Chapter 499: It Should Be So

"Hiccup~"

Zhang Suannai hiccuped, clutching her belly, stretching her neck, and peering outside the private room: "Is there any rice soup? I want to drink a bowl of rice soup... Oh, now Chen Shu and Qingqing make steamed rice at home every day, and I've already developed the habit of drinking a bowl of rice soup after meals."

"Bring a bowl of rice soup," the Group Leader said to the outside.

"Sensible," Zhang Suannai said, looking at the confused Nameless Person, "Oh, you don't know, I'm neighbors with those two now."

"Didn't you... used to argue often?" the Nameless Person phrased carefully.

"We still argue often now," Zhang Suannai pursed her lips, indifferent, "That doesn't affect anything."

"Indeed."

Chen Shu also nodded in agreement.

After a pause, his tone shifted: "With Zhang Suannai's brain, no matter who stays with her, they will inevitably want to roast her."

Zhang Suannai hiccuped again, too lazy to pay attention.

Her threshold had risen quite a bit now; this tiny bit of slander could no longer make her angry. In fact, Chen Shu only saying it so lightly made her feel like she had profited.

"The rice soup is here..."

"Over here!"

Zhang Suannai raised her hand to signal.

The Group Leader stood up to pay the bill, and upon returning, watched Zhang Suannai holding the rice soup and drinking it, saying: "Let's all head back after we finish eating. Later, I still have to take Nameless to report to the military and the Imperial Family regarding the previous matters."

"Sure."

"By the way..."

The Nameless Person peered at them, asking weakly: "Do you know about the matter of competing for the Origin?"

"What?" The Group Leader was stunned, "Competing for the Origin?"

"What does that mean?" Little Master Xuanzhen also asked, then glanced at the Group Leader, "Even the Group Leader doesn't know?"

"I don't know," the Group Leader looked at the Nameless Person.

"Amitabha..."

"It wouldn't be me and Weiweiwei competing for the Sword God's Origin, would it?" Zhang Suannai held the bowl, rice soup still on her lips. She licked her lips and faced Wu Eiwei, who was sitting motionless to the side, "Then she's probably waiting to die."

"Qingcai didn't speak," Wu Eiwei reminded coldly, taking the opportunity to glance at Zhang Suannai again, "Idiot."

"?"

Everyone looked at Chen Shu again.

Chen Shu looked innocent: "Why are you looking at me? I'm just focused on keeping my girlfriend company... I'm not a single dog."

Ning Qing said nothing, her expression unreadable.

Everyone withdrew their gaze and looked at the Nameless Person.

"I'm not very clear on it either, and it's not easy to say," the Nameless Person stammered, "In short, it's a war, a war with an alien Plane. I originally thought that since your cultivation has grown so fast, you should know something."

"A war with an alien Plane?" Zhang Suannai was stunned.

"I have also vaguely sensed it," the Group Leader said, "The marks we possess shouldn't just be for letting us replace the gods quickly; there should be a more important and urgent purpose, only I hadn't thought in this direction."

"I have this intuition too," said Gate of All Wonders.

"This monk as well," said Dharma Master Tongdeng.

"I also felt a little bit," Yan Keling's eyes flickered, "Lord Linjian mentioned a little bit to me."

"Same," said Wu Eiwei.

"You've got to be kidding," Zhang Suannai twitched her mouth, "You guys make me look a bit dull..."

"It's fine, it's fine," Chen Shu comforted, pointing to Brother Meng and Brother Jiang beside them, "There are two more over there who haven't made a sound."

"Uh..."

"Qingcai, do you know about it?" The Group Leader turned to look at him, frowning.

"You'll know before long, it's no big deal," Chen Shu shrugged, his expression very relaxed, "But it's better to let your leaders and teachers notify you about the specifics; it's not really my place to say."

"Beat up the riddle-monger!"

"I'm not being a riddle-monger..."

"Still denying it!"

"I just genuinely find it hard to say..."

Chen Shu continued to sit motionless, holding Qingqing's hand.

In truth, he just felt that this was a major event, a very major event; if one participated, it would be tied to the safety of one's life. For such a big matter, whether it was notifying or inquiring, it shouldn't be done by him, but rather in a more solemn setting, by a group of people with more status.

"Then how do you know?"

"..."

Chen Shu did not answer, only leaning his body to the side, resting on Qingqing's shoulder.

The group of single dogs felt completely uncomfortable watching.

"Forget it if you won't say!"

Zhang Suannai "clattered" the empty rice soup bowl onto the table, shook her head, and said: "I'll ask my master when I go back for the New Year."

Everyone nodded repeatedly, all sharing the same thought.

The dinner party dispersed, and everyone went home.

From then on, one more person was added to the group chat.

Late in the twelfth lunar month.

Before returning to Yuanzhou, Chen Shu returned to the Spirit Sect as usual; he flew back alone.

He first went to Phoenix Tower to return the borrowed books, then, following the orders of the Sect Master, went to Yuling Hall to see him.

This time, the Sect Master was not feeding the mountain sparrows in the small courtyard, but was sitting in the Yuling Hall, occupying the head seat, with no one else beside him. He held a cup of tea and drank, watching Chen Shu walk in alone; judging by this formation, it seemed he had something very formal and important to say.

Chen Shu smiled and said, "Greetings, Sect Master."

"The New Year is almost here."

"A few more days."

"Another year has passed."

"Indeed, time flies so fast; it's a good thing I've remained twenty-two."

"How is your cultivation?"

"At the peak of the Eighth Stage."

"When will you reach the Ninth Stage?"

"Next spring or summer, perhaps."

