Die, Replay, Repeat

Chapter 322 - Yang Ming's Domain

Following Fang Xiu's gaze, the group turned to see a figure slowly rowing a small boat toward them.

Clad in a straw raincoat and wide-brimmed bamboo hat, the figure's movements were eerily steady and deliberate.

"That's the Ferryman. We'll be taking his boat to leave this place," Fang Xiu explained casually.@@@@

No one questioned how he knew this or why they should trust him. Fang Xiu's predictions had proven true time and again.

"Oh, so it's just the boatman? Not bad, pretty considerate of him to come pick us up," Yang Ming joked, though the nervous edge in his voice betrayed his unease.

Reassured by Fang Xiu's calm demeanor, the group relaxed slightly. Even as the Ferryman's approach intensified the oppressive Specter energy in the air, they managed to suppress their anxiety.

Just as they moved closer to the shore, Fang Xiu spoke again.

"Before we board the boat, there's something that needs to be done. Yang Ming."

Yang Ming blinked, startled to hear his name. "Huh? What is it, Xiu?"

Fang Xiu pointed to the dark, ominous waters of the lake. "Jump in."

Yang Ming's face instantly went pale. "Jump... jump in?! Xiu, you're kidding, right?"

Fang Xiu's expression didn't waver. "I never joke."

Panic set in as Yang Ming's voice rose, desperate. "Dude, whoa, if I offended you somehow, I'm sorry, I—"

Before he could finish, Fang Xiu raised a foot and delivered a solid kick to his back.

SPLASH!

Yang Ming flew forward, landing in the freezing water with a loud crash.

The moment he hit the water, an icy chill pierced his entire body. His vibrant Spiritual Energy was instantly suppressed, leaving him feeling like a helpless mortal.

"Help! Someone save me!" Yang Ming screamed, flailing wildly.

The rest of the group stood motionless. Though none of them understood Fang Xiu's actions, they trusted him too much to interfere.

From the shore, Fang Xiu's calm voice rang out. "There's an opportunity for you in the lake. Don't waste it."

Yang Ming, too panicked to process Fang Xiu's words, frantically searched his pockets until he found a soaking-wet pack of cigarettes.

"Quick! Someone take this! Don't let it get lost!" he shouted, throwing the soggy pack toward the shore.

As the group watched him struggle, the lake began to change.

From its dark, still waters, pale, lifeless corpses started surfacing.

One after another, they floated to the top, their blank, dead eyes staring into nothingness. Dozens became hundreds, forming a dense, horrifying mass that covered the lake.

Fang Xiu couldn't help but marvel at the grandeur of God's Plan. It was no wonder that in the previous era, the Chosen One, Zhou Qingfeng, had managed to dominate his entire generation.

Situations that would spell certain death for ordinary people became stepping stones for the Chosen Ones. Their luck defied all logic.

"Yang Ming, did you really break through to the fourth tier?" Li Xiaoru asked, her tone filled with disbelief.

The rest of the group was equally stunned, their gazes darting between Fang Xiu and Yang Ming.

Breaking through to the fourth tier was no small feat. Even at headquarters, captains often had to endure near-death experiences to achieve such a breakthrough. Yet Yang Ming had merely jumped into a lake, taken what amounted to a "bath," and emerged as a fourth-tier psychic.

No one felt jealous of Yang Ming. Instead, they were filled with regret—if only they'd met Fang Xiu earlier, perhaps they could have shared similar opportunities.

Despite his newfound strength, Yang Ming looked far from happy. The golden glow around him gradually faded as he stared down at a soggy pack of cigarettes in his hand, his expression one of utter despair.

"This... this was my last pack," he muttered mournfully.

"Come on, kid! Just dry them out and smoke them later," Li Xiaoru teased. "Now, tell us—what Domain did you awaken?"

"Dry them out? They've been soaking in corpse water! Who'd dare smoke these after that?" Yang Ming snapped, glancing bitterly at Fang Xiu. Still, he kept his complaints to himself, his sulky demeanor more like that of a scorned spouse than an actual victim.

Li Xiaoru, however, pressed on. "You drink from your Corpse Water Jar every day! Smoking corpse-soaked cigarettes shouldn't bother you. Now stop stalling! What's your Domain? Spill it!"

Her curiosity was palpable, like a restless kitten scratching at her insides. Naturally impatient, she could barely contain herself.

Yang Ming sighed theatrically, throwing his hands up in mock exasperation. "I don't have a Domain."

"What?!" Li Xiaoru's jaw dropped. "That's impossible! Everyone who reaches the fourth tier awakens a Domain. How can you not have one? Are you even a real fourth tier?"

"I'm serious! I don't have a Domain!" Yang Ming insisted. Then, as if flipping a switch, he puffed out his chest, placed his hands on his hips, and grinned smugly. "Because my fourth-tier ability is... I Am Domain!"

"Let's go. It's time to board the boat," Fang Xiu interrupted, his calm voice cutting through Yang Ming's theatrics. Without sparing him another glance, Fang Xiu turned and led the group toward the Ferryman's boat.

Yang Ming remained frozen in place, still striking his ridiculous pose.

"Hey, wait! Aren't you at least curious about what I meant by that?" he called after them.

"Nope," Xiao Chuxia replied flatly, not even pausing.

"Not interested," Xiong Tianguang added without a trace of emotion.

Luo Qingxin didn't bother speaking. She simply walked past Yang Ming, her expression unreadable.

Li Xiaoru, however, paused just long enough to deliver a final blow. "I hate riddles. I asked you twice, and you didn't give me a straight answer. I'm done listening to you."

"Hey, come on! Don't be like that! Wait for me!" Yang Ming wailed, scrambling to catch up with the group.

In the end, the group successfully boarded the Ferryman's boat after paying a total of six thousand Spirit Money bills.

Translator's note: I guess as Yang Ming's Spiritual Energy Grows, the whole world will be his domain—a gift handed to him by God.