At the same time, within the Ghost Gate, stood a palace that pierced the heavens.
On the palace's uppermost platform, facing the Ghost Gate, stood a figure clad in ornate black armor, completely encased. Only two eyes were visible.
"What a foolish child!" a gender-neutral voice murmured softly.
Just as Chu Tian's toes were about to touch the black energy barrier, the armored figure waved a hand.
*Boom!* Chu Tian's body shuddered and was flung backward. He flew through the cloud ladder, over the sea of flowers, across the black water lake, and past the blood abyss, entering the same gap he had come through!
The scenery rushed backward. No matter how Chu Tian struggled, it was in vain.
After entering the gap, he lost consciousness.
...
In the Intensive Care Unit of Shengjing First Hospital, Chu Tian lay unconscious.
Luo Luo stood outside the ICU, looking haggard after days and nights without sleep. She stood by the window, watching Chu Tian inside.
"Miss Luo, the director says Mr. Chu's bodily functions have almost ceased. Only minimal brain activity remains, and his heartbeat is extremely faint. He has at most one day left. Please sign here." A young nurse approached, handing Luo Luo a folder.
Luo Luo, her name now evident, silently took it.
The words "CRITICAL ILLNESS NOTICE" loomed before her. Tears that had long since dried now brimmed her eyes.
She could not believe any of this was real.
Her pen tip hovered over the signature line. The paper had already been pierced by the pen, yet she could not bring herself to sign her name.
A tear fell onto the paper.
She took a deep breath and began to write 'Shui...' Suddenly, the monitor in the ICU emitted a long beep – "Beeeep..." followed by an alarm.
"Quick, call the doctor!" Luo Luo shoved the document into the nurse's chest and pushed her slightly.
Then, she leaned against the window, anxiously watching the ICU. All the instruments were flashing red.
On the heart monitor, a single green line moved steadily.
The long beeping sound emanated from it.
Doctors arrived swiftly, but they also left just as quickly.
As Luo Luo watched with hopeful eyes, the person leading the medical staff shook his head at her.
Inside the ICU, several staff members were already turning off the equipment and beginning to pack up.
"You can go in and see him!" the attending physician told her.
Just as he turned to leave.
"Ah... ah..." Several shrieks echoed from within the ICU.
All eyes turned.
Luo Luo first covered her mouth in shock, then rushed inside.
"This... how is this possible?" the attending physician exclaimed, then also hurried in.
Chu Tian, who had been covered with a white sheet, was now sitting up straight, his upper body bare.
Looking at the beloved woman collapsed in his arms, his dazed gaze slowly regained its luster.
He reached out and stroked Luo Luo's hair, saying, "Don't cry, I'm alright now!"
"Brother, you scared me to death! Scared me to death..." Luo Luo said this and then fainted in his arms.
Chu Tian blinked in surprise. At that moment, the attending physician entered and quickly examined Luo Luo.
He then said, "It's alright, she's just asleep. Hurry and help her to a hospital bed so she can rest properly! This young lady hasn't slept or eaten or drunk for almost a week. Give her an IV drip."
Others then took over.
"Mr. Chu, let's do a full check-up!" The attending physician's gaze towards him was akin to a pervert ogling a beauty.
Chu Tian almost instinctively crossed his arms.
...
Three days later, Chu Tian was finally "released" from the hospital. Yes, "released."
For those three days, he had been close to being dissected for research.
In the end, all examination results showed him to be perfectly normal, even healthier than the average person.
All his bodily functions were on par with those of an athlete at their peak.
Conversely, Luo Luo was very weak due to the ordeal of the past few days.
The two returned to the villa. Along the way, Luo Luo was practically clinging to his arm, her hand never letting go.
"Let me help you back to your room to rest first!" Chu Tian said gently to Luo Luo.
"Okay!" Luo Luo replied.
After settling Luo Luo, who was still quite weak and required rest as per the doctor's orders.
As for Chu Tian, he had become a medical marvel.
Seeing that it was just past noon, with the entire afternoon remaining before he could enter the game.
He recalled what Dao Tian had told him after he was blasted out of the Underworld Gate and saw Dao Tian. Dao Tian had said his soul strength had become too powerful from eating the Other Shore Flowers, causing his physical strength to lag behind.
Although his physical strength was gradually increasing daily through the electrical stimulation within the game pod after entering the Heavenly Dao, he had also gained some understanding of the game "Heavenly Dao World."
Dao Tian had told him that because his soul had been separated from his body for too long, he needed to undergo strenuous training to re-integrate.
So, he drove to an exercise equipment store.
Upon returning, he immediately began to train.
He attached ten kilograms to his body, and his legs immediately felt heavy.
Hands clasped behind his head, he slowly squatted and stood up.
One... two... ten... twenty...
He performed fifty deep squats with the ten-kilogram weight without any unusual feeling.
He reached out and picked up four more, attaching them to himself.
With fifty kilograms of weight, he began one... ten...
It wasn't long before he had completed twenty repetitions and felt almost completely exhausted.
He took out the nutritional supplement he had bought at the sports equipment store and consumed it.
After resting for a few minutes, he felt his stamina gradually recovering, and the fatigue vanished.
He then continued with another round of squat training.
Chu Tian was somewhat surprised by his own strength and stamina, considering he had been called "trash" by the "cold-faced witch" Ye Ling.
Having experienced a lonely life in his previous existence, Chu Tian knew that his current happy life was hard-won. No matter what the Heavenly Dao World was, he would become stronger. In reality and in the game, he wanted to protect the love he had painstakingly found and this happy life!
In this life, having visited the Underworld and experienced what happened within the Ghost Gate, he was determined to uncover the truth about that gentle voice. That voice had made him feel a warmth and care he had never known!
Just as Dao Tian had told him upon his return, only by becoming strong could he uncover the truths he sought!
In fact, he had been pulled back into the Heavenly Dao World by Dao Tian half a day ago. In that chaos, Dao Tian had told him certain things, making him understand that this world was not what it seemed on the surface.
There were many unknown mysterious forces and powerful individuals. These forces were beyond the capacity of any existing nation to contend with.
These people would sooner or later discover the truth of the Heavenly Dao World, and then they would compete for resources in reality and in the game, resorting to any means necessary.
To survive, he had to become strong, otherwise, he and those around him would become stepping stones for others.
"One..., two..., three..., four..."
Chu Tian's deep breaths echoed in the room.
Chu Tian himself was a person of immense resilience, otherwise, he would not have been able to complete the "Guardian Angel's Salvation" mission.
Tedious training was not difficult for him. In the past, it was because he lacked the talent and ability. Now that he possessed them, he naturally had to make good use of them.
He would personally shed the title of "trash."
"One hundred..., one hundred and one..." His stamina had reached its limit, but with the support of his powerful soul force, he possessed exceptionally high willpower, which fully took control of his body.
The weights on his body pressed down on him, making it almost impossible to breathe. Chu Tian roared, "Two hundred..."
*Bang!* His body slammed straight onto the ground.
Who is the armored figure?
Who is that gentle voice?
Can anyone guess?