Light Fortress
Chapter 685 - 192: The Whole World Knows Him

Chapter 685: Chapter 192: The Whole World Knows Him

"If there hadn’t been Gu Changzhi, there would be no me today... The journey back here from the falling mothership was very distant, and he was on a mission at that time, taking me with him, facing countless hardships, and it took him great effort," said Qianye with a smile.

Her soft voice continued, "To me, he was the only remaining light in the ruins of the Old World."

If it hadn’t been for Gu Changzhi opening up the hibernation pod, she would have died within the remains of that mothership.

"..."

Chu Ling listened quietly, somewhat touched, but she didn’t know what to say.

No wonder Qianye would rather wait in the cemetery for twenty years, just to see Gu Changzhi once more.

In her world, he might be the only person left to wait for.

"The reason I stay in Qingzhong is that there is nowhere for me to go."

Qianye said gently, "I’ve gotten used to solitude; although this world is vast, with five continents that you cannot see the ends of, none is home to me... I prefer to wait in a place where he exists, even if he is out of sight, that’s enough for me."

This, then, is contentment.

Fate, it toys with people...

The person who waited longingly, only got to see him once when their life was about to end.

Compared to them, I am one in a thousand, a lucky one.

Chu Ling looked towards Gu Shen under the distant tree, her gaze also softening.

"About your secret... actually, I’ve guessed a large part of it," said Master Qianye with a smile, and she added leisurely, "I want to ask you a question if I leave Qingzhong, would you be willing to devote a part of your efforts to taking charge of the array patterns of this cemetery for me?"

Chu Ling was slightly startled.

The Tomb Guardian’s words were very conservative.

If she had guessed a large part... it’s highly likely that she’d guessed it all.

After all, the biggest secret was that she came from the deep water area.

Chu Ling didn’t deny it but instead smiled frankly and nodded, "Of course, even if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have taken the initiative to take over the tomb array patterns."

In fact, this secret wasn’t necessary to hide from Qianye.

Moreover, as far as the array patterns were concerned, it wasn’t troubling for Chu Ling.

The "source code" spirit could be divided into countless parts as long as the computational power permitted it.

There did not even need to be a physical presence—

As long as the "Spiritual Link" within the cemetery was connected.

Her consciousness could immerse in this place through 001, take charge of the array patterns, and it wasn’t difficult.

It only required a bit of her attention.

Furthermore, just maintaining the daily operations of the cemetery wasn’t a big drain on the spirit.

For Chu Ling, she merely needed to allocate a small part of the computational power from the deep water area to easily fulfill this task.

If the three academies and the five big clans of Da Du knew that the cemetery could be controlled through "Deep Sea," they would surely be very happy.

Qianye got her answer.

Her expression was solemn as she said to Chu Ling, "Thank you."

"It is I who should thank you," Chu Ling shook her head, "for your care of Gu Shen this past year, and the grace you have shown me... I have no way to repay you."

Being able to learn the ancient runes and the divination skill used to guide fate on the array patterns of the cemetery were things she couldn’t even dare to dream of in 001.

Qianye reached out her hand and gently rubbed Chu Ling’s head.

The motion was delicate, and it radiated warmth.

She smiled and said, "Having you as a disciple, I am very proud."

Chu Ling also smiled.

But there was a hint of bitterness in her smile.

On her first day of being human, she had to experience "leaving"... a feeling that was hard to bear.

"Although you... are extraordinarily gifted, there are still some things I have to say," Qianye spoke softly, "Divination is no kind technique; such forbidden arts that foresee the future and spy on fate, those who use it will have to pay a price sooner or later, even if you have a special way to avoid some of it, but there will come a day when you must face it."

Previously, she had seen the scene of Chu Ling using divination.

The destiny gold threads, separating from this body.

But because of the body’s "special" nature.

The agony of fleshly division, unbearable for mere mortals, didn’t seem to count for much to Chu Ling.

After divination, those gold threads could even return to their original place.

It seemed as if she hadn’t paid any price.

But actually... it wasn’t so.

"I know," said Chu Ling, nodding slowly.

She looked down at her palms; at the moment, her snow-white, delicate fingers showed faint signs of uncontrollable diffusion.

Her body was not a human one.

It was pieced together from "Extraordinary Essence."

Therefore, in theory, the "flesh and blood" cost demanded by divination is invalid for Chu Ling.

Her spirit endures, her body eternal.

But... fate marks a price on every gift it gives; one cannot simply escape paying the bill.

"Your body seems to need a great amount of Extraordinary Essence to sustain it," Qianye said deeply, "If I’m not mistaken... this body cannot last forever in this world, but that doesn’t mean you will die."

Chu Ling smiled.

This was something she hadn’t yet had the chance to tell Gu Shen.

Indeed it was so.

The "Divine Embryo" cultivated on Divine Temple Mountain had succeeded, but once it left that mountain realm, without the replenishment from Black Flower, the body would slowly dissipate, and using divination undoubtedly accelerated this process significantly.

Mortality encompasses birth, aging, sickness, death.

But she... seemed not to, at least for the moment, the price of divination doesn’t truly kill her.

"You must be very careful... the cost of using divination is not so easily evaded," Qianye cautioned.

