Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 2198: Chapter 2193: All Things Without Spirit

"Interesting idea."

After presenting a certain conjecture, Fu Qian even shared the fruit and sugar theory, and the witch who listened earnestly finally nodded.

"But unfortunately, I don’t seem to be able to serve as an example myself. I’m quite sure that my authority and status are still complete."

Of course, the Pontiff’s confidence remained as ever, and in the next moment, he shifted the conversation with a touch of Versailles.

"I feel the same way. At least the impression you give is highly consistent with the Dark Moon I’ve encountered before."

The Temple Knight had long been accustomed to mutual flattery, instantly agreeing like heroes who share the same view.

"So according to your understanding, is this place a compensatory scene formed due to the missing foundation of the world?"

A truly confident person never gets lost in praise. The witch nodded slightly and immediately returned to the main matter.

"Indeed, it’s a reasonable inference. First, it explains these desires."

Without a doubt, she valued Fu Qian’s thoughts a lot, even agreeing with them.

"The missing thing does seem to be some sort of world foundation—so many transcendent creations desire it. Even if it’s such a false compensation, it will still provoke greed once exposed."

The witch spread her hands, showcasing the remaining three nails.

Previously somewhat indefinable, it now seems describable as stealing something and getting one’s hand chopped off?

"Then aside from this, it seems possible to use this place to infer what’s missing. After all, no matter how crude or twisted, it should still express some concept. What do you think it is?"

Highly recognizing the Temple Knight’s report and deriving two key points from it, she continued to consult Fu Qian’s thoughts.

"I agree."

The witch’s analysis met with deep approval from Fu Qian.

The strange facade of this place might potentially help deduce what’s missing—so what is missing?

Fu Qian’s gaze fell on the Deer Car, yet saw it also staring intently at this side.

"Artificial spirituality?"

Ignoring this desire, what emerged in Fu Qian’s mind was the tool the witch used to find this place.

...

"It matches the impression, the shape of that bird does have a certain representativeness."

In thoughtful consideration, the witch clearly knew what Fu Qian had thought of.

"When sensing its connection to this place, I had considered such associations. But isn’t it somewhat superficial, insufficient to summarize this place as a whole?

"And such a simple characteristic shouldn’t attract such broad appeal either?"

While acknowledging, the witch continued raising questions.

"True, but the reason I said this is because I suddenly thought of whether the range of artificial life could be expanded a bit?"

Fu Qian evidently had considered this earlier, pointing around.

"The dolls certainly are a straightforward representation, but what about the stories? Do the characters within count as a form of artificial life too? I encountered a similar example before."

...

"Any transcendental imitation of life, supernatural nature of life—it’s that lost thing? Seems it indeed makes sense."

The example that inspired Fu Qian was naturally the near-legendary Midas during the Night Holy City.

Although the two worlds might not be directly comparable, at least in the concept of artificial life, Fu Qian’s acceptable definition became more inclusive.

And faced with his sharing, the witch momentarily fell into contemplation.

While muttering to herself, she casually shattered a cluster of seeping heat.

Considering Fu Qian’s capability tests had already concluded, she clearly did not intend to have him act injured.

"Real flesh transforming into non-biological forms, even the definition of self is shifting, and such a toy workshop seems only suitable to exist in stories... Here is the world’s stress response to the loss of artificial spirituality."

Ping—

While making such a gesture, she did not forget to flick the nail in her hand, feeding it to the Deer Car over there.

"And these things’ desires can also be understood, especially that non-biological part."

"Quite remarkable. It’s a pity this loss occurred before my birth, otherwise I might have defined this point earlier, including making confirmatory judgments now."

...

Indeed, relative to those many old folks encountered, the witch was excessively young.

Almost born as a Superior Being, she inherited hardly any memory or knowledge.

Faced with the witch’s introspection, what Fu Qian thought of was her uniqueness.

Since their first meeting, she felt special, and encountering Dark Moon later during the Long Night made this feeling even stronger.

In Fu Qian’s view, within this Doomsday, the Dark Moon Cult Leader before him was actually "pure" to some extent.

"No need to rush to judgment. Consider what such a change truly signifies, if it’s real."

While feeling sentimental, Fu Qian also directly pulled the topic back to the beginning.

The reason for coming here was because he could suddenly travel back and forth to the warehouse.

This unusual experience prompted doubts, seeking signs the world was undergoing changes.

After some efforts and successfully inferring the origin of this place, pondering the cause of the unique changes in the gift seemed worthwhile.

"Some reward was replaced, yet hasn’t impacted stability—could indicate particularly special changes are happening, perhaps conceptual pollution."

The witch continued to seek advice.

"But considering this is fundamentally a false facade, it currently may not be concluded that the world’s foundation underwent some essential change. After all, its foundation has long been gone."

Her analysis sounded quite pragmatic, without assumptions.

"However, if this place is indeed of the nature we’ve deduced, I do have a way to trace it appropriately without destroying it."

Ping—

Of course, at the same time, the witch didn’t become rigid and play the role of Academy researchers, forgetting her own might; in the next moment, she flicked out another nail.

Oh?

If I remember correctly, wasn’t that the twelfth one?

The Pontiff was indeed imposing, Fu Qian felt nothing amiss.

Watching the other person’s actions, Fu Qian naturally thought of a number—indeed.

In the next moment, the Deer Car, feasting eagerly, trembled and once again offered a reward; a familiar insect shell dropped out from the box on its back.

This time, it still didn’t land, though the witch didn’t reach out to catch it either.

In that instant, the rolling insect shell seemed surrounded alternately by moonlight and darkness, finally shattering into points of light.

But compared to last time, the light did not dissipate as quickly; instead, it transformed rapidly, stretching into a blurred scene.

This is...

Although ethereal, Fu Qian who was fully attentive noticed an interesting figure within it.

The Interlocutor?