Ark Simulator: Don't I Lack a Physical Body?

Yela first took the metal cylinder, her fingers brushing over the runes on its surface. The runes seemed to come alive, shimmering with an extremely faint, icy blue light. Then, she unfolded the wad of fabric.

It was a... dress.

An extremely special, even "shocking" dress.

The overall color is a near-pure black, like the deepest night sky. The material is neither silk nor satin; it is cool and smooth to the touch, yet exceptionally supple, as if formed from moonlight-drenched water. The dress's cut is exceptionally bold and... alluring. The bodice is a tight-fitting, high-necked, sleeveless design that perfectly hugs the body's curves. From the neck to the waist, there is not a single piece of excess fabric, outlining the wearer's shoulders, arms, and waist to perfection. The neckline reaches the chin, yet a small, teardrop-shaped cutout is cleverly placed in the center of the chest, subtly revealing a small patch of skin below the collarbone, inviting the imagination.

The lower body is similar to a long skirt, but the skirt is not the traditional fluffy or draped style. Instead, it flows down from the waist like flowing ink, with a high slit on one side that goes all the way to the upper thigh. As you move, your long, straight legs and smooth calves will be glimpsed with each step. The other side is relatively conservative, reaching to the ankle.

The most distinctive feature is the decoration on the dress. There are no jewels, no embroidery, only silk threads of the same color but shimmering with extremely subtle icy blue starlight, outlining the edges and key lines of the dress with intricate and mysterious runes of the Kjerag Holy Mountain and snow, identical to those on the metal cylinder. These runes are not obvious in the light, but in the dark, or at certain special angles, they glow faintly, as if carrying the power of stars and ice and snow.

This is a dress that perfectly combines asceticism and allure, mystery and sensuality, divinity and humanity. At first glance, it is clearly not an ordinary garment, and it is completely out of step with the traditional and conservative style of Kjerag. However, the unique runes on it that belong to the Holy Mountain and Kjeragandr clearly indicate its "sacred" origin.

Yela unfolded the dress, her dark eyes calmly looking at Su Rui, and said in a statement-like tone, "Put it on."

Su Rui: "...???"

His eyes widened, his dark pupils filled with an incredulous sense of absurdity! Make him... wear this?! This dress that looked so inappropriate, so... revealing, so strange?! Are you kidding me?! He's a man! And the cut of this dress... is just too...

"This is the 'messenger's' attire." Yela seemed to see through his resistance and shock, explaining calmly as if introducing an ordinary work uniform. "It can isolate your aura to the greatest extent, confuse the senses of others, and at the same time... clearly identify you—a messenger of Kjeragandr. In Kjerag, no one dares to question the meaning of this attire and the runes on it."

Messenger? Su Rui frowned deeply. So, this was how Yela got him to "help"? Make him wear this incongruous outfit and act as some kind of "messenger of the gods"?

"You want me... to do this?" Su Rui's voice was filled with obvious reluctance and skepticism. He'd rather carry out a hundred infiltration and assassination missions than wear this kind of clothing!

"Go deliver the messages," Yela's reply was concise. She handed the metal cylinder in her hand to Su Rui. "Inside are three scrolls. You need to deliver them to the current heads of the Silverash, Browntail, and Perrochi families, respectively. Deliver them personally and make sure only they see them."

Delivering a message? Su Rui took the slightly heavy metal cylinder, which exuded a cold aura and faint divine fluctuations, his doubts deepening. Was all this trouble necessary just to deliver a few scrolls? And why was he dressed like this?

"What's inside the scroll?" Su Rui couldn't help but ask. He was very curious; what important "oracle" or "warning" required him, the "special messenger," to deliver it?

Yela didn't answer immediately. She just looked at Su Rui, her dark eyes deep, and then, almost imperceptibly, the corners of her mouth curved into a very subtle, yet Su Rui, almost "mischievous" smile.

"You can open it and take a look," Yela said, her tone calm but with a strange hint of guidance.

