With Stigmata as the Anchor, Marking the World Bubble

This was the first time he had seen a world full of devastation and ruin.

Between heaven and earth stretches a pristine Pure Land that has Honkai, where vast amounts of vegetation and creatures grow unchecked on soil devoid of intelligent life, covering the traces of the original civilization to the point of near oblivion.

Those few high-rise buildings that have survived are old and broken like antiques, most of them are weathered, and many of their foundations are in a state of partial collapse.

Furthermore, numerous ancient trees of unknown species, along with their entwined vines, twist and grow from the fault lines within the building, forcefully breaking through these barriers to bask in the sunlight and sway in the wind.

The remnants of civilization and the evolution of nature have combined to create this desolate scene, conveying an indescribable atmosphere amidst the strong winds and clear sunlight.

Suddenly, the boy remembered the theme song from the carousel at the amusement park.

Because it is Imaginary World, even this piano piece originates from fragments deep in memory.

Looking back to the present, when he can almost see the whole picture, he remembers that the piano piece was from a single-player game he played a long, long time ago.

The background inside was also a desolate and silent world.

He thought that after humanity goes extinct, the satellites launched into outer space will fall back to Earth, and the traces left in space will be gradually erased by gravity.

Countless buildings collapsed and were covered by vines, weeds, and forests.

As time continued to pass, the concrete structure began to crack, the metal structure began to corrode, causing many windows to fall off, and the wooden structure was destroyed by mold and termites, gradually collapsing.

Even without the disruption of the Honkai, everyday items such as books, paper, clothing, and fabrics would be eroded by wind and rain and eventually disappear.

As for those tall buildings, as I see now, they have become three-dimensional ecosystems, with wild animals replacing the intelligent beings that created them as the new masters of this place.

If there is no Honkai, the marine fish and wild animals that may have been overfished and harmed will recover to their original state, the ecosystem will completely return to its original state, and various animals will find their own place in the new ecological niche.

Even though the vast majority of animals were transformed into demons due to the existence of the Honkai, in order to conform to the current ecological environment of the world.

The world remained as quiet and lifeless as ever.

Su Qing'an focused intently on anchoring the [Stigmata], yet he was still filled with emotion.

When familiar things are presented to the eye in this way, all that can arise in the chest is a faint, lingering melancholy, like a mournful melody echoing between heaven and earth.

The immortal lifted her skirt, revealing a section of her fair and slender calves, her feet bare. She looked up at the huge scar that seemed to have been left behind by heaven and earth, an embellishment drawn by nature, her expression calm and tinged with a hint of reminiscence.

This scene must have happened after the end of the last era, but these pioneers spent such long years in a long slumber, only to be able to glimpse the traces of civilization taking root and sprouting from the primordial wilderness, thus finding some solace in it.

The girl's silky hair wrapped around her soft white ears, swaying in the wind and brushing against her back, falling to her bony ankles. A cool stream swept over her skin, slightly wetting the ends of her hair, flowing into the ravine in front of her, falling into the hollow of the earth, and echoing crisply.

Behind her was a half-collapsed building supported by ancient trees, its shape slightly tilted. Nearby, white flowers bloomed along the soil, along with tenacious moss, vines, and weeds. Above, a bright, cloudless sky stretched out.

The ground is covered with waterfalls and streams flowing from who-knows-where, which then flow into a deep abyss in front of it. Not far away, water vapor is being washed away by the cascading waterfalls, and it shines brightly in the sunlight.

Ancient trees and towering buildings form the main backdrop, while deer with their heads bowed drink from a water source nearby.

Su Qing'an stared at the scene with some distraction, and suddenly had the urge to take out her paintbrush and record it, but she suppressed the urge to save time and because she lacked the tools.

No matter how many thoughts arise in one's mind, the final conclusion is to prevent the Proper World from falling into such an ending.

The very reason for the existence of this World Bubble determines that it will not last long.

Such is the essence of dreams and illusions.

She asked:

"Are you going to make a move?"

Su Qing'an felt the [anchor] completely embedded in the World Bubble, and whispered:

"Well, although it took a little time, we've still managed to establish an anchor point in this World Bubble."

If viewed from the perspective of exploring the world's customs and cultures, the best choice would be to travel and devour the demons along the way, until reaching every corner of the World Bubble.

However, the flow of time here is even more exaggerated than that of the fairyland and mortal world in Shenzhou legends. In order to save time and prevent any unforeseen circumstances, he never intended to devour all the demons in the World Bubble using normal means from the beginning.

Although the area of World Bubble is much smaller than that of the Proper World, its interior is roughly the size of half of the Shenzhou's crust. If it involves areas outside the planet, it becomes even more complicated.

Su Qing'an ultimately did not choose to accelerate the process through violence. Instead, he used the [Stigmata], a central feature that connects the world to other dimensions, to link with the World Bubble and ultimately gain control of all the Heaven and Earth Qi in this place.

At that time, large-scale steaming and boiling will be carried out, bringing together all the demons in the world into one place and turning them into resources for advancement.

