The official completion date for the World Anchor was set seven days hence at the location prepared by the prehistoric civilization—the Deep Sea Altar.
"After I begin, drastic changes will color the heavens, and earthquakes will shake the earth—these are merely the most basic effects. Let me confirm one last time: have you made all necessary preparations before and after?"
"Report to your Imperial Father, all preparations across the Empire have been made accordingly; there's no need for concern."
"Is that so? Good... Then, if fate allows, may we meet again a thousand years from now."
Holding the white light sphere in one hand, Zeke glanced at each of the four girls, his lips curving slightly as he bid them farewell.
Although their time together spanned only a few months, it was evident even in this brief period—these girls were truly remarkable.
Zeke was about to manipulate the timeline for them, striving to secure a thousand-year opportunity for development. He also left behind reference materials such as "Sociology," "A Comprehensive Guide to Science Fundamentals," and "Essentials of Shenzhou Martial Arts." With these, Zeke eagerly anticipated their success in navigating through the coming centuries, hoping they would surprise him once more.
The farewells had already been said days earlier, and when the moment of true departure arrived, Durandal, Kiana, Zhuge Kongming, and Rita found themselves speechless. With mixed emotions on their faces, they bowed deeply together, lingering without rising for a long while.
With a soft sigh, Zeke waved his hand, sending the four women out of the altar.
Now, only two figures remained in this space—one was Zeke, and the other was Senti, her cheeks puffed as she chewed on candied haws.
"Senti, return to the mental space and let Fu Hua control your body," Zeke instructed.
Senti blinked, unyielding, and asked, "Hmm? Why?"
"The commotion caused by forging the World Anchor may require some mage techniques to regulate and suppress. Additionally, after the ceremony, we'll enter the Sea of Quanta. In such vast and chaotic territory, you're not as dependable as Fu Hua."
At this last remark, Senti's tuft of antenna-like hair shot straight up, angrily pointing her candied hawthorn skewer at Zeke: "What do you mean?! Are you belittling me?!"
"Alright, Senti, listen to Zeke for now. Besides, it's true that you haven't learned this world's magical arts."
"Old Antique, stop siding with him all the time! Did you hear what he just said? He actually called me unreliable!" Senti protested.
"We must prioritize the task at hand; these discussions can wait until the next world. Be good, Senti~"
Sharing one body and face, they engaged in a self-dialogue with distinctly different tones. Suddenly, perhaps due to something Fu Hua did within the consciousness realm, a blush appeared on her cheeks.
"O-O-Old... Old Antique's dignity still matters, you know... You two chat; I'm heading back!" Stuttering her farewell, the crimson hue symbolizing Herrscher powers faded from Fu Hua's eyes, transforming into a clear blue akin to glazed porcelain. Her expression softened, resembling a tranquil mountain spring.
"You may begin, Zeke. I'll fully cooperate," Fu Hua said with a gentle smile, her voice soothing like tinkling ornaments, bringing a sense of comfort.
Zeke rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"I must admit, I'm curious. How did you manage to convince this rascal? Could you share your method? It seems highly effective and might be useful for me in the future."
"...Nope, not sharing."
"Is it something precious to you?"
"It's just inconvenient! Let's focus on the task at hand!"
Fu Hua shot Zeke a playful glare—unprecedented, as this was the first time he had ever witnessed such a charming display from her.
"Huh?" Zeke slowly tilted his head, puzzled but not dwelling on it further. He quickly nodded in agreement.
"All right, no more questions then. Let's get started."
"Cough! Very well." With a dry cough, Fu Hua instantly shed her playful demeanor, returning to her usual composed and serene self.
As for the "trick" Zeke mentioned, it wasn't anything significant—just a spontaneous impulse within her consciousness domain to give Senti a peck on the cheek. But how could she teach such a technique to Zeke? If he were to use this method against Senti in the future, aside from its potential effectiveness, kissing Senti would essentially be akin to...kissing Fu Hua herself.
"Cough!"
Fu Hua clenched her fist and brought it to her mouth, suppressing her inner turmoil with another forced cough.
Meanwhile, Zeke held the glowing orb, its radiance steadily intensifying.
The light illuminated the altar's surface, seemingly activating some energy source. Countless fine lines across the altar began emitting a faint glow, resembling both an intricate, massive circuit diagram and a meticulously drawn complex formation. A surge of immense power pierced through the force field isolating the sea, soaring high into the sky.
"Rumble!!"
The entire altar transformed into a powerful energy generator, emitting a thick golden beam that shot straight upwards, extending unfathomably high into the heavens.
Standing at the edge of the turbulent, wind-swept pillar of light, Fu Hua remained steadfast amidst swirling waves, her sleeves fluttering wildly.
"The energy of an entire world... Even a tiny world bubble adrift in the Sea of Quanta is truly awe-inspiring."
Fu Hua sighed deeply and brought her hands together, forming a complex hand seal that infused her ice-blue eyes with a shimmering red glow.
"Formation, activate!"
As she spoke, a vast and intricate array, centered on the towering pillar of light, spread across the sea surface, obscuring both sky and sun. Nearly half of the Huang Empire could gaze upward and catch glimpses of its edges.