Su Rui glanced at her suspiciously, but still did as she was told, unscrewing the cap at one end of the metal cylinder, which was also etched with runes. Inside were three scrolls made of some kind of almost transparent, yet exceptionally tough, thin sheet that seemed to be formed from condensed ice crystals. The scrolls were tied with soft, starlight-shimmering ribbons.

Su Rui carefully took out one of the scrolls, untied the ribbon, and slowly unrolled it.

Then, he froze.

The scroll was very thin, almost transparent. And... there was nothing on it.

There were no words, no patterns, no runes, not even a trace of ink or energy. It was as clean as the purest snowflakes that had just fallen, or as smooth, empty ice.

Su Rui turned the scroll over and over, examining it against the light, even trying to probe it with his weak, still-unstable spiritual sense... but still found nothing. Aside from its special material and the extremely faint (almost negligible) icy aura it contained, which shared the same origin as the tuxedo and the cylinder, the scroll was essentially a blank sheet of paper!

"This...?" Su Rui looked up, her dark eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment, at Yela. "Empty?"

The barely perceptible, almost mischievous smile in Yela's dark eyes seemed to deepen. She walked up to Su Rui, reached out her slightly cool hand, and gently rubbed Su Rui's fluffy snow leopard ears, which were trembling slightly with confusion.

"Not empty." Yela's voice, with a strange, almost bewitching depth and magnetism, rang in Su Rui's ears. "Inside... is the snowstorm of Kjerag."

The snowstorm in Kjerag?

Su Rui was even more confused. He looked down again at the nearly transparent, empty "Ice Crystal Scroll" in his hand. Snow and wind? Where were they? He couldn't see or feel anything.

"They... will understand." Yela didn't explain further, but instead gave Su Rui a deep look with her all-seeing black eyes, her tone resolute, "Put on your formal attire and go complete your 'mission.' Remember, you are Kjeragandr's envoy. No need for words, just deliver the message."

Volume 18, Chapter 1173: Anyway, it's not me who's embarrassed.

Looking at Yela's "unfathomable" and "all-knowing" demeanor, and then at the inexplicably Blank scroll in his hand and the "Messenger's Formal Dress" that made his scalp tingle, Su Rui felt a deep sense of powerlessness and... being mocked welling up in his heart.

What on earth is this god up to?! Making him dress like this and deliver a few blank exam papers? And what's with all this talk of "snowstorm"? Won't the heads of those families think this is a prank, or... that the god is playing a trick on them?

However... looking at Yela's calm yet unquestionable gaze, and recalling her own vague "I know" that night, Su Rui gritted her teeth.

Forget it! Wear it or give it away! Anyway... losing face is losing face for Kjeragandr! He wants to see what expressions those "squirrels," "bears," and "SilverAsh" will have when they receive this kind of "oracle"! And... maybe it'll be quite interesting?

With a complex mix of "what's the use" and "watching the show" mentality, Su Rui accepted the cold, strangely textured dress.

"Where do I change?" Su Rui asked irritably.

Yela pointed to the screen beside her.

Su Rui glared at her, picked up the dress and the metal cylinder, and walked behind the screen.

Shedding his usual loose and comfortable clothes and changing into that cool, form-fitting, and daringly tailored gown was no easy task. The fabric of the gown was extremely smooth, yet it possessed a strange, adhesive quality. Once worn, it clung to him like a second skin, clearly outlining every curve of Su Rui's body. In particular, the small teardrop-shaped cutout at the chest and the exposed thigh skin beneath the high slit on the side provided a slightly cool sensation, making him feel uncomfortable all over, and his cheeks involuntarily flushed slightly.

He had never worn such... "revealing" and "body-emphasizing" clothes before. It made him feel like a carefully packaged... object waiting to be displayed?

Fortunately, although the dress was a tight-fitting design, it was exceptionally flexible and elastic, so it didn't restrict his movements. Moreover, after putting it on, Su Rui was surprised to find that the dress seemed to adjust itself automatically, perfectly accommodating his fluffy tail—the base of the tail was cleverly wrapped and secured, while the fluffy tail and tip could hang naturally from a specially made, rune-covered opening at the back of the dress. It didn't look out of place at all; on the contrary, the flowing ice-blue runes added a touch of mystery and magnificence.

