278: The stronger the mental power, the faster it is absorbed.

Although she didn't know the system's ultimate goal, it had always just given Gu Xiaoyue missions, provided her with resources, and helped her grow stronger.

But there's no such thing as a free lunch; the system must be after something.

This could be used as Gu Xiaoyue's bargaining chip when negotiating with the system.

"Fine, if you don't react, I'll just give up too!"

Gu Xiaoyue emptied her mind, closed her eyes, and thought of nothing.

She didn't use her body's perspective to observe her surroundings, completely isolating herself, in a state of utter idleness.

[Ding—Host—]

The system finally reacted, its mechanical voice surprisingly tinged with a hint of grievance.

"What exactly is going on?

Is it because I brought the ruins into the Yu Beast Space and attracted something unclean?"

At this point, that was the only reason she could think of.

After all, when her Mental Power was depleted, she learned too many secrets of the ruins.

Gu Xiaoyue had reason to suspect that these were special particles left behind by the Finarans or fierce beasts that sacrificed themselves in that battle.

From her perspective in her previous life, she was currently in a state of being "possessed by a ghost."

And wasn't she already a case of 'borrowing a corpse to return a soul' from the very beginning when she took over this body?!

[Ding—Answering Host, the current situation is indeed somewhat related to the ruins, because there are magnets buried underground that absorb Mental Power.

The stronger the Beastmaster's Mental Power, the more Mental Power will be absorbed in proportion—]

"So my current state is because my Mental Power has been absorbed, but why can't I control my body? Who is controlling this body now?"

Gu Xiaoyue could understand the system's explanation, but she couldn't accept it.

[Ding—It's…it's…]

"If you know, just say it, why are you being so slow?!"

She was a bit irritable, wishing she could grab the system by its collar and make it answer quickly.

Finally, the system seemed to make up its mind—

[Ding—It's the original Gu Xiaoyue, it's the original owner!]

…

This time, the one who fell silent was Gu Xiaoyue.

If it were unknown particles from the ruins causing trouble, she could still find a way to force them out.

These past two days, she could feel that she hadn't completely lost control; there were always loopholes she could exploit.

But if this was the original owner, and she had occupied her body for several years now.

She was supposed to have died in the apocalypse; after occupying someone else's nest for a few years, she couldn't really harm the original owner, could she? She was innocent!

"When I transmigrated, I thought she had already died—

So at that time, she was just severely injured and unconscious?"

Gu Xiaoyue muttered to herself, not needing the system to answer. Since the original owner was controlling the body, her deduction must be correct!

"So when did you know?"

According to the system's previous hints, it had known for a long time that the original owner was actually still alive.

It could even be certain that it knew about this before Gu Xiaoyue wanted to move the ruins into the Yu Beast Space.

However, it didn't know the severe consequences would be like this; otherwise, the system should have warned her.

[Ding—The original owner's awakening time was when the Host first achieved first place in the National Competition, at Lianxin Waterfall—

However, due to her Mental Power being too weak, she was completely unable to contend with the Host, so she has always been in the same state as the Host is now.

Until…until…]

"Alright, I get it."

Gu Xiaoyue subconsciously wanted to rub her forehead, but she was only in a conscious state now and couldn't do anything.

The original owner was also quite miserable, constantly observing and perceiving her surroundings from this perspective.

Although it was her own body, she couldn't perform any actions, and any glory had nothing to do with her.

She was also forced into various predicaments, even witnessing her own killing!

There were many people who wanted to harm Gu Xiaoyue, and her Hands were naturally not unstained by blood!

Wu Yan, Catherine, Hand, Jiang Mengfei—she could think of several just by casually recalling them—

"Alright, I should have died a long time ago. Living these extra years can be considered fate treating me well!

It's also a good thing that she can continue to live—"

Gu Xiaoyue simply closed her eyes and rested. She wouldn't try to make herself disappear either.

She might as well rest and recuperate peacefully within the original owner's body!

[Ding—But…Host…]

"What's wrong?"

She hadn't thought the system was so timid before, but these past two days she'd discovered that the system knew how to provoke her!

[Ding—The original owner's Mental Power is insufficient to control pet beasts, and she can't even retrieve any items from the Yu Beast Space—]

In that case, all the hard-earned achievements she had built up—

Were they all for nothing?!

