Chapter 6: The Way to the Second Layer
“How come you want to go to the second layer when you’ve just arrived at the first?” Du Kang asked incredulously, exhaling white breaths.
“I want to reach the bottom of the Abyss.”
Li Luo responded seriously.
Du Kang choked again and almost spat out his drink, then counter-questioned, “Do you know what’s at the bottom of the Abyss?”
“The gate to another world.”
Li Luo blurted out.
“That’s a lie…” Du Kang wanted to deny it outright but paused, “Nobody knows for sure because those who went down never came back.”
Li Luo kept a serious expression.
“Fine, let me tell you how to get to the second layer first. Do you see that task counter over there?” Du Kang pointed to a counter bustling with people in the hall.
The counter had a giant screen resembling an airport departure board, densely packed with various tasks.
“You go there, complete tasks, and earn points. The tasks get progressively harder the further down the list you go, and the points for each increase. You need over 10,000 monitoring station points to qualify for the second layer.”
Upon hearing the condition, Li Luo turned to leave but was stopped by Du Kang.
“There’s another condition: you need to possess a relic.”
Du Kang glanced at the cube behind Li Luo, “This one you’ve already met. Many people can’t fulfill this condition even after earning enough points.”
In the cube, Mo Ling suddenly realized why Stationmaster Liang said Li Luo was lucky—she had met one of the conditions for reaching the second layer right from the start.
The mention of the bottom of the Abyss also intrigued Mo Ling greatly, because they called it the gate to another world.
“Another world, could it be my previous world?” Mo Ling felt a bit excited, “If I get to the bottom of the Abyss, can I go back?”
As Mo Ling pondered, the small cart began to move again as Li Luo headed toward the task counter.
Du Kang continued to nag beside her:
“At first, choose tasks like collecting herbs or investigation tasks, and just bring back video evidence to get familiar with the process.”
“Before setting out, check out the equipment, supplies, and medical items over there to see if anything needs updating. Of course, they all cost money, but that’s nothing compared to your life. Remember to buy plenty of food for your iron block.”
“You can also team up with others; the points will be split, but it will be safer. I have some business with Old Liang, so I’m heading out. Contact me if you need anything.”
Du Kang’s nagging was like that of an overprotective father; someone who didn’t know better might think Li Luo was his daughter.
After speaking, he waved at Li Luo and headed upstairs.
“This Du Kang is really warm-hearted.”
Mo Ling sighed.
At the task counter, Li Luo attracted a lot of attention with her large cube, and most people looked at her with envy.
Especially after recognizing Li Luo as this year’s new hunter, their faces showed unrestrainable shock, and they unconsciously made way for her.
Li Luo looked up at the colorful task board and her electronic screen connected to the system, allowing her to click and view task details at any time.
The small cart followed, bringing the task board into Mo Ling’s sight.
[Collection Task: Ruby Potatoes, ten pieces, for research use, reward: 10 monitoring station points.]
[Collection Task: Smoked Ore, twenty kilograms, for forging use, reward: 10 monitoring station points.]
[Investigation Task: Monitor the bark beetle infestation situation in the eastern forest; video evidence required, reward: 5 monitoring station points.]
…
Mo Ling was dumbfounded.
How much?
He almost thought he had seen it wrong and quickly scanned again.
Yes, the points were indeed that low.
“How long will it take to amass 10,000 points?”
As Mo Ling was in a daze, Li Luo had already accepted a task, and the electronic screen in her hand began to float with task details.
Mo Ling quickly glanced at it.
[Investigation Task: Investigate the cause of the Vibrant Beast disturbances]
[The Vibrant Beast disturbances have destroyed multiple outposts, causing significant casualties. Preliminary investigations suggest the appearance of a mutated form carrying a relic. Find the cause and resolve the disturbances.]
[Recommended number of participants: a team of 10 or more.]
[Reward: 1,000 monitoring station points.]
[Acceptance requirement: The Vibrant Beast is an extremely dangerous creature; the team must be equipped with offensive relics.]
…
Mo Ling was shocked.
What fast hands!
“How did you accept it so quickly? Did you see the recommended number of participants? You really took an investigation task when I suggested taking one?”
Mo Ling wanted to burst out of the cube to question Li Luo, but he couldn’t.
“What kind of investigation task is this? Why didn’t I see it?”
Mo Ling scanned the task list again and finally found the investigation task in the last few lines.
Sure enough, Li Luo was looking from the end of the list.
In the constantly rolling task list, the last few lines were filled with various hunting tasks, each marked as extremely dangerous.
Among this bunch of hunting tasks, Li Luo accurately found the investigation task with the highest points.
On the current taskbar, the task to investigate the Vibrant Beast disturbances now had Li Luo’s name beside it.
After accepting the task, Li Luo turned and left, not looking for teammates, clearly intending to keep the points for herself.
Sure enough, she was stopped by a team before squeezing through the crowd, led by a seemingly steady young man.
“Hello, did you accept the task to investigate the cause of the Vibrant Beast disturbances?”
Li Luo nodded.
The young man smiled broadly, “I see you’re alone. Our team is also interested in this task. How about we join forces and look out for each other?”
While talking to Li Luo, the young man’s eyes sneaked glances at the metal block behind her.
Mo Ling understood.
This team didn’t have a relic, so they couldn’t meet the task acceptance criteria and wanted to tag along.
“No need, I can handle it myself.”
Li Luo coldly shook her head.
The young man tried to persuade further, but Li Luo bypassed him.
The cart carrying the metal block drove past the young man, taking a curve in front of him before leaving.
After leaving the task counter, Li Luo headed straight to the stores in the hall to start shopping.
At the counter, Li Luo looked at the sales assistant and asked, “Do you have special food for relics?”
The sales assistant was somewhat frightened by Li Luo’s cold gaze, her initial smile stiffening.
“Yes, on the second shelf to the right after you turn around.”
Seriously?
Li Luo walked in the direction indicated by the sales assistant, while Mo Ling’s sight was already locked on the spot.
Finger Cans?
Blood Sugar Syrup?
Hair Seaweed?
Nuclear Waste Cola?
Pork-made Beef Jerky?
Fried Instant Noodles with the First Ray of Sunshine in the Morning Videotape Ribbon?
…
Stop!
Mo Ling didn’t understand why such bizarre foods existed or what other relics needed but knew he would die if he ate them.
Just as he was thinking of ways to stop Li Luo, she had already reached the shelf and began to carefully select.
Fortunately, while picking these foods, Li Luo placed each on the cube to see its reaction.
Finally, Li Luo, unsuccessful, walked towards the normal food.
Mo Ling, sitting inside the cube, breathed a long sigh of relief.