Su Rui lingered behind the screen for a long time before he could barely get used to the outfit. He took a deep breath, mustered his courage, and stepped out from behind the screen.

Meditation Room, the fireplace flickered. When Su Rui walked out somewhat awkwardly in that dress that seemed woven from the night and starlight, outlining her stunning figure, even Yela, who was usually expressionless, had a barely perceptible glint of "amazement" and "satisfaction" flash in her dark eyes.

Su Rui's figure was already exceptional, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long, straight legs, her muscles flowing smoothly without being exaggerated. This tuxedo amplified these features to the extreme. Her fluffy snow leopard ears, slightly red with embarrassment, stood erect warily; her bushy tail unconsciously bristled slightly, the tip curling nervously. The black tuxedo contrasted sharply with her silver hair and fair skin, and the exposed chest and sides, accentuated by the austere high collar and mysterious runes, exuded a deadly, strange charm—a blend of purity and allure, divinity and wildness.

He is like a living work of art, sculpted and adorned with starlight by the hand of the gods, or a noble yet wary snow leopard spirit that has strayed into the human world.

Yela's gaze slowly swept over Su Rui, finally settling on his pale lips, which were slightly pursed due to his unease. She stepped forward, reached out, and this time, instead of rubbing his ears, she used her fingertips to very gently brush the edge of the teardrop-shaped cutout on the chest of Su Rui's dress, feeling the warm skin beneath.

"Very good," Yela commented softly, her voice deeper than usual, with a hint of... hoarseness? "It suits you very well."

Su Rui's cheeks flushed even redder. He abruptly slapped Yela's hand away, a flame of embarrassment and anger igniting in his dark eyes. "... Enough! Can we go now?!"

Yela withdrew her hand, a barely perceptible smile flashing in her dark eyes. She handed the metal cylinder back to Su Rui, and then took out a smaller, mask-like object of the same material from the secret chamber.

It was a half-face mask that only covered the area above the eyes. It was also made of dark silver metal, and was etched with more intricate runes that resembled flowing ice storms. Several thin chains, like condensed ice crystals, extended from the edge of the mask and hung down on both sides of the face.

"Put this on." Yela handed the mask to Su Rui. "It will further obscure your face, but it won't affect your vision or perception."

Su Rui took the cold mask and put it on. The mask fit his face perfectly, covering most of his features, revealing only his beautifully shaped jawline and his dark eyes that appeared even more mysterious and profound behind the mask. The dangling ice crystal chains swayed gently with his movements, making extremely faint, crisp sounds like wind chimes.

At this moment, Su Rui had completely transformed into a mysterious, noble, alluring, and oppressive "messenger" from the gods. Apart from his furry snow leopard ears, which could not be completely concealed, and his unique temperament, it was almost impossible to discern his original appearance.

"First stop, the SilverAsh Family." Yela's voice returned to its usual cold calm. She pointed out the direction to Su Rui and reiterated, "Remember, you are the messenger. Just deliver the message; no explanation is needed. They will understand."

Su Rui took one last look at his unfamiliar yet stunning reflection in the mirror (there was a decorative bronze mirror in the Meditation Room), took a deep breath, and suppressed the surging shame, awkwardness, and a strange excitement within him. He gripped the metal cylinder in his hand and nodded to Yela.

Then he turned around and started walking.

The high slit of his skirt swayed with his steps, his long, straight legs appearing and disappearing against the backdrop of black fabric and icy blue runes, creating a breathtakingly beautiful effect. His fluffy tail swayed gently behind him, the downy tips brushing against the cool, smooth fabric of his dress. Beneath the mask, his dark eyes were calm yet sharp.

He pushed open the door to the Meditation Room and stepped into the snowy, cold afternoon outside.

This time, he was no longer an uninvited guest sneaking in, but a messenger of the "gods" who arrived openly (in this peculiar way).

Volume 18, Chapter 1174: Greetings from Kjeragandr

Beneath the mask, a barely perceptible, cold, mischievous, and expectant smile curved upwards at the corners of Su Rui's mouth.

