Chapter 551: Advancement (Refresh)

Announcement regarding recent abnormal fluctuations in transactions across all Tiancheng cities

The Tiancheng Group guarantees the authenticity of this notice: investigation confirms that Bei Wu Zhenxian, in collusion with his underlying faction, Da Yuan Tian Zhou, is suspected of forcibly seizing others' possessions and manipulating their thoughts by fulfilling their wishes, a grave threat to the life and property safety of all customers.

The investigation results are as follows:

One: Any customer who purchased artifacts, pills, or other assets from Qiongqi Tower in Tiancheng has had their property vanish, transferred as the price of wish fulfillment.

Two: All customers in Tiancheng experienced a self-directed, self-performed true Illusory Realm created by Bei Wu Zhenxian—the World Eater does not exist.

Three: Most customers, under manipulation, traded their Own World as a commodity to fulfill a wish; in reality, this meant sacrificing their entire world, just like the vanished artifacts and pills—harmful in every way, with no benefit.

Every gift fate bestows is already marked with a price; excessive greed will inevitably incur its due cost.

Ning Caichen read the content and felt that Gao Ta and Bei Wu Zhenxian were utterly beyond redemption, accumulating countless evils, masquerading as Bodhisattvas while committing demonic acts—truly devoid of conscience, their hearts deserving execution!

"I am aware, but I've been frightened these past days and need time to recover before returning to Tiancheng."

The words had barely faded, yet the floating object before him remained motionless.

Earlier, while in his room, he suddenly felt something stir—then flashes of lightning lit up, and a silver metal long plaque and a wooden token, radiating purple luminescence, illuminated the entire chamber.

They were the Access Pass and the Universal Awareness Token he had long since thrown into an endless abyss, yet now flew to his face at midnight tonight, displaying a message:

—"Do you wish to know about newly listed items? Yes or No"

To be honest.

As a scholar well-versed in history, Ning Caichen actually preferred to believe that Bei Wu Zhenxian had already been eliminated, and that the World Eater would now invade the myriad worlds—any visit to Tiancheng would bring disaster.

"Gul."

He swallowed hard—this invisible terror surpassed even the Black Mountain Demon King of his youth.

What should he do?

The Access Pass had been hovering before his face ever since, following him wherever he went—refusal was impossible.

"Yes," Ning Caichen ventured to answer.

In an instant, a screen appeared before his eyes; the myriad goods seemed merely a simple advertisement interface.

Before he could browse, an item named 【Yin-Yang Life-Death Token】 appeared in his vision, as if sensing his deepest desire.

Should he return to Tiancheng to investigate?

Since it had come to him anyway, escape was probably futile.

After some thought, Ning Caichen gripped the Tiancheng Access Pass once more.

Tenfold Heavenly Tower opens chaos; myriad worlds bow before the imperial crown.

Within Tiancheng, customers returned every second, yet the city had undergone a cataclysmic transformation.

Exquisite pavilions with upturned eaves and carved beams stood shoulder to shoulder; majestic halls with smooth, grand lines clustered densely; walking its streets felt like traversing different timelines.

Within it loomed a black Gao Ta, piercing heaven and earth, stretching infinitely, encircled by twelve legendary beasts.

Dada Liya stood with eyes closed, cradling her hands as if holding a shimmering golden light—the pure radiance symbolizing all wishes.

Meng Qi stared at the wish-light; the Cause of All Results flowed, piercing the void, using it as a medium to broadcast interference across the myriad worlds, awakening Universal Awareness Tokens, collecting Tiancheng Access Passes, and delivering them back to their original owners.

Thus, karmic ties were severed.

Yet the surrounding group members remained silent.

After all, once or twice might be coincidence—but three times, four times, over ten times—could all still be coincidence?

"If the Wish Boat Core troubles you, this monk would be glad to relieve your distress," Meng Qi smiled innocently: "I feel this object has a special connection with me."

Meng Qi's Cause of All Results, combined with the Wish Boat Core and the fulfillment of wishes, could perfectly exploit past registered karmic links to deliver targeted ads across worlds, interfering with any world containing a target.

This also prevented frightened customers from discarding or sealing their Access Passes upon returning to their own worlds.

"Let me return to the True Realm and search—I will surely find treasures to compensate you."

In response to Meng Qi's proposal, Dada Liya pouted and shook her head warily.

"Have some dignity—you're stealing from a little girl," Su Lin muttered, stroking his chin.

"The Wish Boat Core paired with Cause of All Results truly has marvelous utility—if energy is sufficient, this wish-force projection and karmic interference across worlds is undeniably tempting."

