After the Lord of the Abyss Awakens - Chapter 27.1

“Yi Xiusi…”

Luo Jie’s pupils contracted slightly as he momentarily recalled the past.

Off by just one character, he almost thought he had seen his brother Xiu’s name.

There were too many people with similar names in this other world. Over thousands of years, he had encountered countless people called “Xiu Si” in this world.

Even so, he still hadn’t gotten used to it. Whenever he heard this name, he would always turn to look, thinking he might see a familiar face.

Seven heroes came to this world, six mysteriously disappeared, leaving only him behind.

It started with brother Xiu, then Chen Lingxi, followed by Wang Chang’er, then Ye Qingyi, Justin, and Ming Jie. Almost all of them vanished in subspace.

Honestly, it wasn’t strange, as most powerful humans disappeared in subspace. Besides subspace, there weren’t many things in this world that could threaten them. Strong individuals going missing in subspace could be due to accidents, dangers, or unclear circumstances. Some might reappear after hundreds or thousands of years.

The space-time in subspace was chaotic. The time measured on the continent rarely matched the subjective experience of individuals in subspace. Some people disappeared for thousands of years, only to return saying they had only experienced a day inside. Such things happened from time to time.

Luo Jie wasn’t too worried about Wang Chang’er, Ye Qingyi and the others, as they were powerful enough to find their way back. He was concerned about those of lower levels who might lack the ability to protect themselves, like brother Xiu and Justin.

“…”

Luo Jie’s gaze fell as he pondered for a few minutes. He thought to himself, it must be a coincidence. Brother Xiu had no magic talent and barely any magic power, how could he become Matros’s student? It was completely unrelated.

Really, when people get old, they can’t help but reminisce about the past.

The Goddess of Harmony’s reminder was right, don’t be too obsessed. It’s time to say goodbye to the past.

Luo Jie lowered his head, his mouth turning downward, suddenly remembering the Goddess of Harmony’s suggestion.

She had said, “The method to recover your declining strength might be in some domain of subspace. If you want to regain your peak form, you can try going there, but you must know the risks. If something happens to you too, there will be no more heroes left on the continent.”

The Goddess of Harmony’s advice was always correct. The only question was whether you could follow it. Perhaps her suggestions seemed to push you to extremes, but they were indeed reasonable advice.

Other gods might not even be able to offer advice.

Luo Jie had been postponing following the Goddess of Harmony’s advice from over a thousand years ago until now.

Maybe he valued his life too much. Unlike Ye Qingyi, he wasn’t so passionate about pursuing truth at the cost of his life.

Between dying gloriously in battle and passing away quietly in old age, Luo Jie would choose the latter. Getting old, he really couldn’t handle such turmoil anymore.

He was never really cut out to be that kind of hero in the first place.

In reality, his profession was just an ordinary video editor. His life had nothing to do with hot-blooded adventures. The most exciting thing in his life was editing a video that made many people feel excited.

Those grand, attention-grabbing events were on a completely different plane from his gray life in a rented apartment in a big city.

He never thought he would one day become a hero saving the world, nor did he have such aspirations. At most, he might have indulged in some childish fantasies while playing games.

The more he experienced society, the more he understood – reality and ideals were parallel lines that never intersect.

He never imagined that after crossing over to another world, those parallel lines would intersect and overlap, but in the end…

Luo Jie’s eyes suddenly darkened, his mood complicated.

He still believed parallel lines should remain parallel. People shouldn’t force themselves to do things fundamentally unsuitable for them, some things even beyond their capabilities.

Although, he was still doing it now.

He mocked himself internally, “Still not free to do as I please after all this time. If you all knew, you’d surely laugh at me.”

He was just an ordinary person, yet he had to forcibly shape himself into a hero, pretending for thousands of years, enjoying the worship and admiration of countless people. Wasn’t this also a kind of hypocrisy?

Luo Jie sighed.

This would be the last time. After this, he would truly retire, not coming out no matter who called.

Yes, he should make it so no one knew how to contact him, then no one could reach him no matter how they tried.

He’d find a place with mountains and lakes, raise a few gentle magic beasts, or cats and dogs. He’d spend his days fishing, comfortable and carefree, with no worries. Every year or two he’d go to the abyss to search for people.

