Reverse flow of the Yellow Springs

Chapter 27 Advancement, Second Awakening!

When it got completely dark, Xinghuo was taken away for psychological counseling to prevent her from developing any psychological trauma.

A significant portion of the investigators are dedicated to investigating the cause of this out-of-control incident.

Mada is a second-level psychic and has been a processor for several years, making him quite experienced.

There are no so-called 'inner demons' in normal times, nor have they reached the point where they need to advance.

But it suddenly twisted during an operation.

While expressing their grief, the authorities also remain extremely vigilant.

Teams of investigators with various tracking and investigative skills rushed to the scene, hoping to find the real culprit from the smallest clues.

If someone were to look down from high above the giant city, they would see a large number of figures moving through the air at speeds that are difficult for ordinary people to comprehend in the darkness.

Meanwhile, the three wild psionicists captured during the logistics team's "team building" activity are also under strict surveillance and interrogation by the authorities.

They were wild psionicists from different districts, yet they were able to pinpoint each other's location within the giant city, banding together and risking everything to attempt a surprise attack on a processor.

Clearly, someone is connected to them, and the authorities must trace this connection to find the person responsible and proactively eliminate the risks to the megacity.

Based on current intelligence, the opponent's abilities are very strange.

It is said that they have some kind of mysterious communication channel.

They can communicate without any time lag, and even directly contact fellow psionicists in several major cities.

People will trade or issue tasks there, and those who complete them will receive potion materials or psionic weapons.

After each 'contact,' the item would be delivered to the other party through some unknown channel.

This allowed them to remain deeply hidden, making it difficult for even the major cities to eradicate them, even if they became aware of it.

The mysterious organization of unknown origin and the sudden distortion of the processors created an oppressive atmosphere, making the higher-ups in the processing department somewhat serious.

Neither of them should be underestimated; we must be vigilant and careful.

At this moment, a message was relayed to headquarters.

"Night General...that young man with the mimicking Tyrant's face? He's about to be promoted?" An elderly man with white hair exclaimed in astonishment, "So fast? How long has he been in the processing department?"

"It's been about a month in total," an elderly woman replied. "After all, we've been through many battles, even shattering forbidden objects and facing ghost immortals of unknown levels. I thought it would take another month, but it's happened so quickly. I guess there's been a shift in our mindset, allowing the Well of Souls to extend."

"Very well. Although we don't know what's behind him, it seems that he has no hostility towards humans." The old man said, "If we can catch a glimpse of that being while Ye Jiang is breaking through, that would be even better."

"At the time, we only detected the disappearance of the ghost immortal's aura; we didn't see the figure of that being. What a pity."

On the other side, Li Yelai sensed the changes in his Well of Souls and, after confirming that his mindset had undergone some kind of shift,...

His well of souls began to extend, continuing its expansion into the realm of illusion.

This is a sign that I am about to awaken again.

So he casually said, "I'm getting a promotion."

He became the fastest-promoted processor among the dozen or so new recruits in the four branches of the third border city.

If Li Yunyan were here, she would probably shout something.

'Today I have entered the realm of terrestrial immortals!'

Just to be on the safe side, Cheese subtly changed his expression and said softly, "Congratulations."

He quickly pulled Li Yelai into the car and immediately notified Yang Chen.

When the two arrived at the branch, Yang Chen was already waiting at the door.

Yang Chen didn't seem surprised by Li Yelai's rapid advancement. After watching Li Yelai for a while, he nodded and said, "You are indeed about to advance. This is your first advancement. Before you successfully advance, you must be careful of the power infiltration in the Void Realm and the possible interference from Void Realm creatures. Cheese, the other teammates, and I will protect you."

The promotion ceremony is dangerous, especially during the promotion process. If you encounter interference from Void Realm creatures, it's practically a matter of life and death.

Because, besides some bloody and evil ritual, there is another way for beings from the virtual realm to enter the physical world: by possessing the body of a psionicist!

For creatures of the virtual realm, a perfectly fitting body is an irresistible temptation.

Several cases can be found in the processing department's forum.

It is said that a creature from the Void Realm with remarkable intelligence, upon discovering a body that perfectly suited its own, launched an attack on a certain psychic.

After several failures, he turned his attention to the children and descendants of psionicists.

They relentlessly interfered, attempting to seize a body.

This results in a high probability of psychics in this family going out of control.

And since the creatures of the Void Realm are indestructible, killing their physical bodies only banishes them back to the Void Realm.

It has become a nightmare for that family.

This is what makes the creatures of the virtual realm so troublesome.

Of course, low-awakening psychics are generally unable to attract the attention of Void Realm creatures, and it is a low-probability problem for someone at Li Yelai's level to encounter a Void Realm creature.

"If I'm really unlucky and actually encounter a creature from the Void Realm, what should I do?" Li Yelai considered his own luck and felt that it wasn't impossible to run into a creature from the Void Realm.

