Chapter 718: The Price

"Su Lin said the resurrection matches of their era have temporarily stopped, which may be related to Yakumo Yukari using the power of her realm to invert past and future." Zhongli relayed this while voicing his own analysis.

The grounds of the Hakurei Shrine actually referred to a fairly large area, including the approach, the storehouses, and the vast stretch of forest behind the shrine.

The returning group friends gathered here, exchanging their respective intelligence and analyzing the current situation.

"There are still some points that remain doubtful at present." Zhongli raised his hand, and several sand-table rock models referencing the Gensokyo map flickered with a sheen, rising up from the flat ground:

"Besides the undead resurrected by the items Su Lin used, many beings from other worlds have also appeared in the current Gensokyo."

"Setting aside whether they harbor malice or goodwill, these hidden dangers need to be dealt with, yet the Sage of the Youkai has lost contact."

"Furthermore, the spacetime in certain regions has begun to overlap."

Ever since the least-likely-to-die Su Lin and Kaguya in the chat group entered the resurrection matches, the people outside had not been idle either; after Yakumo Yukari proposed the method of reversing time, they made several attempts.

At Zhongli's suggestion, everyone began using special means to place objects at fixed locations, then notified helpers existing in different spacetime versions of Gensokyo to dig and search for them.

Instead, they unearthed things like "Immortal Chu Lan was here" and "Playboy cover magazine" from different times.

It's just that most of these things were broken beyond repair, and after breaking free from their sealed state, they crumbled into sand and vanished.

"Why does it feel like you, old man, are very practiced at this kind of world-reincarnation script and how to deal with it?" Lu Mingfei asked curiously.

Miss Kelaien glanced at Lu Mingfei and said calmly: "If you drag me into this, I'll overlay the skin of the popular idol Calamity Witch onto you."

"I'm talking about the Teyvat Reincarnation Hypothesis!"

Lu Mingfei, triggered, threw a punch, but Miss Kelaien grafted space and slammed it into his own face; he cupped his cheek and sucked in cold air.

"Heh." Zhongli chuckled.

"Saigyouzi Rinn, as a half-kirin, claims to have the bloodline of a Dragon God. Dragons have nine sons, each different, but kirin do not fall into this category." Meng Qi was still studying the Investiture of the Gods:

"Yinglong gave birth to Jianma and the Phoenix, and Jianma gave birth to the kirin — there is indeed such a possibility."

If this line of reasoning holds, then the matters of this realm can also be explained, after all, it involves that ancient giant god who was a trinity of creation, formation, and destruction.

"I, for one, think that perhaps the Gensokyo where Saigyouzi Rinn resides can be seen as the original Gensokyo, back when it had not yet undergone the Great Barrier's restart."

Long unseen, the external brain Zhuge Yuan, manufactured by the Pre-Heavenly Qi, replaced Li Huowang in joining the discussion and assisting everyone.

Originally it was supposed to be the retired Sanqing Qing Wanglai, but after the latter went to the Reincarnation Space to play Chu Xuan, he had not yet returned.

"Brother Zhuge, but if—"

According to what Saigyouzi Rinn said, she had already stopped the awakened Dragon God from destroying Gensokyo, so why did Hakurei Reimu have to kill her and cause Gensokyo to undergo a restart?

Li Huowang frowned and said: "Also, why did Yakumo Yukari step in to modify Gensokyo's history and truth, erasing her records?"

"A scholar separated from you for three days should be looked at with new respect — Brother Li, you can now stand on your own." Relief surfaced in Zhuge Yuan's eyes; he nodded and said: "Not bad, Brother Li, your words are reasonable, but what Saigyouzi Rinn said is not necessarily the truth."

"My meaning is not that she is lying, but that these phenomena are only surface-level; the other's memory also stops at the last moment of life, and after that—"

"What exactly happened in this otherworldly spacetime called Gensokyo — who can say for certain?"

