Chapter 949: The Eighth Day Sets Out (25)

Moreover, Duomineikesi's power is directly tied to the number of wishers; back then, the Divine Master Xingqiri could suppress the crowd because he drew his strength from all the people of Pinokangni. Now… in the Grand Theater there is no one except Waerte and Xingqiri, so his power won't be very strong.

But Xingqiri, he…

I know what you want to say. Lu Ye looked at Xiao Hei, a slight upward curve at the corner of his mouth, "You're worried about Xingqiri, right? But I think… this trial is necessary for him. If he lacks the ability to defeat Duomineikesi alone, then even if he steps into other worlds, he will be forced by various dangers to be unable to move forward. The world outside is not smooth sailing."

Lu Ye lifted a plump, white sand dumpling from the steamer, placed it onto a small plate, and pushed it toward Xiao Hei.

Xiao Hei, you must trust him. A man who seeks ascension… will never fall here.

——

Duomineikesi stood at the center of that radiance; although his figure was as towering as a mountain, it was gradually collapsing— as Xingqiri continued his self‑tuning, the power of Harmony began to return to him, seeming to melt slowly, and Duomineikesi weakly fell to the center of the theater.

Finally, he extended his hand.

A single finger slowly reached toward Xingqiri.

The finger was colossal, yet as it extended forward, that enormity faded— as if melted by light, as if eroded by wind, and at the moment it was about to touch Xingqiri, it completely reverted to its original form.

Wanweike.

He drifted down slowly from the sky, enveloped in a faint golden light, as if a deity were bestowing wisdom upon the world. It was also like someone in the deep night handing a lamp to another, letting the recipient carry the light toward the dawning horizon.

Xingqiri extended his hand.

Two fingers lightly touched.

At that moment, the golden light spread silently, and Wanweike finally dissolved into countless specks of light in a smile, vanishing.

The golden light gradually faded, and the Grand Theater returned to silence. Only the celestial ring above Xingqiri's head floated quietly, as if it had never left.

"This eighth day, I bestow upon myself—"

"—departure."

……

Having witnessed the events, Waerte approached him again: "Now, how should I address you? Mr. Xingqiri, or Mr. Wanweike?"

"As you wish. Perhaps he is mocking me within my heart," Xingqiri smiled faintly. "Thank you for traveling with me, Mr. Waerte. This farewell journey ends here."

"After leaving Pinokangni, what are your plans?"

"At this point, I need not conceal anything from you. I believe the Pinokangni star core matter hides another secret."

That surprised Waerte a bit: "You mean the one manipulating the star core is not the Dream Master?"

"Do not worry. The usurpers of the star core, using the Harmony Festival to resurrect the dead star deity, were indeed the Xiangmu lineage; you have already defeated the hidden mastermind." Xingqiri paused, "But Mr. Ge Feimu told me that everything Order does now is to avoid repeating the mistakes of Harmony…"

Xingqiri's complexion instantly grew cold: "I suppose the families of the Mengtuoer system are inevitably involved."

"Unfortunately, centuries have passed, and this matter can no longer be verified. Pinokangni is merely a tiny territory; its lords, though esteemed administrators, have no right to step into Harmony's sacred ground to inquire about the Divine Master's true intent."

——

Fuli Lian's burial.

"Huh? Wait, wait… that's a lot of info. What does 'repeating Harmony's mistake' mean? Did Harmony commit some error?" Hutaerk was completely confused.

"Perhaps that's the truth only visible within Harmony's sacred ground," Zan Yin frowned. "Even Mr. Ge Feimu cannot go to the sacred ground? It feels like the families are hiding something important behind the scenes."

Based on his life experience, a fate like Harmony's 'the strong aid the weak' often binds great good tightly with great evil; many people's self‑proclaimed 'kindness' is often the seed of 'evil deeds.' Perhaps there truly is an unknown purpose behind Harmony…

People can deceive, but destiny cannot. Could it be that the families merely appear to walk the path of Harmony while having long abandoned their fate? After all, if one truly follows destiny, Harmony might even tolerate its own betrayers.

"The sacred ground likely hides deep content related to the star core; Pinokangni's families seem more like appointed administrators, far from the true family secrets."

Fuli Lian guessed with interest: "…Otherwise, it wouldn't explain why the families understand the star core so well. They even know how to maximize its use. If the technology had been in the hands of Beloberg centuries ago… perhaps those later tragedies would never have occurred."

——

"Even in the worst case, if Xi Pei also turned a blind eye, how could 'the strong aid the weak' even be discussed?" Xingqiri looked solemnly at Waerte. "Mr. Waerte, I only want to tell you one thing: Harmony has more than one aspect; it can be the Star Rail's staunchest ally, or its most terrifying enemy."

"Thank you for your candor. The Train Group has striven to shape the current situation, also out of the same concerns. After this battle, the Star of the Grand Event's status will be balanced between Harmony and Preservation, jointly overseen. With the aid of Pioneering, more forces will arrive, and Pinokangni will gradually become a public zone in the galaxy." Waerte paused, "Freedom—that is the only answer the Nameless Guest can give, and I'm glad Pinokangni needs it now."

"Even if the motives differ, you all walk the path of saving the world and bringing peace, and you have gone farther than I have. If not for destiny, perhaps we wouldn't have reached an antagonistic end."

Waerte, hearing this, smiled knowingly: "No need to belittle yourself; we aren't mutually exclusive. Otherwise, you wouldn't have shown me mercy before the Dream Master. This companionship is my personal return gift; regardless, you are also one of my Pioneering subjects."

Xingqiri was slightly stunned.

In an instant, the light in his eyes flickered, then quickly settled back to calm.

"Regarding this, you have also given me much insight. Humanity is the measure of all things; no one is the sole savior. Creating a paradise remains my lifelong wish, but in the journey ahead I must build it brick by brick. Therefore, I have a difficult request to make…"

"I indeed lack the will for Pioneering, and cannot become a true Nameless Guest. Yet I admire your convictions; perhaps I need study more than arduous cultivation."

Xingqiri placed his hand on his chest, inhaled deeply, and solemnly said, "Thus, after leaving Pinokangni, could you permit me…"

"—to board the Star Rail, and temporarily travel with you all?"