Chapter 44 Entering the Fog Area

Chapter 44: Chapter 43: Entering the Fog Area

Han Ning felt the Spiritual Power clearly surging within his body.

On the interface, his Spiritual Power had recovered to 21/25 points.

This ability was simply too practical!

He had calculated that ever since he leveled up to Level 4, the natural recovery rate of his Spiritual Power was roughly eight points per hour.

This was much faster than the one point per hour at Level 1. However, as his Skill Levels increased—boosting their destructive power and various effects—his Spiritual Power consumption also went up.

For example, when Advanced Vine Technique was unleashed at full power to entangle a large target, a single use could drain two to three points of Spiritual Power.

Han Ning had also figured out a few tricks to conserve Spiritual Power.

He could control his Spiritual Power output with his mind, summoning fewer vines of lower strength for scouting or simple binding.

Each of these uses might consume less than a single point of Spiritual Power. This fine control was a benefit brought about by the increase in Skill Level.

But no matter how much he conserved or naturally recovered, it couldn’t compare to Lin Qianqian’s speed—she had replenished nearly four points of Spiritual Power for him in just a few short seconds.

The value of such rapid replenishment during lulls in battle or critical moments was self-evident.

Furthermore, Lin Qianqian was someone he had known before transmigrating. Although they only had a subordinate-superior relationship, his impression of Boss Lin was that she was capable, clear with rewards and punishments, and relatively upright—at least much more reliable than that petty Chen Yan from Liu Feng’s team.

Still, Han Ning didn’t let his guard down completely.

He didn’t refuse immediately, but instead asked cautiously, "How do you want to cooperate?"

Lin Qianqian said, "Exploring the Fog Area, especially venturing deep into the core zone, is extremely dangerous.

"Those monsters’ Spirit Attacks are impossible to guard against. I can’t guarantee you’ll be able to maintain a clear mind at all times.

"Therefore, we need a Support."

Han Ning frowned slightly, remaining silent.

Adding another person meant adding a variable, but it was true, as Lin Qianqian said, that Spirit Defense was their weak point.

He had only managed to break free from the illusion earlier by relying on the Purification effect of Natural Blessing. The skill consumed a massive amount of Energy and wasn’t guaranteed to work every time.

A teammate who specialized in Spirit Defense would indeed be an excellent Support.

"Everything I know about your strength comes from Chen Feng’s description. I need to confirm it with my own eyes," Lin Qianqian continued.

"Tomorrow morning, we will enter the outskirts of the Fog Area through the southern entrance for a simple hunt. Our targets will be the monsters on the periphery.

"If your performance meets my expectations, we will continue deeper until we can no longer hold on."

This was the value of abilities. Lin Qianqian’s power to rapidly recover Energy directly proved her worth.

"The southern entrance?" Han Ning was a bit curious about this classification.

"Yes," Lin Qianqian explained. "Based on our exploration during this period, using the direction extending from Biyun Resort toward Bailu Port as the central axis, we have currently discovered three relatively safe entrances.

"There are two in the north, which we call the North 1 and North 2 entrances.

"There is one in the south, which is the southern entrance. We’ll take the southern entrance this time. The monster density there is relatively lower, and they are weaker, making it a suitable place for us to build our teamwork."

"Understood." Han Ning nodded in agreement.

After agreeing on the meeting time and location, the two parted ways.

Returning home to his apartment building, Han Ning didn’t rest immediately. He walked over to the planting area in the corner of the balcony and looked at the few potato and tomato seedlings still striving to grow in the dim light.

He reached out his hand, and a soft, emerald-green light glowed from his palm once more, enveloping two of the plants.

[Natural Blessing (Basic Level) Skill Level +1. Current: 22/200]

The green light seeped into the leaves and stems. The leaves of the potato seedlings seemed to become a bit brighter, but there were still no visible mutations to the naked eye.

Han Ning wasn’t discouraged. He cast the skill once again on the tomato seedlings next to them.

[Natural Blessing (Basic Level) Skill Level +1. Current: 23/200]

After casting it six times in a row, he then released Rapid Growth a few times on the other plants.

