The Truth Behind Their First Meeting

Su Ming remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

Thank you for telling me this.

"You're welcome." Chloe smiled slightly. "Whatever your disagreements, I believe you can resolve them amicably."

"It's nothing," Su Ming said. "I already understand what happened back then."

He sighed, "Zijin didn't do anything wrong, it's just that I'm a little resentful."

****

The renovation of the Pansy continued the following day.

On the training field in the distance, Miao Xin continued testing the new weapon system of "Yinglong".

"The standard cutting state has stabilized," Beianqi's voice came through the communicator.

"Next, we will test the high-heat penetration state."

"You narrow the output of the magic circle, and continue to increase the energy density."

"Understood!" Miao Xin adjusted the parameters as instructed.

Yinglong's plasma blade quickly retracted.

The originally broad and stable sword shape became thinner and longer, and the color gradually changed from blue-white to bright white.

The heat wave in the air suddenly became noticeable.

Not far ahead, a stone hill used for testing stood directly between Saxon and the mech.

Saxon was still stealthily moving around under cover when he saw "Yinglong" turn around, and a bad feeling immediately arose in his heart.

The next moment, the "Yinglong" thrusters were fully engaged, and then it pierced straight ahead.

laugh-

There was no loud bang, only an extremely short, yet chilling, piercing sound.

The seven- or eight-meter-thick stone mound was pierced through with a single blow.

The holes on the inside of the stone wall were glowing red from the heat, and you could even see the sunlight shining through from the other end. The edges were still sizzling, and molten lava was flowing down the walls of the holes.

Saxon stood frozen in place, staring at the still-heating through-hole beside him, his face turning green.

Of course, it was originally green.

"This is great!" Miao Xin's eyes lit up. "The penetrating power is even more exaggerated than I thought."

"Yes, but this form requires even higher standards for constraint stability--"

Before Beianqi could finish speaking, Miao Xin had already casually lowered the restraint parameters even further.

"What if we loosen it up a bit more?"

"Etc-

Beianqi had just spoken up to stop her.

The next second, Miao Xin had already deliberately loosened half of the binding array on the outer layer of the sword blade.

The high-temperature plasma, which was originally trapped inside the slender blade, instantly became unstable.

More than a dozen blazing white arcs of electricity suddenly exploded outwards.

Like a suddenly unfurled net of lightning, it swept outwards with crackling sounds. The snow surface was blasted into a series of charred craters, and the air was filled with the scorching smell of metal.

Saxon had only taken two steps after turning around when he was struck head-on by an arc of light.

"Aww--!"

His hair stood on end, and wisps of smoke rose from his skin.

The light in Yinglong's hand also flickered violently, before stabilizing again as the energy rapidly decreased.

I knew it.

Beianqi sighed.

Then she calmly explained, "This is the arc diffusion state."

"High efficiency in cleaning up debris, but it can't be used haphazardly."

Miao Xin looked at the lightning-shaped scorch marks swept out of the snow and was filled with excitement.

"But this is so much fun!"

"Come back to recharge," Beianqi said decisively. "Don't kill the cadaver."

"Received!"

"Yinglong" quickly returned to the maintenance area.

Saxon, left standing there, collapsed into the snow with a thud, his body forming a stark "give up" sign.

Living is so tiring.

****

Miao Xin jumped out of the cockpit, stretched her shoulders a couple of times with lingering enthusiasm, and began discussing parameter adjustments for the next round of testing with Beianqi.

Ground staff surrounded them and reconnected the power lines.

Yinglong is powered by a superconducting coil battery, which is charged by Pansy generator.

The Spellflame Turbofan is simpler; you just need to fill the fuel tank with magical fluid.

And so, a busy day passed by amidst various tasks.

After everyone finished dinner, it was still bright in Northern Ice Island.

The North Pole is experiencing polar day, and as a neighboring region, the sun doesn't set until after 9 PM.

It still hangs askew in the sky, like a lamp that someone forgot to turn off.

So, under the arrangement of a certain unscrupulous leader, everyone's "day shift" continued after dinner.

Su Ming coordinated with the support team to complete a set of orbit calculations, then stretched and yawned.

Launching ecliptic plane satellites from the polar regions is no ordinary task.

He walked onto the deck. The setting sun was close to the horizon, turning the entire sea and icebergs into a warm golden-red hue. The distant ice peaks stood silently like statues in the afterglow.

"Don't look up when it gets dark."

Zijin's voice came from behind.

She wore a thick coat, her long hair was tossed about by the sea breeze, and her expression was exceptionally gentle in the sunset.

"There's a chance you'll see the aurora here at night," she warned.

Last time we saw the aurora in the Northern Lands, if Su Ming hadn't happened to have taken her scarf...

Who knows, they might not be able to come back.

Su Ming looked at her and suddenly said, "Don't worry so much."

