Chapter 99

A series of questions caused everyone's gazes to gather on Wen Xishu. Although Grandma Wu and the others were also listening, they were only sighing at Ding Dong's bizarre life story and his peculiar experiences.

At the same time, they were also listening in a daze. Instead, it was Wen Xishu's questions that made them realize the key points in Ding Dong's stories.

Ding Dong was not surprised that Wen Xishu would ask these, and he didn't avoid these questions either.

"Actually, the correct way to say it is that I am Ding Dong now; I wasn't Ding Dong before. Ding Dong was the nickname Father gave me."

"My real name before was actually Phoenix."

After discovering that Wen Xishu wasn't that surprised, Ding Dong was also pondering Wen Xishu's true identity.

He knew it was "Airplane" who completed the ritual, so he was able to complete the remodeling. Ding Dong, who possessed the "Five*", was naturally very grateful to "Airplane".

But at the same time, Ding Dong also recognized the small knife with the Scorpio pattern tucked at Wen Xishu's waist. When Ding Dong told the whole story, his gaze was almost entirely on Wen Xishu. He deliberately recounted his past experiences at the research institute just to observe Wen Xishu's reaction.

He didn't smell any hostility from Wen Xishu. This gave Ding Dong a friendly guess about Wen Xishu's identity, and he continued:

"Let me first talk about the method to get rid of the curse; it's actually very simple: I need to 'die' once."

"In my previous account, there were twelve severe cases and five mild cases. As the five of us who are mild cases, we are actually the prey."

"We must always low-key avoid those twelve severe cases, but it's a pity they still found me. The Luo Pan bestowed that dream upon me, and I used the Luo Pan to deduce it 907 times. The deduction result was that I couldn't escape death. The power gap between me and them was too large."

"I would die. So I began to use the Luo Pan to display another possibility, which was to retain my memory and, with the help of the ritual, create a new me."

Wen Xishu noticed that Ding Dong's word choice was "create," not "resurrect."

It can be seen that "Phoenix" did indeed die. The Ding Dong in front of him was an existence created by Phoenix.

Of course, with Phoenix's ability, presumably this created Ding Dong also had extraordinary power. Combined with those heaven-defying items he saw in the Mysterious Tower Museum, Phoenix's ability was actually very strong.

But even so, he still bluntly stated that the gap with the twelve constellations was too large. It's hard to imagine how strong those guys must be.

Ding Dong continued:

"The Luo Pan really gave me a plan. The Luo Pan is indeed the greatest item I have ever created. Of course, in the future, perhaps I can surpass my past self."

"In short, according to the plan provided by the Luo Pan and the Luo Pan's guidance, I came here. I met everyone, and I also saw the five most pure hearts that Father spoke of."

"I hope that the me who was created, which is the current me, can possess these five virtues. Now it seems that although I didn't obtain the most perfect result, it's not far off."

Wen Xishu could feel Ding Dong's pride in successfully making the Luo Pan.

This is like how the person who loves you most when you are young will make you study and learn; this process is naturally very painful, but you still persisted.

In the future, you may not necessarily live very well; you might still encounter big trouble, and perhaps life will make you lose a layer of skin. But those learned pieces of knowledge might change your trajectory at a critical moment.

The Luo Pan is just like that. Professor Jin can be said to be truly far-sighted; he almost overspent Phoenix's ability, allowing him to successfully make the Luo Pan.

All of this was actually to allow Ding Dong to get rid of the curse. This made Wen Xishu somewhat envious.

"Then what is your real intention for opening the museum?" Wen Xishu asked again.

Ding Dong said:

"It's to leave no regrets. I hope to make more interesting items. After all, death is coming, and I want to be able to fully exert all my abilities before death arrives."

"I am very afraid of my brothers and sisters. I worry that the Luo Pan's demonstration cannot be stronger than their power. Perhaps I will be unable to successfully... be born because of this."

"So I opened a museum here, thinking that even without me, perhaps these items could more or less help Grandma and the others fend off some risks."

In a sense, Ding Dong's worry was correct. If not for Wen Xishu's appearance, his birth would indeed have been ignored by Grandma Wu and the others. It's just that these items couldn't cope with the apocalypse.

Wen Xishu asked again:

"The person who killed you is one of your brothers and sisters; can you tell me who it is?"

Ding Dong shook his head:

"I won't mention their names; I don't want to have any connection with them anymore."

"Pisces?" Wen Xishu asked directly.

