[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-the-sky-fell":3,"chapter-after-the-sky-fell-after-the-sky-fell-chapter-223":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","After the Sky Fell",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2281079,4462,"Chapter 223: 214. The Entity That Must Not Be Named","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-223",223,"\u003Cp>214. The Entity That Must Not Be Named\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one criticized Gu Mengping’s outburst; under such pressure, erratic behavior was understandable. But Zhang Lei’s actions were also correct—he had to stop Gu Mengping, for no one could be certain whether acting against Li Yi would bring good or harm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What if such an act enraged something even worse?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Everyone, calm down. Don’t act rashly. Whoever moves first, Father Pete will shoot them dead on the spot. We must unite under these circumstances.” Zhang Lei stepped forward—he had to control the situation, or things would spiral out of control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was no time for individual heroics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Zhang Lei and Pete’s presence intimidating them, the anxious ones grew slightly calmer, yet the fear still clung to every heart, refusing to fade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone could only stand frozen, watching, hoping this bizarre spectacle would end soon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap. Tap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint footstep reached every ear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone’s coming?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone’s senses were unnaturally sharp now—even the lightest footstep was instantly detected. In an instant, they all turned toward the source of the sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a narrow alley in the old district.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep, pitch-black, and impenetrable—even with night vision, none could see through the darkness. But soon, they spotted a human silhouette emerging from within, as if someone was walking out from the depths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who could it be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another cultivator involved in the mission?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this person could appear here, did it mean they too could escape this hell by following the same path?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thoughts flooded every mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the silhouette stepped fully into the light, everyone froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a woman—around twenty-five or twenty-six, pale-faced, eyes hollow, her white hands faintly marked with livid spots, resembling the dead Liu Yan. But the moment she appeared, every soul felt as if shadow had fallen over their spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spiritual sense failed utterly. All that remained was primal fear of the unknown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This woman was not human.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s… Li Yi’s mother,” Lin Yue whispered, swallowing hard with fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her face was identical to the woman lying in the medical pod inside Pinghe Financial Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lin Yue knew well: Li Yi’s mother might not even exist. She couldn’t even be sure the woman in the pod was human—no one could be this unnatural, or cause such overwhelming terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Yi’s mother?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others heard Lin Yue’s murmur and widened their eyes in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then they recalled Li Yi’s file.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi’s parents were both in stasis, lying in medical pods, awaiting awakening. But they had lain there six years without stirring. Naturally—only under ten percent of the stasis patients from six years ago had awakened. Many had abandoned their care, opting for euthanasia.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, rumors of recent awakenings had been spreading.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could Li Yi’s mother have awakened today, as a stasis patient?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What nonsense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a wounded Spiritual Sense cultivator roared: “This thing can’t be Li Yi’s mother! Her hands are covered in lividity, her eyes are vacant—she’s not even alive!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhao Tai, shut up!” Li Shaoqing snapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Tai was from the Cultivator Association, his teammate on this mission. His logic made sense, but with the situation unclear, silence and observation were wiser. Speak too much, and no one could save you. Still, he understood Zhao Tai’s lapse—pressure was crushing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like Gu Mengping earlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the moment Li Shaoqing finished speaking, his face turned ashen. Horror flashed in his eyes—he saw someone standing behind Zhao Tai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was Li Yi’s mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When had she appeared behind Zhao Tai?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This wasn’t just speed—it was like teleportation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something’s wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shaoqing glanced sideways—and saw Li Yi’s mother still standing exactly where she had been, unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li Yi’s mother was still there, then who stood behind Zhao Tai?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shaoqing looked left and right—and recoiled in terror: the two women were identical in face, height, and form, as if perfectly cloned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could such a thing exist?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, not just him—everyone noticed: another identical woman now stood behind Zhao Tai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Tai now sensed the presence behind him. He roared, ready to strike back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it was too late.