Chapter 25: Nightingale’s Hope (IX)

The dim room was deathly silent, with only the red warning light on the wall flickering eerily.

Faint sounds of machinery operated all around, but they did not mask the low, cold conversation.

"Nightingale, you have disappointed me too much." A hoarse voice echoed in the air, its tone filled with unquestionable authority.

Nightingale knelt on the ground, her brows slightly furrowed, but her tone remained respectful:

"Master, I underestimated his abilities. But please rest assured, next time I will definitely bring him back."

In the darkness, a blurred figure slowly approached, its voice as biting as a cold wind:

"It is not just about bringing him back! This human has tremendous research value for us; his Physique, technology, and even his thoughts are all Breakthroughs.

You know that our plan has reached a critical stage, and there cannot be any more mistakes!"

Nightingale lowered her head slightly: "Yes, I will gather forces as soon as possible, please give me one more chance."

The dark shadow coldly interrupted: "Now is not the time for action. Your recklessness last time has already alerted the Ningguta Authorities, and they are investigating. Any further suspicious activity could bring trouble upon ourselves."

Nightingale's brows furrowed deeper: "Then are we just going to sit here and wait for death?"

The dark shadow's tone grew even colder: "Wait until this period of scrutiny passes first. Remember, Ningguta is not an ordinary power; their existence is far more complex and terrifying than you imagine."

Nightingale suppressed the dissatisfaction in her heart and replied in a low voice: "Yes, I understand, Master."

The dark shadow was silent for a moment, seemingly satisfied with her attitude: "Do not let me see failure again."

As soon as the voice fell, the dark shadow dissipated into the air like a wisp of black smoke, leaving only the coldness and silence in the room.

Nightingale slowly stood up, a trace of contempt shining through her cold gaze.

A mocking smile curled at the corners of her lips, and she murmured: "Failure? Master, you are truly overestimating yourself."

She turned and walked into the depths of the room, the red light reflecting on her face, making her appear even more bewitching and dangerous.

Lin Fan returned to the third-floor private area and saw that the three of them had already fallen asleep.

Although Princess Jin Xuan had previously instructed him to wake them up when he returned, Lin Fan did not intend to do so.

He stood by the door and said softly: "Rest well."

Just as he was about to turn and leave, Yin Miaoxue's voice came from inside the room: "Young Master, are you back?"

Lin Fan was slightly stunned and looked in the direction of the voice.

Yin Miaoxue was leaning by the window, the morning light spilling onto her through the window gauze; her white silk nightgown was as thin as smoke, exuding a charming aura.

Lin Fan couldn't help but be stunned, then asked softly: "Xiao Xue, are you not sleeping?"

Yin Miaoxue slowly turned around, her stunningly beautiful face carrying a touch of tranquility, yet also hiding a hint of solemnity: "I am not sleeping; I have been waiting for you."

Lin Fan frowned slightly: "Waiting for me? Is there something wrong?"

Yin Miaoxue nodded gently, her tone filled with a hint of urgency: "Young Master, I would like to ask you to help me perform a Soul Awakening. I faintly feel that an unknown danger is approaching.

Even though we have mechs, this level of power is likely insufficient to cope with it."

Hearing this, Lin Fan's expression became solemn. He walked up to Yin Miaoxue and met her gaze:

"You feel it too? My heart has also been very uneasy lately. Although everything is progressing as expected, there is always a sense of oppression that keeps me awake at night."

A trace of worry appeared in Yin Miaoxue's eyes, but her tone remained firm: "Young Master, I do not want to wait passively anymore.

In order to better face the unknown, I must awaken the power of my Soul."

Lin Fan shook his head, his tone filled with unquestionable determination: "No, Soul Awakening is extremely dangerous.

This place does not allow us to have cultivation; once you awaken, your existence will be regarded as an anomaly by the world's rules and directly erased!"

Yin Miaoxue was not deterred by Lin Fan's opposition; instead, she stepped forward and said earnestly:

"Young Master, I know the risks, but we cannot rely solely on the power before us.

If that danger really descends, we might not even have a chance to struggle. Please believe in me; I am prepared."

