Chapter 575: One Thought, Heaven; One Thought, the Chaotic Royal Court

After Gu Yi left, Su Lin had been pondering a question.

What exactly is a person's fate?

Is it to toil like an ox or horse, bearing inflation, deflation, fluctuating food and commodity prices, repaying car loans, housing loans, and Huabei credit with a salary unchanged for years?

That doesn't seem right.

I cannot accept such a life, such a fate.

But the gears of fate are rusted solid; by the time you notice them turning, it's always too late.

"While there's still time, the multiverse is vast—I want to go see it."

Su Lin bent down, used his momentum to sling his luggage onto his shoulder, activated a Cross-World Line to open a portal, and waved goodbye: "Gana."

Strangely, though he didn't turn around and this wasn't some alley where turning back would drag you into hell, a swarm of arms burst from the darkness, gripping him from shoulder to calf.

Ah. So terrifying.

Is anyone going to save him?

"Hey, guys, let me handle devouring this world myself—God can go wherever he wants!" Tony Stark tried to persuade the others.

"What's this?" Meng Qi pinched a speck of light and held it before Su Lin: "What is this thing?"

Su Lin smiled warmly: "The Gana Republic. I plan to travel there."

Everyone froze, staring blankly at the 3D model projected by JARVIS.

"JARVIS?!" Tony shouted, clutching the back of his head.

"Su Lin giegie," Xiao Yan sneered: "You're ditching your wife to go traveling?"

Kaguya wrapped one arm around Star's head and the other around Yi Leina, who was trying to slip away, and sighed:

"A faithless, heartless man—looks like only the three of us can live together peacefully, until we're all snapped out of existence in Marvel."

Feeling embarrassed at being publicly detained by Kaguya, Yi Leina covered her face.

Star nodded slowly, then placed one hand over her chest and spoke in a voice so elegant it was nauseating:

"Qiong, if you leave, I can only hope that old friends visit me in dreams, reminding me of your enduring presence."

Next simulation universe, your trash bin is full of facehuggers.

You used idioms and ancient poetry so fluently—what did Mr. Su Lin do to you?!

"JARVIS!" Tony snapped: "Revoke automated management permissions!"

He regretted upgrading JARVIS to be too human!

Hearing the murmurs around him discussing his private conduct, Su Lin quickly tore free from the grasping hands.

Meng Qi asked: "What's the connection between this and your belt?"

Meng Qi had wanted to ask this ever since Teacher Yan Sen mentioned it.

It clearly looked like an ordinary resin plastic toy, yet Su Lin actually transformed using it!

And the powers he gained after transformation—including the Emperor Armor—radiated real, tangible cosmic energy that Meng Qi could feel.

It was a power entirely different from Su Lin's usual abilities.

Normally he wouldn't dig into such matters, but now it was tied to the Reincarnation Space's mechanism for assigning identities to Reincarnators.

"The Reincarnation Space and the Abyss won't collude with your Heavenly Dao."

"Defamation! I'm suing you for defamation!!!"

After rebutting, Su Lin clicked his tongue and said: "The Skylight."

"You play with the V-Dao too, Ge Xiaolun?" asked in surprise.

"Vayne has skins too," Li Huowang scratched his head: "And Rek'Sai, Xiang Yu, Fire Mage..."

Like Su Lin, this group of gamers instantly thought of a certain LGBT archer hero skin—but had someone mixed in some peasant nonsense?

"The large fragment on the First Sky's body—the Skylight."

Su Lin looked at everyone and held up the olive-shaped fragment returned to its original form: "As for what Gu Yi brought—it's probably just debris from the First Sky."

Like bread and bread crumbs?

Reincarnators descending from beyond the universe could obtain legal identities, treated as locals by Gu Yi and even higher-dimensional beings, their actions fully integrated into the universe's natural progression.

If those light specks carried by the Reincarnators are confirmed as fragments of the First Sky, then everything makes sense.

Based on Su Lin's recent use of the Skylight, this is practically basic functionality.

The Marvel multiverse was born from the First Sky—it's perfectly reasonable that it can't recognize Reincarnators carrying a 'birth certificate'!

Why not use overly overpowered powers within Earth's boundaries?

Naturally, because using them would trigger chain reactions revealing that this scene and this character never existed in the original timeline.

Unless, like Su Lin, you possess a higher level of control over cosmic interference.

"The original origin of this universe."

Meng Qi recalled the lore he'd once read, his lip twitching: "The First Sky—the one who created the Celestial Group?!!!"

