CHAPTER 428: CHAPTER 428: NO CAUSE FOR CONCERN

A small glimmer that poured out from the gourd circled around Fang Zhou’s fingertips, like a firefly with a life of its own.

The Night Mouse glanced over and explained, "This is Soul Power, also the reason those monsters can still move. Absorbing it can enhance your strength, but too much of it can have serious effects on your body, so I advise you not to touch it lightly."

Fang Zhou could only reabsorb the glimmer back into the gourd. Since it’s a form of energy, keeping it might prove useful in the future, and it’s not taking up any space anyway.

With nothing else to do, Fang Zhou looked through all the books on the Night Mouse’s bookshelf, only to find that they were written in a language he couldn’t understand. The books were also very fragile, with cracks appearing after a slight pinch.

The Night Mouse said softly, "Be careful. These are the few books I’ve found in Lorric City after many years. They could be considered the only books left by this ruined civilization."

Lorric City is the name of the city at the foot of Black Soul Mountain. The city on the mountainside is called Fran Fortress, and the city at the peak is the Ancient Dragon’s Peak.

According to the explanation from the Night Mouse, these cities were not originally built in Black Soul Mountain but were relocated here before the apocalypse.

As for why the Night Mouse knows this history, even he has forgotten the reason.

Fang Zhou could only put the books back and continue discussing the history of this world with the Night Mouse.

"If you want to read a book, read this one."

The Night Mouse pulled out a book from below the bookshelf and handed it to Fang Zhou, "I wrote this when I had nothing else to do. I initially thought to record things down because I was afraid of forgetting everything. There are many things recorded in it that I’ve already forgotten. You’d be better off reading this than asking me."

Fang Zhou took the book and began reading. He found that it was written in two languages: one from this world and another from the outside world.

Starting from the beginning, Fang Zhou read through it until he finished, by which time it was already night outside.

This book carried the Night Mouse’s memories, scattered without any particular order. It appeared he wrote whatever came to mind.

There was very little about the Night Mouse’s personal affairs, with most of the content being historical records of this world.

After reading, Fang Zhou had sketched out a rough picture in his mind—an apocalypse arrived, and only the Fire of Hope could save humanity. The sages transferred the Fire of Hope and the remaining cities to Black Soul Mountain, intending to use the Black Soul King as fuel for the fire to survive the apocalypse. However, the Black Soul King was unwilling to sacrifice his life for humanity, leading to a war between the two sides. The end result was the Black Soul King’s death, but the Fire of Hope also extinguished, marking the arrival of the apocalypse and the destruction of the world.

The Night Mouse also recorded in the book about other outsiders he’d encountered before. Some came in for training, others stumbled in by accident, but most didn’t meet a great end.

"Finished?"

The Night Mouse asked softly.

Fang Zhou nodded and returned the book, complimenting, "It’s a good book."

The Night Mouse showed a stiff smile, putting the book back on the shelf, "Let’s go. It’s time to set out."

Fang Zhou noted that it was indeed deep into the night and nodded.

The Night Mouse donned his black cloak again, concealing his aura and realm, making him appear like a lifeless object at first glance.

The Night Mouse had explained to Fang Zhou that his black cloak was called the Clothes of the Dead, and once worn, he appeared as a peer among monsters’ eyes and wouldn’t be attacked.

Fang Zhou yearned for one too, but unfortunately, the Night Mouse said all the others were destroyed, leaving only his.

Fang Zhou touched the Clothes of the Dead, finding it supple to the touch, "If I wore this and you carried me, would we both avoid being attacked by monsters?"

Night Mouse: ...

"Haha, just kidding."

The two left the attic and stepped into the outside world.

The night sky wasn’t entirely pitch black, instead displaying a deep gray with no clouds, stars, or moon, but vast and terrifyingly empty.

The entire Lorric City was shrouded in a grayish hue, the color of death, devoid of vitality.

Numerous monsters wandered through the city, though there were far fewer than during the daytime.

Fang Zhou and the Night Mouse could see as clearly at night as in daytime, naturally unaffected by the time of day.

Fang Zhou wanted to try flying but was stopped by the Night Mouse, "Don’t fly around. At night, those eyes are more sensitive. Any flying objects could become their target, and you should conserve your True Qi; don’t absorb the magic of this world."

"Magic?"

"It’s Spiritual Energy. This world calls it magic. Haven’t you noticed the ominous air pervading the atmosphere?"

Fang Zhou nodded. He had noticed the issue with the air as soon as he entered this world.

For safety reasons, he had always refrained from opening apertures to absorb Spiritual Energy, which seemed to have been the right decision.

The Night Mouse exhibited a stiff smile, "After this world withered, the Spiritual Energy got tainted with a deathly aura. Absorbing too much can affect your lifespan and foundation. I’ve grown accustomed to this for survival, but you mustn’t be like me."

Fang Zhou was startled, "Then if my True Qi runs out, wouldn’t it be impossible to replenish?"

The Night Mouse nodded, "Correct, so conserve as much as you can."

Fang Zhou bore the Night Mouse’s advice in mind but was not overly worried.

To deal with situations where he couldn’t absorb Spiritual Energy, he had previously filled the gourd space with air.

There was no Spiritual Energy in the gourd space initially, but after Fang Zhou infused it with a large amount of air, the Spiritual Energy content became quite high.

If Fang Zhou’s Innate True Qi ran out, he would only need to enter the gourd space to recover.

Moreover, he had prepared a large quantity of elixirs for recovering Spiritual Energy inside the space.

Chang Kong had previously mentioned going to a very dangerous place for at least a month, prompting Fang Zhou to start stockpiling supplies. To be safe, he stored several years’ worth.

For the duration of a month, using it freely would not exhaust his supply, so Fang Zhou had no concerns about his Spiritual Energy reserves.

The Night Mouse assumed Fang Zhou had heeded his advice, feeling quite gratified.

He led Fang Zhou down a familiar path, headed towards the Abyssal Cathedral.

There were far fewer roaming monsters than during the day, but the Night Mouse remained vigilant, avoiding them when possible, and personally diverting any that they couldn’t sidestep.

He adamantly refused to let Fang Zhou take action to clear them, reasoning that doing so would cause too much disturbance, potentially attracting fearsome monsters.

Fang Zhou naturally enjoyed the respite, as he wasn’t the type to despise evil and confront monsters viciously at every encounter.

If Fang Zhou were finding his way alone, he would have long been lost in this vast and intricate city.

The Night Mouse, having lived here for an indeterminate number of years, never once hesitated while leading, as if he could find his way blindfolded.

While Fang Zhou was inwardly grateful for discovering a guide, he suddenly spotted a figure emerging up ahead, rushing swiftly towards them.

"There are more people?"