met free Chapter 78 Blank Reminiscences - Blank Practice Poems - Part 3
Chapter 78 Blank Reminiscences - Blank Practice Poems - Part 3
Within the stillness, time seemed to be stretched into an infinitely thin sheet.
At that moment, Xia's illusory figure stood at the center of a complex multidimensional energy structure.
With the basic structure of the deduction array as its skeleton and the memory resonance framework treated with special spiritual elements as its veins, an exquisite yet fragile "summoning array" has taken shape.
It is not a physical entity, but rather a three-dimensional projection woven from countless flowing runes of light and pulsating streams of emotional data, suspended in mid-air, slowly rotating, radiating a faint, warm pulse.
Dozens of collected memory fragments were carefully placed on key nodes of the framework.
They dot the scene like stars, radiating different emotional glows:
Pale blue guilt, warm yellow protection, dark purple sorrow, silver longing, crimson determination... each one carries a profound moment in Xi Lian's life.
Feng Jin stood outside the formation, her hands maintaining a steady flow of life energy, providing the necessary "anchor of existence" for the entire fragile, unreal structure.
The butterfly hovered to one side with its eyes closed, the power of dreams covering the outer layer of the frame like a light veil, harmonizing the "gravity" that might remain in the depths of the underworld with the summoning circle, and filtering out the chaotic whispers of souls that were brought back with the fragments of memory.
"Initial resonance begins." Xia's voice was completely flat at that moment, as if she were conducting a very ordinary experiment.
His fingertips made virtual touches, the most basic activation of energy injection into the core framework.
hum-
The entire summoning circle emitted a clear, resonant sound. The memory fragments on the nodes lit up simultaneously, their light more intense than ever before. They began to tremble slightly, their light attempting to connect and merge. An extremely thin, colorful mist of light appeared in the air, vaguely outlining a hazy human figure—very faint, as if it would dissipate with a breath.
The emotional data stream within the framework began to accelerate. On the monitoring interface in front of Xia, the indicator representing the "Xi Lian feature recognition rate" was slowly climbing, from 5% to 10%, and then to 15%... At the same time, the "framework stability index" was fluctuating slightly, although it remained above the safe threshold for the time being.
"A resonance has formed between the memory fragments, providing initial confirmation of their direction." Xia quickly analyzed the data, "but the cohesion is extremely low, unable to form a stable core of consciousness. A stronger 'resonance source' and a more precise 'traction force' are needed."
He looked into the blank space.
Blank took a deep breath, stepped forward, and approached the summoning circle. She reached out, not touching any physical structure, but instead fully opening her senses, attempting to "feel" the emotions contained within the fragments of memory—Xi Lian's trust in her, Xi Lian's reverence for her teacher, Xi Lian's regret for failing to complete the mission, Xi Lian's longing for return…
Her "emptiness" power did not surge forth as force at this moment, but rather as a pure and highly inclusive "container" and "resonance body." Her mind was like a mirror, attempting to reflect all of Xi Lian's emotional spectrum and project these reflections back onto the summoning circle as the most powerful emotional anchor and summoning fuse.
The moment when the blank mind connects with those fragments of memory—
The light from the summoning circle suddenly intensified! The humanoid silhouette instantly became several times clearer! Although it was still transparent and illusory, Xi Lian's face could be vaguely discerned. Her eyes seemed to want to open, and her lips moved slightly, as if she was silently calling out something.
On the monitoring interface, the "Xilian Feature Recognition Rate" suddenly jumped to 45%! The "Frame Stability Index" fluctuated violently for a moment, but with the full efforts of Feng Jin and Xia Die, it finally stabilized.
"It's working!" A glimmer of hope flashed in Feng Jin's eyes. "The outline of consciousness is taking shape!"
"But the pressure is immense," Xia Die said, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead, tiny cracks appearing on the veil of her dreamscape. "Something deep within the underworld... is intensely drawn to this level of 'summoning,' and is trying to interfere... no, to 'compete' for it!"