Most of those present could think of this point; the key lay in the reason Kaguya committed self-destruction to cause trouble — besides living too long and feeling life lacked fun and growing bored.

Some gazes turned toward Miss Kelaien's direction.

Miss Kelaien sensed everyone's gaze, glanced again at the golden-list picture in the sky, took out a signature monocle of the Yuzhe Sect and put it on himself: "I lean more toward a wounded heart — to untie the bell, one must tie the bell."

Ancestor, please let us off the hook.

Sighs and sounds of headache rang out in unison.

"Sister-in-law Yi Leina." Li Huowang silently turned his head to look to one side: "Is everything alright? Your smile feels kind of scary."

"Is it?" Yi Leina closed the chat group and her private chat with Kaguya, looked at everyone, and smiled: "Weren't we going to try the magic network transmission?"

Yi Leina had built and constructed a magic network in the void where Gensokyo resides.

If the magic network could be maintained in existence, uploading and storing 'items,' then the past spacetime that had already become the 'future' would sooner or later receive these things.

To put it in an analogy, it's like the 'time capsules' students like to bury under trees.

Everyone planned to use this method to circumvent the so-called resurrection match rules and send some items to Su Lin and the others.

"I have one matter I don't understand." Zhuge Yuan cupped his hands and said:

"Brother Su should have summoned a great power to perform a divine ability, allowing the departed beings to reappear and participate in the game to vie for a chance of life."

"Right now, the so-called Sage of the Youkai is making a big move to intervene — she must have her own scheme, yet you all let her do as she pleases. Aren't you worried about triggering some change?"

Tomorrow, mountains separate us; worldly affairs are both vast and hazy. In Zhuge Yuan's view, the optimal choice was simply to stabilize Gensokyo's current order.

Moreover, he observed that everyone knew rather little about the situation here, and with more and more variables from the outside world, even with deep friendship with Miss Kaguya, they should not act so 'rashly.'

In case it aroused the displeasure of that unfamiliar powerhouse, it would instead bring about results contrary to their wishes.

"That, uh—"

"

Li Huowang opened the group chat and looked at the message Su Lin had sent to each person individually. 【All the cost of Kaguya's resurrection and the risks of Gensokyo will be borne by me.】

Because Brother Su seems to be serious this time.

【Tip: Group member Song Shuhang has been resurrected】

Song Shuhang: "Senior Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan, where are you?! Urgent urgent urgent!"

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: "Shuhang, when did you die?"

Song Shuhang: "?"

Hiding in a cave with the humanoid Hearing Song Shu and the Disaster God Kagiyama Hina, Song Shuhang, who was suppressing his aura with his chest heaving violently, nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood upon seeing this message.

Ye Fan: 【Indeed, and it seems like it's been a while. Why did you only just resurrect?

If you don't have enough resurrection artifacts, Ye Zhetian Trading Company can provide them to you for free. You wouldn't be being polite with your Brother Ye, would you?】

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: 【Sorry, it became a habit so I didn't pay attention to that earlier notification. Shuhang, what were you about to say? I'm at the Hakurei Shrine, I've long since come back.】

Tears

Uncontrollably flowed down from his eyes.

"Why are you crying?" Kagiyama Hina said timidly: "Is it my fault?"

No.

Song Shuhang hurriedly waved his hand.

【It's the world's and Shichen's fault.】

If he hadn't cultivated Ye Si's Heaven-Weeping Treasure Tome, Song Shuhang felt that at this moment he would have been crying like a two-meter-tall big baby.

The seniors had gone too far — was it possible that Song someone's life wasn't a life?!

Even so, Song Shuhang understood that the main business was urgent at the moment.

Song Shuhang: 【I just got killed by Senior Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan.】

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: 【?】

Song Shuhang: 【It's true. To be precise, it's the Fallen Flame Emperor. He's still hunting us down, and he's gathering souls to refine the living beings of Gensokyo!】

After this message was sent out, the group chat fell into a stretch of silence.

