Chapter 242: Bewitching Heart Barrier

Outside the gates of Purification Outpost No. 13.

A faint light barrier stood before Li Luo, Jiang Jiang Qinge, and the others. Within the barrier, all was peaceful, but outside it, black fog churned, and visibility was extremely poor.

The Nian Chou Hou Zhong black fog roiled, as if hiding something terrifying within, sending an inexplicable chill through the heart.

It is the unknown that is truly fearsome.

Jiang Jiang Qinge and her two companions appeared quite calm. After all, having gone through so many purification missions, they were quite familiar with the Dark Cave by now.

But Li Luo, Bai Bai Mengmeng, and Student Xin Fu wore Solemn expressions.

Once they stepped past this light curtain, they would lose all protection and face the Dark Cave directly.

Other teams were also arriving in the area, but Li Luo sensed their gazes carried a hint of amusement as they looked on.

"Jiang Qing, this is the first time a One-Star House team has entered the Dark Cave. How many times do you think they'll have to attempt this 'Bewitching Heart Barrier'?" At that moment, laughter came from behind. Li Luo looked over and saw that the two teams of Duze Duze Honglian and Ye Ye Qiuding had also arrived.

"Bewitching Heart Barrier?" Li Luo looked toward Jiang Jiang Qinge.

"I was just about to tell you."

Jiang Jiang Qinge still paid no attention to Duze Duze Honglian, simply saying to Li Luo: "When people entering the Dark Cave step out of the purification outpost and walk into the black fog, they will all be eroded by the power of malice. This power of malice is scattered throughout the black fog. Generally speaking, it's not too strong, and its influence won't be too great."

"But there's one special point: for anyone entering the Dark Cave for the first time, the erosion of malice they encounter will be more severe. This is likely because they haven't been exposed to this kind of power before, so the malice takes advantage of the opening."

"When the power of malice invades the body, it will affect your mind and produce many negative emotions. This is what's called the 'Newcomer Bewitching Heart Barrier.'"

"When the three of you step out of the outpost later, you should encounter it too."

"But don't worry too much. Even if you fail the 'Bewitching Heart Barrier' on your first try, there's no real loss—it just delays some time. After failing a few more times and building up resistance, you'll naturally get through."

Though Jiang Jiang Qinge spoke casually, Li Luo understood: if the three of them were held up by this Bewitching Heart Barrier, it would undoubtedly drag down the efficiency of Jiang Jiang Qinge's purification mission. After all, if they couldn't leave the outpost, Jiang Jiang Qinge and her two companions would have no choice but to wait here.

And Duze Duze Honglian and the others had clearly come just to watch the show.

"This Dark Cave really is dangerous at every step." Li Luo sighed. They had only just stepped out of the outpost, and already there was this much trouble.

No wonder the academy never opened the Dark Cave to One-Star House students before—they really were too green.

"Let's try it first."

Li Luo turned to look at the somewhat nervous Bai Bai Mengmeng and Student Xin Fu, encouraging them: "Hang in there. Let's aim to pass on the first try."

The two took deep breaths and nodded seriously.

Then, without further wasted words, the three of them, under the gaze of many eyes, stepped out of the purification light circle before them in a single stride.

The instant they stepped beyond the range of the outpost's purification light barrier, Li Luo immediately felt the surrounding temperature plummet, becoming extremely cold and gloomy.

The black fog before his eyes seemed to churn violently. Rustling, inexplicable whispers, like demonic sounds poured into the ears, came surging from all directions, piercing straight into the depths of his soul.

Within the black fog, it seemed as if strange gazes were watching him.

The thick, icy black fog flowed across his skin, like a demon's hand brushing past, carrying a deep killing intent within.

Fear rose unbidden.

A trace of pallor appeared on Li Luo's face, and his breathing grew slightly heavier.

From behind, Jiang Jiang Qinge's gaze was fixed intently on Li Luo and the others. The moment their emotions began to shift drastically, she would act to pull them back inside. But if that happened, it would mean the three of them had failed their first encounter with the "Bewitching Heart Barrier."

Actually, this was a fairly normal outcome. After all, Li Luo and the others were still One-Star House students, and it was their first time in the Dark Cave, so the malice within would strike them with even greater force.

