allendalepharm Chapter 76 Blank Reminiscences - Blank Departure Poem - Part 1
Chapter 76 Blank Reminiscences - Blank Departure Poem - Part 1
(This chapter omits some content compared to the outline; you can skip to the comments at the end of the chapter first.)
Deep within the narrow passage of fate lies a blurred zone between the concepts of time and existence.
Qingyuan floated in the chaotic energy known as the "Sea of Existence," her body like ice crystals immersed in strong acid, the edges beginning to blur and become transparent, gradually turning into shimmering dust and dissipating into the invisible tides.
The process was silent and slow, carrying a sense of irreversible destiny.
Not far away, the enormous "Great Bluebird," shrouded in a hazy glow, silently watched all of this.
His gaze was calm and unwavering, as if what he saw was not the dissipation of an independent entity, but merely a drop of water evaporating from the ocean, or a leaf falling from the forest.
There was a tenderness in that gaze that transcended the mundane, for perhaps all that vanished belonged to Him; and there was also an absolute indifference that looked down upon all living beings, for the annihilation of the individual was insignificant in the face of the grand "existence".
Zandal I. Kuwabara stood in the distant void, his gaze shifting between the Great Bluebird and the gradually disintegrating Blue Kite. In his eyes, sharpened by calculation and observation, this hazy star god displayed contradictory qualities.
"If this 'blank' experiment succeeds," he murmured to himself, his voice echoing only in his own thoughts, "then perhaps the spark of civilization throughout the entire galaxy can truly break free from the eternal cycle and doomsday shadow bred by the very concept of 'existence' itself."
Theoretically, this is the optimal solution.
He paused for a rare moment, as if dealing with some complex internal entanglement.
"At this moment, purely rational deduction seems to be intertwined with and conflicting with my emotional assessment..."
This means that, beyond the cold, hard probability of success, he "felt" something else that is difficult to quantify with data.
Beyond the narrow confines of fate lies the dimension of reality.
Blank knelt on the cold ground, his hands futilely pressing against Qingyuan's semi-transparent, almost untouchable body outline.
A powerful and unique "blank" force continuously surged from her hands, attempting to fill, stabilize, and reverse the dissipating process, but it was like clear water flowing through sand, instantly seeping away without a trace, unable to even stir up a ripple.
Tears blurred her vision, rolling down in large drops that landed on Qingyuan's illusory robes and pierced through them.
"My power... is now completely useless..." Her voice broke, filled with desperate sobs, and she suddenly turned to Xi Lian beside her, "Xi Lian! That great formation! The transformation formation you prepared!"
I need power, more power! If... if I could return to my prime, perhaps... perhaps there would still be a chance to stop her!
Xi Lian stood silently to the side, a heavy gloom shrouding her beautiful face.
She looked at the almost frantic hope in Blank's eyes, her lips trembled slightly, but in the end she said nothing.
Even with her full power as the envoy who controls "memory" and can interfere with the form of existence, she could not slow down Qingyuan's dissipation in the slightest. This clearly points to a higher level of power—the great power of a star god is acting on Qingyuan's essence.
As for Blank... her ability is extremely unique, and its influence can exhibit the domineering characteristic of "only looking at the quantity, not the quality", and can trigger a strange qualitative change effect through quantitative change.
This may be the only theoretical hope that exists.
However, the power eroding Qingyuan from the unknown star god was clearly increasing in tandem, as if it were racing against the power of emptiness.
But... what if? Perhaps this desperate attempt is itself part of the "possibility"?
Xi Lian closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, her gaze was resolute and profound: "...Okay. Let's try."
Within the divination array, the scene was completely different.
Thirteen "Golden Descendants," each with a unique appearance and radiating a dazzling light and ancient aura, stood solemnly in a circle.
In the center of the formation, Bai E and Qing Yuan lay quietly.
A powerful array hummed, its light swirling, forcibly dragging a past sealed away by time and secrets before our eyes—
That was the scene when "Blank" had just stepped into the realm of "Scepter". At that time, her power had not yet dissipated, and her eyes held the budding curiosity and undiminished sharpness.
"If it were me..." The young Blank examined the rules and energy structure flowing inside the "scepter," and murmured to himself, with a natural sense of control, "I should be able to manipulate a part of it."
The first person she encountered was "Lygus". This ancient guide was not hostile, but rather advised her in a peaceful manner to return to the complete system of the "scepter", to complete herself, and to fulfill a certain predetermined duty or destiny.
But Blank refused.
