Chapter 432: Airing Grievances
"Athena" was responsible for escape, and the "Worm Project" for survival; these two major plans collectively formed the blueprint for the United States' next decade.
Leaders across various nations generally believed that Earth had become far too dangerous. In plain sight, the Land of White spread outwards like a cancerous growth, while in the shadows lurked an unknown entity calling itself the Disciple of the Crimson World.
Yet, under the current circumstances, even uniting all major forces, the probability of simultaneously defeating these two monsters and reclaiming control of Earth was exceedingly slim.
Subconsciously, most people who hadn't had direct contact with him had already lumped Bai Mo, the creator of the Land of White, together with the alien monster disturbing the world.
Some even harbored more extreme conjectures, believing he had been "reincarnated through soul possession" by aliens, no longer truly human, but an alien species intent on enslaving Earth. RA1NObEs
Unfortunately, no matter the conjecture, all proposed solutions pointed to a single word — escape!
Migrating to the Moon, or even further to Mars, clearing out the local inhabitants, and starting anew, trading space for time in the search for hope of their civilization's continuation, was the decision with the highest chance of success.
One after another, national apparatuses furiously spun, making thorough preparations for this momentous decision.
"Another variable has appeared."
"This self-destructive, insane race." Beside him, a figure in a long purple gown, whose face was indistinguishable as male or female, spoke with a hint of anger in their voice.
"The last variable already made us pay a price." A line of words, seemingly written in golden lacquer, suddenly appeared on the oak table, only to vanish abruptly a few seconds later.
Neither the bartender wiping glasses nor the mercenaries pouring drinks for each other nearby seemed to question anything before their eyes; they took it all as a matter of course.
The trio, Gaia, having retreated to the American continent, casually chose this small tavern as their meeting place.
"Variables imply resistance, and resistance is undoubtedly beautiful." The red-clad youth's eyes showed a dazed look, as if savoring fine wine.
"But they actually risked everything to bet on that madman's sanity!" When mentioning Bai Mo, Gaia was clearly agitated.
For no other reason than the actions of the Land of White were, without a doubt, a usurpation of Gaia's control over destiny—to put it more mystically, a Dao dispute.
Under such circumstances, it was naturally impossible for it to hold much of a positive attitude towards Bai Mo.
"Time is on our side. No matter how powerful he is, if he takes a wrong step, he won't live past three hundred years. What do you have to be anxious about?" the Disciple of the Crimson World said with a smile.
"A peerless genius who could forge his own path. If he had been given another ten years to prepare for his advancement instead of being forced to rush through it, leaving behind a fatal hidden danger, he might truly have reached an unprecedented level."
As he spoke, a twisted smile appeared at Gaia's lips, drawing in those around him, who unconsciously mirrored his eerie expression.
Everyone's laughter seemed to convey the same message: What I cannot obtain, no one else shall ever hope to!
Gaia effortlessly wielded the emotional manipulation of a Dharma Body martial artist.
"An unprecedented level... Hahaha, hahaha..."
Perhaps due to the overwhelming power of Gaia's emotional manipulation, the Disciple of the Crimson World's expression drastically changed after hearing this. He began to repeat those words over and over, his laughter growing louder and louder, until tears streamed down his face.
Gaia remained silent, quietly observing the tear-streaked Disciple of the Crimson World alongside the Creator, without a hint of disrespect in their eyes.
For this was the eternal obsession held deep within the hearts of these fellow travelers in adversity.
The three beings from different worlds had, in fact, once been cultivators on the Tianxuan Continent, striving to ascend to higher realms.
At their peak, they were Body Integration Perfection cultivators, one in a billion on the Tianxuan Continent. After stagnating for several centuries, their patience exhausted, these great cultivators decided to launch an assault on the ethereal Grand Ascension stage.
Alas, their gains were pitifully few, or rather, it could be said they failed completely.
After launching their assault, they gained the terrifying immortality of the Grand Ascension stage, but at the cost of their physical bodies utterly collapsing. They transformed into informational lifeforms known on the Tianxuan Continent as "Profound Yin Heavenly Demons," their combat strength reduced to a mere fraction due to the backlash of their failure.
The news of their failure was kept secret for only thirty years before their former enemies and various jackals began their pursuit and plunder.
After thousands of years of being hunted, retaliating, sealed, and seeking revenge, they finally arrived on Earth, where they remained to this day.
"Just that tiny bit, my Grand Ascension!" After a moment of silence, Gaia spoke with immense reluctance.
Though more than three millennia had passed, their obsession remained incredibly profound, still brooding over the past.
Regarding everything on Earth as mere a game was nothing more than an ostrich-like denial for themselves.
Names like Gaia, the Disciple of the Crimson World, and the Creator were simply "modernized" monikers they had adopted only after arriving on Earth and encountering its culture.
When they first encountered the culture of this different world, they were indeed a little disoriented. However, as former Body Integration stage cultivators, they had fully adapted to the new environment in just a few days and began to strategize across the new world.
"Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, Void Refinement, Body Integration, Grand Ascension — how much did I sacrifice to cultivate to the Body Integration stage?! Why won't they let us take that final step?!"
"Why are the people of this planet so lucky, able to encounter the manifestation of Innate Qi?!"
To them, the first Spirit Tide that appeared was nothing less than the torrent of "Innate Qi," a substance long extinct on the Tianxuan Continent, mentioned only in ancient texts.
"Innate Qi... it allowed these lowly mortals not only to gain bloodline abilities but also transformed some into innate beings with even better aptitudes than us. How unjust is the Heavenly Dao!"
In less than a decade, six-tier beings comparable to Void Refinement stage cultivators on the Tianxuan Continent had emerged within human society. And now, less than twenty years since the Spirit Tide, even Bai Mo, possessing the combat power of an initial Body Integration stage cultivator, had appeared.
Gaia, who considered himself exceptionally talented and had painstakingly cultivated for nearly two millennia to reach his current stage, would be damned if his mindset could remain calm.
...
The trio's meeting, sparked by a single remark from Gaia, ultimately devolved into a grievance meeting. Their previous profound and mysterious image of treating life as a game was utterly shattered in this moment.
Of course, no one could witness the true situation; their conversation seemed to be taking place in another world.
Comments