Chapter 719

Su Lin said the resurrection tournament in their era has been temporarily halted, possibly due to Yagumo Shizu using the power of boundaries to invert past and future,“ Zhongli relayed while offering his own analysis.

The grounds of the Hakkai Shrine actually encompass a vast area, including the approach path, storage buildings, and a large forest behind the shrine.

The group members who returned gathered here, exchanging information and analyzing the current situation.

“There are still some unresolved points,” Zhongli said, raising his hand; several sand-and-rock models, scaled to the map of Gensokyo, shimmered and rose from the ground.

“Besides the undead revived by items used by Su Lin, many beings from other worlds have also appeared in Gensokyo.”

“Regardless of whether their intentions are malicious or benevolent, these threats must be dealt with—but the Youkai Sage has lost contact.”

“Moreover, spacetime in certain regions has begun to overlap.”

Since Su Lin and Kaguya entered the resurrection tournament—the least likely to die among the group—those outside had not been idle; after Yagumo Shizu proposed reversing time, they made several attempts.

On Zhongli’s advice, everyone began placing objects at fixed locations using special methods, then notified their allies in Gensokyo of different timelines to dig and search.

Some artifacts unearthed across different time periods included “Chu Lan Zhenren Visited Here” and “Playboy magazine covers.”

Yet most of these items were severely damaged and turned to dust and sand upon leaving their sealed state.

“Why does it feel like you’re incredibly familiar with this kind of world-rebirth plot and its responses?” Lu Mingfei asked curiously.

Kleen glanced at Lu Mingfei and said calmly, “If you drag me into this, I’ll cover your body with the skin of the idol goddess, the Witch of Calamity.”

I’m talking about the Teyvat reincarnation hypothesis!

The startled Lu Mingfei swung a punch, but Kleen warped space and slammed it into his own face; he clutched his cheek and hissed in pain.

“Heh,” Zhongli chuckled.

“Meng Qi continued studying the Shennong’s Register: ‘Mao Yue Lin, as a half-qilin, claims to possess dragon god blood. Dragons give birth to nine offspring, each different—but qilin do not belong to this category.’”

“Yinglong gave birth to Jianma and Fenghuang; Jianma gave birth to qilin—there is a possibility.”

If this reasoning holds, then events in this world become explainable—it is, after all, the ancient primordial deity who embodied creation, fabrication, and destruction as one.

“I believe we may regard the Gensokyo where Mao Yue Lin resides as the original Gensokyo, before the Great Barrier was ever rebooted.”

After a long absence, the external brain Zhuge Yuan had been created from primordial qi to replace Li Huowang in the discussion, assisting the group.

Originally, Qingwang was supposed to join this retired Sanqing, but after he entered the reincarnation space to portray Chu Xuan, he has not yet returned.

“Brother Zhuge, but if—”

“According to Mao Yue Lin, she already stopped the awakened Dragon God from destroying Gensokyo—so why did Hakkai Reimu kill her and trigger Gensokyo’s reboot?”

Li Huowang frowned: “And why did Yagumo Shizu interfere to alter Gensokyo’s history and reality, erasing her records?”

“A scholar’s talent grows in three days—Brother Li, you’ve become capable of standing on your own now,” Zhuge Yuan said, his eyes filled with approval. “You’re right, Brother Li—but Mao Yue Lin’s words may not be the truth.”

“I don’t mean she’s lying—only that these phenomena are surface-level; her memories are frozen at her final moment before death, and after that—”

“Who can say what truly happened in this alien realm called Gensokyo?”

Most present could think of this, but the key lies in Kaguya’s motive for self-destruction: aside from having lived too long and grown bored of life—

Several glances turned toward Kleen.

Kleen sensed the group’s stares, glanced at the golden tablet in the sky, and pulled out a single monocle bearing the Fool Church’s emblem, placing it over his eye: “I lean toward heartbreak. The one who tied the knot must untie it.”

Ancestors, please spare us.

Sighs and head-pain groans rose simultaneously.

“Sister Irene,” Li Huowang quietly turned to the side: “Are you alright? You’re smiling… terrifyingly.”

“Am I?” Irene closed her private chat with Kaguya and smiled at the group. “Aren’t we supposed to try the magic network teleportation?”

Irene had constructed a magic network in the void where Gensokyo resides.

If the magic network can persist, storing “items” in its system, then the past timelines that have become “future” will eventually receive these items.

It’s like students burying a “time capsule” under a tree.

The group planned to use this method to bypass the resurrection tournament’s rules and send items to Su Lin and others.

“I have a question,” Zhuge Yuan bowed.

“Brother Su must have summoned a great being to perform a divine art, reviving the dead to participate in the game and compete for survival.”

“Now the Youkai Sage has intervened dramatically—surely he has his own scheme. Yet you all allow it. Aren’t you worried about triggering unforeseen consequences?”

