Chapter 125: This World
Chi Di Nü sat slumped on the ground, her expression gradually calming as if she had realized something.
“I’ve always known that everything I did… wasn’t perfect,” Chi Di Nü said softly, regaining some of her former imposing demeanor. “But facing a great calamity, there has to be a path forward.
You have to understand, humanity now… no longer has the Heavens’ favor. The only ones we can rely on… are ourselves.”
She and Yao Ji had both personally experienced the Battle of Zhuolu and naturally knew its dangers. Even with the Heavens’ favor, humanity paid a heavy price.
If the ghost god disaster returned, even on a smaller scale, with humanity’s current weakened state, there was no chance of resisting it.
All of this was just a desperate gamble.
Yao Ji didn’t speak, turning to look at Chi Nü, signaling her to release her.
Chi Nü hesitated slightly, but still let go.
Yao Ji nodded to her, then walked step by step to Chi Di Nü and sat down before her.
“You know… I once divined the end of this world.”
“It was precisely because of the end you foretold that I made these drastic decisions,” Chi Di Nü said. “Your divination has always been accurate. Changing it requires a price.”
Free from the divine influence, she now admitted that these decisions were indeed drastic, but… if she had to do it again, Chi Di Nü wouldn’t change her mind.
Because from the beginning, these were Chi Di Nü’s own thoughts, the divine influence only strengthened her resolve.
“…I naturally know that.”
Yao Ji slowly closed her eyes.
It was precisely because she knew this that she had hesitated for so long.
After all, Yao Ji didn’t have an indifferent divine will to bear the burden of these decisions.
But could doing this truly save humanity from the destined ghost god disaster?
No one knew the answer.
“But Second Sister, they’re suffering too much.” Yao Ji opened her eyes and sighed softly. “Even now, I still remember the scenes of them wandering the wilderness for thousands of years.
Only when completely liberated by a miracle… could I see a glimmer of hope in their eyes.”
“After so many years, you’re still so weak.” Chi Di Nü shook her head, a disappointed look on her face, then turned to Luo Ling. “For this… you’re even willing to collude with ghost god minions?”
“…Your Majesty, you’re being quite rude.”
Luo Ling, initially intending to just watch from the side, not interfering in this family drama, couldn’t help but speak up after being called out by Chi Di Nü.
“Did I say something wrong?”
Chi Di Nü looked at Luo Ling’s hands, an unconcealed emotion flashing in her eyes.
Even Yao Ji looked at Luo Ling with a puzzled look.
Because the current Luo Ling, both in terms of aura and appearance, was undoubtedly a ghost god minion, completely different from the Miss Fairy she saw in the ruined city before, practically two different people.
“Of course you did!”
Chi Nü immediately retorted.
She didn’t care if it was right or wrong. This woman wanted to kill her Sister Yao Ji, so she was definitely a bad person.
And since she was a bad person, everything she said was definitely wrong.
“You’re… both right and wrong.”
Luo Ling walked over, casually stuck the Human Emperor’s Sword in the ground beside her, then sat down cross-legged, a strange look appearing on the faces of Yao Ji and Chi Di Nü.
Seriously, this was the Human Emperor’s Sword!
Although Yao Ji herself had just said that it wasn’t wielding the Human Emperor’s Sword that made one the Human Emperor, but the sword wielded by the Human Emperor that was called the Human Emperor’s Sword, regardless… this sword was the spiritual symbol of humanity’s will.
But in Luo Ling’s hands, it was treated like an ordinary weapon.
“The power I’m currently using is indeed… similar to the ‘ghost god’ power you mentioned.”
Luo Ling extended her grotesque hands. She used to be afraid of her own appearance, but after learning the truth, she could now face it calmly.
“But it doesn’t mean… I’m a ghost god minion. From the very beginning… ghost gods couldn’t affect me at all. The ‘ghost god’ power I wield doesn’t come from the ‘ghost gods’ themselves, but from myself.”
Just like the Authorities obtained and used by other ability users came from beings above the Sequence, Luo Ling’s were entirely her own. Her Doomsday and Transcendence were her own power, she just happened to be walking the same path.
Even when she first used this power, Luo Ling’s mind wasn’t deeply affected, only her personality slightly changed depending on the ability used.
Compared to now, Luo Ling in her usual state was much more reserved.
Unfortunately, Yao Ji and Chi Di Nü couldn’t understand Luo Ling’s words, their confusion deepening.
“But I saw you use the divine power bestowed by the Heavens before,” Yao Ji composed herself and continued, “How do you explain that?”
“What?”
It was Chi Di Nü who was surprised this time.
She looked at Yao Ji and Luo Ling in disbelief, her gaze shifting between them.
“Third Sister, do you mean… she still possesses the Heavens’ blessing?”
If it were before, Chi Di Nü would have just thought Yao Ji was making excuses for colluding with ghost god minions, but at this point, Yao Ji had no reason to lie.