However, the boy still had no idea whether these demons could truly serve as "food." The real reason he didn't directly try to retrieve the [Record] was that he needed to use the [Stigmata] as an anchor point to gain control of the World Bubble before he could more directly attempt to retrieve it and erase the Karma, so as to avoid creating a greater distortion in reality.

In this process, turning demons into a dish is not a difficult task; it's just a side effect.

Therefore, even if it's not for the sake of awakening fully sooner, but rather with an experimental mindset, it's worth a try.

Upon hearing this, the girl bent her bare feet slightly and stepped out of the air, landing on the ancient tree branch that ran through the half-collapsed building to the top floor.

She lowered her aloof and detached face, like a casual traveler, sitting there with her calves dangling in the air, faint blue veins flowing down her thin insteps, and glistening water droplets rolling to the tips and falling.

Clearly, this is because I've seen similar images too many times in my Imaginary World.

Even if Su Qing'an were to destroy the world soon, Fu Hua would have absolutely no interest in it.

Although some animals that have not been assimilated into demons still exist in this World Bubble, its very existence is a mirage that is forcibly fixed in place, like the refraction of light and shadow.

The immortal had no room for pity, just as she had no right to dwell on sorrow for long more than 50,000 years ago.

She sighed:

"An hour has passed here; I wonder how much time has passed outside."

While familiarizing himself with the sensation of the [Stigmata] linking to another dimension, Su Qing'an responded:

"Just like my Senior Sister Shishi said, I don't want to go back to find her surrounded by her children and grandchildren, so I will do my best to avoid any mistakes."

After drying her feet, the girl put on her shoes and socks and whispered:

"Given Rongyue's personality, it wouldn't be surprising if she ended up alone after a long time."

"She's a child who gets stuck on things too easily. Now that we've formed a bond that wouldn't have existed otherwise, I hope she can find her own happiness."

Her lips moved slightly, but she didn't want to put too much pressure on the other person, so she didn't say much, only saying:

"So... I'm counting on you, Qing'an."

Everything spent in this Ephemeral World is meaningless time; what truly makes the outside world change is every single second that passes by.

Although it was only an hour, according to the observations of the Manas consciousness, it was indeed enough to surpass the average lifespan of humans in that era.

Even though Li Shishi and Jiang Rongyue both cultivated the [Immortal Decree], living to over a hundred years old is still considered a very long life. Moreover, no matter how strong and healthy they are, with the medical technology of this era, the emergence of some lesions is enough to destroy a martial artist's life's accumulation and tempering.

A lifespan of 100 years is far too optimistic a estimate.

Fifty years is enough time for them to no longer recognize each other.

Su Qing'an nodded in agreement, acknowledging that this was a responsibility she should bear.

If it weren't for the spillover of the [record], this World Bubble wouldn't exist, and the two wouldn't have had to risk coming here.

He not only changed Li Shishi's life trajectory, but also indirectly changed Jiang Rongyue's fate.

If his encounters with them had ended so abruptly, it wouldn't have allowed for much of the story to come to a close.

Su Qing'an... was not willing to accept this.

On the other hand, he was not yet willing to confront the sorrows of immortality, let alone the long years spent in this way.

Therefore, the only path that lay before us was the one we had initially envisioned.

At this moment, the [Stigmata] was like the central hub of the entire World Bubble. The earth's crust and mountains and seas began to tremble in an instant. The Honkai Energy scattered between heaven and earth like microorganisms began to converge into a mighty torrent, as if it had been programmed with permission.

This scene is strikingly similar to the birth of the Herrscher of Flames in the previous era.

The Honkai Energy environment and even its concentration throughout the world were reduced in order to create a powerful Herrscher that would undergo a qualitative change.

However, back then it was due to the Honkai mechanism, but now it is the work of Su Qing'an.

The boy's goal, however, is the opposite: to clean up the Honkai.

The demons were shredded and engulfed by the same primordial Heaven and Earth Qi, coalescing into a large ring resembling a planetary cluster, seemingly about to entangle the entire planet.

It's like boiling an effervescent tablet in hot water; the effect is extraordinary.

The World Bubble began to play its symphony of destruction, and the outer membrane, designed to prevent the infiltration of the Sea of Quantum's tributaries, gradually dissolved under such turmoil.

The heavens and earth roared, as if the tranquility of ten thousand years had been instantly engulfed by the flames of war from another dimension.

The immortal accompanied the young boy, her eyes beneath thick lashes reflecting the horrific scene of the earth's cavities continuing to crack and skyscrapers collapsing before her. Yet she neither flinched nor avoided the apocalyptic spectacle unfolding around her, as if certain that this deeply ingrained habit would not change.

Even when Su Qing'an was at his weakest, he would always instinctively ignore the difference between them and protect her in front of him.

Therefore, the same applies at this time.

The [Stigmata] silently dispelled all the primordial Heaven and Earth Qi.

Su Qing'an did not look back, her expression remained unchanged, as if it were an instinct she took for granted, requiring neither boasting nor contemplation.

The girl savored this detail that she would never have paid attention to before. Her eyes were like a shimmering sea, with gradually changing light washing over them, revealing an extremely gentle color. She tasted the sweetness that was revealed in the corners of her mouth, and her lips unconsciously turned up slightly.