Ding Dong was stunned, but still shook his head:

"Airplane, thank you for your appearance, but I won't answer this question for you again."

Wen Xishu could also understand:

"Alright, allow me to ask one more thing: what do you plan to do now?"

Ding Dong looked at Mo Yuan and the others:

"I want to leave here with everyone and go to a place far away from the apocalypse. Jiangcheng is still too dangerous. Airplane, are you willing to leave with us?"

Ding Dong invited him earnestly.

Wen Xishu shook his head. He even took the opportunity to think about a question—in the Three Towers, is there a mechanism for Bunker people to transform into Three Towers people?

So far, there is only talk of Bunker people dying in the Three Towers; there has never been any talk of Bunker people transforming into Three Towers people.

So Wen Xishu could only listen to Ding Dong's invitation.

"Sorry, I can't go with you. I am different from everyone else; I still have things to do after I wake up."

Ding Dong didn't force him. He didn't know what kind of sacred person "Airplane" was, but he thought of that sentence Father had said—perhaps in the future, we will meet in another way.

Ding Dong said:

"Alright then, I respect your choice. In any case, thank you very much for your appearance; this way, I can protect everyone again."

Grandma Wu and the others now think about it and also feel it's incredible. Everyone originally intended to open that door directly and head to the outside world. If not for Airplane's help, I'm afraid all five of them would have already encountered danger.

All five of them were grateful to Airplane, and they also hoped Airplane could leave here with them.

However, since Wen Xishu had already decided to leave, the five didn't force him:

"We are the same, Airplane. No matter what, thank you very much! I hope you can be safe and everything goes smoothly in the future," Mo Yuan said.

Grandma Wu smiled and nodded, while Xiang Yang and Lei Yihong patted Wen Xishu on the shoulder.

Wen Xishu said:

"I will. You all must take care of yourselves. I also hope you can stay away from all strife and danger."

As the parting approached, Wen Xishu wasn't sad; he was just puzzled by one question—why hasn't this mission been completed yet?

Logically speaking, the moment Ding Dong was born from the portrait, he should have successfully completed the mission.

Now the patients in 4-1, 4-8, 4-12, 4-16, and 4-18 should all be very happy, and their fate trajectories have also been rewritten; why hasn't the mission completion prompt appeared yet?

The answer appeared quickly. Just as Wen Xishu was wondering how to wrap things up, Ding Dong suddenly spoke:

"Airplane, can I ask you for a favor?"

So there was a new mission after all. Wen Xishu immediately became interested:

"We are all friends; go ahead."

Ding Dong's expression became serious:

"I actually... made a small Luo Pan. The power of fate contained in the small Luo Pan is very little, but when you are at a loss, it can help you. Perhaps it will be a warning in a relatively obscure dream, or it will point directly in a certain direction."

"I can give this small Luo Pan to you, but you must promise me one thing."

Wen Xishu nodded:

"If you think I can do it."

Ding Dong said:

"The small Luo Pan can help you... find the remaining four of us five. I have already, I have already been considered dead. But I hope they can survive."

"Don't let the only god in the apocalypse be born. What I can do is to keep the four of them safe."

"They are Sirius, Wu Xianzuo, Lyra, and Qilin, respectively."

Sirius constellation, Wu Xianzuo constellation, Lyra constellation, Qilin constellation.

It was different from the Cygnus, Draco, Andromeda, and Pegasus constellations Wen Xishu had thought of...

Didn't expect them to be four extremely unpopular constellations.

"Like me, they are all avoiding the pursuit of other brothers and sisters. I hope that in your journey, you can help find them and, as much as possible, let them survive."

"Perhaps some things you are exploring, they know."

Wen Xishu also received a hidden mission at this time.

【After observation, Ding Dong is convinced that you are a trustworthy person. Received hidden mission: Find and recruit Slaughter·Sirius constellation, Slaughter·Wu Xianzuo constellation, Slaughter·Lyra constellation, Slaughter·Qilin constellation.】

This was a mission that couldn't be refused, and Wen Xishu didn't care too much. Since he couldn't refuse, he would enjoy the mission; what's more, he also got a Luo Pan that seemed to have good attributes.

"Okay, I promise you."

【Obtained item: Pseudo-Fate Luo Pan. Check specific attributes at the Guide.】

Wen Xishu began to receive prompts one after another. He now felt... it seemed the mission was about to end.

