Chapter 98

Chapter 98

When the Dawn Bureau learned that Ying Yuanxing wanted to contact the Salvation Game, they actively assisted, though they weren’t very hopeful for success, given the Salvation Game’s typically indifferent attitude.

But to their shock, as soon as they relayed Ying Yuanxing’s request, the Salvation Game agreed immediately, which stunned Zhao Zhangyan.

In the past, their attempts to contact the Salvation Game were rarely answered promptly, let alone fulfilled requests. But this time, the response came almost instantly, as though the Salvation Game had been anticipating this very request.

Did this mean the Salvation Game had been monitoring Ying Yuanxing all along?

Realizing this, Zhao Zhangyan felt both apprehensive and thrilled. If the Salvation Game treated Ying Yuanxing differently, then Xia State might benefit through his connection.

Zhao Zhangyan suddenly recalled the Weird Coin exchange incident. The aftermath had been significant, yet Xia State remained unaffected. Could this be due to Ying Yuanxing’s influence?

The Dawn Bureau handled all preparations. As for Ying Yuanxing bringing Xuan Ying along, after brief discussion, they dropped the matter.

After all, if they objected, Ying Yuanxing wouldn’t complain, but it would offend Xuan Ying, who might then sneak over secretly, making management even harder. But if Xuan Ying came openly with Ying Yuanxing, he would stay by his side, minimizing any potential disruptions.

When the time came, Ying Yuanxing closed his eyes and reopened them to find himself in a familiar location.

Wasn’t this the same place where the Weird World Consciousness had brought him out before?

Except now, compared to last time, this spot was closer to the Blue Star World.

But where was the Salvation Game?

Ying Yuanxing turned his head and spotted a pale blue luminous figure floating in mid-air. With a little bounce, it landed on his shoulder.

He didn’t notice that the blue figure had chosen his right shoulder instead of the left, the Weird World Consciousness’s usual perch, even though the left was closer.

Ying Yuanxing jolted slightly. Was the Salvation Game this friendly?

Still, despite its friendly manner, Ying Yuanxing didn’t forget that the Salvation Game was different from the Weird World Consciousness. He remained cautious, cautiously asking about the methods for screening users to distribute the app and handling Weird Coin deposits and withdrawals.

Seeing Ying Yuanxing’s guarded attitude, the Salvation Game involuntarily frowned. It had observed Ying Yuanxing’s interactions with the Weird World Consciousness—how much trust he placed in it. Why was he so different with Him?

Perhaps it was because Ying Yuanxing didn’t yet know His identity, and this was their first meeting. Caution was understandable. After all, other Blue Star humans were even more distant with Him.

Though He consoled Himself with this reasoning, by the time He had nearly resolved Ying Yuanxing’s two questions, Ying Yuanxing’s demeanor had relaxed a little, but that sense of closeness and reliance—the familiarity shown to family—was still missing. The Salvation Game became agitated.

Unlike the Weird World Consciousness, Ying Yuanxing spent most of his time in the Weird World, where the Weird World Consciousness could reach him anytime. But His own opportunities to interact with Ying Yuanxing were limited.

Even when Ying Yuanxing returned to Blue Star, he wouldn’t normally seek Him out.

The Salvation Game fretted, unknowingly stretching out the conversation. At first, Ying Yuanxing didn’t notice, but as they talked, he began to sense something off.

Earlier, the Salvation Game’s answers had been concise and practical. Now, it felt like He was dragging things out, like a teacher filling lecture time.

Ying Yuanxing wanted to dismiss it as his imagination, but the longer they spoke, the stronger the feeling became, impossible to ignore.

"My Lord, is there something You wish to say to me?" Ying Yuanxing pondered why the Salvation Game was stalling.

After some thought, he concluded that perhaps the Salvation Game had something to say but was hesitant. The only way to cut through the delay was to ask directly.

Mainly, Ying Yuanxing didn’t have time to waste.

Hearing the formal address "My Lord," the Salvation Game felt a pang of bitterness. The words He had been holding back blurted out: "Yuan Xing, you should call me Mother!"

Ying Yuanxing’s earnest smile froze. This line… he felt like he’d heard something similar not long ago.

Then he remembered—hadn’t the Weird World Consciousness said the same thing?

