Lin Xian still couldn't understand what the phrase "the mirror holds what you desire" truly meant.

From a conventional perspective...

A mirror is merely a flat structure that reflects light. Any object with a sufficiently smooth surface—copper, iron, plastic, ice, or even water—can serve as a mirror.

In modern society, glass mirrors are the most commonly used, being both inexpensive and practical. Every household relies on mirrors, be it in the bathroom, wardrobe, or even on the lady of the house's vanity, a mirror is indispensable.

Lin Xian also looks in the mirror many times a day, intentionally and unintentionally.

He doesn't find anything particularly special about looking in the mirror each time.

Moreover...

From the standpoint of a mirror's construction and the principles of physics, the concept of "inside the mirror" simply doesn't exist.

A mirror is just a mirror, a thin layer of glass, with no "inside" to speak of.

Everything people see through a mirror is merely an "illusion," a non-existent reflection of light onto the retina.

Perhaps a three-dimensional mirrored surface in a room, or the mirrors inside an elevator, might make the space appear larger, but that's just an optical illusion. The actual spatial dimensions haven't expanded by even a centimeter.

Therefore, nothing can possibly exist inside a mirror. Isn't Huang Que's riddle just nonsense?

Thus...

All things considered...

Lin Xian felt that the mirror Huang Que mentioned most likely referred to the mirror in his dream.

And what he desired should be the clues or secrets that Zhao Yingjun painstakingly left for him in the third dream.

That made a little more sense.

Lin Xian didn't doubt that Huang Que knew about his dreams. This was already revealed during their first meeting.

Huang Que knew far too much about him, even giving the impression that she knew him better than he knew himself. She even knew about his peeking at the Genius Club invitation and summarizing the laws of time and space. There was no reason for her not to know about his ability to dream of the future.

In many matters, Lin Xian was still wary of Huang Que and didn't consider her a reliable friend.

However, so far, she had neither harbored malicious intentions nor taken any actions to harm him. Instead, she frequently provided him with cryptic and unfathomable riddles as hints... Annoying as it was, this information was free, so he might as well take it.

For now...

Since there were no other clues, he might as well explore Rhine Sky City in his dream.

"If what Huang Que said is true, and what Zhao Yingjun left for me 600 years later is in the mirror, then the most likely place for this mirror to be placed would be in Zhao Yingjun's personal exhibition hall at the Rhine Museum."

After the last exploration of Rhine Sky City, it was evident that Zhao Yingjun held a very high position in the hearts of the Sky City residents.

Not only did they build a commemorative park dedicated to her, erect statues, and prohibit honking and flying, but they also established a personal exhibition hall for her in the Rhine Museum, which showed how much respect everyone had for her.

Perhaps, this was precisely Zhao Yingjun's intention.

Only if everyone respected and loved her enough could she ensure that her statue and personal exhibition hall would continue to exist 600 years later, thereby leaving herself a gift across the long river of time, a gift that might change the future, change the world, and change destiny.

"Looking at it this way, the task after entering the dream tonight is quite arduous."

Lin Xian pondered.

First of all, the museum would definitely be closed at night. If he wanted to enter, he could only find a way to sneak in.

The museum's structure, security, and even whether or not it had a surrounding wall were all unknowns.

It was indeed a little lonely and weak to venture into a city alone.

He thought of the former Face Gang (Lian Bang).

Although these people weren't very bright, they excelled in being obedient, simple-minded, and highly capable of executing orders. The shock Lin Xian received from the combined skill of their human ladder art was still vivid in his mind.

"In short, there is strength in numbers. I should try to mobilize them."

...

That night, after entering the dream, Lin Xian hurried straight to the place where the crowds and lights were gathered in the distance.

"Face Bro."

At this time, Da Lian Mao's helium balloon was still being inflated, and he hadn't changed into his handmade spacesuit yet. Lin Xian went directly over, patted him on the shoulder, and greeted him.

