energy was turbid and viscous, carrying a chilling aura that devoured everything. It collided with the remaining azure spiritual energy around him, producing a faint "sizzling" sound. His eyes, which were originally clear, were gradually covered by a thin mist of blood red, and blood vessels spread like a spider web. A violent ferocity surged deep in his pupils, and his reason was being swallowed up little by little by the surging darkness.

"Shen Jianxin, you must stay rational!" A faint yet clear voice echoed in his mind, filled with longing and concern for life. "If you die, you'll never be able to go home again! Your parents are still waiting for you, your younger brother is still hoping you'll come back and buy him candy. Have you forgotten? Have you forgotten that you've spent so many years in seclusion, enduring hardship and cultivating, all so that one day you could return to Earth and be with them?"

Yes, home. These two words, like a glimmer of light, briefly illuminated Shen Jianxin's consciousness shrouded in darkness. He remembered that evening before his transmigration, his younger brother tugging at his clothes, saying in a childish voice, "Brother, come back soon"; he remembered his parents waving goodbye at the door, their eyes filled with reluctance. Over the years, he had carefully concealed his identity in the prehistoric world, cultivating diligently, enduring countless scornful looks and perilous journeys, never giving up the thought of returning home. He was afraid of something happening to him, afraid of never seeing his family again.

But the next second, another violent and seductive voice boomed in his mind, overwhelming that faint shred of reason: "Shen Jianxin, are you even a man?" The voice was filled with mockery and resentment, "Watching your fellow Earthlings being wantonly insulted and having their limbs broken by these CS players, while you lie here like a dead dog, unable to do anything, what are you waiting for?"

Shen Jianxin's body shuddered violently, and the black energy seeped out even more rapidly, almost engulfing his body. The voice continued to bewitch him: "For so many years, you've suppressed that power to devour everything, afraid of losing control, afraid of harming the innocent. But what's the result? The harder you suppress it, the weaker you become. Now you're at the mercy of others. If you hadn't suppressed it, with the strength of your Devouring Body, you would have already roamed the primordial world. How could you be like this now, unable to even protect a little girl?"

The Devouring Body. This was Shen Jianxin's greatest secret, and also his deepest shackle for many years. He was neither a native cultivator of the prehistoric world nor an ordinary transmigrator—from the moment he arrived in the prehistoric world, he awakened the rare Devouring Body, capable of devouring all energy in the world, whether it be spiritual energy, demonic energy, or the life force and negative energy of living beings' emotions. This physique was incredibly powerful, but once out of control, it would turn him into a monster who only knew how to devour.

To avoid harming the innocent and to prevent others from discovering his special physique, Shen Jianxin had been forcibly suppressing this power, cultivating only with the most ordinary techniques and deliberately concealing his strength. Even when bullied, he mostly endured and yielded. He thought that as long as he was cautious enough, he could safely find his way home. But now, Lin Nannan's tragic state was like a sharp knife, piercing through all his pretense and restraint.

"Stop suppressing it!" that violent voice roared in his mind. "Eat up all the negative energy in this world! Anger, pain, violence, despair... these are the most useless negative energies. Eat them up, and you'll strengthen yourself without harming innocent lives. Why not?"

The crimson mist grew increasingly dense in Shen Jianxin's eyes, and black energy coiled around his body, writhing like a living thing. His reason was struggling frantically, torn between his concern for his family and his fear of losing control, and his overwhelming hatred for the Blazing Sun Realm and his resentment at his own powerlessness. These two thoughts clashed violently in his mind, causing his head to throb with pain, and he let out a low, painful roar.

Just as Shen Jianxin was on the verge of losing control, Lie Yangzi's icy voice rang out again: "Don't waste time, search her soul immediately! I need to know the whereabouts of the Divine Spear, and the secret behind the disappearance of her time-traveling ability. Even if it means shattering her soul, I must dig it out!"

"Yes, Lord of the Realm!" The two purple-robed men holding Lin Nannan responded in unison. One of them raised his hand, a wisp of pure purple divine sense gathering at his fingertips, and without hesitation, probed towards Lin Nannan's brow. The divine sense carried a powerful penetrating force, like a sharp needle, instantly piercing into Lin Nannan's sea of ​​consciousness.

"Ugh..." Lin Nannan, who had been unconscious, suddenly let out a painful groan under the stimulation of her consciousness, and her eyes were forced open. Her eyes were unfocused and bloodshot, and her face was still wet with tears and painful tear stains. The excruciating pain of her broken limbs was like a leech, and every breath pulled at her nerves, making her tremble uncontrollably.

