Chapter 420 - 418: Seeking Answers

Chapter 420: Chapter 418: Seeking Answers

In his own world, Su Qing slowly built a small cabin.

He cleared land and planted crops.

He repaired the roads.

He planted flowers and plants.

’How on earth does Black Abyss know me?’

Su Qing was utterly bewildered.

Gazing at the Flower Sea before him,

Su Qing felt his heart relax.

He began to perform an Inference.

’When did Black Abyss come to know me?’

The Rule provided an answer: [366,831 Star Sea Eras ago, Black Abyss came to know you.]

This only made Su Qing more confused.

He began to use Standardization to perform an Inference on the ultimate question.

’Who am I, really?’

After thirty Inversions, the Rule gave another answer: [You are Su Qing.]

"..." Su Qing was speechless.

’Who was I, 366,831 Star Sea Eras ago?’

[Su Qing.]

"Damn it. I don’t know how to put this, but your Standardization is a little dense."

"Of course I know I’m Su Qing."

"But is the ’me’ of today the same ’me’ as back then?"

"Damn it."

Su Qing had never been so angry.

’What in the world is going on?’

’What is happening?’

Black Abyss’s existence made his current relationship with her...

...feel very much like how he had treated Su Shang at the start.

’Damn it all.’

’What is going on?’

’Maybe she has the wrong person.’

That red garment...

It was even stronger than the Greed Realm Immortal Robe, its defensive power unbelievable.

Even though it wasn’t a product of Standardization,

it was already more potent than the Greed Realm Immortal Robe.

’She was giving me a gift.’

Su Qing was getting frustrated.

Now, he too was curious about his past.

’How did I even run into Black Abyss?’

The thought made Su Qing extremely curious.

’What in the world was going on?’

’Especially with Su Shang.’

’That’s right.’

’Black Abyss obviously knows me.’

’So what’s the deal with Su Hongshang?’

’And Su Shang, what’s her story?’

Su Qing decided to find Su Shang.

「Inside the Exchange.」

"Kade." Su Qing sought out Kade once more.

"Greetings, My Lord."

"Help me find this girl."

With a wave of his hand, Su Qing used his Magical Power to form an image of Su Shang, allowing Kade to commit her appearance to memory.

"Money is no object."

"Not a problem, My Lord."

Kade accepted with a smile.

Su Qing tossed him a Star Fruit. "This is the deposit. The sooner, the better."

"Absolutely! One day. Just give me one day, My Lord."

"Mm."

Kade had received a Star Fruit as payment.

He was ecstatic.

What a truly generous lord.

Su Qing settled in to wait patiently.

For Su Qing, a single day was but the blink of an eye.

It was the perfect opportunity for Su Qing to try out the Ten Thousand Layers Forging.

The First Layer was simple enough.

But each subsequent layer...

...grew more and more difficult.

After half a day, Su Qing had only reached the Fourth Layer.

The Ten Thousand Layers Forging had almost instantly multiplied his power more than tenfold.

But alas...

this wasn’t the kind of progress Su Qing wanted.

He wanted something ultimate, a growth that reached the absolute pinnacle.

Kade returned.

"My Lord, I found her."

"She’s at this landmark in the Taichu Book Land."

"Good."

Su Qing nodded with a smile and memorized the landmark Kade gave him.

He handed Kade another Star Fruit.

Then he left the Exchange.

It was a transaction.

To the current Su Qing, Star Fruits...

...were of no use.

Perhaps only the Star Immortal Body was of any great use to him now.

Ever since Su Qing had used the Growth Ascension Daoist Initial Realm,

the rate at which his body absorbed the Power of the Stars had skyrocketed.

The Star Immortal Fire within him had already been ignited in four separate places.

The Power of the Stars that Su Qing commanded was increasing exponentially.

It could be said that it had almost surpassed his own Power of Space.

What was most remarkable was that he barely needed to practice any Cultivation.

It would continuously elevate him, improving his insight and application of the Power of the Stars.

It was like transforming from a Postnatal Mortal into an Innate Divine Spirit.

