Chapter 230: The Meat Grinder (End)

Chapter 230: The Meat Grinder (End)

After retrieving the Tree of Life from the central city, the two continued their journey to other regions in search of the seeds of the remaining six Trees of Life.

The research facilities housing these Trees of Life were spaced far apart. Each tree required vast amounts of energy. If they were kept together, not only would their conversion rate be slow, but their precursor forms were potent weapons. The initial proposers of transforming these weapons into Trees of Life were concerned about unforeseen severe consequences should they be placed too close.

Furthermore, any mishap in one location would jeopardize all hope.

It was a long journey.

Jie Fangcheng never found it dull along the way, mainly because he had movies to watch. Although his diet consisted only of variously flavored nutritional supplements, he didn't mind much.

Those days were special, as they were the only leisurely moments Jie Fangcheng had enjoyed since announcing his retirement.

The robot accompanying him possessed all the desirable qualities one could imagine. It would occasionally provide entertaining overviews of the world, almost like a witty and humorous presenter.

While the landscapes varied and the histories and cultures of the two worlds differed significantly, their core essence was the same.

The two discussed this topic.

Whether it was a world focusing on technological advancement or one leaning towards metaphysical magic and spiritual power, their operational principles remained consistent.

So, what did the leaders of the six guilds truly desire?

"Authority," the robot repeated, "Perhaps they seek not just authority within the game 'Three Thousand Worlds', but the genuine authority over the 'Three Thousand Worlds'."

"Like the Heavenly Dao?" Jie Fangcheng inquired.

In Jie Fangcheng's understanding, the Heavenly Dao epitomized a form of authority.

Were the guild leaders pursuing the power to replace the Heavenly Dao and dictate the rules of the small worlds?

Thinking of the daunting questions awaiting him once he left this world, Jie Fangcheng lamented, "I wish you could come out with me."

It wasn't the first time he had spoken these words, but this time, the robot's response was more straightforward.

"I, too, wish I could be with you always."

Having spent so much time together, Jie Fangcheng's understanding of the robot had profoundly deepened. Hearing these words from it, Jie Fangcheng paused momentarily.

"Why don't you uninstall that romantic expression template of yours?"

While the robot might not understand human emotions, it didn't mean it couldn't voice phrases filled with emotional undertones.

This was thanks to its powerful computational core, allowing it to download various templates.

Like when Jie Fangcheng felt bored. The robot had specifically downloaded a movie review template to discuss various easter eggs within films.

Incredibly convenient... yet oddly unsettling.

Knowing it's a robot, yet seeing it possess deeper insights than an average human was a strangely harmonious paradox.

The robot merely shook its head, "I haven't downloaded any romantic expression templates."

It took a moment for Jie Fangcheng to process this, and he scratched his head awkwardly.

The vast expanse of the continent required them to traverse almost its entirety in search of the seeds of the remaining six Trees of Life.

Resources, rare weapons, and even samples of pre-mutated flora and fauna were collected en route. The self-sufficient robot, with its energy converter, didn't need to return to Cangcui Island for replenishment.

However, another passenger in the vehicle woke up as they searched for the seed of the second Tree of Life.

The fallen elf has entirely lost her memories as a player. In her current recollection, she's a fortunate survivor in a research institute, saved by robots.

"Thank you. I promise to use my abilities to protect Cangcui Island," Little Seven said earnestly.

The very elf that once annoyed Jiefang Cheng has now become one of the strongest guardians under Yan Yun's command.

Having witnessed countless cycles of life and death, Manager Jie didn't find anything amiss.

Though many believe every person starts as a blank slate, that isn't quite the truth.

As one of the officials responsible for guiding souls in the underworld, Jiefang Cheng knows that every soul is inherently unique.

Before reincarnation, the underworld purges the malicious part of every soul. Once rid of malice, perhaps the soul can be considered as pure as a blank slate, innocent and unblemished.

However, on the journey from the underworld to the mortal realm, fragments of other souls can contaminate these pure souls even before they are reborn.

Some are fortunate, with minimal taint in their souls. Upon birth, they naturally gravitate towards kindness and righteousness.

Others aren't so lucky. Bad fragments infiltrate their pristine souls, leading to the so-called "born bad seeds."

This is what people often refer to as fate.

Generally, the purer the soul, the less it is swayed by external factors, making it more likely to achieve great things.

Conversely, those with more soul impurities might be unlucky from birth, even predisposed to malevolence.

This is why in ancient times fate was hard to alter, and the predictions in the Book of Life and Death were mostly accurate.

Back then, many lived isolated lives, with limited education and exposure to the world. Their understanding was confined to their immediate surroundings.

In an era where books were treasures, altering one's destiny was challenging.

But now, with technological advancements and the march of time, wisdom and knowledge once unreachable have become commonplace.

It's increasingly difficult for one's destiny to be preordained by "heavenly intentions."

An example stands beside Jiefang Cheng—Zhang Daoan.

Composed entirely of a malevolent ghost's soul, he should have been wicked from a young age, growing up to be a significant menace if he survived.

Yet, he not only matured into a respectable university professor but has also become one of the guardians of this fragile world, willingly sacrificing himself to be its final defense.

Though this fallen elf bears grudges against Jiefang Cheng, her memories and identity have been thoroughly altered, akin to being reborn.

Especially with Zhang Daoan present, Jiefang Cheng chose not to press the issue.

Robots have crafted a new identity for the fallen elf. Little Seven is no longer a player in the game but a survivor found in a research institute's ruins in this mini-world.

While such survivors are unheard of, Little Seven's formidable strength as a fallen elf is quite convincing.

After finding the second seed of the Tree of Life, Yan Yun sent the elf back to Cangcui Island.

