The King of Black Fog

A grain of corn successfully sneaked into the child's clothing.

"Find him first thing tomorrow, get a 'Great Power' in hand," Li Changzhou said.

"Hmm, let me use it, you focus on fighting, I'll use it to support you."

This mission, the 'Ability' has all transformed into 'Great Power,' including the spirit. Although Li Changzhou is still stronger than a seasoned warrior, it's difficult to balance using multiple abilities in balanced instance battles without some fatigue.

Yang Qinglan is different; turning dead objects into life doesn't waste her attention, she can fully use the 'Breathtaking Green Light' to cover him.

"Based on our probes in the tavern, the child's ability probably can't be used on non-living targets. When the time comes, use your 'corn soldiers' to pinpoint the location, and I'll attack from a distance."

"His ability seems to only attack a single target at a time, there are many rocks and solid ice in the Abyss, so I can use a crowd tactic too."

After speaking, Yang Qinglan frowned beautifully: "But still be prepared for the opponent to hide their strength."

"Of course."

"...don't touch randomly."

"I'm cold." Li Changzhou's tone was as pitiful as a child who hasn't eaten enough.

"Endure it. I won't take off clothes here even if I die."

"Alright." Li Changzhou hugged her.

Yang Qinglan contentedly and comfortably nestled in his arms.

After a day's journey, the two were tired and soon fell into a deep sleep.

On the floor, several entities of "water people" silently stood guard. Unlike Li Changzhou's ability requiring him to be conscious, Yang Qinglan's ability was unaffected by sleep.

Before dawn the next day, everyone gathered in the hall, sitting in a corner, enjoying breakfast and making final preparations.

"...Remember, the flames mustn't extinguish, and do not gaze into the Abyss," the old man warned once more.

"Got it, got it," Andy said.

This time, the old man didn't scold him. After a pause, he asked, "To survive, you don't have to enter the Abyss. It's still not too late to withdraw now."

"You can live anywhere, but to live well, you have to enter the Abyss," Yeet said, "For example, the waiter at this inn, their pay is high, but only once a month can they enjoy themselves, while the next dive into the Abyss means daily joy for a year."

"Even if not for enjoyment," Bai Zi said, "just going down once means living without worry about food and clothing for twenty or thirty years. Go several times, and you won't need to work for a lifetime and still live without worries."

"I want 'Great Power'!" Stone Fist exclaimed.

"Andy, what about you?" the old man asked.

"Old man, I asked you before, why do you still want to go out at your advanced age? You told me —" Andy paused, "If you're a warrior, you must fall in battle, even if you have to walk into knives."

"....." The old man looked at Tali.

"I," Tali took a breath, "My family is very poor, I need money very much."

"Everyone decided?" Li Changzhou asked.

He didn't persuade them, nor did he pity them. Just as 'fighting with the Evil Dragon turns oneself into the Evil Dragon,' he has been in the value game too long and began to believe in 'survival of the fittest.'

"Decided!" everyone shouted in unison.

"Then let's go." Li Changzhou stood up, wrapped up tightly, and Yang Qinglan followed suit.

The old man, Andy, Tali, Yeet, Stone Fist, and Bai Zi stood up.

The old man took Andy to get some dried snow leopard meat, and the eight of them left the inn, heading toward the Abyss in the dim light.

The frost on the ground was trampled into mud, there were adventurers who set off even earlier than them.

In this world, who isn't striving? Living is difficult; trying to live well is even harder.