Chapter 422: Abyssal Emergence

So, this is the Technology Church’s fallback plan?

Lu Xin took a deep breath, continued scanning through his rearview mirror, and shot Mom a questioning look.

“How did they manage to bring those monsters from the abyss into reality?”

“……”

Lu Xin asked because he recalled witnessing a similar phenomenon before.

When Sea Country attacked Qinggang, they had used this very method to summon abyssal monsters.

Only that time, perhaps due to the opponent’s ability user, the summoning was only partial — all the mental monsters attached themselves to people. Since no one could see them, they paraded about with blatant arrogance.

This time, however, they truly emerged – or rather, crawled out directly from the abyss.

“In truth, the method is quite simple…”

Mom smiled and said, “The members of the Technology Church already stirred these people’s greed, and having that girl by your side only intensified it. This fermented lure is exactly what the abyssal monsters crave. Add in a surge of power and human reason becomes extremely fragile, which naturally allows the monsters to crawl out…”

“Human reason is such a curious thing. If you claim it’s robust, then summoning monsters wouldn’t be hard.”

“But if you say it’s fragile, then the abyssal monsters would never easily break through into reality…”

“……”

Sure enough, it was linked to the dual assault from the Doll and the Technology Church’s pollution.

Two powerful influences clashing within ordinary bodies gave the abyssal monsters the chance to emerge.

Lu Xin mulled over the logic behind it, deepening his understanding of mental pollution.

Perhaps this was all part of the Technology Church’s plan. They never expected Qinggang to counter their second scheme; they simply prepared from the start to let the mental monsters crawl out and waited.

The issue was: how are we supposed to deal with these mental monsters?

Lu Xin was no stranger to the abyss.

After following Xia Chong into the abyss at the Research Institute, he had already gleaned a basic understanding of that horrifying place.

It was a realm where the darkest human thoughts gathered – a place too terrible to confront directly.

Yet, by some mutation, that place had become tangible.

Tangible meant it not only existed but teemed with countless indigenous beings.

Most mental monsters that can’t be traced in reality originate from here.

Every encounter with them sent a shiver down one’s spine, evoking both terror and an eerie familiarity.

They naturally sprouted from the depth of the human heart.

Moreover, these mental monsters seemed to exhibit their own hierarchy.

At the lowest level were the cheap “hands of malice” that spread across the abyss, endlessly reaching out.

They appeared eager to grab hold of anything within reach.

But rather than grasping securely, they would often destroy it with their razor-sharp claws so that nothing could be held.

Besides these hands of malice, Lu Xin had encountered other kinds of mental monsters.

For instance, the two monsters summoned by the True Hometown’s Mysterious Organization in Satellite City No. 4 of Qinggang.

Later, those two even visited Lu Xin’s Home, expressing overwhelming praise and warm hospitality toward his family. Their psychic power was roughly over two thousand, and they could move freely with independent consciousness, ranking above the hands of malice.

Then, when Sea Country’s S-rank ability user attacked Qinggang, a mysterious ritual – either a wish or a curse – summoned a horde of mental monsters in Qinggang Main City, also hailing from the abyss. Yet, judging by their psychic power, these summoned monsters were slightly weaker than the ones from True Hometown.

In the end, when Sea Country’s S-rank ability user went all in, he managed to summon a few stronger ones.

But at that moment, Father was in a rage and ended up chopping them all down.

If the hands of malice are considered the lowest-level mental monsters, then those summoned by the ritual fall under Level 1.

The monsters of True Hometown’s Mysterious Organization would be Level 2.

Lu Xin had seen even more formidable ones – like the bizarre monster that, while trailing him and Xia Chong deep in the abyss, locked eyes with him and then inexplicably retreated just as it was about to catch up…

According to Xia Chong, it seemed to be an Overlord-level creature.

Undoubtedly, what he saw now was far inferior in psychic power to that Overlord-level monster.

That means what he witnessed now falls somewhere between Level 2 and Overlord-level…

Let’s call it Level 3.

The number is easy to remember – very convenient.

…Looking back at the Database, he wondered if there was even an encyclopedia of abyssal monsters.

… …

“Buzz buzz buzz……”

While Lu Xin contemplated these issues, the air behind him grew increasingly distorted.

When he turned around, he saw more and more mental monsters crawling from above the frantic crowds, like gigantic, grotesque worms blinking maddening eyes and gaping maws.

They were swiftly engulfed by a deformed protective force as they raced toward his Jeep.

One, two, three – it looked as though a tidal wave of them was coming.

Yet, when viewed through the rearview mirror, it was nothing more than swirling, distorted air.

It was as if the earth itself were ablaze, burning the air into uneven, dense patches.

… …

“These monsters are spawned from the greed in the hearts of the armed forces at the gathering points affected by the influence, relentlessly chasing after the Doll until it is completely devoured?”

“I wonder if, after devouring the Doll, they’ll return to the abyss.”

“If not, that would be terrifying – countless mobile large-scale pollution sources would tear through this wasteland.”

“Wherever they pass, everyone goes mad…”

“……”

Lost in thought, Lu Xin took a deep breath and turned to look at the Doll.

The little face of the Doll looked anxious, repeatedly glancing over her shoulder.

Even if she couldn’t see the mental monsters, her sensitivity was heightened.

She must be feeling the mounting, chaotic, and savage pressure from behind.

It made her afraid.