“After a psionicist opens up their Soul Well, they will actually leave their own projection in the Void Realm through the Soul Well.” Yang Chen led Li Yelai and Cheese into the branch and explained, “The more times you awaken, the larger the projection you leave in the Void Realm will be.”

“I understand. My projection is still too small right now; the creatures in the virtual realm generally can't detect me. After I awaken multiple times and the projection grows larger, they will naturally be able to sense me.” Li Yelai nodded. “But I’m really unlucky. What if I actually get caught?”

"Don't say such unlucky things." Cheese frowned and gave Li Yelai's shin a light kick, somewhat annoyed.

“However, it’s normal for you to have such concerns,” Yang Chen comforted him. “When you advance, we will also be watching you from within our Soul Well. If a Void Realm creature discovers you and attacks you while you are only at the Second Awakening stage, it probably won’t be a powerful Void Realm creature. We can scare it away or delay it until your advancement is complete.”

"No wonder you need to look after them; they're like guardians from fantasy novels," Li Yelai mused.

"So, with us here, your main concern should be the influence of the illusory realm on you." Yang Chen's expression turned serious. "Based on our analysis, it might be the rules of the illusory realm, or it might be guiding you into a bloodthirsty desire, turning you into a demon. Or it might be guiding you to unleash your own desires, or it might be enticing you to pursue some untouchable, mysterious knowledge."

Li Yelai had heard this argument many times, but he still didn't quite understand the danger.

Is it a direct change in personality?

“Yes, once you’re affected, you’re no longer yourself. And you’re completely unaware of it,” Yang Chen said in a deep voice. “For example, the gluttons I’ve dealt with before.”

"He was originally a family-loving man, but the Church of the Embers led him to become a psionicist, which caused him to become twisted. In order to suppress the insatiable hunger, he eventually turned against his wife and children."

"There was also a prominent figure in academia who was seduced during his promotion and gained some kind of mysterious knowledge. In pursuit of this knowledge and the so-called truth, he conducted human experiments on his own daughter and students, resulting in a tragic outcome."

"It turned a man who was willing to die for his family into a cannibalistic monster that devoured them. It turned a kind scholar into this fanatical monster. This is the influence of the power of the Void Realm."

Li Yelai listened with a pounding heart: "The Ember Church has truly committed countless evil deeds!"

At the same time, Li Yelai was also glad that he had chosen to join the official team.

If I were a wild psionicist and went out of control without being dealt with immediately, who knows what would happen to my sister? Eaten? Sacrificed?

Li Yelai couldn't believe he had done such a thing, but this was the distorting power of the Void Realm.

Before they were twisted, those psionicists wouldn't have believed they would do those things.

However, perhaps 'Mr. Shadow' won't allow himself to be easily distorted by the illusory realm?

It's hard to say; perhaps 'Mr. Shadow' just wants to distort himself.

We still know too little about Him; we need to find an opportunity to get some information out of Him.

Li Yelai then asked, "As a psionicist of the Myriad Paths, do I need to take a magic potion for my second awakening?"

Without using precise potions, a psionicist's abilities are acquired randomly upon advancement.

random!

Therefore, even if psionicists of the same level follow the same path, their strength can vary drastically.

Some of the handlers have extremely strong offensive capabilities.

Like a spark, once a psionicist, it possesses immense destructive power, becoming a human flamethrower. Other psionicists on the same path may have auxiliary abilities such as water perception or electromagnetic interference.

Newcomers on the same path, yet their combat power is vastly different. Isn't that infuriating?
To avoid this situation, psionicists need to take potions.

Like cheese, the first two awakenings were auxiliary abilities, and it was only in the third awakening that it used a magic potion to gain offensive abilities, namely Word Power.

Because she dared not risk looking at his face, she could only spend merit points to buy potions.

"No. Our processing department doesn't have the potion for the second awakening of the Myriad Manifestations Path." Yang Chen shook his head regretfully. "We only possess the potions for the second awakening of the Divine Control Path and the Netherworld Path. We don't have any for the other paths. Perhaps some long-established psychic families have them."

"For the third or fourth awakening of the Myriad Paths, I can arrange potions for you, and I've even prepared some materials for you. But there's really no way to help you with the second awakening."

Yang Chen's previous confrontation with the captain of the Furnace was actually to obtain a relatively rare material.

It can be used in the third or fourth awakening, which can be considered as laying the foundation for Li Yelai's subsequent awakening.

"The champion captain is so biased!"

"That's it!"

"That's not fair of the captain!"

The team members present immediately started pointing and whispering about Yang Chen.

Yang Chen grinned and scolded, "Which of you hasn't been helped by me before!"

In fact, Yang Chen did put a lot of effort into helping Li Yelai. He even intentionally put him under greater responsibility.

But this time, Li Ye can only judge for himself.

Li Yelai nodded gratefully to Yang Chen: "Thank you, Captain, but this time... although it's said to be based on looks, I'm still on my second awakening. There should be some general range, right?"