Her answer was clear and firm, carrying an unshakable will: "Aside from the teacher's guidance, I want to ask: By what right?"
Regardless of how I have been defined in the past, the "I" standing here at this moment is who I am.
What I'm looking for is my own 'true self,' not a return to some pre-set template.
Their differing ideologies ignited a sudden conflict. A tremendous energy clash erupted between Blank and Laigus, their rules clashing, sparks flying everywhere. Just as the battle was reaching its climax, Bai'e abruptly entered the fray!
His movements were as fast as a ghost, but his target was not Lai Gu Shi; instead, he went straight for Kong Bo!
The blade-like light in his hand didn't pierce her bare body directly, but instead slashed sharply to her side—
A strange spatial rift suddenly opened up, its interior flowing with a dark luster that was neither gold nor iron, but seemed to be composed of pure "concepts." It was a rift leading to a certain realm deep within the "scepter."
Caught off guard, just as Blank was about to dodge, Bai E's enormous wings swept across like a shadow. It wasn't a heavy blow, but a subtle and irresistible pushing force.
"Do not yield to him or to them."
In the final instant before being swept into that unknown rift, Blank clearly saw Bai E's lips open and close, silently conveying those words.
Then, endless darkness and a feeling of weightlessness engulfed her, and the clues from the past came to an abrupt end.
The radiance of the divination array continued to flow, like a river reflecting the past, clearly showing everyone the next stage of "Blank's" journey after stepping into the scepter.
Leaving the chaotic airspace after his clash with Lycus, Blank walked alone through the dazzling geometric corridors inside the scepter.
Everything here seems to be sculpted from solidified energy and supreme laws, shimmering with light and breathtaking beauty, yet also eerily silent and cold, filled with an inhuman, life-rejecting sense of alienation.
Just as she was trying to understand a node of light with pulsating runes, Feng Jin appeared from behind a rotating prism of light.
She possessed a gentle and refined demeanor, her simple attire radiating an extraordinary subtle light, and the healing aura emanating from her was like a silent comfort. Upon seeing the blank space, a hint of undisguised surprise flashed across Feng Jin's eyes, quickly transforming into deeper worry and a sense of understanding.
"You shouldn't be wandering around here alone," she said quickly, her voice low but urgent, filled with undeniable concern. "This area is especially dangerous for someone like you... Something can 'sense' you. We must inform Teacher Naka immediately."
"Naka... Teacher?" This title stirred up some vague connections in the blank memories.
Feng Jin didn't say much, but simply gestured for her to follow. The two hurried through the intricate, seemingly endless corridors of light and floating platforms, finally arriving at a courtyard bathed in pure, soft light.
In the center of the courtyard, Xia's figure seemed to be formed from countless silent dust particles, ethereal yet solemn. His gaze fell upon Blank, as if it could penetrate all appearances and reach the core of its existence—a chaotic and undefined essence containing infinite possibilities.
After a brief moment of silence, Xia's voice seemed to travel through time: "Your arrival is an unplanned ripple, but it may also be the key to opening a certain door. Some old truths that have been deliberately buried may need an unconventional 'variable' like you to touch and reveal them."
He turned to Feng Jin, his tone shifting to a clear command: "The great tomb of the Titans, the heart of the Demiurge."
Not only do the remains of ancient megastructures lie dormant there, but they also seal away crucial fragments that could shake our current understanding. Take her there, Feng Jin.
This journey, for both her and you, is a necessary trek and a trial.
Feng Jin nodded solemnly, accepting the mission. The journey to the Titan Tomb was thus decided. This was by no means a aimless adventure, but a strategic decision made based on Naxxia's profound insight into the situation inside and outside the Scepter and his assessment of the special nature of the Void.
Just before their departure, a new member joined the team. Saifeier joined like a joyful sprite of light, her liveliness and unreserved curiosity about the unknown injecting a bright touch and unpredictable variables into this destined-to-be arduous journey.
Aglaia followed silently, her aura as cold and icy as ice. The intricate mechanical structure on her arms reflected a faint light. She herself was a weapon forged to deal with extreme dangers, providing solid protection and the ability to eliminate decisively when necessary.
And so, a special squad consisting of Feng Jin, Blank, Sai Fei'er, and Aglaia quietly left the relatively stable inner ring area of the scepter and headed toward the desolate graveyard where the legendary creator "Titan" was buried, and the mysterious "Demyogo Central Hub" located in its heart.
However, the journey to the tomb was not easy.
