Chapter 233: Progressing Positively

"According to the energy fluctuation analysis, the recent response to you was an instinctive reaction closer to that world's underlying 'self‑preservation mechanism,' rather than a concretized consciousness."

The system explained, "However, the objective has been achieved."

"Alright."

Heimu, no longer conflicted, sharpened their gaze again, "Then, prepare to enter. The Time Flow Rate advantage is on our side, but we still need to bring Huo Huo back quickly, lest Aha arranges some strange 'competition' for her over there."

"Madam, regarding this…," the system's voice unusually showed a hint of hesitation.

Heimu looked at her.

"You may… be unable to enter directly."

The system, in the most steady tone, said something that made Heimu's eyelids twitch, "Following the recent 'communication,' the counterpart opened the channel while also imposing an extremely strict 'entity filter.' Given your current form and power tier, especially the primordial aura you just displayed, the channel will automatically identify you as a 'high‑level entity intrusion,' triggering the opponent's ultimate defense mechanism—potentially causing that time slice to collapse outright, or provoking its 'Guardian' (Heroic Spirit seat) into full hostility."

Heimu: "…so?"

"Therefore, we need to dispatch an individual whose entity level is low enough, yet capable of handling the Holy Grail War environment, and completely under your control, to enter."

The system summarized, "In short, you need to send a 'Proxy.'"

Heimu remained silent for a full five seconds.

Then, Heimu raised a hand and gently pressed it to their own forehead.

"In other words,"

She spoke haltingly, tone full of speechlessness, "I just barely, using that method, Persuasion (intimidation) of that world's administrator, obtained a pass."

The administrator said, "The certificate is yours, but your own head is too big, you're not allowed to board; send your younger brother/sister instead."

"—Is that so?"

The system was silent for a moment, seemingly rigorously analyzing the metaphor, then nodded: "…That can be understood that way, madam. Though the metaphor is a bit coarse, the logic is essentially correct."

Heimu lowered the hand, violet‑black eyes staring at the pure white ceiling, sighing helplessly.

What kind of situation is this?

The air was permeated with the salty, briny scent unique to sea breezes.

The sky was lead‑gray, clouds hanging low, making the city called Winterwood appear especially gloomy.

Chang Ye Yue held the Black Umbrella, their crimson eyes calmly scanning the street before them.

Low houses, shuttered shops, the faint silhouette of a Western‑style church spire in the distance…

Everything was starkly different from the cosmic scenery she was familiar with.

The energy environment was unusually dense, a fundamental force called "Magic" permeating the air and ley lines, distinct from Corruption Energy or destiny power, carrying an ancient scent.

"System link stable, environmental parameters recorded."

She whispered to herself, more like reporting to some distant existence.

She raised a hand, fingertips tracing a void in the air, a purple rune visible only to her flashing and vanishing, completing the preliminary spacetime anchor confirmation.

"Safe arrival."

She spoke to the air, her voice returning through the invisible link, "Coordinate confirmed: Dongmu City, time flow matches expectations. No large‑scale hostile energy reactions detected, but the basic Magic environment… is high, with multiple weak yet distinct independent energy sources, possibly local 'Servants' or 'Masters.'"

On the pure white light screen of System Space, Chang Ye Yue's image and voice were clearly reflected.

Heimu gave a slight nod: "Efficiency is good. Quick strike, lock onto Huo Huo's location, bring her back. Start searching where the 'Joy' trace is. Avoid large local conflicts, especially that 'Holy Grail War.'"

"Understood."

Chang Ye Yue replied, folded the umbrella, and prepared to begin perception tracking.

She turned around, just about to call out to a companion: "A Xing, we…"

The words were abruptly cut off.

A Xing, whose standby state had ended at an unknown time, was squatting beside a green metal trash can marked with katakana on the street corner, golden eyes fixed unblinking on the can, as if it were an unknown curiosity worth studying.

She even tilted her head slightly, extended a finger, as if to poke the lid.

Chang Ye Yue: "..."

She walked over and lightly tapped the ground with the tip of the umbrella.

"A Xing."

A Xing lifted their head, glanced at her, then at the trash can, and calmly stated: "There's still some difference from the Beloberg and Xianzhou trash cans."

Chang Ye Yue raised a hand, gently pressed their own temple, voice still soft yet with an unmistakable edge: "Task priority, A Xing. The trash can… later."

A Xing glanced at her, then gave one last look at the trash can that seemed to attract them, finally rose slowly, brushed off dust that wasn't there from their hand, and resumed the silent, following posture.

In System Space, Heimu watched the tiny interlude on the light screen, a corner of the mouth lifting upward.

A Xing's attachment to the trash can, even across the universe, remains so "stable."

(This mission sounds relatively simple…)

She thought to herself, (Just locate and retrieve an individual accidentally drawn in, at most facing some local Magi and Heroic Spirits. With Chang Ye Yue's abilities and A Xing's adaptability, as long as we don't actively get caught in the Holy Grail War's core, there should be no major issue.)

Moreover, the reward is a full 2% Repair Degree.

Compared with the slow progress after the previous hassles, this task is practically a "generous giveaway."

Although intuition tells her that Aha's involvement will never truly be "simple," at least the surface objective is clear.

Her tense nerves relaxed a bit, a rare occurrence. She turned to the silent system beside her: "How is the progress of the Destiny Simulation? The adaptability adjustments of the Ying Jie?"

The system immediately displayed another data panel, showing icons of thirteen Ying Jie; most were lit with a pale gold sheen indicating "simulation complete," while two icons still flickered with a blue glimmer denoting "in progress."

"Overall progress 84.6%."

System reported, "Basic destiny concept implantation and power rule adaptability overwrite have been completed. The remaining two individuals—Kevin and Ailixiya—have simulation processes encountering expected logical conflicts and delays, requiring finer calibration."

Heimu's gaze fell on those two names, nodding: "As expected. The 'Salvation' Kevin carries, and its destiny mapping within the Xing Tie Universe, demand extreme caution; a slight misstep could trigger rule backlash. Ailixiya… her very essence is rather special, the Authority of the 'Origin' and the 'Memory' as well as the 'Purity' may produce complex resonance; fine‑tuning is necessary."

These two are indeed "high‑end combat power" among the Ying Jie, and also the most complex beings.

Being able to finish the other eleven simulations so quickly already exceeds her expectations.

"Accelerate the progress, but be sure to maintain stability."

Heimu instructed, "Once their simulation is complete and they possess an identity that allows safe activity and the exercise of influence under the Xing Tie Universe Rule, the Persuasion work targeting the remaining Golden Descendants can be launched in full."

Thinking of those Golden Descendants still trapped in various restraints…

Perhaps we truly don't need to wait until the Repair Degree exceeds 50%, the originally estimated critical Node, to harness the power of these heroic rebels and free them one by one.