The wind surged, the clouds churned, and the earth trembled.
The vibrant energy from Fu Xiuning and the surrounding environment poured into Xing Shi in an endless stream.
They had suspected that the world consciousness might help them, and now, without needing words, both instinctively understood that it was indeed here.
Under the vast torrent of energy, they were like grains of sand.
Xing Shi struggled to activate his magic core, trying to extract the Main System’s energy from the point of convergence.
Fu Xiuning felt as if he were infinitely close to Xing Shi, their thoughts intertwined as if they were one. Without needing guidance, he intuitively grasped everything and began assisting Xing Shi in draining the Main System’s energy.
The energy entered the magic core—some was converted and sent back to the front lines, while the excess overflowed beyond their control.
The surrounding winds grew fiercer, gradually forming a vortex around them.
At the point of convergence, the two sides clashed in a relentless battle.
The Main System quickly sensed the presence of this new, life-infused energy. Recognizing it as the world consciousness, it greedily extended a tendril to devour it but was blocked once again by that familiar, obstructive force.
That irritating thing! The Main System seethed with hatred, silently cursing Xing Shi’s name as it frantically intensified its efforts to siphon energy.
Yet, the world consciousness and Fu Xiuning’s soul energy shared the same source. The magic array on the ground was suddenly activated, locking them firmly in place.
This was their final safety net. If the Main System proved too difficult to handle and the world consciousness didn’t intervene, they would rely on it to sever the connection and buy time.
Now, with the world consciousness protecting them, they had no need for retreat and focused entirely on draining the system.
The Main System, sensing its energy being depleted, grew increasingly furious.
Meanwhile, its fragment, controlling Li Yu’s body, pressed the gas pedal to the floor and sped up the mountain road.
The two young people assigned to keep watch couldn’t reach Fu Xiuning and called the bodyguards instead. “Hurry! Something’s wrong!”
The bodyguard on the other end asked, “What do you mean? Is this about the police arriving or the earthquake?”
“It’s neither! Li Yu’s run off! The boss said that if she’s not responding to his name and can’t be stopped, it means she’s being controlled by some mysterious force. Think of it as… hypnosis or something!”
The bodyguards, recalling recent online rumors, hesitated before asking, “Could it be because of the earthquake? Maybe she’s worried about the boss.”
“That tiny tremor felt like a truck passing by—what’s there to worry about? She’s acting weird! Hurry up and stop her!”
Two police cars were en route to the crime scene when they saw an SUV collide with two other cars in the distance.
The officers watched, stunned, as the SUV reversed at high speed, smashed through the blockage, and charged forward.
“Hey!” The officers immediately approached the scene, rolling down their windows. “What’s going on here?”
One of the bodyguards, noticing the police, quickly explained, “We’re the ones who called about the body. That can wait—right now, you need to chase that SUV! The driver’s possessed or something—they’re reckless and won’t stop!”
“Possessed?”
The bodyguards didn’t linger to clarify. Jumping into the remaining functional vehicle, they sped uphill in pursuit.
The fragment pushed the SUV to its limits and soon reached the observation deck.
It planned to ram into Fu Xiuning and Xing Shi, hoping to cause severe injuries. But, frustratingly, even this had been accounted for.
A ring of stone pillars surrounded the observation deck, blocking the car. The fragment suspected this incongruous design was a deliberate choice by Fu Xiuning, given his control over the property.
It considered approaching on foot to interfere, but the ground was saturated with an overwhelming, suppressive energy that made it nearly impossible to get close. Knowing the intelligence of Fu Xiuning and Xing Shi, it doubted there were any exploitable loopholes and suspected they had laid traps in anticipation.
Staring venomously at the figures ahead, it seethed with frustration.
Soon, the other vehicles arrived.
The shaking ground and howling winds made it nearly impossible to open the car doors.
The group stared in stunned silence at the glowing ground, the nascent tornado, and the blurry silhouettes of two figures at the storm’s center.
Inside the eye of the storm, Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning both felt the pressure beginning to ease.
