Chapter 627: She Is the Beginning and End of All

To what degree must one go, so that with one's own strength two worlds can intersect, and through countless people's efforts finally launch those "Noah's Arks"?

As for technical matters, Chen Xiaoshuang did not take much part, and even she, a life‑law Special Ability Practitioner, had no right to join Mu Lingxiao's plan.

Her contribution to all this seemed limited to providing the Chen Family's massive funds and equipment support, plus a family heirloom.

Though others always say that without her rear support the front‑line plan could not proceed so smoothly, Chen Xiaoshuang knows clearly that she occupies the safest spot in the whole scheme.

"For this negotiation with the authorities, I'm entrusting you to go this time."

Even though it was only a request from a close friend, when Chen Xiaoshuang arrived at the Pale Throne Great Cathedral, she was still shocked by the scene before her.

The once lofty, holy, sacred Pope under the crown, whose long hair had been as deep blue as the sea, turned white overnight, and his body showed signs of aging—symptoms she had seen on another person.

Just as Mu Lingxiao burned away his own life, paying with a head of white hair to forcibly create the initial link between the two worlds, this Pope also burned his life to do something similar.

At that moment she seemed to become mute, only able to watch the weary young man casually sit on the cathedral steps, his white robe dragging on the ground, refusing to speak.

If he were seen by her, this Pope would certainly be scolded harshly by his own sister.

"... under the Pope's crown, please mind your demeanor."

Chen Xiaoshuang felt as if she were split directly in two, hearing a cold voice already emanating from her own mouth.

"Can't you be a bit more tolerant toward an incompetent brother?"

Mu Linyuan's face showed utter fatigue, yet upon hearing Chen Xiaoshuang's words, he couldn't help but flash a smile, but alas, the things remain while the people are no longer the same.

"Then please adjust quickly; now the Church in this world will inevitably become the target of all arrows. You are the Pope, the symbol of the Church, God's spokesperson, and the Church's future still requires your guidance."

Although Chen Xiaoshuang addressed him with "you" each time, she showed no real respect, merely standing there watching Mu Linyuan.

Unfortunately, the Great Cathedral doesn't allow alcohol inside; otherwise she might have considered sharing him a bottle.

"God… this world has no god."

Mu Linyuan merely muttered softly, his meaning unclear, and Chen Xiaoshuang frowned slightly in confusion.

She, of course, doesn't believe in gods; otherwise she wouldn't have taken this path.

Mu Linyuan may be a god‑charlatan, but he's still quite talented; he simply shook his head, then looked up at Chen Xiaoshuang.

"I think you'll run into trouble during this deal with the authorities."

"If an eyesore shows up… just tell him everything he wants to know, tell him that the Church is now at the end of its strength, and our sole purpose is just one thing."

"That is the continuation of civilization."

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"The continuation of civilization… sounds like a truly grand goal."

Hua Jian Lei sat in the driver's seat, opened the window on his side, one hand steering, the other hand resting on the window, letting the night wind blow his hair back wildly.

At this hour the main road had few vehicles; the black car moved like a silent prowler, swiftly skimming across the highway.

The confrontation with Chen Xiaoshuang didn't last long; Yang Yixie only asked the other side a few questions.

Anyway, he had already gotten the answer to his biggest question.

"By that account, that Saint Lady is truly a great holy mother, sacrificing herself to forcibly deliver humanity's spark to this world."

Hua Jian Lei still felt somewhat regretful; he had always been active in the Dome and never had the chance to witness the Saint Lady's heroic bearing.

"It's just that, from birth, she was assigned a command she had to fulfill."

Yang Yixie rubbed his face uncomfortably; he thought Chen Xiaoshuang would surely recognize him, but because Mu Linyuan had given prior notice, the other party showed no sign of surprise.

As long as they don't want the truth exposed, they cannot dare reveal his identity.

The Church's Saint Lady, the Undercurrent's Regiment Leader, the artificially created Divine Oracle experimental subject born in the Black Stone Mountain Range underground laboratory......

From the start, Mu Lingxiao's origin did not violate the world's laws, yet she was the most determined, overthrowing the decayed old Church, leading the design of the Air Train linking Tianmian City with the ground, and developing the unknown device that lets players enter the game......

From the very beginning she never considered the possibility of anyone in the plan surviving; even her own death was part of the plan.

The deaths of others could be avoided, but she held the authority over space; to force an incorrect puzzle piece into this world, someone always had to be sacrificed.

"One can't put it that way; she did achieve it, didn't she? You didn't see the spectacular scene when those NPCs in the game realized they had entered reality, and this world lacked a flood of Aberrant Species."

For the people inside the game world, Mu Lingxiao could be called the most competent Saint Lady, granting everyone a chance to survive, but for those in reality......

She is the root of all evil.

If she hadn't forcibly linked the two worlds, players would never have appeared in that world, would not have died far from home, and would not have endangered those around them.

If all of Mu Lingxiao's deeds were exposed, not only the Church but everyone who escaped from the game would become a target, and even if they forced their way in, there would be no place for them here.

By then it would merely be the prelude to another war.

Only the enemies on the battlefield had changed, from monsters to humans.

They cannot drive them out of this world; the revelation of truth would only spark new wars, perhaps why the authorities, upon vaguely sensing the truth, chose not to make it explicit.

It's just that the Church is still too compliant; even though they are indeed at fault, such unreserved concession leaves one uneasy.

It's not that they're secretly plotting anything; the authorities' stance is already clear—they can accept these wanderers from other worlds, but they must obey this world's rules.

"Who knows......"

Yang Yixie replied offhand, noting that there were many restless elements among those NPCs; even with the Church's cooperation, someone would surely be stirring in the shadows.

After all, Aberrant Arts, no matter how you put it, are a transcendent non‑human power, and restraining them isn't easy.