Chapter 248: The Main Text Concludes

Chapter 248: The Main Text Concludes

"My heart is immortal; may his be so as well."

Lu Yan was imprisoned in the Nix Interface for ten thousand years, an endless space of perpetual night filled with countless chaotic stories. His task was to correct these disrupted narratives until the ten thousand years had passed.

Xi Nian also received punishment for altering others' destinies without authorization, though his sentence was relatively shorter at five thousand years.

This duration might seem long to ordinary people, but for temporal managers, it was commonplace. The space station was cold and lifeless, always filled with monotonous boredom that bordered on silence, making any place feel the same.

Time was the most abundant thing in the space station.

Day after day, Lu Yan corrected those complex stories, losing track of time. He felt like an unrelenting machine, working tirelessly until the door of the Nix Interface finally opened when he was near breaking point.

That sudden light piercing through the darkness was blinding.

Lu Yan stared at the doorway, unmoving, until a familiar figure appeared outside.

Xi Nian had completed his punishment and stood outside, gesturing to Lu Yan with a deep voice that seemed to induce a sense of disorientation:

"Ten thousand years have passed, Lu Yan. You can come out now."

Many things happened during those ten thousand years. For instance, the executive officer had retired. Given that both Lu Yan and Xi Nian had violated regulations, her position was not handed over to either of them but instead to a deputy sovereign from the dark realm.

However, what Lu Yan cared about most was the outcome concerning Ying Wujiu...

Xi Nian led him to the virtual space overseeing the three thousand worlds, where countless egg-sized orbs floated around them. Each orb represented a world and the fates of countless individuals.

"Lu Yan, you need to understand that ten thousand years in the space station equate to fifty thousand years in the human world. Even if your heart is immortal, it will still be subject to the suppression of the Heavenly Dao."

Upon hearing this, Lu Yan's heart skipped a beat, a foreboding feeling rising within him: "What happened to Ying Wujiu?"

Xi Nian flicked his finger, and one of the orbs slowly flew into his hand. This was the world where Ying Wujiu existed. Unlike the other orbs, which were clear blue, this one had a blood-like hue:

"He didn't change much. He suddenly attained enlightenment, ascended to immortality, and forgot all worldly affairs."

Perhaps to prevent Lu Yan from dwelling on the human's mistakes, Xi Nian spoke casually.

When Lu Yan gave his heart to Ying Wujiu, the latter was resurrected and regained his full strength, becoming the only person in that world to touch upon immortality. However, Ying Wujiu spent his time traveling the human world searching for Lu Yan, never ascending even until death.

In the first millennium, celestial phenomena changed, and a heavenly ladder descended over the Azure Abyss Sea, yet Ying Wujiu ignored it.

In the second millennium, the gates of heaven opened again, descending another heavenly ladder, but Ying Wujiu avoided it once more.

In the third millennium, everyone began to die slowly, reaching the limits of cultivation. To achieve immortality, there was no other way than to ascend. Despite having an immortal heart, Ying Wujiu could only live ten thousand years longer than others.

Heaven descended the heavenly ladder for Ying Wujiu again, but he remained in seclusion in the Southern Mountains, rejecting the gates of heaven once more.

Millennium after millennium, ten thousand years after ten thousand years, Ying Wujiu eventually became the most profound and mysterious existence in the three realms, even becoming an object of envy among mortals—

For in those tens of thousands of years, the heavenly ladder had descended thirty-three times for this mortal.

Yet, Ying Wujiu never chose to ascend. His footprints covered famous mountains and rivers, resolving disasters and bringing peace to the world, causing people to forget he was once a notorious demon lord. Instead, they erected temples and statues in his honor, ensuring his worship continued.

Initially, Ying Wujiu had five guardians by his side, but over time, he was left alone.

Others knew that this revered lord seemed to be waiting for someone, but no one knew who could make Ying Wujiu reject the heavenly ladder thirty-three times. This secret would remain unknown because, in the thirty-thousandth year, Ying Wujiu transcended in the Azure Abyss Sea.

Ordinary humans live for a hundred years, cultivators for a thousand, and ancient beasts for ten thousand. Ying Wujiu, neither ascending nor becoming immortal, managed to extend his life for thirty thousand years through cultivation, reaching his limit.

It seemed he did not want others to covet his remains and treasures,

but neither did he wish to vanish without waiting for the one to come.

Rumors said Ying Wujiu submerged his body in the sea, casting a lifelong curse with his cultivation, turning the Azure Abyss Sea into a forbidden zone for the three realms, where no living being could enter, and no demons could disturb, awaiting the destined one to break the seal.

