My Misfortune Crushed Instances-Chapter 223: Total Entanglement

Huangliang City Public Cemetery, shrouded in pines and cypresses, is quiet and serene. There are occasional passersby on the stone path, most of whom are silent; hardly anyone speaks.

Li Rui, dressed in a black coat, sat cross-legged in front of a tombstone, throwing colorful Netherworld Coins into the brazier before the tomb.

Despite now possessing supernatural powers, the burning still needed to be done.

Beside him squatted Wang Huai in casual clothes, also helping to throw things into the fire.

However, as they were long accustomed to such matters, the atmosphere on-site was not at all somber and even had a slightly humorous feel.

"Why burn two toy cars when you could just burn one?"

"What if they argue and each wants to drive one?"

Li Rui poked at the luxury car paper model he couldn't quite name, with a wooden stick.

"You're quite considerate."

"Of course, when I used to argue as a child, my dad would be kicked out and squeeze into bed with me."

"How old were you when you started sleeping alone?"

"I was weaned before I was even a year old."

"You rascal."

The two murmured on, allowing their blessings to turn into ashes within the flames.

"Should I wait for you outside?"

After burning the various new contraptions from the funeral supplies store, Wang Huai asked if any alone time was needed.

Li Rui waved his hand indifferently: "No need, I often talk to them, nothing much to nag about now."

Wang Huai's face stiffened. Though he knew his daughter's nonsense about writing diaries, hearing this still gave him a slight chill.

After they left, Li Rui got into Wang Huai's car, contemplating whether he should get one in Huangliang too, as the off-road vehicle Kong Ji drove for him was left in Qing Garden City.

"Uncle, did you see my parents back then?"

"No."

Wang Huai was slightly defensive, not wanting to discuss this topic, afraid of saying something wrong. But he couldn't refuse to discuss it entirely.

In the past, he might have dismissed it by saying you're too young to understand, but now, with Li Rui nearly 20 years old, avoiding the topic was not an option.

"Then how were you notified?"

"It was just the standard procedure; the local police station confirmed the identity and then contacted us."

"Oh."

Wang Huai glanced at him suspiciously: "Why do I feel like you have some doubts?"

"Not at all."

Li Rui looked out the window, "I remember even when I asked, you wouldn't go into detail."

"Ah, it's not like I didn't want you to feel uncomfortable recalling it."

Li Rui didn't press further. He had a sudden thought; since extraordinary powers existed, maybe there was something that could be called a miracle?

The report back then stated it was an accident during a trip, with an accidental fall into the water.

Li Rui had found this strange for a long time, as in his understanding, this didn't seem like something that would happen to his parents. Rather, their personalities wouldn't be so careless.

However, he wasn't entirely certain, as memories from his childhood were somewhat vague.

While they spoke, they arrived at the community entrance. Li Rui said goodbye and got out of the car. Passing by the guard booth, he saw Grandpa Niu with his feet bare and legs crossed, instantly feeling a strong sense of security.

After greeting him, he headed upstairs and back home, just in time to receive a call from Dong Sanchuan.

"How's your ten-star Secret Realm going?"

"Cleared it." Li Rui answered.

"Oh, that's good."

Dong Sanchuan didn't take it to heart, much like Wang Ba did back then. Anyone who entered the Secret Realm and wasn't reported by the system was treated as if no incident had occurred.

"What's up, Brother Chuan, aren't you in training? How come you thought of calling me?"

"Got a day off today."

Dong Sanchuan said half-jokingly, "You guys are lucky, no need to train. We've been through hell. Even our phones are often confiscated."

Li Rui could only humbly express sympathy, thinking that if the call had been from Nan Jiumei, he would have offered a few sarcastic remarks.

Dong Sanchuan continued: "Do you remember Duan Ling, who fought against you during the selection?"

"I remember."

"He's under the same superior as me, and he just came in for a consultation. Can you guess which one?"

"How would I know?"

Li Rui replied in mock irritation, "I'm not a Prophet."

"Hehe, the Peach Blossom Lady's Tomb, which you renamed as the ten-star Secret Realm."

Dong Sanchuan said, "The kid's worried about it, so I thought I'd ask you, now that there's a version update, if you have any intel."

The Peach Blossom Lady's Tomb was originally called the Celestial Tomb, renamed only after the Peach Blossom Lady awoke.

Li Rui perked up upon hearing this.

"He went in? Who else?"

"Those selected for the Secret Realm Battlefield, all below level 35, were chosen except for you." Dong Sanchuan said.

Li Rui furrowed his brows.

Those under level 35, and eligible to join the Secret Realm Battlefield, numbered less than two dozen hands, and these were individuals the organization had high hopes for, wanting to send them to the battlefield for early training, hopefully securing some fortunes.

To be selected to join the battlefield, they were all elites, potentially the next supernovas if they secured a Legendary Level item inside.

It could almost be said that this group consisted of the strongest individuals in their level bracket nationwide.

He spoke into the phone: "Back in the Peach Blossom Spring, the Peach Blossom Lady mentioned that a thousand years ago, that place was struck by Celestial Thunder, giving birth to her and some Flame Demon ancestor—an NPC of the world, that level of strength."

"But that ancestor was eliminated by the Peach Blossom Lady. That's all there is; honestly, there's nothing more I know."

The Community Thunder clue was classified and shouldn't be disclosed.

And indeed, he wasn't clear about the state of that Secret Realm, except that it likely had something to do with the Peach Blossom Lady being awakened.

Dong Sanchuan laughed: "Alright then, I'll let you know if we get new updates."

After a few more idle exchanges, they hung up.

Li Rui got to work researching strategies for the Celestial Tomb.

Though he had updated the Secret Realm's version by defeating Zuo Qiutian's avatar and awakening the Peach Blossom Lady in the Peach Blossom Spring, researching it thoroughly wouldn't hurt, as the foundation was still the Celestial Tomb regardless of whose tombstone it was.

As for the new version's intel, they would be able to gather some once Duan Ling and the others returned.

"They all passed the Secret Realm Battlefield selection, highly equipped. If there are no surprises, they should clear it and gather a lot of new intel."

Li Rui thought to himself how lucky he was this time, having someone else go ahead to scout the path, making future actions much more proactive.

Community Thunder, must achieve it!

When the sun set in the evening, Li Rui suddenly received a summon from Wu Mengying, prompting him to urgently take a taxi to Guotong Mansion.

"Chairman Wu, what's so urgent?"

Li Rui walked into the meeting room, finding only her there, with a computer streaming a video call, featuring Song Yao on the other end. Their expressions were both very serious.

"Something happened in the Secret Realm, all agents who entered the Peach Blossom Lady's Tomb haven't woken up."