Chapter 296: How Can I Believe Luxianbei?
Perhaps it was unexpected that the terrifying power of the Miracle Flower accumulated so quickly within Luxianbei’s body, or perhaps the violent nature awakened in everyone gradually lost its sanity upon seeing the provocation-like presence of the girl, now both near and far…
When the girl suddenly leaped towards them, the Shaman Queen was momentarily stupefied.
Seeing the girl shedding the heavy armor that covered her entire body, stripped of her clothing, her form left only shrouded in flames, it was as if she fell from the blazing sun in the sky, rapidly enlarging in sight, getting closer and closer, and only then did she snap back to reality, pushing her powers to the utmost.
She could feel that this was her “dear” kin, the last and strongest blow.
Out of respect for her opponent and perhaps recognition of her kind, she must use her strongest strike to face the challenge.
In an instant, everyone, including Luxianbei, felt the Shaman Queen’s power suppression suddenly collapse under her fierce struggle, risking her powers’ destruction.
The distorted powers already appeared, swirling bl**d shadows across the vast wasteland, and something even more terrifying quietly revealed its tip of the iceberg.
Like a gloomy beast covered in scars that finally broke free from its cage and shackles, there were no frenzied roars or twisted figures.
She only wanted to k*ll!
Thus, the world trembled, and a roar erupted.
For a moment, Luxianbei’s figure, her breath, her existence, disappeared from the Shaman Queen’s perception, leaving only a sea of chaotic black lines exuding danger and strange vibes ahead.
Within those black lines hid a fear that transcended d*ath and destruction.
Gazing at those black lines, the Shaman Queen hesitated for just a moment before resolutely moving forward, rushing into a darkness that seemed to lead to no return.
The world twisted in her eyes, stained with a peculiar glow.
Then, suddenly, everything fell into silence.
Followed by a momentary collapse of all things in the world, transforming into dust, the fragments of the crumbling noise converged into a distant and grand long chant, echoing in her mind.
Accompanied by the echoing long chant, another power that made her soul tremble descended, impossible to ignore, impossible to escape, yet impossible to capture its existence…
It was as if the boundless darkness ahead, the collapsing myriad things behind, and everything imaginable was that power itself.
No one knew how long it had been, when the deep darkness was about to fully consume the Shaman Queen, sending her to her end, already like a fallen leaf drifting in water, the motionless Shaman Queen’s finger suddenly twitched, then a fierce light flickered in her eyes, and she began to struggle again.
I cannot lose…
I can’t just d*e like this…
It’s not over yet; as long as there is still war in this realm, I, the Shaman Queen, Quebiya, will come back again! the Shaman Queen screamed in her heart.
Then, a roar came from the darkness.
Accompanied by the roar, a fierce wind carried rust-colored mist, and the stench-filled air carried ashes and dust, swirling like a panicked flock of birds.
Behind them, desks, chairs, clothing, and many unseen items seemed animated, chasing after, spilling chunks of pale, thick liquid onto the ground, rapidly creating more of their kind.
The leaden-gray sky seemed to press down, blinding flashes of lightning tearing through the cloud layers, creating grotesque rifts, emitting an unreal, void-like green light, and vaguely revealing twisted human figures, akin to ghosts laughing, crying, and wandering about in the rifts…
Beneath the sky, rising from the roaring seas was an unfamiliar skyscraper, its exterior covered in a nauseating mold.
At the top of the skyscraper, figures stood there, like stone statues, maintaining their pre-d*ath actions—pointing their weapons at one another, as if bewitched, still fighting to the last breath.
What met the eye was a shocking post-apocalyptic scene—everything seemed to mock the Shaman Queen’s last shred of consciousness.
What you pursue can be called “destruction”?
Look closely, what is true destruction!
Times have changed; the old destroyers should remain in the past, and it should now be handed over to the true “professionals”!