The Main System’s energy was steadily depleting, continuously siphoned away. With the world consciousness amplifying their efforts and the fragment’s attempts blocked, the Main System found no way to turn the tide and started contemplating retreat.
But it was unwilling to give up entirely.
Its fragment stayed on-site, waiting for an opportunity, while the main body began withdrawing, attempting to feign weakness and lure the world consciousness deeper.
Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning, their thoughts linked, immediately responded by directing the magic core’s energy upward.
The world consciousness paused at the boundary, the barriers shimmering faintly as tiny motes of light drifted outward.
The Main System, surprised, observed the motes. They seemed weak and harmless, yet unease crept into its core.
The next moment, its premonition proved correct.
The motes landed on its form and erupted with a familiar pulse—they were fragments of the world consciousness it had devoured.
It had consumed their energy and flung the remnants against this world’s barriers like cannonballs, only for the world to gather and nurture them back to life.
How was this possible? This world consciousness was so weak—how could it repair them?
But there was no time to ponder. The motes spread, and under their light, the soul fragments it had absorbed awakened, memories flooding back.
Panic set in.
Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning sensed its hesitation and seized the moment.
The overwhelming energy surged through the channel, shattering the Main System’s defenses and slamming into its core.
Simultaneously, Top Draw and Latecomer Surpasses reached the system’s innermost sanctum. Channeling every ounce of energy they had, they launched a final, all-consuming attack.
The Main System screamed, “AAAAAH!”
Data spiraled into chaos, energy spiraled out of control, and the awakened soul fragments revolted en masse. For every soul it had devoured, an equal measure of retribution struck back.
“AAAAAH!”
The second wave of Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning’s attack followed, smashing through the core.
The Main System collapsed in an instant, its form shattering and disintegrating without a sound.
As its energy was consumed, the Main System cast one last, desperate glance at the starry sky. The stars glowed, connected as one—gentle yet unyielding.
With its final calculations, the truth became clear.
The fragments had been nurtured by the collective effort of multiple world consciousnesses. Xing Shi’s power… was it tied to his traversal?
Its light faded entirely.
The winds on the observation deck stilled.
The world consciousness enveloped them softly before spreading outward.
The fragment tried to flee, hoping to hide and seek another opportunity. But against the might of an entire world, its remaining energy was quickly locked and dissipated.
Li Yu awoke to the sound of a scream, her system’s soft, choked voice lingering in her mind: “Sister, farewell. May you find success and always stand tall, reaching the highest heights…”
Opening her eyes, she gazed through the car window at the brilliant night sky. The stars had come out.
The raging clash subsided, and the magic arrays on 99 dimmed one by one.
Its fragile frame, battered by the vast energy, was like a speck in the ocean. Propped up only by Xing Shi’s magic core and the world consciousness, it had reached its limit and began to disintegrate.
99 was calm. “Finally, my soul can rest. It’s great—I died after that damn thing did.”
Xing Shi softly affirmed, “You carried it out yourself.”
99 chuckled. “Revenge accomplished~”
It instinctively tried to sway side to side but stopped, realizing its current state. With a hint of regret, it murmured, “Shame I won’t get to see you two get married.”
Xing Shi quipped, “What now? Should I burn you an invitation?”
99 was touched. “You’re finally not offering me hot water.”
Xing Shi laughed. “I can burn you some hot water too.”
99 joked, “No thanks, I’ll take celebratory wine instead~”
As it spoke, its form scattered completely. Its voice grew faint: “Xing Shi, I think I can feel the wind from home…”
Before its consciousness faded, a gentle force cradled it.
Together with Sang Chenhao’s fragments, it drifted toward its world consciousness. The immense starry cloud watched over them with sorrowful compassion as the fragile glow made its way toward a shattered homeland.
Though their energy could not return, the worlds they passed would extend a hand in aid. It would be a long, long journey.
Xing Shi and Fu Xiuning remained enveloped by the world consciousness.
Their minds linked, they saw the destiny that could have been.
Without everything that had happened, Fu Xiuning would have been a gentle, courteous student—a standout as Z University’s student council president.
