novelraw Chapter 100: An’s Wish
Chapter 100: An’s Wish
This isn’t right... An asked in return:
“Why do you want information about the No. 8 Train Rift? Are you selling intelligence?”
Recently, many people had been asking about the No. 8 Train.
But that shouldn’t have anything to do with a diligent chef.
Chen Qi didn’t hide it:
“It’s not selling intelligence. I was commissioned by someone to go to the No. 8 Train and retrieve something.”
“Commissioned?”
“You really aren’t behaving like a proper chef...”
An smiled with relief.
She was really foolish; she should have realized earlier that with Chen Qi’s personality, he could never be a regular chef.Earlier, she had been blinded by Chen Qi’s impressive restaurant.
Otherwise, how could he have gotten the water spirits?
Chen Qi never settled down quietly. Instead, he chose to become a hunter and cleared many rifts.
He was able to run a restaurant well while clearing rifts!
That was incredibly capable!
An sniffed the other’s spiritual field, which had already increased tremendously.
An unimaginable advancement speed!
“I really didn’t misjudge him.”
An slowly took some information from her backpack and explained like a professional teacher:
“The No. 8 Train is a single-person Rift with Lamp Shadow affinity, located near the southeastern sea area of the Moonstone Archipelago, very close to our Damarro Town. It requires high inspiration and strong observation skills to clear.”
At this point, An rubbed her tired eyes and sighed:
“To set up a special defensive barrier, we need to clear all surrounding rifts. Although in the past twenty days, I have already cleared all the D-tier rifts, the No. 8 Train Rift is very special. Even knowing the information, very few people have cleared it.
The information it emits seriously affects the barrier’s construction.”
“Therefore, we also commissioned people from the Hunter Association, but they all returned defeated.”
An took out the information and warned:
“Qi, I don’t know who commissioned you, but this Rift is exceptionally dangerous.
If you can clear this D-tier Rift alone, it will make setting up the barrier much easier.
But you must stay vigilant and leave the Rift immediately if anything goes wrong.”
An handed over the intelligence she had gathered to Chen Qi.
Chen Qi accepted the Rift clearing intelligence An gave him:
“Understood. I’ll be careful.”
At this moment, two passing craftsmen next to An and Chen Qi couldn’t hold back.
They were actually discussing clearing a D-tier Rift alone, and even more so having a chef lacking combat skills clear a D-tier Rift!
That Rift had a death rate as high as 75%!
Recently, An had consecutively handled multiple high-difficulty D-tier rifts, even preparing to exterminate the Coastal Apex Predators, which had already shocked them.
Now, there was another one preparing to solo the No. 8 Train Rift, a first-tier powerhouse!
Were people from little Damarro Town all this reckless?
The craftsmen asked in shock:
“Hey, young man, are you really planning to go to the No. 8 Train? I heard many people died there, and the mutation rate is still increasing.”
“Yes.”
Chen Qi answered, checking the information An gave him.
It even included pictures of the No. 8 Train.
This information was enough; he accepted it and prepared to go to the Rift.
“Teacher An, I’ll go test the Rift’s depth first.”
An smiled and said:
“Okay, stay safe. If you clear it, you can stay for a meal.
Oh, I have another question: Qi, have you ever seen the Flower Witch in Moonstone City?”
Why did everyone want to find the Witch? Chen Qi swallowed and asked curiously:
“I saw a glimpse from afar. Teacher An, why do you ask?”
At that moment, a trace of longing flashed in An’s eyes:
“I heard the legend of the Witch when I was very young. The legendary Ice Witch is even more my aspiration.”
An took out a statue of the Ice Witch from her Backpack Card:
“It is said every Witch is someone recognized by the Ice Witch.
They all possess unique skills.
Therefore, I have always wanted to try and see how strong the Witches really are.”
“Sorry, I may be a bit arrogant. I am definitely no match for the Witches, but losing doesn’t matter.”
An smiled bitterly.
Although she thought she would probably lose, she really wanted to fight the legendary Witch.
Unfortunately, she had been stuck on Damarro Island for a long time and couldn’t go out to capture the Witch.
That invincible yet resolute gaze... Chen Qi thought wryly.
The reason An was called An Aotian was because in the Witch Sea, she was known as invincible among peers.
Every few weeks, some noble genius would suddenly appear, looking down on An’s humble origins, and challenge her.
But without exception, they were all beaten into the ground by An.
