Netherworld Retrograde
Chapter 165 - 76: Boarding the Ark Again_2

Chapter 165: Chapter 76: Boarding the Ark Again_2

Spiritual Ability Users experience an increasing span in power with each Awakening. The enhancement of Spiritual Energy and physical fitness also grow progressively greater.

When Li Yelai achieved his First Awakening, he was able to hold his own even against Long Spear Knights of the Second Awakening.

Yet after becoming a Second Awakening, Li Yelai struggled when facing the Tattooed Man, a Third Awakening, and ultimately had to invoke his Calamity and feed the man an exploration machine to severely injure and defeat him.

The Tattooed Man, who posed such difficulty for Li Yelai, couldn’t even withstand a single move from the Doll.

In terms of strength, the Doll was undoubtedly formidable.

But as a training aid? Probably not. Otherwise, all the Processors would have sought her assistance by now.

As his words trailed off, Li Yelai felt his body suddenly become heavy.

The air around him began to sink.

Li Yelai, taken aback, tried to lift his arm, but it was somewhat difficult.

It was as if he had sunk into glue-like air.

Was this an ability or a Spiritual Barrier?

"This is..." Li Yelai began.

Only to see the Doll lift a signboard.

[One of my abilities is Air Control. I can manipulate all gases within a certain range. Now, I’ve gelatinized the air in the entire training room. You have to strengthen your Spiritual Barrier to neutralize the Spiritual Energy in the air to reduce some of the resistance to move ᕦ(ᴼڡᴼ)ᕤ]

Li Yelai did as told, strengthening his own Spiritual Barrier.

With his strengthened Spiritual Barrier, Li Yelai felt much less pressure, but movement remained very inconvenient. He had to consume a good deal of Spiritual Energy and strength to act in the jellified air.

It was fortunate the Doll left some airflow; otherwise, staying here could have led to asphyxiation.

This showcased the Doll’s power; if she truly harbored hostility towards someone, she could suffocate them with an even denser gel-like air!

This was the Doll’s method of training assistance—using her own ability to make Li Yelai train in such an environment to rapidly enhance his control over Spiritual Energy.

No wonder no one sought help from the Doll.

Because this was a specialized training ground crafted at the expense of the Doll’s own Spiritual Energy.

For the Doll as well, it was a burden.

"Aren’t you getting too tired?" Li Yelai asked with concern. "This kind of consumption must be huge, right?"

[It’s okay, I can hold out for about an hour ψ(｀ー´)ψ]

[Just maintain this Spiritual Barrier and train against this resistance. The results should be pretty good

"Thank you!" Li Yelai gratefully responded. Then, picking up a training weapon, he diligently trained in this space for the next half-hour, each weapon swing met with immense resistance, his Spiritual Barrier rapidly depleting, and slowly recuperating.

Half an hour later, a completely Spiritually drained Li Yelai was drenched in sweat, and even his enhanced physique felt a sense of exhaustion greater than after a whole day of training.

When the Doll noticed Li Yelai’s state, she immediately dissolved the gelatinized air and rushed to support him.

[Are you okay? Did I not control it well enough? (ಥ_ಥ)]

"It’s fine, it’s fine," Li Yelai waved off, then looked inwards at his Soul Well. Although not overly obvious, the Soul Well had indeed expanded a bit.

This method was quite effective after all!

But the toll it took on Li Yelai was too great—continuous training was out of the question.

So, some ten minutes later, within the Doll’s exclusive sub-branch rest area...

Li Yelai, sitting at the dining table, found it strenuous to even pick up his chopsticks.

’I might have overdone the training a tad...’ Li Yelai thought as he watched the chopsticks slip from his hand, considering, "Next time, I should at least save some energy."

Beside him, the Doll, having shed her snowman costume in exchange for a ladies’ trench coat, appeared even taller and could scarcely conceal her alluring charm.

Her expression, however, was hesitant.

’Is he too tired to hold his chopsticks?’

’Should I offer to feed him? (..›ᴗ‹..)’