Humans were gradually rising now, with several strong individuals who could rival true gods emerging. Soon they wouldn’t need old relics like him anymore.

It was time to exit the stage, also to make more room for the young.

The new waves of the Yangtze River push the old ones forward, after all.

Luo Jie pondered retirement while reviewing the intelligence.

As for this Duke Feman…

Luo Jie fell into deep thought as he looked at the intelligence records.

The Aust Empire was a military state, with a tradition of recording all sorts of things as intelligence. The records showed that Duke Feman had lived an unremarkable life. Though a duke, he hadn’t achieved much, and his family had long since declined. However, about a decade ago, Feman had a sudden awakening, as if unblocking his meridians, and reached level 72 in just one year.

Humans found it difficult to level up, with most stuck below level 50 and unable to advance. Humans who reached level 70 or above were rare in any country. Level 70 was a major watershed, signifying the initial steps on a path of transcendence.

Duke Feman reaching over level 70 was clearly abnormal. It couldn’t have been achieved through his own power alone.

Luo Jie remained silent, calmly sipping his tea. He also saw that Feman had just extended an invitation to Yi Xiusi, which Yi Xiusi had declined.

The Aust Empire was a class-based society. An ordinary citizen refusing a noble’s invitation could lead to big trouble.

But Yi Xiusi was Matros’s student, a status that in some ways rivaled that of a king. A mere duke naturally couldn’t compare to Matros’s student.

However, what did Feman want to invite Yi Xiusi for? Had he set his sights on Yi Xiusi?

If something happened to Yi Xiusi in the Imperial City, given Matros’s temperament, he likely wouldn’t let the Aust Empire off easily.

Several intelligence officers waited behind Luo Jie, extremely respectful, barely daring to breathe loudly.

Heroes were living legends, and few could remain calm in the presence of a legend. Moreover, Hero Luo Jie was the last remaining hero, one of humanity’s few legendary treasures.

That Hero Luo Jie was willing to lend a hand to the Aust Empire was already a great kindness.

After reading the intelligence, Luo Jie turned to them and said, “Immediately send people to protect Yi Xiusi, but try not to disturb him.”

“Yes!”

“Duke Feman is problematic, but we have no evidence yet. First, have people monitor him, but be careful not to alert him. If he is an apostle of an otherworldly god, he will inevitably reveal himself.”

The intelligence officers nodded repeatedly.

After they all left, the room fell into silence.

Lost in thought, Luo Jie took out a dagger from thin air.

Its blade was dark green, with several magic stones embedded in its back.

These magic stones all came from great demons above level 95, formed from their lifetime of magic power.

Three thousand years ago, the master craftsman Afir forged this god-level dagger and gave it to him, telling him that this dagger could kill gods and push people towards immortality.

What is “pushing towards immortality”? It means that if you stab the dagger into your own heart, you can enter the Immortal’s Trial.

Failing the trial means death.

Succeeding the trial means rejuvenation, renewed vitality, and even becoming an immortal.

Setting aside whether Luo Jie’s current strength could overcome the Immortal’s Trial, he hesitated about becoming an immortal.

He always felt that people should have an endpoint, and not become monsters without end.

He also lacked confidence in his ability to remain rational through endless years without becoming perverted or insane.

In Luo Jie’s understanding, more maddening than the unspeakable beings of subspace was time itself.

Regardless, this would absolutely be the last time.

Luo Jie stood up, his gaze fixed on the Imperial City.

Meanwhile.

Having received no news from Andre, Feman’s face darkened as he gradually sensed something was amiss.

He felt Andre was almost certainly dead.

And who in the empire could silently kill Andre?

Feman thought of a few individuals, all extremely troublesome beings.

Feeling frustrated and angry, he couldn’t help but curse, “Andre, you useless trash, you’re out already? Is this all the Freedom Alliance amounts to?”

But his cursing was futile, because Andre was indeed dead. Theoretically, an immortal who passed the Immortal’s Trial shouldn’t die, yet he happened to encounter Morax.

How to counter rules? The answer is to overwrite them, nothing more.

Feman knew nothing of this, but after a few seconds his face changed, becoming sharp-featured with snake-like vertical pupils, looking like a monster – which he truly was.

