Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 343: Return to reality at episode 319

Chapter 343: Return to reality at episode 319

Looking back and scrutinizing Changan’s demeanor anew, one can discern a sense of discord.

From his position as Yinyue, he only needed to instill in me the notion that "If I want to save Changan, I cannot destroy Yinyue." However, he said something superfluous, as if trying to negate my friendship with Changan.

This approach was of no benefit to him; the more I cared about Changan, the more advantageous it was for him. It was apparent that though he was selectively expressing Changan’s inner feelings, he himself was also driven to some extent by the same selective emotions, wanting to question my friendship with Changan. Was it because he harbored other deep-seated intentions, or was it because the soul burns I caused to Yinyue were indeed so severe that he exhibited such a contradictory demeanor?

"What do you mean when you say you can’t erase Changan’s memories?" I asked.

"It’s because they are extremely important memories, so I cannot erase them," Changan said, to my surprise.

"In your eyes... In the eyes of a demon who has lived for countless centuries, the less than twenty years you spent as Changan... are they something precious?"

Even as I spoke those words, I found them unbelievable.

"Don’t misunderstand; the emotional exchanges among you humans are worthless to me. What I value are ’my own’ memories," Changan said, "I have investigated the historical records of Moon Concealing Mountain and have seen all aspects of your battles with Water Navy Xuanwu. I never would have thought that you would truly be an Innate Manifestation, that Innate Manifestation actually exists...

"True Spirit, Dream, Reincarnation, and Manifestation... These legendary states are all somewhat related to the ’verification of self.’ Although your Manifestation isn’t a true Manifestation in the traditional sense, you must have had some simple revelations about your own state.

"Even if your body has been destroyed, and your soul ceases to exist, then where is ’I’? Other than ’I’, what in this world can be believed?"

"So that’s how it is... I understand what you mean now," I seemed to grasp his true intent, "You are a demon able to turn illusion into reality... or rather, you have the power to manipulate the real world as if it were but a dream, so from your perspective, everything in this world is fleeting, with only the self being true and substantial..."

Changan said with a deep voice, "I wasn’t always capable of turning illusion into reality. In my weaker days, all I had was the power to create illusions.

"Later, I challenged the path of proving my True Spirit, gradually comprehending the meaning of having form and formlessness, evolving my ’power to create illusions’ into a ’superpower that turns illusion into reality.’

"And so, I realized that the world we live in is but a grand dream, that material things are mere illusions, with only our consciousness being real... No, even our ’self’ might be a false entity..."

Toward the end, an emotion of fear crept into his voice.

I couldn’t understand his words. During the time I lost my body and soul, my deepest realization was that ’self is self-evident.’ Although I couldn’t prove its location, there is no more convincing reality than the existence of the self. This principle applies not only to me and Yinyue but also to everyone in this world. Yet he spoke of the self as something not trustworthy—what does that mean?

"...Anyway, I can accept the end of my own life, and depending on the circumstances, even the annihilation of the self," Changan took a deep breath.

"That doesn’t seem right," I challenged, "The Ancient Moon God told me that your most fundamental wish is the most basic desire of a living being, which is survival, or in other words, the continuation of self... Yet you speak of accepting the extinction of the self?"

"That’s why Ancient Moon was incapable of becoming my retribution body. The most basic desire of living beings is survival? She isn’t even a being, but rather a phenomenon, a faith spirit, hence the misunderstanding of what is a living being’s basic desire," he sneered, "My most fundamental wish is indeed the most basic desire of me as a living being, but that desire is not survival, but reproduction.

"For the sake of passing on their genetic material, some organisms’ males will feed themselves to the females, some organisms will consciously die when they grow old to free up resources for the younger ones. Once a living thing completes the mission of reproduction, its survival becomes nonessential for the species.

"For me, ’reproduction’ isn’t about passing down genetic material—that’s just transient matter. What I intend to pass on is the spiritual essence I have accumulated, which is my memories.

"Therefore, I will never allow any loss of the memories I have accumulated, nor will I ever apply any deletions myself. Even ’I’ could be false, only memories could become the ’genetic material’ symbolizing me."

What he described as the falseness of self did not seem to refer to the real Yinyue being long gone, with himself merely being another Yinyue. Instead, it hinted at some deeper foundational fear—seemingly related to his pursuit of "the path to prove True Spirit."