He only stopped when his Spiritual Power was completely drained.

The next morning, the rain grew even heavier. Han Ning brought Snow Cake and arrived punctually at the entrance of the Biyun Resort’s main building.

Soon, Lin Qianqian’s figure appeared.

She was still wearing her neat windbreaker and cargo pants, covered by a one-piece raincoat. Her long hair was tied back, and her expression was calm.

She carried a travel backpack, had a quiver strapped to her waist, and held a Compound Bow in her hand.

Accompanying her was a girl who looked quite young.

The girl was about twenty-one or twenty-two years old, only reaching up to Lin Qianqian’s ears in height. She wore a slightly oversized pink raincoat, had moist eyes, and looked adorable.

"This is Yu Na," Lin Qianqian introduced briefly. "Her ability is Spirit Barrier. She can use Energy to construct a shield to protect against Spiritual Shock. She can also release something similar to Spiritual Shock and has certain scouting capabilities. She will be our backup to maintain our clear minds."

"Hello, I’m Han Ning." Han Ning took the initiative to greet her.

Although Yu Na looked cute and appeared to be a lively, adorable girl, she was actually quite aloof.

She merely gave Han Ning a cold nod in acknowledgment.

"Let’s go." Lin Qianqian was accustomed to Yu Na’s reaction. Without saying much, she took the lead and walked toward the flooded road outside the resort.

On the way, Lin Qianqian briefed Han Ning about the situation at the southern entrance:

"The southern entrance was originally located on the edge of an urban village facing demolition near the ocean. The buildings there are relatively low and sparse, the floodwater is deeper, and it’s quite desolate.

"The Mirage Insects active in that area are generally smaller in size, and the intensity of their Spirit Attacks is weaker than the individuals encountered at the northern entrances.

"Occasionally, a lone juvenile or sub-adult Crocodile Lizard might wander past, but packs are rarely seen.

"Our route today is to push inward for about three hundred meters along the southern entrance. This distance is still within a relatively safe range. If we encounter unmanageable danger, we can quickly retreat."

Before long, the surrounding scenery began to change.

Milk-like white fog began to permeate the water ahead.

The fog was quite thin at first, but as they continued forward, it grew thicker and thicker, and visibility rapidly dropped.

The sound of raindrops smashing against the water’s surface became muffled, as if most of it was absorbed by the heavy fog.

"We’ve entered the edge of the Fog Area," Lin Qianqian said in a hushed voice. "Stay alert. A Mirage Insect could appear at any time.

"I don’t know how much Energy you have in your body. The moment you feel any depletion, tell me immediately, and I’ll help you replenish it."

"Understood!" Han Ning nodded.

The thick white fog rolled, reducing visibility to less than ten meters.

The floodwater beneath their feet was freezing cold, and every step carried a sickening, sluggish drag.

Snow Cake walked at the very front, his vertical pupils vigilantly scanning the surroundings.

Han Ning was two steps behind Snow Cake, with Lin Qianqian and Yu Na closely following. The three of them formed a triangular formation, maintaining high alert.

"Be careful. The hallucinogenic effects of the fog here are much stronger," Lin Qianqian’s voice came through the hood of her raincoat, sounding somewhat muffled.

"Mirage Insects... at any time... appear..."

Lin Qianqian’s voice beside him became ethereal and drift-like, and the scene before his eyes suddenly twisted.

Deep within the thick fog, the silhouette of a village vaguely appeared.

Crooked wooden houses, broken tile roofs, and hopelessly muddy paths... It exuded an indescribable eeriness.

It looked exactly like a cursed village straight out of a classic horror movie.

An inexplicable chill washed over him.

"No, this is an illusion!" Alarm bells rang wildly in Han Ning’s mind.

He did not hesitate, channeling the Spiritual Power within his body.

Emerald-green light instantly surged from his palms. Like warm sunlight dispelling gloom, it enveloped his entire body.

[Natural Blessing (Basic Level) Skill Level +1. Current: 30/200]

BUZZ!

The scene before his eyes was swiftly erased, as if by an invisible eraser.