Abyss Doctor

"Big Brother, Sister Niman is a good person." Just then, Little Nora's voice echoed in Yu Xian's mind. Yu Xian felt a stirring in his heart. Subconsciously, he trusted Little Nora's judgment, but at the same time, another thought struck him. Though the Primordial Blood Pact allowed him and his contracted partners to become one, sharing their power, bloodlines, and even thoughts with one another, there was one thing that remained purely their own: sensation and feeling. Every sensation and perception they experienced toward the outside world belonged entirely to the individual; not even the pact could share them. And this meant they had the potential to attain even greater strength. Just like his power of True Intent—only he could wield it; Little Nora and the others could not share this power because it was his True Intent, uniquely his own. What, then, of Little Nora and the others' True Intent? Or perhaps their martial intent? Just because he had failed to cultivate martial intent didn't mean Little Nora and the others had no hope. This was the true direction they needed to develop: each contracted partner cultivating a True Intent or a martial intent of their own. At critical moments, they could switch merged forms, allowing the partner to unleash their unique power and inflict far greater devastation. Keeping this realization in mind, Yu Xian turned his gaze to Niman. He explained what had happened with Shui Yuetian and Zhi'er, and mentioned that he planned to head into the Abyss to pursue Zhi'er. "That's too dangerous," Niman said, furrowing her brow and looking at Yu Xian with a solemn expression. "What if this Zhi'er has a second ship and deliberately steered the first one toward an Abyss forbidden zone? If you know nothing about the Abyss, wouldn't you just be walking straight into a trap he laid out?" Yu Xian froze for a moment. He truly hadn't considered this possibility—mostly because Aska had said Zhi'er had been preparing the ship for a century and had spent an astronomical sum on its construction. At the time, this had left him with the distinct impression that the vessel was precious and irreplaceable to Zhi'er. That impression had blinded him to the possibility that the Primordial Water might be nothing more than a decoy, intended to lure every pursuer to their graves. "Furthermore, there are countless bizarre, sinister forces in the Abyss," Niman continued. "Are you sure you can handle them? Does your team even have a doctor?" Yu Xian frowned. "We don't have a doctor, but with my self-healing capabilities, it shouldn't be a problem." "And what if you encounter a force that completely nullifies your healing factor? If you're gravely injured or knocked unconscious, what will the others do?" Niman pressed. Left speechless, Yu Xian could find no retort. Niman finally smiled and said, "Look it up on your Star Ring and see if there's a profession called 'Abyss doctor.' You need at least one Abyss doctor traveling with you. You can't just pray that every journey goes as smoothly as your arrival in Crescent Bay." An Abyss doctor... Yu Xian immediately checked the network; Crescent Bay truly did have such a profession. What was more, Abyss doctors had to be licensed through examinations. The exam required memorizing one million Abyss viruses and mastering the treatment methods for ten million Abyss diseases. Currently, across all of Crescent Bay, there were only a little over six thousand genuine, licensed Abyss doctors. Considering Crescent Bay's population—a single Star Tower housed hundreds of billions of people, with roughly a billion on each floor—the fact that there were so few Abyss doctors against such a massive populace showed just how extraordinarily rare they were. In reality, most expeditions and crews in Crescent Bay had no Abyss doctor at all, settling instead for ordinary healers. Those healers knew a smattering of techniques for treating Abyss maladies, but they were far from the professional standard of an actual Abyss doctor. "Ms. Niman, do you know any Abyss doctors?" Yu Xian asked, looking up after reading through the information. The issue was that Abyss doctors couldn't be hired with money alone; connections were essential. Without an introduction from an acquaintance or a roster of thoroughly trustworthy comrades, an Abyss doctor would never accompany a strange team into the Abyss. Besides, many Abyss doctors were powerful figures in their own right with factions of their own, making them even less inclined to team up with strangers. A smug grin spread across Niman's face. Looking at Yu Xian, she said, "Far away on the horizon... yet right before your eyes. Incompetent though I may be, I happen to be a fully licensed Abyss doctor." As she spoke, she retrieved her Abyss doctor's license from her storage space. Yu Xian had already guessed it the moment that smug smile appeared. Looking at the credential in her hand, he gave a wry smile. "Niman, let's have an open and honest conversation." "Just what I was hoping for." Niman flashed a radiant smile, knowing her chance to get on board had arrived. A bubble enveloped the three of them in an instant, and in the next moment, they appeared within the Island Grotto-Heaven. Standing on a coastal reef, Yu Xian asked, "Niman, what exactly is your goal?" "To become stronger, of course. And this time, not just regaining my Cosmos Rank—my goal is to break through Cosmos Rank, and perhaps... to keep growing stronger, all the way to the very end of everything." Niman looked out over the sea, her eyes resolute. Yu Xian furrowed his brow. "I'm merely a lowly Star Rank. You've picked the wrong person." "That lady believed you would be my opportunity to surpass the Cosmos Rank," Niman said, looking back at Yu Xian with a complicated tone. "I can't ignore her words. After all, she is the most... unique person I have ever met." That lady? Yu Xian's eyes widened, staring at Niman in astonishment. His mouth opened, and overwhelmed by a surge of mixed emotions, he asked, "You've met Auntie?" "Auntie? If you mean the lady who was by your side earlier, then yes, I have," Niman said, blinking in surprise before nodding. "When you entered that epiphany, perhaps she took pity on me, for she finally permitted me to see her true face." Up until now, apart from Yu Xian and a few inconsequential child passersby, only two people had ever seen Zhenwo Changjing: Little Nora, and Niman. Little Nora could see her naturally because its temperament was no different from an innocent child's, but Niman was a true exception. "So... Auntie suggested that you follow me?" Yu Xian asked with conflicting feelings. Without waiting for her to respond, he continued on his own, "Since this was Auntie's intention, I'll be straightforward with you. The 'following' she meant must refer to becoming a contracted partner through the secret art of the Primordial Blood Pact. She was likely suggesting that you form a pact with me." "The Primordial Blood Pact?" Niman frowned slightly, not expecting this to be the truth behind it. Yu Xian nodded. "The Primordial Blood Pact is a secret art Auntie tailored for me. Any contracted partner shares bloodline abilities with me, can even merge into one with me, and becomes truly one of our own." As he spoke, a faint golden light radiated from his body. Little Nora separated from the glow, landed on the ground, and promptly offered Niman a bright greeting. "Doesn't that mean having no privacy whatsoever?" Niman asked, glancing at Little Nora. Yu Xian answered, "Bloodline powers are shared, but personal perceptions and feelings remain entirely your own. Furthermore, thoughts are only communicated if you choose to share them. If you don't wish to, no one can force you." "..." Niman lapsed into contemplation, fiercely weighing the pros and cons in her mind. This choice was far too monumental; even she could not make such a decision on the spot.