The Tomb Guardian seriously said, "Perhaps you and Gu Shen will encounter other Forbidden Techniques in the future... Each one has unimaginably negative effects."

Divination Skill, sacrificing flesh and blood.

Prayer Technique, feeding lifespan.

Besides these, there are other Forbidden Techniques?

Chu Ling responded with equal seriousness, "Okay, I will remember."

...

...

"Mr. Gu Changzhi, my ’Pure Land’ can hold onto Tie Wu... Can’t it hold onto you as well?"

Elsewhere.

Gu Shen and Gu Changzhi stood side by side, asking somewhat unwillingly to let go.

"Are you talking about the Angel Envoy of the Wine God? We are not like him."

Gu Changzhi cast his gaze into the distance; he seemed to see through the spiritual barrier of this world, catching a glimpse of Tie Wu who was detained far away.

Gu Changzhi chuckled softly, "Pure Land indeed can bear the spirits of the deceased, and spirit, such a thing, has no unit of measure. Adding a single strand, the cost of bearing it multiplies exponentially..."

At this point, Gu Shen understood.

It wasn’t that Pure Land couldn’t bear Gu Changzhi or Qianye.

It was just that he was not strong enough yet.

"To bear my spirit would be much more difficult than bearing a thousand of him."

Gu Changzhi patted Gu Shen on the shoulder and smiled, "That’s something even the previous Netherworld King could not achieve. However... anything is possible. Perhaps one day in the future, you will be able to."

This was an effective analogy.

Gu Shen didn’t speak again.

Gu Changzhi’s spirit... He had stood in the Golden Divine Domain and experienced it for himself.

It could only be said that, for now, Pure Land was far from able to accommodate the soul of such a figure.

As for Master Qianye, if Gu Changzhi was destined to dissipate, then she would not live alone either.

"I... I don’t understand."

After a long silence.

Gu Shen raised his head, looking earnestly into Gu Changzhi’s eyes and asked, "How can a being as powerful as you just die like this?"

He had slept in Qingzhong for twenty years.

This sleep had lasted a lifetime.

Who would have thought that such a radiant figure would fade away like this...

"I want to know what happened twenty years ago!"

Gu Shen took a deep breath and said, "Was it because of the battle in the Old World with the previous Netherworld King?"

Now, those waiting outside the cemetery don’t yet know the news of Gu Changzhi’s fall!

They might still be celebrating that Gu Changzhi, with his own power, defeated and repelled the two Divine Thrones from the Source Tower!

Once this news of death spreads... it will be an incomparably huge shock for the Gu family, for Changye, and for the entire East Continent!

Seeing Gu Changzhi silent.

Gu Shen clenched his teeth and pulled out the Truth Ruler, "Is it because of this? If this is an evil weapon, I can destroy it!"

Gu Changzhi shook his head.

"It has nothing to do with the Ruler."

A complex expression appeared on his face, and his voice was a bit hoarse, "My battle with the Netherworld King... wasn’t that complicated. The Wine God indeed glimpsed some scenes from the Divine War, but the truth is not what he thought it was."

"The out-of-control Netherworld King and I fought for three days and three nights at the ruins outside the North Continent."

"In the end... it was he who broke free from the ’out-of-control’ state and voluntarily asked me to kill him."

Gu Shen was stunned.

The information in these words was simply too vast.

The Netherworld King lost control... and voluntarily broke free of that state?

Breaking free from loss of control already violated the Extraordinary Iron Law recognized by the Federation Government!

"Killing a Divine Throne is not easy. The Netherworld King and the God of Wine are not on the same level."

Gu Changzhi lowered his eyes slightly and said softly, "Because he sought death, I was able to kill him... and after the great battle, I brought this spark back to the Qingzhong Cemetery. I only suffered some minor injuries in the battle with the Netherworld King, which were not fatal."

"So... when you returned to Changye, you were really just sleeping..."

Gu Shen murmured.

Once more, Gu Changzhi shook his head.

He said hoarsely, "Before the battle with the Netherworld King... I was already doomed to be a dead man."

"???"

Gu Shen’s pupils contracted.

"Twenty years ago, the Federation Government, through Deep Sea, delegated an SSS-level mission to me."

Gu Changzhi paused for a moment, then laughed at himself, "The mission was to leave the North Continent Fortress and go to the collapsing order of the Old World... to capture an unprecedented heavyweight fugitive."

"SSS-level..."

Gu Shen didn’t know what else to say.

He was familiar with Deep Sea’s mission rating system. A Titled Level fugitive had already been enough to be labeled as "S-level," the most significant dangerous mission that could be assigned to official institutions, where mishandling could lead to the destruction and devastation of an entire city.

The "S-level" Xiao operation consumed a great deal of effort and personnel in the Dadu District, before it was resolved.

SS-level, Gu Shen had never even heard of it... Was this a threat to an entire large area?

Then what about SSS-level?

He couldn’t think of anyone else across the Five Continents who would be deemed worthy by Mr. Gu Changzhi as a "heavyweight fugitive."

"The whole world knows him."

Gu Changzhi said softly, "My old friend, Allen Turing."

...

...

(PS: That’s all for tonight. I’m adjusting my biological clock.)