Just when I wanted to delve deeper, suddenly, the surroundings shifted, a surge of unknown force encroaching from the edges of my vision.

I reflexively thought it was Changan manipulating the dream, attempting to divert my attention with his discourse and plot his escape. However, I didn’t need to observe closely to know the truth was otherwise. The unforeseen force that had appeared was clearly beyond Yinyue’s capabilities.

What emerged from all directions was a grey mist.

Like dry ice smoke dispensed by stage equipment, the grey mist billowed from all sides, enveloping Changan and me.

This is the grey fog of the Void Realm!

Even "Changan" himself showed a surprise, then thoughtfully said, "...Is it him. He still refuses to let me go even now..."

It seems like the grey fog is trying to drive me out of this dream.

The power of the Void Realm doesn’t appear for no reason, most likely Ying Lingyun is utilizing the Power of Divine Seal Fragments from the outside to invade this dream along some pathway.

But...this makes no sense. Why would Ying Lingyun’s Power of Divine Seal Fragments appear at this moment?

If he has a way to directly transmit the Power of Divine Seal Fragments to Yinyue’s Spirit World from the outside, then it meant Yinyue has never escaped his palm from the beginning. Although I am not clear to what extent he can actually utilize the Power of Divine Seal Fragments, just the presence of the grey fog capable of sealing all superpower, capturing Yinyue shouldn’t take much effort.

Considering the Water Navy Xuanwu was able to accurately locate Moon Concealing Mountain, Ying Lingyun must be able to grasp her whereabouts through his understanding of Yinyue. Therefore, he might not even need to hire the Water Navy Xuanwu; he could capture Yinyue himself. Given his past deeds, however, it’s hard to believe he truly possesses the ability to manipulate the grey fog at will.

Setting those aside, could it be that Ying Lingyun has done something to Yinyue from the outside while I’m invading her Spirit World? I immediately try to observe the outside world, but it seems the grey fog has interfered, I inexplicably cannot connect smoothly to the external flames and heat.

At the same time, I exert all my strength to unleash flames, attempting to disperse the surrounding grey fog. The Fire Sea roared, devouring the dark zones, entangling with the grey fog. And in the midst of the flames, the grey fog, which could seal superpower, actually paused for a second or two, then the flames still could not resist and were extinguished completely within the grey fog.

Even with the force of Impermanence’s territory, facing the power of the divine seal’s grey fog, I find myself helplessly constrained.

The grey fog gradually obstructed my vision.

And at the last, "Changan" sent me a voice message.

"Ah Cheng, as you said before, those complaints of yours are just a small part of all my emotions," he said. "But conversely, those complaints are also real troubles of my existence.

Though they only occupy a corner of my mind, just like I can’t kill you, it’s impossible for me as Yinyue’s spirit to be perfect. Facing such a colossal entity as Yinyue, the slightest hairline crack within me as Changan will be magnified ten thousand times, turning into an impassable chasm.

"So, Ah Cheng...

"Later, I’ll put in extra effort to give this dead fox Yinyue some displeasure in her heart, and you better remember to give your brother a hand!"

Changan’s shameless voice rang out loudly through the grey fog. I could affirm, that wasn’t Yinyue, but Changan. I was taken aback for a moment, then I also responded loudly: "Isn’t that obvious?"

Changan seemed to smile.

Then, the grey fog completely engulfed me.

-

When I opened my eyes again, the scene has returned to the devastated peak of Moon Concealing Mountain. Yinyue had disappeared from my sight at some point, leaving me standing alone and isolated on this mountainous land.

Where did Yinyue go?

She wouldn’t have left on her own, which means someone took her away.

How could this be possible? Even though my entire attention was focused on Yinyue’s Spirit World just now, with my current intuition and Perception, I should have noticed if someone had approached Yinyue during that time, even from within the Spirit World.

Let alone Ying Lingyun himself, even Yinyue at her peak wouldn’t dream of taking someone right under my watch. How could such a thing happen...

Stay calm, it’s not time to give up yet.

There should still be remnants of the heat I left in Yinyue’s body.

I close my eyes and carefully sense the thermal energy marker I left inside her body.