“The language of beasts in the virtual realm, or the ability to mimic certain animals. Even rarer is the ability to mimic the characteristics of a certain extraordinary creature. All things, all things, all things in the universe,” Yang Chen pondered. “Do you remember Captain Furnace? He, like you, is on the path of all things. His second awakening was when he obtained the mimicry scythe.”

The sickle is a small, gregarious, supernatural creature.

It has sharp teeth and claws, and a dorsal fin as sharp as a blade on its back. Once it starts rolling, it transforms into a dangerous circle of blades.

These extraordinary creatures live in the Calamity Forbidden Zone, the Doomsday Forest. They are the native inhabitants of this place.

A single sickle might be low on the food chain, but when their numbers increase, thousands of sickles spinning their blades simultaneously can even hunt down colossal beasts.

Captain Forge acquired the ability to mimic such creatures.

The limbs can transform into weapons at any time, greatly enhancing melee combat capabilities.

There's not even a need to prepare psionic weapons.

After thinking for a moment, Li Yelai nodded: "I understand. In the end, it still depends on luck. What should I do now?"

"Sit still, meditate, until you feel you can pass through, then cross the Well of Souls. When your consciousness reaches the Void Realm, you have succeeded. Be careful during the process!" Yang Chen led Li Yelai and the others into a small room in the branch office filled with observation windows.

The room was small, but it was filled with all sorts of instruments that Li Yelai didn't recognize.

Most of these are instruments designed to stabilize the user's state.

This also allows the outside world to know for sure Li Yelai's physical condition.

"We'll stay in the outer room to protect you." After Yang Chen helped Li Yelai sit in the machine, he left the room.

It appeared in the testing room outside the building.

"How long does it take to advance?" Li Yelai asked them, sitting on the middle recliner.

“Anything is possible.” Yang Chen’s voice came through the communicator on the wall of the room: “Some people finish in two minutes, while others may take several days. We will keep an eye on you during this time.”

"Don't be nervous, don't respond to those calls, and don't be fooled by illusions," Cheese reminded her again.

Just then, Cheese noticed that a frog doll had appeared in the observation room at some point.

She was also holding up an advertising sign.

[Come on, don't be nervous, I'm here for you ψ(*｀ー)ψ]
'Even the dolls are here to guard him? When did this kid become so familiar with dolls?'

Cheese thought to herself, not paying any attention, and continued to look at Li Yelai, just in case something unexpected happened.

Inside the room, Li Yelai closed his eyes and entered a meditative state.

Soon, his consciousness saw his own Well of Souls.

It was a passageway projecting a dazzling starry sky, while one's consciousness resided in a misty space beneath the passageway.

Once you pass through this well, you can reach the starry sky and successfully advance to the next level.

Li Yelai thought to himself as he tried to cross the passage.

As soon as I entered the passage, I was immediately surrounded by a lot of noise.

Then, a series of images appeared before my eyes.

Li Yelai saw himself sitting on a magnificent golden throne, with countless figures kneeling before him. It was as if he could wield supreme power with a single command.

'This is ridiculous. Even in my wildest dreams, there wouldn't be a scene like this,' Li Yelai thought to himself.

Then came countless treasures of gold and silver, seemingly enough to obtain anything simply by speaking.

'Wow, this looks so fake!' Li Yelai thought to himself as he continued forward.

Then, she saw one beautiful girl after another, dressed provocatively, giving her alluring smiles.

It seemed as if they would undress and take off their clothes if I just beckoned with my finger.

Li Yelai even saw cheese and dolls among them, as well as heavy cavalry and shadow streamers, and many girls he had only met once before.

'That's really shameless. I haven't even been subjected to torture, how did I fall for a honey trap?' Li Yelai continued forward.

Then, the screen disappeared, but he heard a voice.

"Your father cruelly abandoned you, causing your mother to die of illness, leaving you and your sister to depend on each other for survival. Don't you want to know where he is and what his fate is?" The voice was deep and elegant: "Look back, and you will see the answer."

Li Yelai paused, and he really had an urge to turn around and see where that bastard was now.

But reason stopped him from acting impulsively, and he continued forward.

He was already close to the exit of the Well of Souls.

As he passed through the Well of Souls, he saw the starry sky. A powerful force surged into his body.

He also saw Yang Chen, Zhishi, and the dolls, who were all overjoyed.

Li Yelai smiled and suddenly made a sign.

"Want to go eat?"

Everyone was puzzled. The advertisement for the dolls also displayed words: "[What's going on? What does it mean?]"
Everyone looked at Li Yelai with puzzled expressions.

Li Yelai sighed, "How insidious! They even resort to this!"

He knew that the doll had learned sign language before it could type on the billboard.

If this doll can't use sign language, then it's fake.

It's all fake!

So Li Yelai took another step forward.

In a daze, he heard 'Mr. Shadow's' laughter.

Then, all the illusions disappeared, and the real virtual starry sky appeared.

A surge of power rapidly entered Li Yelai's body, making his physical body and spiritual energy even stronger.

Li Yelai successfully advanced. Second Awakening!

(End of this chapter)