Many years later.
A blue planet drifts in the universe.
The surface of the planet is shrouded in clouds, shimring with a heavy glow.
On the planet, 256 dazzling points of light flicker, and when viewed up close, they are towering structures.
"...With the formation of Hephaestus’ Throne, the civilization’s traitor Noel Agnini was sealed beneath the World Tree, delaying the descent of two high dinsions..."
"...With the help of Seed Xi Li and high-dinsional Starfire, our Zhai Xing and ally Luowasha finally entered safe worlds, embarking on distant cosmic journeys..."
"...This battle was called the Fire Battle. Since then, we have infinite potential and an unlimited future..."
"...In recent years, to ensure world stability, 256 towers have been established. These towers integrate technologies learned from the Ruined World, Pulaya, Luowasha, and other instance worlds, adopting thods similar to the Dawn System, Ideal Country Barrier, and Storm Barrier, erecting barriers at our planet’s edge while adjusting the planet’s interior in real ti. Each tower governs a part of our civilization’s area, overseen by a person of great strength and leadership—the ’Tower Master.’"
"There are 256 Tower Masters in total. These red towers are called ’Lighthouses,’ nad to commorate our World Master, Su Ming’an..."
In an auditorium filled with thousands of students, on the podium stands a white-haired young man.
A scar runs across his cheek, and he wears a black short coat and black boots. He resembles a swordsman more than a teacher.
—After the World Ga ended, Mo Yan chose to beco a history lecturer.
He was not fixed at one school but traveled to various schools to teach in rotation. Although the history of these Century Catastrophes is known to all children, so details still require firsthand narration and sorting.
Mo Yan didn’t know why he chose this occupation. Perhaps he should have beco a renowned hero, wielding a sword across the land, but the world no longer needed heroes.
So, he decided to follow the idea that erged in his heart—to beco a Recorder. The details of that year may not be clearly understood by many in the future, but he must rember, narrate, and pass them on.
To rember big brother.
The occupation of a teacher seems unrelated to him, yet when faced with Lin Yin’s question, "Mo Yan, what do you want to do in the future?" he thought of the spark left by big brother in White Sand Paradise, of big brother’s loud words to the apathetic people, and of the resounding lighthouses.
He thought of what big brother once said, to awaken the light in people’s eyes, using thought, not abusing force.
Perhaps it was that mont when Xia Luoyang’s gaze etched deeply into his bones, or perhaps it was Flax’s final smile that was too profound, that Mo Yan couldn’t help but think...
The world already had enough who wielded force and disobeyed the law; let him be a "hero" who changes people’s minds.
The true hero serves the nation and its people.
How is standing on this high stage not being a hero?
"Teacher! Teacher!" a student raised a hand from below the stage: "Who are the ’Tower Masters’? I only know that they are very strong."
Upon hearing this, other students cast disdainful glances. Not knowing this suggests neglect in history classes.
Mo Yan smiled and patiently replied:
"...Half of them are individuals who shone during world crises, like the renowned Sea Emperor, Lu Likalpos, mastering the ocean authority, has ascended to half high-dinsional, becoming the Tower Master of the sixth lighthouse. Also, the Dawn Angel Lin Yin, the Holy Judgnt Angel Anthony, and Master of Illusion Hua De..."
"...The other half are leaders of various guilds, forces, and alliances. For example, United Group’s Chief of Staff Aishikel, leading figure of new talent in Ancient Martial Arts Liu Changqing. Of course, there are also outstanding individuals among the six billion who never participated in the ga. After all, force does not represent everything; force is just a sharp blade that’s better kept in its sheath."
When everyone entered this small world, it indeed caused considerable turmoil. Many resorted to force, and so even attempted to initiate new wars. But this world was not as unprepared as Acto was back then—United Chairman Su Mianbao used the Ming’an System in the first instance to suppress the players causing chaos.
The first group of players led into the small world by Luna founded an army nad the "Yellow Rose Lock," distributed across 256 lighthouses.
As long as the top group of players who achieved godhood did not corrupt, this world wouldn’t suffer Acto’s past tragedy.
An utopia with no contradictions doesn’t exist, nor does absolute peace and happiness.