Seeing this scene, the struggling Shaman Queen smiled bitterly, but that bitter smile quickly transformed into one of consolation.
That’s right, even if I d*e, my kind cannot escape their fate.
What I cannot do, she will achieve in my place and do it even better, like a younger and stronger wolf defeating the aging wolf king, becoming the new leader, leading the pack forward…
She will inevitably, and alone, walk towards her predetermined conclusion, creating an even more terrifying end scene!
The Shaman Queen thought, her heart wildly beating, gradually slowing its rhythm, as if it were about to come to a halt.
At that moment, as if a hallucination appeared, a slightly rough but gentle hand, full of compassion, gently rested on her forehead.
Just like back when she was little, when her older sister used to lull her to sleep.
The next moment, a familiar voice rang in her ears, causing the Shaman Queen’s heart to shake violently.
“Uka, stop messing around; you’re very tired now, right? Let’s go home?”
Turning towards the direction of the sound, a familiar face came into view.
It was a girl of about sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a strange hat made of colorful fabric and feathers.
Beneath the oddly shaped hat, although her skin showed roughness from the wind and sand’s erosion, it did not affect her beauty at all, like a cluster of sea buckthorn flowers blooming in the Gobi Desert.
The girl was the long-lost sister of the Shaman Queen, Melu Aluslan, or rather, she was the initial opportunity for the Shaman Queen to become the Shaman Queen, the once factor of world destruction.
“But, sister, I haven’t… not yet…” The Shaman Queen stopped struggling, her voice trembling as she looked at the girl’s figure, unable to speak for a while.
“Are you trying to say you haven’t taken me to see the endless fine wine, the herds of cattle and sheep, and the fertile land that can grow enough food for everyone?” the girl said, “But I no longer want to see that, you know? Even more so, I don’t want to see my dearest Uka, thus battered…”
“Did you forget? Why I left?”
Upon hearing this, the Shaman Queen felt as if struck by lightning, her body trembling in shock.
It had been too long, long enough that she had forgotten that her sister died in that cold winter, giving up her food to let her live.
Perhaps her sister didn’t really want to see the beautiful scenery; her last words were just worried about not being able to see her survive through that winter, her heart unwilling…
“Let’s go! It’s already late; if we delay any further, we might not find our way home.”
The girl said, standing up and walking into the suddenly swirling wind and snow. Her figure gradually faded, as if she would dissolve and never be found again.
Just like so many years ago when she starved to d*ath in that harsh winter.
“Sister!” The Shaman Queen called out, frantically chasing after the girl’s footsteps, plunging into the depths of darkness, until she lost her direction…
In the end, there was only a figure, with disheveled hair, covered in wounds, kneeling in the vast snowstorm like a corpse frozen into an ice sculpture.
In the silence, all light was devoured by the chaotic dark lines.
Everything fell asleep in the tranquil darkness.
As if abandoned by the entire world.
In the darkness, far from the Shaman Queen, Luxianbei’s outline slowly emerged, looking at the now motionless Shaman Queen, then glancing back at the deep darkness behind her, her mood gradually grew heavy and anxious.
“d*mn, this is bad! The Shaman Queen has been dealt with, but how am I supposed to go back?”
She was stunned.
But…
Before this, who could have expected that the Shaman Queen’s obsession with creating destruction was so deep and so strong, that she could withstand two attacks from the forces of time correction and still struggle for her life?
Like a character from a bl**d-boiling manga, relying on bonds, friendship, dreams… and other such messy things, managing to revive repeatedly.
Simply a humanoid indestructible cockroach!
To make such a character exit gracefully, at least a powerful “villain” must be involved.
Unfortunately, Miss Calamity was just that villain.
Luxianbei was indeed confident that she could unleash the terrifying power of the Miracle Flower twice without dying on the spot, but after releasing it twice in succession, she would have to chase after the Shaman Queen, take advantage of her blurred consciousness, continuously seduce her, destroy her things, until her “heart of Dao” shattered and she gave up the struggle. That was out of her controllable range.
