Chapter 422 - 420: Lost a Life

I pulled up the island model, selected an empty lot in the industrial district, and moved the little figures off it. Then I clicked "Use" and smiled as I watched a white mist rise from the small patch of land.

Suddenly, Faye Yardley sat bolt upright. In a few quick bounds, she was on the second floor and back in her room.

The small, glittering gold box was still on the floor.

It was locked.

She picked it up for a closer look and retrieved a golden key from her inventory. It was a big key for a small lock, but the moment they touched, the key automatically resized to fit.

CLICK. The box sprang open.

Inside was a single large, black pill that gave off the sweet fragrance of herbs.

[Foundation Establishment Pill: Eat this, and your body will undergo a world-shaking transformation. Come on, give it a try! ~]

’Isn’t this description a little too casual?’

’This description makes it really hard to believe this is some amazing medicine. But then again, who would put a fake pill in such a fancy box?’

Faye Yardley stared at the large pill for a long moment. Finally, steeling herself, she picked it up and shoved it into her mouth, nearly choking.

But the moment she closed her mouth, a tremendous surge of energy rushed from her throat and erupted through her body.

The sensation was truly indescribable—a mix of pleasure and pain that left her utterly clueless about what to do next.

Fortunately, the Health Care Scripture was always circulating within her. Though it took a massive hit from the blast of energy, it stubbornly kept running, gradually guiding the rogue energy to follow its own pathways.

Meanwhile, Faye Yardley herself was paralyzed, as if her pressure points had been struck.

’What does it feel like to be constipated and have explosive diarrhea at the same time?’

’It’s so contradictory.’

Faye Yardley felt as if the impact from the Foundation Establishment Pill had knocked her soul right out of her body. From high above, she looked down and watched everything happening within herself.

She watched the foreign energy riot and rampage inside her, her organs getting blasted to bits only to be held together by some other force, preventing them from completely disintegrating.

"Where’s your sister?"

Lucy White had run over after dinner, but Faye was nowhere to be seen.

Willow Yardley pointed to the second floor. "Do you need her for something?"

"Nope, hehe! I’m going for a swim in the sea now."

"Be careful."

Lucy White nodded with a smile and ran off.

Just then, Cole Kensington glanced upstairs worriedly. "Willow, did you hear pained groans? Did Faye get hurt in the sea this morning?"

Willow Yardley shook her head. "No, she was perfectly fine before dinner."

’The food was tested and cooked by me, so there’s no way it was a problem.’

Looking up at the second floor as well, she said, "I’ll go stand guard upstairs."

Beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down her forehead, blurring her vision.

She was sweating from every pore, as if they were all competing to expel beads of water.

Then another force, both icy cold and blazing hot, simultaneously froze and evaporated the sweat. She felt utterly weak and limp. Amidst wisps of white steam, she collapsed, falling stiff as a board onto the floor with a THUD.

Her head struck the wall on the way down.

Dizzy... Her whole body felt like it was being sliced by knives, pricked by needles, and consumed by fire...

Her consciousness began to fade.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK~

"Faye, Faye... Are you okay? Do you need help? Faye..."

’Who?’

’Who’s calling me?’

’Is that my sister calling me?’

Faye Yardley’s fading consciousness began to refocus at the sound of the anxious calls from outside her door.

CRACK!

The puppet hanging from her chest split open with a crack.

Her eyes shot open. Faye Yardley spoke weakly, "Come in."

With her permission, the door was thrown open with a BANG. Willow Yardley rushed in, quickly lifting her onto the bed.

She then took a bowl of hot soup from her food pouch. "Faye, drink this. It will help you recover your energy."

She helped Faye Yardley drink it, then carefully wiped the corners of her mouth.

Faye Yardley looked at her, forcing a smile. "I’m... fine."

The rewards she received for losing a life were quite substantial.

[Constitution +5, Strength +5, Agility +5, Spirit +5. Internal Superpower Magic has transformed into your Third Talent (Illusion Barrier)]

[All-Server Announcement: Congratulations to Veridia player Faye Yardley for surpassing 50 in All Attributes and entering the Fifth Tier, thereby unlocking the Fifth Tier stage for all players! Veridia Reputation +2000, Personal Reputation +2000] x3

Watching the golden fireworks bloom before her eyes, Faye Yardley managed a weak smile.

’I really don’t know if that was a net gain or a loss.’

The Substitute Puppet used up one of its lives.

’I can’t believe I lost a life in my own home just from recklessly swallowing some pill.’

’Just as I thought. That pill’s description just screamed "cheap, fake medicine."’

’Next time, I’m definitely not eating random things.’

’No matter how many lives I have, I can’t afford to waste them like this.’

[Yardley, are you looking for any more siblings? Would you mind having an extra older or younger brother?]

[Hahaha... I just got my island confirmation from Yardley and I’m packing my bags right now. Can’t believe I get to see her break through to a new level again.]

[How in the world does she do it? I mean, seriously, I was still celebrating hitting the Second Tier, and Yardley is already at the Fifth Tier.]

[Damn it! Why didn’t my application get accepted? I answered the questions perfectly! Why wouldn’t you let me in?!]

[That’s ’cause Yardley’s got sharp eyes. She could tell you were up to no good just from your application.]

[Speaking of which, is there really no fast way to raise your Attributes? Can you share your secrets, Yardley?]

[Dammit! I should be number one! It should be me! You must have stolen my stats!]

[What kind of moron is the person above me?]

[Yardley’s brother is a big deal too. His guild is already Level Five, so it should be able to fit more people, right? Hey, big-shot brother, are you recruiting? Look over here!]

[...]

Faye Yardley slept like a log. When she finally woke up, it was already 9:30 a.m. the next day.

The first thing she did was rush into the bathroom for a thorough scrub, then she had Willow change all the bedsheets.

It seemed yesterday’s breakthrough had caused quite a stir. She had a ton of messages and missed calls.

Faye Yardley sent a single, uniform reply to all of them: "Thanks, I’m fine."

And she really couldn’t be feeling better.

Not only did she feel refreshed and clear-headed, but when she clenched her fist, she felt the illusion that she could shatter the heavens and the earth with a single punch.

She went downstairs, headed straight for the dining room, sat down, and began to eat ravenously.

Lucy White ran over, grabbed a steamed bun, and stared at Faye Yardley. "Faye, Faye, can you take me with you next time you go somewhere else? You’re not just going to take Kingston again, are you?"

Faye Yardley grunted in affirmation. "I can take you anywhere except solo Dungeons. I was planning on randomly landing on an island in the next couple of days. We can go check it out. When we do, stick close to me and don’t run off."

"I promise I’ll be good!" Lucy White replied happily, then added, "But Faye, there have been a ton of huge fish and shrimp under our house these past couple of days. Kingston and I just got back from clearing a wave of them this morning."

"A lot? I’ll go take a look after I finish eating."