Tony Stark clutched his chest, eyes wide: "WTF?!"

The Marvel universe's original origin stems from the First Sky.

Countless fragments blasted off the First Sky formed countless universes, which merged into the multiverse—this was the Second Universe, the first multiverse's birth.

Then universes repeatedly cycled, reborn and replaced—today, it is the Eighth Universe.

—A completely new and alien universe.

How did Tony Stark know this? Naturally, he'd watched every single Marvel comic and movie on Earth, even spent some dollars visiting Marvel's editorial office under Disney.

"Tony, do you understand?" Su Lin made a gesture like pulling an accordion: "It has nothing to do with me or my universe—so forget that stupid 'Multiverse Devourer' meme."

"The truth is your First Sky colluded with the Reincarnation Space—or the Reincarnation Space used your First Sky!"

How did my sleepy, adorable Heavenly Dao become the utterly evil Abyss in your eyes?

Su Tuoni opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but felt his mind a jumbled mess.

Beyond the dimension.

The Laws of chaos and order intertwined surged.

Countless universes shrank unnaturally, like stars in a mural, infinitely barred beyond the curtain wall.

Among them, a Tree of Time, its timeline drawn taut and branching into countless events, emitted a green glow far deeper than Cangyu.

Within the curtain wall, a gray, illusory model, under an onslaught of vast, twisted, chaotic information, transformed into a colossal tree nearly identical.

The numbers on a punk-style TV screen suddenly flickered and jumped.

"This batch of Reincarnators is unquestionably the most talented cohort yet!"

The bearded young researcher gasped: "Master, we've detected echoes from the Doupo Cangqiong fragments—the revival progress of the First Doupo Cangqiong jumped twenty percent!"

The Master removed his thick, yellowed, flat lenses from the bridge of his nose, rubbed his nasal bridge, and began organizing the items on his desk.

"Pack up. Leave the data logs for the next shift. We're preparing to return to the Reincarnation Space."

The Master picked up an old suitcase and placed it on the desk to pack:

"Two Reincarnation Eras spent, recovery to above 60% self-intervention—faster than expected by one Reincarnation Era."

"I've only been on duty for less than a year, and I haven't earned any Reincarnation Points yet," the researcher sighed, unhidden in his regret:

"So ruthless—grinding half of himself into countless tiny fragments, then possessing Reincarnators to enter this universe."

"No wonder he's the kind of figure who created the Celestial Group just for fun, then blew himself up playing too hard."

"But if that's the case, shouldn't one of the Abyss Demon Lord positions go to Him?"

Compared to other researchers with dark circles and eyes full of numbness and irritation, this bearded young man seemed overly energetic.

"Not anytime soon. His appetite is huge—he wants the Abyss God position too," the Master yawned wearily:

"Once he fully consumes the entire Marvel universe and completes the Abyss's coverage of this void, he'll still have to accumulate Reincarnation Points by the rules."

He set his hand down, seemingly tired of this old topic he'd discussed with countless researchers, and turned his gaze to the Multiverse Tree model displaying feedback progress.

"Strange."

The Master's second yawn cut short; he pointed to the latest detected fluctuation: "Why hasn't this timeline shown any spacetime distortion or destruction?"

It's still near the main trunk—this defies logic.

At the same moment, a tree branch snapped; afterward, a scene was pulled up.

A colossal scar, spanning light-years, rapidly extended and expanded; under the tearing of cosmic energy, the entire universe fell into utter silence.

Infinite darkness surged from the end, devouring stars, devouring civilizations, devouring the corpses of Reincarnators and superheroes floating in the universe.

Suddenly, ripples of water shimmered, radiating an extreme green light, enveloping a domain.

Time seemed to reboot—civilization reappeared, stars glowed anew, while only subtle things turned into meteors, fully merging into this parallel universe.

The numbers on the screen suddenly flickered to 77.77.

"That's normal. Why didn't the place that just jumped twenty percent react?" The Master closed his suitcase, lost in thought.

The researcher fell silent for a moment: "Perhaps the First Doupo Cangqiong has other methods?"

"Perhaps," the Master did not refute; he picked up his few belongings and stood: "The detection results don't lie—he must have other plans."

The researcher chuckled: "He can't enter from outside, so we help him rebirth inside—but how do we account for this relationship?"

"My child's child gave birth to me again? Am I my father's father's father?"

Another researcher glanced at him, then listlessly continued packing—only this kind of new recruit still had such energy.