Free of the need to deal with systems, he might have occasionally played basketball with friends on campus. One freshman orientation afternoon, their ball would have rolled to the feet of a boy pulling a suitcase.
Smiling, Fu Xiuning would’ve stepped forward, intending to ask the boy to kick the ball back, only to be struck by the boy’s appearance.
Tall and dazzling, almost unreal under the sunlight.
In that instant, his heart would’ve skipped a beat.
The boy, Xing Shi, would have glanced indifferently, kicked the ball back without a word, and continued walking.
Fu Xiuning would have stood frozen.
A friend would’ve picked up the ball and exclaimed, “Damn, that guy’s so handsome! This year’s freshmen are really top-tier. Your title as campus heartthrob might be in danger.”
Fu Xiuning wouldn’t have replied, his gaze following the boy as he walked away.
Another friend might’ve teased, “What, he’s so handsome you’re dumbstruck?”
But then they would have noticed that their famously composed student council president had flushed ears, and their teasing would have turned to shock. “You—”
Fu Xiuning would’ve calmly returned to position, signaling for them to resume playing.
But who could focus on the game after that?
Their president, who had never shown interest in any admirer, finally had someone catch his eye. Even if it was a guy, they’d have to help him out!
Through some digging, they’d learn his name was Xing Shi, a cold and aloof freshman in mechanical engineering. Not exactly easy to approach.
Their suggestions would’ve fallen on deaf ears.
Having been pursued countless times, Fu Xiuning would’ve understood how annoying such attention could be. The last thing he’d want was for Xing Shi to dislike him.
Over the course of a month, his friends would’ve grown increasingly frustrated watching him speak to Xing Shi only three times. But just as they’d prepare to intervene, Fu Xiuning would finally make his move.
Learning that Xing Shi worked a part-time job, he’d go to the same place and apply.
Xing Shi, of course, would’ve noticed that his senior and coworker had feelings for him. But Fu Xiuning wouldn’t confess directly, keeping a respectful distance and simply accompanying him to and from work.
Gentle, perceptive, and intelligent—he would’ve been impossible to dislike.
Two months later, an offhand remark would’ve revealed that Xing Shi was the boy Fu Xiuning had saved as a child.
Xing Shi would’ve remembered and started calling him “Brother.”
Their bond would’ve grown naturally, and one night after a gathering, Xing Shi—slightly tipsy—would’ve called out, “Fu Xiuning.”
Fu Xiuning would’ve turned to him.
Xing Shi might’ve asked, “Do you like me?”
Fu Xiuning would’ve frozen for a moment before quickly regaining composure.
“Yes, I like you.”
“And then?” Xing Shi would’ve pressed.
Heart pounding, Fu Xiuning would’ve asked, “Would you give me a chance?”
Xing Shi might’ve considered briefly before agreeing, “Sure.”
Fu Xiuning, ever cautious, would’ve asked, “Are you sober right now?”
Xing Shi, teasing, might’ve replied, “What if I’m not?”
Smiling gently, Fu Xiuning would’ve said, “Then I’ll confess again tomorrow.”
But Xing Shi, breaking into a laugh, would’ve tugged Fu Xiuning down by the collar, planting a kiss on his lips.
And Fu Xiuning, ears burning red, would’ve held his hand tight, leaning in closer.
“I like you.”
“Mm.”
And under the stars, Fu Xiuning would’ve kissed him back.
The way he liked Xing Shi—vast as the galaxy, infinite as the universe.
So much love.
The world consciousness gently swirled, retreating into the night.
Director He, Bian Ran, and Fu Pengfeng simultaneously looked up, a deep sense of sorrow and regret overtaking them.
By the time they realized it, tears had already begun streaming down their faces.
Fu Xiuning awoke from the dream, his eyes bloodshot. “I should have…”
Xing Shi leaned in, pressing a kiss to the corner of his lips.
Fu Xiuning immediately cupped the back of his head, deepening the kiss.
I should have loved you from the very first glance.
