Apocalyptic Era: Starting from picking up a Bishoujo
Chapter 624 - 584 The Way Out

Chapter 624: 584 The Way Out

Although Xuanming isn’t as ancient as the Gua Tianshi, he is an Impermanence existing since ancient times, with a life scale and perspective vastly different from ours. Moreover, he grew up in a cultural background entirely unlike that of modern society, which makes the foundation of his values radically divergent. To empathize with such a character is indeed challenging for both Little Bowl and me.

However, since it’s likely we’ll directly clash with him in the future, even though we know it’s difficult, we can only speculate about his mindset by putting ourselves in his shoes. Why did Xuanming remind Little Bowl, aside from my previous guess of "can’t bear to watch"—could there be other reasons?

For Xuanming, who came from an era where human sacrifices were deemed normal, capturing people for sacrificial purposes might have been understood and viewed as a legal process by both the captor and the captive, whereas this is not the case in modern times.

From the standpoint of a character maliciously sacrificing others, this might be considered a "convenient era full of ignorant fat sheep." Yet, compared to such actions, Xuanming might care more about the "state things ought to have." Perhaps he doesn’t want to execute "without teaching"—does this phrase suit here? Hence, he might have some actions that modern people can’t comprehend, hoping Little Bowl can develop basic self-awareness.

These are just my personal views. Through such exploration, I gradually realize that in fact, I know nothing about Xuanming. Despite having met several times and even briefly clashed, and having investigated much information, the image of the other party remains vague in my heart.

After our conversation ended for now, we called No. 7 from afar. Just in case, as Little Bowl suggested, we confirmed with No. 7 whether the information Little Bowl had leaked to the Evangelical Institute was from them. Naturally, it wasn’t.

"We’ve worked together on the battlefield, yet you still don’t trust me? That kind of hurts my feelings." No. 7’s tone became more casual compared to when we first met.

"One thing at a time. If conditions allow verification, it should be done properly, not bypassed just for the sake of petty things like face. Besides, we’re not exactly familiar with each other, are we?" I pointed out, "Or, are you planning to reveal the truth about your relationship with the Master of Divine Seal to us?"

Upon hearing that, No. 7 began talking evasively, saying: "Right... since we’ve obtained the technical data from ’Du Shuo Mountain,’ isn’t it time for us to move to the next phase? Return to the Living World, deliver the technology data to No. 5 Wei Chi from the Fa Zheng camp... But to return, we must infiltrate the Evangelical Institute headquarters and utilize the Du Shuo Mountain array there..."

"—That’s unnecessary." Little Bowl interrupted.

"What?" No. 7 paused.

Little Bowl looked at me and said: "Brother Zhuang Cheng, I should be able to guide you to the direction where the underground chamber on the fifteenth floor is located, leading you to the junction between that chamber and the Post-mortem World."

"This ’underground chamber on the fifteenth floor,’ you’ve mentioned it before, right? What exactly is it?" No. 7 asked in confusion.

Since I’ve brought it up right in front of her before, there was no need to avoid it at the moment. Although it’s a dubious partnership, it’s still a partnership, and future collaboration might be possible. Therefore, I explained directly to her, also including the principle of traveling to the real world through the underground chamber on the fifteenth floor.

After listening, No. 7 appeared stunned, muttering to herself: "...Is this possible? Is it reasonable?"

"Then... Little Bowl, I’ll rely on you for the next step."

I turned to Little Bowl, extending my palm. Little Bowl raised her small hands, holding my palm, starting to establish Spiritual Synchronization with me.

An experience reminiscent of pulling up a cup telephone between us surfaced in my heart once more. The emotional fluctuations within Little Bowl’s heart faintly echoed from the other end, like listening to the tides inside a conch shell; I believed she could also hear my inner voice at this moment.

With the task at hand, I didn’t let myself eavesdrop on Little Bowl’s inner voice but focused intently on the candlelight in the underground chamber on the fifteenth floor. Little Bowl used her power to strengthen the connection between me and the candlelight. It wasn’t much different from when we first met in this "Doomsday Era," except this time, Little Bowl’s power had become much stronger.

No... using "stronger" to describe it is inadequate. Little Bowl’s power hasn’t increased; to be precise, this strength has become more "clear."

