Chapter 183

Chapter 183: Chapter 181: "The Tenth Day"I’ve hidden the medicine paste," he said, "and also, don’t call me big sister."

"Little..."

"I won’t accept ’miss’ either."

Qingqing pouted, seemingly a bit disheartened.

Just then, Mo Mo pushed the door open.

Everything was the same as in the previous loops.

In the afternoon, Su Ming’an still gathered everyone in the town, awakened their abilities, and obtained the complete Innate Bloodline Awakening Formation.

He guessed the reason Holy Initiation had spared him the previous loop was because he had proven that he really had developed the Array, and the future was promising.

So, Holy Initiation didn’t come until the tenth day ended.

But Hui Shuhang had died.

If it weren’t for this Ruler’s Quest, Su Ming’an wouldn’t choose to reset; HE had also achieved a Perfect Pass, although unlike TE, he couldn’t see the entire world storyline, it was still enough.

But this time it was different... he must save Hui Shuhang, and that meant he had to go to the Regular Army’s base to find out what exactly happened on the tenth day.

He still chose to go to the north gate, killed Xu Anna, and fused with the Prophetic Gemstone.

At night, he still spent the night in the basement, and knowing nothing would happen that night, he slept utterly soundly.

When the daylight slanted through the cracks and spilled over his body, he opened his eyes, his whole body cold as ice.

Dragging his heavy steps, he came out of the basement, not hiding in the slightest, and went straight to the central square.

Just as that young man had been pulled out and had not yet been killed, he appeared in front of everyone.

"I’ll go back with you."

He said.

At that moment, he felt that everyone’s gaze on him was completely different from the previous loop.

Gratitude, excitement... such positive emotions surged onto him in an instant.

Being respectfully escorted away by the junior Leader, he glanced at Qingqing, who was following behind, and at Mo Mo, who was kneeling beside them like last loop, abject like a dog, begging him to leave Qingqing, but he said nothing.

Along the way, snow mixed with wind, the snow crystallizing on his face, gradually unable to melt.

... because their temperatures had become the same.

When nearing the base, he entered through a side door, as the main gate was already surrounded by the Revolutionary Army, engaged in a fierce siege battle.

When he returned to that square, he was still a bit dazed, but it wasn’t until he saw the little girl waiting at the doorway that his heart finally settled.

"You’re back."

Hui Shuhang lifted her skirt in a curtsy, her movements proper, her tone calm. It was as if Su Ming’an had never fled, but had simply returned from an ordinary parade.

A tea set floated next to her, and then, the tea was quickly brewed, presented in her hands.

"It’s still your favorite temperature," she said, looking at him with eyes calm as a lake. "I’ve always been preparing for you."

With a touch from Su Ming’an’s finger, the temperature was still slightly cool.

"I don’t like this temperature," he said bluntly.

"Okay," Hui Shuhang didn’t react strongly, but chose to brew the tea again.

Su Ming’an realized then, maybe Hui Shuhang had long understood; he wasn’t Qin Wang.

A person who often worried about not waking up from sleep, a person who was particularly sensitive to the cold, would he truly like such a cool temperature?

Perhaps, she had understood from the very first time she brewed tea for him, that Qin Wang had already died.

He silently watched her make the tea again, and then, he stuffed a steaming bowl of tea into his palm.

He held it up and then gently took a sip.

Hui Shuhang watched him, his expression turning indifferent.

Feya hurried back from the army.

The first thing she did was rush to Qin Wang’s room.

But as she passed by the laboratory, she heard a series of cheers.

The joyous cheers were highly contagious. Peering through the open door, she saw a gigantic array pulsating beneath everyone, radiating a sunlight-like glow.

She didn’t know that at this moment, Su Ming’an, constantly at the top of the Contribution Value list, had suddenly gained two hundred thousand points.

An unimaginable number that instantly surpassed all other eager players.

They stared dumbfounded at this suddenly soaring, outrageous number, all guessing what exactly Su Ming’an had done.

But she could probably guess.

The Talent Array had succeeded.

