Absolute Destiny Game-Chapter 1197 - 38: Immortal? Saint! (Part 2)
His eyes gleamed with a battle-ready light: "In this world, where else can you find a stage with more formidable foes, tighter predicaments, and greater challenges than ’saving the world’? Such an exhilarating and fulfilling stage naturally calls for one to be part of it! And if, in the process, one could become a hero revered by the masses for rescuing the world, haha, that feeling wouldn’t be too bad either!"
When it was Su Zhiqing’s turn, she sighed softly, her gaze sweeping across the surrounding bamboo forests and mountains, her tone carrying the sensitivity and compassion of a poet: "Look at these rustic mountain villages, though simple, they have a certain natural charm, a rustic and harmonious beauty.
And look at the distant mist-covered valley, this serene, elegant, and vibrant bamboo forest... In this Land of Nine States, how many such magnificent and beautiful landscapes are there? How many awe-inspiring and majestic mountains and rivers carved by nature? If the world were to be destroyed, the laws collapsed, the heavens and earth turned into filthy wastelands, and the Nine States turned into endless ruins with billions of people reduced to countless bones... If it came to that, all the beauty of this world would be utterly lost, which would be a great pity."
She shook her head gently, her eyes showing reluctance: "I really can’t bear to see such a beautiful and vibrant world end up as a scene of desolation and decay. Perhaps guarding this beauty is my reason."
Xiao Jie listened to the three’s different yet heartfelt answers and couldn’t help but smile. These reasons for saving the world are really... refreshingly unique. Aside from Lin Xuance, who fits the classic chivalrous template, the other two have such peculiar starting points — one is a hedonist obsessed with fighting, and the other is an art-loving aesthetic purist. However, compared to those immortals who choose to "lie flat" and only care about their own leisure, their willingness to take responsibility and be involved in worldly affairs is indeed commendable.
"Haha, the reasons you three Daoists have are indeed beyond most people’s reach," Xiao Jie said with a laugh.
"Then, Brother Sui Feng, why did you finally choose to join us and get involved in this matter?" Lin Xuance turned the question back to him.
Xiao Jie laughed, said with a half-joking tone, "Haha, me... of course, it’s because I couldn’t stand you all nagging by my ear every day. It gave me a headache, so I had to make some effort to have some peace and quiet!" Though he spoke lightly, the question made him ponder again.
Indeed, everyone has their motivations and reasons for doing things. So, what is the true pursuit deep within my heart?
Freedom, independence, transcendence, controlling one’s own destiny... Yes, it was because I was tired of mundane constraints that I so yearned to become an immortal, to transcend above mortals, and not be controlled by any rules or forces.
When I chose to establish a game studio instead of working in a company like most people did, it was also because, deep down, I didn’t want to be governed by others, didn’t want to leave my time and fate in someone else’s hands. My destiny should always be in my own hands!
But if... if, as the Heavenly Venerate said, and as logic deduces, the Jiuzhou World and even Earth’s reality will eventually be affected by the Great Thousand Worlds crisis. Then, even if I became an immortal, I probably couldn’t truly enjoy "freedom" and would be inevitably drawn into it.
The Heavenly Venerate is right; relying on others to resolve crises while I rest easy... that’s never been Xiao Jie’s character.
"Perhaps... this Great Thousand Worlds indeed needs to be ’saved’..." A thought became clear in his heart. However, thinking about how there are already thousands of immortal Players working hard to save the world, and yet progress remains difficult, makes him feel a bit powerless. "If thousands of immortals can’t resolve it, what difference can I make as just one person? Little more than a drop in the ocean."
"Sui Feng Daoist, why so quiet all of a sudden? Frowning like that, are you pondering some invincible, world-saving miraculous plan?" Su Zhiqing couldn’t help but ask seeing him silent for so long.
Xiao Jie was woken up from his thoughts, sighed, and said: "Yes, I was indeed thinking of a way to break the deadlock, but no matter how much I think about it, I can’t come up with a foolproof plan. I originally thought that becoming an immortal meant having divine skills and being all-powerful, but now I realize that even immortals, facing such a world-sweeping catastrophe, have times when they’re helpless and struggling."
"All-powerful?" Lin Xuance chuckled and shook his head, "Sui Feng Daoist, an interesting thought indeed. The phrase ’all-powerful,’ is no easy task. Although we immortals are far mightier than ordinary mortals, we are still bound by the Heaven and Earth Laws — there are things we can do and things we cannot. If one were to truly achieve everything one wishes, perhaps only the Saints, who are said to be in harmony with the Dao and govern the universe, can accomplish it."
"Saints?" Xiao Jie’s heart jolted as if lightning flashed through his mind! His gaze became sharp, looking spiritedly at Lin Xuance, he asked, "Lin Daoist, how do you... know about ’Saints’?"
"What do you mean by that?" Lin Xuance was taken aback by the question, Wu Qingyue and Su Zhiqing also showed puzzled expressions.
"I mean, in the history of the Jiuzhou World, have there actually been any ’Saints’?" Xiao Jie asked in a different way.
"Naturally, there have been none," Wu Qingyue responded in his booming voice, "What kind of existence is a Saint? They transcend the realm of immortal gods, existing with the Dao, nearly omniscient and omnipotent, ultimately magnificent! Since the beginning of the world, our Jiuzhou World hasn’t seen even one ’Golden Immortal’ from legend, how could it possibly give rise to such an unbelievable ’Saint’?"
"If that’s the case," Xiao Jie’s gaze swept over the three, questioning the most crucial point, "Then how do you... know about the concept of ’Saints’? Who told you? Or where did you read about it in some writings?"
"Ah! This..." Upon hearing this, the three were all immediately stunned, wearing similar bewildered and struggling expressions as they tried to recall. They looked at each other, seeing the same confusion in each other’s eyes.
After a long while, Lin Xuance uncertainly and hesitantly said, "I can’t quite remember. But... deep down, we definitely know that ’Saints’ should exist in the world, or this kind of realm exists... but as to specifically where or when we learned of it, there’s no indication."
Su Zhiqing and Wu Qingyue also nodded, indicating they were in the same situation.
Xiao Jie thought to himself, "As expected..." Such a situation instantly reminded him of the mysterious Wuming Taoist and the Game Administration Bureau Director who mysteriously vanished from everyone’s memory!
There must undoubtedly be some kind of unknown connection in all of this!
"Perhaps... when I encounter the Wuming Taoist again, all these mysteries will be unraveled." A sense of understanding arose in Xiao Jie’s heart, "But this Wuming Taoist is like a mythical dragon, nowhere to be found, so where should I seek him? However, as an immortal, I should have my ways. Yes, the Scripture Pavilion’s Taoist Books and scrolls, among them must be spells that can help find the Wuming Taoist. I must make a point to research them thoroughly."
Just as he was immersed in such thoughts, Su Zhiqing, beside him, suddenly pointed to the Mysterious Light Reflection Pond and exclaimed:
"Look! The Alliance Army’s camp is moving, — it seems the battle is about to begin!"
