382: It turns out, I gave it to myself.

*Cough, cough, cough...*

Thick smoke billowed out.

The Xuanyuan was like a stranded behemoth, half its body buried in that purple primeval forest.

The surrounding trees were absurdly tall, every leaf emitting a faint fluorescence.

"My lower back..."

Wang Peng (Fatty) crawled out of the hatch covered in soot, rubbing his backside while still worrying about his treasures.

"Brother Chen, can we change our landing method next time? Even a parachute would do! My two cases of aged Moutai almost broke!"

Lu Chen ignored him.

He stood on the ground that had been scorched into glass by the high temperatures of the impact.

He looked up.

He gazed at the two eerie purple moons overhead.

In his mind, the image of that golden light ball flowing upstream still echoed.

"So that's how it is."

Lu Chen reached out and looked at the lines on his palm.

They seemed to be inscribed with every trajectory from the past to the future.

"I always thought I was the one chosen by destiny."

"I thought the 'future technology system' was a handout from a higher civilization, or some unspeakable miracle."

Lu Chen smiled.

His laughter was light, yet it held an unprecedented clarity.

"After all this time..."

"There is no such thing as destiny."

"And there are no miracles."

"It was me."

Lu Chen suddenly clenched his fist, and the air in his palm instantly exploded!

"It was the future me, who couldn't bear to see the past me struggling in the mire."

"So, I exhausted all my strength to hand this 'sword' into that young boy's hands."

Su Qingying walked to his side and helped him brush the dust off his shoulders.

Her eyes were full of heartache, but also full of pride.

"This is called... self-redemption."

"If you hadn't fought to seize that opportunity back then, the current you wouldn't exist."

"And without the current you, that opportunity back then wouldn't have existed."

"It's a perfect closed loop."

Su Qingying said softly, "An eternal Mobius strip forged by courage, wisdom, and an unyielding will."

"Yeah."

Lu Chen took a deep breath.

The air here was very special, carrying an active energy factor that refreshed the spirit.

"So, I don't owe anyone anything."

"I don't owe the system, I don't owe the Supervisor, and I certainly don't owe that so-called Creator."

"All these skills I have..."

"I gave them to myself!"

This feeling was incredible.

It was like carrying a lifetime of debt, only to suddenly discover that the creditor was yourself, and it had long since been paid off.

That sense of relief from the depths of his soul made Lu Chen want to roar at this unfamiliar sky.

"Alright!"

Lu Chen clapped his hands, his gaze becoming sharp once more.

Since the burden had been lifted, it was time to get down to business.

"Fatty! Stop wailing!"

"Hurry up and set up the 'Environmental Analyzer'!"

"Where exactly have we landed? Why does the gravity here feel a bit off?"

"Coming, coming!"

Wang Peng nimbly pulled out a metal ball and tossed it into the air.

*Beep, beep, beep—*

The metal ball hovered in mid-air, emitting a blue light as it began to scan the surroundings.

A few seconds later.

A string of data popped up on the holographic screen that left all three of them stunned.

[Atmospheric Composition: Oxygen 25%, Nitrogen 60%... Unknown high-energy particles 15%.]

[Energy Activity: Extremely High.]

[Physical Law Compatibility: 70%.]

[Conclusion: This is a... Magic-side Universe.]

"Ma... Magic?"

Wang Peng's eyes widened as he looked at the massive city floating in the sky in the distance.

He hadn't noticed earlier, but looking closely now...

That wasn't any kind of anti-gravity engine!

It was clearly countless massive magic circles flashing with runes that were holding up that city!

"Holy crap! Brother Chen! Have we transmigrated to a Western fantasy world?"

Wang Peng rubbed his hands excitedly. "Does that mean there are elves? Beast girls? And... dragons?"

"Dragons?"

Lu Chen narrowed his eyes.

Although his 'True Vision' was weakened, he could still capture those free-floating energy lines in the air.

"I don't know if there are dragons."

"But I do know..."

Lu Chen pointed toward the depths of the dense forest ahead.

"It seems we have guests."

*Rumble—*

The ground began to vibrate slightly.

A series of heavy footsteps came from the forest, accompanied by the crisp sound of snapping trees.

Immediately following that.

A massive claw covered in thick scales crushed a rock.

A behemoth slowly poked its head out.

It was a... Wyvern.

Over twenty meters long, its scales were dark green, and it breathed out sulfurous toxic gas from its mouth.

And on the dragon's back sat a knight clad in silver armor, holding a long spear.

The knight looked at the strange 'Big Black Iron Bird' (the Xuanyuan), then at the three 'oddly dressed' humans standing on the ground.

A hint of wariness flashed in his eyes, along with a hint of... greed.

"Outlanders!"

The knight raised his spear, the tip pointing at Lu Chen.

He shouted in an ancient, clunky language that could barely be understood through mental fluctuations:

"This is the territory of the 'Black Iron Duchy'!"

"Your mount... looks very valuable."

"Offer it to me!"

"Otherwise, my dragon will tear you to pieces!"

"Roar—!!!"

The Wyvern beneath him let out a roar in cooperation, spraying foul-smelling saliva all over the ground.

The scene was extremely tense for a moment.

Wang Peng was so scared he shrank behind Lu Chen.

"Brother Chen! These are the guests you mentioned? This is a damn highway robbery!"

"We didn't bring any weapons! Xingtian wasn't brought down either! What do we do?"

Lu Chen looked at the blustering Dragon Knight.

Suddenly.

He smiled.

He laughed so hard his shoulders were shaking.

"What do we do?"

Lu Chen picked up a stone from the ground.

It was a fragment of armor, still radiating high heat, that had broken off when the Xuanyuan landed.

He weighed it in his hand.

"Fatty, did you forget?"

"What did we come here for?"

"What... what for? Tourism?"

"Wrong."

Lu Chen suddenly looked up.

In those black eyes, a long-lost fierce light belonging to the 'Venerated Sovereign of All Universes' flashed.

"We're here to open a barbecue stall."

"Since we're opening for business..."

"Then we must have..."

Lu Chen pointed at the Wyvern, which looked like it had very firm meat.

"Ingredients, right?"

"Qingying, step back a bit."

"Don't get blood splattered all over you."

After Lu Chen finished speaking.

Before the knight could even react.

His figure had already vanished from the spot.

The next second.

He appeared in the air above the dragon's head.

The scorching armor fragment in his hand, carrying the whistling sound of breaking wind, smashed down... hard!

"Can't understand human speech, can you?"

"Want to steal my ship, do you?"

"I was just worrying about having no meat to go with my wine."

"Since you delivered yourself to my door..."

"Then don't blame me..."

"For the extra meal!"