Chapter 215: I Don’t Mind Killing Him
"I miss you, too." Ding Ning squinted her eyes, the accumulated gloom in her heart dissipating completely.
She had thought Jiang Che was on the side of humanity.
Although that’s not wrong, being an evil spirit in that chaotic world, she’d long stopped caring about sides or factions.
Evil spirits seeking to grow stronger, would do anything to devour each other to enhance their own power.
But if they devoured peers of the same level or a few levels lower, there was a high risk of backlash.
The ten Lords were only able to coexist peacefully, able to gather together in harmony, entirely because none could overpower the others.
As soon as one of them gained much greater strength, this balance would quickly collapse.
Like Dark Star, secretly sowing seeds, waiting for the day to harvest.
That’s just what’s known on the surface; in secret, who knows how many Lords are plotting just like Dark Star.
Only each Lord’s methods are different.
So, to her, she herself is the side, she herself is the faction.
Hearing the silence and choking in Jiang Che’s voice, she felt truly hurt inside.
She understood humanity; humans are emotional beings.
Their rich emotions were what she loved most, what she yearned for most.
Though most of the time, evil spirits could only sense fear from humans.
When she thought Jiang Che was standing with humanity, her heart was conflicted.
She cherished Jiang Che’s genuine and profound emotions, and didn’t want him to make choices against his own will just for her sake.
Protecting a few humans, or a group of humans,
Neither seemed a big deal.
She didn’t think hoping to be a place in his heart was wrong.
"I want to meet, too, but we’ll have to wait a bit longer." Ding Ning shook her head; her power was no longer what it used to be. If she went to help forge a new portal now, those sharp-eyed Lords would surely notice something was off.
"You still need more time, and so do I." Ding Ning didn’t mention being injured in Jiang Che’s Dungeon.
Having reached the Lord rank, she understood better than anyone.
Short-term separation was only for better reunion.
If she handled this situation without calm, even if they had a small meeting, what awaited later would only be a long separation.
"I want to become strong. I don’t want to always be protected behind you." Jiang Che felt a tightness in his chest; his current strength was indeed far behind.
According to Ding Ning, the Human Realm had no right to advance to SSS-tier Lord strength.
The power of this world was stolen from the Evil Spirit Realm in the first place.
It was originally nothing—something from nothing does not become something.
What they needed to do was compete for those ten slots in the Evil Spirit Realm.
"The portal is open now, but the Dungeon hasn’t closed." Ding Ning’s voice was soft; she’d been eager to restore her strength, for a Lord like her, to have no strength was to have no sense of security.
But when Jiang Che said he wanted to protect her, her anxious inner world became unusually calm.
"It’s just that everyone over there is busy creating Dungeons. With the Dark Forest rampaging, no one has the heart to tackle other Dungeons." Ding Ning spoke the truth; even if she wasn’t in the Human Realm, she could guess its current state.
Restless, panicked, incapable of thinking about much else.
Let alone continuing to advance through Dungeons.
The rampaging Dark Forest prevents them from leaving their territories to go elsewhere; once they leave their sanctuary, they’ll be devoured by its ever-expanding reach.
Venturing out allows continued growth, but lower-tier humans simply can’t go out.
Maybe it’s not just impatience blocking them; they simply have no way to leave.
"And now that the two worlds are starting to connect, going to our side’s Dungeons is no longer random like before." Previously, randomness was just because the worlds were separated by a layer of space.
This was double-sided protection in both worlds.
"Now, as long as you sense an energy vortex, you can accurately go to any same-level Dungeon you want."
"Just like when you exited Dungeon One, there’ll be many doors to choose from between the same levels."
Jiang Che nodded thoughtfully; he really wasn’t hindered by the inability to go out.
He could currently sense, within the Dark Forest, there were many energy vortexes—some large, some small.
These energy vortexes were much more plentiful and densely packed than before.
But all of this was just shrouded by the Dark Forest.
The current world looked like a torn piece of paper, riddled with holes, wind blowing through everywhere.
"I once told you, I want you to take a different evolutionary path."
"I remember—crossing the ten Lord Dungeons." Jiang Che still remembered this task.
Now he’d cleared two, but hadn’t felt much change in himself.
"Let’s avoid brute-forcing through if we can." Ding Ning said seriously.
"There’s a Lord on my side who, like me, doesn’t support connecting the Human and Evil Spirit Realms. I’ll look for her, hoping she’ll let you clear her Dungeon." Ding Ning had no intention of forcing through.
Evil spirits maintained their balance of power; while meetings were rare, they’d known each other a long time, making it a kind of acquaintance.
Such a small request, surely as long as she asked, the other would agree.
Even if not, trading something for it would be possible.
She never wanted Jiang Che to force his way through, nor did she think he had to trial in other Dungeons.
If real training or simulation was needed, she could craft countless arenas for him herself; no need to put his life in another Lord’s hands.
"Once I’m feeling better in a few days, I’ll find a way to connect you on a mental channel." Ding Ning planned to pull Jiang Che’s spirit over for hellish training.
"Even if this slot is something we traded for, you can’t trust them a hundred percent."
"Alright!" Jiang Che squinted, "Does that mean I can see you?"
"Hehe." Ding Ning chuckled softly, letting a bit of her own selfishness show.
"Now there’s still some time; I hope more strong people can rise on your side." Ding Ning sighed; she didn’t want humanity wiped out as soon as the portal opened.
"Tell them, they can fell trees to build buses, leading some humans across the Dark Forest to reach Dungeons in the woods." Ding Ning was ready to give Jiang Che the bus construction method.
"But these are for short stays only. Low-level life staying in the forest too long will be assimilated; tell them not to build wooden houses in there."
"Also, tell Leng Feng, if he can’t ensure Dark Star’s control over him is broken, I won’t hesitate to kill him." Ding Ning’s voice turned icy.
She would never allow Dark Star to successfully absorb all the seeds.