Wanxi Rebirth - Chapter 88

“7364, do you think the World Consciousness should exist?”

Watching her two old friends leave, Lin Fengqing asked the system in her mind.

The 7364 System was an extremely unique existence. Although it originated from the World Consciousness, according to the information she had synced, the minds qualified to become systems had their emotional aspects stripped away. The main controller wanted them to think with absolute rationality about mission processes, execution plans, and potential issues, ensuring the mission could be carried out as precisely and efficiently as possible.

Compared to Qin Yingguang, who was fused with the local inhabitants’ consciousness, and the alien monster corrupted by loneliness and resentment over thousands of years, the 7364 System—having gone through countless missions and witnessed the development of various minor worlds—was actually the most objective of them all.

[If this world were just beginning, with scarce resources and harsh conditions, I believe sentient beings might need guidance from a World Consciousness.]

The 7364 System’s words were careful.

[Such guidance is similar to human or demonic infants lacking self-care skills, or fledgling birds and young beasts needing parental care until they can fly and hunt on their own.]

[But after that stage, I believe the World Consciousness should gradually withdraw its interference.]

[Living beings tend to subconsciously depend on powerful protection. If the World Consciousness repeatedly intervenes in the world and responds to every need, humans or demons alike would gradually give up independent thinking and cultivation—when facing difficulties, they would simply appeal to the World Consciousness and follow its arrangements… In that state, they would be little more than puppets of the World Consciousness.]

[The World Consciousness is not an inexhaustible mechanism; even the most precise magical device eventually degrades. Its loss of control—you have already heard of this.]

“All beings are chess pieces; as long as it can achieve its purpose, it will use any means,” Lin Fengqing said solemnly, continuing the system’s thought. “Its original intention was still to protect the world, but in the process, it harmed innocents and caused irreversible damage.”

Now, after being separated from the World Consciousness due to an accident and able to observe it objectively, the 7364 System’s stance had become clear.

“Then what do you think about Xie Zhi, the Scales of Salvation?” Lin Fengqing asked, since her two friends had not yet returned.

[She may have her own thoughts and plans, but when the World Consciousness needs her, she will still prioritize executing its plan.]

The 7364 System evaluated her:

[First, a creation may not escape the constraints of its creator; second, her feelings toward the World Consciousness severely interfere with her ability to judge fairly.]

[She does not want to betray the World Consciousness, yet at the appropriate time, she must judge and execute it. In this contradiction, she will seek help from a third party—you.]**

[I believe her stance is divided by personal motives. While assisting the World Consciousness in delivering trials, she also spares no effort to help you—she is, in a sense, cultivating a blade capable of striking the World Consciousness without hesitation.]

Lin Fengqing sighed. Killing someone crucial to oneself is indeed not an easy task.

At least, when she recently killed the invader in front of everyone, she had spent a long time preparing mentally—the face used belonged to the blood relative who had raised and cared for her.

“If the time comes, will you help us?” she asked the 7364 System.

The system was silent for a few seconds.

[If I am still here at that time, perhaps.]

[But I do not believe I should survive.]

No matter the original intentions or hidden hardships, like the World Consciousness, it too consciously stained its hands with blood, entwined in the consequences of hatred.

To die in the final decisive battle—that was its deserved fate.

The so-called “Dual Completion Method” was something Yue Tingxi did not dare to tell Qin Sulu.

Due to the established “Death-Bond Wedge,” her original body was still carried with her. She was willing to gamble—betting that if she succeeded in becoming the World Consciousness, her dispersed soul could return to Qin Sulu.

Currently, the only person she trusted enough to share this secret with was Qin Sulu.

Lin Fengqing was bound with the 7364 System, Qin Yingguang and Grey Moth had contracts, Xie Zhi was the creation of the World Consciousness, and if Qiongqi learned of her plan, it could potentially cause a conflict.

Setting aside rational risks and benefits, she genuinely wanted Qin Sulu to know her plan.

“You don’t want to become the World Consciousness, but you need its power and authority.”

Qin Sulu’s voice resonated in her mind, snapping Yue Tingxi back to focus. The next sentence made her heart skip a beat:

“So, after accomplishing your goals, you will abandon that so-called ‘throne.’”

“How do you plan to die, Yue Tingxi?”

Through the mindlink, the young lady’s voice was calm. Yet warm tears streamed down her cheeks, moistening Yue Tingxi’s palm.

“I… I won’t…”

Yue Tingxi instinctively wanted to deny it, but when meeting Qin Sulu’s teary eyes, the words stuck in her throat.

“If you truly intend to execute this plan, at least let me know what you will go through and how I can help,” Qin Sulu said calmly.

