Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 283 - 265 Night Talks Dong Che 2

Chapter 283: 265 Night Talks Dong Che 2

"Human civilization has grown and developed through the accumulation of countless experiences and knowledge. Even us demon hunters follow similar rules. Countless theories of Mysticism, knowledge of Spells, and cultivation—all are meant to help us manipulate Mana more proficiently," Dong Che continued to explain. "However, the nature of Mana might very well lie in the opposite direction. The more we learn, the more we are bound by the Knowledge Barrier, and the possibilities of Mana become increasingly limited.

"If accumulating experience and summarizing knowledge is the path of civilization and also the path that humans should follow, then Mana is clearly a force that deviates from humanity and opposes civilization."

His words resonated with my past experiences.

Sometimes, I too feel that my flame’s limits are not my true limits but the limits of my way of thinking. The reason my flame cannot achieve certain things roots in the belief that I have no reason to achieve them. And I cannot break free from such thinking.

This was especially apparent when I transformed Lu Chan’s essence—anachieved level demon hunter medal. When I thought less about it, I could easily decompose the silver medal into my flame to carry around. Now, I definitely can’t do the same because I realize it’s not my property.

Yinyue is terrifying precisely because she is not bound by human thinking, allowing Mana to produce many absurd effects. However, correspondingly, some things that humans can do, she might not be able to, although I have not observed it or maybe she has hidden it well.

In the end, Yinyue is also a sentient being and probably also has certain fixed patterns of thinking.

Those who can truly exploit the essence of Mana might not be the users with advanced intelligence, but rather the blind and foolish users.

"Experience and knowledge are a towering mountain. We reach the summit by climbing this mountain, but the mountain’s height also determines our limits. Therefore, when demon hunters achieve a certain level through cultivation, and reach the acme, if they want to go further, they must overcome their limits, that is, clear their Knowledge Barriers," said Dong Che. "This step is also called ’Postnatal returning to Prenatal.’ Those who step out successfully are at the rank of Great Success.

"Needless to say, this step is extremely difficult, equivalent to abandoning everything that made one stronger in the past. Jumping off a cliff results in death, much like asking someone jumping off a cliff to grow wings and fly upwards. Throughout history, I don’t know how many achieved realm...achieved-level demon hunters have failed at this step.

"Each breakthrough at the rank of Great Success is unreplicable; the path walked by predecessors, even if imitated, will lead to shattered pieces."

This is why the rank of Great Success is called "the demon hunter beyond demon hunters".

Transcend the common sense of demon hunters, climbing to the peak of the mountain and not stopping, but instead taking off into the sky... I suddenly understand why Mr. Zhu would say that if I only defeated Chen Long, it would seem unimpressive from Luo Mountain’s perspective, because Chen Long probably never had that kind of unreplicable breakthrough experience.

In fact, Chen Long does feel weaker to me than Divine Spear, and his "Teleportation Door armor" is filled with traces of contrivance under its powerful shell. Perhaps Chen Long isn’t truly at the rank of Great Success, but merely "possesses the combat power of that rank."

Perhaps Mazao also doubts himself in this way.

"But even at the rank of Great Success, doesn’t it seem that the infinite possibilities of Mana have not been displayed?" I question, "And if you say the difference between achieved level and Great Success lies in the Knowledge Barrier, then what is the difference between Great Success and Impermanence?"

"The rank of Great Success manipulates Mana not by experience and knowledge, but through transcendent intuition and instinct. Even intuition and instinct are not without limits," Dong Che carefully explains. "A bit disrespectfully stated, breaking through from achieved level to Great Success is just about fully unleashing the natural talent that couldn’t be completely utilized due to the Knowledge Barrier.

"As for the difference between Great Success and Impermanence... I’m not very clear on that, but there has always been a saying in Luo Mountain.

"If the unreplicable part from achieved level to Great Success is just the method of breakthrough, then Impermanence is unreplicable in its very existence."

"How so?" I’m curious.