In Jiang Jiang Qinge's estimation, Li Luo and the others might need to fail two or three times before gradually adapting.

But if that happened, their purification efficiency would slow down. In a few days, most of the Tier-1 Purification Towers in the inner ring might very well be swept clean by other teams.

While Jiang Jiang Qinge was calculating in her mind, Duze Duze Honglian also noticed the change in Li Luo's expression, and a smile immediately curled at her lips.

Jiang Qing, oh Jiang Qing, this is the price of your stubborn insistence on bringing dead weight.

Beside her, Ye Ye Qiuding's expression was calm, but a trace of subtle satisfaction flickered through his eyes.

Under the gazes of the surrounding onlookers, Li Luo stood in place. The whispers seeping into his mind were gradually intensifying, and the sense of fear grew ever thicker.

But though Li Luo was a newcomer, his temperament was not as fragile as others imagined.

Fear surged in, but it did not drown his reason.

Before his eyes, it was as if darkness had descended, swallowing every figure around him. From within the darkness came rustling sounds, as if something eerie was drawing near.

Yet Li Luo's expression gradually grew calm.

These aberrations were indeed terrifying, eerie—but why had he come to the Dark Cave?

He had come to earn one hundred thousand points.

What if he couldn't earn them?

If he couldn't earn them, he wouldn't have enough Imperial Flow Slurry. Without enough Imperial Flow Slurry, he would be stuck before the General-Appointing Realm. Stuck there meant he only had a little over four years of life left.

His dream of being ennobled within five years would become a joke.

So if he couldn't scrape together enough points to exchange for Imperial Flow Slurry, he was nothing but a short-lived ghost.

In this world, is there anything more terrifying than me being about to die?

My life is about to end, and I'm still supposed to be afraid of you damned aberrations?!

A surge of irritation erupted from Li Luo's heart, instantly scattering the fear. The darkness before his eyes abruptly dissolved.

Everything returned to normal.

Whispers reached his ears from around him, but when those voices saw Li Luo's clear eyes and calm face, they quietly fell silent.

Duze Duze Honglian's brow slowly furrowed.

Under their suspicious gazes, Li Luo spread his hands with a puzzled look and said: "Does this count as passing?"

Seeing the astonished looks around him, Li Luo chuckled inwardly. That little performance just now was pretty good.

"Seems pretty easy."

But just then, Bai Bai Mengmeng's surprised voice rang out from beside him. He turned his head and saw Bai Bai Mengmeng looking around, her big, dewy eyes perfectly clear.

"You—you weren't affected?" Li Luo was a little stunned. Bai Bai Mengmeng seemed to have passed the Bewitching Heart Barrier even faster than he had.

Bai Bai Mengmeng blinked her big eyes and said: "At first I felt some effect, then I just went straight into a hypnotic state, and all those negative emotions disappeared."

Li Luo paused. Hypnotic state — was that the state she entered when researching Spirit Water Wonders?

Back then, Bai Bai Mengmeng seemed to be in a state of absolute rationality and calm, untouched by any negative emotions — but could that really be used to resist the erosion of evil thoughts?

That's cheating.

Li Luo stared at Bai Bai Mengmeng, who acted as if nothing had happened at all, and for a moment could only heave a silent sigh. Careless — so this was what a true master of putting on airs looked like.

And just as Li Luo was marveling at how outrageously cheating Bai Bai Mengmeng's little trick was, he suddenly sensed a killing intent, icy enough to pierce bone, rising into the air.

He looked over and saw that, beneath his hood, Student Xin Fu's eyes had abruptly turned somewhat blood-red, as if harboring an extremely fierce, pure killing intent within them.

That killing intent was so chilling that even Jiang Jiang Qinge glanced over with a hint of surprise.

However, the killing intent lasted only an instant. The blood-red faded from Student Xin Fu's eyes, and he raised his head, meeting Li Luo's startled gaze, and asked, "Is it over?"

Li Luo was silent for a few seconds, then nodded with a face as dark as still water.

He could see it now — these two teammates were both masters hiding extraordinary skills.

He couldn't keep up the act.