"It's good that you're awake." The purple-robed man said expressionlessly, taking out a jet-black pill with his other hand. He forcefully pinched Lin Nannan's chin and shoved the pill into her mouth. The pill melted instantly in her mouth, and a chilling energy spread throughout her body, protecting her soul on the verge of collapse. "This is a Soul-Stabilizing Pill. It will keep your soul intact during the soul search, preventing you from dying immediately." The purple-robed man's voice was icy and ruthless. "Cooperate obediently, and you might suffer less pain."

Lin Nannan swallowed the Soul-Stabilizing Pill with difficulty, her consciousness gradually clearing, but with it came a deeper fear and despair. She knew that the Soul Search meant all her secrets would be exposed—her identity as a transmigrator from Earth, the existence of the Homecoming System, the truth about how she teleported the Divine Spear, and her longing for Earth and her family. If Lie Yangzi found out about these secrets, not only would she be doomed, but it might also bring annihilation to Earth.

She absolutely could not let the secret be revealed! Not even at the cost of her life!

Lin Nannan's limbs were firmly bound by purple energy, rendering her completely immobile; she could only slightly turn her head. Her gaze swept across her surroundings. The endless void was pitch black and deep, with violent gales howling and swirling outside the purple-robed man's protective aura, like hungry beasts ready to tear apart any living thing that approached. She was currently on the edge of the protective aura; if she struggled even slightly, her body would be caught in the gales and instantly torn to shreds.

The shadow of death, like a cold, venomous snake, coiled tightly around her heart. She was so afraid, so very afraid. She had only just started junior high, hadn't had a chance to truly see the world, hadn't had a chance to say goodbye to her parents, hadn't even had a chance to taste her grandmother's braised pork—how could she die here? She wanted to go home, to be back in her parents' arms, to hear her grandmother sing one more time, to run with her younger brother in the sunshine…

Tears streamed down Lin Nannan's cheeks again, blurring her vision. Her body trembled uncontrollably with fear, her teeth biting her lower lip until she tasted the strong metallic flavor of blood, barely managing to compose herself. She knew she had no way out. Soul Search meant death, a death worse than death, with her secrets exposed; while willingly throwing herself into the Void Storm, though it would be a painful death, would allow her to protect all her secrets and preserve her last shred of dignity.

Just then, a distant yet warm memory flooded her mind like a glimmer of light. It was from her childhood, when whenever she woke up from a nightmare or cried after falling down because of being naughty, her grandmother would always hold her in her arms, gently pat her back, and sing a tender lullaby: "Little insects fly~ Little insects fly~ Who are you thinking of~"

Grandma's voice was gentle and kind, carrying a faint warmth that seemed to dispel all fear and pain. A faint, bitter smile slowly curved Lin Nannan's lips, the fear in her eyes gradually replaced by resolve. She turned her head slightly, gazing towards the direction of the primordial wilderness, as if she could see her home on Earth, far away, and her beloved family through the endless void.

"The little insects fly~ The little insects fly~ Who are you thinking of~" Lin Nannan's voice was weak and hoarse, with a sob in it, yet it rang out clearly in the raging wind. The song was so gentle that it was unbelievable, out of place in this void filled with blood and violence, like the last firefly in the darkness, fragile yet persistent.

Not far away, Shen Jianxin, who was struggling on the edge of reason and darkness, shuddered violently upon hearing the familiar song. The blood-red mist in his eyes froze instantly, and the black aura seeping out also paused for a moment. He abruptly raised his head, his turbid gaze fixed on Lin Nannan's direction, his eyes surging with disbelief.

He had heard this song before. It was the gentlest lullaby in the childhoods of countless children on Earth, a hometown imprint etched into their very bones. In this distant and cruel primordial void, in this life-or-death moment, this familiar song exploded in his mind like a thunderclap, instantly awakening all his memories of his hometown.

He saw the bitter smile on Lin Nannan's lips, the resolute light in her eyes, and a strong sense of unease instantly rose in his heart. "No! Nannan! No!" Shen Jianxin roared, desperately trying to get up. Black energy and spiritual energy collided wildly within his body, and the surrounding void began to tremble violently. He knew what she was going to do; she was going to end it all in the most tragic way.

But he was still a step too late.

Just as Shen Jianxin roared, Lin Nannan abruptly closed her eyes, using the last bit of strength in her body to tilt her head back. With a slight strain on her neck and a resolute posture, she instantly broke free from the protective aura of the purple-robed man and peered out into the raging void storm.

The purple-robed man's expression changed, and he instinctively tried to pull her back, but it was too late. The raging void winds, like sharp blades, instantly swept over Lin Nannan's head. With a piercing "sizzle," accompanied by the purple-robed man's scream and Shen Jianxin's heart-wrenching roar, Lin Nannan's head was instantly torn apart. Blood and bits of flesh splattered in the wind, quickly obliterated by the violent energy, leaving only the unfinished song echoing in the void.