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A pale, livid hand had already rested on his shoulder. The woman behind him smiled—a strange, silent greeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And with that gesture, Zhao Tai froze rigid. The light in his eyes vanished instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a flame snuffed without wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhao Tai was dead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Spiritual Sense expert, extinguished so easily, silently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene sent chills down every spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a Spiritual Sense expert! Even Liu Yan’s killings had been comprehensible—there were movements, patterns. But Li Yi’s mother? No understanding. No resistance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why were there two Li Yi’s mothers?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too many questions. Thought collapsed. All they could do was stand still, silent, praying not to be noticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shaoqing clenched his teeth, watching his teammate die—powerless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now he understood Lin Yue’s dread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi’s mother was an entity that must not be named. Zhao Tai had spoken her name—and died. Wait—no, Lin Yue had named her too. Why wasn’t she affected?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Shaoqing glanced again at Lin Yue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could it be… because Lin Yue was close to Li Yi, so Li Yi’s mother tolerated her?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thick blood rain above grew heavier. Everyone was drenched crimson, reeking of rotting flesh. But they had to endure—compared to death, this was nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the blood rain, Li Yi’s mother walked forward. Her body remained untouched—the rain passed through her, falling to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But so many bizarre things had occurred today. Compared to the sky choked with corpses, this was trivial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi’s mother approached him, step by steady step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is she going to do?” Everyone watched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi was currently possessed by a vengeful spirit—the spirit still lived, ready to control him and strike at any of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet they also wondered: if the spirit and Li Yi’s mother fought, at least one threat would vanish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under their gaze, Li Yi’s mother raised her cold hand—and reached toward Li Yi’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But strangely, her hand passed through Li Yi’s skull without injury—no blood, no bone, no wound. Only a familiar, piercing shriek echoed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s the woman’s voice…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They recognized it—after fighting Liu Yan, they’d heard it more than once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Yi’s mother slowly withdrew her hand, a spectral figure was dragged bodily from Li Yi’s body. The spirit thrashed, shrieked—but could not escape. Her grip held it fast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“A flesh-and-blood hand grasping a spectral spirit—and pulling it from its host.” Everyone was stunned. This too defied understanding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at least it was good news: Li Yi’s mother was hostile to the spirit. If they clashed, one must perish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From current signs, it was the spirit that would perish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now detached from a living body, the spirit rapidly decayed under corruption and erosion. Its form dissolved visibly, screaming in agony.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Li Yi’s mother remained expressionless. Her hollow eyes held no light. Only that strange smile lingered on her pale face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After struggling briefly, the spirit reached its limit—corrupted cosmic energy consumed it entirely, dissolving into nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A force that had devastated the old district, that even Spiritual Sense experts couldn’t defeat—gone like this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If so, how powerful was Li Yi’s mother?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or—as Li Shaoqing suspected—was she beyond human comprehension entirely?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one spoke. All remained silent. No one dared meet her hollow gaze—fearing they’d become Zhao Tai’s next victim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene was deathly still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It lasted for minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until Li Yi’s body stirred again—signs of awakening. Only then did Li Yi’s mother slowly retreat, walking deeper into the nearby black alley.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s leaving.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone’s hearts lifted. This was best—no more fear of sudden, inexplicable death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Yi’s mother departed, the countless corpses obscuring the sky vanished swiftly. The blood rain ceased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything improved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, distant helicopter rotors hummed overhead. Lights from the city glowed far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet no one moved. All kept watching the woman disappear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another moment passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The darkness surrounding them finally dispersed; at this moment, it seemed as if dawn had broken—the corpses above were no longer visible, and the sky returned to normal. Everything that had just happened felt like an illusion, now completely vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did Li Yi’s mother really leave?” After a long silence, Yu Chuan spoke these words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the next instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone’s spiritual sense alerted again; in a daze, they saw once more a pair of hollow, numb eyes, and the darkness that had vanished moments before reappeared instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Stop talking nonsense,” Zhang Lei barked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold sweat poured down him—he understood the weight of Lin Yue’s words: Li Yi’s mother was a being who must never be mentioned lightly, or disaster would follow.\u003C\u002Fp>",1447,"2026-06-20T01:27:02.229Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a4233113f56ecddd409764c6154fef4e8369d0e9d13d027e81c434854444754e","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-224","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-222",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-the-sky-fell-cover.jpg"]