Chapter 343: New Mother

Chapter 343: New Mother

Luo En slowly opened his eyes, feeling the final lingering trace of temporal energy within his consciousness.

The silver pocket watch snapped shut with a soft click, its mechanisms having completely purged the contaminated memory fragment from the Apostle.

During the cleansing process, he had deliberately retained an infinitesimal spiritual thread. This gossamer-thin connection, like an almost-invisible thread in the ocean of his consciousness, maintained the barest perception link to the Puppet Substitute.

"This minimal connection avoids contamination risks while allowing instant severance", he calmly analyzed the decision's pros and cons. "Repeated controlled exposure acts like a vaccine, gradually adapting my spiritual structure to Abyssal Environment's pressures."

This wasn't a baseless theory. Luo En had observed how explorers exposed to low-concentration Abyssal Breath developed greater resistance over time. While prolonged exposure caused dangerous contamination accumulation, moderate exposure strengthened spiritual defenses. With his pocket watch's purification capabilities, he could afford calculated risks.

"The key lies in controlling dosage and intensity", he mused while monitoring the connection's status. "Maintaining surveillance capability without exceeding safety thresholds."

Through this fragile spiritual tether, Luo En perceived the Puppet's surroundings—how the Apostle stored it in the Treasure Vault, and its cautious probing attempts.

A notification chimed at the sealed door. Upon granting access, the panel slid open revealing a nervous young assistant.

"Lalfmage, I'm Sara. I'll be guiding you through C Area's facilities." Her voice trembled from meeting someone of his stature. "If you're available, I'd like to show you around C Area."

"Please, lead the way", Luo En replied politely.

Outside the laboratory, Sara's voice grew more professional. "For regular researchers, strict management protocols apply." She gestured toward rune-inscribed detection devices lining the corridor. "Everyone must undergo mandatory spiritual contamination checks at 8 AM and 6 PM. These instruments precisely measure Abyss factor concentrations in consciousness—exceeding safety thresholds immediately triggers purification chamber activation."

Observing the complex detection arrays, Luo En noted their multi-angle spiritual analysis capabilities.

"Movement restrictions are equally strict", Sara continued. "Researchers require route permits for any area beyond designated zones. Experimental material usage demands triple approval—initial application, safety evaluation, and usage supervision."

She guided him to the work area where an observation window revealed a middle-aged researcher handling Abyss Crystal fragments under intense monitoring. Multiple cameras tracked his every motion while two supervisors stood ready for emergencies.

"Abyss material experiments require mandatory supervision", Sara explained. "Researchers never work alone—all data streams directly to the central database."

This rigid system contrasted sharply with Luo En's special privileges.

"However, you've received Tower Lord and Professor Eutel's special authorization", Sara said, envy creeping into her voice. "You'll have independent laboratory and living quarters, routine exemptions, and direct resource procurement channels—all privileges normally reserved for supervisor-level personnel."

After showing him to his quarters and departing, Luo En began deploying his Mobile Workshop.

"First, release the compressed space seals", he muttered, inspecting the rune nodes on his briefcase-sized containment unit. This spatial folding technology required sufficient stable space for expansion. Activating the first seal layer, the device emitted a faint blue glow. The air itself seemed to stretch as spatial distortions rippled outward.

"Mana output stable, spatial tension normal", he confirmed while unlocking the second seal. The container's volume expanded geometrically, internal mechanisms reconfiguring as compressed equipment unfolded like blooming petals.

The released tree spirit efficiently operated nearby instruments. "Mana Circulation System online, rune arrays stable, environmental shielding optimal."

Establishing the safety system proved most complex—connecting the Workshop's defensive network to the Observatory's main systems while maintaining operational independence.

"You'll have partial control privileges", Luo En explained to Ai Lan while calibrating the interface. "Quarantine protocols activate automatically upon danger detection. The entire Workshop seals within three seconds to prevent contamination spread, though manual vigilance remains crucial."

Completing the Workshop setup, Luo En maintained subconscious surveillance through his spiritual tether.

"Mana flows steadily...", he analyzed the phenomenon. "The Puppet hasn't been destroyed by Abyssal Environment—it's subtly influencing surrounding mana currents."

Ai Lan's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Installation complete—Daire's Crystal Tank positioned. Master's Mobile Workshop fully integrated with Observatory systems."

