Under the night sky, Jane lit a bonfire.
This brought a faint warmth to Luo Ji's body, which was almost frozen stiff.
By the light of the bonfire, Jane took out several cans from her backpack and threw them into the fire to heat.
The bonfire crackled, and its light illuminated their faces, but Luo Ji was in no mood to appreciate Jane's beauty. Days of hiking in high-altitude areas, averaging tens of kilometers daily, had pushed him to his limits both mentally and physically.
Ever since escaping the Adeptus Arbites in Area A3, Jane had led him away from the cities and into mountain paths.
For ten whole days, they crossed several large mountains, almost traversing the entire map, finally reaching this boundless grassland.
Although called a "Grassland," it was actually covered in thick snow due to heavy snowfall in November. In the distance, the rolling Hengduan Mountains were also covered in white snow, looking extremely spectacular.
"Where is this place?" Luo Ji gasped, trying to hug himself tighter.
In their hasty escape, they hadn't brought many supplies. The only thick clothes were draped over him, while Jane was still in her power armor, which she didn't need to change given her physique.
"Two hundred years ago, people called this Xiping Prefecture," Jane said.
Xiping Prefecture... Luo Ji suddenly realized, looking at the distant Hengduan Mountains.
"This must be the Qilian Mountains, right?"
"Yes."
Jane nodded and continued to organize their supplies.
The journey ahead was still long, and she had to plan carefully. Otherwise, while she herself would be fine, Luo Ji would be in great trouble.
Luo Ji glanced at the snow-capped mountains a few times, suddenly feeling a bad premonition. He couldn't help but ask, "We've been walking for ten whole days. You must tell me where our destination is, right?"
"The place we are going to, you should not be unfamiliar with."
With that, Jane roughly determined their direction from the stars in the sky and pointed southwest.
"In that direction, two hundred years ago, before the Holy Terra Alliance was established, it was known as the 'Roof of the world'."
Roof of the… world?
Luo Ji brainstormed for a few seconds, and a terrifying thought emerged.
"Wait, you're not talking about…" His eyelids twitched wildly, his expression frozen as he said with difficulty, "The highest peak in the world… the Himalayas, right?"
"You're only half right." Jane nodded slightly.
"The place we are going, to be precise, is the main peak of the Himalayas, Mount Everest."
"…"
Luo Ji gave a dry laugh, thinking Jane was joking.
But soon, seeing Jane's meticulous and serious expression, he realized… this was real.
"You… are you serious?" Luo Ji's throat moved with difficulty, swallowing a mouthful of saliva, still wanting a final confirmation. "Do you think I'm joking?"
Jane turned her head and, with her bare hands, took out the heated can from the burning fire.
She then used a knife she carried to pry open the lid along the edge, handing one of them to him.
"Eat quickly and rest early. Tomorrow we have to cross this grassland, it will be very tough."
"...Are you kidding me?!"
Although his stomach was very hungry, Luo Ji had no appetite at all at this moment. He stared with bloodshot eyes, shouting in an incredulous tone, "That's Mount Everest! Do you know how high it is? Eight thousand eight hundred forty-eight meters!"
"I know."
Jane still held the hot can.
Seeing that she didn't seem to understand his meaning, Luo Ji became anxious. He pushed away the can, not giving Jane a chance, and bombarded her with a series of questions.
"If you know how high it is, then how do you expect us to climb it, given that I haven't had professional training, we don't even have the simplest climbing gear, and it's November, with the entire main peak covered in snowstorms?!"
Although he studied sociology, he still knew this much geography.
It is well known, even by elementary school students, that the only suitable climbing season for Mount Everest is merely the middle to late May.
Because in this season, there are relatively fewer snowstorms, the weather is relatively stable, and it is the only golden window for climbing Everest. From October to March of the following year, it is the windy season, also the season with the most frequent snowstorm activity, making climbing virtually impossible!
To climb Mount Everest during the windy season, when snowstorm activity is most frequent?
This is simply suicide!
Of course, this only applies to normal humans, not including Astartes.
Astartes can climb Everest regardless of time or window; if they wish, they can climb it every day as exercise.
But the problem is, he isn't one!
Luo Ji looked down at his own gear and immediately despaired.
Great… he was doomed to die.
He had neither a warm expedition jacket nor even a thick down jacket. With just a woolen coat and long sleeves, he felt that he wouldn't even make it to the climb; he'd probably be buried halfway there.
"With me, you will be fine."
Facing Luo Ji's worries, Jane remained very calm.
Finally, under Jane's calm, water-like gaze, Luo Ji gave in, sighed deeply, and took the can.
It was a can of potato and beef stew, rich in oil and quite substantial, even for an adult. Especially after a day of trekking through mountains and rivers, it exuded an irresistible, tempting aroma.
Grumble… Luo Ji's stomach rumbled a few times, and he couldn't help but swallow.
Mount Everest or not, death was still a few days away; he just wanted to fill his stomach now.
A can of potato and beef stew was quickly devoured. Rubbing his swollen belly, Luo Ji let out a comfortable burp, leaned back on his hands, and looked up at the night sky, where stars twinkled.
"You know… if only the Trisolaran invasion hadn't happened, how wonderful it would be."
If the Trisolaran invasion hadn't happened, perhaps the Imperium of Man would be better off?
