novelnext Chapter 2129 - 56: The Correct [Guidance]
Chapter 2129 - 56: The Correct [Guidance]
"I will find it."
Having said that, Ian’s Aether Body completely dissipated.
The Galewind Dragon King watched the motes of aether light left behind by Ian’s dispersal. It stared for a while, then began to laugh.
[Then I truly can’t wait]
Murmuring softly, it turned its head forward and began accelerating toward Terra.
It had never doubted whether Ian could succeed.
Because Ian had never once failed.
On the other side of space-time.
Terra.
Steep Ridge Fortress.
The Heart of Terra and Aina were preparing to leave.
"Remember, you must keep this a secret."
Before departing, the Heart of Terra spoke to the Duke of Steep Ridge. The other was dazed for a moment, then came back to himself: [You mean, The End?]
"Yes. We cannot allow news of The End—by which I mean the Great Demise outside the Terra Cradle—to leak out."
[Why?]
The Duke of Steep Ridge frowned: [This information... Although I also feel that we can’t tell the Whole Terra People, that would indeed throw everything into chaos, at the very least the upper echelons of the various nations should know]
Although the upper echelons of the Tara Confederation were mutually hostile, when it came to matters of true magnitude there was no real distinction of country—just as Far Shore Island had always insisted on guarding its Mantle Pillar, even in the midst of a national war against the continent.
Although recently, Far Shore Island wanted to slack off and head to the New Continent, before they left they would still place Far Shore Island in the custody of a Terra Continent nation, rather than simply washing their hands of it.
"This is not the appropriate time."
The Heart of Terra said calmly, "If the leaders of the Tara Confederation learn of the Great Demise, they will realize that they in fact have no way to break through to the Sixth Echelon—at least not before the Cradle is repaired."
"In that case, they will lose hope."
"But if they don’t know, then in order to oppose Father, who stands at Half-Step to Sixth Energy Level, they will choose The Alliance... Of course, they may also choose to side with us."
"Do you understand now, Your Grace?"
Saying this, the Heart of Terra revealed a cold smile. "When the enemies gather together, that is when they are easiest to eliminate."
[...]
The Duke of Steep Ridge fell silent for a time. Just as the Heart of Terra was about to turn and leave, he spoke: [Even if you defeat all the Fifth Energy Level beings in this world, you... no, Ian]
[Ian still won’t make this information public, will he?]
"Of course not."
The Heart of Terra answered without the slightest hesitation. "There is no reason for the Logos of this world to be handed to anyone for free. At the very least you must prove you have the qualification—just like wanting to learn higher mathematics, you must first prove you have mastered elementary and intermediate mathematics."
"All information regarding The End is stored in the deepest part of the Pioneer Space."
"Only those who intend Exploration—who seek to explore the world beyond the Cradle—can obtain it. People may know that there is such a ’great Secret Treasure’ in the deepest part of the Pioneer Space. They can be guided, strive for that Secret Treasure, but we, especially Father, will never directly give them the answer."
[Why?]
"Because only the process... Your Grace, only the process is the true wealth. Just as, if you wish to obtain Logos, what truly matters is actually seeking out what the ’question’ is, rather than a single, simple ’answer’—for example, ’42.’"
It is like going on a pilgrimage for scriptures: the most important thing is not obtaining the scripture itself, but all the tribulations along the way, and the truths understood behind those tribulations.
The Heart of Terra did not explain too much to the Duke. Everything was Ian’s plan; he would execute it loyally, rather than explain it in his own way.
[But I have a question right now, and I only want the answer]
Yet the Duke of Steep Ridge spoke in a low voice: [Heart of Terra, since Ian chose to have you come see me, that means he must have already foreseen all my reactions]
[If so, then you must be carrying that answer... Tell me]
Raising his hand and pointing at his own nearly rotten carapace, the Duke of Steep Ridge spoke in a tone that was almost a sob: [How, exactly... am I supposed to be freed?!]
[I have been trapped in this endless Cage for over a hundred years. I cannot leave the Apocalypse Armament, I cannot leave my own carapace, I cannot take another step forward. I can only stay where I am, unable to advance for eternity]
[Heart of Terra, or the Ian behind you! Since you are willing to come and reclaim the Inheritance of the Terra Dragon from my hands, then you must have long since understood my situation. You must know how to solve my problem!]
[I have gone through far too much process. Now, I only want an answer!]
"You still haven’t gone through enough."
The Heart of Terra’s answer was cold and merciless. If it had been Ian, even with the same answer he could have said it in a way that brought peace of mind—but the Heart of Terra never did so. He said directly, "Bokang, what exactly are you deluding yourself about? You and my father are both contestants who tried to cheat. Father can no longer rely on shortcuts to ascend as a Star God, and the price you pay is to be trapped here forever, never to be freed."
"Unless..." His words halted.
[Unless!]
The Duke of Steep Ridge growled: [That ’unless’ is exactly what I want!]
[How could I not know that my ending is the result of my own choice? But I want to know that ’unless’—tell me, I am willing to do anything for that answer!]
Having obtained the Duke of Steep Ridge’s stance, the Heart of Terra nodded. "Unless you enter an environment in which there is absolutely no ’Aether’ at all."