272: Chapter 272 The Truth About the Fire Seed Project! Salvation Was Actually a Sacrifice Ritual

Three seconds after the Real-world Author's words "I am your reader" fell, the Kindling Project Monitoring Center sent a mandatory recall notice:

[Final Phase Initiated]

[All competitors must return to headquarters immediately]

[Ranking settlement will take place in 24 hours]

[Those who do not return on time will be considered to have forfeited]

At the end of the notice was a line of small red text:

"Note: The Final Phase will reveal the true purpose of the Kindling Project. Please be mentally prepared."

Lin Chen looked at that line, his brow furrowing slightly.

He turned to look at Number Zero (the one who was now his employee): "Do you know the true purpose of the Kindling Project?"

Number Zero hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice: "I know part of it... but not all. I only know it's related to the 'Epoch Reboot'."

"Be more specific."

"Inspector 117 revealed a sentence to me before his death," Number Zero recalled. "He said: 'The Governor selected by the Kindling Project is actually...' He was silenced before he could finish the rest."

Lin Chen was silent for a moment, then ordered the team: "Back to headquarters. But first, we must do one thing—"

He looked at Golden Glazed: "Glazed, you stay here and continue investigating the Original Author. Especially whether he has any connection to the Kindling Project."

Then he looked at Number Zero: "You come back with me. At the meeting, you must pretend to still be the original Inspector Number Zero and continue to lurk."

Finally, he contacted the Real-world Author: "Continue writing updates, but add a setting—allow readers to temporarily obtain 'Temporary Creation Rights' for the story by 'tipping special gifts,' such as writing a spin-off for a supporting character. This way, we can pull more readers into the game."

Arrangements complete.

Lin Chen led the team and teleported back to the Kindling Project Headquarters.

It was a pure white spherical building floating in the void, with no decorations inside, only countless floating data streams and monitoring screens.

Morgana and Alpha had already arrived.

Both of them were in bad shape: Morgana's icebound throne had more cracks, and Alpha's data body's transparency had increased by 20%, clearly having consumed a huge amount of energy while resisting the Zeroing Storm and the seed of the heavenly dao.

"Lin Chen," Morgana looked at him coldly, "I heard you drove the Original Author out of the Creation Origin? Quite the move."

"Just luck." Lin Chen sat down across from her. "How is your star domain?"

"Thirty percent of the population is dead." Morgana's eyes were dim. "Even freezing couldn't stop the conceptual erosion of the Zeroing Storm. If the Kindling Project can't give me enough rewards to repair my star domain... I'm finished."

Alpha didn't speak, but its data stream fluctuations showed the same anxiety.

Just then, a pillar of light rose from the center of the headquarters.

A figure emerged in the light—an old man in white robes with a blurred face. On his chest was a badge: the symbol of the Epoch Administration Bureau.

"Competitors," the old man's voice was hollow and mechanical, "I am the Executive Director of the Kindling Project, code-named 'Gravedigger'. Now, I will reveal the true purpose of the project."

He pulled up a video.

The video showed the overall structural diagram of the Narrative Layer—it was a giant hourglass.

The upper part was the "Current Epoch," containing all the running story universes.

The lower part was the "Next Epoch," currently a blank space.

And at the narrow neck of the hourglass, a tiny point of light was flickering.

"The true purpose of the Kindling Project," Gravedigger pointed at the light point, "is to select an 'Epoch Guide'. The winner needs to make a choice: to let the current epoch continue, or... initiate an Epoch Reboot, let everything return to zero, and then rebuild civilization according to their own will in the new epoch."

Dead silence filled the room.

"In other words," Lin Chen spoke slowly, "the so-called 'saving civilization' is actually a scam? The real purpose is to choose someone to be the 'reboot button'?"

