Volume 3: Deep Blue Sea
Ye Qian’s words gave the bewildered crowd a sense of direction, but the problem remained unresolved. Shu Xun mentioned that this world needed energy, but how should the energy be utilized? Could it simply be poured out?
“In the transported supplies, there is indeed an energy reserve, and the energy content is not low. It was mined from two planets. However, the energy expression methods of the two worlds are different. Will direct release really work? Will it have adverse effects?” The materials transported by the Blue Book Fleet were undoubtedly military supplies. But in this situation, assisting the advanced life forms at the end of their road was the responsibility of every citizen in the cosmic era, and the principle of prioritizing life was a consensus reached by the major races of the cosmic era.
Upon hearing Di Lan Shu’s inquiry, Ye Qian’s gaze turned to Shu Xun, or rather, the blade of grass beside Shu Xun. The tender blade of grass floated quietly next to Shu Xun in mid-air. Sensing Ye Qian’s gaze, the grass nonchalantly drifted to the top of Shu Xun’s head, then lifted up a strand of hair formed from its own foliage, coiled itself around it, and successfully tied itself into a knot on Shu Xun’s head.
Shu Xun: “…”
Ye Qian’s icy voice continued. “Special existences must have special reasons. Perhaps Ling Yang’s birth timing was particularly unique, coinciding with the time when the entire Spirit Tides clan went to the bottom of the continent. Ling Yang said he stayed in the eggshell for two hundred years. So, how did he hatch without any clan members around for those two hundred years? Spirit Tides may have been able to protect Ling Yang’s survival through certain means, but they probably didn’t anticipate Ling Yang’s eventual hatching, as evidenced by the fact that the Spirit Tides clan didn’t leave any clues for Ling Yang to find them. Therefore, to some extent, Ling Yang is highly likely to have been hatched by the world consciousness. It is also because of this that Ling Yang has extremely high spiritual power and can quickly grasp the use of Shu Xun’s fishing rod, flexibly utilizing and transforming various energies, something even the Phantom Clan cannot easily achieve.”
Meng Muyu cradled Ling Yang in his arms, carefully examining the little mermaid in the palm of his hand once again. Ling Yang nervously hugged his tail tightly and even subconsciously began to bite his own tail. Meng Muyu was speechless for a moment. He reached out to rescue the mermaid’s tail and sighed slightly. “No wonder you keep saying ‘my world.’ You shouldn’t be called Ling Yang. Let’s call you ‘Shi Yang’ instead.”
Ling Yang puffed up his small chest. “I’m not Shi Yang. I’m Ling Yang. I have some feelings of my own like those inexplicably inherited emotions, knowledge, and abilities. Such circumstances are not recorded in the Spirit Tides ruins. I also wondered if it was the world consciousness that incubated me. But if that’s the case, why didn’t the world consciousness guide me to find my clan? I’ve searched for them for so long, always alone…” As he spoke, Ling Yang’s voice became softer and softer until it disappeared completely.
Meng Muyu gently patted Ling Yang’s head. “You’ve thought about it yourself, right? The world consciousness wants you to freely see this world before its end. If destruction is inevitable, it hopes that the world you see has a beautiful existence, not just heavy burdens.”
Ling Yang sniffled and spoke in a muffled voice. “I’m already a grown man.” A blade of grass extended over and gently patted Ling Yang’s head, exuding a comforting vibe.
“So, does the conversion of energy require Ling Yang’s assistance? Can I help?” Lie Yang eagerly asked, showing eagerness to showcase his abilities.
“Just having a fish is not enough. Ling Yang is only an incubation of the world consciousness, not the true world consciousness. The true world consciousness should be that blade of grass.” Ye Qian pointed to the grass leaf soothing the little mermaid. “When leaving the giant forest, Ling Yang uncontrollably shed tears. It was the grass reminding him to look back at the giant forest behind him. We also saw those floating green orbs for the second time when facing survivors like Di Lan Shu. Ling Yang’s stubbornness in not apologizing was also pacified by the grass, which first expressed regret. Some details in life can easily tell that the grass knows more than Ling Yang.”
The grass leaf stiffened in mid-air for a moment, then quickly retracted its extended leaves, curling itself into a tighter bundle on Shu Xun’s head, as if trying to become more secure.
Shu Xun tried to reach out and pick up the grass. But the grass playfully avoided his fingers, even using its leaves to push Shu Xun’s fingers away. Shu Xun sighed helplessly. “Follow me and you can protect me alone. But if you stay, you can protect the entire world.”
The grass slowly stretched out its body and the knot it tied slowly unraveled. Eventually, the grass floated down and flew in front of Shu Xun, gently touching his cheek. Then, it suddenly used the tip of its leaf to gently write four words on Shu Xun’s face. “You stay too.”
Shu Xun touched the grass’s leaves. “I won’t stay. I understand what you mean. Although that world may be more suitable for me, there’s someone in this world who can make up for all the mismatches.”