She dashed violently towards the second floor, moving through the servants walking about like a fish through the waves. The flickering light in that not-so-large body of water guided her swiftly forward.

She stepped onto the corridor, her footsteps swift, with her thin sword almost visible in her hand.

She pushed open the door, lifted the white curtain, and collided with a pair of eyes as cool as the pale moonlight fused together.

She stood stunningly in place, staring at the young man seated before the mirror.

His silky silver hair was neatly tied up, hanging properly at the back of his head, with a few stray tufts on his forehead neatly arranged with a transparent clip, exposing cheeks as radiant as the eastern dawn.

The young man’s facial features were delicate, and the soft moonlight in his eyes seemed to solidify, emitting an inviolable majesty.

The white holy robe with golden edges covered his entire body. Every piece of silver silk embroidery was exquisitely intricate, gleaming lavishly under the light.

At this moment, he sat upright, while Hui Shuhang was adjusting the final hem of his robe.

"You still came back." Feya stood in place, "You shouldn’t have come back."

"...What would you have done if I hadn’t come back?" Su Ming’an lifted his eyes, "I know you have worked hard, Feya. But I think, maybe there are some things I still haven’t understood."

"What do I need to do?"

"Do what you want to do." Su Ming’an said, "This is your world, and now I also have my ideas."

Feya looked at him, dressed in ceremonial attire. She knew this was the attire for the highest standard of coming-of-age ceremonies, and today, the highest standard of coming-of-age ceremony was to be held.

She had been here for nineteen years and also knew the symbolism of the coming-of-age ceremony—it represented growth, blessing, and was filled with the beautiful aspirations of elders for the younger generation.

But Feya clearly knew this was not a ceremony representing anything beautiful, but rather a conspiracy pushing him towards death.

Everyone in the world was watching him, watching him step by step towards a grand death, but no one offered a helping hand.

"You’ve always been very sure." Feya suddenly spoke, "I understand now, I’ll do as I originally planned, take care of yourself."

"Okay."

Feya glanced at him, then turned and left.

The current situation in the battle had reached a critical point; she had to enter the fray and disrupt the battle now.

Meanwhile, back in the room, Su Ming’an glanced at Hui Shuhang, who was arranging his clothes.

The dappled halo shone on her face, her wine-red eyes emitting a stream-like fragmented light.

"Holy Initiation?" he asked.

"Your Majesty is preparing your coming-of-age ceremony."

"When do I go to die?"

Hui Shuhang gave a bitter smile. "You won’t die."

"The ceremony is scheduled for the afternoon, probably around that time," Su Ming’an said. "That altar must be my final resting place, right? Is there some kind of sacrificial array set up to send me to my death directly then?"

Hui Shuhang glanced at him.

Then, he took his hand and gently kissed it.

There was no hint of romantic desire, like a believer kissing a holy relic.

"You won’t die," she said. "The Emperor and I have come to understand that you are undoubtedly the future."

Su Ming’an laughed lightly, again with the "future." In which cycle had he not been the future? In the end, they would kill him without any discussion.

"Anyway, I am already back," he said, placing the Contribution Value notebook supplemented by the Talent Formation on the table. "Whatever you want to do with this result, it doesn’t matter anymore. Whether to consolidate power or establish a theocracy, it all doesn’t matter. I have completed the results, even if you still refuse to let go, I also..."

He had already given up, this cycle he had come looking for clues as to why Hui Shuhang died. Once he knew the result, he would reset and look for another chance to get her out.

"No."

Hui Shuhang looked up at him, her eyes gleaming like stars, her tone almost devout:

"—Your achievements will spread across the continent like the wind."

Outside the transparent glass window was a blue-purple galaxy. The daylight cast brilliant ribbons of light on her face, and the little girl slightly tilted her head, her eyes lingering with melancholy.

Su Ming’an had not yet deciphered anything from this conversation when he heard a heavy bell ringing through the square.

—The ceremony was about to begin.

Although the Revolutionary Army was still gathering outside the city and the bloody battle continued, the coming-of-age ceremony was still to take place as scheduled.

