Netherworld Retrograde

Chapter 301: Chapter 141: Re-Entering the Ark_2

The Doll held up a billboard [Are you feeling better now? (;へ:)]

Li Yelai was a bit stunned, ”Doll? How did you get here?”

[I came with the follow-up teams. Are you okay? (╯﹏╰)b] The Doll, worried to death after learning that Li Yelai had fought Ben Lei and successfully laid him to rest, hopped onto the logistics convoy.

Li Yelai nodded slightly, ”I’m okay, just feeling a bit downhearted.”

The Doll rose to her feet, approached Li Yelai, stood on tiptoe, and extended her round, chubby doll hands to caress Li Yelai’s damp head.

”It’s alright now, you helped Ben Lei...” The girl’s deep, comforting voice came from within the Doll’s head cover, ”Don’t think of it as killing him; you were saving him...”

Whether it was the girl’s gentle voice or her tender touch, it eased Li Yelai’s pain somewhat.

After seeing off Ben Lei, Li Yelai had dared not think whether he would ever face such a situation himself.

But now, seeing the Doll in front of him worried about him, he had an epiphany.

The girl spoke softly to Li Yelai, careful not to let him fall into some kind of psychological barrier.

Li Yelai was concerned for his friends, and they were equally concerned for him.

Nobody wanted to face such a situation.

But as Spiritual Ability Users, they couldn’t eradicate distortion completely — when promotions failed, when tragedy struck, or when obsessions flared, they could all cause a Spiritual Ability User to become twisted.

This was the fate that came with their power.

Should anything happen to Li Yelai, would anyone become twisted because of him?

Looking at the Doll before him, Li Yelai didn’t want to know; he wanted to prevent that from happening.

Had he the power enough to protect everything, would he have prevented Ben Lei’s tragedy and subsequent distortion?

”I may not be able to save everyone, but at least... I don’t want others to become twisted because of me,” Li Yelai mused to himself.

At that moment, Li Yelai’s Soul Well rapidly expanded.

Having already opened up his Spiritual Power Well considerably after the bloody battle with Ben Lei, it broke through yet again now.

...

At night, inside a room in the Jing Family’s Mansion.

Jing Jing received the intelligence submitted by members of the Jing Family.

”That bastard actually...”

Jing Jing was somewhat astonished as she read the intelligence.

According to the intelligence, a Night General had laid to rest a twisted Four Awakenings Spiritual Ability User.

This seemed unbelievable to Jing Jing. How could a Third Awakening Spiritual Ability User lay to rest a twisted Four Awakenings Sufferer?

Both were official Processors, equipped with Spiritual Ability Equipment, Magic Potion, even enhanced by Taboo Items.

The gap between the Third and Fourth Awakenings was evident, and aside from a genius with a tilt in resources, few Spiritual Ability Users succeeded in a Cross-level Battle.

But after calming down, she denied that possibility herself, ”He must have subdued the Sufferer with his teammates, right?”

To her, that seemed the only possible explanation. Facing a Sufferer, it was best for several Processors to swarm, minimizing casualties.

”We’re not sure, the authorities haven’t disclosed that. But from what I’ve inquired, it seems that the Night General subdued the Sufferer alone, without the other Processors intervening.”

Jing Jing frowned. Did the Night General possess such strength? Or was it just a fluke victory? It didn’t make sense...

Maybe the Sufferer completely lost his rationality, leading to a significant reduction in combat power?

Nevertheless, knowing this intelligence, Jing Jing’s evaluation of Li Yelai rose slightly.

Even though there might be various reasons, his ability to suppress a Fourth Awakening was impressive.

”Although he’s an inferior being, he still carries the blood of the Jing Family,” Jing Jing thought.

If this inferior being demonstrated his higher value again, it would not be impossible to let him return to the family fold.

On the other side, Jing Lin, who had also received the message, sighed softly.

”What’s the matter?” The old man asked.

”A hero twisted, and the Night General sent him off,” Jing Lin replied. He didn’t know much about Ben Lei, but he knew that he was a hero. Humanity’s ability to defeat the Disaster Fog, Ben Lei and his team were indispensable.