"Keep going, young man."

"If you don't grow stronger, you won't be able to deter the hungry eyes in future Holy Grail Wars or protect the girl you love."

Su Lin was encouraging Weigong Shilang, who stared blankly, utterly numb.

"Is it really safe… no, is it wise to give such a dangerous—and valuable—item to Dada Liya?" Weigong Shilang attempted to initiate a voice link, trying to reach Su Lin's signal.

"I am the God of your universe; to me, all beings are like my own children," Su Lin said tenderly, stroking his slightly prickly red hair.

"Rest assured, with minor manipulations through the Root, I can gather all the karmic energy and wish-force from every Holy Grail War in every Parallel World into the Core."

"Besides, giving it to children in one's Own World isn't wealth leakage."

"Rejoice, young man—your destiny has begun to descend."

Damn it, this guy never listens to anyone!

Breaking free from Su Lin's clearly opportunistic grip, Weigong Shilang stared anxiously at Dada Liya, who was attempting to make wishes upon herself now that she housed the Wish Boat Core.

Su Lin reminded her:

"Dada Liya, don't casually make wishes in Type-Moon World and create bugs—submit a formal application, burn it after offering incense at the church!"

"Yes, God Uncle of the Church!" Dada Liya beamed, holding the latest gaming console and a Souls-like game set.

Please stop pretending to be parent and child!

"By the way, what's that?" Su Lin pointed to the scroll at Weigong Shilang's waist.

"Mr. Shang Buhan forced it on me and insisted I keep it—the 'Divine Edict Demon Mechanism,'" Weigong Shilang sighed, clutching his head, his expression grim:

"It's just a demon sword catalog with exactly the same function as the divine sword scrolls in movies."

"Now it'll all come true, won't it?"

Carrying the Demon Sword Catalog, which contained swords that could incite chaos and corrupt hearts—demonic, bewitching, holy, and evil blades—Shang Buhan, who had originally intended to discard it somewhere safe after judging Weigong Shilang's strength, simply handed it over to him.

Indeed, compared to others who might use what they obtain for their own ends, Weigong Shilang, who already possesses the Infinite Sword, is the least likely to be corrupted by any of its blades.

No wonder Weigong Shilang's expression was off when helping Dada Liya upgrade the Holy Grail.

Congratulations, both the male and female leads have gained what is called a stroke of fortune.

"You've worked hard, Mr. Fool," Su Lin said with concern.

"Not hard—just unlucky," Qing'en smiled with relief.

Cold gazes around him cut like knives, each one sharp; Qing'en's heart was as still as the Yellow Springs, utterly unmoved.

The fallen God over there is outright giving up, pulling everyone down with all his might—what can I possibly do?

He is merely a non-official deity from a remote planet, running a salon called the Tarot Society on the Source Fortress—how could he defy the God's will? It makes perfect sense.

"It's not me who is wrong—it's the world."

Qing'en kept smiling, but clearly Su Lin had no intention of letting him off so easily.

"Pick one for yourself."

Su Lin handed over a stack of shuffled photos.

"Another matchmaking session? I get it."

Qing'en reached out, pulled out one photo—it bore the name Young Lady Sharun. Though awkward and abrupt, he'd better find an excuse to ask Young Lady Sharun to cooperate.

This level of trouble means nothing to Qing'en.

"Everyone except Young Lady Sharun," Su Lin clicked his tongue. "I actually prefer the Qian Nü You Hun route—want to redraw?"

Qing'en: "."

That's exactly the kind of thing this guy would do.

As long as the woman isn't the Desire Mother Tree or Amon, Qing'en will thank heaven and earth.

Thud—

Ye Fan pushed the door open.

"I heard you inherited a pile of treasures?" Su Lin grinned. "How much are you planning to spend on a feast?"

Tiancheng was definitely sold at a loss—even if you had to split out several layers, Ye the Black would have made a killing this time.

Hearing this, Ye Fan's expression turned heavy, like a sky choked with dark clouds about to rain.

"The treasure vaults above the eighth level are all empty," Ye Fan said.

After assuming the position of Tiancheng's city lord, he had Shang Xiaoyue guide him to the vaults to inspect the previous lord's leftovers—Shang Yue's former inventory.

The first few levels opened were fine, but each subsequent level held fewer and fewer items; from the eighth level onward, everything was utterly empty—not even a single hair left!

Ye Fan, who had originally thought he could wholesale imperial weapons and liquidate immortal artifacts, was utterly stunned.

"They claimed the vaults contained entire multiverses as inventory—and all we found was this junk!"