The SilverAsh Family, SilverAsh, and that blond "big goat"... Are you ready to receive this "special" greeting from "Kjeragandr"?

He wanted to see what kind of waves this "Blank snowstorm" could stir up.

In the afternoon in Kjerag, fine snow fell silently, draping the rolling mountains and forests in a thin white veil. The air was crisp and clear, carrying the cool fragrance of pine needles and snow. Near the main residence of the Browntail Family, an ancient stone fortress surrounded by tall spruce trees, far from the sacred Holy Mountain and close to the border forest, this tranquility was quietly broken by a scene that was extremely abrupt, yet strangely harmonious, blending into the landscape.

Without prior notice, without the guidance of servants, and even the outermost hunters of the Browntail Family, skilled at lurking and watching in the forest, did not notice anything amiss. A figure, as if solidified from the snow mist rising from the forest, or as if walking on snow from thin air, silently appeared in the center of the open courtyard covered with thick snow in front of the main building of the stone fortress.

It is Su Rui (Snow Leopard version), or rather, the mysterious and eerie "messenger of the gods" wearing that "Kjeragandr Messenger" dress and a half-face ice crystal mask.

The black dress, outlining a breathtaking figure, stood out starkly against the Bai Xue like a drop of ink on rice paper. The Holy Mountain snow runes shimmering with a ghostly blue starlight emanated a mysterious and chilling aura in the dim light. Her silver hair was tied back in a simple low ponytail, a few strands falling from the edge of her mask and brushing against her fair neck. Her fluffy snow leopard ears, barely concealed, stood erect, their tips slightly red (perhaps from the cold, perhaps from...shame?). Her large, silvery-white, bushy tail, also adorned with runes, hung naturally behind her, its tip unconsciously brushing away the fine snowflakes.

He stood there, tall and straight, like a solitary black pine tree, or a divine sculpture descended to earth, carrying forbidden allure. A cold mask covered most of his face, revealing only his beautifully shaped jawline and those obsidian eyes behind the mask, calm and serene, yet seemingly able to see through people's hearts.

The Browntail Family, who had been clearing snow, moving timber, or conversing in hushed tones around the courtyard, froze the moment he appeared, as if struck by a spell! Their eyes widened, their mouths gaped, and they didn't even notice their tools clattering to the snow. All their gazes were drawn to him like a magnet, fixed in disbelief on the figure that had suddenly appeared in the center of the courtyard—a figure breathtakingly beautiful yet strangely sacred!

That robe! Those runes! They're... the emblems of the Holy Mountain! They're... the symbol of Kjeragandr! And those animal ears and tail... could it be...?

Shock, horror, doubt, and a touch of instinctive awe for the divine, emanating from the depths of their blood, instantly gripped everyone's minds! The air seemed to freeze, leaving only the rustling sound of falling snowflakes and the heavy, suppressed breathing of the people.

Su Rui seemed oblivious to the piercing gazes directed at him. He slightly raised his head, his gaze calm as he looked at the heavy Oak door of the main building of the stone fortress, which was tightly closed and carved with the ingenious squirrel emblem.

Then he spoke.

The voice was not his usual cold or impatient tone, but rather a deliberately lowered voice, a peculiar, icy, and distant "exclamation" tone, like the friction of ice and snow or ancient chanting, clearly and distinctly uttered word by word in the silent snow-covered courtyard:

"By the command of Kjeragandr, Lord of Ice and Mountains—"

His voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to possess a strange penetrating power and echo, clearly reaching the ears of everyone present, and even seemed to penetrate the thick stone walls, reaching deep into the castle.

"Present this ' Frostwind Edict ' to the head of the Browntail Family."

As he finished speaking, Su Rui raised the dark silver metal cylinder etched with runes. The cylinder reflected a cold luster in the snowy light, and the runes on it seemed to sense his words, their flowing icy blue light suddenly brightening for a moment!

"!!!"

The deathly silence in the courtyard was shattered, replaced by a chorus of suppressed gasps! A messenger from Kjeragandr! Truly a messenger of the gods! Here to deliver a "divine oracle" to the patriarch?!