Tomorrow’s mountains loom distant, the world’s affairs are obscure—Zhuge Yuan believed the optimal choice was to stabilize Gensokyo’s current order.

Moreover, he observed that the group understood little of this situation, and external variables were increasing; even if they were close to Miss Kaguya, they shouldn’t act so recklessly.

If they angered that unknown powerful being, the outcome would be the opposite of their intent.

“That—”

»

Li Huowang opened the group chat and read Su Lin’s individual messages to each member: [The cost of Kaguya’s resurrection and the risks to Gensokyo are entirely mine to bear.]

Because Brother Su seems serious this time.

【Prompt: Group member Song Shuhang has been revived】

Song Shuhang: “Senior Xiao Yan, where are you?! Urgent urgent urgent!”

Xiao Yan: “When did you die, Shuhang?”

Song Shuhang: “?”

Song Shuhang, crouching in a cave with the humanoid squirrel Sandy and the God of Calamity Jian Shan Chu, suppressing his aura, his chest heaving violently, nearly spat out a mouthful of blood upon seeing this message.

Ye Fan: 【Indeed, and it seems to have been for some time—why did you only just revive? If you lack resurrection artifacts, the Zhetian Trading Company can provide them free of charge—don’t you dare be polite with your Uncle Ye?】

Xiao Yan: 【Sorry, I got used to it and didn’t notice the earlier prompt. Shuhang, what were you trying to say? I’m at the Hakkai Shrine—I’ve been back for a while.】

Xiao Yan: [Sorry, I got used to it and didn’t pay attention to that earlier notification. What were you saying, Shu Hang? I’m at the Hakurei Shrine—I’ve already come back.]

Helplessly streamed from his eyes.

“Why are you crying?” Jian Shan Chu whispered timidly. “Is it my fault?”

“Why are you crying?” Jian Shan Chu whispered. “Is it my fault?”

Song Shuhang quickly waved his hands.

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

If he hadn’t failed to cultivate Ye Si’s Heaven’s Weeping Scripture, Song Shuhang felt he would be crying like a two-meter-tall baby.

The seniors are being too cruel—does Song’s life not count as life?!

Even so, Song Shuhang understood that the urgent matter came first.

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

Xiao Yan: 【?】

Song Shuhang: 【It’s true—more precisely, it was the Fallen Flame Emperor. He’s still hunting us, gathering souls to refine the living of Gensokyo!】

After sending this message, the group chat fell silent.

After a moment, Xiao Yan slowly typed: 【Shuhang, haven’t I always treated you well? Do you really have to joke with your life?!】

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

Xiao Yan: 【Fake! All fake!】

Seeing Xiao Yan didn’t believe him, Song Shuhang looked toward the Xukong creature’s camera squirrel Sandy and pointed outside.

She nodded, so he leaned his head outward.

“Heh~ Hehehehehe.” A black-robed, long-haired Xiao Yan stood in the void, dark energy swirling around him as countless souls surged into his palm.

“You’re good at running, little squirrel—I can sense you’re nearby~~~ Perfect timing—this opportunity suits you.”

“Come, come—into my furnace!”

Amidst a sinister, low chuckle, he swung his Black Heavy Ruler, and layer upon layer of spacetime shattered.

From a massive rift, a furnace of strange fire was melting all things.

He tossed the screaming souls gently into it.

The group chat’s live stream allowed direct sensory synchronization; from Song Shuhang’s perspective, the strange fire and fighting qi were unmistakably Xiao Yan’s own—though somehow more malevolent.

Outside the Hakkai Shrine at this moment.

Xiao Yan stood frozen, while the others silently stepped back half a pace, distancing themselves from Xiao Yan and Kleen.

“...” Kleen dropped his Faceless ability and smiled carefree. “Isn’t he always like this?”

“Defamation!” Xiao Yan, snapping back, glared: “Someone is slandering me!”

He’d been right here—how could he appear at Song Shuhang’s location and hunt him?!

Su Lin: 【In Baiyu Jing, there’s a case of heavenly Dao-induced schizophrenia: one becomes so obsessed with an idealized version of oneself that they split mentally.】

“Xiao Yan, don’t speak—just take your medicine now,” Meng Qi said, using his knowledge of psychology to soothe him. “I don’t want to become a Sanqing pill—I believe you.”

“Xiao Yan, don’t talk—first, take the medicine,” Meng Qi said, using his knowledge of psychology to soothe him: “I don’t want to become a Three Pure Ones Pill. I believe in you.”

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

Someone must have watched a movie and copied the villain—every detail, even his appearance, matched his film-era look.

It was identical to what he’d seen earlier on the Celestial Golden Tablet.

It was exactly like what he had seen earlier on the Celestial Golden List.

Suddenly, Xiao Yan remembered something and looked up at the Celestial Golden Tablet.

At this moment, Song Shuhang continued sending messages in the group.

