Deep in the Living

Generally speaking, the depths of Vortex Town are restricted areas.

Even for official members like Luo Di, visiting here requires prior approval from Teacher Guo.

Strangely enough,

Luo Di unknowingly ended up here, bypassing the ashes set at the perimeter, and so far hasn't received any warning from Teacher Guo.

Of course, Teacher Guo might be too exhausted today, plus the diary of Master Jiang that Luo Di sent over, and it's exactly midnight at the moment, he might have fallen into a deep sleep.

Anyway,

this is an extremely dangerous situation,

to think that Luo Di, almost at the "half-step teacher" level, would be affected in a way that he couldn't resist or perceive.

"If there is a first time, there could be a second time.

If it weren't for Mr. Question Mark's timely reminder today, I might already be in the dungeon by now, or even in the most dangerous depths of the dungeon.

I don't know if Mr. Question Mark is available, I haven't seen him since the Outer Realm battle ended, I should go check."

Luo Di turned and walked into the nearby alley, reaching the hole at the end of the passage.

He pressed his left palm against it,

Luo Di, having the ability to create passageways, could naturally connect with this relatively primitive Lame Walker passageway before him.

Seeing that the hole had no defenses set up, Luo Di quietly slipped inside.

Buzz!

He initially thought the inside of the hole would be the rocky passage leading into the lair of the Lame Walker from back then.

But when his foot touched the ground, he arrived at a semicircular passage.

It wasn't rock layers,

but an artificially constructed passage structure.

The smooth floor was paved with non-slip frosted tiles, and both walls were painted with large and small, multi-colored question marks.

Using self-luminous fluorescent paint, there was no need for installed lighting.

"I remember when I won the True Death Game and was invited by Mr. Question Mark to a residence set inside the company, it was an independent space.

Mr. Question Mark's [game] also involves the evolution and application of space, currently perfectly combined with the Lame Walker's passage ability, must have reached a higher level.

Once fully mastered, Mr. Question Mark is sure to inherit the Lame Walker's Divine Status, ascending to a higher level through a completely different route."

Luo Di stepped as quietly as possible, ready to leave immediately if he found Mr. Question Mark in seclusion.

However, when he reached the end of the passage, there was a door with a question mark slot carved on the surface.

Having come this far, Luo Di decided to press his hand against it; he would leave if it didn't open.

Unexpectedly, a stinging pain came as soon as his palm touched,

An invisible spike pierced his palm, making blood flow out, dyeing the question mark on the door a vivid red.

Crack!

The lock inside the door made a sound.

Inside wasn't Mr. Question Mark's closed chamber, but a bright room with a ring set up like a game room.

Luo Di immediately focused on the figure standing at the center, a plastic mannequin like those found in clothing stores.

Except this mannequin had a burlap sack similar to Mr. Question Mark's covering its head, the colorless question mark on the front slowly dyed red, presumably by Luo Di's blood.

Crack!

The plastic mannequin moved.

Breathing sounds followed, exhaling an eerie aura.

The mannequin's surface quickly sprouted skin, similar to Luo Di's, heavy, hot, and indestructible.

Even the gray and ancient-looking spine emerged on its back.

"Is this... me?"

Luo Di found it hard to tell, given that the other's aura matched his own.

Suddenly,

a black knife appeared in the mannequin's hand, startling Miss Megin hidden within Luo Di.

Soon,

Luo Di sensed a familiar Killing Intent; he had been marked as prey, moonlight scattered, and the mannequin with the covered head had already advanced.

Buzz!

The confrontation ended in an instant.

A deep cut, down to the bone, appeared inside Luo Di's shoulder, just shallow enough not to cut through the bone.

As for the mannequin, it had already fallen to the ground, its whole body charred, and the eerie aura inside it getting absorbed by a suctioning force.

The relic hidden away absorbed the vapors and was immediately collected by Luo Di.

He turned to look at the lightning entwined around his left arm, and he had to admit, Master Jiang's ability was truly useful.

Though the adversary was a high-quality imitation, it could never replicate the unique "Prometheus' Hand".

Luo Di's self-awareness was thorough, knowing precisely where his weaknesses lay.

Taking a hit deliberately was all he needed to seize an opening, clutching his opponent's head!

Lightning released,

This marked the first in-field application of Master Jiang's ability,

not only proving its usability but showing its excellence. This absolute Yang lightning paired with the perfect release from the metallic left arm scorched his opponent instantly.

With the mannequin dead,

a round of applause followed.

Mr. Question Mark had arrived unnoticed, still in his exquisitely tailored suit, with the familiar sack over his face.

The visible hand was filled with holes, each bearing a matching contour to form a question mark pattern.

Before Luo Di could express thanks or greetings,

Mr. Question Mark spoke first: "It seems you really killed Jiang Huaishan… Regardless of what situation, whatever advantageous conditions there may have been, you were the one who personally killed him and reaped the greatest profit.

You're only a certain amount of killing away from the [Garden]."

"Yes… I can feel myself nearing the next stage though I'm unclear what the breakthrough will be or if I can manage it.

Thank you, Mr. Question Mark, for your earlier assistance, I hope I didn't disturb you?"

"Naturally, it was a disturbance… But it doesn't matter. I'm currently in a state of perplexity, unable to continue advancing at the moment."

"Perplexity?" Luo Di had thought Mr. Question Mark was nearly accomplished on this path.

"I'm considering whether to use this 'Lame Walker Divine Form'… Though I've grasped the essence of its hole characteristics, whether it's transmission, infection, or reproduction.

This divine form appears very appealing; once accepted, it will propel me to a higher tier, granting me my own Divinity.

However... it may also constrain my development.

I have been pondering these days whether to return to my monstrous roots and seek the most suitable path to divinity."

Luo Di's eyes lit up upon hearing this, "That's possible! Just right, I have some intelligence, unknown to you, Mr. Question Mark."

"What intelligence?"

"Master Jiang risked his life to bring out intelligence concerning the deepest parts of the dungeon."

"Hmm? May I see it?"

"Of course."

Upon being granted permission, Mr. Question Mark traced a question mark on Luo Di's forehead.

A special informational material rapidly extracted from the question mark, received by him.

"This intelligence is quite overwhelming… Back when I founded a company in the City of Sin, Jiang Huaishan once came over due to some trivial matters, and a minor conflict occurred between us.

Considering a full-scale conflict could affect the entire City of Sin, getting completely removed from the corners, I chose to compromise actively.

Jiang Huaishan's physicality was exaggerated enough that the me then barely could damage it.

The thing in the dungeon's depths can not only damage his physique but also instill such profound Fear.

If compared laterally, that thing should pose a fatal threat to all entities within Vortex Town… If so, things might be more interesting than I imagined."

The question mark on the sack turned sideways, indicating that Mr. Question Mark was pleased, and seemed to have reached a decision.

After pausing for a moment, his focus returned to Luo Di,

"It seems you were drawn towards the dungeon by something today, likely a side effect from directly peering into Master Jiang's memories, correct?"

Luo Di quickly nodded, having sought Mr. Question Mark for this exact issue, "Yes, during the memory probing I heard noise. Did you catch any of it when you extracted my memory just now?"

"What I extracted was solely textual information, the specific memory data remains sealed, locked within a Zombie Skin only accessible by you.

Stay here tonight, I'll see if I can help you eliminate this influence… as gratitude for killing Jiang Huaishan."