And now, it was clear that she had successfully sealed her fate…
After continuously encountering glitches and finally defeating the big boss, before she could enjoy victory and check for loot, she received a title… or perhaps a mute package?
Although she found herself in this boundless tranquil darkness, Luxianbei’s spiritual senses could still vaguely feel the outside world.
That feeling was similar to being banned in a game for some violations without being completely disabled—just limited in gameplay—only able to watch and not able to do anything.
“What to do? Why is this happening? Could it be because I’m a level twelve bliss member?”
Talking to herself, her consciousness was suddenly touched by some subtle force.
Under the pull of that force, she turned around and saw a bright red silk thread extending from the center of her chest to not far away, and on the other end of the silk thread was a green rift slowly opening.
In a brief daze, she saw a slender, pale arm suddenly reaching out from the rift, tightly gripping her wrist.
Then, with force, it pulled her outward.
The next moment, the chaotic dark lines that emerged around the rift began to stir.
In that instant, the space trembled violently, and amidst a dazzling sharp noise, it felt as if something was being stripped away—perhaps reason, perhaps air, perhaps existence as either a human or an urban legend.
Luxianbei’s consciousness seemed to be violently interrupted, plunging into a brief blank…
————
At the moment the Shaman Queen grasped Luxianbei’s hand, Nanling Yaohua felt as if there was a sudden scene switch, as if all the lights extinguished in the deep night, suddenly falling into darkness.
The clamor in her ears, the fierce wind grazing her skin, the spirits dissipating in the air… the real world was fading away. She pulled back forcefully with all her strength, but all the spiritual energy could not stop Luxianbei’s figure from plunging deeper into darkness.
That feeling was like standing by a torrential river, grappling with the invisible terrible undercurrents for the life of a drowning person.
The feelings of urgency and panic surged, and Nanling Yaohua couldn’t help but cry out for help, “Hurry! Master Bai, Grandfather, come help! Luxianbei, she… Luxianbei…”
Like a rope suddenly severed, her words abruptly stopped.
When Nanling Yaohua turned back, she was startled to find her grandfather gazing blankly in the distance, Master Bai shouting in anguish, maintaining their actions as if frozen, completely unaware of her cries and everything she was experiencing.
She hesitated for a moment, quickly coming to realize that it seemed only she could touch, or rather see, Luxianbei plunging into darkness.
Being able to be alone with Luxianbei should have been something that made her happy.
After all, not long ago, the night spent with Luxianbei in the cave at Hole Ridge Base was the only night she could feel a hint of happiness after her grandfather went missing.
Suddenly, a strange, piercing pain surged from her chest.
Looking down, a taut, half-virtual half-real bright red silk thread came into view, connecting her with Luxianbei.
Although she had only heard about it and never seen it, the moment she saw that silk thread, Nanling Yaohua realized it was the thread of fate tying her to Luxianbei.
At this moment, as Luxianbei continued to fall into the depths of darkness, the thread of fate tightened, emitting a mournful cry that only the two connected souls could hear.
It seemed about to break…
Nanling Yaohua could feel something subtle was constantly being stripped away from her body, and that sensation filled her with fear.
After a brief hesitation, she bit her lip and leaped into the darkness, wrapping her arms around Luxianbei tight.
In a daze, she remembered the conversation with her grandfather not long ago during the celebration of the initial Miracle Maiden’s return held by the residents of God Realm Yumen.
The two of them, accustomed to silence, were not exactly opposed to such celebrations but found it very uncomfortable, thus finding a secluded corner to sit and watch the lively events.
Enjoying the fine wine and strange food, Nanling Peak suddenly looked up at the gentle rain that had unknowingly started to fall from the sky and asked, “Xiao Hua, do you feel it?”
His words carried excitement mixed with a hint of loss.