The Salvation Game regretted His impulsive outburst, but since the words were already out, there was no taking them back. He pressed on firmly, "You mustn’t be fooled by the Weird World Consciousness. It is not your mother."

Just thinking about it made His metaphorical teeth ached with frustration. When He had first seen Xuan Ying, He hadn’t paid it much mind. But later, sensing something amiss, He investigated and discovered that the Weird World Consciousness had been hovering near Ying Yuanxing all along, deliberately concealing its presence to avoid detection.

If it had merely interacted with Ying Yuanxing, that would have been one thing. But the Weird World Consciousness dared to impersonate Ying Yuanxing’s mother—and succeeded!

"Yuan Xing, I am your true mother!" the Salvation Game proclaimed earnestly.

But Ying Yuanxing was too overwhelmed to appreciate the sentiment. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion.

What was this? He crosses worlds once, and now he’s caught in a "who’s the real mother" drama?

The Weird World Consciousness had mistaken him for a Weird and asserted maternal rights. But the Salvation Game—wait, the Salvation Game was the Blue Star Consciousness, so claiming to be his mother also made sense.

As Ying Yuanxing lowered his head in thought, the Salvation Game took his silence as disbelief and clarified, "I am the Blue Star World Consciousness."

He explained that He had concealed His identity to prevent humans from becoming overly dependent and losing their sense of urgency.

Of course, the main reason was that after studying human history, He concluded that maintaining an arms-length approach was the best way to motivate humanity’s survival instincts.

"But then why would You… with me…?" Ying Yuanxing asked instinctively, meeting the Salvation Game’s hurt and angry gaze.

Alright, he understood. If the Salvation Game saw itself as his mother, then his closeness with the Weird World Consciousness was like a child being stolen by a stranger. If the truth wasn’t revealed now, the "child" might be lost for good.

But as for mothers—if his original world had a World Consciousness, wouldn’t that entity be his true mother?

Still, Ying Yuanxing thought of something else and asked, "Your—"

Catching the Salvation Game’s look, he corrected himself, "Mother, but I don’t seem entirely human anymore. At the very least, I’m not a complete human."

Humans were carbon-based lifeforms. As for himself, Ying Yuanxing wasn’t even sure what he qualified as now.

At this, the Salvation Game paused briefly. The humans He selected to enter the Weird World needed to adapt to survive there, and their awakened abilities were part of that adaptation.

But these abilities also altered the players themselves, making them less purely human. As their strength grew, they would even begin to develop Weird characteristics.

This was also why players couldn’t return to Blue Star too often. As humans transforming into Weirds, they carried a contaminating effect. Staying too long on Blue Star could induce parallel transformations in others.

But the Salvation Game quickly recovered.

"You were human before. You were born and raised on Blue Star. You are my child." As for the changes—well, Ying Yuanxing wasn’t a full Weird either. If the Weird World Consciousness could brazenly declare itself mother, why shouldn’t He? The more He thought about it, the more justified He felt.

Ying Yuanxing had brought this up hoping to gently dissuade the Salvation Game, but its firm stance made it clear that subtlety wouldn’t work.

Having a World Consciousness as a mother was immensely beneficial, as evidenced by Ying Yuanxing’s treatment under the Weird World Consciousness. But more mothers weren’t necessarily better—especially when they were as domineering as these two.

The Salvation Game and the Weird World Consciousness were inherent enemies. If Ying Yuanxing became their child, he’d be caught in the middle, and without sufficient strength, he couldn’t withstand being pulled both ways.

Ying Yuanxing decided it was better not to be too greedy. The Weird World Consciousness as a mother was enough. As for the Salvation Game—well, as the Blue Star Consciousness, it would naturally strive to save humanity. Being allies was good enough; no need to overreach.

He would find a way to repay the Salvation Game’s help later.

As for why he didn’t choose the Salvation Game—it had simply arrived too late. He had already accepted too much from the Weird World Consciousness, leaving little room in his heart for the Salvation Game.

Ying Yuanxing glanced at Xuan Ying beside him, drawing some comfort, then turned back to the Salvation Game and spoke plainly: "My Lord, I understand Your feelings, but I already have one mother. I cannot accept another."

Seeing the Salvation Game’s face fall, Ying Yuanxing tensed. Facing a powerful World Consciousness, it was hard not to feel nervous.

