Chapter 111: A Highly Discouraged Method
After sending the group of researchers back to the residential area, Xu Zhi didn’t linger. The replenishment of the [Moth] attribute cores allowed her to return to her old habit of popping one or two a day once her energy had digested. Not long after walking through the second ring, she vaguely sensed she was once again on the verge of leveling up.
If she were to use Zhong Lingfan’s classification system, Xu Zhi figured she was at least Level 6 or 7 by now, though she couldn’t be sure of the exact number. After all, her path to the transcendental differed from others’, and that system might not even apply to her.
What puzzled her, however, was that despite her steadily rising level, there hadn’t been any signs of [Evolution].
Before leaving the Fourth Institute, she’d asked the Narrator whether it was possible to find a way into the city center via Midnight. The Narrator had only replied with three words:
[I don’t know.]
Xu Zhi nearly choked seeing that response, but the Narrator quickly explained:
[Midnight is too dangerous and mysterious. I can’t predict what might happen in there, so I can’t say with certainty you’ll find a solution inside.]
[But… anything is possible in there.]
In other words, it might help — if she got lucky.
Xu Zhi wasn’t too pessimistic about “luck-based” outcomes. After all, her luck had been pretty good lately.
“So, if anything is possible, does that mean there might be a way to resolve my path-related issues with the Cup directly through Midnight?” she asked, seizing on a key detail from the Narrator’s words.
[Not recommended!]
[Highly discouraged!]
[Absolutely do NOT attempt this!]
The Narrator’s reaction had been intense.
[Do not reveal any traits of the Cup within Midnight. Don’t come into contact with anything potentially related to the Cup. And absolutely do not let anything know you walk the path of the Cup!]
“Sounds extremely dangerous,” Xu Zhi replied.
[Far more dangerous than it sounds.]
“Alright,” Xu Zhi nodded seriously. When she pressed for more explanation about the Narrator’s extreme reaction and got no further response, she let it go.
“So, when can I try entering Midnight?” she asked.
[After you level up one more time.]
All in all, Xu Zhi now had two possible ways to deal with her transition into the [Cup] path. Since she could feel she was on the verge of leveling up, she decided to first try the route available in Cloud City.
If possible, she preferred not to tear things up with the Federation or cooperate with cultists — they were far less reliable than the Federation, after all.
So when she sensed that same pre-level-up feeling but couldn’t quite break through yet, Xu Zhi quickened her pace in the second ring. She had no idea if her body was some kind of bottomless pit. Despite having limited access to [Moth] attribute cores, she’d eaten quite a lot, and still hadn’t hit her limit by the time she finished exploring the ring.
Instead, the little cat reached Level 10 first.
When it hit Level 10, even the cat seemed surprised. The upgrade happened so suddenly — it didn’t even have time to walk away. Just after eating a [Moth] core from Xu Zhi’s hand, its tiny head tilted, and it collapsed into her palm.
At first, Xu Zhi was surprised, wondering if the cat had suddenly become affectionate.
Then she checked the game console and realized it had just leveled up.
The little cat looked like it had fallen asleep during its upgrade. Its warm, tiny head rested in her palm, lightly snoring — it was way too cute.
Xu Zhi thought for a moment and said, “Little kitty, you climbed into my hand all on your own!”
Ignoring Yu Shenwei’s expression, she scooped the cat into her lap and ordered Yu Shenwei to drive to the next destination.
Since Zhengouzi and Yi were often sent off to escort survivors from the second ring, Yu Shenwei’s [Jealousy] mainly focused on the small aberration always glued to Xu Zhi, and the cat Xu Zhi actively tried to bond with.
Thanks to encountering a few high-level cultists in the second ring, Xu Zhi casually “made” a new vocal organ for Yu Shenwei. The process was rather unpleasant to watch, but thankfully, Yu Shenwei’s special physique didn’t require any surgical finesse — just putting the organ in place allowed her body to adjust to it.
Xu Zhi found it miraculous but didn’t go on to craft any other organs.
She figured Yu Shenwei could live perfectly fine without them. But a vocal organ was necessary — communicating with someone mute was just annoying.
Yu Shenwei soon realized that her unusual [Jealousy] wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. The stronger her jealousy became, the more her power surged. Even her stunted supernatural abilities were beginning to mend themselves. Knowledge she shouldn’t have had started surfacing in her mind as the emotion intensified.
She understood now.
Though her ritual to become an archbishop hadn’t succeeded, it hadn’t failed either. She was still in the middle of that ritual — it wouldn’t end until she either succeeded completely or failed entirely.
Lately, Yu Shenwei had been dreaming occasionally. In her dreams, she saw the island and the blood-red staircase from her ritual. Back then, she hadn’t climbed very far, but she could sense a voice whispering: if she ascended the staircase, she would become a true archbishop.
But for now, she was merely reconnecting to that place in her dreams — not ascending.
She figured maybe she still needed a trigger. Or perhaps her energy wasn’t sufficient?
Yu Shenwei had no experience in this and no one to consult, which left her lost.
Maybe she should leave Xu Zhi and seek her own path to advancement. Staying with Xu Zhi made her feel like a “normal person,” no longer living like a proper cultist. She should be out gathering followers and consuming their offerings to complete her ritual.
But…
A gray moth flickered across her red eyes. She realized, to her surprise, that she didn’t particularly want to leave Xu Zhi. Or rather, she told herself, it wasn’t that she didn’t want to — she couldn’t.
If she even thought about running away, Xu Zhi would make her regret it. So behaving herself was the smart move.
Having convinced herself, Yu Shenwei shot a vicious look at the cat lying on Xu Zhi’s lap, marking another grudge in her mind, and focused on driving toward their destination.
The little cat’s upgrades always took longer than the other familiars. This time was no different. By the time it woke up from its upgrade, Xu Zhi was already dozing off in the car.
She hardly slept these days. With her supernatural abilities, she rarely felt tired unless she was extremely bored.
Feeling the soft, warm cat stir on her lap, Xu Zhi immediately snapped out of her drowsiness.