”Such is the existence of a Spiritual Ability User, where power and risk coexist. After this incident, I hope the Night General will be able to grow,” the old man murmured, ”Jing Lin, although you have grown a lot, you still need to learn more from the Night General.”

Jing Lin looked at the old man with confusion, thinking to himself, Grandpa, you’re really biased, I’m your grandson!

...

The next day, early in the morning, Li Yelai arrived at the New District’s safe house carrying big and small packages.

Today was the day of the ark gathering.

As Li Yelai entered the safe house, he saw Captain Yin Huo, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.

”You’ve worked hard on Ben Lei’s matter,” Yin Huo began, then raised his eyebrows, ”You’re going for your Fourth Awakening?”

Li Yelai nodded, ”Yes.”

”That was quick, what, two months?” Yin Huo smiled, ”Your advancement rate is nearly catching up to the Little Mad King. Although I don’t trust her because of the curse, her rapid advancement is indeed frightening.”

Little Mad King? Li Yelai nodded slightly, a girl who gave him a lot of pressure. It was said that if it weren’t for the Mad King holding her back, she was ready to attempt for the Seventh Awakening.

However, Li Yelai’s time to become a Third Awakening was indeed short. Just a little over two months.

In the Disaster Fog, he had fought bloody battles one after another. His Spiritual Power Well had expanded rapidly, and yesterday’s event with Ben Lei had brought him quickly to the threshold of his Fourth Awakening.

In less than half a month, he would be able to break through to the Fourth Awakening. If Cheese was still in the Giant City, he would probably be ranting about how you’ve outpaced him again with his annoying chatter.

But the problem with the Magic Potion, Li Yelai had yet to resolve.

Therefore, he brought a lot of Scarlet Tree Liquid and some Extraordinary Materials today, planning to trade within the ark.

Yin Huo had no objections and said, ”Currently, we have reached cooperation with the Three Branches of the Jing Family within the ark, and you will cover for each other. You don’t have to worry too much. The only problem is that Book Holder.”

The Book Holder, a mysterious prophet.

Although there had been major discrepancies in the predictions about the end of the Disaster Fog, it indeed predicted the arrival of Disaster Fog No. 71 and Chaos.

In terms of accuracy... as accurate as it gets!

”I’m not sure if we will see the Book Holder at this gathering,” Li Yelai replied, ”If we do, how should I approach him?”

”Do not initiate contact with him,” Yin Huo advised, ”However, if he truly can foresee the future, he would have seen your secret identity long ago. Either he has deliberately concealed your identity, or he can only see predictions of certain major events. In such a case, you should not rashly make contact.”

Then, Yin Huo continued, ”Originally, the officials planned to prepare another Thunder Stepping Dragon Colt for you, but unfortunately, the beast tide in the Doomsday Forest increased the hunting difficulty. Furthermore, the stock has been severely depleted. So, at the moment, we cannot provide you with the body of a Thunder Stepping Dragon Colt.”

”I understand,” Li Yelai responded, ”It’s understandable.”

”But we can’t let you suffer either, so, you can try to trade for the bodies of other Extraordinary Creatures within the ark using the Insect Race materials we provide. Then find the Black Umbrella to refine them,” said Yin Huo.

”Great, thank you so much,” Li Yelai was somewhat surprised.

The mount brought him significant improvements, and being able to trade inside the ark would indeed save him a lot of trouble.

After preparing for a while, Li Yelai put on his suit, donned the Copper Face, and went down to the safe house’s basement.

In the basement, the captured Golden Armor was as always suspended in the nutrient pod, unable to live or die.

Previously, the officials had taken him elsewhere, and he was not eaten by the Insect Swarm.

Moreover, the officials had recently acquired a lot of Pure Biomass.

Making it difficult for the Golden Armor to even die.

Li Yelai glanced at the Golden Armor and then turned his attention away, taking the ship ticket into his hand.

On the table next to him, there were large quantities of materials.

Li Yelai sat down in his chair.

Under the control of the Processor, ’Golden Armor’ in the nutrient pod pointed a finger.

Li Yelai felt that long-missed sensation of weightlessness, and a white light appeared in front of him.

After two months, he entered the ark once again.