Chapter 518

Beneath a city shrouded in crimson light, only the skeletal ruins remained—gray steel frames piercing a blood-hazed sky; in the wreckage of a street marked “Starlight Avenue,” a corpse with ashen skin dragged its severed leg aimlessly, its rotting boot sole scraping against a star-shaped stone carving once signed by an international superstar, chips flying as it emitted a bizarre shriek.

Five hundred meters below this ground, a titanium alloy gate slid open without sound—

A cold, You blue glow seeped up from the vertical elevator shaft; the sharp click of high heels echoed through the sealed corridor; at its end, the automatic door opened to reveal a hundred-meter-wide circular black hall, where Hua Xiaoling sat slumped in a curved command chair, black leather clinging to her slender shoulders, legs crossed, three holographic projections slicing through the air before her.

To her left, Chen Yanxiu, leader of the Sacred Revelation, idly turned over a silver pocket watch, his lens reflections masking his gaze; to her right sat a middle-aged man with golden hair, his face cold and shadowed—this was Virend, leader of the Holy City Organization; directly before her, an elderly man with white hair swept back like a blade, his eyes sharp as forged steel, piercing through the stream of data.

The assistant who entered hurried forward and whispered rapidly into Hua Xiaoling’s ear; before the whisper ended, she raised her hand, dismissing him as if brushing away air; the automatic door sealed shut again, and she slowly lifted her spine from the chair, her voice like an ice pick driving into frozen silence.

“We just received word—Lin Xian is still alive. He’s currently at Outpost 374.”

“Impossible!” Virend, leader of the Holy City, snapped coldly: “Our people monitored the Harco battlefield for two months. Phoenix Society has been hunting him nonstop. He’s been exposed to the crimson for this long—even a mech would have been corrupted!”

To the left, Chen Yanxiu now narrowed his eyes slightly.

Hua Xiaoling lifted her gaze slightly, her tone utterly calm: “Just now, he activated Civilization Simulation No. 39081.”

The hall fell utterly silent; Virend’s expression froze; Chen Yanxiu’s pocket watch clicked shut with a “click”; his gaze immediately fixed on the elder in the center.

After a long pause, the elder finally spoke in a deep, resonant voice.

“Failed?”

“Yes,” Hua Xiaoling continued in the same flat tone: “Chu Yan severed a portion of her own consciousness and embedded it into the Civilization Simulation system—that portion meant to be consumed by the Master.”

“Psychic control…?” Virend squinted, his peripheral vision flicking toward Chen Yanxiu, his voice icy: “Sacred Revelation claims to understand the Master’s power better than anyone—hah! How could you have left such a vulnerability?”

Chen Yanxiu’s eyes flashed with anger, then he replied calmly: “My mission was to investigate and sever the psychic link between Lin Xian and Chu Yan, preventing Lin Xian from communicating with Phoenix Society. Other issues are not my concern.”

“Not your concern?!”

Virend sneered, then turned to the elder in the center: “Master Shi, based on Phoenix Society’s movements, our suspicions are nearly confirmed. That this man is still alive under these conditions proves it.”

Master Shi’s gaze had remained fixed on Hua Xiaoling; he now asked:

“Xiaoling, the Master’s arrival is imminent. Ye Lan must already have a plan. What will you do?”

“Master,” Hua Xiaoling said calmly, “first, Lin Xian being alive is good news. Even though the plan to remove and replace his belief consciousness via the Civilization Simulation system failed, I see no need for excessive concern.”

“Oh?” Chen Yanxiu raised an eyebrow. “You can’t kill him now—his death would cause more trouble than his life. Psychic assault failed. Who knows what Chu Yan told him? He’ll be on guard from now on. In this situation, you still think there’s nothing to worry about?”

“Will they send Lin Xian directly to the poles, or continue searching for the Train Group?” Virend asked.

“Hard to say. Phoenix Society will protect Lin, but this man… judging from his past actions, he won’t abandon his convoy,” Chen Yanxiu said.

Hua Xiaoling’s expression turned grim as she replied directly: “First, Ye Lan’s thoughts and plans pose no danger compared to what we seek. Second, Lin Xian went to Dawn City and used Flash Bullets to shuttle beyond the Celestial Veil to rescue Chu Yan—given his nature, he will activate the Civilization Simulation sphere again. Third, he will definitely go to Colorado…”

Her gaze flickered slightly: “Don’t forget—we still have a trump card.”

“Whether it’s dangerous isn’t for us to judge,” Chen Yanxiu said, his eyes narrowing, his tone sharp: “The Master recognizes only existence or nonexistence. You and I both know this determines whether we preserve any chance of civilization’s survival, correct?”

“Enough. We still have much to do. Before the Master arrives, we must weaken the Storm Sea defense line and infiltrate Kunlun City. The longer resistance lasts, the greater the loss for both the Master and humanity. To secure even a sliver of hope, the coming period is critical!”

Master Shi looked at Hua Xiaoling: “Arrange it quickly. All future missions regarding Lin Xian are under your command.”

“Understood,” Hua Xiaoling replied.

The three holographic projections faded one by one; the room returned to utter darkness and silence.

Hua Xiaoling closed her eyes slightly, as if thinking. After a long breath, she suddenly spoke: “Emotions and feelings are humanity’s chains. You understand this clearly now, don’t you?”

Tap. Tap.

Light footsteps echoed; from the shadows in the corner, a tall, sharp figure stepped forward slowly.

Chu Yan’s face was expressionless, devoid of any emotion. She stopped before Hua Xiaoling and said calmly: “Aren’t you worried I’ve ruined your plans?”

Hua Xiaoling smiled faintly, unhurried: “What plans? Protecting Lin Xian’s safety? Accelerating negotiations with Phoenix Society? Or the plan to preserve a spark of human civilization?”

She rose slowly, walked to the side, poured herself a glass of water, and spoke without turning:

“The more foolish a person is, the more they need positions, emotions, class opposition. Throughout history, every leader who toppled dynasties and manipulated alliances exploited this. When our enemy is no longer humanity, no longer a force our civilization can oppose, emotions, positions, class, religion—all become meaningless.”

Hua Xiaoling turned, drank the water, and looked at Chu Yan with calm eyes: “Only science.”

Seeing Chu Yan remain silent, she asked:

“You should be grateful you’ve lost the ability to feel pain. Though you’ve still caused us trouble, now you’re better able to understand our direction.”