Several of the quicker-reacting guards had already placed their hands on the weapons at their waists, but looking at Su Rui's attire, which clearly belonged to the "holy" category, and feeling the faint yet incredibly pure divine aura emanating from the cylinder, which was unsettling, they dared not make any rash moves and could only stand there nervously and helplessly.

Just then, the heavy Oak door of the main building creaked open from the inside!

The current head of the Browntail Family —a lean, sharp-eyed, middle-aged man with a mustache—strode out, surrounded by family elders and core members. His face was also filled with shock and disbelief, but even more so with a mixture of vigilance, doubt, and... a barely perceptible fear!

As one of the ancient families of Kjerag, the Browntail Family family has been devout followers of Kjeragandr for generations, with reverence for the Holy Mountain and the gods ingrained in their very being. However, their relationship with the Holy Mountain, and especially with the reclusive saintess Enya, is not particularly close. For the gods to directly send messengers to their family territory is extremely rare in their memories and records! Especially during this sensitive period of tension and undercurrents with the SilverAsh Family!

The patriarch of the Browntail Family, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's, swept swiftly over Su Rui's entire body, lingering on his ceremonial robes, mask, ears, tail, and the metal cylinder in his hand. The astonishment in his eyes grew stronger. The envoy's image... was too bizarre, too... jarring to conventional understanding! But that unique, cold, and sacred aura emanating from the ceremonial robes and the cylinder, belonging to Kjeragandr, was undeniable!

"You are..." The head of the Browntail Family said in a slightly hoarse voice. He tried to remain calm, stepped forward, and bowed slightly to Su Rui —this was the basic etiquette for a messenger of the gods.

Su Rui didn't answer his question, nor did he even look at him. He simply looked at the head of the Browntail Family with his dark eyes behind the mask, calmly, even with a hint of indifference. Then, he spoke again in that cold, aria-like tone, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable authority:

"The edict from Kjeragandr is here; please, Master, open it yourself."

Volume 18, Chapter 1175: The Decree of Wind and Snow

After speaking, Su Rui flipped his wrist and took out the nearly transparent "Ice Crystal Scroll" tied with a starlight ribbon from the metal cylinder. He took two steps forward, stopped a few steps away from the head of the Browntail Family, and then solemnly handed over the empty scroll with both hands.

His movements were fluid and elegant, carrying an almost ritualistic sense of sacredness. His black tuxedo fluttered slightly with each movement, and the bare skin of his legs, exposed beneath the high slit, shone dazzlingly white in the snowy light. His tail swayed gently behind him. The whole scene was eerie, sacred, and filled with an indescribable, almost bewitching tension.

The head of the Browntail Family's heart pounded wildly! He could almost feel the sweat on his palms. He took a deep breath and, with the same utmost respect and care, accepted the "Ice Crystal Scroll" that felt as light as a feather yet as heavy as a thousand pounds.

The scroll felt icy cold to the touch, with a peculiar texture, and indeed contained an extremely faint aura of ice and snow, originating from the Holy Mountain. But... there was nothing on it?

The head of the Browntail Family paused, then instinctively unrolled the scroll and examined it closely against the light. Empty? A Blank? This... is the "Frostwind Edict"?

He abruptly raised his head, looking at the silent messenger before him, whose face was hidden by a mask and whose expression was obscured, his eyes filled with immense confusion and bewilderment. He wanted to ask, what... what does this mean? What message has the deity conveyed?

However, Su Rui seemed oblivious to his confusion. After handing over the scroll, he remained silent, simply standing there quietly, his dark eyes behind the mask calm and still, like an emotionless sculpture that had completed its mission. That posture clearly said: The divine message has been delivered; my task is complete.

Browntail Family opened his mouth, but seeing the messenger's aloof and unapproachable demeanor, and then looking at the Blank scroll in his hand that exuded a divine aura, he swallowed back the question that was on the tip of his tongue. To ask questions rashly before a divine messenger would be a great disrespect.

