Chapter 842
Chapter 842 - 828 Encounter
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8 min read
"This really is like a different world in every level of the Abyss, ugh, disgusting..."
Lu Ping’an pulled his foot out of the mire, furrowing his brow and wearing a look of displeasure.
Ever since he entered this seventh layer, the rain had not stopped, alternating between heavy showers and torrential downpours.
On his body, on the ground, even his underwear had never dried... Lu Ping’an had inadvertently walked into a bog of mud, slid down three or four meters straight, and became utterly trapped in the swamp.
Ordinary people would have long since died in this environment, as the mud and rain both carried toxins that could corrode mortals, yet Lu Ping’an still complained about his boots and trousers being completely soaked—it was very uncomfortable to wear.
The others were already inside the courtyard; if this environment was a disaster for Lu Ping’an, it was an apocalypse for the rest.
The "contamination concentration" in the air had already reached alarmingly high levels—so dense that even Meow wanted to "sleep through it."
This layer might well be the initial Abyss, the source of everything.
"...A continuously declining world model?"
Lu Ping’an’s eyes pierced through the rain, saw through the phantoms, and discerned that constantly falling different dimension.
This was the seventh layer of the Abyss, but in reality, it was also the first layer, simply with new levels added through years of "continual descent."
"...No hope left."
With just one glance, Lu Ping’an saw the infinite unknown beneath the seven layers—a "Abyss" that had reached this state was an independent world that could no longer cease its descent.
It was like a wound that kept bleeding but was doomed never to clot—if the world didn’t want to bleed to forget, it would need to possess a hematopoietic ability stronger than the bleeding.
"Well, that isn’t necessarily true."
However, at this moment, Big Cat gave a very "anti-common sense" response.
"Eh? There’s a way?"
Wasn’t it said that pollution was irreversible? Is there really a way to completely eliminate it?
"There is, as long as you are powerful enough, you can use one source of contamination to eradicate another... Deities can’t do it, but beings above deities can, the Twelve-Pillar can easily protect their own worlds, taking everything into their control."
It was still the fundamentally simple principle that completely conformed to the basic rules of "contamination can only be covered by another contamination," but the problem lay in the fact that operability was virtually nil.
The rain had grown heavier, such poisonous showers were a dead end for most humans, and the "rules" of the Abyss loomed over, eroding all who encountered it.
"So to remove a cancer, one must become the cancer first..."
"Or rather, it fits better to fight poison with poison, it’s still the same principle."
𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
Lu Ping’an patiently waited a while; the rain before him had reached the point of splashing, and he was somewhat exhausted from traveling with "Stacking Waves."
Looking at the familiar yet alien Otherworldly scene before him, Lu Ping’an had already realized that perhaps This World, at any cost, was implementing the Nirvana Plan, with its ultimate goal being to "internally generate" a Twelve-Pillar like existence.
A small pond cannot raise a True Dragon; only by engaging with this infinite and desperate Multi-universe is there the possibility of facing either rejuvenation or destruction.
"...We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, can’t rush these things," he thought. Future issues could wait—the important thing was the people in the present.
Lu Ping’an’s eyes then turned towards the distance; this time, he had finally locked on to Xia Qin’s spirit fluctuations.
The deeper he went, the more baffled he was; if he was to continue bringing people along in This World, wouldn’t the others already be dead and gone?
Moreover, plunging directly into the seventh layer was too risky and aggressive, not fitting with his understanding of her... He didn’t think that under normal circumstances, Xia Qin would make such an impulsive decision without sufficient intelligence.
Standing by for rescue was most likely the "safe tactics" Xia Qin would choose.
In fact, some accidents had already happened, or else Xia Qin would have met Lu Ping’an by now.
"How much further? It looks like they can’t hold on much longer..."
Xia Qin hesitated a bit, looking back at the makeshift raft cart behind her, on which seven or eight unlucky souls were lying sprawled out.
Even wearing "raincoats (protective gear)" suited to the local environment and having taken Magic Potion, their conditions were still terrible.
