Shinji, exploring within the pollution zone, carefully observed everything around him.
The Plague Hegemon's ability was indeed unsolvable, but from another perspective, as long as you yourself were strong enough, you could withstand the Plague Hegemon's pollution head-on for a short time.
Just like Shinji right now. As a 'Lampbearer,' as long as he wasn't directly attacked by the Hegemon or its creations, he was immune to the pollution scattered in the world by the Hegemon.
Therefore, even within the pollution zone, as long as the Hegemon's pollution couldn't break through his chakra cloak and directly corrode his body, exploring this pollution zone would only cost him some chakra consumption.
Of course, this was also because Shinji was special enough.
If he were merely a 'Lampbearer,' or merely a "Six Paths Level" powerhouse, he wouldn't be as relaxed as he was now.
But after fusing the abilities of "Six Paths Level" and 'Lampbearer,' the result was completely different.
Not long after, Shinji arrived at the center of this pollution zone.
In his sight was a large crater about seven or eight meters in diameter. Inside the crater was a stone emitting a faint green glow.
Shinji carefully observed the surroundings and found that this crater was very likely a small meteorite crater, and the stone emitting the faint green glow inside might be the meteorite that fell from the sky and created this crater.
"Could this be the Plague Hegemon's way of polluting the world?"
Shinji didn't rashly approach the meteorite in the crater.
In his perception, there was nothing noteworthy in the crater, yet his vision clearly showed a stone glowing green. This undoubtedly indicated that what was on the stone was some kind of power undetectable by his perception.
The unknown not only bred fear but also represented danger!
However, Shinji didn't hesitate for too long. The current situation didn't allow him to retreat. So he reached out his right hand towards the stone in the crater, activating "Banshō Ten'in" (Universal Pull) to slowly pull the stone out of the crater and lift it into mid-air.
"Sure enough!"
Soon, Shinji confirmed that the source of pollution in this forbidden zone was this stone glowing with an eerie green light, because he found that even the attractive force generated by his "Banshō Ten'in" was severely corroded and faintly uncontrollable.
Snap...
Shinji released the dojutsu, letting the stone fall back into the crater.
Then he squinted slightly, raised his hand to condense a "Truth-Seeking Ball," and with a thought, urged the "Truth-Seeking Ball" to crash into the stone that had fallen back into the crater.
Bang!
Instantly, a muffled sound rang out from the crater.
"!?"
Shinji's gaze froze, and his expression became solemn.
His "Truth-Seeking Ball" actually canceled out with that stone glowing with faint green light. His "Truth-Seeking Ball" completely disappeared, and the stone was also missing a third.
Outside the forbidden zone.
Whether it was Alice, "Arcane," or the accompanying high-level mages, after leaving the forbidden zone, they all sat on the ground panting heavily, swaying side to side, completely devoid of any image.
"Inside the pollution zone, my mana was completely suppressed!"
"Me too!"
"It was terrifying!"
After catching their breath, several high-level mages discussed with lingering fear.
Alice and "Arcane" didn't participate in the discussion but stared fixedly at the forbidden zone.
Seeming to have endured for a long time, "Arcane" finally couldn't help but ask: "Who exactly is this 'Crimson Eye'?"
Alice shook her head.
Initially, she thought Shinji was just the common type of newcomer in the circle earning 'Embers.' After experiencing the 'T33' incident together, she found Shinji far stronger than average newcomers, and possessing a sense of justice and courage to face the Hegemon directly, so she absorbed Shinji into her small circle.
However, after experiencing what just happened, she realized Shinji was far stronger than she imagined.
"Even a 'Lampbearer' can only be immune to the Hegemon's information pollution and the dispersed energy pollution. An environment like the forbidden zone, ordinary 'Lampbearers' simply can't withstand it. How on earth did he do it?"
One question after another welled up in her heart.
At this time, the high-level mages who had recovered came to Alice and "Arcane."
One of them said: "Rafal, the situation here is worse than we expected. We must notify the Supreme Council immediately!"
"Arcane" said: "Please wait a moment, everyone!"
A female mage said angrily: "What are you waiting for? This concerns the safety of the entire world, how can we delay?"
"Arcane" shook his head: "Crimson Eye hasn't returned yet!"
"Him?!" Pausing, the female mage said coldly: "That's him seeking death!"
Another high-level mage said: "Rafal, aren't you clear about the situation inside the forbidden zone? Unless it's the few Supreme Sorcerers, no life can survive in that kind of place. He must have died inside!"
Several other high-level mages also chimed in.
In their view, as noble high-level mages, they couldn't gain a foothold in the forbidden zone, so a guy of unknown identity like Shinji was even less likely. Therefore, since Shinji hadn't come out for so long, he must have died inside.
Alice said: "Then you go report to the Supreme Council first. I can stay here alone to wait for him!"
Boom...
Just as "Arcane" was about to agree, a roar suddenly came from inside the forbidden zone.
Then everyone visibly noticed that some changes seemed to have occurred in the forbidden zone before them. The aura of decay and rot from before was clearly dissipating.
"Was that noise just now an explosion?"
"The sound seemed to come from inside the forbidden zone!"
"What happened there?"
The high-level mages began to whisper.
"Arcane" stared at the forbidden zone and said: "Is it my illusion? Why do I feel like something has changed in the forbidden zone?"
Alice said: "No, it's not an illusion. The pollution level of the forbidden zone is indeed dropping!"
Then, realizing something, the two looked at each other and said in unison: "Is it Crimson Eye?"
Sure enough, Shinji's figure soon appeared in everyone's vision.
Seeing Shinji walking out of the forbidden zone alone, safe and sound, behaving calmly without a hint of panic, the high-level mages all looked shocked and suspicious.
These high-level mages were all favored children of heaven in the 'Six Rings World,' the strongest below the six Supreme Sorcerers. Even they couldn't stand in the forbidden zone; they found it hard to imagine how a guy of unknown identity and without mana fluctuations on his body managed to do it.
Equally puzzled were Alice and "Arcane."
When Shinji walked up slowly, Alice and "Arcane" couldn't help asking in unison: "Did you do it?"
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