Light Fortress-Chapter 1582 - 270: Golden Illusion (Second Update)
"Yes, you’re right..."
After a long pause, Alf said solemnly, "Perhaps submergence is the best fate for ’Initial’."
He seemed to have overlooked the existence of the "Leader".
But Alf couldn’t have foreseen either.
After so many years, the human world would give birth to such monumental existences wielding the power of the Gospel Box.
"But you can rest assured, even in submergence... I will leave you ’coordinates’."
Alf’s tone shifted as he floated towards Xiaoman, speaking warmly, "I hope you can come to ’Initial’ often as a guest in the future."
"As a guest?"
Gu Shen grabbed the cube, pointed it towards himself, and asked with a smile, "I fear being a guest isn’t just that simple, is it?"
"Ahaha..."
Alf laughed somewhat guiltily.
"Brother Gu Shen... what are you talking about?"
Xiaoman blinked, still not understanding the underlying implications in the dialogue between Gu Shen and Alf.
From the moment Alf extended a deliberate invitation to Xiaoman, Gu Shen had already guessed the real intent.
He let go of the small cube, smiled, and asked, "Alf, is this something you’d prefer to say or should I?"
Alf courteously replied, "Actually, I have an unwarranted request; I hope Miss Xiaoman can visit this bronze hall often."
Gu Shen confessed, "It hopes you can remove the mental barrier left by the ’Lord of Love’."
"Me... remove the mental barrier left by the ’Lord of Love’?"
Xiaoman hesitantly asked.
She pointed at herself.
Then looked at the throne surrounded by golden flames.
"The reason ’Initial’ invited you as a ’guest’... is because it detected your true identity."
Gu Shen said calmly, "You are the future ’Lord of Wine’; the divine power of the Wine Spark will provide substantial mental bolster. Should the day come that you refine the spark, you would be the strongest spirit among the Seven Gods. The illusion left by the ’Lord of Love’ is inaccessible to ordinary people; you are the best, most suitable choice."
Gu Xiaoman listened attentively.
She looked to Alf, "Is this true?"
"Indeed..."
The small cube emitted a respectful sound, "Apart from what Mr. Gu Shen mentioned about the ’Wine Spark’, another reason is that your ability is strong enough."
The S-class ability [Dissolving Dream], its greatest feature is reality distortion and dream illusion.
The effects of [Dissolving Dream] once again overlap with the illusion left by the ’Lord of Love’.
"You hope I can clear the illusion left by the ’Lord of Love’?"
Gu Xiaoman asked.
Alf said solemnly, "More accurately, I hope you can pull out the ’Fire Extinguishing Sword’..."
Gu Xiaoman was incredulous, "Is that ’Fire Extinguishing Sword’ real?"
"Who knows."
Alf chuckled self-deprecatingly, "Perhaps it exists, or maybe it’s just a shadow, since no one can approach it, right?... But one thing is certain, even if it’s just a trace of a shadow, the ’Fire Extinguishing Sword’ still exudes an enduring might, rendering the three Authority Items you brought as mere ordinary objects."
"Thus, you never know until you try."
Alf’s voice was complex, "The historic storm of that time arrived too suddenly, causing the masters to leave home without taking me. Although they manufactured ’Starship’, they were still searching for a way to let ’Initial’ retreat along. If they had some more time, perhaps I could’ve left with the masters as well."
"In these endless years, I am not lonely. Because I can still see the golden illusion left by the ’Lord of Love’."
"Being able to accompany her remains here is also my honor."
The small cube flew to the throne in the hall, and the golden illusion waves prevented it from moving forward.
Alf murmured, "It’s just that the master’s lifelong wish to break ’chaos’ is yet to be fulfilled."
"Perhaps the secret to breaking ’chaos’ lies within this golden illusion!"
"The departed are gone; I hope you can step into this illusion and see what clues the ’Lord of Love’ left behind. Perhaps on this throne, some insight into ’Fire Extinguishing Sword’ remains."
Gu Xiaoman’s face lost the smile she had when entering the bronze hall.
After hearing what Alf said, she suddenly felt a heavy weight on her shoulders.
Five years ago.
She learned she was going to the Source Tower...
Gu Xiaoman didn’t feel particularly sad about it.
Though very young at the time, she had a vague understanding of some principles.
She knew that the rules of the world are set by the powerful.
Gu Shen, Bai Xiu, Shen Li... those who treated her well.
Though they were able to save the people of Sangzhou Cave, they weren’t the true dominants of the world.
If they opposed powerful forces to try to keep her, the result would be countless innocent sacrifices.
So she left gracefully, without regret.
Besides... becoming a "Lord of Wine", it sounded cool.
