115: Desperate Truth and Self-Rescue After Being "Disconnected"

Ying's words were like a cold chisel, completely shattering the last shred of hope in Wen Youyi's heart.

The "ark" is a trap! It is a more sophisticated harvesting tool!

He recalled the process of obtaining the star core fragment, comprehending the "Star Language," and constructing the "ark" network; it seemed like a combination of Opportunity and his own efforts, but it felt as if an invisible hand had been guiding him from behind!

Those "source code" deciphered from the chaotic jade slip, and that "knowledge" regarding independent energy circulation, now that he thought about it, truly seemed like "gifts" that had been carefully packaged and delivered to him!

All his struggles, all his technical Breakthroughs, were just optimizing the "harvesting program" for the enemy!

He was like a mouse running desperately in a maze, thinking it was looking for an exit, but in reality, it was just providing a more spectacular performance for the Observer, and fattening itself up in the process!

A bone-chilling cold and a massive sense of absurdity almost swallowed Wen Youyi whole.

His face turned pale, and his body swayed slightly, struggling to remain standing.

"Boss!" Zhao Iron Pillar quickly steadied him.

Although he was also stunned and terrified by this truth, seeing Wen Youyi's state made him even more anxious.

Senior Brother Zhang was also colorless, his lips trembling as he muttered, "How could this be... then we... everything we've done..."

"Then aren't we finished?!" Zhao Iron Pillar looked sharply at Ying, his eyes red.

"According to what you're saying, we're dead either way? Either get hacked to death by the 'Scavenger' sooner, or get drained dry later as some kind of 'kindling'?"

Ying looked at the three men, who were deeply devastated, a flash of pity crossing her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a sense of determination born from shared suffering.

"No, there is still hope."

Her voice remained calm, yet carried a certain power.

"It is precisely because we have 'woken up' and realized this is a trap that we can seek a real way out."

She pointed to the "Heart Demon" mother nest that was still being purified: "We 'Purifiers' are a group of former 'Scavenger' reserves who realized the truth and betrayed the 'Creation Heavenly Court.'"

"Our mission is to destroy as many of these System nodes that maintain the 'cradle' as possible, delay the harvesting, and find true 'variables' like you."

"A real way out?"

Wen Youyi forcibly suppressed the turbulent waves in his heart, his voice hoarse as he asked, "Where is the way out?"

"Disconnecting."

Ying spat out the two words, looking intensely at Wen Youyi.

"Completely sever the connection with the 'spirit net' and even all the rule Systems set by 'the ones above'!"

"It's not about building an independent 'ark' (that is still based on their technical framework), but rather... jumping out of this framework entirely!"

"How is this possible?" Senior Brother Zhang exclaimed.

"The Spiritual Qi we need for cultivation, the heaven and earth rules we perceive, and even our thinking patterns are deeply branded with the marks of this 'cradle'!"

"How can we completely disconnect?"

"It is difficult, but not impossible," Ying explained.

"The 'spirit net' and these 'mother nests' form the basic rule network of this 'cradle'."

"Theoretically, as long as there is even a sliver of connection, one cannot truly escape."

"However, there is an extreme case—"

Her gaze landed on Wen Youyi again, or rather, on the star core fragment in his arms.

"The star core is the only exception."

"It is not a creation of the 'Creation Heavenly Court,' but an ancient and more primordial relic of the Universe."

"The power and rules it contains are independent of the 'cradle' System."

"This is also why 'the ones above' are so desperate to obtain the complete star core."

"The mistake in the 'ark' you built before was that you tried to use the power of the star core to drive and optimize a technical System (independent energy circulation) that essentially belongs to the 'cradle.'"

"This is equivalent to installing alien technology onto someone else's operating System; in the end, it will still be identified and utilized."

"The real way out is to use the star core as the core to build a brand new, miniature 'world bubble' that does not belong to the rules of the 'cradle' at all!"

"A true sanctuary in the physical sense!"

Build a brand new, independent Small World?!

This idea was too shocking; even Wen Youyi found it hard to believe.

"This... how much massive energy and how deep of an understanding of the rules would this require?" Wen Youyi said hoarsely.

"Therefore, this is only a theoretical way out," Ying said calmly.

"We 'Purifiers' are also looking for a method."

"But for now, all we can do is destroy as many 'cradle' System nodes as possible to buy more time for potential 'variables' who might be able to complete the 'disconnection'."

She looked at Wen Youyi with sincere eyes: "You, Wen Youyi, are one of the most likely 'variables' we have discovered so far."

"You not only possess the star core, but more importantly, you possess a... way of thinking and creativity that differs from the common logic of this world."

"That 'Star Observer' who sent you the warning is also our companion; he has been watching you."

The Star Observer? You mean that "Co-frequency Person"?

Wen Youyi's heart tightened: "What happened to him?"

Ying's eyes dimmed for a moment: "In order to send that warning, he exposed his location and has already been locked onto by the main force of the 'Scavenger'..."

"We have lost his signal."

The cave fell into silence.

A pioneer might have already sacrificed himself to pass on this sliver of hope amidst the despair.

Immense pressure and responsibility pressed down on Wen Youyi's shoulders like a mountain.

He knew he could no longer indulge in despair and anger.

The truth was cruel, but only by knowing the truth could he avoid going further and further down the wrong path.

His "ark" path was wrong, but his will to resist must not be!

He raised his head, his eyes becoming firm again, even sharper than before.

"Tell me, Miss Ying."

Wen Youyi's voice returned to calm.

"Besides destroying these 'mother nests,' what else can we do?"

"Regarding that 'disconnected' 'world bubble,' even if there is only a sliver of a clue, please tell me!"

In the midst of despair, one must move forward.

Even if there is only a one in a billion chance, he must seize it!

For the dead Star Observer, for all the living beings who have been deceived and harvested, and for themselves... for that faint, true freedom!

(End of Chapter)