Chapter 355

During this period, they encountered several small-scale attacks.

Some worm-like creatures made of bone sand, as well as several alien spiders with human faces, but all were easily resolved by the team's tacit cooperation.

When they arrived at the boundary zone leading to the fourth layer, space began to show obvious distortion phenomena.

The direction of gravity became chaotic, and the flow of time also began to show abnormal fluctuations.

"From here on, it's the real test." Miller stopped his steps, his expression becoming extremely serious:

"The complexity of the fourth layer's environment far exceeds the previous few layers, and..."

He lowered his voice:

"Recent reconnaissance reports show that there are signs of high-density activity at the Apostle level in the fourth layer; we must be extra careful."

This news made other members of the team nervous.

An existence at the Apostle level, even for a Golden Ring level explorer, was a terrifying threat that was almost impossible to confront.

"Don't worry, I have a response plan, and Professor Youteer will also keep an eye on us." Luo En said calmly, while checking the storage bag at his waist.

"Continue forward."

His voice remained calm, but his eyes burned with a desire for the unknown: "Since we're here, we can't return empty-handed."

Abyss fourth layer, edge of the Flesh Forest.

The environment of the fourth layer was even more twisted and terrifying than he had imagined.

The so-called "forest" was actually a deformed structure composed of huge blood vessels, tendons, and cartilage.

Every one of these "trees" was pulsating slightly, its surface covered with a moist skin texture, constantly oozing viscous body fluids.

On the other hand, these body fluids also had a strong hallucinogenic effect.

Several team members began to show mild hallucination symptoms after accidentally coming into contact with them.

They saw dead comrades waving at them and heard the voices of family members calling them.

"Everyone use the antidote immediately!" Miller's command saved the team. "These body fluids contain spiritual toxins!"

Luo En took out the "Explorer One" golem and began final debugging.

According to his plan, this construct would go deep into the forest to find traces of the newborn beast, while making contact with the substitute puppet.

"Ready, Creator." The golem reported in a mechanical voice, "All systems running normally, energy sufficient."

"Very good. Remember your mission—collect newborn beast tears, detect the activity range of abyss apostles; if you encounter a threat you cannot handle, retreat or self-destruct immediately."

Luo En checked the golem's equipment one last time:

"Do not attempt to make direct contact with any existence at the Apostle level; your mission is only reconnaissance and material collection."

"Understood, Creator. Explorer One begins executing the mission."

The golem disappeared into the depths of the Flesh Forest, while Luo En monitored its actions through a spiritual link.

………………

Just as Luo En went deep into the abyss, the observatory also welcomed two special visitors.

When Chloe arrived at the observatory carried by Night Mist, it was already late at night.

The appearance of the observatory looked even more strange in the darkness.

Those living building materials wriggled slightly in the moonlight, and the blood vessel patterns on the surface beat regularly like a heart.

"Welcome to the Abyss Observatory, Miss Chloe."

Youteer's phantom appeared automatically, but unlike usual, the old professor's state was clearly a bit weak at the moment.

Maintaining the descent device just now clearly consumed a large amount of his magic.

"Professor Youteer, it is an honor to meet you."

Chloe jumped down from Night Mist's back quickly and bowed.

Although her eyes were covered by black silk, her movements were not slow or confused at all.

Powerful spiritual perception ability gave her a clear understanding of the surrounding environment.

In her perception, the entire observatory was like a huge living organ, filled everywhere with the wailing of painful souls.

But as an astrologer, she was already used to facing all kinds of twisted things.

"Grandma Leia often mentioned your kindness back then to me."

She continued, her voice carrying respect:

"If it weren't for your guidance, she might have died in the divination backlash long ago."

"Haha, those are all old stories." Youteer waved his hand, his tone becoming emotional:

"That she could eventually reach today's height, become the Great Elder of the Astrological Society, and break through to the Dark Sun level, was entirely relying on her own efforts and talent."

"But your guidance changed Grandma Leia's life."

