How to Reach the Second Layer

"You just got to the first layer. Why are you already thinking about going to the second?" Du Kang asked in disbelief, breathing warm air into his hands.

"I want to go to the Abyss Bottom," Li Luo answered seriously.

Du Kang choked again and nearly spat. "Do you know what's at the Abyss Bottom?"

"The gate to another world," Li Luo blurted out.

"That's a lie..." Du Kang had wanted to deny it outright, but stopped himself. "No one knows. Anyone who went down there never came back."

Li Luo still wore a serious expression.

"Forget it. I'll tell you how to get to the second layer first. See that mission counter over there?" Du Kang pointed at a crowded counter in the hall.

Above the counter hung a huge screen like one in an airport terminal, densely filled with all kinds of listed missions.

"If you complete missions there, you can earn points. The missions get harder from front to back on the mission screen, and the points increase too. Having more than 10,000 Monitoring Station Points is one of the requirements for going to the Abyss Second Layer."

Having learned the requirements, Li Luo turned to leave, but Du Kang stopped her.

"There's another requirement: you need to possess a Relic." Du Kang glanced at the Cube behind Li Luo again. "You've already met that one. A lot of people earn enough points but can't fulfill this requirement instead."

Inside the Cube, Mo Ling finally understood. No wonder Station Master Liang had said Li Luo was lucky. She had fulfilled one of the requirements for reaching the second layer right at the start.

Mo Ling was also deeply interested in the Abyss Bottom they spoke of, because they said it was the gate to another world.

"Another world... could that be the world I came from?" Mo Ling grew excited. "If I reach the Abyss Bottom, can I go home?"

While he was lost in thought, the cart began moving again. Li Luo had already headed toward the mission counter.

Du Kang continued chattering beside her:

"Start with things like gathering herbs or investigation missions. Come back after filming some footage. Get familiar with how missions work first."

"Before setting out, check out the equipment, supplies, and medical goods over there to see if anything needs replacing. Of course, it all costs money, but that's nothing compared to your life. Remember to buy plenty of food for your Iron Block."

"You can also team up with others. The points will be split evenly, but it'll be safer. I need to find Old Liang about something, so I'll be going. Contact me promptly if anything comes up."

Du Kang nagged beside her like an old father. Anyone unaware of the situation might have thought Li Luo was his daughter.

After saying that, he waved at Li Luo and headed for the second floor.

"Du Kang really is helpful," Mo Ling remarked.

At the mission counter, Li Luo, with a giant Cube in tow, drew plenty of attention. Most people looked at her with envy.

When they recognized Li Luo as one of this year's new hunters, their shock became even more obvious, and they unconsciously made way for her.

Li Luo looked up. The mission board was a riot of color, while the Electronic Screen in her hand automatically connected to the system, allowing her to tap into mission details at any time.

The cart followed her forward, and the mission board entered Mo Ling's field of view as well.

Collection Mission: Ruby Potato, ten pieces, for research purposes. Reward: 10 Monitoring Station Points.

Collection Mission: Smoked Ore, twenty kilograms, for forging purposes. Reward: 10 Monitoring Station Points.

Investigation Mission: Investigate the infestation of wood-boring insects in the forest east of the Monitoring Station. Footage required. Reward: 5 Monitoring Station Points.

Mo Ling stared blankly.

How much?

He nearly thought he had misread it and hurriedly scanned the board again.

That was right. The points really were that low.

"How long would it take to scrape together 10,000 points?"

Yet during the brief moment Mo Ling was stunned, the Girl had already accepted a mission. The Electronic Screen in her hand began displaying the mission details.

Mo Ling hurriedly took a look.

Investigation Mission: Cause of the Shock Beast Disturbance

The Shock Beast disturbance has destroyed multiple Outpost Stations, causing heavy casualties. Preliminary investigations suggest that a mutated specimen carrying a Relic may have appeared. Find the cause and resolve the disturbance.

Recommended team size: A team of 10 or more.

Reward: 1,000 Monitoring Station Points.

Acceptance requirement: Shock Beasts are extremely dangerous creatures. The team must be equipped with an offensive Relic.

Mo Ling was stunned.

What fast hands!

"Why did you accept it so quickly? Did you see the recommended team size? I told you to take an investigation mission, and you really picked an investigation mission?"

Mo Ling wanted to burst out of the Cube and question the Girl right then, but he could not.

"And what kind of investigation mission is this? Why didn't I see it?"

Mo Ling scanned the notice board again and finally found the investigation mission among the last few lines of the mission list.

Good grief. Li Luo had started reading from the back.

At the bottom of the constantly scrolling mission list were all sorts of hunting missions, nearly every one marked as extremely dangerous.

And amid that sea of hunting missions, Li Luo had accurately found the investigation mission with the highest point reward.

Now, Li Luo's name was prominently displayed after the mission to investigate the cause of the Shock Beast disturbance.

After accepting the mission, Li Luo turned and left without looking for teammates. It seemed she intended to keep all the points for herself.

Sure enough, before she could even squeeze out of the crowd, a team stopped her. At its head stood a Youth who looked very composed.

"Hello, you accepted the mission to investigate the cause of the Shock Beast disturbance, right?"

Li Luo nodded.

The Youth smiled warmly. "Looks like you're alone. Our team is interested in this mission too. Want to work together? We can watch each other's backs."

Though he was speaking to Li Luo, the Youth's eyes kept secretly glancing at the metal block behind her.

Mo Ling understood.

This team did not have a Relic and could not meet the mission's acceptance requirements, so they wanted to piggyback on it.

"No need. I can handle it myself." Li Luo shook her head indifferently.

The Youth wanted to persuade her further, but Li Luo simply walked around him.

The cart carrying the metal block rolled toward the Youth, curved around in front of him, and left with her.

After leaving the mission counter, Li Luo headed straight for a shop in the hall and began shopping.

At the counter, Li Luo looked at the saleswoman and asked, "Do you have food specifically meant for Relics?"

The saleswoman was a little frightened by Li Luo's cold gaze, and her smile stiffened.

"Yes. Turn right up ahead, and it's on the second row of shelves."

They really had it?

Li Luo walked toward the place the saleswoman had indicated, while Mo Ling's gaze had already locked onto it ahead of time.

Canned fingers?

Blood syrup?

Hair seaweed?

Nuclear wastewater cola?

Beef jerky made from pork?

Fried instant noodles made with the videotape reel of A Ray of Sunlight in the Morning?

No!

Mo Ling did not know why such bizarre foods existed, nor did he understand what the prices paid by other Relics were.

But Mo Ling knew that if he ate any of those, he would definitely die.

Just as he was trying to think of a way to stop Li Luo, she had already reached the shelf and begun selecting items seriously.

Fortunately, whenever Li Luo picked up one of those foods, she would place one on the Cube and observe its reaction.

At last, after failing to get any response, Li Luo headed for the normal food instead.

Sitting inside the Cube, Mo Ling let out a long sigh of relief.