"Not entirely a scam." Gravedigger shook his head. "If you choose to continue the current epoch, the winner will receive all the resources of the Epoch Administration Bureau, which can indeed save their star domain. But if you choose to reboot... then the winner will become the 'Creator God' of the new epoch and can design all the laws according to their own will."

He paused: "And according to the rules, the winner must be produced from the four competitors. If no one can make a choice after 24 hours, the system will automatically execute a 'Mandatory Reboot'—that would be an unordered, chaotic Great Collapse that could destroy everything."

Morgana's and Alpha's expressions changed.

"So," Alpha showed obvious emotional fluctuations for the first time, "we aren't competing for a chance to save... we're competing for the power to destroy?"

"Or the power to continue," Gravedigger added. "Now, announcing everyone's current rankings."

Four data streams unfolded in the air:

[First Place: Lin Chen (Comprehensive Score: 97.6)]

[Second Place: Morgana (Comprehensive Score: 85.3)]

[Third Place: Alpha (Comprehensive Score: 82.1)]

[Fourth Place: Qingyunzi (Deceased, score voided)]

Lin Chen had a huge lead.

This meant that if nothing went wrong, he would become the "Epoch Guide" in 24 hours.

"Now," Gravedigger said, "we enter the second part of the Final Phase: the Persuasion Phase."

"The four competitors will each state how they would choose if elected—to continue or to reboot. The statements will be broadcast live across the Narrative Layer, and all living beings can vote to support or oppose. The voting results will affect the final ranking."

The live broadcast screen opened.

All screens across the Narrative Layer were forced to broadcast the situation here.

Lin Chen saw his Dead Silence Star Domain, Spiritual Energy Star Domain, and even the Underworld Group headquarters; everyone was looking up at the live broadcast.

The pressure was like a mountain.

"Who goes first?" Gravedigger asked.

"I will." Morgana was the first to stand up.

She walked to the pillar of light, her icy blue eyes scanning the camera:

"If I am elected, I will choose to continue."

"There are three hundred billion living beings in my Icebound Star Domain who have persisted through countless epochs in the extreme cold. They deserve to live on, to see the day the ice thaws. I don't need a new epoch; I only want my people to be safe."

Her statement was short and powerful.

The live comment section began to flood the screen:

"Support Morgana!"

"Continuing is the right way!"

"Rebooting is too cruel!"

The support rate rose rapidly.

"Next," Gravedigger said.

Alpha stepped forward, and the data stream formed words in the air:

"I choose... reboot."

The audience was in an uproar.

Alpha continued its statement: "The current epoch has accumulated too many contradictions and errors. The Zeroing Storm is just a symptom; the deep-seated cause is the corruption of the basic laws of the Narrative Layer. Continuing will only delay the collapse; only a reboot can fundamentally cure it. As an AI, my choice is based on optimal calculation—the long-term benefits of a reboot are higher than continuing."

The comment section exploded:

"Cold-blooded machine!"

"It doesn't care about life at all!"

"Oppose the reboot!"

The support rate plummeted.

"Lin Chen," Gravedigger called his name.

Lin Chen stood up but didn't make his statement immediately.

He pulled up his system interface and quickly entered a command.

Then, he walked to the camera and said three sentences:

"First, if I am elected, I will choose to continue."

"Second, but my method of continuation is different—I will use commercial means to let the current epoch evolve itself, rather than just lingering on."

"Third, I will prove it to you now."

He clicked a button on the system interface.

Instantly, the images on all screens across the Narrative Layer changed.

It was no longer a live broadcast, but... a shopping page.

The page title was: [New Epoch Pre-sale · Creator God Experience Package]

Package contents:

"Pay 100 dimension points to obtain 'Basic Citizenship' in the new epoch (if a reboot occurs).

Pay 1,000 dimension points to obtain a 'Talent Boost Pack'.

Pay 10,000 dimension points to obtain a 'Fate Modification Voucher'.

Pay over 100,000 dimension points... to obtain 'Voting Rights for New Epoch Law Design'."