Ye Fan waved his hand; behind him, a flower-like figure held a box. At his signal, she upended its contents onto the floor.

Some wristwatch-like objects clattered down.

Su Lin: "."

Meng Qi: "."

Qing'en: "."

No wonder that old monster was nearly driven mad—if someone had ransacked my own collection and left behind nothing but ID cards, I'd definitely go blow up the Reincarnation Space.

Yeah, blow up as in self-destruct—first explode, then blow up.

"So my share and yours are gone too," Ye Fan laughed bitterly, spreading his hands. "They've been gone for many years."

"Can these things drag them over and beat them up?"

Su Lin held a piece of Creation Gold toward the air, speaking gently: "Too heavy? Maybe you can't pull it yet. Wait until you grow bigger to help me—first eat this, then sleep. Good boy."

The Creation Gold in his hand vanished.

Ye Fan fell silent for several seconds: "You just tried to instigate a massive slaughter, didn't you?"

"How could I? I'm a pacifist," Su Lin said, then suddenly his gaze sharpened—he yanked Yi Donglai, whose head was half-gone, back from thin air:

"This nutrient-free junk food can't be eaten! It'll make you go mad!"

"Oh, you meant to throw him out?"

"I'll throw him out myself later—no worries, I won't go with him."

Everyone, including Shi Hao, could not see who Su Lin was speaking to—but Yi Donglai was stunned, the half-eaten "jerky" slipping from his hand, sweat pouring down his body, madness flickering in his eyes.

Snap—

Su Lin shook his hand.

Yi Donglai clutched his face, snapping back to awareness, crying out in pain: "Why did you hit me?"

Fusheng Heaven could drive you mad—don't keep your memories; you'll go mad again.

"You should take back that cursed thing of yours," Su Lin said.

Oh, then this slap was well-deserved.

That thing truly was cursed.

Yi Donglai nodded, rose from the ground, and followed Su Lin's gesture, preparing to retrieve whatever it was—Zhao Lei or something else.

"I'm coming too," Qing'en stepped forward. "I must ensure Amon's avatar here remains sealed."

He paused, then added:

"I'm preparing to ascend."

World of Wind and Clouds

Xiong Nu, weakened and bound, was recovering alone in the Tianxia Guild.

He stared at the two mysterious objects floating before him, glowing with divine radiance—as if they were his only hope of escape.

But suddenly, Feng and Yun appeared beside him, silent and unseen.

"Brother Feng, how could this ultimate treasure choose this old villain?" Bu Jingyun lifted the monocle on his right eye socket and said.

Nie Feng shook his head, wiping the monocle in his hand: "Perhaps this is why good people die young, while villains live a thousand years."

"Then aren't you all the ultimate villains?"

Su Lin asked curiously.

Feng and Yun turned their heads simultaneously, looking at Su Lin; there was no panic in their eyes, only a grin: "Guess if we are?"

As the monocles on their eye sockets dissolved into the air like erased rubber marks, Bu Jingyun and Nie Feng collapsed to the ground, and at the same moment, something was erased from every other living being in this world.

It turned out everything was false—a fabricated "parasitized" setup implanted in advance by the True and False Heavenly Dao through misused authority, wielding the power of Fate.

Su Lin looked at Xiong Ba: "I don't want to play Russian nesting dolls."

Xiong Ba, whose acupoints were all sealed, froze. He opened his mouth to speak, but his body disintegrated into a chain of transparent, twelve-segmented worms, which surged into the void through stacked authority while emitting a chilling laugh.

"One Heavenly Dao as the baseline for rank and power, plus a chaotic mess of authorities"

Kleine said:

"You probably planned this all along while sending them out to stir up trouble—before you pulled Great Wish Dao into your own world."

"This is troublesome."

Su Lin shrugged, stood still and counted silently for a few beats, then walked back in the direction he came from.

Amid Yi Donglai's worried gaze and Kleine's puzzled stare, when Su Lin returned to Tiancheng, a glowing mosaic was bursting through the flesh of the "Red Middle," its face covered in talismans.

"Aha, what are you doing?!" The red dots on Zhao Lei's dice head cracked, and mercury and feathers streamed out along the holy light.

Amon lifted his cracked monocle: "You mixed His influence into the Fate?" "Fascinating."

A mosaic of light and shadow depicting three heads and six arms, constantly merging and splitting.

Aha raised his hand and shouted: "All is offered to the God of Light!"

Then, he lowered his voice into a manic chuckle:

"My two old brothers,"

"I'm the mole!"