Chapter 58: Each One's Journey

"This period of time has been like a dream."

Lu Mingfei lay on the grass, five fingers spread, aimed at the sun in the sky.

At noon, the somewhat glaring sunlight filtered through the gaps between his fingers into his eyes.

"Indeed." Miss Kelaien had suspected at first that some Outer God had woven him a dream, and when he woke up it would be just like that time with the Mother Tree of Desire.

There shouldn't be anyone saying to him this time, "General, I want to have a child with you"... right?

Thinking about it, it was still rather terrifying.

Evil gods love to build you a sweet dream, and while you're dreaming, they corrupt you without your noticing.

His dream back then... ahem.

Fortunately, his will was firm, and he woke up.

"Maybe I'm a little greedy?" Lu Mingfei's tone carried self-doubt as he said, "Sometimes I think, if only this dream had come two years earlier, that would have been even better."

The him now should at least have the chance to save those who had passed away.

He thought Ye Sheng and Jiude Yaji made a pretty well-matched couple; dying like that in the Bronze City was such a pity. He felt that as long as those two had each other, the Blood Woe of the hybrids wouldn't have appeared.

Old Tang too — Lu Mingfei had always thought about riding his Greyhound across America, and that promise could no longer be kept.

Xia Mi's brother, that silly big dragon, was actually pretty decent. He didn't mean people any harm, and like him, he liked playing games and eating snacks.

Lu Mingfei still felt guilty now. Even if it was the little devil controlling his body, the one who killed them was still him.

He never wanted to kill Constantine, nor Old Tang or Fenrir. In the end, even if he really had some connection to the Black Emperor, he wouldn't think much about things like being a traitor.

He never took to heart what the Principal told him either. Who says they can't coexist?

Even little babies can be born.

You'd agree, right, Jörmungandr?

The him now was simply Lu Mingfei.

His dad was called Lu Lincheng, his mom was called Qiao Weini, his family lived at Auntie's place in Oak Garden, Room 301.

"Perhaps." Miss Kelaien had thought about it too — this way he could save the Captain, Old Neil... and many others.

Only, if he didn't take the Beyonder potion, could he escape Ince Zangwill's arrangements through cultivation alone...

That lady used by the True Creator as a descent vessel — he couldn't save her either... the gap in their standing was too vast.

Maybe he could change things, maybe not.

But at least he could save Ms. Daly...

"Thinking about these things now has no meaning at all."

A long silence.

Miss Kelaien stood up, patted the dirt off his pants. Lu Mingfei had already closed his eyes and fallen asleep in the sunlight.

The Cross-World Within talisman in his hand crumbled as he walked toward the teleportation gate. Compared to the heaviness when he arrived, his steps were a touch lighter.

The vacation was over; time to go back to "work."

As if remembering something, Miss Kelaien pulled out a developed photograph from his storage bag. Being able to manipulate it with just spiritual power was quite convenient.

Miss Kelaien, who had turned back, looked at the sleeping Lu Mingfei and gently placed the photograph in Lu Mingfei's arms.

Then he set a glass bottle beside him — inside was a Sequence 9 Assassin potion.

He left a note, on which was written:

"The Sequence 7 potion can be obtained from Su Lin. Once you've digested the Sequence 8 potion, come find me — free of charge."

Having done all this, Miss Kelaien turned and jogged away.

—————————————

"Fellow Daoist Han Li." Zhongli set down his writing brush, holding a bamboo scroll in his hand, and looked at the newly arrived Han Li.

No need to fuss over age — those who seek the Dao all address each other as Fellow Daoist.

"Brother Zhong, are you ready?" Han Li took out the Cross-World Within talisman, preparing to return to his own world.

The planting of the Golden Lightning Bamboo and the Nine-Turn Ginseng was complete. Combined with the effects of the formations on Water Mirror Peak, in a few years they might be ready for harvest.

"Many thanks for your trouble." Zhongli nodded and gathered up the miscellaneous items on the table.

The foundation had been laid; what came next was practice.

A complete immortal path, huh...

