The Gentleman at the End
Chapter 401 - Chapter 401 Chapter 400 Baptism

Chapter 401: Chapter 400: Baptism Chapter 401: Chapter 400: Baptism As the boat continued deeper into the lake, the minced-flesh fog gradually dissipated,

revealing an awe-inspiring structure that defies detailed description by any current language,

Its first glimpse was utterly nauseating,

with visual pollution even dozens of times worse than that of Nong Lake, resembling the chaotic product of countless tumors multiplying disorderly for a hundred years.

This visual feast could even burst and crush eyeballs.

With Yi Chen’s prior psychological preparation, and his experience of viewing the Skin Factory through the “Skin Sack Bible,” he gradually curbed the sense of disgust within,

and, borrowing Vision’s eyesight provided by little grape, he started to carefully appreciate the colossal monstrosity that was beginning to emerge before him,

slowly discerning a form of art fundamental to life itself.

Pushing aside tumor masses,

prying open cystic membranes,

deciphering each piece of seemingly random flesh revealed the specific forms of life’s myriad creations.

The various protrusions on the structure’s surface were nothing more than a chaotic bas-relief composed of swollen tissue instead of stone; comprehending this could lead to an understanding of its artistic significance,

Beyond mere representations of the shapes of all things, there were also various proliferative supports maintaining the stability of this massive structure,

It seemed a perfect blend of geometric architecture with tumor biology, giving off an impression of indestructibility that seemed impossible to break, a tangible oppression of living tissue.

However,

what Yi Chen currently saw in art and architecture was merely the tip of the iceberg.

The Cancer Palace was among the earliest Source Epidemic Areas to appear, and it had been ‘evolving’ since its construction.

From ancient times, the Cancer Palace had its professional engineering team, who, when their time was nigh, turned themselves into ‘components’ to become a part of the Cancer Palace, perpetually seeking the end of perfection, continuously enhancing the structure’s artistic value, biological quality, architectural strength, and more.

For Yi Chen, who was new to the depths of the Old World and making contact with the Source Epidemic Area for the first time, it was overwhelmingly shocking, even making him forget to blink.

Furthermore,

The Cancer Palace wasn’t built on the opposite side of Nong Lake, but rather rooted in the center.

The countless ‘Biological Tubes’ arrayed around the exterior of the Cancer Palace eventually converged at the bottom, forming 108 colossal tube-like tentacles, which disposed of the Cancer Palace’s daily waste into Nong Lake,

The lake’s ‘decomposition trait’ was capable of direct processing.

It could break down waste that was harmful to the Old World and also gradually increase the toxicity of Nong Lake, thereby enhancing the safety of the Cancer Palace–a perfectly designed win-win situation.

“William, how is it? Beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Indeed, but from a biological perspective, it’s overwhelmingly beautiful.”

The boatman, upon hearing such a comment from Yi Chen, a foreigner, and seeing his long gaze upon the form of the Cancer Palace, also nodded in agreement.

In his lifetime, he had ferried countless passengers, for some foreigners, their first look at the Cancer Palace could collpase their psyche, cause their eyeballs to detonate, or even ooze pus between their thoughts.

Yet this young man not only adapted quickly but also swiftly grasped the ‘swelling and beauty’ within.

As they drew closer, the physical pressure the Cancer Palace exerted on Yi Chen, the outsider, increased,

“Jin, what exactly is this so-called baptism like?”

Jin simply placed his index finger on his mask, “I can’t divulge that, otherwise other outsiders would prepare in advance, severely lowering the threshold of the baptism and causing a series of problems.

Moreover, there are many forms of baptism, it just depends on how those guys arrange it.

All I can tell you, William, is that it’s related to the Physical and will be quite uncomfortable.”

The word ‘uncomfortable’ had a deep meaning, and Yi Chen already felt a bit of discomfort even before reaching the Cancer Palace.

Gradually, the Cancer Palace obscured the entire view, and the boat reached shore.

Two guards bearing massive tumors on their backs, wearing pointed helmets, and each with four arms evolved into different weapons, immediately approached to verify identities.