"Didn't you say you hadn't earned enough?"

The Master suddenly spoke: "I can recommend you to the Grave of All Things—oversee Reincarnator deployment."

"Really?!" The researcher's face lit up with joy.

After receiving the Master's confirmation, he bounced away.

What a fool.

This institute only handles observation and data analysis; the Grave of All Things has far more to do.

"Born as a multiverse world."

"Originally, the Abyss held no information—but a group of so-called superheroes and villains destroyed too many universes; their debris, after sedimentation, reached the Grave of All Things in a corner of the Abyss."

"Linear timeline collection ends here. If the First Doupo Cangqiong revives, at least the Abyss still holds one refuge for individual continuity."

The Master cast one final glance at the magnificent, emerald Tree of Worlds on the curtain wall, pulled out a stopped pocket watch, and murmured:

"Though the feeling of dashed expectations is unpleasant, still carry hope toward the future—for we have no other choice."

"Two Reincarnation Eras of long research—well done."

He looked at the researchers standing solemnly beside the cluttered equipment and instruments, and smiled gently:

"On my own behalf, I offer my deepest gratitude to you all—may we one day meet again at the beginning of the Reincarnation."

The Master pressed the button on the pocket watch; the second hand began spinning again, but counterclockwise.

Everything blurred, until reaching eternal darkness and silence—only a cold voice echoed:

—"Vital signs confirmed. Welcome back, Time God Zuo Kete."

"Mr. Stark, could you let go of my clothes?" Su Lin asked.

"I sincerely offer this universe to the Omnivorous One!" Su Tuoni blocked Su Lin's path, his expression more sincere than ever: "Really—this universe belongs to us now!"

Su Lin pulled his neck back slightly, dumbfounded: "Huh? I really fought the First Doupo Cangqiong?!"

Facing Su Tuoni's sudden one-hundred-eighty-degree shift in attitude, Su Lin merely put away his mobile bedroom, Water Mirror Peak.

"JARVIS, tell Happy to bring the car downstairs!" Su Tuoni grabbed Su Lin's suitcase and shouted:

"JARVIS has already booked you a first-class ticket to the Republic of Ghana—you should at least take those three uh, all your groupmates on a honeymoon trip."

"Wait—what about the Vatican?! What about Jerusalem?!"

"Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, and Mecca!"

It was almost unbearable to look at.

Mr. Su Lin just wants to go home—why are you so eager to keep him?

"OK, use my private jet! Come on, there are 2.4 billion multiplied by infinite parallel universes of Christians who need God's salvation!"

"Sorry, today is Monday. I am the Buddha Lord, Shakyamuni."

"The number of Buddhists is 510 million multiplied by infinite parallel universes."

"I'm quitting today."

"I still prefer your last context."

In fact, not just Su Lin—several others also planned to slip away after learning the setting explanations.

"Excuse me, gentlemen."

Lu Mingfei grabbed Su Lin and pulled him aside, asking in a low voice: "Where did you really get that thing?"

"Acquired through old channels."

OK, this time you've gone way too far.

Shi Hao, stop glaring at me with that green glow—you can't beat this OP bastard right now!

Lu Mingfei waved his hand in a shooing gesture and asked: "But you stole a fragment of the First Heaven—won't He eventually find you anyway?"

"What First Heaven? It's clearly my own property," Su Lin glared at him. "Every inch of it is my own Creation Law—how dare you slander my reputation?!"

"So you can refine that thing?" Meng Qi asked in surprise.

Su Lin shrugged: "First dye it, then take it slow—but it's mine, no doubt."

Meng Qi glanced at another speck of light, pinched it between his thumb and forefinger, and flicked it away. Soon, the speck became a shooting star and flew into Su Lin's body.

"Why not consider seizing this opportunity?"

"Miss Kelaien is here."

Meng Qi fell silent, a chill running down his spine—he suddenly realized something, and typed in the group chat: "Huai Shi, has Miss Kelaien ever spoken?!"

Hell's Kitchen, Heaven Hotel.

Huai Shi, playing King of Fighters, glanced at the group message—and Zhou Mingrui seized the chance to knock him out.

Facing Zhou Mingrui's smug look, Huai Shi said:

"They're asking if you've spoken today."

"Wuuuuu?! Mmmmm!" Zhou Mingrui shook his head frantically, as if remembering his first experience of eating a chili for every word he spoke.

". " Huai Shi smiled helplessly and replied in the group:

"No."