That night, Gu Jianlin conversed with his teacher for a long time, but only about one topic.
"Teacher, is this the moment we bid an eternal farewell?"
"What kind of nonsense is that? Are you already planning my death just because I'm heading to Buzhou Mountain?"
"No, I'm genuinely worried about you. Can you really defeat Candle Dragon Venerable? She's the strongest Ancient Supreme! Even if you're a Quasi-Supreme, you can't win against her. Besides, you're still injured. Even though Candle Dragon Venerable is at a critical moment and might be extremely weakened, I still think you're no match for her."
"Don't forget, I've got Gold and Silver helping me. My junior brothers and sisters are strong too, you know. There's no way they'd let their senior brother die. If I die, who'll deal with Red Valiance?"
"Can the three Catastrophes really take on Candle Dragon Venerable? This feels more like a suicide squad to me."
"Bah! Who are you calling a suicide squad?!"
"I need to tell you; I've uncovered an earth-shattering secret. Candle Dragon Venerable has known about your birth all along — whether it's the President or the Green and Red Dual Kings. She could have killed you all when you were infants, but she didn't. As long as you know this in your heart, that's enough."
"How did you find this out? Killing us as infants... Knowing the Venerable as I do, she wouldn't stoop to something like that. Even if she foresaw our birth, she wouldn't have cared."
"Exactly, she looks down on you."
"Right! And since she's so dismissive of us, how can we tolerate that?"
"I already have to visit graves for my family of five every year. I really don't want to add one more."
"Can you think about things happening here in the mortal world?"
"Alright, if you're gone, I promise I'll find a way to level up and avenge you."
"Get lost, you ungrateful disciple!"
With a roar of irritation, the grocery store vanished silently into the snow and wind, like a mirage.
"Sigh."
Gu Jianlin exhaled heavily. "Teacher, stay safe."
Truly, this was a case of the valiant departing and never returning. They were far too bold.
Based on what he currently knew, the old monster was utterly invincible. In the known universe, there was no force capable of matching her battle prowess. Without aide from an equivalent Supreme-level ally, humanity had no chance.
But there was nothing he could do to stop what the Catastrophes intended to accomplish.
Let them go, he thought.
After all, people of their caliber surely had a clearer grasp of the situation than a novice like him.
Surely, they wouldn't gamble their lives recklessly.
"Now the Ether Association has assembled the Strategy Group to raid Kui Dragon Ancestor's lair. This old nemesis I've faced since my debut is finally going down; serves him right. And the Sea of Eternal Life still hides immense secrets, linked to Candle Dragon Venerable's plans to adapt to human rules. If I can destroy those, I'll stand at the forefront as a Supreme."
Facing the endless blizzard, Gu Jianlin mused aloud, "First, I need to ascend to the Fifth Rank as a Supreme!"
As a hybrid of human and Ancient God, a dual-path wielder...
Every advancement brought him astounding enhancements.
But just then, a foul stench burst forth from the military camp.
Unprepared, Gu Jianlin nearly gagged.
People fled en masse from the eastern camp, faces twisted in despair.
It's said that after Ji Xiaoyu's recent accomplishment, she received her very first verbal praise from the President.
There was no tangible reward—because she didn't need any.
What thrilled her the most was the President's recognition, which left the young girl ecstatic.
Unfortunately, after gaining this approval, Ji Xiaoyu became even more unruly. She forcibly enlisted twenty Alchemists to serve her and obsessively researched the potion formulas she had found in Buzhou Mountain.
Now, the once-adequate military camp had turned into a biochemical research base.
The Alchemists were miserable, and everyone else complained incessantly.
But because her research was genuinely significant, the higher-ups approved her project.
They even allocated special funding for it.
After announcing their decision, the higher-ups immediately relocated their operations, erecting a new camp a kilometer away.
"I've witnessed the depths of this world's depravity!"
Jiuyin, sheathed in the Sword Bag, began to tremble. "Have you fallen into Wujian?"
Gu Jianlin asked curiously, "What's Wujian?"
Jiuyin responded, "Wujian refers to Hell for the Ancient God Clan. It's a realm filled with the most toxic substances and malevolent scents in the world. Even the Ancestors lose their sanity after one whiff. Only Ancient Gods who've committed unforgivable sins are sentenced there, a punishment more humiliating than death by tenfold."
Heh.
Hang in there, naughty monkey.
Gu Jianlin shook his head and prepared to leave the area.
Suddenly, amidst the swirling snow ahead, a graceful silhouette appeared.
"You're here!"
Lin Wanqiu seemed to have been waiting for a long time. Snowflakes clung to her hair, and frost dusted her eyelashes. Her brilliant eyes glimmered with an unusual radiance. "Thank goodness you're safe!"
Clutching her chest, she exhaled deeply in relief.
"What could possibly happen to me?"
Gu Jianlin asked calmly.
Lin Wanqiu looked at him with a trace of wounded resentment and said softly, "You're just too impulsive, too reckless. The entire Ether Association knows by now that you killed Minister Zhang and openly challenged Vice President Lai Yin. Do you even understand what you're doing? Fortunately, you have talent, and humanity desperately needs your intellect right now. Otherwise, you'd already be finished."
