Lord of Prayer

Chapter 211: Chapter 160: Rebirth

After that, Zhou Chen gradually steered the conversation back to business.

“Has the Star Association found anything in their investigation of last night’s incident?”

Li Xiye shook her head. “Not yet. The place was a factory on the outskirts of Hong City that’s been abandoned for over ten years. It’s remote, with no security cameras. The person raising the Corrupters was extremely cautious and didn’t leave any clues like fingerprints or hair.

The Star Association will probably start by investigating the Corrupters themselves, looking into who they were in contact with before they disappeared.”

Recalling the events of last night, her mood soured. She listlessly picked at her rice, not in the mood to eat. “We heard on a local forum that the factory was haunted at night, so we wanted to go exploring and get a thrill.

Actually, several groups had gone there before us. A paranormal investigation streamer even did a livestream there, which proved the factory was safe enough. That’s what gave us the idea. Who knew that as we were walking, we’d run into Corrupters? Wang Zihao was the first to be killed. The others had never seen anything like it and fled in a panic. But on the way out, we were cornered by more Corrupters, and in the end, we had no choice but to split up and run for our lives…”

Everyone knows that in a horror movie, splitting up is a death sentence. But when faced with a danger beyond comprehension, your mind goes blank. You lose the ability to think rationally, and all you can focus on is escaping to safety.

“The Star Association will definitely find the mastermind and avenge your classmates,” was all Zhou Chen could say to comfort her.

“Still, I have to thank you. If you hadn’t saved me, I wouldn’t be sitting here eating right now,” Li Xiye said, her tone sincere. With her neat short hair and clean, handsome features, she looked like a tomboy.

“It was nothing.”

“I said I’d give you a reward. Name your price,” Li Xiye said.

Zhou Chen didn’t stand on ceremony. He thought for a moment. “A phone with a registered SIM card, a fake ID, and use that ID to open an account at the World Bank. Deposit 100,000 US Dollars into it as a sixty-year fixed deposit… The Li Family should be able to handle that, right?”

“We can do it, but the fake ID will take a day or two… If you don’t mind, you can stay here for now.” Li Xiye extended the invitation generously. Through their few interactions, she knew Zhou Chen wasn’t a bad person. Besides, he was so elusive that it would be hard to guard against him anyway.

Zhou Chen nodded, not refusing. He didn’t have a place to stay anyway. “Thank you for the trouble.”

After the meal, Li Xiye called her family to arrange for the fake ID. Then, she ordered the latest model phone online, which would be delivered within the hour.

Just as she finished placing the order, she got a call from her parents. She pursed her lips in annoyance before answering, instantly switching to the tone of a perfectly obedient child, assuring them she was safe, uninjured, and would never dare go to a dangerous place to play again.

When she hung up, the look of annoyance returned to her face.

“You don’t get along with your parents?” Zhou Chen asked, noticing her expression.

“It’s pretty average. They prefer my older brothers and sisters to me. After all, I’m not as outstanding as them, nor do I like to expand my social circle by befriending the rich kids of high society. I didn’t turn out the way my parents wanted, so in their eyes, I’m the bad kid. After a few fights, they just stopped bothering with me. As long as I don’t go down the wrong path, they don’t care how I live.”

Li Xiye took a sip of water and brushed back a stray lock of hair, her expression neutral. “I almost died last night. The parents of my other classmates rushed to the Star Association as soon as they got the news. But when my parents heard, they just made a video call, asked me a few questions, and then hung up.

It would be one thing if they were busy, but they had nothing going on last night… Forget it. Let’s not talk about this. I’ve gotten used to it over the years…”

Then, she abruptly changed the subject. “Zhou Chen, what Tier Ascender are you?”

“Tier Two.”

“How did you awaken? I’ve been hoping to awaken ever since I was a kid. I even tried a bunch of extreme sports, but I just couldn’t awaken… Oh, have you ever encountered a Forbidden Object? I’ve read a little of the Compendium of Forbidden Objects, and some of them were so terrifying they gave me Nightmares for days.

Also, do you fight Corrupters often? You seemed really skilled at dissecting that thing, like you have a lot of experience. Can you tell me some stories about the Extraordinary World?”

Li Xiye looked at Zhou Chen with her big, bright eyes, full of curiosity and longing.

Zhou Chen was never one to be stingy when it came to bullshitting with others. He smiled. “I’ve certainly killed my fair share of Corrupters. But the most dangerous one I ever faced was a member of the hidden organization ’Fallen Paradise.’ We fought for three hundred rounds…”

As Li Xiye listened to the stories of bizarre Extraordinary Abilities and terrifying, deadly Forbidden Artifacts, her longing for the Extraordinary World grew even stronger. She became more and more engrossed, until the ringing of a phone interrupted the tale.

The delivery had arrived.

Still wanting more, Li Xiye got up to go sign for the package. She returned to the living room, took a small knife from a drawer, and opened the parcel.

Zhou Chen took out the phone. The phones of this era were a far cry from those of the future, but as long as it worked, it was good enough for him.

After connecting to the Wi-Fi, he logged onto a dark web address, searching a local Ascender forum for clues about the Blood Race, the Crimson Sect, and any other mysterious incidents.

Li Xiye leaned over curiously and saw a few familiar posts. “Most of these posts are just to fool people. Things like a classroom in a school lighting up at night, full of moving shadows; a non-existent eighteenth basement level in a hospital; a portrait that blinks; a paranormal bus that goes to the Netherworld; the Slit-mouthed Woman in an alleyway; meeting a Vampire during a one-night stand at a bar… they’re all just urban legends made up by netizens.”