CH 190

Old Du and Anxashe rushed forth to help Baron Sisse. The powerful electrical shocks had caused him to lose consciousness. Master Crystal also stepped forth to check on the baron. Only after he confirmed that the baron had merely fainted and was generally fine did we feel somewhat relieved.

Beyond the opened door was a peculiar sight. The space inside the room wasn't big. Countless electrical currents ran along the four walls of the room, and all the currents led straight toward the center of the room. There, a blackish-yellow energy ball hovered, supported by the power of the countless electrical currents flowing toward it.

The floating energy ball seemed to be constantly absorbing the energy from the electrical currents. The ball was also constantly trembling, as though it was trying to break free from the bindings of the electrical currents.

"What monster is it this time? It looks like an energy core or something," said Zhang Bao'er.

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"This is probably Cloudcast's final energy return location," muttered Master Crystal.

"Energy return location? What do you mean?" asked Zhang Bao'er doubtfully.

"According to the Theory of Cosmic Serenity originating from Planet Eternal, there is a point of return for everything in the universe. Take this ball in front of us for example. It might be that after Cloudcast reaches the end of its life, the planet will cool down and shrink, eventually withdrawing into this one energy ball, just like how a star turns into a black hole," said Master Crystal.

"You're saying that all planets will eventually shrink into some sort of energy ball just like how stars will eventually turn into black holes or white dwarfs?" asked Zhang Bao'er.

"According to Eternal's Theory of Cosmic Serenity, that is inevitable after a planet reaches the end of its natural life span," said Master Crystal.

"But how is this energy ball related to our escape?" asked Wind Spirit impatiently.

"A place where life is lost will often also be the place where new life is born. The program housed in this room is designed based on the Eternals' concept of rebirth," said Li Yizhi, more muttering to herself than answering the question.

"This is straightforward enough for me. Just bomb this place and blast a way to the surface," said Zhang Bao'er confidently.

"Senior, what do you think we should do?" I asked, ignoring Zhang Bao'er's suggestion.

"I have a way to send all of you back, but the rebirth program here is very powerful. All of you need to go down one level and wait if you don't want to be harmed by the backlashes of what I'm about to do. I'll work alone. When you sense a change in the energy core later, rush back here," said Li Yizhi.

"This is too dangerous. I can assist you, and with me here, we can also watch each other's backs," I said, disagreeing that she should take the risk alone. Her risking it alone wasn't something I would let happen on my watch.

"We can't. I might need to detonate this core in stages. If anything untoward happens to me, you can continue the task. We can't risk having everyone exposed to the same danger at the same time," said Li Yizhi firmly.

"Even if there are dangers, I should be the one to go first. Just tell me what to do. I'll try. If I fail, you can proceed," I insisted.

"We don't have the time for this. I know the programs here the best. If you go, it will be the same as suicide. Just wait for me at the eighth level with your probes on. When you sense any changes, rush back here," said Li Yizhi with a firm commanding tone.

"But this is too dangerous." I still couldn't bring myself to let Li Yizhi take such a huge risk.

"Don't worry. I'll take good care of myself. When this fellow wakes up later, tell him to organize the data he collected from the droids and transfer them to me," said Li Yizhi as she pointed at the unconscious Baron Sisse.

Upon seeing how Li Yizhi was still making arrangements for future tasks, we were slightly relieved. From what she had experienced so far, it was evident she had managed to turn peril into safety many times. This gave us the impression that she was simply more capable than us.

And thus, we followed Li Yizhi's instructions and retreated to the eighth level of the ring-shaped corridors. Zhang Bao'er and Anxashe were in charge of retreating and carrying the unconscious Baron Sisse.

"Canyue, I have an odd feeling," whispered Old Du.

"What is it? What do you mean?" I asked.

"I remember the baron saying previously that the rebirth program is mainly based on the concept of nirvana and reincarnation, to be reborn from death. Coupling that concept with what Master Crystal said about the point of return we found in the room, don't you feel that all of this is somewhat odd?" asked Old Du doubtfully.

"I interpret it as us needing to blow up the energy ball and letting the energy ball rebuild itself to open up a path leading out of the core. That would restart all the programs here and allow us to open the locked door from inside," I said.

"Your interpretation is reasonable. We all believe that blowing up the energy ball is the key to leaving. But what if the answer is something else?" asked Old Du.

"What other answer can it be? Will we fail in destroying the energy ball?" I asked.

"No." Old Du finally voiced his worry, "Could it be possible that what needs to be destroyed is not the energy ball but one's body, which would be sacrificed to the program?" 

