I Am the Lord in the World of Mist – CH124

Chapter 124: Something’s Off with the Game Console

What a strange feeling.

So this is what it feels like—having a tangible sense of power steadily growing each day?

How nice…

But then, why didn’t she have it?

And why is she only now finally able to feel it?

Xu Zhi had once wondered if there was something unusual about her body—like one of those protagonists in novels with a “crippled” physique, unable to absorb energy. Was she the same?

But Xu Zhi didn’t think she was truly “crippled.” After all, her luck and all that she’d gained from her recent growth clearly showed that, if anything, she was marked by destiny. She firmly believed there had to be a reason why she couldn’t absorb energy from the black fog like others could—except for faint traces when she was in the city center.

She’d asked the game console about it before, but got no answer. Still, Xu Zhi wasn’t anxious. As her strength increased, so too did the knowledge she acquired. One day, she would understand everything she wanted to know.

Rather than obsess over questions with no immediate answers, Xu Zhi preferred to focus on the present.

After experiencing the sensation of absorbing energy from the fog, she realized that the energy contained in the dense mist of the city center was likely far greater than she’d imagined. She had never been able to feel it before, so she lacked a clear concept of its strength. But now, if even someone like her—a “wooden stone”—could barely absorb it, then what about the aberrations who lived here day and night?

If they could also absorb energy from the fog, then she’d have to be much more careful.

In fact, after breathing in the city center’s fog, even the restless agitation in her mind—stemming from the [Cup]—had temporarily subsided.

How strange… could the black fog really have that effect?

No—it couldn’t.

Otherwise, those [Cup]-aligned cultists who stayed in Cloud City all the time wouldn’t be so completely brainless.

So… was there something more in the fog beyond just the black fog’s energy?

Another kind of energy?

And was it possible that the energy she was absorbing wasn’t actually the fog’s, but rather a trace of some other, unknown power mixed in?

“What the heck. I got excited for nothing.”

If that was true, then she still couldn’t absorb the energy of the black fog!

Even when it was so concentrated that it was practically being poured into her body—she still couldn’t take it in!

But more than that, what truly concerned Xu Zhi was the nature of that trace of energy hidden in the fog.

What was it that could suppress the agitation from the [Cup]?

Were the aberrations gathering here because of it?

Or rather, were they drawn to its source?

What could cause the city center to contain such a strange force—something that could even purify unrest?

It had to be the artifact the aberrations were waiting for.

And even just the small amount of energy it leaked out was helping her suppress the [Cup]’s agitation. If she could obtain that artifact, could she completely sever her connection to the [Cup] path?

Yes. That must be why the narrator had told her to come to the city center.

But… why didn’t it just tell her this?

Because there were things the narrator couldn’t say.

Xu Zhi thought for a moment, then came to a conclusion.

The origin of this artifact was something she wasn’t meant to know—at least not yet. That’s why the narrator couldn’t say anything.

That was the trouble with “occult knowledge”—it tended to create riddlers, and sometimes, certain names or truths just couldn’t be spoken aloud.

“A treasure with a mysterious origin, huh? Let’s see if I can snatch it out from under those aberrations’ noses.”

It wouldn’t be easy. In fact, it would probably be incredibly difficult. When the artifact emerged, she would have to fight for it—by then, not even her cloak might be able to keep her hidden. But at least until then, she could still use the cloak to mask her presence.

As for when the artifact would appear… Xu Zhi figured it must be soon.

Before setting out, she’d asked the narrator: Is now the right time to go?

The narrator had replied: As soon as possible.

When Xu Zhi reached the spot where all the aberrations had gathered their attention, she suddenly didn’t know how to proceed.

This place was right in the center of Cloud City, at the People’s Park. The park had a massive plaza, and now, the entire area around it was packed with aberrations. Xu Zhi couldn’t even squeeze into the innermost circle—she could only find a place on the outskirts to hide. At the very center of the plaza, it was… empty.

All the aberrations had tacitly left that space open. None of them stepped inside.

And now that she was here, Xu Zhi could feel the “energy” even more clearly. Every breath she took made her feel better—her mind sharpened, her thoughts became clearer.

It was like a miracle elixir.

No wonder these aberrations could remain so calm and rational—they were probably being influenced by it too.

Every one of the aberrations crowding the plaza looked powerful. Many were even larger than Gouzi. Xu Zhi even spotted one perched atop a tall building on the far side of the park—it looked similar to Yi, but with gnarled, twisted skin, two heads, and countless sharp, centipede-like legs.

It coiled around the building like a centipede wrapped around a stick. Its sheer size was terrifying.

But even it wasn’t more than one major tier above Xu Zhi—and hadn’t noticed her. That was a relief. Apparently, crossing that tier was incredibly difficult. Even after soaking in this powerful energy for so long, the aberrations still hadn’t reached it.

Xu Zhi silently kept track of time. She’d entered the city center at 2 p.m. Now, after carefully making her way here and spending time observing, it was late at night—nearly midnight.

And she had no intention of sticking around for another Midnight Descent. She needed to find shelter.

But strangely, she seemed to be the only one thinking this.

“Don’t the aberrations fear the midnight descent?”

Weird. But the Little Aberrant certainly hadn’t acted like it was fearless of midnight—otherwise, the narrator would’ve told her to bring it along.

Whether the aberrations were concerned or not, Xu Zhi had to find a building. Thankfully, there were plenty in the city center. She picked one at random and slipped inside. Then, she took out the game console—intending to ask the narrator about the strange behavior of the aberrations and the mysterious energy here.

But when she saw the screen, she froze.

[Game is currently under maintenance. Estimated maintenance time:]

Xu Zhi: ?

Seriously? Maintenance? Now?

And there wasn’t even an estimated time—just a string of ellipses.

“…Tch.”

Xu Zhi immediately sensed something was off.

Way off.

A game maintenance, right now, without warning? Especially when she’d just asked the narrator before leaving, and it hadn’t said a word?

Whether it was intentional or even if the narrator itself didn’t see this coming, all Xu Zhi knew was that she couldn’t rely on the game for help anymore. She’d have to figure things out on her own in the city center.

Fortunately, her familiars were still functioning normally.

So far.