The mutations in their parts were increasing, and their nonsensical babble was growing more and more absurd; it looked like they wouldn’t last much longer.
"We’re almost there, keep your composure, as a professional, you can’t let personal factors affect your judgment at this time." A familiar voice, carrying a tone of reprimand, dismissed Xia Qin’s inquiry.
"...Yes, Master." And Xia Qin could only reply honestly.
"Good, keep using the method I taught you to maintain your ’Domain,’ The better you use it, the longer they can hold out."
The Silky Realm Swordsman, Kun Ba, nodded, revealing a satisfied smile.
Originally, he thought his little disciple was only average in talent, even the "Handcuff" technique was mediocre, but now, under the pressure, she had even managed to develop a more advanced "Domain."
At this moment, with Xia Qin at the center, on the raft and her, an "invisible wall" was faintly laid out.
On it, a faint flowing light twinkled, resembling the Sun’s translucent golden runes.
This was indeed Xia Qin’s talented "Sun Pattern," but this time it was not just on the surface of her skin but was formed into an "invisible wall" using the sophisticated technique of "Handcuff."
Although the power was significantly reduced, this area was like Xia Qin’s "inner body," greatly reducing the erosion of external contamination.
Certainly, this was the specialty of a "Binding/Protection" ability user, especially Xia Qin naturally having multiple "Sun Patterns," which was very suitable for building "Domains"... But to grasp such an advanced practical combat technique so quickly, it also made her teacher very satisfied.
"An Xin, based on my experience, they can hold on for now. Our goal over there has a teleportation gate that leads directly to the upper levels. When the time comes, we do the official business, and you take them up first."
Next to Kun Ba, there were two other cloaked figures, and judging from their equal manner of communication all along, their status was obviously not low.
Such a trio descending from the frontline was certainly not here for sightseeing.
And the reason Xia Qin had abandoned the plan to rendezvous with Lu Ping’an was that, for the sake of those "hostages," these three were dependable powerhouses.
Kun Ba, seeing his disciple here, naturally thought of giving a hand... a war zone like this was too dangerous for Xia Qin.
A short-legged Sword Saint really wouldn’t stand a chance against an Abyss Layer Master, probably couldn’t even run away.
"Continue to maintain the Domain... Don’t always look around, focus your spirit!"
The three strongmen have been very low-key all along, not even using their power, obviously, they had their own important mission.
But seeing Xia Qin look back from time to time, Kun Ba was somewhat displeased.
"We have been using our abilities to observe our surroundings, no life forms can bypass our perception to come near... you don’t need to waste your attention on guarding, do your own job fighting against this ’rain,’ this is also a rare opportunity for cultivation."
Even at this time, Kun Ba did not forget to train his student.
But Xia Qin murmured a few words before finally speaking out.
"I’m not on guard against magical beasts; I’m waiting for someone, judging from the time, they should be here by now... "
"Waiting for someone? Are you talking about that Little Lu you mentioned before? He shouldn’t have come down, and even if he did come to find you, he probably wouldn’t come this deep."
Kun Ba shook his head in surprise.
He was old enough to not see that the two of them would have such a life-and-death bond, nor did he expect Xia Qin to be so naïve.
This wasn’t good, she needed more training to correct this, but it seemed it wasn’t the time right now, so he decided to brush it off for the moment.
"...Alright, we’ll keep an eye out. If he gets close by, I’ll let you know."
He offered a word of comfort nonchalantly, but didn’t take it seriously.
If that Little Lu really did come, even if he hadn’t died in such an environment, they should have detected him from miles away...
"No need, I’m already here."
A sudden voice appeared right beside the makeshift team.
In the thick rain where one couldn’t see their own hand in front of their face, a phantom stepped into reality, and in that moment, when he started speaking, was when these bosses became aware of his presence.
The young man smiled innocently and honestly, like a friendly boy-next-door.
And the super giant chop sword he was stowing away in his hand was clearly an extremely dangerous item.
— End of Chapter 842 —