My entire body shook from his explanation.

"Nirvana, nirvana," I started muttering.

"Canyue, what's wrong?" asked Zhang Bao'er curiously. He had just reached the eighth level and had no idea what we were talking about.

"Shit! Something is going to happen to Li Yizhi!" I exclaimed before running back toward the rebirth room.

Seeing my reaction, the others followed me. Only Anxashe was left behind to care for Baron Sisse, who was still unconscious. We ran toward the entrance to the rebirth room. There, we saw a beautiful figure preparing to step below the energy ball.

"Senior, stop! Don't go!" I roared to Li Yizhi.

She stopped in her tracks and turned around to look at me.

"Senior, the so-called nirvana is only a myth. Do not try anything stupid and throw your life away for an unconfirmed myth. Come back first. We can think of a new plan," I said anxiously while stepping toward her.

"Stop. Not a step farther, or I'll walk in immediately. Canyue, this is not a myth. I saw the secret of this rebirth program when I hacked into the lightning droid. Only when an organic life form enters the energy ball will an energy reaction happen. This reaction will produce the path out of this place," said Li Yizhi.

I kept trying to persuade her even after I stopped stepping forward. "Even so, you don't need to sacrifice yourself. We can enter one of those program rooms and catch some beasts for this." 

"Those beasts are all illusions. They will vanish upon leaving their rooms. You won't be able to bring any here," said Li Yizhi.

"No matter what, you can't sacrifice yourself so easily. Come out first. We can think of a different plan together," I said.

The others behind me were also advising her to stop, hoping that she would return to us.

"Canyue, we still don't know if the lion-faced beasts have all been eliminated. Spacetime is still waiting for you to check on them. You have many urgent tasks. As for me, I have completed my mission. I only need to carry out my highest priority order, to ensure your safety at all costs," said Li Yizhi, completely confusing me with her words.

"Bulu, Bulu, come here and control her!" I suddenly remembered Bulu when I saw how stubborn Li Yizhi was. I took out the little fellow from my backpack, but unfortunately, Bulu was still asleep.

Li Yizhi turned, showing her back to us once again. She then resolutely strode forth.

"Bulu, wake up! Please! Control her!" I shouted madly at Bulu.

Alas, in the universe, things would frequently not happen as one wished. The ideal scenario would usually only exist in one's optimistic daydreaming. Bulu was still asleep, not reacting at all to my shouts. I was so agitated that I even dropped the little fellow on the ground.

This time, Li Yizhi did not stop. She continued walking forth. The energy ball suddenly shook. Shortly after, it started moving left and right, fully breaking free from its constraints as the electrical currents around it broke apart.

Without the electrical currents, the blackish-yellow energy ball started swelling at a rapid pace. From the size of a small car, it turned into the size of a massive truck. And it was still continuing to grow.

As we cried out in alarm, the energy ball swallowed Li Yizhi's body. An intense nuclear reaction was produced as the surface of the energy ball started churning violently. That process lasted for roughly 10 minutes. Then, the energy ball started calming down. The ball's blackish-yellow surface slowly turned light blue as it hovered back into the air and returned to its original size.

On the floor Li Yizhi had stood on, two objects were left behind. The gentle bluish-white energy ball scattered, transmitting its energy into the room's wall before vanishing before our eyes. The massive roof above us slowly opened, revealing the sky and the familiar figure of Betelgeuse. A path to the surface had opened up in front of us.

'She really did it,' I thought as a complicated feeling swelled within me.

"Senior, this is my fault. I had not imagined that the process of nirvana does not refer to opening the door of the room but to sacrificing oneself to the energy core," came Baron Sisse's voice from behind us.

I turned around and saw that Anxashe was carrying the baron on his back. The purple tears belonging to Akkos were trailing down the baron's face. Zhang Bao'er walked up to me, picked up Bulu from the ground, and handed the little fellow back to me. I felt somewhat guilty for dropping Bulu. The little fellow was still soundly asleep, so I returned it to my backpack.

"Canyue, look at this," shouted Old Du from Li Yizhi's previous position.

I jogged over and saw that Old Du was holding the two objects that had appeared after Li Yizhi's sacrifice.

"Canyue, this is a synthetic heart and a synthetic brain," said Old Du while he handed the objects to me.

When I studied the two objects, they were indeed synthetic organs produced from unique materials. At the top of both objects, a series of words could be seen: Made in 2122.

A big hand snatched the two organs from my hands. I looked back and saw that it was Baron Sisse.

"What? She’s actually—" the baron couldn't finish his words.