Chapter 129 - 129 112 Bonsai Designer Extra update from Alliance Leader Bai Yu Huo Xi

129: Chapter 112: Bonsai Designer (Extra update from Alliance Leader Bai Yu Huo Xi) 129: Chapter 112: Bonsai Designer (Extra update from Alliance Leader Bai Yu Huo Xi) After sorting out the two new abilities, it was now time to decisively deal with the corresponding costs. However, with the addition of the two Scholar series curses, Lu Ping’an had even less free time, which annoyed him. “If this keeps up, how do I handle it later? I’ll spend all day paying off debts.” “…Others don’t get Abnormal Abilities as easily as you. That requires accumulation and inspiration. Forget it, once you reach a certain level, low-level curses and costs won’t be able to bind you, but it’s actually meaningless.” “Huh? If there’s such a good thing, why do you say it’s meaningless?” “If you possess a ‘Decree’, you can resist or even ignore low-level ‘curses,’ just like how you tore off the Aging Curse. But when you have a Decree someday, you will naturally seek more powerful Decree-level Abnormal Abilities. At that time, a new Decree-level self-restraint will emerge.” It seems that only after reaching the fourth-tier can one ignore some low-level curses and costs. Lu Ping’an sighed helplessly, it would indeed only save a little trouble. But in a sense, this was also good news. At least there’s no need to worry about carrying three or four hundred curses on one’s back when reaching the fourth or fifth tier, and having to pay off debts every day… “Why haven’t I heard of this before?” “How many fourth-tier individuals have you seen? Other than me.” Lu Ping’an pondered for a moment and then realized with surprise. “None? Is the fourth-tier really that rare?” ———– “Hello, I’m Guan Xinxian, a 2-tier Gardener, a trainee in the Ancient City Special Disaster Relief Team 3.” The meeting at the entrance to the Secret Realm went smoothly because this person stood out in the crowd with a sign that read “Lu Ping’an, I’m here.” If not for this sign, Lu Ping’an wouldn’t want to recognize him. “You… are you sure your equipment is alright…?” During the college entrance examination battle, Lu Ping’an had seen enough strange outfits, but now looking back, it didn’t matter, he couldn’t even tell the difference. But now, the man’s equipment in front of him… “Clap clap.” Guan Xinxian clapped his hands, the wooden slabs making a clicking sound. He wore something similar to a spacesuit all over his body, a heavy full covering defence, but the quality seemed like a plastic-like soft substance. His arms and lower limbs were wrapped in thick bandages, his waist was adorned with many tools and equipment such as Hook Lock, jack, etc., and the red cross symbol on his right arm was very eye-catching. High-quality protective armour indeed improved the chances of survival, but this man was clearly wearing so much that it was hard to move, which was a bit too much. “Click!” With just a slight movement, his whole body made a cracking sound, there were just too many parts hanging on him. Lu Ping’an casually saw ropes, lifebuoys, life jackets, and even a broken rudder and a large hook in his equipment. “Phew. There’s no problem, it’ll be okay once we’re in there.” The people around involuntarily moved away from him. Although being well-equipped is a good thing, this level of equipment is clearly too much. “Let’s begin!” Someone shouted first, and then the crowd moved. As Lu Ping’an tried to keep up, he was stopped by a “big hand.” “You guys haven’t had lunch yet, right? Let’s eat first and then go. Now is not our time, we’ll probably go in around four or five o’clock.” Lu Ping’an nodded without saying much, and since he was following an old stager, he naturally went along. “…Four or five hours later? By then, the difficulty would have risen, and the water levels would also rise…” This made Lu Ping’an a little anxious. Even with the grasp of two additional Runner Abilities, he still didn’t think that areas with too much water would suit him. Fortunately, as long as he’s careful, it’s not a Secret Realm where death is a possibility, and this was the fundamental reason why Lu Ping’an was willing to come here. “Ah, this senior brother must also be a Gardener. Most Magic Plants don’t work well in water, right…” Lu Ping’an didn’t rush to ask, as he knew that the other party would eventually show it. “Plop!” Heavy footsteps led the way in front, automatically making a path. “Well, I’m not usually like this. It’s just that this suit is too troublesome to put on, so I have no choice…” At a small shop nearby, the once full first floor was now empty, as most of the crowd had already rushed inside the Secret Realm. There, Lu Ping’an met Brother Guan’s two companions. “Yuan Aiqing, a 2-tier sailor.” “I’m Yi Tianyi, a 3-tier gunman.” Both senior brothers were easy to get along with, one from Ancient City University and the other from the School of Political and Law. They were also members of the “Disaster Relief Team” to which Brother Guan belonged, with the third-tier Brother Yi also being a Deputy Captain. So, was this a training and experience exercise among colleagues? As the five of them sat together, the three senior brothers began to discuss their upcoming plans. It was clear that they did not consider Lu Ping’an and Meow as effective combat forces. “… The Secret Realm we’re going into is about the size of an entire city. Once we enter, the situation is already quite bad, so don’t expect to be able to do much or change anything. Our mission is quite clear: it’s our daily work, trying our best to save people…” They also politely exchanged basic abilities without asking too many questions, The lack of expectation and trust for newcomers was not hidden. After all, expecting two first-tier