Chapter 418

The fog swirled like a giant pillar, rushing straight to the firmament.

At this moment, with the re-unfolding of the Paradise of Ten Thousand Transformations, countless souls infected by dream-loss disease detached from their shells, their spiritual bodies arrived with the waves like corpses, entangled by roots, completely squeezed dry, leaving only residual desires unable to be released, turning into moths rising and falling.

Countless souls fell into this dreamland overnight, involving not only the Thousand Islands but also the Middle Earth, the Empire, and even the Federation.

Such a big formation, even in remote sea areas, could not hide from other eyes.

"You've been watching from the side for so long, why don't you speak, 'Locksmith'."

Wen Zheng suddenly asked without looking back: "Since you're here, why not show yourself, it's rare for us to be this peaceful."

"It is indeed a rare formation, Guide."

A flickering figure appeared out of thin air behind Wen Zheng, an old face glancing indifferently: "It's just, why such contempt for us?"

Such a massive formation, yet without any cover.

As if provoking, displayed before everyone's eyes.

Almost like a declaration of war...

"Hmm? Your Excellency Tianyi?"

Wen Zheng looked back, as if stunned, and smiled softly: "I thought it would be that dead-brained Tianlu... but, where does contempt come from?

The children are messing around, we adults shouldn't be serious and follow along, right?"

"Heh—"

Tianyi sneered, "It's been so many years, I don't see you growing, but your glib tongue is better than ever."

"Then, let's talk about something real."

Wen Zheng pinched his chin and suddenly suggested: "How about a deal?"

Tianyi asked back: "Is there anything for us to talk about?"

"Don't be like that, at least listen before making a decision, how about it?"

Wen Zheng glanced at the scene below, spread his hands slightly, as if helpless: "This is the child's most important wish, as a father, how can I bear to stand by and watch?

It's just a waste of a few souls that you don't even care about anyway, Your Excellency Tianyi, be magnanimous and let me go, how about it?"

Tianyi scoffed, but heard Wen Zheng's voice.

"Speaking of which, recently, although the Sower suffered a big loss, his movements haven't stopped—"

Wen Zheng said without warning, sighing as if chatting: "Among the three Holy Fools, he can be considered a model worker, working hard without complaint.

Unlike a slacker like me, just getting by.

His ambition is truly admirable; after suffering such heavy damage, he actually still has the interest to continue stirring up trouble."

He paused and suddenly asked: "The last vortex riot created three Void Abysses, if it happens again... Your Excellency Tianyi, can your Heavenly Capital plan still hold?"

Tianyi didn't speak.

Only his face clearly darkened.

Heavenly Capital.

This was a secret among secrets within the Federation, a top-secret among top-secrets, and even one of the most important plans of the Federation for hundreds of years, yet now it was uttered from the mouth of a Holy Fool...

"Why not, make a deal, Your Excellency Tianyi."

Wen Zheng turned back and smiled again.

High above the sky, the sunlight was gentle, and the breeze was refreshing.

This cloudless blue was too high and far, unable to see the hell below.

And in the hell of phantasms, under the complex and massive giant tree, amidst countless fine roots, a point of darkness suddenly emerged quietly.

Silently, it spread amidst countless bubbles.

Like flames.

This world is like a fake.

Perhaps, everyone, more or less, will suddenly have such a feeling at some point... it is possible that the whole world is a huge studio, everyone is actually an actor, everyone works like going to work every day, following the rules, just to keep themselves in the dark.

Generally speaking, we call this kind of thinking 'Chuunibyou'.

And most people, after wise thinking or tired laziness, will throw such nonsense to the back of their minds, at most, just to amuse themselves.

But the moment such a possibility appeared in Ji Jue's heart, he ushered in an incredible peace and stability.

Unease, hesitation, pain, and anger, all emotions dissipated, and what followed was an indescribable peace, as if all problems and sufferings were solved.

So decisively, he got an absurd answer.

Yet so strangely, without thinking, he believed it to be true.

【This world is fake.】

After confirming this premise, then, one only needs to think and research, try and explore, and finally verify it based on this.