He could only suppress the turmoil in his heart and bowed to Su Rui again, his voice dry and respectful. "... I respectfully obey the divine decree. Thank you, Your Excellency, for personally delivering this message."

Su Rui nodded almost imperceptibly in response. Then, without lingering, he turned and walked away.

The hem of his black tuxedo brushed against the snow, leaving very faint traces. He walked slowly, yet with extraordinary composure, as if strolling in his own backyard. Wherever he went, the Browntail Family around him, whether guards or servants, instinctively and respectfully stepped back, making way for him. No one dared to block his path, and no one even dared to look him in the eye.

Su Rui's figure, just as silently as when she appeared, disappeared into the shadow of the dense spruce forest covered with icicles at the edge of the courtyard, as if she had blended into the wind and snow, leaving no trace.

Only the head of the Browntail Family and his clansmen remained, standing in the snow, looking at each other, holding the Blank "oracle" in their hands, their hearts filled with endless doubts, unease, and... an indescribable, cold pressure as if they were being watched by an invisible gaze.

"The Frostwind Edict"... a Blank scroll... what does it mean? Is it a warning? Acquiescence? Or... some kind of divine test that they cannot understand?

No one knows the answer. But everyone knows that the gods have noticed everything happening down the mountain. This "Blank attention" is itself a silent, yet incredibly weighty, statement.

Leaving the Browntail Family's territory, Su Rui didn't linger, his figure swiftly traversing the snow-covered forest and mountain ridges. Although his tuxedo looked cumbersome, its special material not only didn't hinder his movements but seemed to automatically regulate his temperature, insulate against the cold, and even subtly enhance his speed and agility. This was probably one of the "functions" Yela had mentioned.

His next target was the Perroch Family's main house, a rugged and imposing fortress built of massive stones on the edge of a high-altitude pasture.

The process was exactly the same as at the Browntail Family.

When Su Rui, dressed in a black divine envoy robe adorned with ice-blue runes, appeared like a phantom on the plaza in front of the Perroch Family castle—a plaza trodden by livestock and covered in fresh snow—the commotion and shock she caused were even greater than at the Browntail Family.

The Perroch Family members were mostly burly and straightforward in character. When they saw this otherworldly beauty, with a cold and sacred aura yet strangely alluring "beast-eared divine messenger," many mountain villagers and herdsmen who were feeding horses, chopping wood, or laughing loudly stood frozen in place, dropping their work and gaping with their mouths agape. Some of the younger herdsmen blushed deeply, unsure where to look—the curves of her body outlined in her formal attire, and the long, slender legs that were faintly visible as she walked, were too much for these mountain people who had lived in a relatively isolated environment for many years!

Chief Perrochi —the burly man with a booming voice and a full beard—rushed out of the castle with his equally bewildered family members. Upon seeing the metal cylinder in Su Rui's hand and the runes on his formal attire, this chief, known for his bravery and straightforwardness, instantly shed all his brutishness, his face revealing an unprecedented mixture of shock, awe, and... a hint of simple-minded fear.

Su Rui, still in that cold and distant "aria" tone, announced, "By order of Kjeragandr, I present the Frostwind Edict."

Then, under the almost glaring gaze of Chief Perrochi, he solemnly handed the second "Ice Crystal Scroll" to his calloused, slightly trembling hand.

Chief Perrochi took the scroll and eagerly unfurled it. Then, he froze. Empty? Transparent? He examined it from all angles, even bringing it close to his eyes to look closely in the light, and touching it with his hand... still nothing.

"This... Your Excellency, this..." Chief Perrochi raised his head, his eyes, like copper bells, filled with confusion and anxiety. His voice was loud, and he almost blurted it out.

But the calm, unwavering black eyes behind Su Rui's mask, seemingly capable of freezing all doubts, and the inviolable, icy aura emanating from him—the aura of a "divine messenger"—made Chief Perrochi swallow back the words that were on the tip of his tongue. He scratched his messy hair, his expression a mixture of frustration and resentment, and finally could only imitate the head of the Browntail Family, awkwardly bowing and stammering, "... Uh, thank you, Your Excellency. We... we will certainly understand the divine decree!"