The body, with its limbs severed and no longer supported by its head, swayed slightly under the binding of purple energy before utterly losing all life. Those once clear and bright eyes, that childlike smile, that gentle song—all vanished into the endless void at that moment.

Shen Jianxin froze on the spot, his eyes wide open, a thin, blood-red mist completely obscuring their color. Black energy erupted from his body like a tsunami, instantly engulfing the void within dozens of feet around him. A low, ferocious roar escaped his throat, not a cry, but a beast-like howl on the verge of madness. The last vestige of reason in his mind was completely swallowed by darkness the moment Lin Nannan's head was torn apart.

"ah--!"

A furious roar shook the void. From within the black mist, Shen Jianxin's figure slowly floated up, his devouring power surging wildly around him. Even the surrounding void winds, the stench of blood, and the negative energy emanating from Lie Yangzi and his group were continuously absorbed by him. His aura surged at a visible speed, and his originally severely injured body rapidly healed under the nourishment of the devouring power. The wound on his chest gradually scabbed over and fell off, and the broken bones emitted subtle healing sounds.

Lie Yangzi's expression changed drastically. Looking at the terrifying devouring power emanating from Shen Jianxin, a hint of apprehension flashed in his eyes: "What kind of physique is this? It can actually devour energy?" He instinctively took a step back, waving his hand to signal the purple-robed man to prepare defenses. "Quick, stop him! We can't let him fully awaken!"

The two purple-robed figures immediately responded, their purple energy surging as they rushed towards Shen Jianxin, gathering sharp energy beams in their hands and blasting them at him. However, the energy beams were instantly devoured as soon as they approached the black aura surrounding Shen Jianxin, without even causing a ripple.

Shen Jianxin slowly lowered his head, his blood-red pupils devoid of any emotion, only filled with icy killing intent and violent ferocity. His gaze was fixed on Lie Yangzi and the two purple-robed men, black energy condensing in his hand into a jet-black longsword, its blade gleaming with a chilling luster and exuding a terrifying aura that could devour everything.

In the void not far away, the Chaos Gods also stopped their mockery, watching Shen Jianxin's transformation with astonishment and curiosity in their eyes. The Flame Demon stroked the giant axe in his hand, a hint of excitement in his voice: "Interesting. I didn't expect such a peculiar physique to exist in this primordial world. This is going to be good!"

Hongjun stood before the golden light barrier, watching Shen Jianxin unleash his full power. His brows furrowed, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. He could clearly sense that the devouring power within Shen Jianxin was extremely formidable. If allowed to spiral out of control, not only would Lieyangzi and his group be in danger, but the entire prehistoric world would likely be affected. Yet, he still couldn't act rashly at this moment. The Chaos Demon God was still watching with predatory intent; if he were to be distracted by dealing with Shen Jianxin, he would inevitably give the Chaos Demon God an opportunity to strike.

Gripping the jet-black Devouring Sword, Shen Jianxin moved swiftly, transforming into a streak of black light as he hurtled towards Lie Yangzi and his group. His speed was incredible; he instantly covered dozens of feet, his sword carrying a violent devouring power as it slashed fiercely at the two purple-robed men holding Lin Nannan's body.

The purple-robed man's face turned deathly pale. He instinctively raised his energy barrier to defend himself, but under the bombardment of the Devouring Sword, the energy barrier shattered instantly. The devouring power spread along the sword into their bodies, frantically consuming their cultivation and life force. The two purple-robed men let out shrill screams as their bodies withered away at a visible speed, quickly turning into two skeletons, which were completely swallowed by the black energy.

Seeing this, Lie Yangzi's fear intensified. Purple lightning surged around him, condensing into a massive lightning dragon that lunged fiercely at Shen Jianxin. "You ignorant brat! Even with your special physique, you dare to be so presumptuous in front of me!" Lie Yangzi roared, a hint of barely perceptible panic in his voice.

Shen Jianxin showed no fear, gripping the Devouring Sword and charging straight towards the thunder dragon. The pitch-black sword clashed with the purple thunder dragon, producing a deafening roar. The thunder dragon's power was continuously devoured by the Devouring Sword, quickly dimming and finally dissipating completely into the black mist.

Shen Jianxin was unharmed, but the black aura around him grew thicker and his aura became increasingly violent. He raised his head, his blood-red pupils fixed on Lie Yangzi, and walked towards him step by step. With each step he took, the void trembled violently, as if it were about to be torn apart by the devouring power beneath his feet.