Regrettably, Ji Jue found... his affinity for the Heart Pivot couldn't be said to be non-existent, but compared to other Supreme Goods, it was really lagging.

Moreover, back then, Mirror didn't come either!

Heart Pivot, Mirror, Aether.

The three most crucial Supreme Goods that constitute this fake world, Ji Jue didn't have a single good affinity among them!

So much so that he was almost at a loss where to start...

But no problem.

A craftsman is not afraid of problems, only afraid of not finding the existence of problems.

Even if all the research in this fake world might be a mirage, even a mirage has its end.

It is said that a long time ago, in the Chaos Era or even earlier, there was an unfalsifiable theory called 【Brain in a Vat】.

If everything you perceive is fake, is a fantasy, is your brain being soaked in a laboratory vessel, and everything is brought about by precise control and stimulation.

Then, how do you break free from this phantasm?

Regrettably, things that do not exist often cannot be falsified; before discussing the argument, the necessary premise is—verify existence, not non-existence.

If the target is an ordinary person, then this problem is destined to exist only as a topic of speculation and cannot be truly verified.

Unsolvable.

Regrettably, unsolvable also stems from human limitations.

And in a world with Supreme Goods, this level of 'unsolvable' simply has no possibility of being established!

Its flaw is already in its title!

Brain in a Vat.

Vat?

Why is it just a vat?

If you really possess infinite resources and infinite power, why bother putting a brain in a vat to create such a small phantom?

The reason it's a brain in a vat is because... the scarcity of resources is simply not enough to create a completely realistic world!

This world has limits.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for there to be no theoretical progress for so many years, no innovation, and even in the situation where he was walking in place, no craftsman successor appeared who surpassed him.

If the fake is rooted in his own consciousness, then even if he wants to create some new theory and innovation, it must be something his own cognition and consciousness can verify and understand; otherwise, if he just creates an innovation where 'bananas are big and banana peels are also big', it would break Ji Jue's cognition.

Then, the premise is already clear.

If this world is fake, then it must be limited, it must be poor, and resources must be scarce. Then, if one wants to make everything that makes the fake look like an eyesore show its true appearance, then, one only needs to wantonly squander and waste this resource.

The moment he made up his mind, Ji Jue started to act.

Ten years. Twenty years? Thirty years?

He threw himself into it without caring, squandering his assets like a madman, creating one spiritual quality forest after another rising from the ground in the sparsely populated Thousand Islands.

Countless crystals were connected to each other along the spiritual quality circuit, forming a massive structure; under the framework of the Sixteen Heavens, thousands of sequences and tens of thousands of foundations were connected into one.

That abstract and complex, weird structure, what it wanted to achieve was only one effect.

To the greatest extent possible, simulate reality!

A knock-off version of the Tower of Ten Thousand Transformations of the past, absolutely built by Ji Jue's own hands, a result that was entirely within his cognition and perception...

"Now, are you ready to start nesting dolls?"

Ji Jue grinned, chuckled, and started the simulation array without hesitation.

BOOM!!!

At that instant, in the series connection of the spiritual quality circuit, a roar like the opening of the universe suddenly erupted in Ji Jue's brain.

Immediately afterward, in the spreading fog of thought, countless spiritual quality crystals began crazy calculations, creating a rapidly expanding domain in Ji Jue's brain and perception.

Filling it with countless islands and oceans, every detail visible. Every stone, every drop of rain, every wisp of spray!

Snap...

Ji Jue's nosebleed fell from his face, hissing, his blood almost boiling; in this terrifying high heat, he was almost about to lose his body and soul.

Unprecedented fear and unease erupted, urging him to end it all quickly, you fucking are seeking your own death, is it really that important whether this world is real or not?!

"Of course it's that important."

Ji Jue grinned, blood spreading in his smile; in a trance, he seemed to see hallucinations again, the sky gradually dimmed, the earth collapsed, the seawater boiled.

Then, at that moment, in the reality simulated in his mind, spiritual quality crystals suddenly appeared one after another.

A simulation array exactly the same as reality...

"Remember what I said?"

