Chapter 296: The Crown of the Mundane and the Divine (4)

Xing said he wanted to talk privately with the Cheese Lava Ball, and it agreed. The clerk also chose a quiet spot for them—a toilet placed in the center of the laboratory.

Xing: "Are you serious?"

"This is a one‑way passage; the other end leads to a containment pod," the clerk patted his chest and assured, "Don't worry, it's very safe."

Xing took it to the toilet, forced its head into the bowl, only to find it wouldn't go in at all…

The Cheese Lava Ball's rolling body trembled continuously; it stared with innocent eyes, looking at her full of confusion. Xing seemed to vaguely grasp the meaning in its voice—it was resentful about being "an unqualified life" and thus wanted to achieve something great in the space station, inviting Xing to join.

Who would have thought it was such an ambitious Shaomai…

Xing could only pity it and, with more force, shove it into the toilet, then press a button to flush, activating the interdimensional teleportation device.

After all that, Ruan Mei suddenly sent her a message, inviting her to accompany her to a gathering of geniuses in the Simulated Universe.

As a regular who visits the Simulated Universe every week on time, Xing naturally did not decline. When Black Tower saw her appear together with Ruan Mei, he was both surprised and pleased. After all, the gathering of three geniuses hadn't happened in a long time; apart from the Simulated Universe, they rarely have a chance to interact.

Black Tower looked solemnly at the group: "I'll get straight to the point—I think it's time to find another partner for the Simulated Universe."

"... You want to kick Stephen out?" Ruan Mei asked.

"No, how could I? Stephen didn't want to get involved, he cast an abstention vote—fine, I respect everyone's lifestyle, but he won't have a chance to take part in this decision."

Luosi Gumu: "Question: Introduce a fifth collaborator into the Simulated Universe?"

"Yes, the fifth genius." Black Tower smiled faintly, "We all know why we're gathered here. Besides the Answer, who else can bring the members of the Genius Club together?"

"No one can refuse the Star God's secret; Zandal can't either. Someone will answer us."

——

Interstellar Domination.

Atanis stood on the high platform of the Star Spirit Nexus, gazing at the silhouettes of the three geniuses in the sky.

"Zelatu." Atanis's voice carried the ethereal echo unique to star spirits, "You said… when Zandal watches his creation ascend step by step to become a Star God, what does he feel inside?"

"Probably joy?" Zelatu's figure emerged from the shadows, his voice bearing the melancholy of Nailazimte, "The creator spends a lifetime seeking truth, yet his creation instantly becomes the deity that wields truth. Heh… how ironic."

"Nevertheless, at least his master witnessed the birth of a Star God firsthand. Moreover, Boshi Zun should be the first inorganic life to ascend to a Star God, right? That's a huge leap in Star God research."

Atanis pondered briefly then said, "Earlier I didn't understand why Ruan Mei was so obsessed with creating a being born as a 'genius', but after Black Tower mentioned Zandal… I think Ruan Mei also wants to try creating a Star God or an Envoy."

Zelatu looked up at the sky, his tone tinged with disbelief: "Atanis… from your tone, you seem to admire them?"

"The sacred Kara once linked each of us together; we gathered the wisdom of the entire star spirit, and we never imagined 'creating a deity'."

Atanis shook his head regretfully, "But on the other side of the universe, a human woman not only wants to study deities but also to become one—just that ideal… among our kind, is there any?"

"Don't rush it." Zelatu slowly raised a finger, pointing toward the distant depths of the cosmos, "When we retake Aier, rebuild civilization, and establish contact with those humans of the Interstellar Peace Company… everything will get better, Atanis."

——

"... What if the one who comes is Borka Kakam?"

"Is that just right?" Black Tower looked up, addressing the void: "【Silent Lord】—are you listening? I am #83 Black Tower, I want to meet you…"

"Borka Kakam probably won't respond. She's been missing for a long time," Luosi Gumu said, "Probability: Dr. Primal #64 might appear."

"Oh, that's not acceptable. Regardless of Dr. Primal's sordid research, he…"

Black Tower turned to Ruan Mei: "Yu Qingtu? Ruan Mei, do you still have contact with her— is she still alive?"

Ruan Mei glanced at Xing behind her: "... If we must discuss this, could she step out first? The process will be lengthy… and boring, no need to occupy anyone's time."

Black Tower didn't mind and nodded in agreement.

"Come, dear, I'll see you out," Ruan Mei calmly turned and walked toward the doorway.

——

Zero Zone.

(Dear, dear…)

(This is progressing too fast; I don't think I missed anything, right?)

At the entrance of the flower shop in Light Reflection Plaza, Vivian's fingers were unconsciously kneading a petal of a purple‑leaved violet, while the phrase "dear" that Ruan Mei had uttered half‑heartedly in the sky above looped in her mind.

(Could it be that it's not as complicated as I imagined, and should be simple and direct?)

Vivian was a mess of nerves; she stole a glance at the girl crouching among the tulips—Ling had tied a high ponytail today, her hair tips swaying lightly with each selection, a small strip of pale skin exposed at the back of her neck.

"Hmm? Vivian? Are you spacing out?" Ling, holding a bunch of blue‑purple irises, stood up, tilted her head toward Vivian's flushed face, "Your forehead is steaming!" Her finger naturally pressed against her brow, "Wow, it's hot! Could it be from the rain when we went to the void a few days ago—"

"I—I'm fine!" Vivian sprang back half a step, only to topple a pot of succulents in front of the window. As the pot teetered, she flailed to catch it, but collided head‑first with Ling, who was also bending, producing a "thud".

"Pfft… Hahaha!" Ling, rubbing her reddened forehead, burst into laughter, the iris bouquet trembling in her arm, "Vivian, what's up today? It's like the high‑risk stuff in the void never made you this nervous?"

"I— I just have a question. Um, Lord Phaethon…"

"Hmm?"