Xia didn't respond to their conversation at that moment; all his computing power was focused on fine-tuning the monitoring data and the framework. He saw hope, but he also saw the enormous shadow hidden beneath the surface.
The recognition rate hovered around 45%, seemingly encountering a bottleneck that was difficult to overcome. No matter how much the blank space was used to enhance the resonance, and no matter how the framework was optimized, that number simply could not climb any higher. The condensed outline no longer became clearer; instead, it began to show subtle, ripple-like undulations, as if it might dissipate at any moment.
"The most crucial element is missing," Xia whispered. "The cornerstone fragments that constitute the core of 'Xi Lian's' independent existence—her 'self-awareness' and 'will to survive.' What we've collected are mostly her 'emotions' and 'connections,' but we lack the foundation that makes her 'her.'"
Those fragments may have already been annihilated in the turmoil deep within the underworld, may have been swallowed by the Soul Abyss, or perhaps... they had already dissipated from the very beginning when Xi Lian's essence was erased by the power of the Star God.
Without a foundation, even the most magnificent emotional pavilion cannot truly stand.
Just as everyone was doing their best to maintain the situation and trying to find a way to break through—
The mutation occurred in the most cruel and unexpected way.
It was neither interference from the underworld nor a collapse of the framework itself.
The space itself, which had been in a state of stillness, twisted violently without warning! A cold, mechanical, and terrifying aura, filled with the meaning of absolute "end" and "devouring," emerged out of nowhere, like a supernova explosion!
Immediately afterwards, a tiny, pitch-black "crack" tore open directly in the center of the suspended memory resonance frame! Inside the crack were endless, writhing dark metal structures and countless scarlet, scanning gazes.
"The tentacles of the Iron Tomb?!" Feng Jin exclaimed in shock.
This is impossible! The Stasis Realm lies deep within the Scepter, protected by multiple dimensional barriers, theoretically separated from the main battlefield by endless space and time! How could the power of the Iron Tomb possibly penetrate directly here?!
Unless... unless the essence of the Iron Tomb, its rules of devouring and existence, has touched upon some more fundamental level, or... it has sensed something that is extremely "attractive" or "threatening" to it—for example, this powerful aggregation of "memories" that is trying to be summoned back from nothingness!
The pitch-black crack, like a living mouth, suddenly expanded! An irresistible force, specifically targeting "information structure" and "ordered existence record," erupted!
The first to be affected were those glittering memory fragments floating on the frame nodes.
"No—!" Blank watched helplessly as the warm yellow remnant crystal, carrying tender protection, was snatched away by an invisible hand, instantly detached from the node, leaving a trail of despair as it was sucked into the dark rift. Then came pale blue guilt, dark purple sorrow, silvery longing… one after another, like dandelions swept away by a storm, vanishing powerlessly into the darkness deep within the rift.
On the monitoring interface, the "Xilian Feature Recognition Rate" plummeted! 45%...30%...15%...5%...
The illusory figure, which had just begun to take shape, let out a silent sigh filled with endless regret. Like a soap bubble in the sunlight, it burst completely with a "pop," turning into specks of light and dust. Before they could even fall, they were greedily swallowed up by the suction of the crack.
The framework itself groaned under the strain, and large swaths of light runes extinguished and crumbled. The power of Feng Jin and Xia Die was brutally rammed away by this higher-level devouring force; both of them groaned simultaneously, their bodies swaying, and blood trickling from the corners of their mouths.
Just a few seconds.
All the fragments of memories related to Xi Lian were devoured.
The summoning circle dimmed and collapsed completely, turning into scattered embers of energy.
Within the stillness, only the slowly writhing black crack remained, emanating a satiated yet lingering chill, and a deathly silence.
Blank knelt on the ground, her outstretched hand frozen in mid-air, the fingertips still lingering on the sensation of trying to grasp something, yet grasping nothing. Her mind was blank, emptier than the very essence of her power. She had failed… not only had she failed, but even the fragment bearing the last proof of Xi Lian's existence had been taken away… by that iron tomb that destroyed everything…
"How could this be...?" Xia Die clutched her chest, staring in disbelief at the crack.
