Naming Technique of the Night

Chapter 267: 210, Shadow Conflict: Round Two

Qing Chen had contemplated forming a team in the Inner World before, as a single person’s strength is always limited, and having teammates would certainly be of some assistance.

For instance, the trauma medicine Jiang Xue brought back, the information provided by Li Tongyun, and the information provided by Nan Gengchen combined perfectly with inside and outside resources.

But he always felt that it was not yet the right time.

In Qing Chen’s view, it would be best to find a suitable opportunity to introduce each other and then help each other out.

However, he had not expected this moment to come so suddenly.

“I think I understand,” Qing Chen looked at Li Tongyun and Nan Gengchen, “XiaoTongyun you are Li Yinuo’s best sister in the Lee family, Nan Gengchen you are… Li Yinuo’s partner, so you met each other in the Inner World. You suspected each other of being Time Travelers, so you made some tests, but neither of you admitted to being Time Travelers, right?”

“Yes,” Li Tongyun nodded obediently, “Brother Qing Chen is really smart.”

Nan Gengchen explained on the side, “It was on a whim that Li Yinuo took us to see a boxing match, and then we met you at the Begonia Boxing Gym.”

As he spoke, Nan Gengchen threw the bag on his back onto the couch and sat down with a thud.

However, he had just sat down when he suddenly stood up again with an “oh” sound, his face twisted in pain, gritting his teeth.

Qing Chen hesitated and then asked, “Isn’t Li Yinuo a girl?”

Nan Gengchen was shocked, “Brother Chen, you with those bushy eyebrows are also good at driving? This is dad-induced damage!”

“What happened?” Qing Chen asked with a frown.

During the last return, Nan Gengchen had, due to his father’s drunken rage, stayed at Qing Chen’s place for a couple of days.

But how could a high school student keep running away from home, so after two days, he returned to his own house.

Now, Qing Chen watched as the other party came over carrying a large bag of things, seemingly intending to truly settle at his place.

Nan Gengchen explained, “During the last return, my mom formally proposed a divorce to my dad, they signed a divorce agreement, and then they both hardly ever came home.”

“Then what’s this about you getting beaten up?” Qing Chen asked.

“Before the last time travel, my dad suddenly came home drunk at 11:30 pm and started hitting me, then I transported while he was still hitting me,” Nan Gengchen joked casually, “It’s funny to say, but time traveling is quite miraculous. My dad was beating me 7 days ago, I traveled for 7 days, and upon returning, he was still beating me—it felt like he had been hitting me for seven days…”

So, Nan Gengchen broke down.

“You just stay at my house for now,” Qing Chen suddenly felt that reporting Nan Gengchen’s father should be put on the agenda.

But then he suddenly realized that Li Tongyun, himself, Nan Gengchen—it seemed none of them had a good father.

This truly turned into a lamenting fathers alliance!

“I’m curious about something,” Qing Chen said. “Besides the two of you, does Li Yinuo have other trusted people around her?”

Li Yinuo had many subordinates and many bodyguards, but she might not necessarily trust these people.

After thinking for a while, Nan Gengchen and Li Tongyun shook their heads simultaneously, “No more.”

Li Tongyun added, “Brother Qing Chen, I think sister Yinuo is a very nice person.”

“Don’t worry,” Qing Chen patted her little head, “I have no conflict of interest with her, and in some ways, we are still a covert alliance.”

“Also,” Li Tongyun whispered, “can Xiao Nan sleep on the couch, the bedroom next door is my mother’s…”

Upon hearing this, Nan Gengchen immediately assured, “I can sleep on the couch, it’s much better than staying at home!”

“Speaking of which, Brother Chen,” Nan Gengchen said, “after this return, He Xiaoxiao’s chat group exploded. Everyone had been waiting for the time travel and hadn’t spoken for several days, but once we came back, it was like they couldn’t stop talking.”

As he spoke, Nan Gengchen took out his phone.

Li Tongyun curiously leaned over, first glanced at Nan Gengchen’s profile picture and nickname ‘A Little Duck’ in the chat interface, then looked at Nan Gengchen again, “Xiao Nan, why did you input your profession in the nickname field?”

Nan Gengchen’s face turned green all at once.

Qing Chen did not bother with these two quarreling; with so many significant events occurring within 7 days in the Inner World, he too was keen to know the reactions of other Time Travelers.

After this return, the chat group only mentioned some scattered information at first.

For instance, it was said that someone had bought the patent technology for artificial gills from the Inner World.

This device, which allowed divers to breathe freely underwater for up to 12 hours, was quite popular in the Inner World a few centuries back. However, as the water systems in the Inner World became dangerous, this patent gradually fell into disuse.

But while the water systems in the Inner World were dangerous, they were fine in the Outer World.

Thus, someone recognized the massive business opportunity in this technology, went through great effort to find the patent owner, and bought the materials from them at a very low price.

A storage device the size of a fingernail from the Inner World could entirely bring back data to the Outer World.