Although the other party seemed to have a good attitude, their emotions appeared rather unstable. If they acted impulsively and caused a big commotion, Ying Yuanxing was still somewhat worried about his own safety.

"Salvation Game, what do you want to do?"

Just as Ying Yuanxing was tensing up, a familiar voice appeared.

Ying Yuanxing turned his head abruptly and saw the familiar flickering flame sprite. It flickered briefly before appearing right in front of him, planting itself between Ying Yuanxing and the Salvation Game.

Seeing the Eerie World Consciousness appear, Ying Yuanxing unconsciously sighed in relief, feeling a bit more at ease. After all, with Xuan Ying around, they could find a way to escape, and with the Eerie World Consciousness present, they could stand up to the Salvation Game.

However, his relief lasted only a few seconds. Watching the confrontation between the Salvation Game and the Eerie World Consciousness, Ying Yuanxing suddenly grew nervous again. A thought occurred to him.

When a powerful adult beast interacts with a weak cub, there might be accidental harm due to lack of restraint, but the likelihood of open conflict is relatively low. However, if the cub's guardian shows up and two adult beasts square off, the chances of conflict soar.

If they were to fight...

Ying Yuanxing instinctively hugged himself and turned to look at Xuan Ying, only to find that Xuan Ying had already transformed into a misty form, enveloping him.

Clearly, Xuan Ying was prepared to flee with Ying Yuanxing if a fight broke out.

The Eerie World Consciousness had only sensed Ying Yuanxing's absence from the eerie world and instinctively investigated.

Although the world core had been given to Ying Yuanxing, as the Eerie World Consciousness, it could still dimly sense some information. It discovered that Ying Yuanxing was outside the world's boundaries.

That alone wouldn’t have been a problem, but the issue was that Ying Yuanxing was accompanied by a presence it recognized and loathed—the Salvation Game.

Moreover, judging by the proximity of the aura, the Salvation Game was extremely close to Ying Yuanxing, which immediately sent the Eerie World Consciousness into crisis mode, prompting it to rush over.

Upon arrival, the Eerie World Consciousness heard Ying Yuanxing's words. Though it hadn’t caught the earlier part of the conversation, this statement alone was enough for it to understand what the Salvation Game wanted—to snatch its ward!

The Salvation Game's expression upon seeing its arrival only deepened the Eerie World Consciousness's sense of crisis. Noticing Xuan Ying's actions, the Eerie World Consciousness felt slightly more favorable toward Xuan Ying.

It had already noticed Ying Yuanxing's tension, but at this moment, it couldn’t afford to be distracted. Any lapse in focus would leave it at a disadvantage if the Salvation Game attacked. Xuan Ying's actions provided some reassurance.

What the Eerie World Consciousness noticed, the Salvation Game naturally noticed as well. Seeing Ying Yuanxing's wariness toward it, the Salvation Game felt not just sourness in its heart but also an indescribable bitterness.

The Salvation Game didn’t regret speaking up now. Ying Yuanxing's behavior clearly showed his bias. If it had waited any longer, the situation might have become even harder to salvage.

At this point, as long as it didn’t clash with the Eerie World Consciousness, the situation wasn’t beyond repair.

"I just want to make up for what I’ve missed with my child. He’s so young, yet he’s already striving to save Blue Star, and I haven’t done anything for him," the Salvation Game said gently.

To the Eerie World Consciousness, however, this sounded like blatant plagiarism—copying its own words.

The Eerie World Consciousness recalled a term it had once heard: mimic. The Salvation Game truly lived up to being the consciousness of Blue Star—just as cunning and shameless as humans.

"Yuan Xing, I understand if you don’t want me as your mother. I don’t want to force you. It’s just... seeing you so close to the Eerie World Consciousness made me so jealous. After all, you are..." The Salvation Game's tone was uneasy, deliberately portraying the image of a mother whose child had been taken away and grown close to another, lashing out.

The Eerie World Consciousness sensed something off but couldn’t quite pinpoint it. It stepped forward to cut the Salvation Game off, expecting resistance. To its surprise, the Salvation Game allowed itself to be subdued without protest, which only made the Eerie World Consciousness more uneasy. It instinctively glanced at Ying Yuanxing and saw him lost in thought.

Oh no, had Ying Yuanxing been swayed by the Salvation Game’s words?