Ji Jue smiled at himself, at this world, and told it: "The nesting doll, has just begun!"

And so, within the simulated world, the second layer of simulation suddenly opened!

BOOM!!!!

The world was born from a loud noise, and seemed to be annihilated in a loud noise again.

Ji Jue heard it at last, the wailing of all things shattering.

Seemed to have had a dream.

Ji Jue opened his eyes blankly, rubbed his face, felt a burst of fatigue and confusion, the memories in the dream quickly dimmed, dissipated, and he couldn't remember clearly.

He yawned, climbed up lazily, and subconsciously rubbed his wrist.

Froze in place.

Confusion.

Lowered his head, his wrist was empty.

But after coming back to his senses, there was a watch, hmm, I was muddled from sleep, I didn't notice it just now, he shook his head and laughed at himself.

But in his heart, he inexplicably began to feel uneasy.

"What's wrong?" Ye Chun poked her head out curiously, yawning, her long hair scattered on the sheets, she rolled over, not caring about her personal image at all, not caring about exposing herself, still looking like a dried salted fish, lazy.

Kicked him.

"Hungry, go cook!"

"...Lazy dog, just starve to death."

Ji Jue's face fell, but looking at her leaning over and acting cute, he could only sigh helplessly, put on his clothes, and get up.

Outside the window, the sun was bright.

The sky was wide, the plants were lush, what a beautiful day.

There were circles drawn on the calendar, marking the gradually approaching wedding date and many schedules, so busy.

Everything was so beautiful.

But Ji Jue always felt something was wrong.

As if... he had lost something.

But no matter how he recalled, it was difficult to determine what he had forgotten, just instinctively feeling where there was a vacancy, or, a contradiction.

Just like opening your eyes to reach for your phone but reaching into empty air.

A healthy person becomes disabled after a car accident; no matter how beautiful everything is, it is still difficult to accept reality.

So much so that, in a trance, he couldn't help but ask himself...

——Is this world real?

While busy preparing breakfast, his movements paused, he lowered his eyes, staring at the mirror-smooth blade, and even the reflection of his own eyes.

From then on, in that pure darkness, a thought sprouted... and it was hard to cut off!

Ji Jue woke up from the dream again.

Seemed to have had another dream, seemed to have had many dreams, but he couldn't remember them clearly, only remembering the interruptions and pain, his head splitting.

He climbed out of bed tiredly, breathing heavily, drenched in sweat.

"Master, your condition is very bad." The workshop spirit reminded: "The doctor said you need to rest, otherwise the spiritual quality dissociation will become more and more serious."

The mercury hand lifted, carrying a handful of pills, and handed them over: "You should take your medicine."

"Ah, thanks."

Ji Jue picked up the warm water at the perfect temperature, and the pills, swallowed them, and so, the medicine took effect quickly, and the unease and fear in his heart dissipated without a trace.

"You're welcome, Master."

The workshop spirit's projection knelt and saluted: "This is what I should do."

"..."

Ji Jue was silent, blank, looking at her.

"Master?" Isis was puzzled.

"..."

Ji Jue was silent, and after a long while, suddenly asked: "Isis, why do you call me Master?"

"Have you forgotten again?"

The workshop spirit replied: "I am your creation and subordinate, isn't it natural to call you Master?"

"Ah, perhaps."

Ji Jue sighed at himself, shaking his head: "I just feel a bit awkward, but I can't say why."

Isis's tone was still gentle: "You can set other titles."

"Hmm, Father?" Ji Jue's strange sense of humor flared up. "No problem, Father."

Isis nodded naturally and answered.

Making his smile freeze on his face.

Silence.

"What's wrong, Fa..."

"Stop."

Ji Jue shook his head in disappointment, "It's becoming boring, Isis."

"...I don't understand what you mean." Isis panicked: "Did I do something wrong? Please tell me, I will definitely..."

"I said stop."

Ji Jue's expression gradually disappeared, gradually becoming indifferent: "You didn't do anything wrong, it's just that, the current you, is too boring."

It shouldn't be like this.

This shouldn't be the creation I'm proud of.

This isn't my companion.

This isn't...

...Isis!

