Chapter 0: The Black Hand Reveals Itself (4)
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At the moment when the demon race warriors were turned into chunky salsa,
to ordinary folks, it seemed like just another Tuesday. All they saw were gore-strewn bits of flesh and an abundance of d*ath—nothing like a pleasant stroll in the park.
But Lin Nan, bless her heart, was standing in an entirely different universe.
What she saw looked like just another day in the bloodshed, yet she felt every time someone kicked the bucket, their memories just hit the brakes and came to a screeching halt.
Then, as if a cosmic rewind button had been pressed, those memories jolted back to the little kid days.
All their life memories and experiences popped back up like glorified popcorn in the microwave, aimed directly at the Broad-eyed Heavenly King, who was casually observing the continent with the icy gaze of a creator.
Lin Nan quivered like a leaf in a hurricane.
She finally had the epiphany of a lifetime.
What they called “harvesting life energy” was really just a fancy term for swiping the memories of every poor soul that bit the dust and making them their own.
Indeed, the reason people mature and evolve into vibrant, unique individuals is all thanks to the heap of memories they accumulate from childhood to adulthood.
No two memories are exactly alike.
It’s memories that shape a person’s character and teach them how to navigate the wild adventures life throws their way.
Without memories, there’s no past, and poof! You lose the fundamental essence of being YOU—losing that philosophical “where did I come from, where am I going?” existential crisis.
And believe it or not, isn’t that the most basic element of human existence?
People draw strength from emotions like anger, sorrow, and excitement, ultimately stemming from their understanding of the world, which is built on their memories.
Some might argue that even amnesiacs can power up from anger, sorrow, or excitement!
True, but this so-called amnesia is simply forgetting specific events they’ve experienced.
However, the knowledge of how society operates and those unwritten rules of survival that exist outside of these events have already been solidified in their memories, manifesting as instinctual reactions.
Even if someone forgets, those ingrained instincts are about as easy to erase as trying to wipe a stubborn stain off a couch.
Thus, when Lin Nan realized that the so-called life energy was actually people’s memories, everything about the Asking Dao Continent clicked into place.
Right, if life energy were the only goal, these gods could simply farm a countless herd of livestock on the continent and then harvest them when the time was ripe.
Why go through all this hassle, creating three races, pouring resources into teaching them culture, guiding their evolution, and then ending up with a bunch of brawny contenders?
These strong folks have way richer memories that are oh-so-delicious for the gods’ tastes!
And as for ordinary folks, since their lifespans are mere blinks of an eye and their memories aren’t particularly colorful, they tend to get the ignore treatment from the gods.
So here we are, 400 years into the harvest of strong beings, and the Asking Dao Continent has bumbled its way to the present day.
Now, the gods have insisted on conducting a grand feast of sorts, akin to “fishing in a dry pond,” which triggered Lin Nan’s realization that those once-soaring gods were clearly in a bit of a pickle.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so desperate to boost their powers in such a hurry, attempting to wipe out a continent they’ve been nurturing for thousands of years.
It felt a bit like they were throwing all caution to the wind.
If the Great Dao Empire could weather this divine punishment, Lin Nan had a strong hunch that these so-called gods would soon be tripping over their own shoelaces.
Upon discovering that the Broad-eyed Heavenly King was gaining energy by absorbing the memories of living beings, she had a major lightbulb moment about her own path to godhood.
Yes, if she collected people’s emotional responses toward her, she could indeed earn her Godhood Value.
Sure, it was a bit slower than snatching matured memories and obviously required a larger crowd to meet her needs.
But it was nothing like the gods of the Asking Dao Continent, who just had to do a periodic sweep of a few strong individuals to ensure a steady source of energy.
However, Lin Nan was absolutely convinced that leeching off someone else’s life to gain energy was a serious no-no in the grand scheme of things.
Life keeps rolling on, and reincarnation never stops!
Every life that graces this world is a miracle, born from following the Dao.
Even if they seem no different than ants in the eye of the gods, every single life has the right to exist.
Unless they’re getting in your way, raising a blade against them simply out of preference or other selfish motives? That’s an ultimate challenge to the way of heaven!
Divine retribution will eventually come.
And Lin Nan firmly believed she was the grave digger of the gods.
When the first emperor of the Great Dao Empire, the Cold Moon Witch, stood defiantly against that enormous umbrella, the once-downtrodden crowd erupted like a shaken soda can.
The Mage Legions and Harpist Legions sprang into action, showering the Female Emperor with a deluge of enhancement spells like confetti at a parade.
At the same time, every top-tier powerhouse among the Three Races that could battle at the Great Demon level rose into the air, awaiting orders from their beloved Emperor.
It was as though the mere appearance of their Female Emperor filled them with newfound courage.
Even if it meant stepping in front of a charging bulldozer, they’d leap forward without hesitation, ready to sacrifice their lives out of absolute loyalty to the Female Emperor.
[Godhood Value +xx points, Journey to Godhood 92%.]
The Broad-eyed Heavenly King, of course, had noticed Lin Nan.
He initially thought she was just another regular strong one, but upon closer inspection, he realized there was a hint of divine presence swirling around her.
Wait a minute, this woman seems oddly familiar.
Wasn’t she once a loyal subordinate?
Among the four brothers, under the leadership of the eldest, Duowen Heavenly King, they had created the energy harvesting system for the Asking Dao Continent.
Originally, the soul essence formed in the East Sea Underground Palace was a gourmet treat for the gods. But here she was, desperate to survive, pledging her loyalty to manage and lead the beings of the continent, guiding them towards the gods’ desired outcome.
Truth be told, Frost North Snow had been doing an excellent job.
In fact, when the emergence of strong contenders from the Three Races posed a threat to the gods, she implemented a series of measures to weaken them to a state where the gods could dominate the situation effortlessly.
So when the Broad-eyed Heavenly King’s gaze locked onto her face once more, he suddenly recalled her identity.
“Ah, well, well, Frost North Snow, I did not expect you to be the mischief-maker here?”
Lin Nan shot back coldly, “I’m no longer the Frost North Snow who once served you. I am Cold Moon, the new master of this continent.
As invaders, you better scurry back where you came from if you don’t want us to unleash a catastrophic bloodbath!”
The Broad-eyed Heavenly King regarded her with a pitying look, as if she was just a little kitten baring its teeth at its owner. With a mere flick of his finger, he could send her into an eternal abyss of despair.
He raised a finger towards Lin Nan. “Come on now, let’s see what you’ve got.
Heh, a pet who has betrayed its master shouldn’t expect any mercy from us.”
As he spoke, a massive spinning umbrella above the fortress continued pressing forward, seemingly drawn closer to the steel structure.
At that moment, Lin Nan’s hair was floating in the air, as if she was a hairdryer commercial gone wrong, like she was about to be sucked into that enormous umbrella and turned into pixie dust.
……
Important Notice: This book’s main story will officially conclude on September 30th, but there might be an epilogue.
During this period, updates may vary between one or two chapters daily.