But others thought the destined one would never arrive, as thirty thousand years had already passed. Could he wait forever?

Lu Yan was unaware of all this. Hearing Xi Nian say that Ying Wujiu had ascended and forgotten all worldly matters, he felt a sudden emptiness in his heart, instinctively touching his chest: "That... sounds good."

Yes, ascending to immortality is the best outcome for a cultivator.

Lu Yan couldn't pinpoint his feelings. He tried to sense it with his heart, but after a moment, he slowly realized he no longer had a heart.

Xi Nian looked at him and said, "I will plead with the new executive officer to let you manage the temporal realms again. Don't make foolish mistakes anymore."

Lu Yan was taken aback: "New executive officer?"

As he spoke, the sound of high heels echoed outside, steady and seductive. A tall woman with a snake-like waist appeared at the door. Unlike the previous executive officer's stern platinum uniform, she wore a black uniform adorned with purple crystals. Her face was alluring, her eyes a deep purple, drawing anyone who looked at her in, sending chills down their spines.

Xi Nian bowed and greeted her: "Lady Cessia."

The space station oversees three thousand worlds, and besides the stellar executive officer, there is another deputy sovereign named Cessia.

It is said she is the remnant soul force of a fallen angel from another realm, possessing the darkest powers and controlling the source of desire. She enjoys leading people to corruption, adopting a completely different approach from the stellar executive officer.

In short, she is not easy to deal with.

Lu Yan knew Cessia and guessed that perhaps she had taken over the space station after the executive officer's retirement. It wasn't surprising since they had always shared the responsibility. He subtly frowned and bowed respectfully: "Lady Cessia."

Cessia was a deadly beautiful woman. She paced around Lu Yan in her high heels, her red lips curling slightly, her voice low and husky: "Lu Yan, congratulations. Ten thousand years seems too long, doesn't it? I've told Bai Er before that such punishment was too harsh."

Bai Er was the previous stellar executive officer.

You could interpret this as Cessia sowing discord.

Lu Yan bowed: "Lady Cessia, it was the punishment I deserved."

Cessia made an interested sound, twirling her wavy hair with her slender fingers, every movement captivating: "But that was Bai Er's punishment, not mine. Shouldn't I give you a chance to be punished as well, Lu Yan?"

Xi Nian's expression changed slightly as he stepped forward. "Lady Cessia..."

Lu Qin subtly blocked Xi Nian. "Lady Cessia, we are very willing to hear your guidance."

Cessia had always been sinister; otherwise, she wouldn't be in charge of the Dark Department. If Lu Qin had known she had taken over the position of the executioner, he would have preferred to stay inside for another ten thousand years. Of course, it would be even better if she sent him far away, because working under Cessia was an extremely painful experience.

This woman enjoyed chaos and evil, and she relished in devouring pain.

Cessia chuckled softly, her gaze incredibly alluring. "Bai Er really cares about you. For such a major mistake, you were only punished with solitary confinement. If it were me, I would have made you reincarnate a hundred times in the world of books."

She suddenly changed the subject. "However, you've always been diligent. Such punishment seems too harsh. Lu Qin, how about being reincarnated seven times in the Torture Literature Department? I'll temporarily seal your memory. If you can survive seven lifetimes, all debts will be cleared."

Xi Nian hesitated, clearly seeing the woman's malicious intent.

After a moment of contemplation, Lu Qin agreed. "If this is your punishment, I accept it."

He guessed that Cessia didn't have good intentions, but this woman was too sinister and his superior. He couldn't avoid her, so he might as well face each challenge head-on.

"People trained by Bai Er are indeed different."

Lu Qin heard Cessia's voice, seemingly praising him. He instinctively looked up and saw her slender hand gently resting on his shoulder. Her purple eyes were like a vortex, drawing him in, making his consciousness blur after staring for too long.

Gradually, Lu Qin felt his body becoming lighter, his eyelids heavier, until he floated like a feather into the sky, losing all consciousness.

Xi Nian watched clearly as Lu Qin was thrown into the world of books. Above the woman's pale palm floated a soft, shimmering, light pink thread.

A thread of emotion.

Xi Nian's expression changed again. "Lady Cessia, why did you extract his thread of emotion?"

Cessia's lips curved. "Don't you think this is interesting?"

She walked to the control screen and casually chose the identity of a cancer patient for Lu Qin. Suddenly, she asked:

"Someone has waited for him for thirty thousand years, right?"

"Yes, great Lady Cessia. After that human died, their soul was recorded at the space station."

With this exaggerated voice, Xi Nian noticed a pitch-black system orb floating beside Cessia, none other than the most sycophantic Bibiro at the space station.

