Chapter 426: Imprint and Prophecy

The firmament was like a rift.

Above the sky of Xinquan, that pervasive darkness was rapidly dissipating and contracting; following the dissolution of the Great Serpent's projection, it was seen no more. The residual corruption of the Great Sin was washed away by the rain of mercury, and soon, the entire town returned to its former appearance.

As the mercury curtains retracted and vanished, the sirens ceased abruptly. Once the Security Department's teams lifted the martial law, pedestrians reappeared on the streets.

The shaken onlookers exchanged glances and whispers, rumors flying everywhere. After all, there had been too many changes in just half a day—more than most people had seen in their entire lives.

Some began to worry that the coast was conducting some sinister experiment, fearing it might send all of Xinquan into the sky. Others retorted, "You're talking nonsense! I saw it with my own eyes; this is clearly the resurgence of Qi, don't you understand? Factory Manager Ji must have finally achieved perfection, survived the lightning tribulation, broken the sky with a single sword, and ascended while riding the serpent..."

Numerous rumors spread in various forms, their creativity truly spectacular and eye-opening.

It didn't take long for the chaos to pass, or rather, apart from the coastal industrial park, everywhere else had always been quite chaotic; it had simply returned to its usual level.

Before long, the market stalls were set up again, operating as usual.

To make a living outside the city, one needs a strong heart.

These days, wind, rain, and death are common occurrences, nothing strange. Besides, no one had died yet, so what was there to fear? Working this afternoon would count as overtime, and the pay was double!

After working an hour or two on the assembly line, wouldn't that be enough to go get a foot massage?

Life is good, brothers!

"... In general, that is the situation." Isis reported: "Due to the attacker's interference, the current sterilization of the Haizhou wilderness has not been completed. Shall we continue?"

"What is the progress on clearing the key areas outside the city?"

"One hundred percent." Isis answered decisively, "All marked large swarms of adult insects have been completely eradicated."

"Then let's stop there for now."

Ji Jue lowered his eyes, staring at the inquiries and warnings constantly popping up on his phone screen. He sneered and put the phone away: "Since everything that needed to be done is finished, if they want to sweep the snow from their own doorsteps, let them be."

Originally, they had all turned a blind eye and a deaf ear, but now that the coast had taken action, they were all jumping out to show off their presence.

Clowns, nothing more.

I truly hope that if any counterattacks occur, they can still be this stubborn.

Ji Jue held two mercury crystals made by solid alchemy in his hand, feeling the spiritual quality aura plundered from within, and fell into deep thought.

The production of the Soul Pointer needed to be put on the agenda, but the reserves of Aether-series materials in Xinquan were still too low. He might have to take two more chickens to bother the Tong family.

Compared to this, he was more concerned about the anomaly in his palm.

Not long ago, just as the Great Serpent disintegrated and its avatar dissipated, some unexpected problem seemed to have occurred. Following that crystal light rising from Yacheng, it completely lost control, causing its structure to collapse entirely, leaving it defenseless with its gates wide open.

Such a good opportunity, Ji Jue certainly couldn't miss it...

Quick eyes and swift hands.

He took advantage of the momentum to ruthlessly snatch a handful from the core of the Great Serpent.

As a result, it seemed he had actually snatched something back?

With the Non-Aggression Hand under the workshop's enhancement, it performed well beyond its level. For a moment, Ji Jue truly felt he had grabbed something vital, held it tight, and pulled it back...

Yet his palm was empty.

It felt like a hallucination.

A fragile thing like a dream bubble, as if it had never existed from the start.

Only through the soul shadow of Chunjun and Ji Jue's own spiritual quality vision could one see that vague and faint outline in his palm.

A bizarre emblem like a phantom flower in the mist.

If one didn't pay attention, it was hard to notice.

Ji Jue frowned, instinctively trying to analyze it, only to find that this was purely a near-nonexistent spiritual quality imprint, just like a mark, a credential, a...

Key?

But if it were a key, what was it used to open?