But at least, this is a world where everyone can live on.
"... We live in a world where the smoke of war has subsided." Mo Yan’s fingers rested on his waist, where a sheathed sword engraved with a scratched-out signature lay.
Since the World Ga ended.
This sword had never been drawn again.
"The high-dinsional covetousness, the organizers’ targeting, the traitor’s traps, internal harm, and distrust... we overca the hardest ordeals, endured a long and arduous journey, over four hundred million cycles of reincarnation, the pioneers’ sacrifices, which brought us to today."
"So..."
Facing thousands of bright eyes, he said nothing to encourage or inspire these children. He simply revealed a calm smile:
"...Dear students, please live well."
Please live well.
That was big brother’s hope.
Big brother, with such words, would you feel happiness underground?
...
Su Mianbao drives into the depths of the basent in her wheelchair.
Her youthful appearance has faded, and though infused with a large amount of life-sustaining potion, the long years have given her white hair and wrinkles on her good-looking face.
When Su Ming’an saw her across the screen back then, she was in a wheelchair not intending to imitate Acto, but because she had grown old and could hardly move.
"Click," "click," she unlocked the chains of a humanoid creature in the basent.
"...Go, you’re free now."
Su Mianbao calmly gazed at the humanoid creature.
This was a creation she had personally penned to imitate Lord Father God. Since the creation bore no resemblance to Lord Father God and often showed ugly, beast-like gestures, she had loathed it, even resorting to physical beating.
Today, the creation has not grown complete, still occasionally showing beastly gestures.
However, she should let go now.
Because Father God is gone.
A teardrop fell from her cheek. Su Mianbao was startled to find herself crying. As the Union Chairman, she didn’t know how long it had been since she last shed tears. It turned out that a monster like her, who only had civilization in her eyes, also had a heart.
Actually, as soon as Father God sent Luna and the others, Su Mianbao had a premonition... that Father God might never return.
So she prepared a bread-shaped ring in advance and gave it to Father God. However, Father God seed indifferent to this gift and did not wear it.
She accepted her fate as a tool, accepting all her hard work would only serve as a stepping stone for Father God’s civilization. She accepted being born in a small world, unable to transcend its limits despite her imnse talent because she knew that not accepting these truths would lead to her brethren’s demise.
She possessed very little.
She desired not much either.
The only wish she spoke was, "Wish Father God triumph in every battle."
"..." The humanoid quietly stood up, his appearance almost identical to Su Ming’an, with black hair trailing on the ground, like a wild man.
This was his first ti obtaining freedom in his life.
He took a few steps out, then turned back and looked at Su Mianbao.
"... Despite..." he began speaking in a halting voice: "Despite... my mory of you is all of... beatings... but... you are, after all, my... mother... can you give ... a na?"
Su Mianbao was silent for a long ti.
But the humanoid never left.
Until Su Mianbao’s barely audible voice slowly drifted over:
"Do not wash the red, wash more, the red fades."
"Your youth rides high, yesterday on the Yin Bridge we t."
"Return early from a marquis, do not be like an arrow on the string."
Su Mianbao knew that the Lord Father God ca from an extraterrestrial civilization, from a kingdom called Dragon Country. She was always trying to understand his likes, and she knew Dragon Country culture better than most in Dragon Country.
She was just mourning softly, paying no attention to the humanoid’s question.
Yet, the humanoid thought that this was his mother naming him.
"Your youth rides high, yesterday on the Yin Bridge we t." The humanoid gently nodded: "I understand, Mother. This will be the last ti I call you Mother. From now on, I will take a character from this poem as my na, called..."
"Su..."
His voice gradually faded away.
...
["Inspiration is a kind of ’future positioning’, allowing the things that flash in our minds to co from a future position, becoming a fixed module imprinted onto reality," said Sique.]
[The card drawing chanism is based on this sa principle.]
...
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
Beside the bustling road, there was an old abandoned bridge tunnel where so holess people used to spend the winter.
However, with the widespread implentation of the Ming’an System, the holess gradually found learning and work opportunities, becoming self-sufficient and independent.
Now, a swordsman in white often appeared in the tunnel.