"Truly fast."

"It is all thanks to the mark."

"How is your progress with the Blazing Sun World-Extinguishing Divine Art?"

"I have mastered it proficiently," Chen Shu answered honestly, "I am currently engraving it into the Thousand Machine Art."

"You are indeed gifted."

"Is there something the Sect Master wishes to say?"

Chen Shu couldn't help but ask, looking left and right; in the vast Yuling Hall, there were only he and the Sect Master, and it felt empty and the atmosphere was overly solemn. Moreover, Yuling Hall had its own sound-insulating barrier, so there was no echo at all when speaking.

"Do you know the purpose of the gods bestowing the marks upon you, allowing you to reach the Ninth Stage so quickly?"

"..."

Chen Shu understood then; so that was what this was about.

He had already known for a long time.

Yujing Imperial Palace, Tianhe Dian.

The Emperor, dressed in a black and red long robe, stood above with his hands behind his back, while several young people stood below, respectful and reverent.

They were the direct descendants of this generation, Meng Haoran and his younger brother Meng Chunqiu. There were also Yan Keling and Jiang Lai, who had just been granted an Honorary Title last year, and Li Zhang, a nameless person who had returned not long ago.

The Emperor's voice drifted through the great hall: "Our world appears peaceful, but in reality, it is in imminent danger..."

The few lowered their heads and listened intently.

The Emperor spoke very briefly, though to them it felt very long; in their memory, only the final sentence remained: "Now our world needs you, needs you to go to an alien Plane to fight this war; win, and peace continues; lose, and all things will be destroyed... It is entirely voluntary..."

The few looked at each other, exchanging glances.

It was not that they were debating whether they were willing to go; they were all people screened by the gods. If they were unwilling, they wouldn't even have been able to obtain the marks, so how could they be unwilling?

What they were exchanging were their thoughts on the matter.

Finally, Meng Haoran took the lead and cupped his hands in reply: "The Meng family of Dayi has retreated in many places, but on the Battlefield, we have never retreated."

The Yi Emperor nodded slightly, saying nothing.

Meng Chunqiu followed suit and cupped his hands, but gave a self-deprecating smile: "The most crucial characters always appear at the final moment; it seems I am truly going to be remembered through the ages this time."

Then the remaining three also gave their answers.

The Yi Emperor's expression remained indifferent, as he had long expected this. He did not act proud of them, nor did he offer words of encouragement, simply saying:

"I will also go with you."

There were no words more inspiring than these.

Jianzhou, on Moshi Mountain.

Zhang Suannai was excited and chuunibyou, without a hint of hesitation:

"Screw them!"

"Well said."

Opposite her, the Sword Master, dressed in a training robe, sat cross-legged; compared to her, the Sword Master was undoubtedly much more composed.

"Screw them."

The Sword Master's tone was much more composed.

Yuan'an Temple.

The Gate of All Wonders stood quietly by the window, watching the snow falling all over the mountains, looking like pear blossoms in bloom, keeping his mouth shut.

No one knew what he was thinking at this moment.

If someone did know, they would most likely laugh—

He was thinking that it was really time to have a romance.

Xinzheng Temple.

The earliest peach blossoms had already sprouted buds on the trees, the size of a fingertip, revealing a red like traditional rouge, which was a Joy to behold.

The Abbot's voice was leisurely: "Whether it is the Killing Forbidden Land or the marks, they are all just to allow you to quickly reach the Ninth Stage and become stronger Ninth Stage cultivators to meet this struggle concerning the survival of the Plane... The Buddhist Sect has been supported by the people for five thousand years; it is time for us to save the world."

Dharma Master Tongdeng was neither sad nor happy; he pressed his palms together and said only faintly:

"It should be so."

The Abbot revealed a smile.

The Jianzhou royal court, traditional architecture.

Wooden floors, wooden windows.

The Nüxia sat cross-legged before the window in the moonlight, facing the courtyard, leaving behind a slender silhouette; a Long Sword lay horizontally across her knees, which she gently stroked. The plum blossoms in the courtyard were in full bloom, their faint fragrance drifting over and mingling with the blue smoke wafting inside the room.

No words were spoken, no answer was given.

Suddenly, she raised her hand to touch her face.

A sci-fi metal mask was removed by her and set on the wooden floor, adding one more shadow to the floor.

The Nüxia continued to sit cross-legged in silence—

She had thought something was the matter, but it turned out to be just as Qingcai had said, a mere trifle.

……

Chen Shu had already returned to Yujing and was preparing to head back to Yuanzhou.

Following the nation's complete opening of civilian flying cars and the introduction of a series of new standards, many new models of flying cars had come onto the market; Chen Shu had also changed his vehicle, switching to a newer model of driverless flying car, and he wondered what had become of his former driver, whether he had lost his job or not.

Chen Shu booked a flying car via his Mobile Phone and set off on his journey home early in the morning.

The interior space of this flying car was still quite spacious, capable of seating six people; with Chen Shu, the two sisters, Chen Banxia, and the little cat-girl, there was still one empty seat left.

Just as the flying car circled around the Forbidden Land on the outskirts of Yujing, a massive shadow suddenly appeared in the distant sky.

Everyone turned their heads to look—

It was a colossal island floating in the air, with a city and a protective shield upon it, flying over from afar; it was larger and higher than any cloud, as if it had lifted the entire jurisdiction of a city into the air.

It was full of oppressive presence.

Yiguo Tiangong.

This was the second time Chen Shu had encountered it.

As for the little girl, it was her first time seeing it; she clung tightly to the window, kneeling on the seat inside the car like a little cat, staring at it without blinking.