Gone was her usual coquettish demeanor—she sounded like an elder sister admonishing an impetuous boy.
Perhaps this was her true self.
A woman who endured humiliation and danger for a younger brother not related by blood, willing to risk her own life.
Gu Jianlin suddenly saw this woman's beauty.
Not her appearance...
But the beauty of her authenticity, revealed when she removed her mask.
"Don't worry, I'm fine."
Gu Jianlin shook his head. "There's no reason to be concerned about me."
Lin Wanqiu hesitated as if she wanted to say something but ultimately just smiled faintly.
Her smile drifted like snowflakes, scattering in every direction.
"To think, when I first met you, I thought you were insane. You dared to confront the Joker by yourself after the rescue team was obliterated, and you actually killed him. Back then, I had no choice but to rely on the Judgement Court, which led me to do some terrible things to you. Luckily, I didn't cause you any real harm. I'm sorry."
She clasped her hands in front of her legs and bowed deeply. "But more than that, I want to say, thank you. Thank you for sheltering me as Omega, for giving me this opportunity to go to the Sea of Eternal Life."
Gu Jianlin froze.
"Thank you for saving my brother. Thank you for standing in front of me and not giving up."
Lin Wanqiu lifted her head, her bright eyes brimming with crystalline tears—not from sadness, but overflowing joy. "I'm so grateful to have met you. Someone like me doesn't even deserve your help."
Gu Jianlin was stunned for a long moment before breaking into a self-deprecating smile. "It's alright. You are worthy."
Lin Wanqiu blinked in surprise.
"I didn't think much of you at first either until I saw that moment when you treated Wanwan's illness," Gu Jianlin said softly, gazing at her delicate features. "I'm good at profiling motives—truth and deceit are easy to distinguish for me."
The snowstorm howled around them as Lin Wanqiu blinked her luminous eyes, her gaze gradually reddening.
Perhaps it was because she realized someone understood her all along.
Or perhaps it was for another reason entirely.
"If I ever have the chance, I'll repay you," Lin Wanqiu said earnestly. "Just as you protected me and my brother, if one day you need me, I will shield you as well. No matter what, I will never back down—that's my promise."
Gu Jianlin instinctively wanted to decline but paused, realizing her sincerity. She genuinely wanted to repay him.
He nodded slightly. "Alright."
Lin Wanqiu suddenly leaned closer and whispered, "I'll tell you a secret. I know someone remarkable, someone beyond anyone's imagination. If you need it, I can negotiate with them on your behalf."
Gu Jianlin fell silent.
Alright, whatever makes her happy.
Then, Lin Wanqiu suddenly handed him a sealed wooden box, leaning into his ear with a breath that smelled like orchids. "This is the Lin Family's greatest secret, linked to the Penglai Ascension Array. After the family was destroyed, I found it in a basement in our rural old home. Not even my brother knows about this."
Gu Jianlin was stunned—he didn't expect her to reveal something so significant.
"I'm your Guardian. Good things naturally belong to you."
Lin Wanqiu smiled gently. "Even though I've been corrupted, there's new technology that should allow me to fully recover. For a long time ahead, I'll continue to protect you and fulfill my promise."
Then she said suddenly, "Can I be a little selfish?"
Gu Jianlin held the wooden box, puzzled.
In an instant, Lin Wanqiu stepped forward and tightly embraced him.
Gu Jianlin felt warmth and softness against his chest.
"Thank you."
Lin Wanqiu whispered, "If I were ten years younger, I wouldn't let you go. But now, I'm certainly unworthy of you. Your future is limitless. I'll just quietly watch over you from behind. Compared to me, Thunder and Moon Princess are the ones truly suited for you. They're wonderful girls—don't let them slip away."
Gu Jianlin froze slightly, watching as she let him go and stepped back into the snowstorm.
She waved at him with a lighthearted smile, turned around, and walked away with hands behind her back, her movements carefree and graceful, her hair billowing with each step.
After a long silence, Gu Jianlin had to admit this was one of the most unforgettable sights of his life.
He lowered his head and opened a narrow slit in the wooden box.
A simple, ancient slab of clay rested inside.
The Destiny Mud Tablet!
Just as he marveled at the discovery, his phone suddenly vibrated.
"Ding."
"Dear Investigator Gu Jianlin, you've been promoted to Omega Sequence First Tier and selected for the Sea of Eternal Life Strategy Group. Please immediately prepare your supplies and weapons and report to the camp headquarters."
Hearing this message, Gu Jianlin's heart sank.
If anyone else had been selected, they'd likely be ecstatic.
But not him.
He only wanted to act alone.
Because Minister Lu was still in the Sea of Eternal Life.
Especially since Moon Princess was accompanying her.
Gu Jianlin couldn't stop worrying, so he had discreetly given a fragment of the Qilin Wedge to the girl earlier.
With the fragment of the Qilin Wedge as a beacon, he could easily find his way there.
But with a large group, too many constraints would arise.
"What should I do now?"
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