Lin Fan was silent for a moment, his brows tightly locked, his thoughts churning.

He understood that what Yin Miaoxue said made sense, but the consequences of Soul Awakening made it impossible for him to agree easily.

He looked at the cold and beautiful woman before him, his heart falling into a struggle.

"Xiao Xue," Lin Fan said in a low voice, "I know your intentions, but Soul Awakening is too dangerous; we cannot risk it based on passion alone."

Yin Miaoxue slowly stepped forward, standing in front of Lin Fan, a hint of stubbornness appearing on her stunningly beautiful face:

"Young Master, I am not being willful. It is just that the feeling these past few days has become stronger and stronger; something is approaching, even pressing down on me so hard I cannot breathe.

If I do not undergo a Breakthrough, I fear I will not even have a chance to protect myself."

Lin Fan lowered his head to ponder, and after a moment, he looked up into her eyes:

"I understand the sense of danger you speak of, and I feel the same. But in this plane of Earth, Soul Awakening is equivalent to actively provoking the world's rules.

Do you know what that means? Even if there is the slightest mistake, your Soul will be directly annihilated!"

Yin Miaoxue's gaze flickered slightly, but she did not retreat: "I am willing to take the risk. Young Master, if we just wait passively, we will not even have the chance to choose."

Lin Fan was silent. He knew that what Yin Miaoxue said was a fact; although the current situation seemed calm, undercurrents were surging, and he could feel that he was always placed within an invisible giant net.

And was Yin Miaoxue's persistence not also a gamble on the future?

"Alright." Lin Fan finally sighed, "Since you have already decided, I will help you. But you must promise me that once you feel something is wrong, you will stop immediately; you must not force it!"

Yin Miaoxue's lips slightly raised into a smile; that beauty which carried tenderness within its coldness caused a stir in Lin Fan's heart:

"I promise you, Young Master."

"Wait a moment first," Lin Fan closed his eyes and called out to Xiao Du in his Sea of Consciousness: "Xiao Du, how can one safely perform a Soul Awakening in the Earth plane?"

Xiao Du's voice immediately rang out, carrying its familiar teasing tone: "Finally willing to ask your invincible System for help? Can't hold on with just your memories of a hundred lifetimes, huh!"

A few black lines appeared on Lin Fan's forehead: "Are you going to say it or not? If you don't, you won't get a share when I have merit points in the future!"

Xiao Du chuckled twice: "Hehe, getting impatient already? The world's rules are essentially an extension of the Heavenly Dao of the Tianji Pavilion.

You just need to take out the heavenly dao divine weapon and perform the Soul Awakening within the weapon's range; then you can be protected by the world's rules. Naturally, you will be able to safely perform the Soul Awakening."

Lin Fan frowned, his tone revealing a hint of irritation: "But I have no cultivation, I cannot take things out of my Purple Mansion, and I cannot get the heavenly dao divine weapon."

Xiao Du laughed triumphantly: "Haha, this System had already thought of this for you! I have already taken the heavenly dao divine weapon out of your Purple Mansion for you in advance, and it is now in the System space!"

Lin Fan immediately breathed a sigh of relief and revealed a grateful smile: "You have really been a huge help this time."

He opened his eyes and looked at Yin Miaoxue with a gentle gaze: "Xiao Xue, come with me."

Lin Fan brought Yin Miaoxue back to his room and took the heavenly dao divine weapon out from the System space.

This was a silver spear, its shaft like a flowing galaxy, surrounded by leaping silver arcs of electricity, emitting a vast and majestic aura.

As soon as the heavenly dao divine weapon appeared, the atmosphere of the entire room became solemn, as if shrouded by an invisible rule.

Yin Miaoxue looked at the heavenly dao divine weapon, a trace of surprise flashing in her cold eyes: "Is this the heavenly dao divine weapon? Truly extraordinary…"

Lin Fan nodded and said softly: "With it, I have full confidence in your Soul Awakening."

Yin Miaoxue took a deep breath, firmness appearing between her brows: "Then let us begin, Young Master."