Chapter 53: An Early Return (Merry Christmas)

[Shadow-infused Germinated Vine Seed]
[Quality: Lv3 (Pale Gold)]
[Usage: Architecture, Summoning Sacrifices]
[Description: The seed of a blue demon-transformed green vine, originally a failed fusion product. Over a thousand years, the shadow attribute slowly permeated the seed, and through necromantic stimulation, the seed finally sprouted. Note: When sprouting, the seed absorbed the power of several other seeds, thereby elevating its grade and increasing its demand for shadow energy. After sprouting, it must continuously absorb shadow energy without pause, or it risks death.]

Having obtained what he wanted, Liu Zong felt no joy at all. The already germinated seed had only produced two pale purple leaves, each about the size of a palm, yet that was more than enough for him. From the back of these leaves grew fine, hair-like white tendrils that pierced directly into the back of his hand, incessantly drawing shadow energy from within him.

Liu Zong had witnessed these fine tendrils burrow into other unactivated seeds, draining all their vitality and shadow energy. Therefore, he abandoned the idea of storing the seed in a card. Cradling the seed in both hands, he left the main laboratory without hesitation and hurried toward the restaurant where the players had initially gathered.

Upon entering the restaurant, Liu Zong discovered that Zhu Yan had not gone to the main laboratory but was instead waiting here for everyone’s return. With her were her two junior disciples, as well as the wind-attribute player.

The four were surprised to see Liu Zong return so soon, as none had expected him to emerge after such a short time in the laboratory. Yet upon seeing the seed in his hand, Zhu Yan smiled, “I say, little brother, it looks like your combat ability has dropped by more than eighty percent. You’re in no shape to fight, not even to run quickly. Do you still plan to follow me on the path ahead?”

Liu Zong shook his head. “Making it this far is thanks to all of you. I doubt I can accompany you any further. May I ask how I should leave this map?”

Zhu Yan smiled gently. “It’s simple. Just hearthstone back. However, once you leave, you won’t be able to return. The entry requirement here is—”

“Knight VII Type Four?” Liu Zong interjected.

Zhu Yan nodded, her expression indicating understanding. Meanwhile, the wind-attribute player grabbed Liu Zong’s arm and asked, “Hey, did you turn down An Qiang’s request earlier?”

Liu Zong looked at him in confusion, uncertain of his intent.

Seeing Liu Zong’s reaction, the player laughed. “You don’t know? I’ve been busy here all day just for Sister Yan’s promise to let me handle the Knight VII Type Four—Yellow Sands. Once you all leave, I’ll have three free entries here. That An Qiang, thinking he’s Xu Linlin’s junior, wanted to steal one of my chances. No way I’d let him. We had a bit of a conflict, and later I heard he went to find you. He must have wanted you to tamper with the Knight VII Type Four—Yellow Sands.”

“He wanted control over it,” Liu Zong replied directly.

“I knew it!” the player exclaimed. “So you helped me out. If you ever need anything at school, just mention Chen Fen’s name—I’ll cover you!”

He patted Liu Zong’s shoulder heavily, signaling camaraderie.

At this point, Liu Zong had no intention of lingering. After exchanging a few more words with Zhu Yan, he prepared to leave.

As Liu Zong was about to activate the hearthstone portal, Zhu Yan called out, “Little brother, after you return, please don’t immediately reveal the true function of the Knight VII Type Four, all right?”

Liu Zong paused and quickly understood. Zhu Yan feared that others, upon learning its function, would seek out the Knight VII Type Four to enter this place. Perhaps allowing outsiders into the main laboratory wasn’t much, but what if someone had higher clearance? If, like Zhu Yan, they could proceed from the ancient laboratory to the territory of the Seven Lords, then transfer from there to the Princess’s Tomb—what then? If Zhu Yan’s task wasn’t complete, or there was something she hadn’t obtained, what if someone snatched the mission? She had to consider every possibility.

In that instant, Liu Zong understood her reasoning. He nodded. “You don’t blame me for leaving early, which is generous enough. Naturally, I won’t speak of anything here. But you should be wary of those who died—I sense the main laboratory is dangerous.”

Zhu Yan waved dismissively. “They don’t dare. Most I know well, and can arrange safely. It’s only you I’m meeting for the first time. I’ve heard of you before, but never knew you deeply.”

Seeing her skeptical expression, Liu Zong could only smile wryly. He said nothing more and directly activated the hearthstone.

Originally, the hearthstone was designed in the game as a tool to return to the city inn. However, after so many years, it had become a means for players to return to their personal spaces.

Of course, returning meant abandoning everything before him, never to come back. For those who wished to travel between town and the outside, there were teleport scrolls or inn keys—single-use consumables, unlike the hearthstone, which had no cooldown, couldn’t be destroyed, and couldn’t be traded.

Just as Liu Zong activated the hearthstone, the ground suddenly trembled, followed by the distant sound of an explosion.

Liu Zong noted that the explosion came from the direction of the main laboratory—likely Xu Linlin and the others had encountered trouble, or someone had triggered something forbidden.

None of it concerned him now. Before him, a silvery-white door appeared. All he needed to do was step through to return to his own space.

At that moment, the restaurant’s lights dimmed, and a shrill alarm sounded. Outside, the footsteps of mechanical guards echoed.

This startled Zhu Yan, who shouted, “They’re purging all life from the experimental field. We must leave now!”

Hearing this, Zhu Yan’s two disciples immediately ran in a certain direction—apparently where they had first dismounted the Knight VII Type Four.

This was the last scene Liu Zong witnessed. The next moment, stepping through the silvery-white door, he returned to his own space—a tiny room of only four square meters.