Chapter 158: Return, Rule-Breaking Creature!
The system’s sudden announcement rang out like a thunderclap over the Endless Sea, freezing every player in place.
This had never happened before, completely catching everyone off guard.
Even Su Ning herself was stunned, having initially thought the tremors were just a chain reaction caused by the awakening of the Island Turtle. But when she glanced at the chat channel, she realized she had underestimated the situation.
It wasn’t the Island Turtle’s awakening that triggered the collapse of the Endless Sea—
There was something far more problematic at the heart of this dungeon.
[Chat Messages]
Player A: “Guys, what’s going on? Why is the dungeon collapsing? Cracks are appearing everywhere around me—anything sucked into them gets shredded instantly!”
Player B: “Was just wondering what tonight’s danger would be… then suddenly the world starts falling apart?”
Player C: “Anyone know why this is happening? What’s causing the collapse?”
Player D: “You’re asking me? I’m just trying to survive and gather resources. Now I have to leave empty-handed—gonna go hungry again.”
Player E: “Same here…”
Player F: “Oh my god, I just saw something in the deep sea—A DRAGON! A real dragon! It woke up, and right after that, the system started warning us of collapse. Could it be the cause?”
Player G: “Ughh, been soaking in the sea for two days—can we go back now, please?”
Su Ning skimmed the messages and immediately picked up the critical detail.
But she didn’t have time to dwell on it— Beneath her, the Island Turtle had started to move, swimming in an unknown direction.
Pei Xuan’an activated his foresight ability once again, trying to glimpse what would happen next.
But then, everyone suddenly heard his terrified scream.
The next moment—he collapsed unconscious.
“Xuan’an!!”
“Pei Xuan’an, what happened?!”
Ji Fengyan and Mu Yunfei panicked.
They knew better than anyone—Pei Xuan’an absolutely couldn’t be harmed.
Huang Zhenggang also rushed over, “Nan Sheng, check on him! See what’s wrong!”
After spending time with the group, Huang had already guessed Pei Xuan’an’s identity wasn’t ordinary. The way Ji Fengyan and the others protected him—combined with his ability to foresee danger—made one identity pop into Huang’s mind:
The Prophet—famous across all the shelters.
“Could Pei Xuan’an really be… The Prophet?”
If so, there’s no way he can die here.
Nan Sheng checked his condition. After feeling his forehead and monitoring his breath, she confirmed, “He’s just in shock from a heavy mental blow. He’ll recover with rest—he’s not in danger.”
Everyone sighed in relief, though the tension in the air remained.
But Lin Lele wasn’t relaxed like the others.
Her brows furrowed as she pointed toward a strange sight in the distance.
“Look over there. What… is that?”
They all turned in the direction she indicated—
And saw space itself beginning to fracture.
Strange cracks tore open the air, expanding with a sizzling sound, as if threatening to rip the entire world apart.
Everyone immediately realized: something was seriously wrong.
Someone remembered the system’s earlier message and shouted:
“This isn’t over yet! We’re still in the survival dungeon—and it’s collapsing fast!”
Though mysterious enemy Kurohit was gone, and the Storm Mermaids had been defeated, the collapse of the dungeon now posed the biggest threat.
[System Prompt]
[Ding! 1 minute remaining before dungeon ends. All players, hold on!]
Su Ning saw the countdown begin.
But the number of bizarre space rifts was rapidly increasing.
Even the Island Turtle was getting caught in them.
A horrifying screech echoed through the sky.
Everyone stared at the spreading spatial tears in terror.
“Avoid the cracks! Just 60 seconds left—hold on and we’ll survive this!”
Huang Zhenggang tried to rally everyone.
All players began fleeing from the expanding rifts.
Su Ning recalled Honghong.
Everyone was grateful for Su Ning’s help, but now wasn’t the time for thanks.
Lin Lele’s hair turned into tentacles, gathering all the loot their team had obtained.
She turned to Su Ning and said, “Kexin—no, Su Ning. If the sixth shelter won’t take you in, come to the fifth. You’re welcome there.”
Her invitation was genuine. Despite being tricked at first, Lin Lele had a great time with Su Ning and didn’t hold grudges.
Su Ning was surprised by the offer but smiled and nodded—maybe she would visit the fifth shelter sometime.
As the group dodged cracks and braced for the end, a wave of relief spread—they were finally going to make it out.
But then— A terrifying dragon roar shattered the air, shaking the entire realm.
Everyone looked up in shock.
[System Prompt]
[Ding! Countdown complete. Initiating return teleportation!]
Just as Su Ning and the others were about to be transported out of the collapsing Endless Sea,
a terrifying creature swam up from the ocean depths.
Su Ning used her Scavenger’s Eye on it:
[Monster: Rule-Breaking Dragon]
Talent: ??
Skills: ??
Note: A creature that absorbed a mysterious rule-type energy, giving it the ability to break through the boundaries of dungeon worlds. This is the primary cause of the Endless Sea’s collapse.
Su Ning read the data with a chill, “So this thing is the real reason for the dungeon’s collapse?”
The deafening roar from earlier—it was this dragon’s doing.
Terrifying and overwhelming.
But Su Ning was finally able to relax— The system was protecting players, and they were being teleported out.
She returned to her cozy little home in an instant.
So suddenly, she didn’t even have time to process it.
Thinking back on the dungeon, she’d only spent two days inside, but her harvest was considerable.
Not only had she collected plenty of marine materials,
She had also acquired a new planting space.
Thinking of Murata Iga’s planting space, Su Ning realized she hadn’t even checked what was inside.
Now that she had returned, she finally had time to go over all her loot.