For Fu Hua now, as long as the other party is willing, she wouldn't find living in this dying world with him boring.

Su Qing'an was unaware of the other person's unusual behavior, focusing all her attention on the matter at hand.

He was cooking "food" and constantly forcibly increasing the [Stigmata]'s control over this World Bubble. In the process, he could gradually feel the [Record] projection escaping. As long as he deepened this feeling, almost without his own intervention, the projection would automatically return to the [Stigmata]'s records and no longer escape.

As the demon corpses that World Bubble completely settled and coalesced into a form of "food," the [Stigmata] was also nearly complete in its approach to this dissipated projection.

Ten minutes may pass in the blink of an eye, but in the Proper World, it can feel like months or even years.

The boy, carrying Fu Hua, stood high in the sky. He gazed at the enormous corpse that resembled a "star core," and in his mind, he seemed to have a calculation: some of the demons here were native to the land, while others were demons that had been slowly brought in by tributaries of the Sea of Quantum flowing in from the broken membrane.

To reiterate, Fu Hua previously stated that the Honkai energy on the land of Shenzhou Honkai Energy continuously absorbed for many years.

It's quite reasonable that there are so many demons here.

If we were to compare the total amount, it would be roughly the level that the Proper World, at its current stage, could not accumulate even after nearly a century.

Theoretically speaking, this dish should be even more delicious than Chi You.

But just as I initially thought, whether I could devour them could only be determined by the judgment of my Manas consciousness and the appetite within my genetic instincts.

That being said, if the body did not develop a corresponding appetite, he would not have the ability to transform such a massive corpse into a conceptual, illusory state.

Su Qing'an held the girl's slender waist, standing in mid-air before the approaching demon "star core".

However, given his current age, the scene makes him look like a child holding his older sister, which is quite amusing.

But the boy at that time had no lingering feelings about these things.

While calling the massive mountain range formed by the piled-up corpses of demons a star core might be an exaggeration, its enormous, dark outline, which blocks out sunlight and the earth, makes it a plausible metaphor.

Su Qing'an let go of her inhibitions and tried her best to suppress her body's instincts, forcibly ignoring her strong appetite for the person in her arms, and instantly shifted her focus to the scene before her eyes.

Then came a physiological sensation like the churning and spasming of the stomach, and an intense greed and hunger almost overwhelmed the brain, causing reason to nearly vanish in an instant.

He was frantically suppressing the ability to categorize things defined as food as mere conceptual illusions.

Once the appetite arises and one loses their senses for even half a second, the immortal in their arms will be rendered oblivious by their innate Gene Ability, turning into a murky, black bead, and thus losing their life.

Su Qing'an could not accept this outcome no matter what.

It seemed that this feeling of fear, even when he was confident he could control it, was the cause of the characters engraved in the Soul Hall shining brightly. As a shackle that helped him unleash his body's instincts, it finally opened the valve completely.

My consciousness went blank for a moment.

The tattered Manas consciousness swayed slightly.

The boy's pupils were stained with a variegated color, revealing an ultimate harmony, yet also writhing and twisting with a murky, unnatural blackness, emitting a mist that resembled flickering flames.

Then, the Heaven and Earth Qi that had been supporting the entire demon's corpse suddenly relaxed. In almost the span of a breath, the dark outline in front of him began to shrink and disappear, from a mountain and sea whose entirety could not be seen to the size of some of its edges that could be vaguely seen, and then to the entirety that could be truly seen, all in just eleven seconds.

After a total of fifteen seconds, Su Qing'an looked at the illusory bead floating in his palm, swallowed it directly into his stomach, and let his body absorb it completely.

It's unclear whether it's because the number is larger than ever before, or because most of the demons devoured this time are tainted with the aura of the Sea of Quantum, or perhaps because the very existence of these demons is a paradox.

In short, this time he could clearly feel his body digesting and consuming it.

The boy could clearly sense the Planetary-class genes. He hesitated for a moment, but was quickly overwhelmed by his malnutrition and his own seemingly nonchalant judgment. He then began to digest them completely with an extremely brutal eating method.

Su Qing'an didn't immediately sense any potential side effects, and was instead overwhelmed by the pleasure of partially relieving her hunger and the almost sublime satisfaction that came with instinct.

That pleasure far surpasses any joy that can be derived from satisfying human reproductive desires; it is like ascending to a carefree paradise.

But after experiencing the fleeting pleasure of having one's hunger partially satisfied in a single breath, a deeper, more intense, and more immense appetite and urge returned, almost overwhelming the defenses of one's will.

"Qing'an, are you alright?"

The oath in the Soul Hall exerted a restraining effect, and the worried gaze and caring words of her lover provided some strength, preventing Su Qing'an's consciousness from sinking even for a second.

The boy used deep breathing to regulate and suppress the most primal urge of appetite within his body. At this moment when both of them were extremely tense, his body increased in height by a seemingly insignificant amount. He lowered his eyes as if unaware, but focused his attention on the panel that flashed by.

[Unknown Gene Awakening Degree: 16.213187%]