Chapter 592: Can You Bear This Burden?

Let myself…

Lead humanity in this world?!

Upon suddenly hearing such news, Zhou Xian’s mind spun dizzily; it took him a long while before he sharply realized.

“But, but I…”

To be honest, he didn’t think his personality suited such a thing.

Even when he had just regained his “past-life memories” and had not yet learned the full truth, still harboring intense hostility toward the “World Destroyer.”

All he had wanted was to cultivate diligently and protect himself and those he cared about from the coming disaster.

As for caring for the entire Qixing civilization, as Zhou Kongming had said…

Such a thing was too distant to him; he had never considered it.

“I’m not suited for it, and I’ve never wanted to do such a thing,” Zhou Xian said seriously.

“I know,” Zhou Kongming nodded slightly.

His calm demeanor left Zhou Xian baffled.

If the elder knew this about him, then why…

“I’ve watched your conduct over these years. I can see you truly have no ambition for this.”

Zhou Kongming turned his gaze to the central cylindrical glass display case, surrounded by dense talismanic runes, and looked at the Rangyuan Star he had seized.

“But many things don’t cease to exist just because you refuse to think about them.”

He withdrew his gaze from the cylindrical glass display and turned back to Zhou Xian.

“Now that you’ve reached a certain height, whether you intend it or not, the future of Qixing humanity will shift because of your will.”

Here, Zhou Kongming suddenly smiled.

“Especially after Li and Heng leave this world.”

Undoubtedly, Zhou Xian, who had already formed the Great Sun Golden Core, was the most powerful individual in Task World 1 at this stage.

It would likely remain so for a long time to come.

“Qixing is the origin of the spiritual tide’s revival. You’ve surely glimpsed some of what Qixing’s future will be like in your ‘past-life memories.’”

The universe is vast, the stars countless.

In these twenty years, countless civilizations in the stars have already been affected by the spiritual tide’s revival.

The instinct of all living beings drives them to seek ways to break beyond their biological limits, craving more spiritual energy and richer resources.

Whether Qixing’s people wish it or not, Qixing’s future will become a target for all.

“Rather than passively accepting it later, it’s better to prepare actively now—unless… you’re willing to abandon Qixing.”

Zhou Xian is indeed the most powerful individual in Task World 1 at present.

But some civilizations can unite their individuals to unleash destruction far exceeding Zhou Xian’s current power.

For instance, the Rangyuan civilization currently seized and suppressed by Zhou Kongming.

“Enough. The choice is yours,” Zhou Kongming flicked his finger, sending a streak of spiritual light toward Zhou Xian’s third eye.

“I’ve already taught you the method of seizing and extracting. If you truly feel unfit for this, you can always find someone more suitable later.”

Having explained the stakes, the choice remained theirs.

Just as he had once planned to teach more divine arts to accelerate this world’s development.

But later, he abandoned the idea.

Excessive interference contradicted the ancestral master’s original intent for this mission.

This is the new Qixing people’s own civilization. He had already created the conditions for them, granting them an advantage during the spiritual tide’s revival.

How they proceed from here…

The new Qixing people will make their own choices—no need for him to teach, no need for him to guide.

Without further hesitation, he acted.

He opened his palm toward Heng, who understood instantly and leapt into Zhou Kongming’s palm!

The hazy, illusory form likewise condensed, leaving only a spherical object composed of data, drifting gently down, which Zhou Kongming caught in his clasped hands.

“Let’s go.”

Before the words had fully faded, Zhou Xian felt no anomaly—Zhou Kongming, who had just been before him, vanished.

As if nothing had happened.

Only the continuous flow of information in his consciousness—on how to bypass the suppression runes and extract life from the Rangyuan Star—reminded him that something vital had just occurred.

Hum~

A light screen projected before Zhou Xian.

It contained little: only three large characters and a square box.

Please name—

Spiritual autonomy has emerged, yet the advanced artificial intelligence still exists.

Just now, he had obtained the highest permission for Qixing’s advanced artificial intelligence—something Chen Shang had long sought but could never reach.

Zhou Xian’s expression was complex.

Could he truly bear this burden?

Could he even bear this burden?

His thoughts churned in turmoil, dimming even the joy of forming the Great Sun Golden Core.

…

…

Meanwhile, beyond Qixing.

At the same distance, Zhou Kongming gazed at the deep cosmic space, where Qixing shimmered like a sapphire.

Nearly twenty years…

He had never undertaken a mission so long.

He withdrew his gaze and looked before him.

【Grand Xuan Immortal Net (Beta Version)】

【Name: Zhou Kongming】

【Age: 596】

【Realm: Void Return, Perfect】

【Profession: Sword Cultivator】

【Affiliation: Sword Sect】

【Foundation Scripture: Grand Void Sword Canon (Supreme)】

【Divine Arts, Techniques, Sword Arts: Grand Void Sword Flight · Perfect (Supreme), Grand Void Golden Eye of Unveiling · Perfect (Supreme), Grand Void Sword Array · Perfect (Supreme)… Yin-Yang Soul Seizing and Source Stealing Marvelous Art · Perfect】

【Permission: Ascension Envoy · Type I】

【Ascension Points: 1】

Over these years, while closely monitoring Qixing’s condition, and since the Yin-Yang Soul Seizing and Source Stealing Marvelous Art wasn’t particularly complex, he had simply learned it outright.

He scrolled further down, toward the mission section.

【Mission One: Initiate Spiritual Tide Revival, Reward: 1 Ascension Point (Completed)】

【Mission Two: Guide Task World Humanity onto the Cultivation Path, Reward: 77 (Available for Settlement)】

【Mission Three: Ensure Task World Humanity Maintains Dominance After Spiritual Tide Revival, Reward: 81 (Available for Settlement)】

Because he had used the “Time Scene” module, the reward caps for the latter two missions were reduced by 10%, from the original 1–100 to 1–90.

“159 points… that’s all I can get.”

He had once hoped to claim the full 201-point reward; now he saw how naive that had been.

No wonder this mission was rated “Extreme Difficulty.”

“I wonder where I rank.”

He only hoped he wasn’t last…

Thoughts swirling, Zhou Kongming casually tossed something forward!

A golden-white structure resembling an altar rotated and expanded, its peculiar energy sinking into every corner of Task World 1.

Hum~!

A strange ripple radiated from the Ascension Platform, instantly leaping across the entire Qixing planetary system and extending outward.

Qixing System…

Star Cluster…

Until it reached the entirety of Task World 1!

Wherever the Ascension Platform’s energy touched, the stars of the universe flickered in unison, and all living beings fell silent!