Normally, Wen Xishu only needed to wait patiently for the mission to end, but this time, he intended to try something new.

Actually, he had long wanted to try such an attempt. Time was tight, and Wen Xishu's brain was spinning rapidly:

"If nothing goes wrong, my mission will be considered complete next, and they will pack their things and leave."

"Then I will receive a prompt telling me the mission for the eighth floor: because the Great Inventor's fate trajectory has undergone a major change... so the missions related to the Mysterious Tower and the Tower of Desire will all restart, and their fate trajectories will be re-anchored."

"This is a good thing... but then a simulation will unfold. Then the memories of everyone in the Mysterious Tower will be replaced. And after the Mysterious Tower scene restarts, some strategies might no longer be applicable."

"For example, before, I went from rescuing Jennifer to escorting Jennifer; the various strategies for rescuing Jennifer can no longer be used."

"I previously always thought this was a fixed process, and as players, we actually had no other room for operation. But I should always try."

"In the previous version, because the portrait that created Ding Dong was still in the museum, and Grandma Wu and the others had all left the hospital, they likely died outside."

"As a result, the museum on the fourth floor of the hospital was looted, but perhaps this also triggered some kind of protection mechanism, so that the Tower Ascenders of the Bunker needed to experience an extra step of using items when identifying them again."

"In short, Ding Dong's portrait perhaps left behind some kind of obsession, making the Tower Ascenders in the Mysterious Tower scene have to complete twelve challenges before they could take away the items there."

"This is the reasonable explanation for the existence of various mechanisms on the eighth floor of the Mysterious Tower where I am currently."

"Now, Ding Dong's portrait obsession is eliminated, because Ding Dong, who possesses the 'Five*', has been created, so the obsession naturally no longer exists. Ding Dong will take Grandma Wu and the others away, so naturally, the items in the museum will disappear."

"So it is very likely that if I just let them leave like this, the new Mysterious Tower scene simulated next will be uncontrollable; maybe when I return to the Mysterious Tower, it will be in a brand-new scene."

Wen Xishu decided to do something:

"If you don't leave here and stay in the hospital the whole time, how long can this hospital last?"

This question was a bit strange, but Ding Dong said:

"If I am here, it should be able to last for a long time; I can't say for sure specifically."

Or perhaps an existence like the Dominator-level An Rong in Jicheng would have to appear to threaten Ding Dong?

Wen Xishu thought this way; apart from those twelve constellations, there should be very few people who can beat Ding Dong.

"My partners will pass by here in the future; can you leave some things here? I mean, can the items in the museum all be left inside?"

Wen Xishu began his plan.

Ding Dong frowned slightly:

"For me, it's not impossible. These items can actually be made again, and the place I am going to..."

Wen Xishu interrupted Ding Dong's speech:

"You don't need to tell me where you are going. I wish you can find a safe shelter. But I hope the museum you leave in this hospital can have some reservations. And I have a suggestion."

Ding Dong became increasingly convinced that Airplane's identity was not simple, and he asked:

"Go ahead."

"Jiangcheng is indeed not safe, but the fourth floor of this hospital can actually be converted into a temporary survival stronghold. Some of my friends might pass by here in the future. Your items can just happen to help them get rid of some trouble."

Wen Xishu pointed to the gloves worn on Mo Yuan's hands:

"For example, these things. Can you make a replica, or an inferior product?"

Ding Dong was a bit curious:

"That is possible. Wait, your friends will come?"

Wen Xishu said:

"Yes, there will be some people like me who will head to Jiangcheng to handle some things in the future. I think at that time, they can come here and solve some crises through the items you left behind."

"Of course, considering your items will very likely be coveted by others, I suggest adding an identification step and a usage step to the items in the museum."

Ding Dong felt it was a bit interesting:

"Continue."

"I'm just suggesting. If you feel it's troublesome, you can completely ignore my suggestion, but rest assured, I will definitely fulfill our promise; I will find Lyra, Qilin, Sirius, and Wu Xianzuo."

Wen Xishu played the emotional card first. Ding Dong, who was recreated by five ultimate hearts, would naturally try his best to satisfy his friend's requests:

"I will try to do it. Keep going; I am very interested."

"Okay, then I'll continue. In order to protect the items in the museum from being easily taken away, we will add an identification step. If they are not identified, they cannot be activated."

"After identification, the item attributes will be activated, but at the same time, they will be teleported to a special area. For example, you can make a television, and then there are many scenes in the television to demonstrate the use of the items. Calling it a demonstration is actually a mechanism to prevent theft."