What she said wasn’t wrong in the past, the Power of Heaven and Earth requires clarity in positioning oneself between heaven and earth. Those who don’t even know who they are can’t fully unleash this power. Even if the absolute value of strength doesn’t change, discrepancies and disharmonies will exist. Like failing to find the state needed for a run-up in jumpers. Now, she has finally corrected this deficiency.

This clear power brought unprecedented clarity to my connection with the candlelight in the basement. It felt like piercing through the last layer of window paper, creating a definite sense of direction in my heart.

Strictly speaking, this sense of direction didn’t originate from within me but from Little Bowl’s heart. I merely shared the experience through Spiritual Synchronization.

"It’s wonderful, we found the direction, Brother Zhuang Cheng!" Little Bowl exclaimed joyfully.

Her faint anxiety was perceptible. What if even now she was unable to find the direction of the underground chamber on the fifteenth floor, disappointing my expectations—attuned through Spiritual Synchronization, I captured such emotion from her. She finally exhaled, slightly relaxing her shoulders’ tension.

Once the direction was locked, we left the gas station and started moving.

In the Post-mortem World where sunrise, sunset, and a sky full of stars don’t exist, the concept of east, south, west, and north is absent. Additionally, the surrounding scenes change unpredictably, making it difficult to describe in words which direction we’re heading.

With my current resolution on the temporal and spatial aspects of the Post-mortem World, I could also deploy the Power of Heaven and Earth. Using the power of Heaven and Earth, I could stabilize the surrounding space-time, ensuring it doesn’t change on a whim. Considering our current movement needs, coupled with Little Bowl’s Right Positioning Heavenly Phenomena allowing proximity to desired locations even amidst scene switches, though this chaotic fluctuation of space-time instead aids in quicker arrival at our destination.

What initially caused headaches for the Doomsday survivor group is now our "convenient transportation tool," much like a non-swimmer turning into a competent swimmer. Such remarkable progress makes me feel as if I am constantly conquering the "Doomsday Era."

Looking at the fact that I killed the "Great Demon," the King of Apocalypse, and the "human god" at the pinnacle of Doomsday monks, if the "Doomsday Era" were likened to a single-player game, I evidently have advanced the progress to a considerable degree.

Maybe it’s truly time for me to leave here... The thought naturally arose within me. Some time ago, I struggled hesitantly over whether to stay in the "Doomsday Era;" now it feels like there’s no longer a reason to hesitate. Perhaps I’m even more fickle than I imagined.

This realization may stem from the fact that this "Doomsday Era" isn’t how I initially perceived it, plus knowing too many key truths, making it impossible to view the world through past lenses. The me who first arrived was facing an apocalyptic earth, whereas now I am facing the Evangelical Institute in the Post-mortem World, the human massacre plan, and the potential conflict with Luo Mountain the Living World.

This works well, I tell myself. What I seek wasn’t the devastating result of the apocalypse but the colorful changes throughout the apocalypse’s unfolding. The various disputes unfolding before me are precisely the stage I want to see.

Yet, my heart carries another voice. It’s a mocking voice—I have never been a detached spectator, but one of the participants on stage, and on this stage, there are more than one of those I care about.

Over time, the number of people I care about steadily increases. Initially just one friend, Changan, now there’s Mazao, Zhu Shi, Little Bowl, and Mr. Zhu and Lu Chan, those who display goodwill or pledge allegiance to me...

I critically reflect on my inner self, trying to question: How long can you maintain this "act according to whims" approach, Zhuang Cheng? Would you truly remain without regret until the last moment, while everything beautiful and important you possess is ravaged by the apocalypse?

Was the resolve in the underground chamber on the fifteenth floor truly born from my inner strength, or was it because at the time I had few attachments, thus allowing such an uninhibited and carefree mindset?

This self-questioning now isn’t out of hesitation and fear but from a quest-like mentality. I want to know, amidst real danger, despair, and deadly circumstances, what color my soul displays. These are problems impossible to verify in mundane life, yet the apocalypse can reveal them to me.

While carefully examining my mind, I clearly perceive that we’re getting closer to the underground chamber’s location, and the Post-mortem World exit seems close at hand.