"Gah?"

Da Lian Mao raised his head in confusion, his fleshy face squeezed together:

"Who are you!"

Lin Xian followed the previous script and rambled a long string of words, but the difference this time was that Lin Xian bluntly stated the last part, telling Da Lian Mao:

"I know the exact location of that gap in the air defense network."

Da Lian Mao's expression changed.

Sure enough, this sentence was more effective than anything else, and the surrounding crowd instantly gathered around.

Lin Xian told Da Lian Mao and the others that the location of the gap in the air defense network was directly above the statue in the square.

However, the statue's location couldn't be seen from 10,000 meters in the air. Even if they strained their eyes, the several-meter-high statue would be no more than sesame seed-sized, completely unclear.

However, he could lead the way and take them all into the gap in the air defense network.

Although Lin Xian had only successfully entered once.

But he had already found his own visual reference point and had a 70-80% chance of locating the gap. Even if he made a mistake, it wouldn't matter... they could just come back tomorrow.

Lin Xian also told them a lot about Rhine Sky City. The pharmacy did indeed have medicine for treating radiation sickness, and the security in the city was very lax, almost non-existent. Moreover, there were too many fancy things in Sky City, and no one would pay attention to their existence, making the task easy and pleasant to carry out.

"So... I can take you flying in, and you just glide along with me. In return, you only need to accompany me to the museum once. Just cooperate with me to go into an exhibition hall, and then I will go with you to find the medicine, and then jump down from Sky City to return."

Lin Xian thought the communication would be smooth.

But...

After hearing this, Da Lian Mao raised his head, looked at A Zhuang, Er Zhu Zi, and San Pang, and surveyed the surrounding fathers and villagers with expectant yet numb faces, and shook his head:

"I can go with you, but they can't. It's not that I don't trust you, it's just... I can't let everyone take this risk."

He raised his finger and looked around:

"Look, there are only a few of us men left around here. If all four of us men go with you, but the result is that we are all wiped out... what will the remaining villagers do?"

"Without the medicine, we really have no future to speak of. But if all the men are dead, and there isn't even a coach left to guide everyone in learning to skydive, how will the remaining women continue to complete the tasks we haven't finished?"

Lin Xian looked at Da Lian Mao.

He didn't expect that in the third dream, his thinking and structure had grown to the point of being such a big boss.

This was probably the sense of responsibility of a man in the face of crisis.

Perhaps after Li Cheng died early and the older men died one after another, even Da Lian Mao, who was wild by nature, had to shoulder the important task of being the leader and become the pillar of this group of people.

Lin Xian had noticed before that Da Lian Mao's wife was not in the surrounding crowd, nor were his daughter and son.

Every time he boarded the hot air balloon and embarked on a journey of no return, he was alone, and no one gave him a hug before he left.

Lin Xian opened his mouth several times, but in the end, he didn't ask the question.

In fact, the answer was also very clear.

In a world ravaged by radiation sickness, since Da Lian Mao's father had died of illness, then probably Face's wife, the daughter who argued with Da Lian Mao, and the son of Little Face had also passed away.

During this time, in reality, Lin Xian had experienced too many deaths and separations.

He really experienced the sadness of the departure of relatives and friends.

Therefore, he did not ask Da Lian Mao this obvious question, so as not to increase sadness.

"Brother, I'll go too."

At this time, A Zhuang stood up from the crowd:

"According to today's plan, it was my turn if you failed. I think what this guy said is probably true, and I'm willing to take a gamble."

Da Lian Mao nodded and patted A Zhuang on the shoulder:

"Okay."

Then he turned to look at Er Zhu Zi and San Pang:

"You two shouldn't go. If we don't come back, then the villagers will be handed over to you in the future... You must teach the women to skydive, train the children to grow up, and after your mission is over... come to the sky to find us."

After speaking, Da Lian Mao looked at Lin Xian:

"Is this okay with you? The two of us will accompany you."