Feng Jin's face was pale, her eyes filled with pain and anger, but she gritted her teeth and quickly analyzed: "This is not ordinary spatial infiltration... The Iron Tomb's devouring rules may have already 'sensed' and 'located' a strong 'ordered information aggregation' attempting to resist 'the End'... Our summoning behavior has instead become a beacon..."
"Click."
A soft cracking sound.
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that among the countless geometric shapes and data chains floating around Xia's illusory figure, several cracks had suddenly appeared. He stood there quietly, staring at the spot where the summoning circle had once been, now empty except for dark cracks. For the first time, a kind of fluctuation that could be described as "stagnation" appeared in his inhuman eyes.
He showed no anger, no despair, but beneath that calm, it was as if an endless storm of calculations had vanished into silence in an instant, or as if some last shred of hope, held onto for so long, had been utterly crushed.
The crack seemed to have accomplished its goal and began to slowly contract and close. In the final instant before it completely disappeared, Xia suddenly raised her hand.
It's neither an attack nor a defense.
A stream of extremely pure and condensed "memory" and "information" flowed from his fingertips, bearing his unique personal mark—not about Xi Lian, but about a fragment of his long observation, about a fragile definition of "hope".
This ray of light actively entered the crack that was about to close.
The crack seemed to pause for a moment, then without hesitation swallowed the wisp of light, disappearing completely into space as if it had never existed. Only the suffocating, chilling aftertaste of "the end" lingered in the stillness.
"Teacher...?" Blank asked hoarsely, looking at Natsu's last action with confusion.
Xia did not answer immediately. He slowly turned around, his phantom seemingly even fainter than before. He looked at the blank space, at Feng Jin, at Xia Die, and finally his gaze fell on the distance—beyond the scepter, in that war-torn universe where the Emperor and the Iron Tomb were engaged in their ultimate battle on the Milky Way as a chessboard.
"The last possibility of reviving Xi Lian has been reduced to zero." At that moment, Xia's voice returned to calm, but beneath that calm was a certainty as cold as ice. "The devouring nature of the Iron Tomb is more dangerous and... 'greedy' than predicted. It not only devours matter and energy, but also actively searches for and devours all 'profound, ordered information' and 'the possibility of resisting the end.' Our attempt has accelerated its discovery of this 'source of nourishment.'"
He paused, then the illusory figure raised its hand, and a series of holographic images unfolded before everyone. These were the latest intelligence transmitted from the very edge of the battlefield by Wan Di, Huang Di, and Kong Bu (its consciousness fragments) through the Tirisipius Network.
In the footage, the Emperor's golden legions remain magnificent and vast, but the Iron Tomb's black creations seem endless, and... they are evolving. Not only tactically, but also in their form of existence. Some Iron Tomb units have begun to exhibit a peculiar tendency to devour and "replicate" specific civilization relics, ancient information carriers, and even the "dying will" of powerful individual lives. What they seem to be devouring is not just destruction, but also "proof of their existence."
In another extremely blurry and high-risk exploration video, the core area of the Iron Tomb is vaguely visible, with an abnormal spatial structure. It seems that countless tiny, dark cracks, similar to the one just shown, are opening and closing, connecting to unknown dimensions and drawing "nutrients" from all directions.
"The Iron Tomb is undergoing a kind of 'qualitative change'." Xia's conclusion was cold and shocking. "It is no longer a simple tool of destruction or a natural disaster. It is actively 'learning,' 'digesting,' and evolving towards a more terrifying ultimate form that can devour all 'meaning of existence' itself. The Emperor's power can still contend with it for the time being, and even have a slight advantage, but once the Iron Tomb completes this qualitative change..."
The consequences would be unimaginable. It would be a more thorough "nothingness" than mere destruction—an absolute blank where even the memory of "having existed" is erased.
A deathly silence hung in the air. The grief over Xi Lian's failed resurrection had not yet dissipated, and a grander, darker shadow of terror had already descended.