Chloe said sincerely: "Those divination techniques for avoiding danger are still core teaching content of the Astrological Society."

Just as the two were communicating happily, a strange wind blew at the entrance, accompanied by magic fluctuations with obvious visitor characteristics.

Youteer's expression turned cold instantly; if Chloe weren't here, he might have given this uninvited guest the cold shoulder.

Youfeimia's appearance was like injecting liquid nitrogen into warm water, causing the originally warm communication atmosphere to freeze instantly.

"Blood Moon Clan, Youfeimia Peilai."

She bowed elegantly, her voice as smooth as silk, but Chloe keenly sensed the coldness hidden within:

"I'm here to apply for an abyss exploration permit; sorry to disturb your conversation."

Youteer's phantom retracted all gentleness, and the silver light became as sharp as a blade:

"Exploration applications need to go through normal procedure review; the registration office is in that other building, and the staff will tell you the specific process."

This official, cold attitude formed a sharp contrast with the gentleness toward Chloe just now.

Youfeimia certainly sensed this difference, but on the surface, she still maintained a perfect smile:

"Of course, I understand the importance of rules and regulations. However..."

Her tone carried a hint of suggestion:

"Lady Cassandra once mentioned that the observatory has some... convenience policies for participants in the New Star Project?"

"I don't care what Cassandra said."

Youteer interrupted her directly, the air around the phantom began to distort, emitting suffocating pressure:

"Within my jurisdiction, everyone must follow the same rules; the name of the Blood Moon Clan has no special meaning here."

The old professor's voice became even more severe:

"If you are only here to execute some shady mission, I suggest you leave now."

This obvious hostility caused Youfeimia to feel a surge of annoyance in her heart.

As a genius of the Blood Moon Clan, she rarely suffered such direct rejection and humiliation.

But she quickly suppressed this emotion.

As a "work" carefully cultivated by the Blood King, she naturally possessed psychological control ability that surpassed ordinary people.

"I don't have any bad intentions, Professor."

Her voice remained gentle: "I am just a young wizard seeking a breakthrough, hoping to obtain more powerful strength in the abyss. This motivation shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"Then handle it according to normal procedure."

Youteer's attitude didn't soften at all:

"However, I must remind you that abyss exploration exists with great risks. With your strength level, it is very likely you will go and not return."

His words carried an implication:

"I hope you can act according to your ability and not make decisions you will regret. Although the Blood Moon Clan is powerful, in front of the abyss, everyone is equal—equally fragile."

Although this sentence was a kind reminder on the surface, the sarcasm within was very obvious.

Youfeimia certainly heard the subtext, but she just nodded elegantly:

"Thank you for your reminder, I will be careful."

When she turned to leave the reception hall, her gaze swept over Chloe intentionally or unintentionally.

The pure aura emanating from that blind girl made her think of something she had lost long ago...

That was a memory fragment from when she was a normal human before being "created" by the Blood King.

At that time, she also possessed such innocent emotions, but now...

After Youfeimia left, the reception hall returned to tranquility.

But Chloe's expression became serious:

"Professor, that woman is entangled with very dangerous fate threads."

Her voice carried obvious unease:

"In my perception, she is like a walking curse, bringing chaos and death wherever she goes. And..."

Chloe paused, her voice becoming softer:

"She has causal entanglement related to Luo En Ralph.

Those threads present an ominous dark red color, foretelling bloody disaster."

"I know." Youteer's voice carried deep disgust:

"People from the Blood Moon Clan have never been good things, especially this Youfeimia and that even older..."

Speaking of this, the old professor stopped, the phantom became dimmer, and deep exhaustion was revealed in the silver light.

Chloe stroked the Celestial Sphere crystal in her arms, feeling the warning fluctuations coming from it:

"I can feel her true purpose for coming here. In the threads of fate, her intersection point with Luo En is deliberately arranged by some powerful will. This is not an accidental encounter, but a carefully planned trap."

"Then we must be even more careful." Youteer's expression became serious:

"Although Luo En is cautious, he is still young after all. Facing this kind of specially designed 'weapon,' even experienced old wizards might lose their judgment."