Lin Xian nodded:

"Okay, although the more people the better, I understand your situation, so two will be fine."

Suddenly.

A petite and graceful figure squeezed out of the crowd, raising a small hand full of calluses:

"Since there aren't enough people, then I'll go too!"

Instantly, all eyes were focused on this girl who was too mature for her age.

Li Ningning.

"No way!"

Da Lian Mao said sternly:

"It's not your turn yet! We men still have women when we die, and women still have children older than you. Besides, your parents both died in the sky... You have to leave a root for the Li family."

"Why can't I go! I've wanted to go for a long time! I've been practicing skydiving skills all the time, and I have no problem."

"This is not a good thing. You want to go just because you want to go?"

Da Lian Mao said unhappily:

"Li Boss was the first person to skydive to Sky City. Before he left, he specifically told me to take good care of you. And your mother was the second... Your family has already sacrificed too much for this, how can I let you go!"

Da Lian Mao's words also resonated with the surrounding crowd.

Li Cheng.

All of them owed Li Cheng too much.

From the earliest relocation, to fighting against radiation sickness, to the final desperate skydiving to Sky City, Li Cheng was leading everyone and leading everyone to fight against fate and the future.

When humans had no hope of defeating radiation sickness.

Li Cheng suggested that since the source of radiation was in Sky City, then the people in Sky City should also be infected with radiation sickness. Their technology was so advanced, they must have had treatment drugs long ago.

So... to save the people on the surface, you have to skydive to break through the Sky City defense! Go in and grab the medicine and send it down!

When this crazy plan was proposed, everyone thought it was impossible and no different from sending them to their deaths.

And Li Cheng... was willing to be the first person to die.

Everyone witnessed him rising to a height of 10,000 meters in a hot air balloon, and witnessed him gliding down to approach Sky City, and finally witnessed him turning into a ball of fire in the laser.

At that time, Li Ningning was just one year old, just learning to walk on the ground, and she didn't know she had lost her father when she looked at the fireworks flashing in the sky.

Li Cheng's instant evaporation further increased everyone's fear of Rhine Sky City, and they didn't dare to act rashly or approach it.

At this time...

Li Ningning's mother, Li Cheng's wife, who had not yet finished breastfeeding, stood up:

"10,000 meters is not enough, then jump from 20,000 meters. If we don't jump, we will never have a future. Radiation sickness will not disappear by itself, and our sores will not heal on their own."

"If I have to choose between watching my family and children die in the torture of radiation sickness and dying under the laser of Sky City in order to get medicine... I would rather die in the laser. I will not watch my children die without rescue."

She tied Li Ningning's hair into two small horns for the last time, her hands trembling.

Everyone knew she was reluctant, everyone knew she was also afraid, and everyone knew she didn't want to leave this lovely daughter who had just learned to walk.

But...

She knew better than anyone else.

If she didn't jump this time, there would never be a second person to jump.

Her husband would have died in vain.

Everyone on the surface would be out of luck.

Even if it wasn't her daughter who was infected with radiation sickness today, what about tomorrow? What about the day after tomorrow?

As long as they didn't get the medicine to treat radiation sickness, they were doomed to have no future, and the destruction of fate was only a matter of time.

At that time, everyone advised her not to go. It was just another ball of fire in the sky, and this was meaningless.

But she went without hesitation.

After happily saying goodbye to Li Ningning, who didn't understand parting, she put on her astronaut helmet, and tears fell silently.

The person who put the helmet on her at that time was Da Lian Mao.

He knew that these tears fell on his hands.

"Don't tell Ningning..."

The woman's voice trembled, and she said softly:

"Her father was not afraid, and her mother did not cry."

At that moment.

Da Lian Mao cried.

He vowed in his heart that he would take care of Li Ningning like his own daughter, protect her, and help her grow up.

And!

He would never let Li Ningning skydive to the sky and would never let her die in the sky!

