The Oracle Appears

The voice was aged and indistinct, a voice Lin Jie had never heard before.

Uncle Yan was startled too and hurriedly turned around.

Both of them searched for the source of the voice.

"Shen Lanxin" lowered her head and slowly spoke:

"He must enter the Void Realm."

The voice was not hers.

She raised her head, only to find Lanxin expressionless, her bearing now dignified and composed.

She seemed like a completely different person.

Uncle Yan hurried forward:

"Madam Oracle, you're back."

"Lanxin" bowed slightly:

"Leader, Deer God, sorry to have kept you waiting."

"My life force has been very weak these past few days. By my estimation, I likely don't have long to live."

"Leader, this may very well be our last meeting."

"Please take good care of Lanxin for me."

Uncle Yan nodded solemnly. "Rest assured, I'll take good care of that girl!"

"Madam, what did you mean when you said I must enter the Void Realm?" Lin Jie asked.

The "Oracle" turned toward Lin Jie and smiled:

"Ah, young Savior, this is your first time meeting me."

"But I have already seen you countless times in the future."

"You have no choice but to enter the Void Realm, because-"

"This is a tribulation you must undergo to lead everyone out of this world."

"You must enter the Void Realm and seize that ring."

There was so much information in that statement that Lin Jie had to ask for details.

"Wait, there's a 'ring' in the Void Realm?"

"You mean I have to retrieve this ring?"

"And obtaining it is something I must go through if I want to get out of here?"

The "Oracle" added, "One of the rings."

"That is why I said that if you wish to escape, the Void Realm is a challenge you must face."

"And you are the only one who might succeed."

"Because you are the Savior."

At this point, Lin Jie poured out all his questions at once:

"Madam Oracle, what exactly did you see in the future?"

"Why are you so certain I'm the one who will save everyone?"

"How exactly can I break through the Realm of the Dead and bring everyone back to reality?"

"Why call me Deer God? What kind of person am I in the future?"

The "Oracle" fell silent for a while, then slowly raised her head to look at the sky:

"You will pass through darkness and bathe in light."

"You will seize the rings of the gods."

"You will shoulder responsibility and become a leader."

"You will face the king of the gods."

"In the end, you will become a god."

Yet Lin Jie did not understand what these words meant.

He only noticed one fact:

The word gods appeared frequently in the Oracle's words.

He frowned. "Are there really gods in this world?"

The Oracle smiled. "Of course, child. Otherwise, who created this world?"

"Who brought everyone here? And who gave us the rings?"

"Where do our Mutation powers come from?"

Lin Jie silently lowered his head.

He had received a materialist education growing up, valued science, and did not believe in religion.

When he was little, Uncle Yan had also told him to trust logic, not gods.

Lin Jie looked at Uncle Yan, who shook his head slightly and whispered into his ear:

"Lin Jie, this is something the Oracle and I have always disagreed on."

"She believes gods are controlling everything in this world."

"But if you ask me, there are no gods in this world at all."

"So-called gods are merely explanations people made up because they couldn't understand certain supernatural phenomena."

"I believe the Mutations, rings, and even Divine Revelation in the Realm of the Dead simply operate on principles humans don't understand."

"Still, plenty of people in this world believe in gods. There are even things like churches now."

"Oh, don't tell the Oracle any of this. She'll get angry."

Lin Jie nodded discreetly, then asked the Oracle:

"Let's set aside the matter of gods for now."

"I also heard you say something about a leader?"

"I'll become the leader of the Realm of Life?"

The Oracle smiled kindly:

"Not the leader of the Realm of Life."

"But the leader of the entire world."

"One day, in the end, whether it's the Resistance Army, the Administrators, or other factions,"

"They will all acknowledge you as their lord."

"I cannot say much more in detail."

"After all, you have experienced too little so far. Revealing the details ahead of time would only hinder your growth."

Lin Jie nodded. "I understand."

"Then what should I do next?"

The Oracle said softly, "Let nature take its course."

"Fate has already arranged everything."

She suddenly began coughing.

Uncle Yan hurriedly supported her. "Are you all right?"

She waved a hand. "Don't worry. I won't die before Lin Jie and I meet in the Void Realm."

Finally unable to contain his curiosity, Lin Jie asked the question he had wanted to ask all along:

"What exactly is in the Void Realm?"

For the first time, however, the Oracle looked helpless:

"Lin Jie, this me before you is a consciousness I left behind before entering the Void Realm."

"Before I entered the Void Realm, I split off part of my consciousness and placed it inside Shen Lanxin's body."

"All I can sense is that my actual self is suffering immense pain in the Void Realm."

"But to learn what exactly has happened, you will have to go and see for yourself."

"Based on the source of my current suffering, what I can tell you is this:"

"The Void Realm does not ravage a person's body, but their heart."

"Oh, Lin Jie, if I am still lucid in the Void Realm, I should have seen more of the future."

"If we meet in the Void Realm, I will tell you more prophecies, and,"

"I will tell you-"

"Why you are called the Deer God."

Lin Jie held her hand and nodded solemnly:

"Wait for me. Not only will I meet you,"

"I'll rescue you too!"

"I won't let you down!"

The Oracle smiled with gratification:

"It's time. I must go."

"Oh, and tell Lanxin for me to sleep less, study more, and exercise more."

She closed her eyes.

"Madam Oracle?"

Lin Jie shook her shoulders.

"Hey, Little Deer, what are you doing?"

The voice was clear and gentle.

It was not the Oracle speaking, but Lanxin.

Lanxin opened her eyes and saw Lin Jie shaking her.

"Oh, did I fall asleep again? I'm so sorry!"

Uncle Yan chuckled. "Girl, your teacher just came back!"

Lanxin sprang to her feet. "Really? It's wonderful that Teacher is all right!"

"What did she say?"

Uncle Yan smiled. "She told you not to sleep so much!"

"All right, it's getting late. Lin Jie and I will be going now."

Lanxin murmured her agreement. "Goodbye, Uncle Yan! Goodbye, Little Deer!"

"Little Deer! Come play with me more when you have time! Practicing spirit communication here all by myself is boring me to death!"

Lin Jie agreed. "I will, Sister Lan."

They went outside.

"All right, Lin Jie, time to find your younger sister."