’But would he be freaked out? Last time we played games, he seemed a bit resistant (T﹏T)ノ｜’

As she pondered, she saw Li Yelai grab a spoon and began swiftly shoveling rice into his mouth.

"I can’t pick up chopsticks? That’s hardly a challenge for me!" Li Yelai thought to himself, as it wasn’t his first time dealing with hardship.

But little did he know, his actions caused the Doll at his side to pout in discontent.

...

Three days after his special training had ended, Li Yelai had fully recovered. Yet, he boarded the car of Captain Yin Huo.

Today was November 15th, also the day he would once again board the ark.

The officials greatly valued the ark.

At the same time, Li Yelai, as a Dark Pile, was also classified at a high secrecy level.

This meant that his entry point into the ark wasn’t located at the bustling headquarters, but rather within a safe house situated in the suburbs of New District, meticulously arranged by officials.

It was a villa covering a significant parcel of land. It looked quite ordinary from the outside.

This was to prevent spies that might exist within Giant City.

And also to guard against any tracking measures other Ark Chosen Ones might place on the goods Li Yelai was trading.

If there really were tracking methods, and they traced the signal here, it wouldn’t reveal Li Yelai’s identity as a Dark Pile.

Li Yelai and Captain Yin Huo walked into the safe area on the mountainside and entered its basement.

Once again, he saw the ark elector ’Golden Armor,’ bound and unable to live or die.

At this moment, he was still suspended in a Life Support Chamber, chains and metal stabs piercing his body. The unconscious man seemed to be enduring some kind of punishment, his brow furrowed and his face etched in pain.

How could it not be painful? His head had been smashed!

Li Yelai was indifferent to this, feeling no mercy for the beast who had killed so many civilians, so many colleagues!

If it weren’t for the fact that he was still of use alive, the officials would probably reduce ’Golden Armor’ to ashes.

Then, Li Yelai also saw a magnificent steed.

It was a four-hoofed horse with a particularly handsome appearance, its body covered in blue-green scales, its silver-white mane making it look even more sacred.

But it... it was a corpse. A long spear had pierced its skull.

This was the body of the Thunder Stepping Dragon Colt that Li Yelai needed.

As part of the transaction, the officials had already prepared it for him.

"What intelligence do I need to gather this time?" Li Yelai inquired.

"You don’t need to make an effort to gather any special intel, just normal interactions with the Ark Chosen Ones will be fine," Captain Yin Huo said. "If any information interests you, you may decide for yourself. Your Face, our confiscation efforts against the Church Branch, are all exchangeable. But remember, don’t give away too much about yourself."

Li Yelai nodded slightly, then asked again, "How should I bring this horse’s body with me?"

"Don’t worry about that. When you enter the ark, just hold onto this Dragon Colt’s body. It will enter the ark with you, and when you need it, the ark will bring it out for you," Captain Yin Huo responded. "Be careful, don’t rush to probe those guys’ intelligence."

The ’guys’ Captain Yin Huo mentioned were actually the masterminds behind the Fantasy Band.

’Ming Xing,’ ’Phantom,’ and ’Wolf Map’ were the individuals the Processors dreamt of killing.

But with Li Yelai’s current identity, he couldn’t rush to gather information on them, as that would reveal flaws.

Li Yelai nodded, changed into a suit, put on Copper Face, picked up the ship ticket, and laid his hand on the Dragon Colt’s body.

Captain Yin Huo then checked the countermeasures, and once he was sure everything was correct, nodded and said, "Activate it."

Soon, as a Processor manipulated the comatose ’Golden Armor’ to point a finger,

Li Yelai felt the familiar sensation of weightlessness, and a white light shone before him.

Seconds later, as the sensation of weightlessness and the white light faded,

Li Yelai found himself inside the resplendent interior of the ark.

Compared to the last time, there seemed to be a few more seats, probably for new members.

Li Yelai scanned his surroundings and found his seat with ease, taking a seat.

Compared to last time’s nervousness, Li Yelai was much calmer this time.

Soon, that mysterious voice rang out,

"Begin, Chosen Ones."