【One more thing: the multiversal barrier surrounding Gensokyo is continuously weakening, fully exposing it to the void—so many civilizations or entities can now observe and reach here.】

Song Shuhang transmitted the information he knew:

【The chaos of the anti-entropy flow has disrupted the orderly flow of time; each time the Great Barrier reboots, this phenomenon intensifies, weakening even the world’s protective barrier.】

【The Abyss is expanding relentlessly. From outside the world, Gensokyo’s entire spacetime shows signs of total collapse—Seniors, be careful!】

The Abyss is continuously expanding; from outside the world, it is evident that all of Fantasia’s spacetime is showing signs of total collapse — elders, be careful!

Su Lin: 【A future person?】

Ye Fan: 【Shuhang, I’m sorry—I almost thought you didn’t take Foundation Establishment seriously.】

【?】

Song Shuhang didn’t fully understand, but the seniors’ confusion was understandable; he had made a pact with the Xilin Empire and could only reveal core information, not the source.

“Confirmed—that wasn’t Xiao Yan. The real Xiao Yan is still at the Hakkaisou Shrine.”

“You just glanced at it?” Squirrel Sandy’s mouth emitted Chen Jun’s voice.

“I can guarantee it,” Song Shuhang said seriously.

The squirrel’s glossy black eyes scanned Song Shuhang’s face for a moment, then nodded: “Then what about Azathoth?”

“Master Kleine,” Song Shuhang hesitated for two seconds before saying, “He’s not Azathoth.”

“Lying,” came Tawer’s voice: “We’ve confirmed His identity through the general mystical belief alignment.”

【.】

Everyone else used their real names, but Master Kleine’s listed name was Azathoth—how do you explain that?!

Did my best.

Song Shuhang decided to skip this topic and think about how to escape from the pursuit of “Soul Flame.”

“By the way, are you guys really good guys?”

If he hadn’t seen the scene where Emiya Shirou and Illya sacrificed themselves to sever the River of Time across all worlds, he might have doubted this group of gods’ allegiance.

But now, the three major divine systems of the Macroverse had learned of some past events from other voids.

There seemed to be hidden circumstances; though Song Shuhang’s expression had been unusually complex, he likely remained wary of that alien civilization, which was why he chose not to explain.

“They already said it was a movie.”

The golden list in the sky was playing an eerily strange scene: every cultivator, god, demon, monster, mortal—even microbes in the air—were forced by the “Fool” to wear monocles.

Chanting: “Blessed be the Immortal Lord of Eternal Joy, Blessed be the Primordial Lord of the Dipper, Blessed be the Lord of Mystery and Yellow Heaven.”

The scene was profoundly sinister, with a vast, unfathomable abyss of darkness behind these beings—one that dissolved countless worlds.

Song Shuhang remembered—that was during the Era of Zhutian City.

Looked up at the sky.

Back then, when we destroyed Dàyuan Heaven, we went too far.

“It’s special effects.”

【.】

He chose not to expose this man who could put every facial analyst out of work; Sandy turned her head outward, for the interference of information disturbance meant “Soul Flame” hadn’t detected them.

The previous inventory had ended; now, the Celestial Golden List, after sinking into darkness, reappeared.

【A girl with pink hair and a white dress, surrounded by countless cherry-hued radiance, drew her bow fully taut, shining with magical power.】

Countless beings instinctively looked up at the sky; whether past, present, or future, all could see the wound in the world, as if torn open.

Utterly desolate.】

“So beautiful!” Konayama Hina said instinctively.

“Circle God!” came an excited voice from the squirrel—spoken by the girl named Bubble Host: “The Principle of the Circle, the moment of godhood, erasing all witches across past, present, and future!”

“Sayaka?” Chen Jun’s voice was filled with emotion: “This is truly a legendary scene, Song Shuhang—why are you sweating?”

【Froze the night sky, transforming the history of civilization into magical energy.】

Gathering, unifying into a ritual array covering the entire omniverse; boundless light surged into the arrow, as if purging eternal darkness.

Behind her, dazzling rivers and intricate, ornate circular arrays unfolded instantly.】

【“Human history loaded. All the civilizations of this garbage universe, become your magical energy! Hahaha!” A mad mechanical voice laughed.】

【“I’m sorry...” The girl whispered with regret, yet her gaze was unwavering; slowly, she merged with the mechanical voice: “Burn.”】

The brilliance and decay of countless multiversal civilizations—from origin to future—all history, like fleeting reflections, vanished in an instant.

【Cosmic Civilization Burning Ritual!】

【Top 2 of the Ten Great Anomalies of Gensokyo: “The End of Reincarnation,” Protagonist: Madoka Kaname】

【.】

In absolute silence.

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

“I can explain,” Song Shuhang crouched before the squirrel, cautiously poking its head: “Are you still there? Friends from beyond the void?”

The squirrel looked up at him.

“Our ally has awakened once more—heeheehee!” Soul Flame laughed.

The squirrel lowered its head.