Chapter 227: Something's Not Right

Ti Bao stayed a while longer in the hidden carriage, confirmed that after that door no further sounds came, then stroked the chest and slowly relaxed.

Perhaps it was just being too nervous.

Ti Bao sat back on the sofa, hugging the knees, trying to shift attention away from the recent fright.

Heimu Lady left, System Miss seemed busy as well, and the huge carriage now had only Ti Bao left.

Although it was safe, … it was a bit too quiet.

(What to do?)

Ti Bao rested her cheek on her hand, her azure eyes scanning the carriage.

Read a book? The topics from the earlier chat with Heimu Lady were still swirling in the mind, those discussions about tragedies in different worlds made thoughts race, and now trying to read those heavy tomes seemed hard to settle.

(Right! The "Past World Paradise" Heimu Lady mentioned before!)

Ti Bao's eyes lit up.

It contains memory data of warriors from another world, said to have varied personalities and many stories.

Anyway there's nothing to do now, why not… take a look?

The thought sprouted and grew rapidly like vines.

Ti Bao remembered Heimu Lady saying that as a "liberated" Golden Descendant, she has certain activity permissions within System Space, provided she does not touch core areas or perform dangerous operations.

Ti Bao closed the eyes, tried to concentrate, recalling that vague sense of connection with System Space—she, as a Golden Descendant of the "Gate Path", seemed also able to reach the "Operation Permission" in such a space.

A thought flickered.

When she opened her eyes again, a door emitting white light silently slid open on the carriage wall before her, its edges flowing with faint golden patterns.

(It really works!)

Ti Bao felt a joy in the heart, yet also a bit uneasy.

Ti Bao took a deep breath, smoothed the hem of the skirt, gently pushed the door open, and stepped inside.

In an instant, the warm carriage scene was replaced by boundless "white".

This is one area of System Space, empty, silent, lacking any reference points, with only a white "ground" beneath the feet that seemed to stretch infinitely.

Ti Bao steadied the stance, looking around curiously.

She saw not far away the System standing with its back to her, in front of it floated a semi‑transparent screen that almost filled her entire field of view, enormous beyond measure.

On the screen, endless streams of multicolored flashing data cascaded like a waterfall, the speed dazzling the eyes, interspersed with countless geometrical figures so complex a single glance made one dizzy, constantly refreshing coordinate parameters and strings of unintelligible symbols.

Ti Bao glanced once, felt the brain "buzz" briefly, quickly averted the gaze and instinctively rubbed the temples.

(System Miss… the thing being handled is terrifying… is this what Heimu Lady usually faces?)

She dared not step forward to greet; System Miss's posture, seemingly merged with the entire data torrent, made Ti Bao think disturbing now might not be proper. She softened her steps and began to explore the Pure White Space cautiously.

Not far in, a "device" starkly different from the surrounding pure white environment caught Ti Bao's eye.

It was an extremely intricate metal structure, its surface swirling with a dim yet profound glow; the overall silhouette vaguely resembled shadows of castles, towers, corridors and other architectural elements, but they were stacked in a way that defied physical logic, forming an independent and complete "world" model.

Countless faint golden Light Bands, like bundles of nerves, extended from the device's base into the pure white "ground" below.

(Past World Paradise… this must be it!)

Ti Bao instantly recognized it, heart beating a little faster.

Heimu Lady's described outward appearance perfectly matched the device before her.

She stepped closer, looked up at the creation many times her size, heart filled with awe.

This is the place that stores the memories of thirteen heroes from another world?

Ti Bao walked half a circle around the device's base, finding no obvious portal or control panel.

She tried extending a hand, gently touching the metal surface etched with fine patterns.

At the instant her fingertip made contact—

Buzz.

A resonance seemed to come from deep within the soul.

Immediately, the small area she touched burst into soft white light, quickly spreading into a halo that enveloped her whole body.

Ti Bao only felt a flash before her eyes, and the surrounding pure white scene vanished rapidly like the tide receding.

The next second, the sensation of solid ground returned, and the light softened.

She found herself standing in a wide, antiquated corridor.

On both sides rose towering stone pillars carved with exquisite yet unfamiliar reliefs.

(It's inside!)

Ti Bao was both startled and delighted, curiously surveying the surroundings.

This is the interior of Letu?

Indeed, just as Heimu Lady described, it resembled the ruins or hall of an ancient civilization.

She walked a few steps forward along the corridor, her footsteps echoing softly in the empty space.

Turning a corner, she saw not far ahead a petite figure with sea‑blue hair, its back turned to Ti Bao, strolling leisurely.

The girl still held a paintbrush in one hand, and the other seemed to carry a small paint box.

(Ge Lei Xiu?)

Ti Bao immediately matched the image from the data.

That person, said to be able to express and affect "color" and "emotion" through painting, the heroic prodigy, appeared very young and always quiet.

Ti Bao felt relieved; meeting a seemingly gentle heroic prodigy, she could ask for directions or learn about the situation.

She quickened her steps, a friendly smile on her face, softly calling, "Hello? May I ask…"

The blue‑haired little girl ahead stopped, slowly turning around.

When she saw the other's face clearly, Ti Bao's prepared greeting got stuck in her throat.

It truly was Ge Lei Xiu's youthful and delicate face.

But those purple eyes, which should have been like a tranquil lake, now carried a chill completely at odds with Ge Lei Xiu's age and appearance.

Ge Lei Xiu surveyed Ti Bao from head to toe, her gaze assessing a novel curiosity.

Hum—

Ge Lei Xiu spoke, her voice still child‑like and crisp, yet unusually flat and even a bit cold‑drawn out: "Let me guess… red hair, azure eyes, an expression that seems full of unnecessary curiosity… you must be the Golden Descendant mentioned in the data, the one from Weng Fa Luo Si that represents the Gate Path, TirixiBiyosi, right?"

Ti Bao was stunned, and instinctively nodded: "I‑I am… you can also call me Ti Bao."

Ti Bao's mind murmured, (the data says Ge Lei Xiu's personality is quiet and introverted, even a bit shy, speaking directly but simply… this tone, this gaze… why does it feel off?)