By now, this individual had established a company and registered patents, and soon the artificial gills would be mass produced.

Beyond that, on the other side of the ocean, it was said that someone had brought back new oil refining technology, and made a large sum of money.

To the Outer World, the Inner World was like a treasure trove of technology.

These individuals conveyed with their actions that after becoming a Time Traveler, one did not necessarily have to participate in conflicts, but could also use technology to change the Outer World.

In this world, there were Time Travelers like Qing Chen, who pursued transcendence, and many others diligently working as “miners,” who only wanted to extract valuable technology from the Inner World to lead richer lives in the Outer World.

However, Qing Chen felt that things were not so simple. Without the ability to protect oneself, it was difficult for ordinary people to safeguard what they obtained from the Inner World.

The Time Travelers who had their mechanical limbs amputated were examples.

The Outer World had also become dangerous.

In the chat group, after discussing these miscellaneous matters, they suddenly started on the main topic.

In the group, Li Si asked, “King of Breakthroughs, do you know about the incident at Prison 18?”

The King of Breakthroughs replied, “Of course I do.”

“I heard here that a meteorite struck Prison 18, is that true?” Li Si asked.

King of Breakthroughs: “Heh, it seems you aren’t mixing well in the Inner World, brother. That news is too fake.”

Li Si hastily flattered, “As a minor character, of course I’m not as well-informed as you, King of Breakthroughs. Please enlighten me.”

“The object that struck Prison 18 was not a meteorite, but Qing’s Family’s Sky-based weapon—the Scepter of the Gods!” the King of Breakthroughs sent proudly.

“Did Uncle Li Dong die?!” exclaimed Li Si.

“Of course not,” said the King of Breakthroughs. “All core members of the clans are well aware that the Scepter of the Gods could never kill Uncle Li Dong. That was just a ruse by Qing’s Family and Uncle Li Dong to remove the forbidden item, ACE-002!”

“Are you sure Uncle Li Dong isn’t dead?” inquired Li Si.

“Of course. After the Scepter of the Gods penetrated Prison 18, the Tribunal and the Scepter No. of the Federal Group’s army arrived. The first thing they did was search for Uncle Li Dong’s body but found nothing. Moreover, they discovered underground the container that originally held the forbidden item ACE-002; it had been punctured by the Scepter of the Gods.”

“What about the other people in the prison?” Li Si wondered.

“Of course, they all died,” said the King of Breakthroughs. “People from Lee Clan, Qing’s Family, and Chen Clan, all perished there.”

At that time, an ID named ‘Lu Ya’ spoke up, “You’re wrong; there were no people from Qing’s Family in Prison 18.”

Qing Chen, watching the chat group, was taken aback. This person seemed to be another insider.

But then, the King of Breakthroughs replied, “You only know half the story. It seemed like there was no one from Qing’s Family there, but in fact, the most mysterious of this round of Shadow Candidates was in Prison 18. I also know that he once tried to test Uncle Li Dong and failed, subsequently warned by the family’s elders. Although many had not given him much attention before, I was expecting something different from him. But now it appears he was merely cannon fodder.”

“I see, thank you,” Lu Ya replied.

For a moment, everyone in the chat group was astoundingly puzzled by the identity of the King of Breakthroughs. Everyone wondered why this person was so well-informed about so many critical matters. Could it be that his position became high-ranking after his transition?

Moreover, the King of Breakthroughs seemed not to hoard this information, as if these details, considered extremely valuable by others, were trivial to him.

The ID of the King of Breakthroughs suddenly appeared mysterious in everyone’s eyes.

Aside from Nan Gengchen and Qing Chen, it seemed no one grasped clues about his identity.

“Brother Chen, did you go back and investigate those two guys?” Nan Gengchen asked.

“Hmm, not just Qing Huai’s uncle and that adjutant, but I also checked on the seventh squadron leader in the Taboo Land. If I meet them in the Outer World, I could definitely recognize them,” Qing Chen said. “Now, I’m more inclined to think that he is that Qing Huai’s uncle, otherwise he couldn’t possess so much core information.”

Then, Li Si suddenly asked again, “King of Breakthroughs, if I want to pick a side between the big room and the second room, what should I do now?”

The King of Breakthroughs replied, “Of course, head to City 18.”

“City 18?” Li Si didn’t understand.

“Now, only seven people are left in the Shadow Conflict, and the first round has already ended, beginning the second,” continued the King of Breakthroughs. “Soon, all Shadow Candidates will gather in City 18 because their second round tasks will be centered there. So, if you want to find a Shadow Candidate to support, go try your luck in City 18. I believe, for a short time, all significant events in the Federation will happen in City 18.”

“What are their tasks?” asked Li Si.

“I can’t say yet,” the King of Breakthroughs acted mysteriously. “But let me give you a hint, it involves Lee Clan.”

Seeing this, Qing Chen suddenly furrowed his brows.

He always felt that someone was deliberately gathering all the Shadow Candidates to City 18, and like raising gu, letting them fight it out until the final victor emerged.