The train ca to a steady halt at the platform.
"We’ve arrived, Holy Land: Garilinov Stone Valley."
Li Aozi said calmly, interrupting Caral Snail’s thoughts. He shook his head, stood up, took his weapon, and followed Li Aozi off the train.
Tap, tap, tap, tap, step.
When Li Aozi’s foot touched the ground here, the cold wind blowing from the distant sea turned gentle. Nature’s affection was released here without reservation. Butterflies accompanied every step, and the entire forest valley echoed with the lodious songs of warblers and birds, making Caral Snail doubt for a mont that he was in the right place. It seed he had not entered "Starry Abyss" but walked into a scene from a fairy tale princess movie.
"Sotis people feel very dissatisfied."
Li Aozi said to Caral Snail as they walked:
"The Sovereign Pathway emphasizes Charm as the core quality, and as a result, people think we are a bunch of freeloaders."
"But, Li Aozi, you’ve also worked hard."
"My way of effort is different from those on other pathways."
Li Aozi said quietly:
"No matter what pathway you’re on, it involves accumulation through training and learning.
The Destroyer focuses on physical training and Qi Energy cultivation. There’s nothing much to say; diligence makes up for lack of talent.
The Fine Artistry requires constant studying to arm the mind with wisdom.
The Mysterious requires an extrely strong will to endure the disturbances of ghosts while refining one’s Spiritual Energy.
Raiding also requires repeatedly approaching death and continuously engaging in battles to raid enough resources, growing stronger each ti.
Redemption’s Healers not only need knowledge but also a strong body, which ans they need to train both body and mind.
Only the Sovereign Pathway requires you to be more attractive than others, to compete for the world’s affection, and thereby control Arcane Energy and the Cosmic Mandate more effectively."
Caral Snail scratched his cheek:
"Uh, put that way, the Sovereign System does sound a bit..."
"A bit like a courtier vying for favor before the emperor, right?"
Li Aozi said:
"Other occupations are like laborers, producers, or protectors; only the Sovereign System is inherently managers and rulers. To other occupations, control is sothing anyone can do. As long as you are strong enough, everything will yield."
Caral Snail did not refute because, from a player’s perspective, this was how things appeared.
"Power determines everything."
"But in this universe, sotis the stronger the power, the closer to destruction."
Li Aozi said calmly:
"The sun burns eternally, illuminating all beings, but it will eventually beco a Red Giant Star and finally fade away. Even black holes will evaporate and cool down. Laws that claim to never change might change in another layer of the universe. The closer you get to the peak of glory, the closer you are to falling from the altar."
"Why say this all of a sudden?" Caral Snail asked curiously: "Weren’t we just talking about pathways?"
"Because, in reality, each pathway has its unique rules. Any existing thing must conform to so rational law, and anything that conforms to the law must exist. The differences among pathways cannot be erased with phrases like ’strong enough’ or forcefully blended into one."
Li Aozi put his hands in his pockets, paused, and said,
"But power is useful for one thing: it can erase the people who create differences."
"Ah, that’s why we see people on the Mysterious Pathway constantly hunting down the inheritors of other pathways on this planet."
Caral Snail understood the logic:
"Since the differences between pathways are too vast and cannot be erased or rged, the only option is to erase the people on those pathways."
"Though the process is bloody and cruel, it is the closest ans to civilization and rationality."
Li Aozi said:
"But do you think this is right?"
"...Of course, it’s not right."
Caral Snail recalled the Redemption Army and the cannibalistic, aberrant Sovereign Pathway inheritor he had encountered before, wavering:
"Because I’m not their kin. I can understand them, but... I can’t accept such an outco.""From our perspective, both sides have problems, right?"
"The Church, in pursuit of order, sealed the sky, hunted down other pathways, and step by step took away people’s rights, transforming from protectors to Sovereigns enslaving others. Certainly, they have problems!"
"The rebels, in their fight for freedom, trampled on morality, slaughtered the Church’s believers, and even attacked civilians without rcy. In fighting against sothing just for the sake of opposing it, their actions are no cleaner than those of the Church!"
"So," Li Aozi said, "Xia Beiluo chose rock music."
"Using the language of music to communicate with both sides, hoping to build bridges between them, easing conflicts and finding a balance between reform and tradition."
"Garilinov Stone Valley, it is said that if you stand deep in the valley at sunset in autumn and shout out loud, the whole world can hear you. Thus, it is called a Holy Land."