They had fought side by side long enough, facing life-threatening situations multiple times and even simulating death.

But this time was different. To achieve the “Dual Completion Method,” death might be inevitable.

Knowing each other so well, Yue Tingxi could only hesitate briefly before Qin Sulu would roughly understand what she intended to hide.

Realizing she could not keep secrets, Yue Tingxi sighed, strangely relieved.

“I will succeed as the new World Consciousness, rewind time alone, correct tragic events at critical nodes, expend all my power to reinforce the world’s barriers, and then disperse my soul,” she said. “Returning the world to its beginning might consume enormous energy. I cannot yet guarantee that after handling the Book Management Bureau, I will have enough left to do this.”

It was Qiongqi’s reminder that gave her the idea to alter specific events at certain points in time alone.

“I cannot guarantee that what I do will be correct, nor predict whether changing these events will trigger a series of chain reactions… But just as you have always felt the need for redemption, I must also end the sins of Bashé and the World Consciousness,” Yue Tingxi said earnestly. “This is my own karma, so… I cannot take you with me.”

Qin Sulu gazed steadily at her.

“I also don’t know if the ‘Death-Bond Wedge’ will work in past time.”

“I will return before I can’t hold on,” Yue Tingxi immediately promised. “I won’t leave you to bear it alone!”

Qin Sulu said nothing, merely pulling her close.

“If you don’t make it back, I will keep living, for a long, long time.”

She promised not to end her life, while warning her already-determined partner: “You better not let me become the second Lord of Chuiyin City.”

Even if her lifespan ended and her cultivation could no longer be maintained, she would rather fall to being a ghost cultivator than die.

In that instant, Yue Tingxi recalled how the young lady had never lived alone in past cycles.

Every time, upon learning of Yue Tingxi’s death, Qin Sulu would follow to die alongside her.

Despite her fear of losing Yue Tingxi and being unable to bear her dying first, she now offered such a cruel promise to hold her back, to keep her.

Yue Tingxi opened her mouth to continue comforting her, but her voice choked.

In the end, she could only hold her beloved and cry together. Once Qin Sulu’s injuries stabilized, she said:

“Let’s go back. Lin Fengqing has healing elixirs that can make you feel better.”

Qin Sulu nodded, allowing her to form half of her snake body and curl up with her as they returned to the others.

“I won’t consume the divine pearls for now; they’re a hidden measure,” Yue Tingxi spoke along the way. “By the way… do you still want to see all the memories of past cycles?”

“…Yes,” Qin Sulu said, holding her neck. “I’ll get jealous if you show them to Lord Chuiyin first.”

Yue Tingxi coughed awkwardly. “It’s just… she’s already at the Great Ascension realm, right? I thought she wouldn’t accept it, that’s why I said it…”

“I want to see them,” Qin Sulu insisted. “When you show them is up to you.”

Yue Tingxi had already planned: “After defeating the Book Management Bureau and succeeding as the World Consciousness, I’ll use divine power to protect your soul before showing you. That way, it shouldn’t get corrupted.”

She felt a soft nudge on her ear and shivered involuntarily.

“I didn’t expect you all to return so quickly.”

Inside the illusionary main cabin, Lin Fengqing looked at them with surprise.

“We communicated directly via the mindlink, so it was faster,” Yue Tingxi explained. “But Sulu’s injuries don’t seem fully healed. Do you have any healing elixirs?”

Lin Fengqing pointed to a seat beside her, then produced a pulse-detecting pillow to examine Qin Sulu, followed by the appropriate elixirs.

“How much longer until we reach there?” Qin Sulu asked Qin Yingguang.

“Soon! First we need to reach the transmission array in this world to access the Book Management Bureau’s anchor point,” Qin Yingguang showed the dynamic map. “But it retains the invader’s life sign information. Even if his soul is alive, I cannot guarantee that after transmission, the original anchor will remain unchanged or avoid ambush by agents there.”

Before Qin Sulu could ask further, she added: “But don’t worry! The World Consciousness will pave the way, and all the energy we could gather has been stored!”

“Isn’t it still in the Xuan Shui Secret Realm?” Qin Sulu asked.

“Xie Zhi will become the vessel for the ‘Divine Descent,’” Qin Yingguang explained. “Don’t worry, they’ve already discussed it.”

Qin Sulu then looked at Xie Zhi, who had remained silent after sending off the World Consciousness’ projection.

She was the World Consciousness’ “sword,” wielded by it, but also destined to strike it after the dust settled.

As if confirming Qin Yingguang’s words, Xie Zhi slowly floated, appearing in a set of unfamiliar silver-gray battle armor.

Her bronze hair instantly turned snow white, and one of her eyes became a deep blue, like the sky and the sea.

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