Embers Ad Infinitum

Hou Yi's voice echoed in the room, making Long Yuehong feel a sense of familiarity again. This made him feel that today was no different from the past. Most people in Pangu Biology lived a regular, warm, calm, and slow life.

However, he clearly knew that everything was different. They could never return to their original lives.

Bai Chen—who was sitting by the bed—didn't say a word, but her expression was abnormally gentle as if she were reminiscing about the most stable and warmest period of her life over the years.

…

On the dark and silent streets of the New World.

Shang Jianyao looked up at the street lamps above him and muttered to himself in dissatisfaction, "It's boring if nothing changes. Why can't I choose to carry a lantern and walk on a lightless road?"

This was the one who sought novelty.

The honest Shang Jianyao immediately retorted, "It's impossible for the Kalendarium to change a New World rule for you alone."

"Why not?" The Shang Jianyao that sought novelty spoke eloquently. "There aren't many people like me who can believe in ten Kalendarium at once!"

Nobody paid attention to his pride, and the scene became a little awkward.

After a while, Shang Jianyao—who sought novelty—tried to change the topic. "Which Kalendaria should we pray to and ask for help when we return to the Ashlands? There are too many choices on the Blessings from all Kalendarium!"

"Of course, it's Big Boss!" the rash Shang Jianyao blurted out. "As employees born and raised in the company and direct descendants of Big Boss, we might be able to enjoy the treatment of returning five days a week every week."

The honest Shang Jianyao disdainfully said, "The company's other New World powerhouses haven't been able to return often either."

"How do you know that they don't return often? Maybe they return for three meals a day and enjoy real delicacies every day." The rash Shang Jianyao expressed his dissatisfaction.

"I also hope to receive such treatment…" whispered the Shang Jianyao, who tended to echo others.

"But our next target is Big Boss. Only then can everyone in the company be saved." At the mention of this topic, Shang Jianyao—who valued relationships the most—had a rather gloomy expression.

Zen Master Redemption sighed and chanted a Buddhist proclamation. "Namo Annutara-Samyak-Subhuti."

Apart from the timid one, the nine Shang Jianyaos didn't think that dealing with a Kalendaria was an unattainable goal. They always had brimming confidence.

The calm and rational Shang Jianyao stroked his chin. "On our journey, Eidolon Nun, Subhuti, and Shattered Mirror have been the ones who have shown us the most obvious kindness. Yes, Master Zhuang barely counts. If we want to pray to a Kalendaria and obtain a chance to return to the Ashlands temporarily, we can only choose one from 'Them.'"

"Heh." The ruthless Shang Jianyao sneered. "My opinion is not to make any prayers to prevent anyone's mark from appearing in our consciousness. It's fatal at critical moments! In short, it's not like there's no other choice. We can stay in the New World and not consider returning."

The other Shang Jianyaos exchanged a few words and agreed that this was the best choice in the current situation.

The calm Shang Jianyao finally added, "After figuring out the attitudes and goals of the different Kalendarium, we can consider who to pray to."

"As for how to figure it out, I have no idea for the time being." The honest Shang Jianyao sighed. At this moment, he suddenly exclaimed, "I forgot to ask a question!"

"What question?" The Shang Jianyao who sought novelty was delighted instead of being shocked.

The honest Shang Jianyao truthfully replied, "I originally wanted to ask Jacob and Hendrick: Since every resident in the New World has a lamp, and extinguishing it means death, how did they raid each other? Could it be that they gather a group of people every time and attack head-on? But wouldn't I hide when I see so many lights approaching?"

In the New World, the perception range was suppressed, so one couldn't see far with their 'eyes.'

"That's right, that's right." Shang Jianyao echoed himself.

"That's indeed a problem." Shang Jianyao—who liked to joke—looked around and said, "Maybe the New World is too small. Sometimes, there's no place to hide."

The Shang Jianyao that abhorred evil scoffed. "If left with no choice, I'll enter that tower and fight for a chance of survival."

"Then, I'll arrange for a small team to block the tower's entrance." The honest Shang Jianyao quickly gave a solution.