Like a worker who had labored all his life, finally expressing his sentiment on the day of retirement.
No longer needing to toil, but perhaps never having the chance to return to that beloved position again…
“Yeah.” Nanling Yaohua nodded, “I feel it.”
She knew what her grandfather was talking about.
When the gentle wind began to blow in God Realm Yumen, a soft rain began to fall, her spiritual energy suddenly filled with excitement.
It was like a bird trapped in a cage finally gained the freedom to flutter its wings and soar.
At that moment, she understood that from now on, she would no longer be bound by the fate of guarding Yumen.
At the same time, aside from Bai Kai, who immersed himself in drink and pleasure, neglecting the changes around him and within himself, another heir of Yumen Sands Sea Branch also felt the same as Nanling Yaohua.
“Xiao Hua…” Nanling Peak looked at Nanling Yaohua with tenderness, and softly asked, “What do you want to do from now on?”
“From now on…” Nanling Yaohua shook her head, “I haven’t thought it through yet.”
She lied to her grandfather.
She had actually made up her mind; she wanted to pursue a love that truly belonged to her.
Her ideal partner would be Luxianbei.
Even if the experiences in the Dream City were irrelevant, and other girls stepped into Luxianbei’s heart first, so what? She didn’t care; was she not allowed to succeed later?
After all, aside from sitting on the stone tower tasting delicacies, she hadn’t properly interacted with the real Luxianbei!
However…
Nanling Yaohua looked down at the girl in her arms, feeling the world drifting away, her consciousness gradually blurring, her gaze dimming.
Was it about to end before it even truly began?
————
No one knew how long it had been, but Luxianbei finally opened her eyes, dazedly staring at the sky stained red by the lingering spiritual energy of the Shaman Queen.
For a long time, she finally reacted, realizing that she seemed to have been saved.
But.
How exactly was she saved?
It seemed that someone had caught up with her, holding her in their arms, then… pushed her out of that cursed place.
Wait!
Luxianbei furrowed her brow, recalling carefully, her pupils suddenly trembled, and she turned her head swiftly, spotting a figure covered in chaotic light, constantly transforming into various strange shapes not far away.
She instinctively reached out to grab that figure, but just when her hand brushed against it, the previously slowly writhing chaotic dark lines around that figure suddenly stirred.
Quickly converging, they formed a tear resembling a bizarre creature’s cavity.
Then, the cavity suddenly closed.
Silently, without a hint of pain, the elbow of her left arm abruptly lost all sensation, as if it had vanished into thin air.
Along with it vanished that figure enveloped in chaotic light.
Seconds later, a white shadow swooped in, steadily catching Luxianbei as she fell.
“Xiao Bei, are you okay?” Bai Kai hurriedly asked, seeing Luxianbei shake her head, instantly changing the subject to ask, “That’s good, that’s good, what about Xiao Hua?”
“Xiao Hua?”
“Nanling Yaohua, she just chased after you and then suddenly disappeared.” Bai Kai replied.
Upon hearing this, Luxianbei’s chest felt as if struck by a heavy hammer, violently shaking, and she turned to gaze vacantly at the empty sky, lost in thought for a long time.
————
In the distance.
After the fierce battle, at the edge of the scarred wasteland.
A girl with chestnut hair and a red long scarf frowned as she watched the strange scene of Calamity’s disappearance and reappearance in the sky.
“System, where did that girl go? Why did she suddenly vanish?”
“How would I know? Mind your own business! It’s best to hurry up before Calamity notices! By the way, did you keep the stuff dug up from the ruins? That token and those antiques…”
“Kept it.” Gu Qiqi nodded.
“Good, then let’s hurry!”
As the system said this, it climbed onto Gu Qiqi’s shoulder and glanced meaningfully at the place where Nanling Yaohua had vanished.
Another one…
Another girl has been exiled to this world beyond!
Calamity, how can I believe Luxianbei now? the system thought.
