[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-ring-of-fate":3,"chapter-the-ring-of-fate-the-ring-of-fate-chapter-92":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Ring of Fate",{"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},2298061,4496,"Chapter 92: Try Again (Requesting Monthly Votes)","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-92",92,"\u003Cp>\"Of course, no matter where I fall asleep, I wake up here.\" Lu Mi rolled out of bed, glanced at the \"Knife of Fate\" beside him—no, \"Fallen Mercury\"—then walked toward the window through the faint gray mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He braced his hands on the desk and fixed his gaze on the blood-red \"mountain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At its peak, thick fog piled layer upon layer, completely obscuring the three-headed, six-armed \"giant.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Last time, just one glance nearly pushed me to lose control... If I ever have to face it again, I have no idea what to do...\" Lu Mi sighed, deeply troubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t dwell in that emotion long; he shook it off quickly, for he had many tasks ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi danced the ritual motion that summoned strange beings, spreading his spirituality through frantic, twisted postures and rhythms, merging it with stirred natural forces to broadcast in all directions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, he sensed something approaching and saw the translucent, blurred shapes of the mouth-like monster, the shotgun monster, and the skinless monster reflected on the window glass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi didn’t rush. Following the dance’s rhythm, he drew the ceremonial silver dagger and stabbed his left palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single drop of crimson blood surged out, drawn by spirituality and natural force into a bead that embedded itself on his skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three figures stirred—but none dared enter Lu Mi’s home or attach to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi spun half a circle, raised his left hand, and stomped forward, shouting:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He spoke in Ancient Hermes, and the entire room trembled slightly; the faint gray mist rippled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the ceremonial silver dagger, Lu Mi lifted the blood droplet and pointed it at the mouth-like monster:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Command you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come onto me!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again, Ancient Hermes—an invisible wind faintly stirred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mouth-like monster’s translucent, blurred form trembled violently, as if lifted and shaken by an unseen hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Lu Mi completed his final movement, expecting no effect, the mouth-like monster shot into the house, landed on the ceremonial dagger, and swallowed the crimson droplet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, it convulsed violently and slithered through the silver blade into Lu Mi’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi involuntarily opened his mouth; his mind echoed only with thoughts: \"Hungry, hungry, I’m so hungry.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He twisted his body to face the full-length mirror on the wardrobe—his face was pale, tinged blue, mouth gaping wide, more corpse than living man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It worked... Lu Mi was elated, yet stared at his reflection as if it belonged to a stranger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It truly felt alien.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suppressed the intense hunger and tried to sense the mouth-like monster now fused to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like an extra brain—most of its domain flooded with hunger, bloodlust, madness; only fragments of instinctual abilities remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi could amplify one of those instincts through will and spirituality—effectively activating one of the monster’s traits or abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Lu Mi chose \"Invisibility.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next second, he saw himself vanish from the mirror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From body to clothes to the ceremonial dagger—all gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi walked back and forth; no trace of him appeared in the mirror or glass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, his footprints and scent remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi sheathed the silver dagger Aurora had given him, raised both arms, and threw several punches forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud-thud—the mirror still showed nothing, until Lu Mi swung a real punch directly at the mirror’s surface.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As his fist struck, his image instantly outlined itself—pale face tinged blue, eyes fiercely hostile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fascinating... No matter how I move, 'Invisibility' holds—but I can’t silence myself. Yet if I attack a mirror, 'Invisibility' breaks... I thought Aurora meant optical camouflage, but now it seems there’s a mystical element... Attacking something means forming a link—it no longer hides from its 'eyes'?\" Lu Mi held his right fist suspended before the mirror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having confirmed the effect and limits of \"Invisibility,\" he could no longer resist the hunger. He dashed downstairs, rummaged in the cellar, and pulled out two steaks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had his reason not held, he would’ve bitten into the darkened flesh immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remembering he hadn’t lit the stove and needed to sear the steaks at least medium-rare, he abandoned the idea and chose the cheese he’d stockpiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t care about cleanliness or taste—like a ghost starved to death, he shoved food into his mouth nonstop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After devouring several sliced pieces of cheese, Lu Mi finally subdued the hunger somewhat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So this is the downside of the mouth-like monster’s possession...\" he assessed seriously. \"Good—I still control my body, haven’t lost my sanity... That thing does carry a grudge, but it’s crushed under overwhelming fear... If I now spoke 'Leave' in Ancient Hermes, it’d flee faster than anything...