Chapter 463: 2.2 Main·Pinokangni (134)

"... Why would you say that?" Zhigengniao was incredulous; she couldn't believe those were her brother's words.

Xingqiri's voice was very calm; he explained unhurriedly: "You just said that the gentleman's living off a beautiful dream doesn't count as life, but that's not true. Even without Pinokangni, people live in their own delusions, and that delusion is called Self-Worth."

"People always think they're destined to achieve some value. Gaining value for oneself means great power; conversely, those without value are degraded to the weak."

"However, value is not created from nothing; its total also has a limit. To achieve the so‑called value, a person must plunder it from others. Thus the weak are exploited, oppressed…"

"You mean… things shouldn't be like this, right?"

"Exactly." Xingqiri nodded. "But the irony is, people don't think this is wrong. Because they always treat that intangible Self-Worth as the standard, even the weak think so."

"Survival of the fittest, the strong eat the weak… all tragedies in the world stem from this. And Pinokangni is a beautiful dream precisely because it offers anyone trying to escape a place of peaceful sleep… here there is no tragedy, only happiness—though only a prototype, isn't that exactly the paradise we envision?"

Zhigengniao also seemed persuaded by her brother, comforting herself that perhaps that gentleman was just an exception.

——

Seeking an encounter in the dungeon—did something go wrong?

"Lord Bei Er Jun… I think Xingqiri's view is wrong, but what he says makes so much sense; I can't refute a single word. What should I do?"

He Sitiya rolled on the sofa like a hamster, and when Bei Er brought out the stew, he happened to see the household Supreme Deity pressing his head into a pillow, emitting a "woo—" wail.

"Supreme Deity, why do you think Xingqiri's view is wrong?" Bei Er asked curiously, "I also think Mr. Xingqiri's words are very reasonable."

"Ah, Lord Bei Er Jun, you've been persuaded too?" He Sitiya muttered softly, "I just think that achieving value doesn't have to come from plundering others, right? Look at the staff who post adventurer quests for the guild… they don't plunder anything, yet their value is indispensable. Also doctors, teachers… helping others can also realize value."

"Hehe, Supreme Deity, can't you just properly refute others' views?" Bei Er smiled faintly, bent down and tied a bib for the Supreme Deity.

"This… this is all because Lord Bei Er Jun made me say it!" He Sitiya's face suddenly flushed red.

However, when discussing the beautiful dream depicted by Xingqiri, He Sitiya also recalled the days in Tianjie. The deities in Tianjie lived without want; even if they ate well, were lazy, and slacked off daily, nothing happened—somewhat similar to Pinokangni.

But after such a life went on too long, the gods inevitably grew bored; after all, tasting any pleasure ten thousand times loses its novelty. So she abandoned the luxurious Tianjie and came to Oulali.

Even now, living a poor life of hopping jobs each day just to fill her stomach, she has never regretted it.

Living a life of drunken dreams day after day, repeating endlessly until life's end… wouldn't the people of Pinokangni find it boring?

——

Naruto.

"Not bad, this kid has insight."

Ban squinted slightly, finally beginning to look straight at the young man from another world. Though he didn't accept all his ideas, there was no doubt this was the person whose philosophy was closest to his in the heavens.

Today's Pinokangni is only a prototype, meaning Xingqiri still has the possibility to perfect it—a world without the strong eating the weak, only happiness, no pain.

However, by then his actions will be more brutal; he intends to carry out another form of "plunder"—plundering everyone's right to choose reality, using Infinite Moon Reading to force everyone into a peaceful illusion.

"Ban, his ideas are very similar to our Moon's Eye plan, and he's also not quite satisfied with the current Pinokangni," Daitu raised his half‑withered face, "If he eventually can replace the Dream Master, making Pinokangni approach 'perfection', perhaps we should first see what his perfect dream looks like?"

"Hmm, I indeed have that thought."

After all, this plan involves a great deal; both the preliminary preparations and the mid‑stage deployments must be handled cautiously.

Having an entire planet's population serve as test subjects to first experience a false yet perfect beautiful dream isn't bad. If the dream Xingqiri constructs unexpectedly has issues, he can use Pinokangni as a precedent to adjust the Moon's Eye plan.

——

"While the Dream Master hasn't arrived yet, the siblings decide to ask more guests their views on the beautiful dream."

"The first guest they met was extremely happy; she was partying nonstop with friends from across the universe, hating loneliness and unable to endure a boring life, and this dreamland full of fun was her ideal place."

Zhigengniao hesitated briefly, then raised her question: "If such days lasted forever… would you get bored?"

The other immediately said no, adding that as long as one can afford the room fee, this is the best paradise!

"But… you should also know that what can be brought back from the dream to reality is very limited."

"So I won't bring anything back! Just indulging in the dream is enough. I'm not an immortal; I only live sixty or seventy years, and there are too many things to worry about… it's not easy to have a happy life. Only in this beautiful dream can I be my own master, truly control my life… after tasting this sweetness, where would I want to return?"

After saying that, she warmly bid farewell to the siblings and then rushed to the next party.

"Sigh…" Zhigengniao let out a gentle sigh.

"It seems that the guest's words earlier didn't satisfy you either."

"No, she made sense, and I can feel she is truly happy at heart, but…" Zhigengniao hesitated.

"You mean… she thinks she's become the master of her life, but it's just abandoning reality and fleeing into the dream; losing protection would instantly reveal her original form."

"Hmm." The girl nodded, "After all, she did mention the 'room fee'… didn't she?"

——

Zero Zone.

"Master, I also really want to experience it—!!"

Ju Fu Fu lay on the table, her round big eyes reflecting Pinokangni's splendid nightscape.