’So Su Shang is still here.’

Su Qing arrived at the Taichu Book Land.

He found the location.

He had come in secret,

so as not to disturb Su Shang.

The Flame Mark on Su Shang’s forehead was still as brilliant as ever.

Her Cloud Beasts were with her as well.

The Cloud Beasts surrounded her, shielding her from the prying eyes of other beings.

Su Shang was safe.

’Then who the hell is Su Hongshang?’

’And what’s the deal with Black Abyss?’

Su Qing turned and left.

’It’s best not to disturb her.’

Her current life...

...was already quite good.

His appearance would only disrupt her peace of mind.

’Black Abyss exists.’

’And so does Su Shang.’

Su Qing was starting to get really confused.

’Could they be Split Souls?’

’How else could they be so alike?’

Some mysteries...

...would still have to be solved by Su Qing himself.

He never thought that even at the Tenth Realm Daoist Initial Realm, he would be unable to uncover these secrets.

’Why is it that the more I advance,’

’the more mysteries I seem to encounter?’

’They just get harder.’

’More insane.’

’I don’t even know where the one who toys with fate is hiding.’

’And now there’s this past that I’m even more desperate to understand.’

’What a fucked-up world.’

Su Qing seethed with frustration.

He traveled alone to the former game world of the Mechanical Race.

Su Qing lay down in a certain spot.

And started playing a game.

KILL, KILL, KILL.

The world of the game, despite its many restrictions,

was very fair.

Su Qing could relax and control things, working with known variables.

This was something he could master.

But he could never quite grasp the tactics of certain players.

Because this was a game where hundreds of people fought to the death together.

There were bound to be some Old Silver Coins.

Even though Su Qing was very cautious in the game,

he was still outsmarted by an Old Silver Coin in a round or two.

The game’s limitations also became apparent.

While it was ninety-nine percent realistic, the pain simulation was only about ten percent.

Otherwise, it might have been a hundred percent.

After playing for a while,

Su Qing gave up.

"Sigh..."

"Forget it. I’m done playing."

Su Qing got up and left the game world.

The game was fun, sure.

But he could still be killed in the game.

He died in about one out of every ten matches.

It was all due to the high degree of randomness,

which made him not want to play anymore.

This was just like the Star Sea Great World itself.

Randomness.

Su Qing never knew what would happen next.

So the thought of wasting his time here...

...made him feel incredibly uncomfortable.

Something inside was compelling him to keep improving.

Because by forcing himself to improve, he could face the various problems of reality.

"The more powerful I become, the more insignificant I feel."

"Su Shang, Su Hongshang, Black Abyss."

"Hah..."

"What in the world is going on?"

"And I can’t even get rid of this mark on my forehead."

Su Qing touched the Flame Mark between his eyebrows.

He felt utterly helpless.

He returned to his own world.

The peace and beauty of this world, the Flower Sea swaying gently, the wind brushing past Su Qing with a soft caress...

All of it helped Su Qing relax.

He was glad he had changed his world.

It allowed him to unwind.

Another unknown leaf appeared in his hand.

A product of Standardization.

For Su Qing,

he was sick of eating them, but he had to keep eating.

He was sick of synthesizing them, but he had to keep synthesizing.

...

For Su Qing,

this was Growth.

He had to eat, even if he was sick of it.

He had to synthesize, even if he was sick of it.

Growth always required abandoning some unnecessary emotional gratification.

It required him to remain in a rational state of mind.

And to keep growing, always.

After half a year of this,

Su Qing finally saw the Skill Level of his Daoist Initial Cultivation Method increase by a tiny amount.

The terrifying aptitude requirements for this technique...

...were simply insane.

Su Qing alternated between eating fruits and leaves,

but was still astounded by how difficult it was to advance this Cultivation Technique.

To think it took so long.

"Looks like it’s time for another seclusion."

"A decade, at the very least."

Su Qing no longer cared much for the affairs of the outside world.

As for Su Shang and Liu Ling’Er, it was already for the best that he didn’t interfere in their lives.

He could just hire Kade to keep an eye on them.

...