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, Lu Mi fully confirmed the negative effects of the possession were acceptable—and \"Invisibility\" would become a major asset in his future explorations and battles within the Dream Ruins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Paired with \"Fallen Mercury,\" he felt his combat power had more than doubled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi returned to the dining table, pulled out a chair, and sat down to wait patiently for the possession to end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, his spirituality was nearly depleted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t push himself further. He stood and performed several wild, frantic movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This dance, identical to the one summoning monsters, was meant to expel the attached entity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without Lu Mi uttering a word in Ancient Hermes, the mouth-like monster’s blurred, translucent form shot out—vanished instantly through the first-floor window without looking back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don’t run off so fast—you act like I’m standing next to a latrine,\" Lu Mi muttered, self-deprecating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He preliminarily confirmed his spirituality could sustain possession for roughly three minutes; \"Invisibility\" doubled the drain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this was normal conditions. In danger, Lu Mi could push his limits to extend possession—but that risked losing control. Best avoided if possible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the mouth-like monster had left, Lu Mi still felt residual hunger. He lit the stove and seared the steaks to seven-tenths done.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, knife and fork in hand, he sliced, speared, and swallowed with speed—juices locked in the meat tasted exquisite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Less than ten minutes later, Lu Mi finished both steaks and no longer felt hungry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gazing at the empty plate before him, he exhaled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Three minutes of possession... requires at least two hours to recover...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This referred not only to the hunger’s subsiding, but also to spiritual restoration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing his current state unsuitable for exploration, Lu Mi fetched flour, sugar, and other ingredients, and baked cookies using his oven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These, alongside cheese, would become his primary energy sources in the Ruins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had time permitted, he’d have made dried meat too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—That too was common among shepherds; as a resident of Keldu Village, he knew exactly how.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While busy, Lu Mi pondered what to do in the Dream Ruins:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First, circle the 'wall.' Second, consider hunting the fire monster...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Only by strengthening myself can I explore deeper and unravel the dream’s secrets...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fire monster had demonstrated at least Sequence 7 power, likely from the \"Hunter\" path—its abilities perfectly suppressed Lu Mi. He hadn’t planned to confront it soon, hoping first to find weaker prey, equivalent to a \"Provoker.\" But now, with \"Fallen Mercury\" and \"Invisibility,\" he felt he had a real chance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When his spirituality recovered sufficiently, Lu Mi packed the baked cookies and sliced cheese into a cloth bag and slung it around his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, he carefully wrapped his left hand in layer upon layer of white bandages, and picked up the sinister short blade named \"Fallen Mercury.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shouldering his rifle, securing his axe, and gathering other necessary gear, Lu Mi walked toward the front door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, he felt like a fully armed hunter preparing for a dangerous hunt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thoughts flooded his mind:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Initial plan: first, map the fire monster’s patterns, then use 'Invisibility' to sneak close and stab it with 'Fallen Mercury' to wound it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Before that, hunt a weaker monster, strip away part of its bad fate, and wait to exchange it with the fire monster.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I can’t dance the ritual or partially activate the black thorn symbol while possessed—the mouth-like monster would instantly flee. So, how to create distance after wounding the fire monster, to let the fate exchange complete? That’s the hardest part. 'Invisibility' alone won’t prevent it from tracking traces...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi hadn’t yet found an answer to this latter problem—it depended on gathering more intelligence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he opened the door and stepped into the wilderness, carrying these thoughts, he suddenly had a premonition:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If I succeed in hunting the fire monster, my 'Hunter' elixir will be fully absorbed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…………\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the area where he’d last encountered the fire monster, Lu Mi gripped the silver-black short blade, carefully scanning for traces while remaining alert for sudden attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After nearly ten minutes of cautious circling, he finally spotted signs left by the fire monster:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the corner of a collapsed house, a stone bore black scorch marks—none of the surrounding stones did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One sign led to another; Lu Mi quickly traced the fire monster’s path and followed it slowly, cautiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the traces grew fresh, he stopped and began to dance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>ps: Requesting monthly votes~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1507,"2026-06-20T06:22:34.374Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5877d11d55c09f325eaaae5d6becde7eead2ee5b5292c9174259efacb929b471","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-93","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-91",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ring-of-fate-cover.jpg"]