Jie Fangcheng asked, "Aren't you worried she might wreak havoc on Cangcui Island?"

The robot just smiled and shook its head, "It's okay. Cangcui Island isn't defenseless."

Let's not forget, although this robot traveled with Jie Fangcheng, it still controlled an army of robots on Cangcui Island. No matter how powerful Xiao Qi might be, causing any mischief on the island was utterly impossible.

Professor Zhang has genuinely grown stronger.

Jie Fangcheng couldn't help but marvel internally.

By the time they collected the last seed of the Tree of Life, it had already been forty days since Jie Fangcheng arrived in this world.

When the two of them returned to Cangcui Island with the seven intact seeds of the Trees of Life, the island seemed as it always had.

However, the environment had deteriorated, with solar eclipses occurring more frequently.

After one such eclipse, Jie Fangcheng watched the robot plant the seven seeds of the Trees of Life around the perimeter of Cangcui Island, as he had requested.

"Let's plant them and see. If it doesn't work, we'll come up with something together," Jie Fangcheng said, pausing briefly before adding, "I mean, you come up with something, and I'll help you."

Hearing this, the robot seemed to chuckle.

The seeds of the Tree of Life weren't ordinary; they didn't need time to root and sprout.

The instant they were sown, seven towering trees intertwined, their green canopies casting a vast shadow over Cangcui Island, reminiscent of another elven forest.

For the first time in its history, the wind around Cangcui Island fell silent.

Yan Xun commented, "Planting the seeds is just the beginning. Now, with ample resources, we can use Cangcui Island as a base, expanding this forest across the entire continent bit by bit."

This would be a lengthy endeavor. It might take millennia, and there's a chance the Trees of Life can't resist the onslaught of the grinder. What they've accomplished might be ephemeral, and the collapse of this small world could be irreversible.

But awaiting doom is not humanity's ultimate fate.

Jie Fangcheng's mission was already complete.

Replicating the Eye of the Angel was straightforward. Given abundant resources, it was a mere trifle for Yan Xun.

Yet, while copying the Eye of the Angel was simple, crafting something else took him considerably longer.

"What's this?" Jie Fangcheng asked, holding a luminescent sphere resembling a seed from the Tree of Life.

Yan Xun replied, "A gift."

Jie Fangcheng touched the glowing orb, and a virtual screen promptly appeared.

Staring at the display, he exclaimed, "An AI robot?"

Yan Xun nodded, "Its creation is similar to the Eye of the Angel. I'm not sure if you can take it out."

Not knowing how the Three Thousand Worlds would classify this tool, the robot designed it closely to the Eye of the Angel's production process, which limited many functionalities, even its humanoid form.

"Its computational capabilities are somewhat limited, but if you ever face an insurmountable problem, it might offer you an alternative perspective."

Jie Fangcheng was left dumbfounded.

What kind of alternative perspective is this? It's clearly a cheat code for the future Manager Jie!

As Jie Fangcheng acquired the Angel's Eye, other players in the hunting ground also received a system notification.

In this kind of collective task within the hunting grounds, once a player completes it, even though the others are shown as having failed, they can also exit the grounds together.

The game system also thoughtfully gave players one hour for final "preparations"… Which means, during this last hour, if another player took the Angel's Eye from Jie Fangcheng, the task winner would change.

Just thinking about it reveals how malicious the underlying intention is. This one hour is clearly not, as the system claims, for players to rest. Is it promoting players to compete and turn on each other?

"It's possible this one hour is meant for the guardians inside the hunting ground." Yan Yun proposed another perspective.

This idea left Jie Fangcheng momentarily stunned.

"This game has some contradictions," Yan Yun explained. "While the instances offer life safety guarantees to players, they also confine them within specific boundaries, in essence, protecting this miniature world. This hour in the hunting ground also seems to be a restriction on players."

— Perhaps the original purpose of "Three Thousand Worlds" was indeed to save a collapsing microcosm.

Yan Yun's words made Jie Fangcheng reassess the game. Regardless of how he viewed it, the heads of the six major guilds were certainly not innocent.

"See you next time."

Time flew by, and Jie Fangcheng said goodbye to the robot with a smile.

The robot in front of him responded with a gentle nod, "Till next time."

Even though he couldn't understand the emotion of "parting", the robot reached out its hand, gently shaking hands with Jie Fangcheng, repeating, "Till next time."

A familiar white light illuminated before him.

But the next second, upon opening his eyes, Jie Fangcheng was taken aback.

Instead of the familiar game hall, there was a recognizable silhouette just passing by in front of him.

Catching something from the corner of his eye, the figure abruptly turned, a mix of shock and elation on seeing Jie Fangcheng.

"Brother Jie!" Qi Chanyang excitedly waved at him, dressed in the uniform of an underworld temp worker.

Apparently, during the time Jie Fangcheng was away from the Underworld, this meticulous man, who failed the civil servant exam in the real world, found the tricks to pass it here.

The Underworld is in chaos now, needing manpower more than ever. With a massive influx of players from "Do Not Respond," and each of these players being notoriously skilled. If they weren't committing crimes in the game, their real-life rap sheets were too tangled to decipher.

After all this time, the Underworld hasn't come up with a universally accepted solution.

As it stands, only those who committed crimes in the real world have been punished. The rest are waiting on due process, during which the Underworld has recruited some with higher ideological awareness, showing potential for civil service roles, so it's not surprising to see them working temporarily.

Most have now settled into a regular life in the Underworld.

Upon seeing Jie Fangcheng again, Qi Chanyang's myriad of thoughts condensed into one sentence: "Brother Jie, what are you doing here?"

Jie Fangcheng opened his mouth, his myriad of emotions also condensing into: "Damn, why am I here?"