Chapter 286: Chapter 237: A Spatial Rift Connecting Two Worlds

Deep in the wilderness far from Rongcheng, a spatial rift approximately ten meters long and two meters wide appeared in the sky, high above the layers of clouds.

Visible through this spatial rift were rolling mountain ranges, a boundless forest, and a relentlessly flowing river.

A group of Mutant Beasts soaring together through the azure sky suddenly noticed the spatial rift that had just appeared.

Focusing their attention, they observed the various sights on the other side of the spatial rift.

Driven by curiosity, these Mutant Beasts accelerated, preparing to fly through the rift and see the world on the other side.

As the Mutant Beasts drew closer to the spatial rift, they perceived the concentration of Spiritual Energy in the air steadily increasing.

’What’s going on?’

The question in their minds didn’t last long. The Mutant Beasts soon understood why the concentration of Spiritual Energy in the air was rising.

It turned out that a massive amount of Spiritual Energy was continuously pouring out from the spatial rift in the sky, causing the concentration in the surrounding area to increase rapidly.

"ROAR..."

Their doubts resolved, the Mutant Beasts let out excited roars and accelerated toward the spatial rift.

Just then, a senior researcher at the Rongcheng Spiritual Energy Research Institute deactivated a Spiritual Artifact that was capable of influencing the weather.

The moment the Spiritual Artifact’s activation was cut, the spatial rift high above the deep wilderness vanished without a trace.

"???"

They were just about to pass through the spatial rift, but at the exact moment they reached it, the rift instantly disappeared.

Hovering where the spatial rift had been, the group of Mutant Beasts’ eyes were filled with astonishment. They then let out a series of frustrated roars.

* * *

"WHOOSH..."

"RUMBLE..."

"SPLASH, SPLASH, SPLASH..."

Outside the window, a torrential rain poured down, accompanied by lightning and thunder.

Lin Li, who was playing a computer game in his study, sensed that the rumbles of thunder and the downpour outside were starting to weaken.

He stopped moving his mouse and listened intently, mumbling in confusion.

"Huh? Sounds like the rain is letting up outside."

’That’s a relief. I was thinking I’d have to cook dinner for myself tonight.’

’Now that the rain has let up, I guess it should stop completely by dinnertime.’

’Then, just as I’d planned, I’ll go out and find a hot pot place for dinner.’

Lin Li moved his mouse, ready to get back to defeating the boss in his game, but suddenly, he heard the doorbell ring from outside the study.

He got up, opened the study door, walked out to the entryway, and opened the front door.

"Zhou Tongtong."

Standing at the door was the little girl from next door. She held a plate of freshly fried french fries, her head tilted up as she looked at Lin Li with big, bright, dark eyes and called out softly.

"Lin Li, my mom fried some french fries and told me to bring them to you..."

’Xia Qing is really good at making snacks...’ Lin Li thought, looking at the french fries in Zhou Tongtong’s hands. He was quite happy to have such a neighbor.

After all, he had zero talent for cooking. Now, with a beautiful neighbor who loved to make delicious snacks, he could, thanks to her, get to freeload on food and drinks from time to time.

Who wouldn’t like having such a beautiful neighbor?

"Thanks. Wait here a moment."

Just like last time, Lin Li took the plate of french fries from Zhou Tongtong, went back to his kitchen to do something, and returned to the door with the empty plate and an ice cream bar.

"Lin Li, thank you!" Seeing that Lin Li had brought her an ice cream bar when returning the plate, Zhou Tongtong couldn’t hide her joy. Her big, dark, shining eyes curved into two little crescents as she smiled.

Twice in a row she had helped her mom bring something to the big brother next door, and both times she had received an ice cream bar in return.

This made Zhou Tongtong, who had a strict agreement with her mother to only eat one ice cream bar per day, realize she had discovered a loophole to get an extra one.

’Kids really do love ice cream! They have no resistance to this kind of temptation...’ Seeing Zhou Tongtong’s irrepressible smile, Lin Li felt that his decision to give her an ice cream bar as a gift was absolutely the right one.

"You’re welcome. If you ever want an ice cream bar, you can come find me anytime. My freezer is full of all kinds of different flavors."

Lin Li said to Zhou Tongtong with a chuckle, clearly using ice cream as his ultimate tool for building a rapport with the cute little girl.

For Zhou Tongtong, whose mother had limited her ice cream consumption, Lin Li’s words were utterly irresistible. Her fondness for the big brother next door increased rapidly.

’Mom and I agreed that I can only eat one ice cream bar a day when I’m at home. That means if I’m not at home, the one-a-day limit doesn’t apply!’ Zhou Tongtong thought to herself, her little brain working away as she relished the idea.

It had to be said, sometimes, a child’s actions could be so silly it was exasperating.

But other times, when they used their clever little tricks, it was both adorable and left you not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Lin Li’s ’eat-all-the-ice-cream-you-want’ offer had allowed Zhou Tongtong to seize upon the loophole in her agreement.

After saying goodbye to the big brother next door, Zhou Tongtong skipped back home, plate in one hand and ice cream bar in the other, and headed into the kitchen.