So that meant…
Chi Di Nü looked at Luo Ling, who was sitting there with her arms crossed, her grotesque and alluring appearance making it hard to imagine any connection with the Heavens.
Moreover… the Heavens had abandoned humanity long ago, after the Battle of Zhuolu.
“It’s… both right and wrong.”
Luo Ling repeated her previous answer.
“Just like the ‘ghost god’ power, the ‘Heavens’ blessing’ I use doesn’t come from the Heavens, but from myself.”
Yao Ji and Chi Di Nü were still confused, while Chi Nü, unable to understand anything since the first sentence, stood aside and recovered.
She had just used the strange power bestowed by the “ghost gods” to save Sister Yao Ji from the Zhuxian Four Swords Formation, but it was her first time using this power, and she was a bit reckless.
Exhausting all her strength in that dangerous moment, afraid of the formation breaking through her ability, she now felt exhausted, leaning against a corner.
“Even so, I still have a question,” Yao Ji composed herself and said in a deep voice, “Why do you possess both the power of the ‘Heavens’ and the ‘ghost gods’? Wouldn’t they conflict?”
Luo Ling paused for a moment, then realized.
In this land of “Legend,” the concept of paths didn’t exist. Due to Mom Transcendence’s arrangements before its demise, this place directly connected to the source of the paths, Transcendence and Doomsday, without the six extended paths.
Therefore, they didn’t know that the paths had two opposing sides.
“What if I said… the so-called ‘ghost gods’ and the ‘Heavens’… are actually the same being… what would you think?” Luo Ling pondered for a moment and said.
“Absurd!”
Chi Di Nü scoffed, looking directly at Luo Ling, her face slightly pale.
“Even though the Heavens has abandoned us, It did protect us from the ghost gods in the past. If It is the ghost gods, why bother?”
Although Yao Ji didn’t speak, judging from her expression, she agreed with Chi Di Nü.
“This… is going to be a long explanation…”
Luo Ling couldn’t help but feel a headache. Explaining this from the beginning would take forever, and she currently couldn’t use Puppet Ballad, even if she had a memory packet, it wouldn’t be enough to contain all the details.
“Anyway, that’s the situation,” Luo Ling shrugged, “I can’t explain it. Believe it or not.”
“Heh…”
Chi Di Nü sneered, then her pupils constricted, and she coughed violently, her aura instantly weakening.
A large pool of foul-smelling blood appeared on the ground, corroding the surrounding sand.
“Second Sister, you…”
Yao Ji looked at the blackened sand, a shocked look on her face.
“Hehe, this day… has finally come…”
Chi Di Nü endured the pain, a bitter smile on her face.
“Could it be…”
Yao Ji looked at Chi Di Nü, suddenly recalling a long-circulating rumor.
“Exactly,” Chi Di Nü closed her eyes, “We, who personally killed Chi You, can’t escape the spread of the ghost god power.
First Ba, then Father, then me… and next… it’s your turn.
I’ve been using the power of the Human Emperor’s Sword to resist the spread of this injury, even at the cost of my own will, but after the sword was taken… my life has entered its final countdown.”
The Human Emperor’s Sword contained a trace of an outer god’s power. Although Chi Di Nü didn’t know this, she knew that the Human Emperor’s Sword was currently the only thing in this world that could resist ghost gods.
Yao Ji silently looked at Chi Di Nü. She didn’t feel much about her second sister’s impending death, but facing a similar fate herself, she felt at a loss.
It wasn’t that she feared death, but she was worried that, with her death, humanity would lose its last hope.
But if she took the Human Emperor’s Sword, would she become like Chi Di Nü?
Therefore, a rare look of struggle appeared on Yao Ji’s face.
This was a difficult dilemma.
Chi Di Nü struggled to stand up, strange characteristics appearing on her body, black qi surging.
Her fair skin began to decay in large patches, a putrid stench filling the air.
Her once beautiful face, ravaged by decay, became gruesome, although her expression remained the same.
Chi Di Nü looked up at the distant darkness and whispered, “Third Sister, it’s time for me to join Father. And you… what choice do you have?”
She gave Yao Ji a strange smile, then, using her last bit of strength, she rose into the air.
At the cost of completely burning herself out, she flew towards the distant darkness.
At the end of her life, Chi Di Nü made the same choice as the two Emperors, directly entering the ghost god domain.
Yao Ji silently watched her second sister leave, then looked at the Human Emperor’s Sword beside Luo Ling, her expression complex.
“If you want the Human Emperor’s Sword, just take it. I don’t need it,” Luo Ling said directly. “But… just like Chi Di Nü, using it… comes with a price.”
An outer god of unknown intentions, even Luo Ling couldn’t guarantee anything.
And she wasn’t sure if it was Chi Di Nü’s own choice that led to this, or the influence of the outer god within the Human Emperor’s Sword.
Luo Ling had taken all the other Authorities imbued into the Human Emperor’s Sword by Chi Di Nü, leaving only its essence, the part Luo Ling couldn’t interfere with.