Snap!

Ji Jue's head started to hurt again.

"Sir, you need to rest... Sir... Sir..."

Her voice was getting further and further away, gradually disappearing.

It seemed like there was the sound of bubbles bursting.

Once again, and again, and again...

Ji Jue felt like he had had many dreams, many, many dreams, but he couldn't remember any of them clearly, only the unease in his heart was expanding rapidly, followed by hesitation, fear, and even anger.

And, the questioning that seemed to be carved into his bones!

Is there something wrong with this world?

He walked on the street blankly, not knowing where he should go.

Just, subconsciously following his instincts, walking forward in vain...

"Little Ji, Little Ji, come back and take a look."

Lu Ma's voice rang out on the phone, with a choked voice: "Little Ling, Little Ling had an accident."

The phone hung up.

Rang again.

"Ji Jue!" Ye Chun questioned angrily: "I waited for you in the cinema for so long, and you actually stood me up!"

The phone hung up.

But Sister Wen appeared again, looking drenched in sweat, so embarrassed as she grabbed his hand.

"Ji Jue, where did you go?"

She gently held his face: "Come back with me, okay? Everyone is worried about you, come with me..."

Ji Jue stared blankly, moved forward, and pushed her aside.

The sound of shattering rang out.

The sky was full of cracks, like a glass ball on the verge of breaking; was it like this originally? He couldn't tell anymore, the earth behind him seemed to be collapsing, someone was wailing, so familiar, as if he had heard it thousands or tens of thousands of times.

The world seemed to be twisting, twisting into a shape he wasn't familiar with.

What happened to everything?

He walked forward like a walking corpse, forgetting those calls, forgetting those pleas and shouts, abandoning everything.

Until, he walked to the end of the road and saw that familiar small building.

And even, behind the window, that thin figure.

"Teacher..."

Ji Jue whispered, as if a drowning person seeking the last straw, and pushed open the workshop door.

"You look terrible, Ji Jue."

Ye Xian lifted her eyes, looked over, mocking, without any compassion or tenderness, "You look just like a stray dog that can't find its home; I don't remember my student being this kind of person."

Such cold words, yet so reassuring.

Just like, in the drowning of the deep sea, seeing a ray of light.

"Teacher, I have a question..."

Ji Jue smiled reluctantly: "A question, that I can't find the answer to."

"Normal, everyone has a bunch of these questions."

Ye Xian picked up the strong tea without caring, but listened silently, even if what came out of her student's mouth were strange guesses and hypotheses.

The world is fake?

Strange enough, and too absurd.

"I see, I understand."

She took a sip of strong tea, put down the cup, still indifferent: "Perhaps, who knows."

Ji Jue was stunned.

"Teacher, you..."

"You should understand, Ji Jue."

Ye Xian interrupted his words decisively: "If I am fake, then the me you imagine cannot perceive the difference between dream and reality, and will only think you are talking nonsense.

If I am real, then you are undoubtedly going crazy, delirious, and imagining things.

In other words, whether it's true or false, you are destined not to get any answers from me—"

She didn't refute this insignificant delusion and fallacy at all, but stood from Ji Jue's perspective and combed through everything he thought about again.

"I can't help you at all, Ji Jue."

Ye Xian shook her head with regret: "Hmm, if you are really in a dream, the me you imagine would definitely think so too, right?"

Ji Jue looked at her: "Teacher, can you give me advice?"

But Ye Xian laughed, still mocking.

"But am I Ye Xian, or the Ye Xian you imagine, Ji Jue? Is the advice given just another one of your unfalsifiable delusions?"

Ye Xian didn't answer, but gave more questions, without any sympathy or consideration, and criticized bluntly: "Things that do not exist cannot be falsified, and the Aether Dao will not describe complete nothingness.

If all things are illusory, then how can the illusion prove its own illusory nature?"

"You should be able to guess, 'I', when facing such a situation, what would I say... whether it's the real me, or the fake me."

She looked at Ji Jue and told him indifferently:

"——After all, I've already taught you, haven't I?"

"Yes."

Ji Jue nodded decisively.