Even as a third-tier, surviving under fourth-tier legends was no problem for her.
Chen Qi once thought the Flower Witch was mysterious and unfathomably strong.
Who was stronger, the Flower Witch or Teacher An?
There seemed to be battle power discussion posts about these two on forums.
But now, he could feel the Flower Witch was strong, but An Aotian seemed even stronger.
Chen Qi imagined for a moment.
Without using forbidden moves, Teacher An as a mage might be able to easily defeat the protagonist of the Witch Sea, the Flower Witch! From face to butt, with a unique fighting style each time!
More people wanted to capture the Flower Witch than he had imagined.
The Flower Witch’s situation was really tragic—that was the consequence of fame.
He didn’t know how the Flower Witch was doing when he wasn’t around.
Hopefully, the Flower Witch wouldn’t run into Teacher An.
Chen Qi waved goodbye:
“Teacher An, I’m off then.”
An swallowed nervously and also waved goodbye:
“Please be sure to stay safe. The No. 8 Train is very dangerous. If anything goes wrong, escape immediately.
Oh, don’t forget to come back for dinner. There’s a banquet tonight in Damarro Town, and you’re very important for it.”
“Got it.”
After saying goodbye, Chen Qi didn’t hesitate and took the small houseboat toward the Rift’s location.
...
...
The small houseboat sailed toward the sea.
Above the sea, the sea breeze blew, and soon Chen Qi saw a rusty train car.
The rusted car seemed fixed in place, stopped above the sea.
At the door of the car, fresh red blood wrote in large characters: “Welcome aboard, passengers.”
[You have contacted the Rift, inspiration detection in progress...]
[Inspiration detection in progress...]
[Inspiration detection great success!]
[Rift Name: No. 8 Train
Rank: D
Affinity: Lamp, Shadow
Description: In the Lightless Era, to avoid catastrophe, humans created a transportation tool called the ‘train’ that could travel anywhere. This was the most common means of transport in that era.
People on the train were very lucky. However, as time passed, many began seeking things beyond survival—servants, love, even eternity.
They exchanged a tool with monsters, hoping humans on the train could stay forever young.
Thus, the monsters brought their trains through the gutters of the Shadow World.
The monsters told them that in the Divine Realm, humans do not die and souls do not perish.
But when they realized it, they could no longer leave the train.
They kept pounding the windows, pounding endlessly.
Unfortunately, just like their unceasing wails, the train can never stop...
Clearance Condition: Reach the first train car and pull down the train’s brake lever.
Rift Mutation Rate: 51% (Extremely high mutation rate, high chance of mutation rate increase. This Rift is extremely dangerous, please be careful!)
Rift Rank Restriction: This Rift can be entered by first-tier and below supernaturals.
Rift Participant Limit: One person. (Due to Rift mutation, this Rift has become a solo Rift)
Inspiration Enlightenment: You notice the space is already chaotic. Only normal humans and things are the correct path forward.
Special Inspiration Enlightenment: In the pitch black, you see twisted shadows silently dragging people into darkness.]
Note: You said this journey feels like walking on thin ice. Can we reach the driver’s cabin?]
Chen Qi quickly scanned the Rift before him.
The No. 8 Train was a one-way solo Rift.
Participants enter a train and repeatedly pass through identical cars.
The puzzle was very simple: follow the information in the inspiration enlightenment and proceed only along normal humans and things.
Simply put, if the car you enter looks normal, enter the next car.
Otherwise, if the car shows abnormalities or monsters that do not fit ‘normal logic,’ immediately go back.
This is the ‘Lamp affinity clearing method’ of this Rift.
During early exploration, this Lamp affinity puzzle stumped many.
Fortunately, Chen Qi had collected enough information before entering.
“51% mutation rate...”
Chen Qi looked at the Rift description.
Many hunters’ failures caused the Rift’s mutation rate to reach a terrifying number!
Chen Qi took out the prepared Moonlight Fish.
[You consumed Moonlight Fish, inspiration slightly increased.]
Previously, he practiced meditation to increase 5 inspiration points.
With the Moonlight Fish, his inspiration reached as high as 60 points!
“Hoo...”
Chen Qi exhaled deeply.
Although prepared, this Rift was undoubtedly the hardest challenge so far.
He gripped the Black Blade and stepped into the blood-soaked car entrance.
The surrounding light quickly dimmed.
[You have entered the Rift.]
“Welcome to your... arrival, guest.”