After a moment, Yao Ji made her choice.
“Give me the Human Emperor’s Sword,” Yao Ji reached out and said, “I have to be responsible for all living beings.”
“Okay.”
Luo Ling pulled out the Human Emperor’s Sword and tossed it to Yao Ji.
Yao Ji caught the sword, gently holding the hilt, her expression turning even more complex.
She had once refused to bear this heavy responsibility, directly rejecting the chance to compete with her second sister for the title of Human Emperor.
But now…
She had no choice but to take this position.
“Miss Luo Ling, you seem to know… quite a lot.”
Yao Ji put away the Human Emperor’s Sword, looked up at Luo Ling, and whispered.
“Just a little more than you.”
Luo Ling said noncommittally.
“So, do you know… how to save this world?”
Yao Ji looked directly into Luo Ling’s eyes, a pleading look in her eyes.
“I… can’t say for sure,” Luo Ling shook her head. “The answer… you have to find it yourself.”
“Now it’s your turn to be cryptic.”
Yao Ji twitched the corner of her mouth, seemingly wanting to smile, but couldn’t.
“But I can tell you, the ghost gods… can’t be resisted, at least not by us.” Luo Ling said softly. “Chi Di Nü’s idea… was unrealistic from the beginning.”
No matter how much they sacrificed, when the final moment arrived, it would all be in vain.
“I see… actually, my divination also showed the same outcome, I just thought… we could still struggle a bit.” Yao Ji smiled wryly and shook her head.
“Since you already know it’s a hopeless endeavor, why… make so much effort?” Luo Ling whispered.
She knew her own answer.
But she wanted to know Yao Ji’s.
“Just… clinging to a pitiful, meager hope.” Yao Ji’s expression calmed slightly. “Even if I ultimately fail, at least I know… I tried my best.
My second sister is right, my personality is too weak. I can’t stand the suffering of living beings, even cherishing the smallest of lives, truly unworthy of being the Human Emperor.”
“No, no, that’s not true!” Just then, Chi Nü, who had recovered somewhat, jumped up, hands on her hips, and said, “That bad woman, the Human Emperor, can do it, why can’t my Sister Yao Ji?!”
“It’s not that simple…”
Yao Ji rubbed Chi Nü’s hair and said helplessly.
“Don’t belittle yourself! You’re not any worse than that bad woman!” Chi Nü said, puffing out her cheeks.
“These matters are complicated, not something that can be explained in a few words…”
Yao Ji smiled wryly. “You’re still young. You’ll understand when you grow up.”
“Then I’ll just… not grow up.”
Chi Nü squatted down, her cheeks still puffed out.
Luo Ling, exhausted after several days of high-intensity mental activity, found a place to sit down and said, “Yao Ji, I’ll probably be asleep for a long time, so listen carefully.”
“Hmm? Tell me.”
Yao Ji was slightly stunned, but suppressed her curiosity.
“Just like last time?”
Chi Nü was already familiar with this. Luo Ling slept for an entire month last time, even a pig couldn’t sleep that much.
“Yes.”
Luo Ling nodded and continued, “No matter what, don’t try to make any deals with the power within the Human Emperor’s Sword, even if you’ll eventually be consumed by the ghost god power and die.”
“Huh?”
Before Yao Ji could say anything, Chi Nü became anxious.
“How can you say that, Luo Ling? I trusted you so much, but you also want Sister Yao Ji to die?”
“Chi Nü, be quiet.” Yao Ji scolded Chi Nü, then said to Luo Ling, “I understand.”
“But…”
Chi Nü still wanted to say something, but Yao Ji glared at her.
“Because the consequence of accepting that deal… might be worse than death.”
Luo Ling said, recalling the tragic state of “Eternal Sky.” It was a failed attempt, although not entirely meaningless, the outcome… was truly heartbreaking.
Chi Nü still couldn’t accept this and turned her head away, crossing her arms.
But she couldn’t help but glance at Luo Ling, an indescribable emotion in her eyes.
“Also, don’t try to resist the ghost gods and start another ghost god war. Find… another way,” Luo Ling continued.
“This… okay, I understand.”
Yao Ji nodded reluctantly. Although she couldn’t stand Chi Di Nü’s cruel methods of preparation, she didn’t completely want to abandon this approach.
She only half-heartedly listened to Luo Ling’s words.
However, at this point, this was all Luo Ling could say.
An overwhelming drowsiness finally arrived, lulling Luo Ling to sleep.
The demon-like girl slowly closed her eyes, the scales on her body disappearing inch by inch, revealing her delicate face.
“Chi Nü, take Miss Luo Ling, from now on… you’ll take care of her,” Yao Ji said wearily, “I… have other matters to attend to.”
“Oh…”
Chi Nü was still slightly dissatisfied with Luo Ling’s previous words, but she carefully picked up the girl’s body and carried her on her back, just like a month ago.
“This world…”
Yao Ji held the Human Emperor’s Sword, looked up at the endless darkness in the distance, and sighed softly.
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