"We cannot suppress or dismantle this force by brute means. Let the power of the world return to all living beings!" Fu Hua murmured, her hand seals shifting rapidly. The immense energy radiating from the altar channeled through her activated formation, transforming into countless golden specks that descended upon the land of Huang Country.
Bare branches sprouted new buds, dead grass turned verdant once more, and plagues receded swiftly.
Underneath these golden specks, Huang Country basked in divine grace, experiencing awe-inspiring transformations beyond words.
This continued for nearly an hour until the soaring pillar of light dissipated, and the colossal array spanning half of Huang Country gradually faded away.
Subsequently, Empress Durandal proclaimed to the world that Emperor Zeke and Elder Immortal Fu Hua had achieved enlightenment together, their merits fulfilled, ascending hand in hand to the realm of immortals.
From then on, the Huang Empire officially entered an era under Empress Durandal's rule, guided by the three prime ministers, ushering in a period of rapid advancement and progress.
In the chaos, invisible waves tore through, threatening to disintegrate both body and mind—an environment where no living being could endure.
Zeke traversed the void, with Fu Hua walking shoulder-to-shoulder beside him.
"How does it feel after merging with the World Core as the Anchor Point? Any discomfort?"
"Just need some time to adjust. The most noticeable change is—my energy has significantly strengthened."
"Could you elaborate?"
"The virtual branch carries elements essential for maintaining the world's stability. Through me as the conduit, these elements flow into the world bubble, gradually stabilizing it. Both its quality and quantity have shifted from decay to growth. As the core resides within me, I can now harness the world's energy... It creates a positive feedback loop: the world bubble continuously strengthens via my presence, while the energy at my disposal also amplifies accordingly. However, this is a long-term process. Even by the time of the final battle, the benefits this world bubble can provide may be limited; don't set your expectations too high."
Suddenly, a colossal quantum behemoth, majestic like Mount Tai, emerged from the darkness, lunging towards them with its abyssal maw wide open.
Zeke glanced sideways, his eyes unflinching.
In the next moment, the giant creature's gaze dimmed, and it crumbled into dust without warning.
Throughout this encounter, Fu Hua never glanced at the colossal beast. Instead, she followed Zeke's steps and, after pondering for a moment, smiled gently.
"Regardless, any improvement is beneficial. As they say, every journey begins with a single step; victory itself accumulates gradually through such incremental gains."
"You're right. By the way, about that technique to pacify mischievous fools—can you really not share it?"
"...It's just giving her a peck, but would you dare try it?" Fu Hua rolled her eyes before eventually revealing the secret.
Upon reflection, there was nothing particularly embarrassing about it. Such affectionate gestures were normal between sisters. Moreover, Fu Hua realized she found it difficult to resist Zeke's persistent questioning; she didn't feel an absolute need to keep it hidden from him.
Zeke contemplated seriously for a moment before shaking his head. "It might work on Kiana and the others, sure. But forget your little hellion; I'll stick with intelligence or brute force instead."
"Oh, best watch your words—you know Senti can hear."
"No worries, I've got this handled."
"Alright, I can't stop you anyway. So, have you decided on the next world bubble yet? Also, do you have a rough plan for how much time you intend to spend on experiments?" Fu Hua asked with a smile, a fleeting hint of melancholy flickering momentarily beneath her composed demeanor, quickly disappearing as if nothing unusual had surfaced.
Zeke turned towards her and replied:
"The concept of time in the Sea of Quanta is vague; we'll always return to reality at the appropriate moment. So, there's no need to worry about wasting time. However, if you don't wish to spend this time with me, feel free to go back to Cosmic Juggernaut or the real world. Senti has been adequately trained now, and I can handle the next steps alone."
"No, let's continue together," Fu Hua smiled but didn't elaborate on her reasoning.
Zeke paid it no mind, lifting his hand as numerous black specks coalesced chaotically in his palm.
After a brief moment, he locked onto a direction, and together with Fu Hua, they ventured further and further until their figures were swallowed by the encroaching darkness, leaving no trace behind.
Volume End Notes:
As indicated, that concludes the second volume. The final arc, leading up to Emperor Zeke's ascension and the story's conclusion, lies ahead. From the beginning, I hadn't planned to delve too deeply into the world bubbles. Using one to set the stage for Zeke's governance plan, develop Fu Hua's emotional journey, and smoothly integrate Senti was sufficient. It's crucial to maintain focus on the main storyline without getting sidetracked by too many subplots. To those who have read this far, my heartfelt thanks! There have undoubtedly been bugs along the way, differing opinions expressed, and moments where I may have strayed slightly from the outline. Overall, however, I believe the narrative has unfolded smoothly. I've given my all, and I hope the final volume will not disappoint. Once again, sincere gratitude!
Lastly, I'd like to conduct a small poll: Regarding Mei's resurrection, is it something that deeply bothers you? I've noticed several comments expressing discomfort with Mei and Mei-Ya looking identical, suggesting Kevin might rekindle his past relationship, which could evoke negative emotions for readers... Is this true? Your opinions matter greatly; they'll help me decide whether to reconsider my planned storyline.