Just as the two were discussing, the magic communicator suddenly rang.

After Youteer connected, a nervous voice came out:

"Professor! Emergency! Large-scale energy fluctuations have appeared at the intersection of the fifth and fourth layers, with intensity reaching the Apostle level! And... and the center of the fluctuation is moving toward Luo En's scheduled route!"

This news made Youteer's face turn pale instantly.

He immediately activated the observation equipment and projected the real-time image of the fourth layer of the abyss in the center of the reception hall.

In the picture, a figure too huge to describe was swimming slowly in the Sea of No Light.

That was the "Eye of the Abyss" Nari; every time its tentacles, as huge as mountains, swayed, they would set off energy tsunamis capable of destroying land.

But what was most unsettling was that this monster seemed to be carrying some strange excitement.

Its huge eyeballs kept rotating, as if looking for something extremely important.

"Terrible..." Youteer's voice carried obvious worry:

"Nari rarely leaves its nest, unless it has encountered something particularly interesting, and the direction it is moving..."

He quickly retrieved the positioning information of Luo En's team:

"It is exactly Luo En's exploration route!"

Chloe's face also turned pale, and the Celestial Sphere crystal in her hand flickered violently with ominous red light:

"The prophecy is coming true... the intersection of blood and chaos is coming."

Her voice carried despair:

"I saw... I saw fire, death, and some result more terrifying than death."

Hearing this prophecy, Youteer immediately began to mobilize the power of the Void Skeleton.

Silver light danced around him, preparing for long-distance emergency intervention.

But just then, a cold voice came from the doorway:

"It seems, I have arrived just in time."

Youfeimia reappeared at the doorway, but this time her expression was completely different.

That feigned gentleness disappeared, replaced by a cold calculation.

"You haven't left yet?" Youteer's phantom turned toward her instantly, the silver light becoming as sharp as a blade.

"Of course not." Youfeimia walked in slowly:

"I was still waiting for the approval of the exploration permit, but now it seems..."

Her gaze fell on Nari's figure in the projection, and a meaningful smile appeared at the corner of her mouth:

"It seems someone has encountered trouble.

As someone who also cares about Luo En Ralph's safety, I think I can provide some... help."

"What do you mean?" Youteer's voice carried obvious hostility.

"Very simple." Youfeimia took a blood-red crystal ball from her storage bag:

"I have a way to bring Luo En out safely without alerting Nari. Of course, this requires some... exchange conditions."

The white-haired witch revealed a beautiful smile that was intoxicating, but her pupils were full of indifference:

"For example, allow me to join his exploration team and work closely with him in the subsequent actions. I believe this is beneficial to both parties."

Youteer immediately realized the sinister intention of this proposal.

This woman was clearly trying to use the opportunity of rescue to approach Luo En and complete some of her own goals.

But the current situation was indeed critical, and Nari was getting closer and closer to Luo En's position.

And his battle with Cha Ye not long ago consumed too much, and the Void Skeleton state hadn't fully recovered...

"I cannot agree to your conditions." Youteer finally shook his head:

"But if you are truly willing to help rescue Luo En, I can consider reducing your exploration commission."

"That's not enough." Youfeimia chuckled: "My help is irreplaceable."

She looked at the blind girl next to her who was somewhat anxious:

"Since this astrologer is also here, why not let her divine it? See what the survival probability of Luo En is without my help?"

This proposal put Youteer in a dilemma.

Chloe felt the tense confrontation between the two and said softly:

"Let me perform divination again, maybe I can find other solutions."

She took out the astrolabe and began urgent divination.

Youteer originally wanted to say he would perform the divination, but seeing the blind girl start silently, he gave up.

When Chloe performs the divination later, he can guide and interpret it, and the effect won't be much worse.

It can also save a lot of magic and spiritual load, preparing better for the rescue that might follow.

Moreover, Youteer's state at this moment was really not very good...

(End of chapter)