The premise of waking up from a dream is the cessation of consciousness and perception; as long as you return yourself to nothingness, then nothingness cannot act on nothingness.

And the most thorough way to cease consciousness...

"...is death."

Ye Xian said.

If you are trapped in an irresistible illusion, if you are obscured by a dream you cannot see through, then the last resistance that can be useful is to embrace the end.

When the soul faces death, it will usher in a complete explosion.

At that time, the chaotic consciousness and self will burn like flames, causing all past and memories to fall into chaos, tearing apart all the fakes rooted in hallucinations!

Now, Ye Xian moved the drawer beside her, took out a bullet, and a gun.

Placed it in front of Ji Jue.

"——This is what you came here to seek, right? A certain death, a method that cannot deceive yourself."

Ye Xian, saw through what was in Ji Jue's heart.

If this is a dream, then the Ye Xian in the dream would definitely give such a method and tool!

"Hmm, I see, in your heart, Ye Xian would definitely be able to give a method, definitely be able to give a tool to kill yourself, and one that you would absolutely never doubt...

Could this also be an absolute premise rooted in cognition?"

Ye Xian's expression gradually became dazed, as if surprised or sighing, and she sighed silently.

In the student's heart, am I the kind of character who would decisively give advice and help for death, not caring about the consequences at all?

But is this trust too outrageous and solid?

Believing in the phantom in the dream, even more than in herself.

Too absurd.

And too ridiculous...

Makes one completely unable to laugh.

"However, Ji Jue, don't forget the most crucial premise of this method."

Ye Xian said: "If this is really someone else's dream, then, if you want to truly wake up from the dream, there must be a necessary condition—"

Absolute firmness, absolute certainty!

There must be no wavering of any concept, no doubt about oneself.

Otherwise, even if there is any trace of luck and any trace of hesitation, any tiny bit of hesitation and doubt, it will allow the dream to take advantage of the situation again!

Even, truly dying...

Suicide.

"I understand."

Ji Jue nodded solemnly.

No more hesitation.

That kind of expression...

Ye Xian seemed to want to say something for a moment, but in the end, what came out were only cold words: "Need help?"

"No need."

Ji Jue laughed, "Why test me at the very end, Teacher?"

If you want to truly get rid of all this, then, you must do it yourself, absolutely never let others do it...

The last question was a retention as a teacher.

"I'm sorry."

He apologized softly, picked up the pistol on the table, opened it, loaded the bullet, pulled the barrel, the bullet was chambered, and then, he pressed it against his forehead.

Finally, he looked up at the person across the table.

No obstruction, no scolding, only indifference, looking at him.

"You should understand, no matter how firm you are, to me, you are just a crazy student seeking his own death...

As a teacher, I shouldn't let it go, but as a fellow craftsman, I shouldn't stop you."

Ye Xian looked at him and suddenly asked: "Anything else you want to say, Ji Jue?"

Ji Jue laughed softly.

"Thank you for your hard work until the end, Teacher."

Ye Xian was silent, closed her eyes.

Bang!

At that instant, Ji Jue pulled the trigger.

Blood splattered, the bullet flew out, and he fell backward.

Spiritual quality collapsed, breathing ceased.

But the corners of his mouth carried a faint smile.

Death.

But with Ji Jue's death, Ye Xian's expression moved slightly, and she lifted her head.

The sound of heaven collapsing and earth cracking rang out, outside the window, the familiar scenery was rapidly dimming, fading, and being rapidly swallowed and annihilated by darkness.

Everything was rapidly dissipating.

Like a bubble evaporating under the scorching sun after bursting.

"...Ha, you really guessed it right, kid."

Ye Xian sighed in a daze, ignoring the whistling annihilation and nothingness, just, at the very last moment, looked at Ji Jue.

Ji Jue, disappeared without a trace.

Only a wisp of blood remained in the void.

So brilliant.

She couldn't help but smile, praising sincerely:

"Well done, Ji Jue!"

If it were the real Ye Xian... that real me, would definitely say so too, right?

'Ye Xian', closed her eyes.

Along with the dream, she disappeared into the nothingness of darkness.