A solution that resolved himself.

The calm and rational Shang Jianyao stroked his chin and said, "There might be a way to hide the lights, but not every resident can do so."

Otherwise, the timid and vigilant lady wouldn't have kept the lights bright when someone approached.

"For example?" The ruthless Shang Jianyao hated this peer of his the most.

"For example, the assassin's Invisibility ability we previously encountered. For example, it needs to reach Wu Meng's level." The calm and rational Shang Jianyao had some ideas.

At this moment, the rash and bold Shang Jianyao asked, "Then, how can New World powerhouses improve themselves and in what direction?"

Nobody answered him.

At this moment, Shang Jianyao—who was under a street lamp—suddenly turned around, turned his head slightly, and assumed a listening posture.

There had been a slight commotion in an Ashlandic compound beside the road that didn't have any light shining out.

…

In a hidden spot on the mountain road outside the Eighth Research Institute.

Jiang Baimian—who had taken a short nap—pushed open the door and alighted. Bathed in the starlight, she stretched her body and slowly woke up.

She was going to explore reality's New World at night.

Phew, the New World is actually a mental prison created by the Kalendarium for high-level Awakened… It's no wonder many people who know about it are unwilling to enter the New World… Jiang Baimian—who had finished stretching her body—wore the military exoskeleton while pondering the information Shang Jianyao had sent back.

This was done using the secret codes they had agreed on in advance to prevent any interference.

Jiang Baimian honestly believed that it was good for most humans in the Ashlands to have all the New World powerhouses leave reality, only to return occasionally. Otherwise, a large number of Heartless would appear in every conflict.

Furthermore, when the bodies of many New World powerhouses aged to the point where they had to absorb the consciousness of others to barely maintain them, this world would become very terrifying.

But if the New World powerhouses really stay in the Ashlands, they will form another balance sooner or later. Yes, ordinary people and low-level Awakened are their livestock and property. They will definitely receive a certain level of protection and not let others encroach on them… But what will most humans' lives be like this way? Jiang Baimian shook her head and threw the complicated questions to the back of her mind.

After putting on the military exoskeleton, she cast her gaze at the 'sleeping' Shang Jianyao.

He was still covered in the exoskeleton, no different from his usual sleeping state.

Jiang Baimian was in a dilemma of whether she should bring Shang Jianyao's body with her during her night reconnaissance of the small city and place him at a hidden spot in the tunnel exit.

She now knew that leaving Shang Jianyao's body in the car outside wouldn't put him in too much danger. As long as someone or a beast attacked him, he would react to the stimulus and use Matter Interference and Electromagnetic Interference to protect his body.

Although this wasn't a tenth of his full strength through the New World's barrier, there wouldn't be any delay after establishing a connection. Therefore, unless someone knew in advance that it was the sleeping body of a New World powerhouse, it was very difficult to cause fatal damage to Shang Jianyao unless they launched an attack with a short-range ballistic missile or directly launched an ultra-high-altitude bombardment from a distance.

After thinking for a while, Jiang Baimian suddenly laughed.

She recalled something and realized that she had to bring Shang Jianyao along. Without this fellow, she couldn't obtain a mental barrier to resist the Heartless disease!

This was only effective within a certain range of Shang Jianyao's body. As for how large the range was, the two of them had yet to test it out, so they couldn't be sure.

After settling this matter, Jiang Baimian relied on the military exoskeleton's system and her auxiliary chip to recall the Eighth Research Institute's internal route again and again to reduce the number of times she got lost.

After half an hour, she walked to the jeep's trunk and opened it.

Under the starlight, Jiang Baimian hesitated for a few seconds before stretching her left arm and pulling out the crate containing the nuclear warhead.

This time, not only did she have to bring Shang Jianyao, but she also had to bring the big one.

If there was anything strange about the real New World and there was no other way to resolve it, she would leave the nuclear warhead there and retreat with Shang Jianyao. She would then remotely detonate it and destroy everything.

Jiang Baimian looked up at the night sky dotted with many stars. She carried Shang Jianyao, picked up the crate, and walked toward the Eighth Research Institute's entrance.