Luo En nodded, retrieving Franca's Blood Sample for deeper analysis.

...

Night fell, most Observatory zones entering dormant states. Only essential monitoring systems maintained the bio-structure's basic functions.

Within his newly established workshop, Luo En configured a dedicated meditation area using the Observatory's advanced quarantine equipment to create an undisturbed spiritual space.

"Time to plan cultivation progress", he mused, settling onto the Rune Meditation Chair to activate The Murmuring of the Star Devourer for deep cultivation.

His consciousness plunged into the familiar Starsea World. Two illuminated stars—Hermit Star's deep purple radiance representing Insight and Perception, Academic Star's silvery-white glow symbolizing Wisdom—formed a stable mana circuit enhancing his cognitive abilities.

Calculating his cultivation status, Luo En noted, "Activating the final stage requires lighting Observer Star—the pinnacle of Wisdom Constellation, aloof and omniscient like an all-seeing eye."

Unlike the gentler Hermit and Academic Stars, Observer Star radiated dangerous unpredictability. Activating this final constellation marker would complete his celestial cultivation framework.

Initiating Astrology techniques, he meticulously analyzed Observer Star's position and energy signature.

"The risks involved are also greater, requiring extremely careful handling."

While establishing the connected link, Luo En encountered intense resistance.

An incomprehensible will was scrutinizing him—an experience like being pierced by countless pairs of eyes simultaneously.

Under this piercing gaze, he felt every secret laid bare, every weakness exposed.

"Based on my current cultivation speed, it’ll still take considerable time to complete the activation process."

He calculated meticulously in his mind:

"As for meeting the Moonlight Rank standards in other areas, that’ll also require time to accumulate. Though it should progress slightly faster than refining the meditation technique."

The Moonlight Rank mage criteria weren’t merely about power enhancement—they demanded qualitative leaps across multiple aspects:

First requirement—composite spell circuit.

This required integrating the "spiritual energy diversion" technique into daily spellcasting.

When casting a primary spell, excess spiritual energy had to automatically divert into auxiliary spells, forming a mutually reinforcing mana network.

Thanks to Eve’s continuous instruction and the advanced Microstructural Modification trait’s enhancement, he was only a single step away from achieving this objective.

Second requirement—the Spirit Oscillation Grid.

This was an advanced application of the Spirit Burst, upgrading the spiritual attack capability from single-impact to multi-layered grid attacks.

Luo En had already begun practicing multi-burst techniques since the Time Hound incident.

Additionally, observing Clock King Erika’s historical projection provided an ideal reference.

Now, the fundamental requirement for advancing to Moonlight Rank—Dual Quake Burst—was within reach.

The only truly challenging aspect was the radiation field control matrix.

A Moonlight Rank mage’s radiation field wasn’t a mere overflow of mana—it was a multi-layered, multifunctional control system capable of dividing the radiation field into specialized functional layers as needed.

Using the Field Separation & Fusion technique, the radiation field needed to expand and contract like breathing, seamlessly shifting between different ranges and intensities.

This was painstaking progress requiring time and patience. For now, he could only rely on gradual cultivation.

"According to these standards, I need to formulate a detailed plan for breaking through to Moonlight Rank."

Luo En began constructing a specific cultivation strategy in his mind:

"Progress on The Murmuring of the Star Devourer can be accelerated through the Stargazing Ritual.

As for spell and radiation field control, my current idea is to use the simulation device to create Abyss-like environments for intensified training..."

Furthermore, deep cultivation of the meditation technique might bring more severe aberration risks.

He recalled Madame Ellen’s warning about the true danger of The Murmuring of the Star Devourer:

Each deep connection with the constellations would impose deeper influence upon him.

"I must find a way to establish a more complete self-protection mechanism."

This balance would be his greatest challenge on the cultivation path ahead.

"One year. Break through to Moonlight Rank."

Luo En set a clear objective for himself:

"All other research exists primarily to assist rapid mage-tier breakthroughs. Once I achieve that, the mage-tier advancement can reciprocally accelerate progress in other research areas. I must create a complete growth cycle."

When he ended his meditation, the faint thread connecting to the Puppet suddenly transmitted an abnormal fluctuation.