"If she sings here, the whole world will hear her voice. This must be her purpose for pilgrimage."
Caral Snail suddenly understood.
"So that’s it. No wonder she performs along the way to eliminate people’s conflicts with music, pushing the Church to compromise with the secular world, step by step encouraging people to walk the streets and be open."
Caral Snail sincerely admired:
"As a young girl, she is quite courageous. If it were , thinking about speaking and singing to the entire world, I’d die of embarrassnt."
"That’s why people need heroes."
Li Aozi said:
"Actually, people do not worship the hero but what they represent in their hearts. People hesitate, and at that mont, soone needs to step forward."
"But isn’t greatness in the hero’s actions? People like heroes because of their deeds, right?"
"That’s not necessarily true. Sotis, they see the individual as an extension of their spirit, existing as a source of motivation."
"Just like you are a great hero to the Azure Star People and Baizhu Star People. They all admire you."
"Hero is not an easy title to bear, kid. The birth of a hero costs lives."
In their conversation, they arrived at Stone Valley. The woodlands were elegant, the stream clear, fallen leaves kissing the grass. The air was filled with the romantic fragrance of golden autumn, a lonely prosperity, gentle yet splendid.
Li Aozi and Caral Snail walked side by side into the valley, flanked by cliffs as majestic as ocean waves. Moving within them, the thunder of their heartbeat and footfalls echoed, an imnsely shocking resonance.
Having co this far, they finally reached the end of their journey.
Pluck—
The sound of a guitar string being tested suddenly surged, drawing their gaze to the ground. In the deepest part of their view, a girl with a silver guitar sat alone on a rock, coughing lightly. Noticing the arrivals, she looked up and saw them.
"Hello there."
The girl smiled and said:
"More and more pilgrims have co. Many visited yesterday, but their voices didn’t carry far. Today is the best ti; singing today, the entire world will hear you."
"Are you Xia Beiluo?"
Caral Snail walked forward, scrutinizing the girl:
She looked like a typical sunny girl, her white face doll-like in its cuteness, long golden curls flowing to her waist, luxurious in appearance. She wore various scattered ornants and carried little luggage, just a fancy mountain bike.
"You’re fans of Xia Beiluo, aren’t you?"
The girl understood:
"I am Xia Beiluo."
Caral Snail was overjoyed:
"Great, we’ve been looking for you. We hope you can lend us your gui—"
"Yes, and no."
"Xia Beiluo" set the guitar aside, stood up, matching Caral Snail’s height as she looked at the two arrivals, nodded, and said sternly:
"The great rock revivalist, secular leader of Ziluo Star—Xia Beiluo, was born in 032 in Sulo City and was brutally murdered by the Church’s extremists in 049, at the age of 17."
"After her death, fans who listened to her master tapes were awakened. We gathered, taking up her guitar and thoughts, determined to carry out ’Understanding and Resistance’ to the end."
"Xia Beiluo is dead, but we are unwilling to let her leave. Today is September 19th, her 50th immortality anniversary."
The blonde girl said:
"I am here as the 7th generation ’Xia Beiluo,’ to commorate and make my pilgrimage."
"After Xia Beiluo’s death, her actions did not stop. Her career continues, her songs will echo forever, Xia Beiluo lives on!"
Caral Snail stood there, his mind buzzing, blanking out.
"Li Aozi."
Caral Snail looked at the boy beside him, his voice trembling:
"You knew all along... didn’t you?"
"What do you an?"
"You knew the real Xia Beiluo was dead, you knew that little boy would be killed by , you knew there would be cooking oil, salt, which foods were edible in that camp... From the beginning, you knew everything."
Caral Snail said:
"This planet froze in ti long ago."
"You’re right. I knew everything."
Li Aozi raised his head calmly and looked at him:
"Including the true nature of this planet."
"This planet?" The blonde "Xia Beiluo" asked curiously: "Are you outsiders?"
Li Aozi and Caral Snail ignored her, standing and staring at each other.
"Welco to Ziluo Star."
Li Aozi spread his arms:
"Full na—dium-Sized Parasite ’lodic Society’ lodycal."
"Fifty years ago, this planet was parasitized. A girl nad ’Xia Beiluo’ was replicated as a . The entire planet is essentially under ’rock’ cultural invasion, irreversible."
"Li Aozi... You knew everything yet kept lying to ..."
"Because that was the plan." Li Aozi said: "The task activation condition required two people. To obtain ’Soul Casino,’ you couldn’t bring Martial Force."
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