Qingqing had already been placed outside the city; he felt it would be dangerous inside, so he did not let her come in.

Hui Shuhang walked by his side, accompanying him along this long corridor, her hand tightly gripping his, constantly transmitting warmth to him.

The square under the window was clearly visible; when he looked over, the servants had already disappeared, but the channel chat was still very lively:

Su Ming’an went downstairs, and immediately, a dozen neatly dressed researchers followed, each one calling out "Congratulations, teacher."

He knew these researchers were brainwashed entities; the real thinkers among them were currently on the battlefield outside the city.

There were also many gorgeously dressed nobles, standing solemnly on both sides of the path. They seemed to have been waiting here for a long time, their legs somewhat weak.

But their expressions were very happy.

Su Ming’an knew it.

He bore the bloodline of an evil dragon, a source that resonated with many malicious intents. If he were to die, the uprising of demon beasts would be greatly subdued, and the environment wouldn’t be polluted to such a dreadful extent that it would snow daily.

Just like now, it was snowing heavily in the square, which usually enjoyed clear skies.

...and all this would be subdued after his death.

All things would revive and flourish.

Although this was only temporary, as once the next generation with the bloodline of the evil dragon was born, everything would replay. But until then, people would enjoy this brief peace.

Along the way, Hui Shuhang had explained everything about him, seemingly wanting him to die informed.

Qin Wang’s eyes opened in the Holy Temple, where he indeed had been born.

Though his parents were very normal, he was born with the bloodline of an evil dragon.

Fortunately, when young, the traits of the evil dragon’s bloodline were not evident, and the consequences weren’t so severe.

But as Qin Wang grew older, and the resonance of the bloodline grew stronger, he realized he needed to die.

Especially during the coming-of-age ceremony... Once he came of age, all the malice would erupt instantaneously, likely turning him fully into a true evil dragon.

And after Qin Wang’s death, the next generation with the bloodline of the evil dragon would appear, continuing endlessly.

Unless the source of the malice could be found, this cycle of inheritance would never stop generation after generation.

"How did this bloodline come to be..." Su Ming’an felt puzzled.

Hui Shuhang shook her head.

Her eyes contained deep sorrow: "I also do not know."

"Is there a way to completely prevent it?"

"..." Hui Shuhang remained silent for a moment, "Only if someone could be found to completely suppress it, allowing it to permanently remain inside the body and unable to resonate with the outside world."

Su Ming’an received this clue, but still could not solve the problem at its root.

Suppressing a bloodline... This was a clue without any leads, completely disconnected from the previous ones, leaving him unable to think of any solution.

While he was thinking, he saw the Master of Death Endings waiting for him on the high platform.

"For the Holy Initiation bloodline of the 127th generation of the Regular Army, blood-named Holy Initiation." Holy Initiation stood at the end of the golden carpet on the high platform, holding a crown, watching him slowly ascend the steps:

"... to hold the coming-of-age ceremony for the Holy Initiation bloodline of the 127th generation of the Regular Army, Qin Wang · Saint Abyss."

Su Ming’an lifted his head.

He felt as if the platform in front of him was like a giant open mouth, just waiting for him to willingly step into it, and then completing the one above, the Ruler, in his era of prosperity.

It was now half-past noon on the tenth day. He remembered that at about one o’clock in the afternoon, an explosive shock wave suddenly burst out from the Regular Army’s station, then everything around became a wasteland.

At that time, the greenery faded, flowers withered, and even the heavy snow had ceased. Although he felt the warmth slowly rising around him, the path ahead was unknown, everything was out of control, and it signaled that Hui Shuhang had suddenly died. He needed to know what exactly had happened during this time.

He slowly ascended the staircase, watching this Majesty solemnly placing the crown upon his head.

... It was clearly a push towards death, yet carried with such decorum, truly befitting a supreme Ruler, masterfully disguising the malice.

But soon, Su Ming’an reacted from Holy Initiation’s previous words.

At the same time, he also remembered Hui Shuhang’s previous address to him.

He suddenly felt like laughing.