Holding it in his hand, he could feel a certain faint call and resonance, like an invitation, issuing guidance, but that guidance was too weak to be felt clearly.

While deep in thought, his heart stirred, and he heard footsteps coming from behind.

Mercury flowed, completely covering that spiritual quality emblem that seemed to dissipate with the wind, sealing and storing it.

He would study it slowly later.

"Mr. Ji... are you alright?"

Yu Shu, panting heavily, finally climbed up the stairs, drenched in sweat, as if he had been looking for him for a long time.

Having felt the previous intense spiritual quality fluctuations and clashes, he was still shaken, his face faintly pale.

Only after confirming Ji Jue's safety did he finally let out a long breath, though even he didn't know why he was so worried.

At this moment, he wiped his sweat and panted heavily: "What exactly... happened just now?"

"Ah, just had a few fights, don't worry."

Ji Jue waved his hand indifferently, "The spreader of the Spiritual Plague must have come knocking. We exchanged a few blows, and I was lucky not to suffer any losses."

"Spiritual Plague..."

Yu Shu was dazed, as if unable to understand, but soon, his pale face flushed red, his jaw dropped, and he instinctively clenched his fists: "The spread of the Spiritual Plague is... man-made?"

"..."

Ji Jue turned back, looking at his dejected and dull appearance, and withdrew his gaze with pity.

"How many hells in this world are not man-made?"

"Are you awake?"

A gentle voice sounded from beside him, unhurried.

In a trance, Wen Su opened her eyes from a long dream and saw that figure sitting by the window, a middle-aged man with a lazy smile, his expression gentle: "Sneaking out like this really caused a huge mess...

You really went too far with the mischief. If I hadn't stopped him, the Fourth Brother would have already swallowed you whole."

"... Father?"

Wen Su's expression stiffened, and she instinctively stood up, restraining her shrinking and unease.

Then, she felt the injuries on her body... the heavy wounds that were originally enough to make her fall apart had actually improved greatly, without any sequelae, and even that wisp of dragon fire capable of burning her soul to ashes had vanished into thin air.

Escaping death.

It was a pity that her heart could not summon the slightest joy or relief, especially since that figure had appeared in the safe house she had painstakingly and secretly set up.

As if returning to his own home, he was familiar with everything, even brewing tea with her favorite tea set. The tea fragrance swirled, rising with a faint sweetness.

"Try it, good tea I won by betting. It calms the soul and has miraculous effects on your injuries." The lazy man leaning by the window beckoned, signaling her to sit over.

Supporting his chin, he admired her picking up the teacup and sipping, as if watching a little hamster eating sunflower seeds, gently stroking her hair:

"To be honest, I still like your previous unruly appearance, but this appearance of hiding your claws is also quite cute."

Wen Su stiffened for a moment, restraining the trembling and twitching of her shoulders, and gathered her courage to look into those pitch-black eyes. In the pure darkness, a faint smile always overflowed.

Reflecting her face.

Just like looking down at dust.

"Father, you... don't blame me?" Wen Su asked.

"Blame you for what?"

Wen Zheng laughed, as if puzzled, and also as if waiting for her confession, his smile always gentle.

"Blame me for catalyzing the Spiritual Plague to the Federation, telling the Fourth Brother's plan to the sister, and... and..." Wen Su's voice paused for a moment, her tone becoming dry: "And, ruining your affairs."

"Since you already know, what else is there to say?"

Wen Zheng was still smiling.

Only, he slowly reached out his hand toward her.

The palm with five fingers spread out was like infinite darkness, covering all her vision bit by bit, blocking the sky and the sun, obscuring everything.

Then he curled his knuckles and flicked.

Pop!

Leaving a red mark.

"Silly talk."

Wen Zheng shook his head dotingly, "Although the remains of the Yellow Millet are precious, they are not irreplaceable. Although the Federation is troublesome, it is not unsolvable. Besides, no matter who wins or loses, aren't they all my children?

You have the heart to participate, what do I have to blame you for?"

Then what is this?