This time, the sensation was clearer—seemingly the Puppet undergoing some "feeding" process.

"As I intentionally guided earlier, that Apostle should have begun attempting deeper connection with the Puppet."

Luo En recorded this discovery mentally:

"This interaction is progressing far faster than I anticipated. It appears they can’t wait any longer..."

Deep within the Darkless Sea of the Fifth Layer of the Abyss, the Abyssal Eye Na Rui was experiencing the most exhilarating moment of her existence.

With her finest tentacles, she delicately caressed the Puppet’s surface like a mother’s gentle touch upon an infant.

This contact carried unprecedented tenderness, a stark contrast to Na Rui’s usual rampages.

"What a wondrous texture..."

Na Rui’s massive eye brimmed with curiosity.

The tentacles’ tips housed extremely sensitive perception organs, capable of detecting the most minute transformation:

"Not like ordinary wood, nor metal or stone... more like some... living substance?"

The Puppet’s "skin" displayed a lustrous texture, its surface covered in extremely fine texture.

Under Na Rui’s meticulous observation, these textures slowly flowed like a living vascular system.

More astonishingly, the Puppet was actively absorbing the high-density radiation mana unconsciously leaking from Na Rui.

The previously chaotic and unordered Abyss Factor would automatically arrange into neat helical structures upon contacting the Puppet, then be slowly absorbed inward.

"Truly... an Abyss treasure..."

Na Rui’s voice trembled with disbelief:

"I’ve never witnessed such a phenomenon... is it purifying the contamination radiation around me?"

In her long existence, she’d seen countless creatures utterly eroded by her unconscious Apostle power.

Whether powerful mages or fragile commoners, all would suffer uncontrollable mutations upon contact.

Yet this Puppet not only resisted erosion—it was altering the very nature of Abyss mana itself.

Something even more miraculous occurred.

When the Puppet absorbed sufficient Abyss mana, it began emitting a special fluctuation Na Rui had never perceived.

This fluctuation felt like a gentle spring breeze, soothing Na Rui’s chaotic consciousness.

Under this power’s influence, Na Rui experienced the first complete Boon she’d ever known.

"This... this feeling..."

Na Rui’s voice trembled. One of her secondary consciousness nodes stabilized through this nourishment.

Chaos and pain temporarily receded, replaced by unprecedented tranquility.

"Peace... serenity... is this what other Apostles call reciprocal nourishment?"

Black liquid flowed from her massive eye—tears of excitement and gratitude.

After millennia of lonely waiting, she had finally found her potential "child."

This realization sent the monstrous figure rolling joyously within the Treasure Vault.

Her colossal body moved like a mother dolphin in heat, gliding through the space.

Countless tentacles waved wildly through the air, the wall-mounted eyes rotating in response.

The entire Treasure Vault resonated with this celebratory atmosphere.

"My treasure... my most precious treasure..."

Na Rui whispered in the gentlest voice, her tone like a new mother cradling an infant:

"You’ve finally come... I’ve waited so long..."

She began devising meticulous "nurturing plans", flustered yet filled with anticipation like a new mother.

"You must be hungry... I have plenty of delicious food in my stores..."

Na Rui began rummaging through her collection, seeking the most suitable "food" for the Puppet.

"This is too hard... this too sour... this too bitter..."

To provide the best environment, Na Rui rearranged her Treasure Vault.

She moved her most precious treasures to locations nearest the Puppet.

Including that still-beating heart and those luminous soul fragments.

"These are my most beautiful treasures—now they all belong to you."

Na Rui carefully adjusted the mana flow within the Treasure Vault, creating the ideal "growth environment" for the Puppet.

She wove her tentacles into a soft nest, lined with the finest Brain Jellyfish King membranes.

These membranes weren’t just comfortable—they could regulate surrounding mana concentration.

"Now you’ll be comfortable..."

Na Rui circled the Puppet, her massive eye radiating pure affection:

"This will be your home from now on. I’ll protect you, care for you, give you the best in life..."

Though grotesque in appearance, the Apostle Na Rui now embodied a pure, primal maternal instinct.

That protective impulse toward offspring, that anticipation for growth, that yearning for the future—all were perfectly reflected in this ancient monster’s behavior.

She began planning more detailed Stewardship strategies to ensure her "child" could grow healthily and happily.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end