Chapter 556: Reboot?

Perhaps it's because more than half of the collected fragments have been gathered, or perhaps now the Civilization Fire Seed Fragments can already be pieced together into a rough outline...

No matter why, the description page refreshed.

【Civilization Fire Seed Fragments (4/7)】

【Collection progress over half, hidden information unlocked】

【When the seven fragments are gathered, the holder will gain one opportunity to choose:】

【Option One: Reboot. Carrying a sufficiently powerful special ability, return to the day the disaster struck. All those who died will once again stand in the sunlight, but you cannot change their original fate.】

【Option Two: Move forward. Maintain the status quo, continue down this road. But the power of the seven fragments will permanently alter the world's rules; weekly disasters and Instances will no longer appear. The road will merge with the territory, becoming a brand-new fertile land.】

【Civilization Fire Seed Fragments collection progress already over half; grip the fragment, and you will faintly sense the location of the remaining fragments.】

Option One is indeed very attractive; if we started over, Guanghui would live, and those members who died on the road would live.

Every name will live on.

But the last sentence in the description, like a thorn, pricks her eyes.

"But you cannot change their original fate."

Cannot be changed.

What meaning does reboot have?

Cheng Shuili stared at that line of text, thought for a long time, and finally reacted.

This option is not to let her save, but to let her experience, to give her sufficient ability and make a big splash. If it were a person who had suffered humiliation and hardship who reached this point, perhaps they would agonize over whether to choose the first option.

But Cheng Shuili is not; she has sufficient strong ability, trustworthy companions, and the determination to create a prosperous peaceful era.

Her gaze lingered on the second description for a long time.

No disasters, no Instances, the road merges with the territory, becoming fertile land.

What does that mean?

It means those days of living in fear every day, those days of having to fight desperately to survive, those days of watching companions die in monsters' mouths, die in Instance mechanisms, die in inexplicable disasters——

All of it has ended.

Everyone can truly continue living.

Cheng Shuili's finger hovered above Option Two for a long time without falling.

She recalled the densely packed names in the stele forest.

Guanghui.

There are still so many, so many people.

They cannot come back, but the living can continue to live.

One can no longer worry about whether tomorrow will bring death, and can truly live in peace.

This is probably the best consolation.

Cheng Shuili's finger pressed down.

The Light Screen flickered once, and a line of text popped up:

【Choice locked. Once the seven fragments are gathered, it will take effect formally.】

Cheng Shuili took a deep breath, as written in the last line description, gripped a fragment of Civilization Fire Seed, closed her eyes, and felt it earnestly.

A warm current flowed in from the palm, spread up the arm, and finally gathered at the brow.

In the darkness, several lines of text gradually emerged——

First, hidden deep in the underground palace, guarded by the King of Myriad Beasts. Bound by blood, allied by profit. To take it requires sacrifice; only by sacrificing can one obtain it.

Second, suspended above the Nine Heavens, held by the Master of Rules. Not obtainable by force, not achievable by wit. When the time comes, it will reveal itself naturally.

Third, hidden within reincarnation, trapped in the Endless Prison. To break the mirror requires reflecting on one's original heart; only by passing the barrier can one see the true self.

Cheng Shuili stared at those three lines, silent for a long time.

The first line is very clear; the King of Myriad Beasts, isn't that just the Rat King?

This is as expected.

That old fox holds the military factory, grips countless resources; it can be said he commands the entire beastman race, and it's normal for him to hold a fragment.

This second clause……

Cheng Shuili was somewhat silent.

What are the Nine Heavens above? And who is the Master of Rules?

As for the third clause, Cheng Shuili had not a single thought; reincarnation… Endless Prison… what does any of this have to do with anything?

Cheng Shuili's face showed the same expression she had when she first came to this world and saw that evil handcart.

Confusion.

This word rarely appears on Cheng Shuili's face.

But at this moment, she indeed felt confused.

The first clue is very clear; the Rat King.

The problem is, what does "to obtain requires sacrifice; only by sacrificing can one obtain" mean? What must she give up?

The dividends from the military factory?

Cheng Shuili pondered for a long time, but still felt it was just the dividends that hadn't run out.

But since it's clear what the Rat King wants, she is no longer anxious.

Anyway, you need all seven fragments to assemble; what difference does it make whether the Rat King takes his piece early or late?

Since you can get the dividends, just take a few more days.

Cheng Shuili is quite open-minded; as for what the Rat King thinks……

Hmph, what does it have to do with her?

Over two days, the players' lives were not easy.

The floodwaters had receded, the mud on the roads was gone, and normal movement was possible.

But… what on earth is going on with the monsters that came out of the treasure chests?

The players were absolutely certain that these monsters had mutated; not only were they extremely aggressive, but their claws seemed to carry a virus—once scratched, a persistent high fever was the mildest symptom.

Some people lacking public morals, even after being caught, refused to stay honestly in their vehicles and insisted on going out to wander, causing the virus to spread like wildfire.

However, this had nothing to do with the members of Black Feather; within Black Feather's safe zone, a stall was even set up again.

The players took a close look and said, "Well, isn't this the medicine we bought once during the plague?"

So, this effective medicine you Black Feather folks brought out can cure all diseases, right?

This time there was no purchase limit, so quite a few savvy players bought ten or twenty at a time—no other reason, it's just effective!

This stuff not only cures the virus on those monsters' claws, but also works for fevers, colds, coughs, and diarrhea—it's practically a panacea.

Ailin stood behind the stall, her expression rather subtle.

She watched those frenziedly purchasing players, then glanced at the medicine boxes piled up like a mountain beside her, and always felt a sense of unreality.

Two days ago, she was still worrying whether the members of Black Feather could survive this plague.

Two days later, she was selling medicine here until her hands went soft.

"Ailin sis," a Black Feather member beside her leaned in, lowering his voice to ask, "Where exactly does this medicine come from? How can it cure everything?"

Ailin glanced at him and said nothing.

What could she say?

Say that this medicine was made by diluting some item of the boss with water? Even while diluting it, he kept shouting that he was tired?

Or say that the boss had Xinxue stir up a few waves in the channel, and then these players automatically came to buy?

Or say that this wave of Black Feather not only didn't lose money, but actually made a killing?

She couldn't say that.

She could only give an inscrutable smile, pat that person's shoulder, and say, "Boss's business—don't ask about it."

That member shrank his neck back, not daring to ask further.