Chapter 553: A Bit Green

Compared to the temporarily missing Ying Duo, Chi Jinan is more concerned about another matter.

During the recent battle with that massive mech, a Special Ability Practitioner of the Consciousness Law forcibly interfered with his fight.

It may sound unbelievable, but Chi Jinan has never set any defenses for his Consciousness Space.

Logically, any Aberrant Arts practitioner who has made a name for themselves in this wasteland world would almost inevitably learn this step as essential for survival.

But Chi Jinan has never needed it.

His Consciousness Space is especially unique, because his parents once entered the Eternal Silent Abyss and the curse they brought back was inherited by him.

Since he was very young, his Consciousness Space has been constantly undergoing destruction and then reassembly.

Thus, by ordinary reasoning, his very survival to adulthood is a miracle.

In the words of that person from the Church, he is a born annihilation, yet even so, Chi Jinan is merely infinitely approaching the pinnacle of annihilation.

And for someone like him, even a typical Consciousness Law Special Ability Practitioner who merely makes slight contact with his Consciousness Space would instantly be drawn in and torn to pieces.

But the force just now, instead of being shredded, struck his Consciousness Space, causing a brief blank in his destruction‑habituated mind.

Who was that person?

Chi Jinan's eyes scanned the vicinity, and countless people drawn by the aftershocks of the recent battle arrived, among them the Dome's personnel naturally included.

His gaze swept over them one by one, lingering a moment longer on the Butterfly Speaker, but then quickly moving on.

He cannot do it.

「Since everyone is here, let's settle matters early and set off to the Abyss soon. 」

Chi Jinan did not find the information he wanted, so he directly focused his attention on the Dome, preparing to quickly finish these bothersome, convoluted procedures while the time was right.

Once they enter the Abyss, Ying Duo will reveal itself.

———————————————

「Um...... 」

Meng Kexin covered her head with one hand, unable to mind the dust on the crumbling wall, her body leaning against it, while her other hand clutched tightly onto the leg of a small bear plush.

She was accustomed to her unfailing talent in the Consciousness Law, initially seeing Chi Jinan completely undefended, but unexpectedly the real trap lay within his Consciousness Space.

Which normal person's Consciousness Space would be like this? No wonder it's the Heresy Tribunal's true madman.

「...... My mech...... 」

Ying Duo cannot remain in a Data Stream indefinitely; Meng Kexin, not wanting Chi Jinan to detect her trace, promptly found a corner that he wouldn't easily notice.

When reconstituting into humanoid form, Ying Duo was already muttering, and it must be said, the corner Meng Kexin chose was indeed decent.

It was a short distance from where he had just fought Chi Jinan; the surrounding abandoned buildings were about two stories high, and the alley was narrow enough to be inconspicuous.

...... It would have been better if there hadn't been a trash can nearby.

After entering the game, Yang Yixie gained a sense of smell; although he can endure this environment, it doesn't stop his disdain at all.

Following the brief clash with Chi Jinan, his mech's durability noticeably dropped a large chunk; though it still shows a green status, he has no doubt that another hit from Chi Jinan would turn the durability yellow.

「Are you okay? 」

He needs to carve out time to repair the mech today, but when he looked back, Ying Duo saw Meng Kexin clearly in distress.

In his view, the pink pixelated avatar's upper face was already covered by a purple shadow, the Blood Bar's fluctuation was almost invisible, and the status bar gained a negative buff.

【Meng Kexin Lv. 39, Current Status: Dazed】

「...... I'm fine. 」

This time, even if it gave her a memory, some people not setting defenses for their Consciousness Space aren't necessarily foolish; perhaps their Consciousness Space is a pit itself.

Ying Duo rummaged through the Game Backpack, pulled out a potion that removes negative buffs, and casually tossed it to her.

Meng Kexin didn't hold back with Ying Duo at all, took it, tipped her head back and drank, and her complexion visibly eased.

She tossed the vial into the trash can, then readjusted her condition, patting the dust off her body, but the stubborn stains on the wall made her clothes impossible to clean.

「Help me fix it. 」

Meng Kexin frowned slightly, looking at the unremovable stains on the back of her shirt and then at the garments that had been damaged by the sudden building collapse.

This scene looks so familiar, don't you think? Ying Duo.

Ying Duo remained silent, but guiltily stepped forward, using energy to restore the durability of Meng Kexin's clothing.

Although she appears on the surface as a cute girl, in reality Meng Kexin often acts decisively and forcefully, making it hard for anyone to feel the urge to resist.

After all, it's not a big deal.

While the two skillfully began repairing the clothing, three old acquaintances on the other side of the trash can stared dumbfounded at the scene.

Because of the distance and certain reasons, others would actively avoid the foul‑smelling trash can, but they, as if having a special fetish, actually approached to take a closer look.

The previous time, it was simply a habit, and it actually let them fish a needle out of the ocean.

This scene... looks not so good.

Qi Hengyu and Shen Zexi's gazes flicked toward Chen Mo Zhi standing at the back; because Chen Mo Zhi, compared to the other two, still had a slight air of dignity, his approach to the trash can was less natural, so he hadn't yet seen what was on the other side of the trash can.

At this moment, Shen Zexi couldn't even think about whether fate was being petty again; he simply reconnected with Qi Hengyu in the roommate rapport.

The two stood shoulder to shoulder, successfully blocking the view of the alley, preventing Chen Mo Zhi from seeing inside.

Mainly, this scene is really hard to explain!

How can they tell Chen Mo Zhi, that instead of seeking revenge on some Ying Guang Lu, his own head turned green first?

No,...

Chen Mo Zhi's hair was already a bit green, but because it was dark green, people often casually mistook it for black.

But the green inside is even more thorough!

Although blocked by the two, Chen Mo Zhi's peripheral vision still caught a flash of familiar Ying Guang Lu behind, and seeing them as if facing a great enemy, he immediately furrowed his brows.

On the other side, after Ying Duo restored Meng Kexin's clothing to pristine condition, he looked up to see several green dots appear on the mini‑map.

Turning around, he saw Shen Zexi and Qi Hengyu back‑to‑back with them, shoulders linked like good brothers.