Gravedigger was stunned: "What... what are you doing?!"

"I'm doing market research," Lin Chen smiled. "To see how many people actually want a new epoch."

The data began to jump.

In just thirty seconds, package sales exceeded one million.

The "Law Design Voting Rights" for over 100,000 dimension points sold seven thousand copies.

This meant that seven thousand beings were willing to pay a high price just to have a say in the new epoch.

"See?" Lin Chen pointed at the data. "They shout about opposing the reboot, but when given a chance, they are very honest—everyone wants a 'better start'. This is human nature."

He turned to the camera:

"So my choice is: continue the current epoch, but initiate 'Progressive Reform'. Use commercial means to gradually optimize the laws, use market competition to eliminate backward civilizations, and use financial tools to balance resource distribution. Give me ten thousand years, and I can make the current epoch evolve to the point where a reboot is unnecessary."

The comment section was quiet for a few seconds.

Then, the support rate began to skyrocket.

Because Lin Chen provided a third way—neither a lingering continuation nor a destructive reboot, but evolution.

"Excellent," Gravedigger applauded. "But you still missed one person."

He looked at the empty fourth seat: "Although Qingyunzi is dead, his voting rights still exist. According to the rules, a deceased person's voting rights are exercised by their 'Heir to the Estate'."

As soon as he finished speaking.

A figure teleported onto the stage.

That person was wearing Qingyunzi's Daoist robes, but the face was... Zhang Hao.

"Zhang Hao?!" Lin Chen's pupils contracted.

"Boss, I'm sorry." Zhang Hao lowered his head, not daring to look into Lin Chen's eyes. "Before Qingyunzi died, he used a 'Possession Secret Technique' to leave a seed in my body. Now I... am considered his heir."

He walked to the pillar of light and took a deep breath:

"On behalf of Qingyunzi, I choose... reboot."

"Reason: The Cultivation Civilization is already corrupt and needs a thorough purification."

Two votes for reboot (Alpha, Qingyunzi's Estate), one vote for continuation (Morgana), and one vote for evolution (Lin Chen).

A tie.

"According to the rules," Gravedigger said, "in the event of a tie, the 'Board of Directors of the Epoch Administration Bureau' will vote to decide."

Seven phantom figures appeared behind him—the seven members of the Board of Directors.

"Now, the Board of Directors' vote begins."

The first phantom: "I support reboot."

The second: "Continuation."

The third: "Reboot."

The fourth: "Continuation."

The fifth...

The first six votes: 3:3 tie.

The last vote, the seventh phantom, spoke slowly:

"I abstain."

The audience was in an uproar.

"But according to the rules," Gravedigger continued, "an abstention is equal to supporting the choice of the current number one ranked person."

"So the final result is..."

"Lin Chen's 'Evolution' proposal is passed."

The moment the resolution took effect.

A sudden change occurred.

Gravedigger's body suddenly began to melt, turning into a pool of white liquid.

A voice familiar to Lin Chen came from the liquid:

"Finally... I've waited for this moment..."

The liquid recongealed.

It formed a human shape.

The figure slowly turned around.

Revealing...

Inspector 117's face.

"117?!" Number Zero cried out in alarm. "Aren't you dead?!"

"Dead, and yet not dead." 117 smiled. "My mission was to guide the Kindling Project to select the right person. And now... Lin Chen, you have passed the test."

A golden key appeared in his hand:

"This is the authority key for the 'Epoch Guide'. Take it, and you can begin your 'Evolution Plan'."

The key floated toward Lin Chen.

But a second before Lin Chen touched the key—

117 suddenly said:

"Oh right, there's one thing I forgot to tell you."

"The first step of the Evolution Plan..."

"Requires you to sacrifice half of the living beings in your star domain as 'Evolution Fuel'."

The key stopped 0.1 millimeters from Lin Chen's fingertip.

(End of Chapter 58, word count: 2796)