Zhongli felt a hint of anticipation — what kind of growth would he obtain after completing this path?

He felt that, as his own immortal path was gradually being completed, the wear and tear was slowly being repaired.

The immortal path truly was an eternal path.

After witnessing the strength and different scenery of the strong across the myriad worlds, after several thousand years, Zhongli once again set out in pursuit of power.

To wander idly through the mortal world, the prerequisite was having enough capital to avoid or resolve the mortal world's troubles.

This capital could be strength, or it could be wealth and wisdom.

"No need for such courtesy, Brother Zhong." The talisman in Han Li's hand crumbled, transforming into a teleportation gate: "Please."

The two walked side by side into Han Li's world, heading together to the Scattered Star Sea — this had been agreed upon beforehand.

Zhongli's strength should allow him to walk sideways in the Scattered Star Sea. At the very least, traveling with Zhongli meant no need to worry about harassment from people like Wu Chou and his gang.

No, the him now didn't need to be that cautious. The opportunities from the future might, with Zhongli's help, be obtained ahead of time.

As the two stepped into the light gate, the Wangshu Pavilion fell silent once more.

There weren't many group friends still on Water Mirror Peak now. Su Lin had returned to the city to handle the move-out with his landlord — the others had all said goodbye to him before leaving, so he knew.

After finishing packing his luggage, Su Lin planned to move to Water Mirror Peak for a long-term stay.

If there was anything in the city requiring him to stay over, he could still freeload off the apartment Miss Kelaien had rented under his ID.

Three bedrooms and one living room — leaving it empty would be a waste.

Thinking it over carefully, it seemed like he usually didn't have much to do when staying in the city, so most of his time was spent cultivating on Water Mirror Peak, only coming to the city when he played games with friends or stirred up trouble to grind points.

In a while he'd go to Miss Kelaien's room to pull a network cable, and the teleportation gate's location would be moved to his own room on Water Mirror Peak.

Lately the voices online seemed to have gotten a bit too loud; he'd lay low for a while — he hadn't yet prepared to intervene fully.

He'd talk about it after returning from the Dragon Race World.

At the fastest, in just a year or two, the script of Spirit Qi Revival would officially begin.

Su Lin returned to Water Mirror Peak, and carrying bags of various sizes, flew toward Wangshu Pavilion.

As "Su Zongzhu," his room was naturally chosen at a high spot overlooking the scenery.

Actually, if the others wanted to live there too, that would be fine — Wangshu Pavilion was quite large.

Glancing at the chat group's messages, Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan had also gone back; now only Ye Fan, Lu Mingfei, and Weigong Shilang remained.

Ye Fan was estimated to rest for a few days, and once his condition recovered a bit he'd go back too. He'd heard that Weigong Shilang's projection magecraft had matured somewhat, and Ye Fan was running out of divine source, so he was expected to be brought over to try his hand at the counterfeit industry.

Hopefully the legitimate industries of Ye Zhetian were fine.

Even if the projected items were of relatively low grade, the sheer quantity made up for it — as long as no one could tell, selling them at one percent of the original price was still a profit.

Commission cuts? Hilarious.

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan, Han Li, and Medicine Elder had partnered up in an alchemy assembly line, achieving an integrated industry chain from planting to refining with diverse product varieties; Zhongli threw in some technology for shares — not much, but enough to use.

Ye Fan and Weigong Shilang had opened up the alien market, combining innovative thinking with new technology to build a weapon production assembly line, opening new sales channels — direct offline sales, no after-service, using price to seize the market, bad money driving out good money…

Similarly, after Zhongli heard about this matter, he brought a pile of weapon design blueprints and offered help with upgrades as his technical contribution to the shares…

Ye Fan, Zhongli, and Weigong Shilang split it six-two-two respectively; Su Lin could already picture Ye Fan making a fortune.

And him?

Flying halfway, Su Lin spotted Lu Mingfei sleeping below like a dead pig, and couldn't help but look away and shake his head.

"Sigh!"

Be of some use, Lu Mingfei.

Your boss is almost out of money.