Li Boss is gone, and the Boss lady is also gone.

Then he.

Da Lian Mao.

From now on, he is the boss of this East Sea, and he must shoulder the responsibility of protecting this side.

Da Lian Mao, who cut off the cable of the hot air balloon and wiped away his tears with his back to the crowd, picked up Li Ningning, who was laughing and applauding:

"Ningning, your parents... are all heroes."

...

Everyone watched the sky with grief.

They all knew very well.

Sky City could not be broken through. No matter how many people tried to go up, they would eventually turn into a ball of fire in the laser like Li Cheng.

However!

This time!

A miracle happened!!

To everyone's astonishment, Li Ningning's mother jumped from a height of 20,000 meters!

Unscathed!

There were no lasers!

She broke into the northwest direction of Rhine Sky City directly!

Everyone could see clearly!

She opened her parachute at a height of 4,000 meters! Landed safely!

It turned out...

It turned out!

There really was a gap in the air defense network above Sky City!

It really could be broken through!

Later.

Even though Li Ningning's mother didn't come back and nothing was thrown down from Sky City.

In all likelihood... she died inside Sky City.

But she was favored by a miracle and gave everyone hope.

Since then, the men in the surrounding villages gathered together and began to practice gliding and skydiving.

One after another!

Falling from high altitude!

Breaking through Sky City!

Just...

The miracle did not happen again.

After Li Ningning's mother, no one could successfully find the gap and break through the air defense network.

All the men in this area died in the sky.

Only the last four people were left: Da Lian Mao, A Zhuang, Er Zhu Zi, and San Pang.

Therefore.

Da Lian Mao would not allow Li Ningning to skydive.

This was his promise and oath to Li Cheng and his wife, and he must protect this carefree girl.

"Why!!"

Li Ningning roared.

She felt very aggrieved.

Over the years, she had been secretly practicing skydiving, and her skills were much better than many men!

She was not afraid of death.

She was only afraid that she would die ignominiously in the torture of radiation sickness and in a lifetime of mediocrity!

If it wasn't for Lin Xian's appearance, she wouldn't say much. Everyone would just take turns skydiving in order, and it would always be her turn.

But.

Now Lin Xian told everyone that he knew the exact gap and was willing to fly in front to lead everyone in.

He wasn't afraid of death! How could this news be false!

Lin Xian said that the more people the better, the more people the stronger. Since everyone didn't trust him and didn't want to go with him, wouldn't it be good for her to go?

She believed him!

She was willing to believe him!

Although this time might not be successful, the more people there were, the greater the chance of success, wouldn't it?

Perhaps this opportunity only happened once.

If she missed it, she would never have it again!

"Why can't I go!"

Li Ningning looked at Er Zhu Zi and San Pang with tears in her eyes:

"If you don't let me go, then you go! You don't go, why are you stopping me from going!"

"Because you are Li Cheng's daughter!!"

Da Lian Mao glared at Li Ningning fiercely:

"Do you understand? Because you are Li Cheng's daughter! We already owe your parents too much! So you just can't go!"

After speaking.

Da Lian Mao put on his helmet and pulled Lin Xian towards the helium balloon:

"Let's go, I'll take you to get dressed."

However.

Da!

Li Ningning took a big step forward and grabbed Da Lian Mao's spacesuit tightly.

In the puzzled faces of the hundreds of onlookers, Li Ningning bit her teeth and said:

"If it's for this reason, then I must go!"

"You——"

Da Lian Mao reached out to hit her!

But Li Ningning was fearless, just like Li Cheng who went against the current alone.

She waved her right hand across the surrounding old and young:

"Which woman present is not someone else's wife? Which one is not someone else's daughter?"

"My parents are dead. Didn't their parents die? Precisely because I am Li Cheng's daughter, I must go even more!"

Li Ningning looked up at Da Lian Mao with firm eyes:

"If Li Cheng's daughter doesn't go... why let other people's daughters go!"