"To be honest, even without you worrying, I was already worried," Lan Jin said. "That mission in Maolin was already incredibly dangerous. We only survived because of sheer luck…"
Lao Gao interrupted, "Because of the space."
"Whether it was luck or the space, I just know this time will be much harder than before. After all, everyone being sent out for this mission is a top elite from their base. Not only are they powerful, but their backgrounds are not simple either. The higher-ups won't recklessly throw people to their deaths like last time. By sending so many elites together, the chances of coming back alive are much higher."
Lan Jin's expression hardened. "In short, we can't afford to be careless this time. Every lapse in vigilance is a betrayal of our own lives."
"Last time, we were inexperienced with all those things. If we had been more knowledgeable, we wouldn't have acted that way. But now we've seen plenty. Things will be different this time," Lao Gao said firmly. "No matter what, survival is the most important thing. I don't want to die in some unknown place, unable to even have my body brought back. You don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine."
Ling Jiang's biggest concern was Lao Gao. For Lan Jin, it was Huang Jinghe. Lan Jin looked at him seriously. "Xiao Huang, your ability is strong. You just haven't used it enough. The lessons we learned from last time were very practical, weren't they? While we're still on the way, let's practice on those mutated creatures in the water. When the mission starts, we'll be ready to apply what we've learned."
Huang Jinghe nodded. "Don't worry. Even if my ability isn't enough, I've already mastered the Platinum Reaper. I'll protect myself."
The only one left to worry about was Lan Jin, but she needed no one's protection. Her ability was already the strongest among them, and with her spatial ability, she always had a safe place to retreat to.
"Alright, let's start."
Lan Jin summoned three glowing lotus seed grains with her mind, handing one to each of them. "When I first ate this, I was in so much pain I rolled on the ground. If you can't bear it, I'll take you into the space. But there's no shower inside, so once you recover, you'll have to come out to wash."
Lao Gao asked, "Sister Lan, did you scream the first time you ate it?"
Lan Jin let out a short laugh. "I howled like a ghost. Before the apocalypse, who would have experienced such pain?"
Then again, even after the apocalypse, none of them had been through pain quite like that.
"When you start reacting, I'll take you into the space. Give me your keys. When it's over, I'll send you back to your rooms one by one so you can go straight to the shower."
After her explanation, the three swallowed their glowing lotus seed grains, grimacing.
The pain struck instantly, flooding through their bodies. Even though they had braced themselves, they never expected it to be this excruciating. Within moments, all three were struggling to hold back screams.
At their desperate signals, Lan Jin quickly moved them into her space.
The moment they arrived, all restraint vanished. They rolled and howled on the ground, overwhelmed by agony.
It was daytime in the space. Lan Qiaoqiao and Grandma Ling were in the fields harvesting vegetables. Hearing the noise, they came running.
"Xiao Lan, what's going on with them?" Grandma Ling asked anxiously.
"Don't panic, Grandma Ling. I gave them something to eat. Qiao Qiao ate it before too. It hurts a lot, but once it passes, their abilities will improve. This mission is very dangerous, so I let them take it."
Hearing this, Lan Qiaoqiao's memories stirred. She nodded vigorously. "Mama, hurt so bad before."
"That's right. But after the pain, it gets better. Don't worry," Lan Jin said gently.
Knowing both mother and daughter had been through it, Grandma Ling relaxed, though the sight of their suffering still unsettled her. "Xiao Lan, how long will they be in pain?"
"Not long."
It truly would not last long. Pain this intense could not be endured for hours. Soon, dark filth began oozing from their pores, coating their bodies. As the filth covered them, the pain gradually eased, and their limbs relaxed until they lay still on the ground.
Fortunately, the space had no smell. Lan Jin still remembered almost vomiting from the stench last time.
Once their reactions ended, Lan Jin said, "The space hides the smell, but you're all definitely reeking. If you're stable now, I'll send you back to wash."
She exited the space and went first to Ling Jiang's room, bringing her out.
The moment they stepped out, both were hit by the stench. Ling Jiang's entire body was sticky, and the smell was so strong it made her gag.
"God, that's disgusting. Go, go. I need a shower."
Lan Jin had no intention of staying. She dropped the key on the table and slipped out. She repeated the process for Huang Jinghe and Lao Gao, delivering each back before hurrying to her own room.
But even with the windows shut, the stench seemed to linger. If she had a window, she would have opened it to air out.
She did not want to sit in the smell, but curiosity about their transformation kept her waiting.
Before long, Lao Gao emerged first. At a glance, he looked the same, but there was a clear aura of strength about him now.
Huang Jinghe followed, and he too seemed transformed. The two men exchanged a satisfied look.
Finally, Ling Jiang appeared. Her skin, already fair, now glowed after the impurities were cleared. It was smooth and dewy.
But their appearance was not the point. Each of them could feel the energy within them pulsing, vastly stronger than before.
"I think my power grew. Really grew. Not an illusion," Lao Gao said, excitement in his voice.
"Me too. I feel way stronger than before. Sister Lan, is this what it feels like to be powerful? I can't sit still," Huang Jinghe said, fidgeting.
Ling Jiang was even more eager, wanting to test her ability right then in Lan Jin's room. Lan Jin stopped her firmly. "No. If you lose control and wreck my room, where will I sleep?"