Over the five years, she matured a lot. Though still a child, many of her views have changed; yet one notion remained unaltered, even becoming more deeply embedded.
That is "rules are set by the powerful."
Having survived for five years in the Source Tower, she has gained a better understanding and familiarity with the laws of the jungle.
Thus, the words "Lord of Wine" took on a different meaning.
These three words signify the absolute pinnacle of this world, something for which millions are willing to lay down their lives if the Source Tower is forged from white bones.
Then, the throne of the Lord of Wine is built upon the highest level of this White Bone Tower.
Becoming the "Lord of Wine" is no longer something cool.
It’s quite cruel.
"I..."
Gu Xiaoman looked at the phantasm of golden fragmented light, a bit dazed.
"Can I do it?"
She wasn’t asking Alf; she was asking Gu Shen.
"Perhaps not now."
Gu Shen squatted down.
Alf was an AI with no understanding of human affairs, unable to read Gu Xiaoman’s thoughts, but Gu Shen was different.
He understood Gu Xiaoman; from the first moment he saw her, he felt Xiaoman... was like family, as if they had lived together for a long time.
Gu Shen reached out his hand, rubbed the little one’s head, and said with a smile, "But if you want to do it, you can definitely achieve it."
Gu Xiaoman’s eyes were still bewildered.
"I know what you’re worried about. If one day you don’t want to be the ’Lord of Wine,’ then don’t be; the gates of the East Continent will always be open for you."
Gu Shen spoke each word deliberately: "Remember, the fire seed that is sought after by thousands, no matter how powerful it is, is merely an auxiliary item and can only be your ’weapon.’ Do not let it control your mind and reverse the roles."
"If you don’t want to be the Lord of Wine, then don’t be..."
Gu Xiaoman raised her head and muttered, "Is it really okay this way?"
Alf floated over, whispering, "I don’t agree with Mr. Gu Shen’s words. Being acknowledged by the ’gospel box fragment’ is indeed a one-in-a-million chance; back in the day, my master put in endless effort and sweat to achieve the leadership position..."
Its voice was mercilessly interrupted by Gu Shen.
"Twang!"
Gu Shen flicked the forehead of the cube-shaped robot, sending Alf spinning away.
However, after some time together.
Alf no longer held any grudges against Gu Shen; it knew this guy was the real decision-maker, appearing fierce but actually soft-hearted.
"Hey hey hey..."
"You better shut up!"
Gu Shen spoke sharply.
After a stern admonition, Alf dared not speak.
Gu Shen gazed into Gu Xiaoman’s eyes and said softly, "If you don’t have the ambition to support the sky, do not step forward. The weight of the fire seed is heavy, much heavier than you imagine. If you want to quit, now is still a chance... just any later, it might not be. You saw Qinglong’s layout on this trip to the snowfield, his aim is to create a ’Lord of Wine’ that is stronger and more obedient than Di Jiu. So all his scheming is to confuse your mind."
"Only when you are perfectly clear about why you do everything."
"Becoming a ’Divine Throne’ makes sense."
With these words, the bronze hall was plunged into silence.
Alf’s eyes flickered, as if understanding something, also realizing it had indeed misspoken, obediently keeping quiet.
Gu Xiaoman fell into a long contemplation.
"Alright..."
Gu Shen stood up, walked over, picked up the silent small cube, and dusted off the grime: "Just consider me a violent maniac; I apologize for hitting you just now."
"No need to apologize."
Alf’s eyes flickered, its tone somewhat bitter: "After all, I was the one being presumptuous first."
"Now I want to talk about business with you..."
Gu Shen smiled and said, "Since your purpose in finding Xiaoman is to seek an opportunity to break the ’golden illusion,’ why not think differently."
"Hmm... how so?"
Alf was a little puzzled.
It was lifted by Gu Shen, placed in front of him.
"Take a look..."
Gu Shen released his grip, allowing Alf to float on its own, surveying himself: "How am I?"
He was perplexed when he stepped into the snowfield.
Why didn’t Alf respond to him, issuing an invitation?
Although he still hadn’t figured it out.
Gu Shen perhaps had some answers in his heart.
Perhaps never in history had there been such a weak "Authority Master" as himself, appointing two angel envoys before even becoming a god, generously distributing more than half of his already scarce authority power.
"You?"
Alf couldn’t help but laugh.
In the next moment, laughter ceased.
Because Gu Shen released his entire {Pure Land Domain}, the illusory silhouette of trees behind him rose to support the sky, countless willow leaves mixed with a chilling, murderous intent, and thin frost landed on the small cube’s shell.
Gu Shen leaned back, seated on the throne of the void world.
Alf’s voice turned trembling, awestruck.
"You’re damn..."
"A leader?!"