He suddenly laughed, several voices overlapping as if multiple people were speaking at once. Some voices were deep, others shrill, accompanied by a layered sound like wailing evil spirits.

“Hehe, what does it matter if the helper is gone? Those who should die will die. The Aust Empire has already been targeted by that great one. No one can stop the descent of that divine kingdom.”

“All mortal beings must die.”

“No matter how you struggle, you cannot escape this fate!”

At the same time, on the street of the Imperial City.

“Is this what it eats?”

Just before heading back, Xiu Si was about to buy some bird feed when he looked down and saw the bird was already eating.

The gray cat lay on the basket, using its paw to feed the bird.

It fed a little at a time, almost as if teasing the bird, but also as if afraid the bird might choke, so it could only feed it bit by bit.

The black thing in its paw looked like a steamed bun, but when touched, it had a hardness to it, seeming difficult to bite.

This bird certainly had unusual tastes.

In fact, Inpos was indeed afraid the black bird might choke if it ate too much, because its body could no longer fully support the divine core.

The black bird ate with difficulty, unable to express its discomfort.

Xiu Si looked at the bird, worried it might get cold. He tucked the cloth around it more securely, wrapping it up tightly and checking its temperature to ensure it was warm enough.

The black bird wanted to cry out, thinking to itself: Don’t be so gentle with me!

The gray cat rolled its eyes, thinking: You don’t want someone being nice to you? Get better quickly and scram, or I’ll eat you!

The black bird squawked internally, completely lacking any divine demeanor.

Its inability to move despite wanting to was strangely adorable.

Its body was actually only about the size of a fist, somewhat chubby, with small eyes, a small pointed beak, short legs, and thick feathers. Standing up, it would surely look like a plump chick, though unfortunately its wings were a bit broken, looking both shattered and pitiful.

Not just Xiu Si, who wouldn’t try to heal such an injured little bird if they encountered it on the road?

Xiu Si carried the cat and bird back to the antique shop. Along the way, the gray cat indicated that it would take care of the bird, figuring out how to care for it properly, but whether the bird could recover would depend on the bird itself.

Especially its vitality.

“Alright.”

Xiu Si nodded, looking reassured, though he was still somewhat worried because the bird hadn’t been able to speak yet.

He felt… it might have been injured at its core, like its magic core or something similar. Even if it managed to survive, it might never be as healthy as before, especially with one wing that might be permanently crippled.

If only his magic were stronger, could he have saved it?

Xiu Si suddenly felt his abilities were insufficient, thinking he still needed to level up. Only by increasing his level could he find resources for his children and solve various problems they encountered, including helping this little roadside bird.

A few minutes later.

Xiu Si pushed open the door of the antique shop. He saw that the red cat on the table seemed to have grown larger, its fur longer and fluffier, its tail slightly purple-tinged. It looked like it had just finished eating something, even burping, and was now lying down to sleep contentedly with its eyes half-closed. Seeing someone return, it opened its eyes wide for a moment.

Xiu Si was somewhat surprised and turned to ask, “Can you find food for yourselves?”

The gray cat nodded, indicating that Father shouldn’t worry about their food issues. They had survived in the abyss for thousands of years after all. The human world was no challenge for them; finding something to eat was the simplest thing.

“But you need to be careful not to eat things belonging to others,” Xiu Si cautioned. Most things in the human world belonged to someone, and eating randomly could lead to trouble with owners.

The black bird, half-dead, couldn’t help but think these guys weren’t just eating others’ things – they even ate “people”! They had even swallowed the entire Kingdom of Light not long ago.

The gray cat nodded vigorously, its obedient and clever appearance truly endearing.

“Good.”

Xiu Si glanced at the clock. It was 1:30 PM. Since he couldn’t be of much help, he decided to focus on practicing magic.

Oh right, he needed to allocate the extra achievement points from last time, putting more into magic talent.

Xiu Si leveled up very slowly, so slow that he suspected he might be the slowest in all of humanity. Ten achievement points that could raise Wang Chang’er three levels might not even be enough for one level for him.

The Creator class was unexpectedly useless. Without enough patience, one might break down in the first year after crossing over to another world.

But since he was here… and it was thanks to the Creator class that he could create so many children.

There were both blessings and curses.