Gu Xiaoyue couldn't help but feel a little sad, but then she thought again—

"It's okay, I'm still here!

When she needs something, I, as her second personality, can come out and help her solve problems, can't I?"

[Ding—Host, that would be too unfair to you!]

The system's mechanical voice even carried a hint of a sob.

"I was originally supposed to dissipate. Now, with her body sustaining me, I can continue to live.

In a sense, I owe her!

But then again, if the ruins' magnets keep absorbing my Mental Power, will I only be able to move my body occasionally?"

There was a period of silence. Gu Xiaoyue knew the system probably had no solution either.

She pondered that she hadn't heeded the system's warning and insisted on moving the ruins into the Yu Beast Space.

For the original owner, it was a blessing in disguise, but what about herself?

The two of them were now coexisting peacefully, but the original owner must have opposed some of Gu Xiaoyue's previous actions.

For example—dropping out of school, and leaving the Gu Family, disowning Gu Yu and Mu Qingning!

Gu Xiaoyue sighed to herself. There was a reason she severed ties with the Gu Family. She only hoped the original owner could understand her painstaking efforts.

She originally wanted to ignore everything, but unexpectedly, just as the original owner was about to leave the main gate of Nanya Academy, she was stopped by Chu Li and Shui Lingyu.

"Xiao Yue, where are you going?"

Gu Xiaoyue heard Chu Li's voice and, using the original owner's perspective, glanced over. Shui Lingyu was also there.

"Um, I want to go home and see my parents and my younger brother."

The original owner lowered her head slightly, her voice soft, but with a hint of guilt in her tone.

Chu Li and Shui Lingyu exchanged glances. They had both been present that day when Gu Xiaoyue severed ties with Gu Yu and Mu Qingning.

Now that she wanted to go back and see them, it made both Chu Li and Shui Lingyu feel a bit strange.

"How about this: first, go to the Principal to get the withdrawal procedures, and then stay home for two days.

The day after tomorrow morning, we'll go directly to the capital. What do you think, Xiao Yue?"

Shui Lingyu suggested, his inquiring gaze falling on Gu Xiaoyue.

"I actually didn't really want to drop out of school…"

The original owner mumbled very softly, but she also knew that if she didn't drop out, it would be a year of leave, which she also didn't want.

"Colonel Qian Ce said he would help you write a recommendation letter to Chongbei. You don't need to worry too much about the degree part."

Shui Lingyu heard her soft murmur and thought she was worried about not getting a degree if she dropped out of Nanya.

The original owner's face fell another two points. She hadn't thought much about going to Chongbei either.

Military academies were very strict. When she was conscious and found herself at Nanya Academy, she was actually quite satisfied.

After a moment of hesitation, the original owner also felt it was better to go to the Principal's office.

Regardless, she had to say hello to the Principal. Fortunately, because of what Colonel Qian Ce had said earlier, Gu Xiaoyue and the others were assisting him on a secret mission.

The Principal directly said it would be calculated as a normal academic year and even gave her two academic years' worth of credits.

This way, she could neither take a leave of absence nor drop out.

"Consider that old fox sensible!"

Coming out of the Principal's office, Chu Li curled her lips and tossed out a remark.

Since Gu Xiaoyue was taken care of, the others naturally wouldn't get agitated anymore.

Principal Zheng knew he couldn't continue to pressure them with school rules, so he had to give up the idea of making Gu Xiaoyue repeat a year and participate in the National Competition one more time.

The original owner heard Chu Li's roguish remark and silently moved closer to Shui Lingyu.

After leaving the Principal's office building, they hadn't walked far when they encountered Ye Wanrou and Chen Yixuan.

Ye Wanrou stepped forward and asked with great concern.

"Xiao Yue, what did the Principal say? Is his attitude still very firm?"

Ye Wanrou naturally still hoped that Gu Xiaoyue could resolve things well with the Principal. She still wanted to spend her senior year with Xiao Yue and attend the graduation ceremony together.

The original owner glanced at Chen Yixuan, who was standing beside Ye Wanrou, and said somewhat sarcastically.

"You two really are inseparable!"

Ye Wanrou initially thought she was just joking with her, her cheeks flushed slightly, feeling a bit shy.

"Xiao Yue, stop it, the Principal he—"

Before she could finish speaking, the original owner had already left, leaving Ye Wanrou and Chen Yixuan standing there, watching her departing back in confusion.