At that moment, Xia's illusory figure drifted towards the core area between the stillness. There, suspended, was a seemingly ordinary, yet encrypted and protected by countless layers of dimensions. The surface of the cube flowed with a faint light, like breathing.
"All our plans, all our deductions, all our attempts at the 'optimal solution' are based on one premise: the existence of a 'future' for the continuation of civilization." Xia's voice was soft, yet it struck everyone's heart heavily. "If even the concept of 'existence' itself is swallowed up and reduced to zero, then all struggles will lose their meaning."
His gaze returned to Blank, his eyes deep and unfathomable, as if piercing through her "blank" appearance to see her core essence—that pure "possibility" unbound by any predetermined existence.
"Blank." At that moment, Xia called her name for the first time in such a solemn tone, even with a hint of entrustment.
"Yes, teacher." Blank subconsciously straightened up, despite still feeling grief and confusion in her heart.
At that moment, Xia Xuying's finger gently touched the silver-white cube.
The cube's surface shone brightly, its layers of encryption silently crumbling. It slowly unfolded, like a blooming flower. Inside, there were not physical objects, but countless tiny "spots of light," each shimmering with the brilliance of a different civilization. Each spot of light encapsulated the core cultural genes, knowledge, and spiritual spark of a civilization. Some were as fiery as stars, some as warm as jade, some as fluid as flowing water, some as resilient as metal… They converged, like a miniature, dazzling galaxy.
This is the most important legacy that the "Scepter" has preserved in various ways over the long years—the [Treasury of Civilizations Across the Worlds]. It is the last hope left behind after countless civilizations struggled to survive, and it is the cornerstone of the Xia Project, used to restart a new era after the success of the "Blank" experiment.
"The threat posed by the Iron Tomb has changed. The war between the Emperor and it, regardless of who wins or loses, could lead to an end where all 'records of existence' are devoured or imprisoned." At that moment, Xia's voice was calm and composed, yet it contained the final decision. "The conventional methods of continuation, including the path I originally designed for you and the power of 'Blank,' are no longer within our control."
He manipulated the miniature "Spark Galaxy," letting it slowly flow into the void.
"Now, I give you all these sparks, all my 'plans' and 'hopes'..." As Xia's phantom spoke these words, it seemed to grow even fainter, as if entrusting this weight itself had consumed a tremendous amount of his power, "...I give it all to you, Blank."
Blank was completely stunned, even forgetting to breathe. Feng Jin and Xia Die also looked at that moment in shock.
"Teacher? This... I... I don't understand..." Blank stared at the galaxy of fire floating before him, radiating immense information and a heavy sense of mission, utterly bewildered. "I just... my power isn't even enough to save Sister Qingyuan, or stabilize Sister Xilian's memories... How could I possibly bear all this?"
"It's precisely because of your 'blankness'." At that moment, Xia looked directly into her eyes, his gaze intense, "Your essence is 'undefined possibility,' 'not belonging to any existing foundation.' The Iron Tomb's devouring rules target 'ordered information of existence.' Your 'blankness,' in a sense, is a 'blind spot' in its devouring logic, or even... a 'reaction force.'"
He pointed to the now empty summoning circle: "In my final moments, I cast a memory of 'hope' into the Iron Tomb rift. It was a test, and also a mark. The Iron Tomb devoured it, proving its thirst for this kind of information. But at the same time... it's also possible that, after your 'blank' essence combined with these sparks, a tiny 'variable' was planted, one that even the Iron Tomb's own rules couldn't detect."
"What I want you to do is not to fight the Iron Tomb with force, nor to restart civilization right now." At that moment, Xia's words were like a final divine decree, each word imprinted deep within Blank's consciousness. "I want you to 'take them away,' Blank. Take these sparks, leave this place, leave this final war that is about to devour everything, leave all predetermined destinies and the gaze of the Star Gods."
"Go to the crevices between 'existence' and 'nothingness,' to the 'blank space' that even memories cannot reach. Use your power to protect these sparks, allowing them to enter a state of absolute 'stillness' and 'concealment.' Wait... wait for the battle between the Iron Tomb and the Emperor to come to an end, wait for this all-encompassing storm of 'ending' to pass, wait for the moment when the new foundation of 'existence' re-emerges from the ruins or nothingness... that moment of 'possibility.'"
