Dashing Student Chapter 1418 1418: Signs Begin to Emerge

The innocent words uttered by the child evoked a sense of melancholy within Chen Nan.

Inhabitants of the lowest levels of the Heavenly Cutting Abyss were born into an eternal night, confined within this desolate prison, their lives more akin to incarceration.

They held the conviction that the heavens were inherently dark and that their world had always been this confined.

Witnessing the longing reflected in the children's eyes, Chen Nan did his utmost to paint vivid pictures of the world beyond for them.

Not far off, the Divine Calculator was engaged in a drinking contest with the men of Fengdu City. While the majority of Fengdu City's cuisine was rather bland, it wasn't precisely bad, just far from delicious. However, the wine here was respectable. Despite being heavily infused with Yin Energy, brewed through some unknown, special technique, it had evidently overcome even the Divine Calculator.

The feast stretched on for an extended period, and eventually, the Divine Calculator had to be carried away. Chen Nan, accompanied by the old woman who had previously brought them hot soup—known to all as Granny Qian—made his way back to their lodication.

"Big brother, can you tell us more about the outside world tomorrow?" a child called out to Chen Nan.

Chen Nan turned, a smile gracing his features, and nodded in affirmation. "Absolutely."

"That's wonderful!"

The children dispersed with unrestrained happiness, practically bouncing with glee.

Granny Qian's dwelling presented a rather unremarkable facade. Chen Nan and the Divine Calculator settled in an unoccupied chamber for the night. However, the Divine Calculator, deep in his cups, was emitting snores of such colossal volume that Chen Nan found it impossible to focus on his cultivation.

Consequently, he ventured outside alone.

It remained unclear how the residents of Fengdu City demarcated day from night. Given the circumstances, it was presumed to be nighttime, as the streets were deserted, with all inhabitants having retired for the evening.

Strolling along, Chen Nan found himself at the location of the ruins, once devastated by the Demon Clan. While the debris had been cleared, considering the current state of the city's populace, predicting the timeline for reconstruction proved difficult.

Yet, the Divine Calculator had resolved to aid these townsfolk in their rebuilding efforts, perhaps influenced by the profound reverence shown to him, with every individual treating him as if he were an Immortal.

Recalling the Divine Calculator's beatific expression while basking in such praise, Chen Nan emitted a silent chuckle. His gaze then settled upon a secluded corner, where a dried bloodstain was visible.

The stain had long since dried and was on the verge of vanishing entirely.

"This certainly wasn't left by the Demon Clan. After all, Fengdu City is populated by mortals; how could they possibly inflict injury upon those demons?"

Indeed, that very Demon Clan was under the protection of the illustrious Great Saint Ao Hao!

Chen Nan sighed, resigned to the fact that he was powerless to help the city's residents escape their predicament, and could only offer what limited assistance he was able to provide.

Finding an unoccupied clearing on the outskirts, Chen Nan commenced his cultivation. However, at the depths of the Heavenly Cutting Abyss, only abundant Yin Energy permeated the environment, with no discernible trace of Spiritual Energy. This necessitated his reliance on Spirit Stones for his cultivation.

In such an atmosphere, even the Demon Clan would struggle to endure for prolonged periods. Without the sustenance of Spiritual Energy, their cultivation would inevitably decline at an accelerated rate, eventually leading to their dissipation or assimilation by the pervasive Yin Energy.

The night concluded without any further disturbances.

Upon Chen Nan's return to their room, the Divine Calculator was just stirring. Rubbing his head, he lamented, "Didn't sleep well last night; felt utterly exhausted... By the way, where did you disappear to?"

"Nowhere in particular, just took a walk around," Chen Nan replied, gesturing dismissively. "Aren't you going to assist them? Hurry, they've already commenced their work."

Hearing this, the Divine Calculator instantly sat up straighter, a look of pride gracing his features. "This Daoist's compassion cannot bear to witness their suffering."

"Yes, yes, you are invariably correct," Chen Nan conceded with a sigh of helplessness. "However, I believe we should depart soon; there is no viable route to the Inner Sea from this location."

"Fear not, when this Daoist takes action, assisting them in rebuilding their homes is but a trivial undertaking."

Over the subsequent days, the Divine Calculator remained steadfastly engaged in aiding Fengdu City's reconstruction of structures demolished by the Demon Clan, receiving abundant praise from the city's grateful inhabitants.

For him, this place felt akin to a earthly paradise. Apart from the dense Yin Energy that proved uncomfortable for cultivators, all other aspects were exceptionally agreeable.

Only he would vocalize his complaints to Chen Nan each morning about feeling fatigued. Yet, as a cultivator in the Nascent Soul Realm, expending mere Mana to assist in transporting stones should hardly lead to such profound exhaustion.

Chen Nan, on the other hand, experienced no such weariness. Nevertheless, he observed the Divine Calculator growing increasingly gaunt, a growing sense of unease dawning upon him.

"The Divine Calculator's condition is clearly abnormal; he appears as though his Essence Energy has been depleted. Yet, he has merely been providing assistance, how could his Essence Energy possibly become so depleted?"

"Moreover, I am fine; being in the Extremely Yin Land for too long, even my Mana is tinged with a bit of Yin Energy, just causing operational sluggishness."

He pondered, finally realizing there was a fundamental difference between him and the Divine Calculator.

The Divine Calculator got drunk every evening before returning to rest, whereas he was sitting outside cultivating every night—this was their only difference.

"Could it be..."

Chen Nan's heart skipped a beat, and that night he purposely stayed in the room, pretending to sleep, indeed sensing someone entering their room.

He was just about to open his eyes when suddenly a wave of exhaustion hit, as if weights were pressing on his eyelids, unable to open them, and his body became immobile.

"Sleep paralysis?"

Chen Nan was startled, but his consciousness grew blurrier, ultimately falling asleep directly. Before dozing off, he seemed to hear Granny Qian's voice, "There's no escaping now, hehe..."

He didn't know how much time had passed, but Chen Nan suddenly awoke with a shock, looking around, finding himself still on the bed, making everything that happened seemed like a dream.

The Divine Calculator was already up, looking even more haggard, looking at Chen Nan with a smile, "See, aren't you just like me now?"

Chen Nan's heart sank, hastily gesturing in the air to conjure a ball of water like a mirror to inspect himself, noticing his own haggard appearance.

The water mirror shattered as his fists clenched tightly, "Last night was not a dream!"

Though he was unclear on what exactly happened, he knew there was definitely something peculiar in this city, and Granny Qian certainly wasn't as simple as she seemed!

"What dream? I haven't dreamed in a long time." The Divine Calculator waved his hand dismissively.

Then Granny Qian entered, placing two bowls of hot soup on the table, a kind smile across her wrinkled face, "Come, have a bowl of hot soup!"

Every morning, Granny Qian would deliver hot soup.

The Divine Calculator picked up the soup, having grown accustomed to its taste over the past few days.

But Chen Nan was staring intently at Granny Qian, trying to find something amiss, but alas, he found nothing.

Outside the room, the children were already waiting for Chen Nan, their innocent faces making Chen Nan doubt himself; perhaps last night was truly just a dream?

But waking up depleted of Essence Energy and severely fatigued was a fact; Essence Energy couldn't just disappear—someone "stole" it!

This could only mean that it wasn't him who was at fault, but Fengdu City itself!