Playing with prey, mocking the resistance that overestimates its own strength, or the satisfaction and pleasure of appreciating a farce from above?

Pretending...

"Don't worry, Father isn't petty to that extent."

Wen Zheng reached out his hand again, just like when she was a child, affectionately picking her up, letting her sit on his lap, and then carefully combing her hair, strand by strand, weaving braids solemnly and carefully.

"If parents love their children, they plan far for them. A momentary setback and mistake are nothing. I only hope you can be stronger, stronger than me, and surpass me."

He stroked his daughter's hanging braids and told her: "Whether it's Xiao Sheng, Xiao Wen, Xiao Duan... or you."

Filled with expectation and kindness.

Just like taking care of a beloved experimental subject, always tolerant, always patient, always full of appreciation and love.

He said, "Besides, didn't you do a good job?"

At that moment, Wen Su stiffened.

Dazed, unbelievable.

"From the beginning, in this game, that child was a vital participant, an indispensable key existence. Unfortunately, she is too stubborn and too dead-headed. I was worried about how to persuade her back.

As a result, it was completely unexpected..."

The person behind her laughed, happy and expectant, whispering in her ear: "Haven't you already almost brought her back?"

Wen Su felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

Stiffening.

"You... from the beginning..."

"Yes, that's right, from the day you stole the original strain of the Dream Loss Syndrome, I already knew." Wen Zheng smiled: "It's rare for my little bird to take the initiative to do something, it's impossible not to pay attention, right?

Besides, your method actually has problems too. If you really want to keep Xiao Wen away from all this, you should harden your heart and make a clean break with her.

As a result, in the end, you were just lying to yourself, right?"

Wen Su wanted to speak, but couldn't make a sound, trembling, furious.

"I want to keep my sister away from all this, I want to let my sister be careful, I want to let her be prepared... I kept telling myself that, but in the end, you just wanted to see her, you never thought that you would kill her..." Wen Zheng said: "It was you who pulled her back, A-Su, well done."

"I... I..."

"It doesn't matter, Father will forgive you, and Father will also forgive her, you are all my favorite children."

Wen Zheng hugged her, gentle and generous, telling her: "She will come back."

"The rebellious period is very short, I have enough patience. One day, that child will return to my embrace, she will recognize reality, recognize herself..."

Wen Zheng laughed, unable to stop himself: "Maybe, that prophecy will really come true on her."

Wen Su was silent, unable to make a sound again.

Like a puppet, stiff, her mind empty.

Only broken echoes remained.

【One day, among your descendants, there will appear someone stronger than you.】

Ninety-one years ago, before the previous generation's "Heavenly Book" returned to the Supreme Good, it made a prophecy for the Holy Fool, who was not yet called the "Guide" at that time.

Unfortunately, this prophecy also had a second half.

She said:

【————And you will die at the hands of that person.】

This was a destined bad news.

But Wen Zheng was overjoyed by this.

Since that time, he, who had never been married, began to appear frequently in various places in the world, raising many children and adopting countless others.

He devoted all his efforts to cultivating his descendants, sparing no sacrifice or payment.

He even never concealed or hid the existence of this prophecy, but instead solemnly told every child about the existence of the prophecy.

After each telling, he would solemnly ask the child in front of him: "Will you be that person?"

No matter if the answer was yes or no, he didn't care, and would still spare no effort to provide support.

Hoping they could show their talents.

Hoping they could achieve something!

"So many years have passed; perhaps this is the closest I have ever been to that prophecy. Hmm, although the distance is still vast, it should be considered a critical node."

Wen Zheng sighed with emotion, stroking his daughter's hair, caressing the tool that had performed so brilliantly, his smile remaining unchanged: "Let us see. I, too, am very curious to know who will ultimately emerge victorious at the end of this game."

"Father..."

In the long silence, Wen Su raised her head and looked at him.

For a fleeting moment, her hollow expression seemed to change.

She said, "May I participate?"

Wen Zheng remained silent, watching her, his smile only growing warmer.

So gratified.

"Of course."