Chapter 558: It turns out the system is just a fragment

In the void, the old man lightly patted the ox's back.

"Go."

The blue ox lifted its hooves; it seemed slow, yet each step crossed a vast distance.

The next moment.

The person and the ox already stood in the central hall of the Yan and Huang Universe.

Up close, the old man looked even more ordinary.

There was not a trace of energy fluctuation on him, like an old man practicing tai chi in the park.

Qin Hao's soul's system, however, was like it had crashed at this moment—utterly silent, not daring to even let out a fart.

This could only mean one thing.

The old man's level exceeded the system's comprehension.

"Junior Qin Hao, I have... seen the Heavenly Venerable."

Qin Hao tentatively used an ancient Eastern title.

The old man casually found a step to sit on, while the blue ox lay beside him, even idly chewing on some grass of unknown origin in its mouth.

"Heavenly Venerable?"

The old man chewed on those two words, shook his head, "Just an empty title; call me Xuan Du."

"In this boundless sea of suffering, names don't matter; what matters is where you want to go."

The old man lifted his eyelids; in his eyes were reflected the birth and death of myriad universes.

"Young friend, is this vessel of yours also headed for the other shore?"

"The other shore?"

These two words left Qin Hao somewhat puzzled.

Could the other party be referring to the system's hometown?

"Junior is dull; I don't know what the senior means by the other shore..."

Qin Hao dared not speak rashly, but respectfully offered a cup of tea condensed from primordial energy.

Xuan Du took the tea, took a light sip, not particularly fond of this energy water full of technological harshness, but didn't spit it out.

"This place is a prison."

Xuan Du pointed at his feet, then at the endless void outside.

"Or rather, it's a wasteland."

Qin Hao's heart jumped.

Since countless ages, innumerable magnificent civilizations have arisen—some pursued technological ascension, some cultivated their flesh to sainthood, some embodied the rules...

They all thought that as long as they broke out of their mother universe, they had achieved transcendence.

Xuan Du's face showed a meaningful smile, as if watching a group of children wanting to climb over a wall.

"So what? Upon looking out, this outside is even more of a hell."

"Big fish eat small fish; the Chaos Enforcement Bureau watches over the flock like a sheepdog. Here there is no transcendence, only endless involution and consumption."

Qin Hao fell silent.

"Indeed. In these past days, what I've seen and heard is nothing but slaughter and trade; I can see no hope or end."

"The so-called other shore is to leap out of this sea of suffering."

Xuan Du's voice became ethereal.

"Go to a place where rules no longer collapse and causality is no longer inverted. Some call it the Gate of Truth, some call it the Origin World; we call it... the Dao."

Qin Hao gave a wry smile: "Senior, I can't even beat the sharks in this sea, let alone talk about going ashore."

"You are quite special."

Xuan Du set down the teacup, his gaze suddenly turning sharp, piercing straight into Qin Hao's soul depths.

To be precise, it was aimed at that system which had been playing dead.

"Ordinary new gods, I've seen plenty; even if they devoured many universes, they're nothing but slightly enlarged ants."

"But you have something inside you."

Qin Hao's muscles tensed all over.

The greatest secret has been discovered.

"Don't be nervous."

Xuan Du waved his hand, signaling the reclining blue ox not to scare the child, "Old Daoist, I won't take the junior's belongings; this thing carries too much karma, I find it too hot to handle."

He pointed at Qin Hao's chest.

"That should be a fragment of a mirror, right?"

"A mirror?"

Qin Hao blinked.

"Is the system a mirror?"

"It seems you know nothing."

Xuan Du sighed, his eyes filled with pity.

"Long ago... so long ago that this sea of universes had not yet become this ruined state, there was a mirror that reflected the truth of all heavens and myriad worlds."

"It maintained the balance of all universes, but later it shattered."

"Some say it was smashed in a fight over it; others say it shattered on its own. Either way, the fragments are scattered everywhere."

"Each fragment possesses incredible abilities—some can alter logic, some can create something from nothing, some can foresee the future..."

Xuan Du gazed deeply at Qin Hao.

"That piece on you should be inclined toward replication and analysis; it's overbearing and also dangerous."

Qin Hao felt his worldview being reshaped.

So that's how the system came to be?

"What... happens if you get the fragment?"

Qin Hao asked in a dry voice.

"You'll be targeted."

Xuan Du pointed upward and said, "The Chaos Enforcement Bureau's rigid procedures, though annoying, exist to maintain order. But there is another thing that specifically hunts those who possess fragments."

"They want to reassemble the mirror."

"Isn't it good to reassemble it?"

Qin Hao asked instinctively.

"The mirror is broken, that's it. If you force it back together, do you think the cosmic sea still has a reason to exist?"

Xuan Du gave a cold smile, "That would be the true great reboot, formatting everything."

Qin Hao broke out in a cold sweat.

It seems his system is a time bomb.

"Then, senior..."

"Old Daoist, I'm just a passerby."

Xuan Du stood up and patted nonexistent dust off his Daoist robe.

"I've crossed this sea of suffering for three eras and still haven't seen the shore. But I know that if I keep staying here as a bandit, I'll never reach the other side."

He mounted the green ox again.

"Young friend, I'll give you a piece of advice: don't rely too much on that fragment. It's a tool, not your path. If one day you can refine that fragment, perhaps we'll meet on the other shore."

"Moreover, this cosmic sea is just one corner of the myriad heavens; you can understand it as the multiverse, and the world beyond is even vaster—that is also the Dao I pursue."

Having said that, Xuan Du pulled an ancient jade slip from his sleeve and casually tossed it to Qin Hao.

"This counts as a little tea money; inside is recorded a 'dark map' of this sea, marking some blind spots the Enforcement Bureau can't reach. For someone like you... a wanted criminal, it should come in handy."

The three words "wanted criminal" were spoken heavily, with a teasing tone.

"Thank you, senior!"

Qin Hao received it with both hands, as if obtaining a priceless treasure.

"Old Daoist, I'm off now."

The green ox let out a long moan, and lotuses sprang up beneath its hooves.

The man and the ox vanished into thin air inside the hall.

At the same time, the flow of time outside returned to normal.

The system's red light flared up again, frantically updating the overdue alerts.

【Warning! Detected remnants of unknown laws!】

【Opponent's energy level assessment: unknown!】

Qin Hao held the warm, smooth jade slip, gazing at the empty hall, remaining silent for a long time.

"Dad, what... just happened?"

Qin An's somewhat confused voice came through.

In their perception, it had just been a brief moment of dazedness.

"Nothing."

"Just met an elderly immortal rushing by, who pointed us toward a perilous path."

He looked at the system panel.

He had thought that having the system made him the heaven's chosen child, but now it seemed he was merely holding a hot potato, dancing on the edge of a cliff.

"Hehe, it's getting more and more interesting."

"Since it's a deadlock, let's see whose fate is tougher."