Lie Yang looked around and finally realized. “This grass never intended to follow us, did it? Instead, it wanted to lure Shu Xun away. Fortunately, it was seen through by Ye Qian. How cunning!” As soon as he finished speaking, he was smacked on the forehead by the grass leaf with a crisp sound. “Where’s the tenderness of the world consciousness? Are you sure you’re not mistaken?” Lie Yang immediately rubbed his forehead, murmuring in frustration.
“The identity of the grass is more accurately defined as Three-Leaf Grass, created by the Xuanqiu tribe in the hope of merging with the world consciousness. Just like how the Three-Leaf Grass integrates to protect the Xuanqiu tribe, it’s just that the world consciousness never intended to activate it until I triggered a system glitch, bringing a glimmer of hope to this world. The world consciousness divided a small part of its spiritual power to give life to the grass as a gesture of gratitude. This gratitude has made Ling Yang, the Three-Leaf Grass, and other beings inexplicably fond of me.” Shu Xun spread out his palm, and the grass settled in his hand, looking exceptionally docile.
“So, does this grass count as the world consciousness?” Lie Yang was a bit confused by the entanglement.
Shu Xun tapped the grass leaf while taking out some items from his spiritual space. “You can think of it as the child of ‘The Deep Blue Sea’. Perhaps when it was originally created, the world consciousness indeed wanted the grass to follow us. After all, even with a glimmer of hope, the chances of success are not high. But most beings in this world are stubborn. I’m afraid that in the end, all beings will return to ‘The Deep Blue Sea’ recklessly. The grass is the same. Even if it’s destruction, it rushes in like a moth to a flame without hesitation.”
The grass disagreed and shook its leaf tip, then wrote on Shu Xun’s palm stroke by stroke. “Alive, guarding you. Dead, then return!”
Shu Xun stood still for a moment, then a gentle smile spread across his lips. He understood what the grass wanted to convey. The initial consciousness instilled in the grass was only one—to protect him. Whether ‘The Deep Blue Sea’ survives or perishes, the grass’s initial purpose remains unchanged—to live forever protecting him, until death allows it to return to ‘The Deep Blue Sea’. This gift wouldn’t change with the fate of ‘The Deep Blue Sea’. It was a choice between enduring storms together with his world or venturing into the unknown alone. Which one of these choices weighed heavier?
However, the world consciousness probably couldn’t anticipate that. By now, the fate of the world hinges on this blade of grass. Shu Xun rubbed the grass leaf. “Regardless of where you are, the covenant continues, the protection continues.” At the end of his speech, Shu Xun placed a small bottle next to the grass. Inside the tiny bottle were Purple Ling Spores, once prepared by Shu Xun’s parents. Although each spore was as tiny as sand, each contained immense vitality and spiritual power.
Merging with the world consciousness is not an easy task. The grass must evolve and break through in a very short time. Merge with the world consciousness before the world is swallowed by the black hole, open the passage, and protect all beings of the world to transfer to another perfect time and space. This process may sound simple, but every mistake made along the way will lead to irreversible consequences. Moreover, during the fusion of the world consciousness and the grass, the imprisonment of the invaders is bound to weaken. The invaders on the verge of life and death will surely not miss this slim chance. By then, it will inevitably lead to turmoil affecting the entire world. The lives of this world, which has evolved to overload, will finally usher in a battle of revenge.
Moreover, the transfer of space-time, let alone the collective transfer of planetary life, is already completely contrary to the theories of the universe. Such a crazy idea was probably unimaginable even before. One world, countless lives, the stubbornness between the world consciousness and the world’s beings, they rise and fall together.
The speed of the spacecraft slowly decelerated. Everyone realized that they had reached the bottom of the continent. Ling Yang and the grass had already decided to stay behind. Regardless of whether the outcome was success or failure, their parting had been determined.
“Remember the heart sutra I taught you two these days: ‘Discern the false to preserve the true. Seeking the true self is cultivating truth. Transcend reincarnation. Seeing through life and death is for eternal life’. How about you call yourself Eternal Grass from now on?” The grass, not being a Three-Leaf Grass, without origin or destination, born of heaven and earth, naturally had no race. Eternal was Shu Xun’s best blessing for the grass.
The grass nodded its leaf tip, then suddenly turned towards Ling Yang, seemingly pondering something. After a moment, the grass leaf extended and wrote in Shu Xun’s palm, “Leng Bei. I’ll call myself Leng Bei from now on. Doesn’t it sound very manly?” After finishing writing, it even tapped its own stem with the leaf tip, clearly imitating Shu Xun’s animal form pounding his chest. The tiny gesture was surprisingly lifelike.
Shu Xun couldn’t help but laugh. His voice was as gentle as ever, as he extended his small finger. “Hello, Mr. Leng Bei. Nice to meet you.”
The grass straightened itself, then extended its leaf tip, wrapping around the tip of Shu Xun’s small finger, swaying up and down in a mannerly fashion, as if silently saying, “Hello, Mr. Shu Xun. I’m pleased to protect you.”