Ying Yuanxing wasn’t so quick to relent. He was simply pondering how to handle the current situation.

The core conflict was that the Eerie World Consciousness would never tolerate the Salvation Game becoming his mother, and he himself wasn’t keen on the idea either. He had refused, but the Salvation Game’s attitude was...

If they fought, Ying Yuanxing wasn’t worried about his own safety under Xuan Ying’s protection. The real issue was, what about the two worlds?

He didn’t yet know what impact a battle between two World Consciousnesses would have on their respective worlds, but it certainly wouldn’t be good.

Most importantly, Ying Yuanxing hadn’t forgotten about Zero, who was eyeing the Eerie World Consciousness with hostility. Whether the Salvation Game won or lost, the Eerie World Consciousness would undoubtedly be weakened afterward.

After much deliberation, Ying Yuanxing concluded that resolving the conflict required all three parties to compromise. Only then could the conflict be settled.

But how exactly should they compromise?

"Yuan Xing, if you don’t want me as your mother, but you are still my child, could you at least call me 'father'?" While Ying Yuanxing was thinking, the Salvation Game was also plotting its next move. It needed to secure some form of recognition now.

Otherwise, once Ying Yuanxing left, this matter would become much harder to settle. After some thought, the Salvation Game came up with a different role: father.

Compared to "mother," it might not be as intimate—after all, a mother was not only the closest figure but also the chief caregiver. But it was still closer than other relationships.

So the Salvation Game decided to put aside other considerations and focus on securing this title first.

What?!

Ying Yuanxing almost doubted his ears. But seeing the Salvation Game’s earnest gaze and the Eerie World Consciousness’s furious glare, he confirmed he hadn’t misheard.

Though reluctant to admit it, Ying Yuanxing recognized that the Salvation Game had already compromised, aligning with his earlier thoughts. Perhaps he should compromise as well.

After all, he was indeed a child of Blue Star—at least one-third of him was. Acknowledging the Salvation Game as "father" wasn’t unreasonable.

But the thought of that "one-third" made him shudder. Would the consciousness of his original world show up too?

Ying Yuanxing gave a firm shake of his head, brushing aside the thought. Even if it did, he had been a completely ordinary human before, with no special treatment from his world. It wasn’t like crossing over had suddenly made him a prized possession.

The Eerie World Consciousness liked him, Blue Star’s World Consciousness liked him—surely his original world’s consciousness wouldn’t like him too!

Ying Yuanxing’s stance softened slightly, and the Salvation Game seized the opportunity to press its case, stressing its wish to make amends.

Hearing the Salvation Game’s offer of compensation, Ying Yuanxing remained unmoved, but the Eerie World Consciousness hesitated briefly. It glanced down at Ying Yuanxing, clenched its jaw, and held back.

After all, it was just a title. Ying Yuanxing spent most of his time in the eerie world anyway. It wasn’t significant.

Besides, having another powerful figure protecting Ying Yuanxing wasn’t bad.

Most importantly, the gift the Salvation Game was offering was immensely valuable. Though it didn’t understand why the Salvation Game was willing to part with such a treasure, missing this chance meant there wouldn’t be another.

Even it couldn’t provide such a gift at this time.

And so, the conflict was resolved. Ying Yuanxing sighed in relief and accepted the gift from the Salvation Game.

As he took the gemstone pulsing with a preternatural glow, Ying Yuanxing involuntarily held his breath.

The Salvation Game called it the "Eternal Star" but didn’t explain its function, only instructing him to take it into himself.

Ying Yuanxing looked to the Eerie World Consciousness, certain it noticed his inquiring look. Yet, as usual, it remained silent.

But Ying Yuanxing could tell that the Eternal Star had played a significant role in the Eerie World Consciousness’s decision to compromise. So... what exactly was this thing?

He turned to Xuan Ying, curious about its reaction, and saw Xuan Ying staring at the stone with a fiery gaze, a hint of greed in its eyes.

"Xuan Ying?" Ying Yuanxing felt no tension at the thought of his treasure being coveted. Instead, he found it somewhat novel.

As Xuan Ying’s strength had grown, it had seldom displayed such base instincts in front of him. Seeing it now was strangely nostalgic.

Ying Yuanxing’s voice broke Xuan Ying's fixation, and its eyes quickly regained their usual calmness, much to the amazement of the Salvation Game and the Eerie World Consciousness, who had been observing.