newcomers who have just completed the college entrance exam to play a role in this fourth-tier Secret Realm would be a stretch. For them, it was just two junior brothers and sisters who came to visit and would leave soon after. Lu Ping’an had no objections either. He merely watched silently, trying to understand the working mindset of a regular Secret Keeper. The city was not large, but a population of nearly 300,000 could not be considered a small town either. In the golden age of the 1990s, the industries brought by the river had attracted too many people, but the infrastructure had clearly lagged. In a city of this scale, once the entire city was plunged into disaster, there was much to be done, but little to be changed. The Secret Keepers would enter in teams, forming their own groups according to their abilities to find things to do in order to minimize the occurrence of disasters. But 90% of the professionals would head straight towards the Magic Monsters, and after a brief few hours, they’d vanish. “Don’t be nervous, you two newcomers. We’re not in the same race as most people. There’s generally no competition, which is why I let you follow me. People are always more dangerous than magic beings in Secret Realms. But please remember, if there’s a threat to your life, immediately call out the name of the ‘Redemption Hand’ deity and ask for redemption. You just took the college entrance exam, right? It’s quite similar to the Rust Knight Secret Realm…” While chatting, they had lunch, played a round of poker, with Lu Ping’an winning quite a bit and Meow losing a little (she couldn’t play after losing her ticket money). Then they had dinner at the appointed time, and waited until nightfall before starting to move. Both senior brothers dragged heavy boxes and walked against the frustrated crowd coming out, while Brother Guan was still admonishing them about various things. “There are many types of water-based magic creatures here, from first to third-tier, but on the first day, there are mostly only first-tier ones, so as long as you’re careful, there shouldn’t be a problem…” “Oh right, you’ve definitely played the Knight’s Secret Realm before, but there’s a difference between the trial Secret Realm and the historical Secret Realm. Unlike the ‘robots’ in the Knight’s Secret Realm, the magic creatures inside are quite ‘real’, so you have to be careful dealing with them as they have brains.” “For the first day only, there are two most dangerous creatures among the monsters: one is the green-skinned fishman with fins on their four arms, they have many abilities and are genuine intelligent beings, and the second is the hidden cultists in the crowd. Some people have died from their backstabs…” Brother Guan was very generous in explaining the key points of the Secret Realm for his junior brothers and sisters, but it also concealed a reality. “…Um, he didn’t expect me to stay until the second day at all.” Lu Ping’an smiled and didn’t explain. Since he was here, he was naturally interested in seeing more. As for how long he would watch, it would depend on whether it was interesting or not. He was looking forward more and more, because as such, Brother Guan should demonstrate his abilities soon. “Do you want to buy flowers or eye drops? The cheapest flowers are 30, and the eye drops are only 5 yuan.” At the entrance of the Secret Realm, there were still stalls, but judging by the white Broken Hand mark, it should be a subordinate force of the Church of the Redemption Hand, the owner of the Secret Realm. “Flowers, eye drops?” As Lu Ping’an was still hesitating, the front most Brother Yi had already paid. “Five flowers.” Taking the white flowers that weren’t cheap in this era, and watching what the people in front of him were doing, Lu Ping’an realized. “Turns out, it’s a key…” For some Secret Realms, you don’t need to bring anything to enter; for others, you only need a passphrase. But this time, they needed a flower? “A flower in memory of the victims of the disaster, or some tears, is the entry requirement of this Secret Realm. You don’t need sincerity, but you need to express that you still remember that disaster. You can bring your own flowers, but there’s actually no need. The Redemption Hand is very generous; the quality of this White Lily is not bad.” Lu Ping’an silently nodded, and then, he followed the other senior brothers, put the flower on the river, and watched it sink into the riverbed. Then, in a daze, he returned to that night eleven years ago. The entrance and exit were more than two meters in mid-air. Seeing the flooding below, Lu Ping’an frowned, it seemed that they would get soaking wet as soon as they entered. “Boom!” But the first to land was not any of his companions. A “giant ship,” or rather, a huge log that could be regarded as a ship, appeared on the water. The moment it fell, it floated up again. The empty, massive hull could accommodate at least a dozen cars. What’s even more shocking is that Lu Ping’an not only saw a figurehead and hull number at the front of the wood, nets and a wooden anchor on the side, but also other Magic Plants on board! Most of the ship was open space, with many things laid out. The most eye-catching were a small crane and what seemed to be a harpoon launcher for hunting sharks. There were many open spaces with various goods, including fruit trees, lavender, plants, and animals. Lu Ping’an even saw a nest of seabirds. “Is it alive?” When Life Perception told Lu Ping’an of this reality, he was stunned. “This is the Sumeru Fusu Tree, which has recently been rated as third-tier. My partner, my ark, also my… scenery.” This complete reversal of common sense made Lu Ping’an fully understand why he had to come and see for himself to understand what a “Bonsai Designer” is.