"As mentioned earlier, the rank of Great Success is just the full release of a demon hunter’s innate talent. During the mythological era, some were born walking upright and speaking human language, while some showed divine signs even while still in their mother’s womb. Do you think their talents are the same as ordinary people’s?" Dong Che seems to be searching for examples, "Like Xuanming who defected from Luo Mountain... it’s said that he is Business Ancestor from thousands of years ago, and his birth is closely related to the celestial phoenix.

"Compared to such beings, the self-important demon hunters are just mundane mortals. Rather than calling him a human, it’s more accurate to say he is a natural-born god walking the earth in human flesh. From the beginning, he was qualified to become a God.

"Of course, not all Impermanences have such bizarre origins. There are also few who seem ordinary but later unbelievably become Impermanences. For instance, the Zhu family’s ancestor Zhu Yi, and also Old Fist God, Liu Shuying... Nevertheless, most demon hunters believe that they, too, were people who were qualified to become gods from the start.

"And Zhuang Cheng, you are the same.

"Although the mythological era is long past, the birth of gods might not have completely ended. There is a rumor in Luo Mountain that you might be the new Fire God born among humans after Xuanming."

Me?

Although I’m not particularly fond of this theory of "origins", I really have no grounds to directly refute him. After all, to claim that all my "power" comes from diligent learning and practice would not even convince myself one percent. From the beginning, I have possessed the power of Impermanence, just not fully unleashed yet, and I am clearer about this than anyone else.

However, to say that I am some "naturally-born Fire God", that probably still remains debatable.

Regarding the origin of my superpower, I’ve always had lingering doubts.

I might not be one of those naturally great people from Luo Mountain or, as Dong Che thinks.

"Zhuang Cheng, was my answer helpful to you?" Dong Che tentatively looked at my face.

I solemnly said, "It was helpful, thank you."

"That’s great," he said joyfully.

Then, he showed a curious expression and asked, "But, Zhuang Cheng, do you have other questions for me?"

Why do I keep encountering such intuitively sharp people... I grumbled inwardly as I answered, "Yes."

"What is it?"

A shadow fell across Dong Che’s face as he said, "Is it about my master?"

"Not about that. Even if I asked, you wouldn’t know the answer," I said.

Dong Che might be a pawn of Gua Tianshi—even knowing this, I have no intention of harming him. After all, under that assumption, he’s merely a victim manipulated by Gua Tianshi. Whether he will return to the banner of Transcendentalism Mountain or Gua Tianshi in the future, that’s a matter for later; I don’t want to use a possible future to address his present. Moreover, considering our current friendly relations, if Fu Feng intends to harm him, I might lend him a hand.

Even though he doesn’t seem human—at the sight of the obviously human Dong Che, I once again belatedly remembered this mystery.

At the same time, I voiced my question: "I wanted to ask you about Mazao. When she was with us, you kept secretly watching her, right?"

"Um... so you noticed?" he said, embarassedly.

I bluntly asked, "Do you like Mazao?"

Hearing this, he first fell silent, then shook his head, "At first, I thought it might be that but..."

"But?" I pressed.

"If I liked her, it seems I also quite like you," he said.

"—Ah?"

I probably became cautious of a boy several years younger than me for the first time, involuntarily taking a step back, then another.

Seeing this, Dong Che quickly explained, "No no no, I didn’t mean that!"

"You better not," I said.

"Actually, I don’t know why I was so focused on her, it’s just that I somehow feel very drawn to her. But, Zhuang Cheng, you also attract my attention a lot. Uh, how should I put it..." he said, distressed, "Sorry... I also don’t know how to explain to you, but I really didn’t mean it that way."

He looked quite troubled, but I had a clearer idea in my mind.

The reason he was drawn to Mazao was likely due to her Broom Star Physique attracting him, an otherworldly being. The same phenomenon occurring with me might either be because he truly admires me (awkward for me to say), or because the shared liability mechanism of the Broom Star Physique also made me attract otherworldly beings.

But, it still feels like something doesn’t add up. Why does Dong Che seem more focused on me than on Mazao? The strange attraction that occurs with me should be secondary to that with Mazao.

Thinking so, I inevitably became aware of more anomalies and contradictions—

When I was with Mazao, logically, she should have attracted a plethora of bizarre incidents. Indeed, she did attract many strange events, yet somehow, almost none targeted her directly, but came at me through my associations.

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