"I'm also constantly improving."

"For example, one..."

His voice carried a slight hint of smugness.

"I have deciphered most of the sealed memories that Zhimeng Weaver left in my mind."

Zijin paused for a moment, then her eyes lit up.

"So fast?"

Su Ming took her hand; it was a little cool.

"That time—thank you for the kiss."

The tips of the Zijin ears are slightly red.

"We were just forced to open."

"Strictly speaking, though, our first kiss should be counted further back," Su Ming said seriously, "It should be that time in the Northern Lands, when Qiluo used ' Moon's Amorousness '."

Zijin suddenly covered her mouth and laughed out loud.

"It was so funny when Qiluo was hanging from the pot of braised meat."

"It kept swaying back and forth, its eyes fixed longingly on the meat in the pot."

"I still want to laugh every time I think about it."

Su Ming, however, was somewhat puzzled.

"So you were in a really good mood that day."

He lamented.

"You've had that long face all day—I thought you were really angry."

Seriously, if a girl accidentally kisses you and then gives you the cold shoulder for days...

This was a big blow to Su Ming.

The tug-of-war that followed was entirely the fault of Zijin!

"But if I don't hold it in, I'll start laughing," Zijin said helplessly.

The sea breeze swept across the deck, and the two of them fell silent.

After a moment, Zijin's voice softened considerably.

"I didn't hate it at the time."

She gazed at the distant sea, her eyes slightly unfocused.

What truly bewildered me was that feeling of unease and unease.

"I don't understand, and I don't know how to handle it."

She let out a soft breath.

"But you know what happened next."

Su Ming used his palm to warm her cheeks, which were slightly chilled by the cold wind.

"Actually, I'd like to talk about something from even earlier," Su Ming said.

"For example, when we first met."

Who exactly is trying to kill me?

Zijin's body stiffened slightly.

She suddenly remembered how this person in front of her had solved the mystery about her origins with only a few clues.

Then I thought of the Ruby Base, and that idiot named Yisaile.

He knew the truth about himself and Galio!

Giving Su Ming such clues would probably be too much!

****

Zijin's gaze drifted to the side.

"You knew all along?"

"More or less." Su Ming didn't mince words.

"Galio has absolutely no control over you."

Su Ming narrowed his eyes, reconstructing the scene of his first time traveling through time.

"Galio was severely injured when he left Taya for Earth."

"He used a large amount of Magic Power to activate the dimensional teleportation array and open a wormhole."

"When I arrived on Earth and ate that big truck..."

"He was at his last gasp and was already dead!"

Zijin sighed. She knew Su Ming was the kind of person who couldn't be given even the slightest clue!

"All correct," she admitted.

"Everything that happened afterward was an act by me."

Su Ming did not interrupt and listened quietly.

"The one who was truly terrified at the time was actually me," Zijin whispered. "That enormous steel behemoth suddenly crashed in from another world and crushed Galio to death in one fell swoop."

"I've never seen anything like it before!"

"So I must first confirm who you are."

Where are the limits of your power?

"Would it pose a threat to me?"

Su Ming took a deep breath.

The subsequent events of "Galio's resurrection" and "Lich transformation" were all orchestrated by Zijin to lure him into attacking Galio.

Test his attack strength.

No wonder Su Ming couldn't pierce a corpse's skull with a sharp crowbar; it was because Zijin had cast a magical shield on Galio to see if Su Ming was hiding his strength.

That was the true form of the ghostly aura emanating from Galio at that time.

In short, this cautious scholar, with impeccable acting skills, meticulously tested the true abilities of the creatures that suddenly appeared from Earth, with the rigor of academic research.

It was all just a murder mystery game orchestrated by Zijin.

"Strength Apprentice level, poor skills."

These were the words Zijin said at the time.

She was indeed taking notes, carefully assessing Su Ming's strength based on his performance.

Finally, the Zijin piled up to two thousand Bone Spear, trying to force out any possible disguise Su Ming might be wearing.

No, confirmed.

She then concluded. "Ordinary strength, no spellcasting ability, and no other abilities beyond comprehension."

At that time, Su Ming didn't understand the true meaning of the scholar's words at all.

Looking back now, I finally understand everything.

****

"That math problem I gave you back then, it didn't really hurt you, did it?" Su Ming asked.

Zijin shook her head.

No, there isn't.

"I disconnected from ' Mind Synchronization ' in time."

Looking at her, Su Ming felt even more doubts welling up inside him.

"Then why did you later give me the White Bone Mark, and even put your true life core inside?"

The sea breeze ruffled the Zijin's long hair.

"Although the entire process at the beginning was a test."

"But when I deliberately placed the ' White Bone Mark ' in front of you..."

"You actually didn't touch it."

Zijin looked at Su Ming.

"At that time, you already knew the basics of this magical world through Galio's ' Spirit Awakening Technique."

