Chapter 569: The Original Home

After concluding another instance, Cheng Shuili and Qin Wen arrived together at Celestial Universe.

Beichen wore a complex expression, gazing at the two humans before him and staying silent for a long while, unable to utter a word.

Taibai had long since lost his temper; he lifted his eyelids, confirmed the newcomers were correct, then continued to shrink into the corner.

These two women are practically his nemesis; those instances are his blood and sweat—his painstakingly created children!

They're fine with it—just go in and demolish! Were these two people a demolition crew in their past life?

Really, that's too much!

Heavenly Wolf, as always, stood with arms crossed, saying nothing.

On the other hand, Weaver Girl, though weary in her expression, possessed exceptional professionalism and began the procedure: "Congratulations, you have obtained another echo—this is already the seventh time."

Weaver Girl looked at Cheng Shuili, her eyes complex yet with a hint of relief: "You will receive a special gift."

Beichen, hearing this, also nodded silently.

Cheng Shuili seemed to have a premonition, but said nothing until the echo's light faded and was fully revealed.

She finally understood…

The so-called "hidden within reincarnation, trapped in endless prison" refers to this world's endless instances.

And "to break the mirror, one must reflect the original heart; only by clearing the level can one see the true self"—isn't that just concluding instances and obtaining echoes?

Yes, the echo in Cheng Shuili's hand is exactly the third fragment of civilization's fire seed she has been lacking.

Now, only the final piece remains.

Cheng Shuili lifted her head, her gaze like lightning toward Beichen.

Beichen also understood her meaning, but she merely shook her head, refusing frankly:

"I cannot simply hand over this fragment in my hand to quell the disaster. If you cannot prove yourself worthy, I will not willingly give up this piece."

Cheng Shuili stared at her, looked for a while, then suddenly laughed.

"How do you want me to prove it?" Cheng Shuili asked.

Beichen did not answer immediately, merely gazing at her silently.

Cheng Shuili suddenly felt a strange sensation, as if Beichen had been waiting, waiting for her to voluntarily speak an answer.

"What are you waiting for me to say?" she asked directly.

Beichen's lips curled slightly, the smile so faint it was almost invisible, yet Cheng Shuili caught it.

"Those little systems you've been bribing," Beichen spoke, voice calm, "you thought I didn't know?"

Cheng Shuili's heartbeat skipped a beat.

"Those few gray‑market little systems, the game coins lent out, the informants bought…" Beichen said slowly.

If the Talkative Small Light Group were here, they'd probably have shrunk into a ball.

Cheng Shuili did not deny it, for denial would be pointless; Beichen being able to say these things shows she has a clear grasp.

"So what?" Cheng Shuili asked, "What do you want to do with me?"

Beichen shook her head.

"I won't do anything to you," she said, "on the contrary, I am relieved."

Now it was Cheng Shuili's turn to be stunned.

Relieved?

Beichen rose and walked to the window.

Outside the window lay Celestial Universe's eternal river of stars, countless points of light twinkling, beautiful beyond reality.

You are very clever, knowing how to make use of everything usable; that's good, but still not enough.

Not enough?

Cheng Shuili retorted, she was not merely bribing—she was subverting. Now most of Beichen's subordinate systems are under her use, they are her systems.

At her command, even if it meant seizing something from Beichen's hands, some systems would be willing to do it.

Beichen looked at her expression, then silently turned away.

"Why are you collecting the fragments?"

"To quell the disaster."

"Then what?"

Cheng Shuili thought for a moment: "Let this world return to normal."

"And after that?"

"To create a new world."

Beichen turned, his gaze falling on her face: "Is this the end?"

End?

Cheng Shuili paused, this question she had never considered, but the answer was obvious; she almost blurted: "This won't be an end, it's merely a better beginning."

A better beginning?

Beichen, who had been pressing the questions, fell silent.

She stared for a while, and the smile in her eyes finally became genuine to a degree.

"Very good." she said, "You have passed."

Cheng Shuili furrowed her brow: "Passed what?"

Beichen did not answer directly, but returned to her seat, her posture much more relaxed than before.

"Do you know why this fragment is in my hands?"

"You and the Rat King are actually similar in status, aren't you?"

Cheng Shuili replied lightly; though phrased as a question, her voice carried certainty.

She answered that way, and unexpectedly Beichen froze for a moment, then laughed again. "You are more perceptive than I imagined. However, I am not like the Rat King; I am the First. You may not understand what 'First' means, but that doesn't affect what I'm about to say."

Beichen stood up. "Since you already have the seven fragments, you should know the truth of this world."

"What truth?" Cheng Shuili asked.

Beichen looked at her, his eyes holding a kind of regret that Cheng Shuili couldn't understand.

"The truth of this world." She said, "You think we systems created the Instance, letting players come in to clear it? Or do you think it's us few managing all of this?"

Cheng Shuili didn't speak. She had indeed thought that before, but after realizing that this system race was similar to the beastmen, she no longer thought so.

But the real truth...

How humans came here, and what role the systems and beastmen play, Cheng Shuili truly doesn't know, nor can she guess.

"I'll tell you."

Beichen's voice was very calm, but Cheng Shuili still heard a hint of solemnity that she hid well.

She walked to the center of the hall and raised her hand in a wave.

A huge light curtain unfolded before everyone, upon which dense streams of data flowed, countless points of light shuttling through, like living life, and like constellations, flickering, blinking their eyes.

"These," Beichen pointed at those points of light, "are all the systems."

She waved her hand again, the view zoomed out, and those data streams gradually revealed their complete form.

It was a huge, constantly turning...

Cage.

Cheng Shuili's pupils contracted slightly.

"Hidden within reincarnation, trapped in the endless prison." Beichen slowly spoke those words, "Do you think this sentence refers to the players? Or to the Instance?"

She turned her face, bearing a faintly tragic smile: "This sentence refers to us. To all systems, to all beastmen, to all humans."

The hall fell into dead silence.

"This world is the cage itself, and we are the prisoners trapped here. Systems, beastmen, players... all these living things are merely a game set up by a greater existence."

She paused, then said word by word: "And we, just like you, also want to get out, also want to return to our own world."

Cheng Shuili fell silent.

She suddenly recalled the feeling when she first saw Beichen, that indescribable sense of dissonance. Back then she wondered, why would an existence that controls everything pay so much attention to her, a mere human?

Now she understood, because Beichen was also waiting for someone who could break the situation.

And she was the person Beichen had chosen.