Return to the Monitoring Station

Kimchi was the price of entering a Dream. A price that had to be paid would eventually be collected.

When the tentacles wrapped around those two cans of food, Mo Ling understood their purpose.

Li Luo quickly realized it as well and put away her weapon.

In Mo Ling's field of vision, the insides of the black tentacles kept pulsing.

Following the tentacles and looking into the black hole, Mo Ling's perspective suddenly passed through it and arrived in a strange place.

It was that familiar Kimchi Space again.

The tentacles set down the kimchi and passed through the metal floor, seeming to guide Mo Ling somewhere.

Upon reaching the Outside World, it was still the Dream Dawn City.

Yet his perspective continued to zoom out, and Dawn City grew smaller and smaller in Mo Ling's vision.

Mo Ling's viewpoint slowly rose, passing over the skyscrapers and reaching the sky.

In the end, Dawn City became a pixel, a pixel on colorful skin.

Mo Ling came back to his senses and saw an enormous Colored Shock Beast.

The Colored Shock Beast slowly rotated through space, letting out a roar that shook the world. It extended a colorful tentacle and greeted Mo Ling.

The moment he saw this, Mo Ling was suddenly squeezed out of the Dream space.

He stood there in a daze.

What was that?

Dream... was a Shock Beast?

Li Luo drove out of the valley.

Just as she was about to leave, familiar tremors came from within the valley.

Li Luo stopped the car and turned to look.

There were survivors after all. There were still Shock Beasts in the valley that had not been infected by Red String Worms.

The car returned the way it had come, heading toward the Seventh Monitoring Station.

Mo Ling was still thinking about the Colored Shock Beast he had seen in the Dream. He realized that his understanding of the Abyss was still far too limited.

Along the way, Li Luo kept reviewing the previous records, constantly searching the Database and uploading information. She seemed to have gained quite a lot.

Two days later, Li Luo drove back to the Seventh Monitoring Station.

Du Kang was already waiting at the entrance. Like an ant on a hot pan, he paced back and forth nonstop.

When he saw Li Luo return, he immediately rushed over and examined her from head to toe, asking with great concern, "You weren't hurt, were you?"

Li Luo shook her head.

Du Kang circled the car once more and finally sighed in relief after confirming that Li Luo truly was not injured.

"How could you dare take a mission like that? Even a Level Two Hunter like me would need to gather a whole team before daring to go."

Li Luo answered seriously, "It paid well."

Du Kang wore an odd expression, but he still consoled her. "It's fine. It's good that you came back. You know how difficult it is now, right? It doesn't matter if the mission failed. As long as you weren't hurt."

Li Luo looked at Du Kang as though he were an idiot. "It succeeded."

Du Kang froze for a moment and asked incredulously, "Succeeded? The investigation mission worth 1,000 points?"

"That's right. The 1,000-point investigation mission you told me to take."

Du Kang hurriedly waved his hands. "I never told you to take it! But did you really complete it?"

Li Luo said nothing and took out the Electronic Screen.

The Electronic Screen showed that all mission materials had been uploaded, and three conspicuous words were displayed under the mission status.

Completed.

Moreover, other materials were still under review. If the information proved accurate, the reward would be more than 1,000 points.

Du Kang's expression was incredibly awkward, and he found it hard to believe.

Before long, however, he accepted it and sighed. "Good. This is good."

Li Luo asked again, "Where do I submit biological samples?"

"You want to submit samples? I'll take you directly to Station Master Liang's laboratory."

They walked through the hall and deeper into the Monitoring Station, where a massive door appeared before them.

Du Kang scanned his iris at the door, and it opened.

It was an enormous laboratory spanning several floors. Researchers of every kind were busily operating the instruments before them.

Station Master Liang clearly had not expected Du Kang to bring Li Luo to see him.

After listening to Du Kang's account, Station Master Liang looked at Li Luo in astonishment.

"So you were the one who completed that mission! Much of the information you uploaded is extremely useful."

Upon hearing that the Girl before them had completed the Shock Beast disturbance mission, a group of researchers hurriedly gathered around her.

"I have some questions about the changes in those Shock Beasts' forms! Could you tell me about them in detail?"

"Are you certain that Red String Worms can truly parasitize Dream Qilins?"

"How did you wake up after falling into the Dream World?"

"Based on your information, I suspect the Dream Qilin's habits may be like this..."

"..."

Seeing this, Station Master Liang quickly drove away the enthusiastic researchers and led Li Luo and Du Kang into his personal laboratory.

"What biological sample do you wish to submit?" Station Master Liang asked.

Li Luo took out a puddle of liquid wrapped in a Relic Capsule.

Station Master Liang examined it and asked in confusion, "What is this?"

"It was a Shock Beast parasitized by Red String Worms. It has already perished," Li Luo explained.

Hearing that, Station Master Liang hurriedly accepted the packet of liquid as though it were a priceless treasure.

"This will be highly useful to our research. Once it has been verified, you will receive the appropriate points as compensation."

Li Luo's eyes lit up at the mention of more points. She walked over to the Cube and gently tapped it. "Do you still need that horn?"

Mo Ling picked up the broken Dream Qilin horn and found that it no longer had the ability to enter Dreams. He therefore gave it away, placing it precisely into the Girl's hand.

Watching the Girl and the Cube communicate, both Station Master Liang and Du Kang were dumbfounded.

Li Luo held Black Horn up before Station Master Liang.

"This is a Dream Qilin's horn. Can this be exchanged for points too?"

"It can! Of course it can!"

Station Master Liang hurriedly fetched gloves and a sealed bag, carefully placing the horn inside.

After preserving the Dream Qilin horn, he looked at the Cube again.

"This Iron Block Relic seems to have other functions?"

Noticing that Station Master Liang had taken an interest in the Cube, Li Luo quickly stood in front of it and blocked his view.

Seeing the Girl react so strongly, Station Master Liang hurriedly said, "This is your personal property. We have no interest in it, but I still recommend updating the Relic's data in the Database."

Li Luo continued shielding the Cube.

"Of course, it's also fine if you don't update it. There's no pressure," Station Master Liang quickly added. "You contributed greatly this time. Rest properly in the Monitoring Station for a while. Don't rush off to take another mission."

Du Kang immediately chimed in, "You absolutely can't take another mission this dangerous. If you're really short on points, I'll bring you along next time I take a mission."

Li Luo looked at Du Kang with extreme resistance.

"No need. I'd have to split the points with you."

Du Kang ground his teeth at those words, but there was nothing he could do about Li Luo.

Station Master Liang asked Li Luo a few more questions.

Mo Ling noticed that Li Luo did not answer a single word when the questions involved the Cube or her experiences in the Dream.

Saving you really wasn't for nothing.

Afterward, Du Kang led Li Luo out of the laboratory.

"Go get some rest first. There's a Hunter Rest Point over there. You can get a nice room for a little money."

"No need. I already bought a house in the Monitoring Station."

Du Kang's veins bulged once more.