After Jin explained their purpose, the two were led to the main entrance of the Cancer Palace–a swollen, protruding, and gigantic “Tumor Gate,”

its surface covered with various small pores, each oozing pus and corresponding to a conduit that led directly to different areas of the Cancer Palace.

“William, we need to part ways for now,” Jin said as he prepared to leave for Master’s place to make an early report. “Make sure to take care of him… Once you’ve completed the baptism, you’ll be sent over to Master’s side.

Oh, and give me your suitcase~ The forthcoming baptism might damage anything you bring along. Rest assured, I’ll take good care of it.”

“Okay.”

After taking the suitcase, Jin hopped onto one of the smaller openings, skillfully stuffing himself in, whoosh! With a suction force, he was directly sent to the depths of the Cancer Palace.

Yi Chen, as a newcomer, was led by the guard to the smallest opening on the outer edge.

Imitating Jin’s movements, he extended his arm, pried open the opening, and sent his head and entire body into it.

In that moment, Yi Chen felt a bit like a pearl in bubble tea, with a ravenous giant on the other end of the tube eagerly sucking away.

Whoosh!

After several downward, bending slides, he landed in a closed, isolated liquid tank room.

Through the transparent, hardened membrane, a group of swollen-eyed Watchers were observing and recording Yi Chen, the human newcomer, even murmuring among themselves.

One of them stepped forward, pressing their spherical palm against the wall to ‘communicate’ with Yi Chen, floating within.

“Welcome to the ‘Cancer Palace,’ afflicted human from the adhesive world.

Based on the information we’ve retrieved so far, your physical foundation is quite impressive, even better than some of the native cancer patients here. However, your body still contains various attributes from other Source Epidemic Areas.

Theoretically, we would not accept a hybrid like you,

but Lady Oreina seems particularly interested in you, hence, you’ve been exceptionally permitted to move around the Cancer Palace as a ‘visitor,’ but you still need to undergo the baptism, specifically the visitor’s unique disintegration baptism.

Prepare yourself, the baptism will commence in one minute.”

Inside the liquid tank, Yi Chen didn’t offer any verbal response, just nodded silently,

as his Madness Brain fully engaged, the brain cells spread throughout his muscles became active, ready for any possible baptism.

A minute quickly elapsed.

Splash!

Suddenly, the outlets on both sides of the liquid tank opened, and streams of distinctly different liquids began pouring in.

“This is!”

Yi Chen instantly recognized the liquid’s origin; it was the water from Nong Lake.

Although it was diluted with a harmless liquid inside the tank at a ratio of 1:5, this substance was equally deadly–a Super Tumor from Nong Lake capable of rapidly mutating and dissociating the cells of living beings.

Despite Yi Chen letting his Madness Brain prepare defenses in advance, it was to no avail.

As the lake water poured in, he watched helplessly as his physical body disintegrated, turning into undefined cancer cells that merged into the water.

Actually, there was a way to handle this predicament effectively–‘Dead Man Makeup.’

Once deployed, it could even exterminate the tumors in the lake water, but such action would only heighten the Cancer Palace’s vigilance and possibly lead to Yi Chen being dealt with as an extremely dangerous deceased.

Therefore,

Yi Chen used his Death Attribute to preserve his Madness Brain, coating its surface with a black membrane to prevent cancerization, without releasing Death itself.

In the end, all that remained in the tank was a blackened brain attached to chains of pain, as the rest of the tissues had disintegrated and mutated.

Oddly enough,

due to the presence of the Madness Brain, Yi Chen could vividly feel his disjointed, mutating body parts and their individual, wondrous sensations of living activity.

This exceedingly real and complete ‘physical disintegration sensation’ plunged Yi Chen’s thoughts into a unique state,

and he began to meditate in the tank, recalling his star learning in the Principal’s office, imagining the liquids as the Star River, with himself perfectly floating within.

As tiny points of light twinkled within the tank,

the overseeing personnel watched, their eyes widening.

Time passed without clear measure, and as all the light coalesced, Yi Chen’s perfect body also reconstituted, spread-eagled, no longer affected by the diluted lake water.

“Incredible! This human actually possesses traits of a Stargazer…”