They encountered the "Black Tide"—not an ordinary storm of matter or energy, but a corrosive, malevolent undercurrent of nothingness that was hostile to orderly existence.
It surged like a living thing, attempting to devour light, disintegrate form, blur perception, and even disrupt the linearity of time. The wind violet maintained a stable navigational and protective force field, struggling to find a path amidst the intervals of the black tide;
With her amazing intuition and agility, Saifeier detected a fleeting safety gap in the chaotic energy turbulence.
Aglaia remained at the forefront of the defense, using precise and powerful attacks to disperse the surging tentacles that got too close and posed a physical threat.
The existence of the void itself seemed to have a peculiar attraction and repulsion to the black tide. She did not directly participate in the confrontation, but the void power that flowed naturally around her and resonated faintly with the "scepter" stabilized the rules of a small area around the team invisibly, protecting it from the most thorough erosion.
After many twists and turns and several close calls, they finally reached the outer perimeter of the Titan's Tomb.
It was a desolate dead zone composed of massive metal debris, solidified energy clusters, and incomprehensible non-geometric structures, eerily silent. The group remained on high alert, especially wary of a possible ambush from Laigus—given his position and capabilities, setting up an obstacle here was perfectly reasonable.
However, the anticipated ambush did not materialize. They cautiously ventured deep into the tomb's core, repeatedly conducting reconnaissance, setting up warning signs, and probing for energy trajectories, but to no avail.
Lai Gushi seemed to have truly allowed them to enter this forbidden area. This unusual "smoothness" only made the atmosphere more tense.
Finally, they stood before the Demogue Central Hub. It was not the enormous control core they had imagined, but a relatively compact, complex mechanical structure with a torrent of dark gold data flowing across its surface, quietly suspended in the center of a spherical space at the deepest part of the tomb.
The void did not "devour" or "merge" the central energy according to some latent expectation or instinctive impulse. She reached out, not to touch, but to guide her unique void power to gently envelop it, as if performing a precise awakening ritual. Her power was not to plunder, but to "manifest," to allow what was hidden to appear in its most essential state.
The dark golden torrent on the surface of the central structure suddenly accelerated, emitting a low hum, and the structure began to deform and unfold... What finally appeared was not the expected control interface or knowledge base, but a miniature, grotesquely structured, and familiar creation exuding a cold, destructive aura—
That was a "small iron tomb".
Although its size was far smaller than that of the legendary cosmic calamity, its structural features and energy signature undoubtedly belonged to the same lineage. As soon as it fully manifested, it immediately activated, and several scarlet locking beams swept towards everyone present, initiating a miniature but deadly annihilation program.
"Explain yourself, Miss Xi Lian." Feng Jin's voice turned cold as she looked at Xi Lian (the real Xi Lian) who was pale-faced outside the divination array. "Why is this kind of thing sealed in the Demyoge Central Hub? Fragments of the 'Iron Tomb'?"
In reality, Xi Lian (or rather, her consciousness projection) shook her head outside the formation, her eyes also filled with shock and confusion: "I...I don't know. I had no intention of devouring or releasing anything destructive...I just hoped 'she' could come back...Perhaps, only when the real 'she' returns can we correctly interpret or control everything sealed there..." Her voice was filled with helplessness and bewilderment.
"Where is Xi Lian herself?" Sai Fei'er (the inferred image) asked, staring warily at the small iron tomb that was charging.
"Silence." In the deduced vision, Xia's voice seemed to transcend time and space, resounding directly in everyone's consciousness, carrying a calming majesty, "The central manifestation of this object may reveal part of the answer—the 'destruction' represented by the Iron Tomb may itself be an 'answer' or a 'solution' derived when the scepter attempts to answer an ultimate question."
It is sealed here, like a warning of danger or a last resort that has not yet been used.
He paused briefly, then continued, his tone becoming more profound: "As for Xi Lian... her essence is likely to have a deeper, more extraordinary connection with the destiny of 'memory'."
Her form of existence may be special; her consciousness or essence may not have completely dissipated, but rather scattered into fragments related to 'memory'.
To call her back, what's needed is no longer ordinary treatment, but the collection of fragmented memories deeply connected to "Xi Lian"—those intense emotional memories that bear the imprint of her existence. Gathering these fragments might rekindle the candle of her being.
The deduced scene slowly faded away, leaving the threat of the Little Iron Tomb, the mystery of Xi Lian's true nature, and the arduous hint of collecting memory fragments to the silent crowd outside the formation.
The threads of reality and the past intertwine at this moment, pointing towards a more vague yet also more definite direction.