"I don't know if you can do this: through some kind of power, let the person who identified the item be teleported to an area full of monsters, and they must kill a certain number of monsters to leave."

"I remember you said that the clay figures you pinched when you were very young could move on their own... then can you create larger scenes, more ferocious clay figures? Make them look like some monsters after the apocalypse descends?"

"In order to prevent the items from being stolen, people who enter the fourth floor of the inpatient department need to undergo at least twelve rounds of identification and experience twelve levels of increasing intensity before they can truly take away an item."

"Of course, if they can perfectly exert the role of these items, they can obtain extra acquisition qualifications."

"In addition, it's best if the item's function and item type have a weak connection, or are even counter-intuitive. For example, a knife cannot kill but can save lives. And the item must play a certain role in the usage step to count as a kill count."

"If they die in the level, then the item cannot be taken away, and it will return to the display stand shortly after."

"In order to encourage exploration and motivate those who use their brains, why not prepare a grand finale item? With this item, one can easily clear the level, but the process of finding this item is very difficult and requires solving some puzzles, such as creating a new you."

Wen Xishu said a whole lot in a row, talking non-stop, and his speaking speed was very fast, almost as if he had a speech script.

Ding Dong listened to it all; he always felt it was simply like designing a game. It was quite similar in style to one of his brothers or sisters. Plus the knife at Airplane's waist, he was wondering if these two had been in contact?

But he didn't doubt Airplane because of this, nor did he refuse:

"That is possible, but it will consume quite a bit of effort. However, since you said it's your friend, I am willing to try."

"But I'm not sure how long your friends will arrive. Perhaps these things I make will be taken away by other people in Jiangcheng, or even other people in this hospital."

Wen Xishu said:

"Each according to their ability. You just need to do it this way; as for what the final result will be, leave everything to heaven's will. If items can still be taken away under this mechanism... then it shows they are indeed suitable for these items."

"Your items being picked by suitable people is also a good thing for you, isn't it?"

What Wen Xishu cared about was whether he could influence the simulation of the Mysterious Tower. If he could, then he was equivalent to participating in the design of the Mysterious Tower levels.

He actually didn't care much about the final result, but he cared very much about whether he could push the simulation results of the Mysterious Tower.

This was all just an experiment. The reason he didn't completely redesign the levels but instead tried his best to restore the previous level design was that Wen Xishu felt that the simulation of the Mysterious Tower had a certain tendency.

From the fact that after rescuing Tang Rui, the Mysterious Tower only changed from four levels to three, Wen Xishu felt that the simulation of the Mysterious Tower would try its best to lean toward the original level design. Because the others in the Parrot's Sorrow didn't have too many memory changes.

Based on this logic, Wen Xishu didn't take too big a step; all his suggestions were proposed in the direction of restoring the original levels as much as possible.

His speaking speed was fast because he was afraid he wouldn't have time to finish before being forced to leave.

Ding Dong said:

"You seem very familiar with all of this, almost as if you have experienced it before."

Wen Xishu said:

"I just have a quick mind."

Ding Dong said:

"I can't guarantee the final effect, but I will try my best to do so. I always feel... some of your ideas are actually quite similar to my previous ideas."

Ding Dong had a particularly strange feeling; Airplane was a bit similar to his father, Professor Jin, as if he were certain that certain things would happen in the future.

Regarding Airplane's suggestion just now, Ding Dong's biggest feeling was that it was too detailed. And the speaking speed was extremely fast, with a feeling that it was almost too late; he always felt that if there was enough time, Airplane would also provide design ideas for various items.

Wen Xishu indeed had this idea, but time was indeed not enough.

At this time, he even saw the prompt.

【Mission completed, returning to the Mysterious Tower soon.】

Logically speaking, Wen Xishu should only return if he activated the invitation letter, but this time, like last time, Wen Xishu was forced to return.

Last time it was because of teaming up, and this time it was because of the behavior Wen Xishu was attempting.

On the eve of leaving, Ding Dong said:

"Airplane, I hope we will meet again in the future. I will do my best to do the things you entrusted to me."

"If you come here again in the future... revisiting old haunts, or if you and your friends come together, you might as well try the Luo Pan I gave you; it will guide you to obtain the most generous rewards."

Wen Xishu thought to himself, don't worry, no need for the future; in my timeline, I will revisit this place immediately next.

(End of Chapter)