7

"A rune that's clearly a forbidden spell is right in front of you, and you actually don't even bother to take it."

Her tone carried a slight unease.

"Don't tell me you didn't guess the function of the White Bone Mark back then."

Su Ming, then honestly replied, "I guessed it."

"But I judge that taking that thing would only get me into bigger trouble."

"Wasn't the previous person who controlled it already dead on the ground?"

After hearing this, Zijin's lips curled up slightly.

"So later, when you projected a steam engine from Earth and actually carved a path through a desperate situation..."

I'm smitten.

Her voice was so soft it was almost carried away by the night breeze.

"I was tempted by that opportunity."

I'm also moved by you.

"Analyze calmly, don't act rashly."

"Moreover, the sense of morality you displayed when we were together was higher than I had imagined."

"I realize that you are an excellent partner delivered to me, my hope for solving this problem."

Su Ming understood.

"At that time, your condition was one thing—resisting the encirclement and attack—but Ailisha's physical defects were also a problem."

"That's right, I not only need to escape, but I also need to reach the Saint Rank in a short time."

Zijin admitted, "Otherwise, I still wouldn't escape death."

She needs to take the bone dragon and the White Bone Fortress out with her, and she also needs someone to share the pressure on her soul and unleash her full power.

In exchange for a sliver of hope of quickly reaching the Saint Rank.

At that time, Zijin was unaware that there was such a thing as technology-based medical care.

Upon reaching the Saint Rank, he will acquire higher-level rule power and attempt to remove the life concept-level curse from Zijin.

This was the only method she could think of that might achieve her goal.

Zijin paused for a moment.

In short, I've decided to put all my eggs in one basket.

Su Ming leaned against the railing and let out a soft breath.

No wonder what you said to me back then sounded so much like a confession.

"I must take you to see more things like this, to places you've never seen before."

"I will always follow."

Zijin's entire face turned bright red instantly.

Enraged, she raised her hand and slammed it against Su Ming several times.

You're still studying!

"I'm not really a tower spirit!" Her voice held a hint of grievance. "I'm just an independent being who chose to tie my future to another person—"

"That was already difficult for me."

Her voice suddenly lowered.

Her eyes slowly reddened.

"I... staked everything on it."

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Su Ming raised his hand and gently wiped away the tears on her face.

"Alright," he said softly, "I don't think you did anything wrong."

"Isn't it good that everyone's talking openly now?"

The Zijin bowed its head, letting the sea breeze blow through it.

After a long while, she spoke again.

"Actually, there's something about that I still don't understand."

Zijin raised her eyes. The emotions from before had not completely dissipated, but her gaze had already returned to the clear-headedness of a scholar analyzing a question.

"Galio's behavior in this matter is very strange."

Su Ming frowned.

Which ones are you referring to?

"Do you remember what I said back then?" Zijin looked at him.

"The fact that you weren't pierced by Galio's Bone Spear the moment you met him means everything that happened afterward was a stroke of luck."

"I remember." Su Ming nodded.

"That was actually one of my questions back then," Zijin said slowly. "Faced with your big truck, Galio's first reaction wasn't to dodge or retaliate, but to use Bone Prison Technique to withstand the attack."

Su Ming followed her train of thought and realized something was wrong.

Given Galio's level, he should be able to easily dodge the attack, or even launch an attack.

Endure it on the spot -

This is not the optimal solution by any measure.

"That can be loosely explained by the emotional turmoil he experienced after his initial arrival on Earth, leading to poor decision-making," Su Ming said.

Zijin nodded, offering no objection.

But then he added, "What's even stranger is that ' Spirit Awakening Technique '."

17

"A corpse cannot release this."

Su Ming was somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

"Wasn't that ' Spirit Awakening Technique ' performed by Galio's soul to perish together with me?"

"That's the problem," Zijin sighed. "When Galio was knocked back, his soul disintegrated at the same time."

"I was compiling a test report about you when the ' Spirit Awakening Technique suddenly took effect!"

Her voice was soft, yet it made the night breeze seem a few degrees colder.

"But your ' Spirit Awakening Technique ' is indeed a sacrifice from Galio."

Su Ming was completely baffled.

"Well, it can't be when Galio was still on Earth."

He made an impossible assumption.

"His soul collapsed because he performed a sacrifice to awaken my spirit?"

Both of them fell silent.

This statement conforms to the logic of magic, but not to basic common sense.

The sea breeze swept across the deck, and the sun in the distance finally sank below the horizon, the last glimmer of golden red slowly fading from the sky.

The two found a spot on the deck and sat down, shoulder to shoulder, gazing at the darkening night sky.

The first Stars lit up.

"There are quite a few mysteries here," Su Ming sighed.

Zijin leaned gently on his shoulder.

"Then let's solve it slowly."