"Then..." Xia's phantom was almost transparent at that moment, but his voice was incredibly clear, "At that moment, using your 'blank' power as a guide, 'reflect' these sparks into a new reality. Not resurrection, not a return, but... allowing 'possibilities' to sprout anew on new soil."
This is the final solution, the hope amidst despair, and also the heaviest entrustment. It no longer seeks immediate victory or salvation, but instead gambles everything on a "possibility" in the distant, unknown "future." And the void is the ark that carries this bet, the guardian and ultimate sower of this dream of continuation.
Blank gazed at the slowly rotating Milky Way of Fire before her, then at Teacher Xia, whose figure seemed to fade away as if about to be carried away by the wind; then at Feng Jin and Xia Die, their eyes filled with encouragement and sorrow, covered in wounds. She remembered the vanished Qing Yuan, the memories of Xi Lian that had been swallowed up, and Wan Di and Huang Di, still carrying out the "Balance" mission on the battlefield…
Grief, confusion, fear, helplessness... a flood of emotions surged over her, almost overwhelming her.
But at the bottom of this emotional wave, something deeper was ignited by Xia's final entrustment.
It was a responsibility, a mission that transcended personal sorrow, a belief in the very nature of "possibility".
She took a deep breath, her gaze gradually hardening. She reached out, not to grasp, but to open her "core of existence." That pure "blank" power, like the softest gauze, yet also like the strongest barrier, enveloped the miniature galaxy of fire.
The sparks seemed to sense something; their light softened, and obediently, even with a hint of anticipation, flowed into the power field of emptiness, disappearing into the depths of her "empty" essence. Weightless, yet bearing the immeasurable weight of civilization.
As the last spark faded, Blank felt as if there was a silent night sky within him, containing countless stars.
"I... understand, teacher." Blank's voice was still trembling slightly, but he no longer hesitated. "I will take them with me and wait for that 'possibility'."
At that moment, Xia's illusory figure revealed a very faint, almost imperceptible curve, as if it were a mixture of relief and reassurance.
"Very good." He took one last look at the still space, then at Feng Jin and Xia Die. "The scepter's mission is about to end. Feng Jin, Xia Die, you... are free. Go do what you think you should do, or choose to sleep and wait for a new era that may never come."
His figure began to dissipate rapidly, turning into specks of light and dust.
"Teacher!" Feng Jin and Xia Die called out at the same time.
"Blank," Xia's last words echoed in Blank's heart, faint yet clear, "Remember, you yourself are the greatest 'possibility.' Don't be bound by any definitions, including 'hope' itself. Live on, wait, and then... at the right moment, let the light shine again."
The light dust completely dissipated.
In the stillness, only emptiness remained, along with the silent tears of the wind violet and the distant butterfly.
From deep within the scepter came a low, rumbling sound, as if the structure were loosening. Outside, the roar of war seemed to draw ever closer.
Blank clenched her fist, feeling the silent spark within her. She took one last look at this place that held countless secrets and hopes, and at her two predecessors.
"Sister Feng Jin, Sister Xia Die...take care."
After speaking, she turned around, and the power of "emptiness" around her began to surge violently, not for attack or defense, but for an extremely complex process of self-folding and dimensional shift. She was going to follow Xia's last guidance to that "empty land" that even the Star God might have forgotten.
In the final moment before leaving the real world, she seemed to hear the excited roars of the enemy from a distant battlefield and the desolate sound of the Wild Flute. She also seemed to see the boundless darkness of the Iron Tomb expanding and the Emperor's golden light, which was still glorious but seemed to carry a trace of weariness.
Then, all the sights and sounds faded away.
Blank, carrying the last embers of billions of civilizations, leaps alone into the narrow space between existence and nothingness, sailing towards unknown waiting and faint hope.
The prelude to the end has already begun, and the spark of inheritance has been quietly dormant in the absolute "blank".