Chapter 1828: Attitude Reversal

Before Lin An could finish speaking, he nervously looked at the Overseer, hesitating whether to say what he had just thought of.

In a brief silence.

Unlike the Overseer No. 77 he had imagined would fly into a rage or simply sneer and leave, at this moment his gaze was deep and he spoke softly.

"Do you really want to die? Are you seeking your own death?"

Feeling the Overseer's scrutinizing gaze, Lin An blinked slightly, then simply nodded.

Having made the decision, he would not turn back.

However, this was beyond Lin An's expectation.

Almost the instant he nodded, the overwhelming infinite light flame surrounding Number 77 suddenly retracted into his body, and the invisible pressure vanished as well.

Lin An only felt his whole body relax, and in the next second, within that huge eye, he saw unreserved admiration.

"Good!"

"Very good!"

"I thought you would choose to give up!"

"Hum!"

Before Lin An could react in surprise.

In an instant, the space he was in changed again; as the scene and space in his field of vision twisted and shifted at an unimaginable speed, by the time Lin An could see clearly, he was shocked to discover that beneath his feet lay an azure planet!

I am..

I'm back!?

Behind him was endless starry sky, beneath him a blue planet.

Looking at the numerous artificial light points orbiting outside the blue planet, and at everything around him that was so familiar.

Lin An's heart jolted—how could he not know that Number 77 had actually brought him into Earth's orbit!

Good!? Very good!?

"Are you testing me!?"

In Earth's orbit, Lin An blurted out subconsciously, turning his head to look at the Overseer Number 77 behind him.

Even if his reaction were slower, he would realize what the expression in Number 77's eyes earlier signified; combined with Overseer Number 77's constant temptations and deliberate suppression of him, Lin An could not fail to understand that this was fundamentally Number 77 testing his resolve!

But Lin An simply could not understand: as a mere Fourth Stage, why would his determination to pursue the three-in-one path be so important to Number 77 as to warrant such attention, and even require such testing!?

"Testing?"

"No, I am just speaking frankly; the path you have chosen is indeed a dead end."

Meeting Lin An's astonished gaze, Overseer Number 77, who had previously been cold, now looked at Lin An with playful eyes and spoke softly.

"If you truly choose the single system, all the conditions I mentioned will naturally come true and be given to you."

"If, after hearing the drawbacks of the Three Systems, you still choose this path, I will not stop you."

"So, where does the testing come from?"

As the words fell, Lin An slightly opened his mouth, for a moment feeling somewhat dazed.

"Not a test? Then what's the smile for? What's there to be satisfied about?"

How quick his reaction was.

Upon realizing that Overseer Number 77 was likely testing him, he recalled many movies and novels he had seen; according to their plots, the next step would be for Number 77 to praise him greatly, then give him more benefits and support him on this path!

Otherwise, why go to all this trouble!?

Thus Overseer Number 77's behavior left him momentarily bewildered, utterly unable to fathom what Number 77 meant.

"You're not… testing me, confirming my resolve, and then… if so, you'll help me?"

Stammering, Lin An rarely blurted out this question, suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed.

Although from the moment he made his decision, he had never thought this path would be easy, nor that Overseer Number 77 would be willing to help him.

Frankly speaking, if an Overseer Committee were willing to fully cultivate him and clear obstacles for him, Lin An would of course hope for that!

It seemed to sense Lin An's current embarrassment and to understand the myriad thoughts flashing through his mind.

With a teasing chuckle, the tentacles behind Overseer Number 77's silver-blue giant eye swayed casually.

"How so? Do you think that by choosing this path I would consider you to have limitless future and boundless potential?"

"I seem to constantly tempt you to give up, merely testing your resolve? But in fact I earnestly hope you take the Three Systems?"

As he spoke, Overseer Number 77 looked with interest at Lin An's embarrassed expression, as if Lin An's look at this moment was extremely amusing, making him feel entertained for the first time in a long while.

"No, I merely want to see whether you choose this path willingly; I just want to see if you will voluntarily 'go to death'."

"After all, it's rare to see someone who, despite having a heavenly broad road available, insists on taking a dead‑end route and acts foolishly about it."

As the words fell, Lin An found himself at a loss for words and broke into a wry smile.

Well, it seems he was being overly sentimental.

Besides, given Overseer Number 77's status, there was no need to test him; the fact that there was no anger or resentment over his refusal was already a blessing.

Quickly suppressing the faint disappointment in his heart, Lin An stopped dwelling on it and instead asked the Overseer with a wry smile.

"Overseer sir… if that's the case, by bringing me back here, do you mean we are to part ways now?"

He lightly clenched his fists; compared with the earlier interruption, looking at the Earth beneath his feet, Lin An felt a hard‑to‑contain excitement.

If there is no follow‑up, then there isn't; in any case, at least he had come back alive!

Thinking of the fugitives still ravaging Earth, and not knowing how that silly bear and Chu An were faring, amid all these thoughts Lin An actually felt an urge to fly back right away!

With his current strength, he could easily suppress everything!

From now on he could at least guarantee a long period during which both Earth and he would enter a phase of rapid development, ready to face the next catastrophe mission!

Home! Lin An wanted to return home!

However, before Lin An could nervously await Overseer Number 77's decision to let him leave, the next second all he saw was Overseer Number 77's eyes full of teasing, who suddenly spoke of the amusement in his gaze and then calmly looked at him.

How? You're just going to leave? Have you also forgotten what you promised me?

As the words fell, Lin An stared in shock, completely unaware of what the Overseer meant.

What promise? Promise to complete what task for Number 77 afterwards?

Isn't that for later? With his current strength, what can he do?

Not daring to hesitate, Lin An had no time to ponder what Number 77 meant, and simply replied with the same earnest, solemn expression:

Overseer, I, Lin An, naturally remember everything you've done for me!

If I manage to reach Fifth Stage and, by luck, not die, and even advance further, I will naturally complete every task you've given me!

Of course, if you have something now...

Taking a deep breath, Lin An still showed no hesitation, speaking resolutely:

No matter how difficult it is, I will go and do it!

I only hope you can let me go back to take a look and handle...

Now? No, not now.

Without waiting for Lin An to finish, Number 77 instantly extended a tentacle to his eyes, pausing between each word:

I've said it before—I want your life!

Since you're willing to volunteer to die, I will naturally make your death more worthwhile!

Lin An, this path is too hard, too hard...

But I also want to give it a try!

As he spoke, Number 77's gaze grew solemn, as if making some extremely important decision; the tip of its extended tentacle held a red crystal condensed to the extreme, emitting astonishing regular fluctuations.

Eat this crystal!

From now on, you, Lin An, owe me a life! No matter how far you go, you must unconditionally do one thing for me!

And I...

Buzz!!

Instantly tearing the surrounding space, in Lin An's stunned gaze, the 77th Overseer seemed to have opened an unimaginably huge channel, as if to summon something.

At close range, the Overseer's silver-blue giant eye stared at him, as if face to face, like a deep mirror.

And I...

I will spare no cost to help you complete this path!