In the past, whenever she lost control, it would trigger massive chaos. Would it be the same this time?

Especially since she hadn’t restrained herself at all this time.

If chaos erupted, she would be overwhelmed with deep self-reproach.

“It’s okay, you’re doing great.”

Lu Xin looked at her, reached out to gently grasp her chin, and turned her to face him.

Then, smiling, he said, “Now, all you have to do is stay calm and follow my instructions, understand?”

The Doll widened her eyes in startled response, then shook her head vigorously.

She seemed to really like listening to Lu Xin.

After reassuring her, Lu Xin turned to Mom and asked, “So, how do we deal with these things?”

Mom’s elegant smile deepened as she glanced at the Doll and replied, “The simplest method is to hand her over to them.”

“Once they get her, they’ll immediately retreat into the abyss to protect her.”

“If you want them to stick around, they just won’t leave…”

“……”

Lu Xin shook his head with a hint of helplessness and said, “Let’s talk business…”

“Handing her over to mental monsters—does that sound right?”

“I promised I’d protect her…”

“……”

“If you can’t bear to let her go, then you’re in for a huge challenge…”

Mom looked at Lu Xin’s displeased expression; though she seemed pleased, when getting serious her face turned stern as she said, “For instance, when faced with so many mental monsters at once, how can we ensure none of them escape?”

“……”

“Umm…”

Mom’s words left Lu Xin momentarily stunned, but then he smiled, “What a huge challenge indeed…”

He looked ahead; it was clear that about three or four kilometers to his left lay a cluster of modest mountains.

Several low, closely packed peaks jostled together, with an old, long-forgotten road winding upward between two large mountains like a natural prison – seemingly perfect.

So, he took a deep breath, quickly turned the wheel, and sped down that road.

Originally, the road in this wasteland was already difficult due to years of neglect.

This long-abandoned road was even more treacherous and bumpy, but with Sister’s help, Lu Xin maintained a steady grip on the steering wheel, driving the high-performance modified car as if it were a helicopter.

After all, it wasn’t even his own vehicle; if it broke, he wouldn’t feel too bad.

Whew…

In the distance, he could see a lone figure racing upward toward the mountains.

Behind him, more and more human-face worms with stretching bodies rapidly followed.

… …

At the same time, Chen Jing and the others had hurriedly descended the mountain, pressing on. Amid the abandoned campsites, they quickly found a new vehicle, even picking up several discarded firearms to re-equip.

They wasted no time and rushed to the meeting spot arranged with the Godly Woman.

The once-crowded Happy Town, formerly surrounded by armed forces, now lay empty, allowing them free passage.

In a ruined village overgrown with towering trees, they found the mark left by the Godly Woman.

At this point, partly because communication in the wasteland was far from convenient,

and partly because everyone knew they were up against the Technology Church – any group with ‘Technology’ in its name wielded inexplicable advanced tech –

the Godly Woman resorted to a rather primitive method to leave her messages.

… …

“The Godly Woman said that the frenzy at the gathering points might be linked to a man in priestly attire carrying a silver suitcase.”

The Bear Child, after spotting the signal, told the others, “Once you see the chaos at the gathering points, you know we’re here. So grab the chance to track that Priest, gather the clues he left, and try to surround him.”

Chen Jing paused briefly and then resolved to trust the Godly Woman’s abilities.

“There aren’t many roads into Happy Town. If that man is lingering on the outskirts, there’s only one entrance.”

Glancing at the map, she pointed to a spot and said in a low voice, “We’ll wait for him over there!”

… …

In a small courtyard, the Priest gazed deeply to the north, sensing the chaotic mental radiation emanating from that direction.

“Have the abyssal monsters already emerged?”

His face twisted into a look that was gentle yet laced with biting sarcasm:

“Has Qinggang grown so ambitious since deepening its cooperation with the Research Institute?”

“So they’re just letting the abyssal monsters crawl out with no countermeasures?”

“Heh, then I wish you good luck…”

“……”

With a smile, he nodded toward that direction, then picked up his suitcase.

Striding out the door, he walked along a narrow, grassy path within the village toward Happy Town.

After a few steps, he suddenly turned back.

He saw nothing but an empty, silent village street. Among the overgrown weeds only his footprints remained. The dense trees made the entire village eerily quiet and gloomy, with crumbling walls sending shivers down one’s spine.

The Priest offered a small smile, then turned around and continued walking.

The crunch of dead grass underfoot was the sole sound echoing through the village, imbued with a mysterious quality.

But gradually, the crisp footsteps seemed to lengthen, each sound accompanied by its own eerie echo.

No, it wasn’t an echo – it was someone walking in step right behind him.

Just behind him.

The Priest abruptly turned around, only to see emptiness behind him.

Staring at the desolate village streets, a smile slowly appeared on his face.

“The people of Qinggang are getting bolder…”

It was as if he were addressing an unseen presence, or talking to himself.

Standing still for a moment as if pondering something, he finally gently shook his head with an amused smile.

Then, he pulled out a double-barreled shotgun from beneath his wide coat, casually holding it in one hand while clutching the silver suitcase in the other, and strode out of the village.

Behind him, the rustling of footsteps resumed; they seemed to follow him, yet he remained unfazed.

The sound even carried a hint of laughter as it leisurely echoed through the alleys:

“If your wish is to follow me, then I’ll grant it – follow me.”