Ying Yuanxing’s dual nature—neither fully human nor fully eerie—granted him greater resistance to the Eternal Star’s allure. And for Xuan Ying, a weird creature whose nature was consumption, to regain its composure so quickly was truly extraordinary.

But the more extraordinary Xuan Ying was, the more reassured the two World Consciousness entities felt. If Xuan Ying had any ulterior motives, they would have to find a way to remove him from Ying Yuanxing's side.

"Wait a moment," Xuan Ying said, then began searching within himself. Soon, he pulled out a pile of items and assembled a small pedestal.

"Place it here. It can slightly suppress its energy signature," Xuan Ying suggested.

Without suspicion, Ying Yuanxing placed the Eternal Star on it. The strange glow instantly dimmed, and its palpable pressure lessened.

Adding this pedestal didn’t hinder him from storing the Eternal Star. When Ying Yuanxing checked inside himself, he saw the Eternal Star, along with its pedestal, rush to the very center, shunting aside the swirling yellow-green core and even displacing the stable smaller world core, claiming the central position for itself.

Ying Yuanxing could understand his own core being pushed aside—after all, the yellow-green core was somewhat weaker compared to the smaller world core. But the fact that the Eternal Star could also displace the smaller world core—what kind of power did this thing hold?

He felt like he had accepted a monumental boon without fully understanding its significance.

Yet, when he looked at them with confusion, neither World Consciousness spoke up.

The reason for The Salvation Game's silence was simple—the gift was too precious. It feared that if it explained, Ying Yuanxing might refuse to accept it. Besides, explaining now would feel like bragging. It was better to let Ying Yuanxing gradually discover its value on his own—that would be more surprising.

As for Weird World Consciousness, it remained silent because it couldn’t offer such a gift and feared that The Salvation Game might regret its decision if it spoke up. Better to stay silent and reap the rewards.

Amid the silence, Ying Yuanxing made his way to Blue Star with the gift.

Since he had already left the world and promised to return to Blue Star, he couldn’t forget this matter.

When Ying Yuanxing appeared, Zhao Zhangyan tentatively asked, "How’d it go?"

Recalling everything that had just happened, Ying Yuanxing's face twisted with mixed emotions. He wasn’t sure how to answer. Calling it ‘smooth’ felt like a stretch—but if he said it didn’t, the matter had been perfectly resolved.

After a few seconds of contemplation, seeing Zhao Zhangyan’s nervous expression, Ying Yuanxing composed himself and nodded. "It went smoothly. I even got some gifts."

Ying Yuanxing didn’t elaborate on the gifts, and Zhao Zhangyan didn’t ask, but his visible relief was unmistakable.

Guilt by association. If Ying Yuanxing had clashed with The Salvation Game, they might not blame him, but they still had to be prepared.

As for whether Ying Yuanxing would hide any conflicts out of pride, Zhao Zhangyan didn’t think so—Ying Yuanxing wasn’t that kind of person.

Zhao Zhangyan studied Ying Yuanxing, feeling like he had overlooked something. After a moment, he remembered and asked, "Didn’t you say Xuan Ying would come? Is he not here?"

Ying Yuanxing patted his arm, and a wisp of mist emerged. Zhao Zhangyan suppressed the urge to step back, trying to face Xuan Ying with a normal attitude—though his clenched fists betrayed his tension.

This was Zhao Zhangyan’s first time meeting Xuan Ying on Blue Star—or rather, the first time humanity had faced a top-tier Weird.

Zhao Zhangyan knew that after The Salvation Game’s approval, the Xuan Ying appearing on Blue Star wasn’t just a small clone—it was his true form. If he lost control, he could wipe out the Dawn Bureau in an instant.

Why hadn’t he tried harder to stop it? How could he have just let Ying Yuanxing bring Xuan Ying here?

Zhao Zhangyan’s emotions plummeted into dread, growing heavier by the second. Fortunately, Ying Yuanxing reached out and patted him, jolting Zhao Zhangyan back to his senses. He couldn’t help but reel backward several steps.

Xuan Ying’s true form radiated an oppressive pressure, especially since he had just appeared and hadn’t reined in his presence. Even someone as composed as Zhao Zhangyan wasn’t immune to its effects.