A moment later, Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan laboriously typed: 【Shuhang, Brother Xiao treats you well on a normal day, right? Would you go so far as to joke with me using your life?!】

Song Shuhang: 【I'm not joking, Senior Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan, it's all true!】

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan: 【Fake! It's all fake!】

Seeing that Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan didn't believe him, Song Shuhang looked at the void creature brand camera squirrel Sandy, and pointed outward.

The other party nodded, so he poked his head outward.

"Hehe~ hehehehe." Black-robed, long-haired Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan stood in the void, dark energy sweeping around him, countless spirit souls pouring into his palm:

"You really know how to run, little squirrel. I can sense you're nearby~~~ Not bad, this bit of fortune suits you just right."

"Come, come, enter my cauldron!"

Amid eerie and low chuckles, he picked up the Mystic Weight ruler and slashed, layer upon layer of time-space suddenly shatter

-ed, and within a massive rift, a cauldron of strange fire was smelting all things.

With a light toss, those screaming spirit souls were flung inside.

The chat group's livestream could make one feel as if personally present. From Song Shuhang's synced perception, those strange fire and Dou Qi powers were indeed Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan's own flames — just seemingly a bit more sinister.

Outside the Hakurei Shrine at this moment.

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan was completely dumbfounded on the spot, while the others silently took half a step back, putting distance between themselves and Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan and Miss Kelaien.

"." Miss Kelaien no longer maintained his Faceless ability, and laughed freely: "Hasn't he always been like this?"

"Slander!" Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan, who had come back to his senses, glared: "Someone is smearing me!"

He had been here the whole time — how could he appear at the location where Song Shuhang was, and even be hunting Song Shuhang?!

Su Lin: 【There's a case in Baiyujing of a Heavenly Dao split personality — it was caused by being too enamored with an idealized version of oneself, leading to a split personality.】

"Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan, you shut up. Take your medicine first." Meng Qi tried his best to soothe him using the psychology knowledge he had mastered: "This poor Daoist doesn't want to be some Three Pure Ones Pill. I believe you."

Believe my ass!

Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan clutched his chest, nearly coughing up a mouthful of old blood.

There must be some copycat who watched the movie, because that Soul Flame's appearance, including the details, was his look during the period he filmed the movie.

It was exactly the same as what was previously seen on the All Heavens Gold List.

?!

Suddenly, Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan thought of something and looked up at the All Heavens Gold List in the sky.

At this time, Song Shuhang continued to send messages in the group.

【There's one more thing. The universe where Gensokyo is located — the multiverse barrier is constantly weakening and being completely exposed to the void, so many civilizations or beings can observe and reach this place.】

Song Shuhang transmitted the information he knew:

【The negative entropy flow's upheaval has caused the flow of time to become disordered, and every time the Great Barrier restarts, this phenomenon intensifies, further affecting and even weakening the power of the world's barrier.】

【The Abyss is constantly expanding. Observed from outside the world, all of Gensokyo's time-space shows signs of complete collapse. Seniors, be careful!】

Su Lin: 【Future person?】

Ye Fan: 【Shuhang, sorry, I almost thought you didn't even take your basics seriously.】

"?"

Song Shuhang didn't quite understand, but the seniors' confusion was understandable — he only had an agreement with the Hilarious Empire Empire that he could share core information but couldn't reveal the source.

"It's confirmed. That wasn't Senior Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan. The real Senior Especially Especially Especially Xiao Yan is still at the Hakurei Shrine."

"You just took a look?" The squirrel Sandy's mouth uttered Chen Jun's voice.

"I can guarantee it." Song Shuhang said seriously.

The squirrel's two black, shiny eyes scanned Song Shuhang's face for a while, then nodded: "Then what about Azathoth?"

"Senior Miss Kelaien." Song Shuhang hesitated for two seconds, then said: "He isn't Azathoth."