Cessia smiled slightly, intrigued. "Send that soul along with Lu Qin. After waiting for thirty thousand years, they should meet. Hmm, how kind of me."

"Yes, Lady Cessia, but what identity should we give that soul?"

Cessia's red lips parted. "Erase its memory and make it Lu Qin's mortal enemy, destined to be betrayed life after life. I wonder if Lu Qin will die by its hand or vice versa..."

Xi Nian interrupted coldly. "Lady Cessia, isn't this a bit excessive?!"

Cessia replied, "Two lovers hating each other—how interesting! Dying at the hands of someone you love is much happier than dying at the hands of a stranger."

As she spoke, she seemed to recall something amusing and laughed softly, her voice sultry and chilling, like a madwoman, sending shivers down one's spine.

Xi Nian clenched his fists tightly. "What if they don't kill each other?"

"That's impossible. But if it happens..."

Cessia shrugged indifferently.

"Hmm, I don't mind making a beautiful thing happen."

Bibiro approached, stammering, "But Lady Cessia, the Dark Department is short-staffed. We can't spare another system to bind Lu Qin."

Cessia tapped the air lightly, and a black heart slowly appeared, the same heart core from before. Because it stayed too long within Ying Wujiu, tainted by hatred, it gained self-awareness. The former executioner Bai Er didn't destroy it but assigned it to work in the Dark Department.

"Let it go."

Cessia enjoyed the hate and malice within the heart, her lips curving slightly, indicating the system to look at a handsome man on the screen.

"From today, he is your 603rd host. Understood?"

"Yes."

The black-purple heart flashed with electricity, its voice cold and mechanical, then vanished, flying to Lu Qin's world.

Outside, it was raining, the sky dark and gloomy.

In an old rental apartment, the dim yellow light flickered, rain trickling down the windowpanes, and the only sound was the pitter-patter of water. A man lay unconscious on the living room sofa, his brows furrowed as if from a nightmare. Suddenly, he jolted awake, sitting up abruptly.

His breathing was heavy, filled with unease.

Lu Qin looked around, confused about why he was in this unfamiliar rental apartment. After all, he was just a poor man with cancer, waiting to die in a hospital, just one step away from cremation.

"Let's play a game."

A black heart suddenly appeared before him, startling Lu Qin. Its voice, tinged with static, reminded him of an old, desolate movie, distant and eerie:

"I'll take you into different novel worlds. If you can survive thirty days and accumulate enough life points, your cancer will be cured."

"..."

Lu Qin was stunned, not focusing on the strange words but slowly extending his hand to poke the heart: "Are you... a heart?"

What the hell, hearts can become sentient now?!

The system paused. "...Sort of."

Lu Qin: "Then how can you talk?"

System: "None of your business."

He suddenly realized that this host was talking too much and directly led the other person to the window. Through the gap in the drawn curtains, he could vaguely see the tangled old wires outside and a stranger smoking at the alley entrance.

The stranger had been standing in the rain for who knows how long, looking as if he had just been pulled out of water. The hood of his black jacket firmly concealed his face, revealing only a pale and cold profile.

He stood silently under the awning, lighting a cigarette, with gloom spreading behind him.

It felt inexplicably familiar.

The system's voice was low, laced with a hint of murderous intent and seduction: "Do you see him?"

Lu Yan nodded instinctively: "I see him."

The system whispered word by word: "Kill him if you want to live; otherwise, you will die by his hand."

Lu Yan was somewhat surprised: "But..."

The system: "But what?"

Lu Yan looked puzzled, frowning and muttering to himself: "He looks so familiar."

He once lamented the bitterness and length of life, but upon seeing that person, he suddenly felt time was too short.

It was as if he had lived and died for that person, dying and reviving again and again...

Lu Yan's fingertips unconsciously touched his chest. Though his heart felt empty and desolate, the heavy rain outside seemed to bring an itch, as if everything was growing wildly.

It was said that countless years ago, someone sat in meditation on the vast ocean, enduring the thunderstorms of spring. Though originally a demon, he made a wish to the gods before his death:

If it could reunite all separated souls,

I am willing to enter the white bone sword furnace again,

to endure seven hundred years of purgatorial fire...

Perhaps the gods heard his wish?

The rain blurred the view. Yu Zekuan seemed to sense something and extinguished his cigarette, looking up. His sharp and gloomy gaze pierced through the night, meeting a pair of familiar eyes through the window. In that instant, for some reason, the hand hidden in his coat trembled uncontrollably.

He couldn't even hold the knife steadily...