He practiced his blade technique here, over and over again.
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
Over and over, over and over.
As if doing this could bring him inner peace.
After practicing his blade technique, he typically did two things: wander through the corners of the city to see if anyone was still in dire straits, and return to the Central United Governnt to gather and organize historical information about Su Ming’an, searching for any slight possibility of rebirth.
Lü Shu firmly believed that Su Ming’an was only sealed away in the forr Luowasha.
Perhaps he was still alive.
Perhaps he wasn’t entirely consud by the Devouring Fire.
Perhaps Noel Agnini had other secrets... Ha, Lü Shu didn’t think this notion was correct, but he preferred to believe it.
Lü Shu returned to the Central United Governnt.
Most of the familiar players had dispersed worldwide to maintain stability. Those left here were faces full of strangers.
Sotis, mingling among these strangers, Lü Shu would suddenly feel at a loss, like a rootless duckweed floating on a vast water surface, with his feet unable to touch the ground.
"’Cold-faced Asura’, you’re back?" At this mont, a voice ca from behind him.
Lü Shu turned around to see a woman with a white butterfly-shaped hairpin.
"... Don’t call that nickna." Lü Shu frowned.
What "Cold-faced Asura", what "Mantis Blade"... The nature of humanity never changes. Despite Lü Shu refusing the Tower Master’s position to live as an ordinary traveler, those who knew history kept giving him and these heroes such titles.
"What do you plan to do next?" Lin Yin crossed her arms. "As Tower Master, I’m so busy I barely touch the ground. You can’t just loaf around like a street hooligan every day."
They had already organized a journey.
After entering the small world, they completed a fusion with Zhai Xing thanks to the Eleventh Thrones. When they asked how the Eleventh Thrones accomplished this, it simply said it was its specialty.
Afterwards, they finally went to see the great snow of the North Country, the giant pandas of the Shu Region, the ani streets of Fusang, the ginkgo trees of Taihua Mountain... They experienced flying planes, firing cannons, piloting aircraft carriers... personally played the Lyra, and took many group photos...
This journey was beautiful. They didn’t deliberately hide past scars; instead, they exposed them openly, comforting and warming each other.
After the journey, they went their separate ways across the lands, each for world stability and their own ideals.
"I’m looking for a way to ascend to high dinsions." Lü Shu said candidly. Back then, he beca the Third-level God Abyss Master and still had potential for advancent.
Lin Yin’s eyes shifted slightly: "... What do you want to do?"
"Go back."
"... Heh, go back." Lin Yin had entirely expected this answer and sighed deeply:
"Actually, he hopes you’ll beco a complete person so you can embrace a new life."
She did not say who "he" was, but both of them understood.
"Mm." Lü Shu nodded slightly. "But this is also a new life... I must go back."
He already understood that he should stand independently from now on, so this decision was made after independent thinking.
When he said he was going back, he didn’t an returning to any kingdom or city.
But to a planet.
—He wanted to go back, to the abandoned Luowasha, to that planet that had been cast far away.
If Su Ming’an had already died, then he wanted to bring back his ashes.
If Su Ming’an was still buried beneath the World Tree, then he would dig him out.
... Just like at the start of Luowasha, he was going to dig him out from under the tree.
He didn’t want to leave him there alone.
There was nothing left there anymore.
People were heading towards the new world’s course, towards a bright future, with laughter, happiness, and hope, striding towards the light.
... But soone had to turn back, walk the other direction, to bring back the hero’s remains left in the night.
"What about Noel?" As Lü Shu turned, Lin Yin suddenly said, "If Noel’s remains are there too, what will you do?"
Lü Shu shook his head, paused briefly, said nothing, and soon left.
Amongst the crowds in black suits, the youth’s white clothing floated up like a pale cloud.
Lü Shu didn’t say anything, as nothing more needed to be said.
In the eyes of most people, if not all.
Noel Agnini was undoubtedly seen as a human traitor.
...
The "Spiritual Dream-Maker" Yuanyuan, entered this world one night.
In her hand was a star scepter, wearing a pink cat-ear cap, and carrying a bag of monkey head mushroom cookies.
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