"Lying." Tavel's voice came through: "We have already confirmed His identity through the pantheistic direction in mysticism."

"."

Everyone else used their real names, but Senior Miss Kelaien's name on the list was Azathoth — how do you even whitewash that?!

Did his best.

Song Shuhang decided to skip this topic and think about how to escape from Senior 【Soul Flame】's pursuit for now.

"By the way, are you really good people?"

If he hadn't seen the scene of Weigong Shilang and Dada Liya sacrificing themselves to sever the river of time across the All Heavens, he would have truly doubted the alignment of this group of immortals.

However, the current three great divine pantheons of the macroverse had come to know some of the past events that had occurred in other voids.

There seemed to be hidden circumstances. Although Song Shuhang's expression at the time was rarely complex, it was probably because he was wary of that unfamiliar civilization, so he chose not to explain.

"I told you, that was a movie."

The Gold List in the sky was playing an extremely bizarre scene — cultivators, gods and demons, youkai, mortals, even microorganisms in the air, all put on monocles under the control of the 【Fool】.

Chanting, "Blessed be the Immortal Lord of Eternal Joy, Blessed be Doumu Yuanzun, Blessed be Yuanshi Tianzun."

The scene was utterly grim, and behind those living beings stretched a vast, unfathomable abyss of darkness that had dissolved countless worlds.

Song Shuhang remembered that, back during the era of Tiancheng.

He looked up at the sky.

Back then, when they destroyed the Great Vow Heaven, everyone had struck too ruthlessly.

"It's special effects."

"."

Not choosing to expose this man who could put every facial-recognition analyst out of a job, Sandy turned her head outward. Because of information-disturbance interference, the 'Soul Flame' had not detected them.

The previous inventory had ended, and now the All-Heavens Golden List, after plunging into pitch darkness, had reappeared.

【A pink-haired girl in a white dress, surrounded by countless cherry-blossom radiance, drew her bow to full string, gleaming with magical power.

Countless living beings instinctively looked up toward the sky. Whether past, present, or future, all could see the world as if torn open by a wound.

Utterly desolate.】

"So beautiful!" Kagiyama Hina said instinctively.

"Madoka!" The girl named Bubble Host's voice came from the Hearing Song Shu, brimming with excitement: "The Law of Cycles! The moment she became a god, she annihilated the witches of the universe's past, present, and future!"

"Madoka?" Chen Jun's voice was quite wistful: "This really is an iconic scene, Song Shuhang. Why are you sweating?"

【Freezing the night sky, converting it into magical power, the compendium of civilizations

Gathered and unified into a ritual array covering the entire omnipotent universe, infinite light surged into the arrow, as if to strip away the eternal darkness.

Behind her, dazzling rivers and intricate, resplendent circular arrays spread out in an instant.】

【"Human Order loading complete. Let all the civilizations of this garbage universe become my Master's magical power—hahahahaha!" A frenzied mechanical voice laughed wildly.】

【"Sorry." The girl murmured with apology, yet her gaze was incomparably resolute, and then slowly overlapped with that mechanical voice: "Burn."】

The brilliance and splendor of countless multiverse civilizations, their decline and gloom—every history from origin to future—flickered like passing light and vanished in a flash.

【Universe Civilization Burner!】

【Gensokyo's Top Ten Incidents TOP2 "The Reincarnation of the End," Protagonist: Kaname Madoka】

"."

In utter silence.

The humanoid muscular squirrel's body gradually shrank until it returned to its original form, then picked up an acorn from the ground and gnawed on it, just like an ordinary squirrel.

"I can explain." Song Shuhang lay in front of the squirrel, tentatively poking its head and saying: "Are you still there? Friends from beyond the void, hello?"

The squirrel raised its head and looked at him.

"Another ally of our Wudeng Alliance has revived, hehe~hehehe," the Soul Flame laughed loudly.

The squirrel lowered its head.