Chapter 374: The Wanderer Returns Home

Early the next morning, the Abyss Observatory's descent platform activated those unsettling rune arrays again.

Luo En stood alone in the center of the platform.

Unlike last time, this time he did not apply for an escort from an exploration team.

"Just conducting routine material collection and environmental surveying."

He responded thus to the proactive volunteering of Miller and the others:

"I am already quite familiar with the environment of the fourth layer; acting alone is more efficient."

A flash of worry crossed Miller's single eye. As a veteran explorer, he knew well the danger of venturing deep into the Abyss alone:

"Wizard Ralph, even for a routine mission, the fourth layer of the Abyss is by no means a safe place. Those environmental changes are random; last time's experience may not necessarily apply this time..."

"I understand your concern, Captain Miller."

Although Luo En's tone was gentle, his attitude was firm:

"But some experiments need to be conducted in an absolutely quiet environment; any external interference could affect the accuracy of the results."

He did not explain the real reason in detail.

The meeting with Nari, as well as those experiments involving taboo fields, were not suitable for outsiders to be present.

Blake wanted to say something, but was gently pulled by the sleeve by Camilla.

As the most sensitive member of the squad, the female wizard read a certain unquestionable firmness from Luo En's attitude.

"I appreciate everyone's good intentions."

Luo En said finally: "If I really encounter a situation I cannot handle, I will immediately activate the emergency summoning procedure."

Just as the atmosphere was somewhat deadlocked, the void phantom projection of Uter slowly condensed on the platform.

The silver light rippled like water, and the old professor's voice carried unquestionable authority:

"Everyone's concern is understandable, but Researcher Ralph's decision also has its rationality."

The phantom's gaze swept over everyone present:

"With his current strength and adaptability to the Abyss, there is indeed no great risk in conducting routine missions on the fourth layer alone. And..."

Uter's tone became meaningful:

"Some research indeed requires special environments and privacy protection."

Hearing this, Miller and the others could only helplessly accept reality.

In the power system of the observatory, the words of Station Master Professor Uter were the highest criterion.

"Then, I wish you all the best, Wizard Ralph."

Miller finally expressed his blessings, but the worry in his eyes remained obvious:

"Please be sure to return on time. If you exceed the scheduled time..."

"I will be back on time." Luo En nodded to them.

As the platform started, Luo En began to descend into the depths of the Abyss.

But before leaving, he asked Uter a question that worried him:

"Professor, how is the situation with Master Maxim's exploration team... now?"

Uter's phantom dimmed slightly, and deep worry appeared in his silver eyes:

"It has been ten full days past the scheduled return time."

The old professor's voice became heavy:

"According to standard procedures, we have already dispatched three search and rescue teams.

But the complexity of the sixth layer, the 'Labyrinth Domain'... the hope of finding them is very slim."

This news made Luo En's heart sink.

Although Maxim had some serious Abyss pollution, he was also a fairly experienced explorer.

And his strength at the peak of the Morning Star level could be considered quite good, plus that team of mercenaries.

Even such a seasoned squad had met with misfortune in the Abyss...

"Even experienced explorers are only slightly better than novices when facing the terrifying environment starting from the sixth layer of the Abyss."

Uter seemed to see through his thoughts:

"This is the cruel reality of deep exploration. No matter how careful you are, no matter how rich your experience, the Grim Reaper may descend at any time."

Luo En nodded silently, having a deeper understanding of this danger in his heart.

Immediately, he thought of another matter that had been weighing on his mind:

Those erased by the "Forgotten Land"—Trish, Corinna, and others whose names he didn't even remember.

"If I hadn't met Nari..."

He pondered another possibility in his heart:

"Facing the curse of the Abyss and the dangerous environment, I would probably have to proceed with extreme caution and avoid it at all costs."

Just like the exploration he conducted on the fifth layer using the substitute puppet before meeting Nari.

The various twisted monsters encountered while moving alone, as well as the various bizarre activated environments, were almost every step difficult.

Meeting Nari and establishing a parent-child relationship with her was indeed his greatest luck.

With the protection of this "mother," he could become more and more comfortable in the Abyss, even regarding it as a treasure trove for acquiring power.

But for other ordinary explorers, the Abyss would always be a terrifying dark hole that devoured lives.

"After I am promoted to a Historian..."

Luo En planned secretly in his heart:

"I can start trying to analyze and track Trish's situation. Even if she might have been swallowed by the 'Forgotten Land' by then, at least I must confirm her final fate."

This was not only a remembrance of a former companion but also a proof of his own inner persistence.

During the descent, Luo En could see the complex internal structure of the observatory slowly rising beside him through the platform's transparent shield.

Those huge biological pipeline systems were not just part of the building, but the core of the entire Abyss material processing flow.

The daily operation of the Abyss Observatory was far more complex and busy than outsiders imagined.

Besides those eye-catching Abyss exploration and research projects, most of the staff's time was actually invested in relatively dull basic work.

Every day, a large amount of basic Abyss materials were transported to the observatory in various ways:

Samples brought back by exploration teams, harvests from automatic collection devices, and even particles filtered from Abyss air currents...

Most of these raw materials contained chaotic Abyss energy and could not be used directly.

They needed to go through complex purification and optimization processes before they could be transformed into valuable research resources or trade commodities.

"Detoxification of Abyss Blood Algae... energy stabilization of Soul Stone fragments... shape correction of twisted metal..."

Luo En recalled the assembly line operations he had observed:

"Almost every type of Abyss material requires a specialized processing procedure."

In the central area of the observatory, there was a whole set of massive material processing facilities.

Most of these facilities were fusions of bio-machines, bizarre in appearance but powerful in function.

For example, the "Flesh Filter."

A filtering device modified from huge organs, capable of separating pure energy essence from turbid Abyss liquid.

The heart part of this device beat tens of thousands of times a day, providing power for the entire filtering system.

Operators needed to regularly check the health of the heart and perform "surgical" maintenance when necessary.

There was also the "Neural Network Analyzer," an analysis device woven from the nerve fibers of countless Abyss creatures.

It could identify the intrinsic characteristics of various Abyss materials, automatically classify them, and recommend the most suitable processing scheme.

But this equipment was extremely sensitive; absolute mental quietness had to be maintained during operation, as any emotional fluctuation could lead to deviations in analysis results.

The "Rune Engraver" was one of the most precise pieces of equipment in the observatory.

It used living tentacles as engraving tools, capable of carving extremely complex rune patterns on the surfaces of various materials.

Each tentacle possessed independent sensory capabilities and could adjust the engraving depth and angle in real-time according to the material's characteristics.