"Don't think so much, rest early." Jane packed up the makeshift tent and said to him, "I'll keep watch. You get a good rest tonight. Tomorrow we must cross here."
Luo Ji knew that Jane's physique was very special; she could go for long periods without sleep and withstand hunger, severe cold, and other harsh conditions.
So, he didn't decline further and crawled into the tent.
"Good night, Jane."
"Good night… Luo Ji."
That night, they were on the vast grassland of Xiping Prefecture.
Himalayas… Inside the tent, Luo Ji closed his eyes, but his mind conjured up his first meeting with 'Emrys'.
That damned bastard, if he ever got the chance to see him in person, he would definitely punch that bastard in the face!
With this thought, Luo Ji gradually fell into a deep sleep.
At this moment, Jane, outside the tent, very solemnly took out a spherical, hollow object from her bosom, its surface intricately carved with complex patterns.
Next, she took out a pale white, bone-like object from a box she carried and placed it inside the spherical object.
Jane clasped the chain of the spherical object with both hands, knelt beside the sleeping Luo Ji, bowed her head, and piously recited a prayer.
The next moment, she lit the pale white bone inside the spherical object.
A faint white smoke soon drifted out from the hollowed-out, carved patterns on the surface of the spherical object, as if endowed with spirituality, encircling the sleeping Luo Ji and emitting an indescribable scent.
In his sleep, Luo Ji seemed to "Smell" this scent. The indescribable stench made him unconsciously furrow his brows.
And at this moment, Luo Ji, in his dream, seemed to have fallen into a 'nightmare'.
He felt an invisible hand pulling his consciousness from his body, throwing it into an indescribable tunnel, made of pure light and extremely complex emotions, madness, and pain.
"What… what is this?!"
He 'thought', his instincts wildly warning him, wanting to cry for help.
But there was no sound here, only ripples of thought, and he couldn't even feel direction, sometimes flying, sometimes falling.
Until his consciousness pierced through layers of reality's barriers.
Whoosh!!!
In an instant, Luo Ji's consciousness felt as if it was forcibly infused with countless 'emotions'.
All his senses exploded. In his vision was a vast, boundless, perpetually boiling 'ocean', and the sky here was flowing, like a overturned palette, mixed with bizarre colors beyond biological comprehension, extremely brilliant yet extremely dangerous!
Every color forming the 'sky' seemed to carry intense malice!
Crimson, blood-like tides roared with fury, accompanied by the scent of metal and blood rushing into 'his' nostrils; then a nauseating yet vibrant green thick soup churned, as if countless smaller lives were breaking and regenerating within that soup; in the depths of the profound purple and blue light hidden in the sky's clouds, there seemed to be countless prying eyes, dissecting his past and future, their treacherous, cunning gaze sending shivers down his spine; and further away, the alluring, sweet pink glow, just one glance, made Luo Ji's soul tremble, experiencing unprecedented pleasure and desire!
What on earth is this place?!
Luo Ji's 'consciousness' screamed wildly, but in this boiling space, not a single sound was made.
Pink glow, blood-red tides, green thick soup, blue-purple clouds… these 'unknown' terrifying existences, at this moment, seemed to have noticed this 'little bastard' who suddenly intruded.
Suddenly, the whispering murmur that had always lingered in Luo Ji's ears turned into an even more terrifying 'sound'!
Amidst deafening roars, Luo Ji's 'senses' were completely filled by these 'unknown' affairs!
War horns, death wails, plague whispers, desire moans, knowledge murmurs… countless sounds mixed together, forming a terrifying echo, enough to drive any creature's sanity mad.
"No, no!"
Luo Ji's willpower, at this moment, actually forced him to regain a brief moment of sanity.
He wanted to "cover" his ears, not to listen to these terrifying sounds.
However, in this perpetually boiling, malicious space, there was no such thing as 'hearing', nor did he have 'ears'.
Wails, screams, battle cries, roars… Luo Ji seemed to witness, through this boiling space, all the prayers, curses, and shouts of the Imperium of Man over tens of thousands of years in another universe!
Then, in his vision, or rather, in his 'perception', he saw something 'swimming'.
In this boiling, strange, and malicious space made of the emotions of all sentient beings, he saw a colossal shadow, formed of pure rage, wielding a fiery great axe; also a bloated, terrifying behemoth spewing plague and flies; and a bizarre existence composed of pure magic and lies, with countless wings and changing forms; and that exquisitely beautiful yet exquisitely twisted, enchanting shadow that tugged at souls with threads of desire.
Are these illusions?
But soon, Luo Ji soberly realized, no… these terrifying things were definitely not his illusions.
Rather, they were 'existences' truly living in this bizarre space.
Just like 'primitive fish' living in the ocean, these terrifying, grotesque, and horrifying existences also lived in this 'ocean', or perhaps they should be called… daemons!
And in the deepest part of this chaotic, boiling space, Luo Ji vaguely sensed four 'existences' whose greatness could not be described.
His consciousness drifted uncontrollably until he saw… them.
Like four malevolent Suns, hanging high in the dome of this dimensional space, just a faint edge of their consciousness sweeping by almost froze Luo Ji's soul, as if he were on the brink of annihilation!
No!
Can't look!
Will die!
Luo Ji instinctively wanted to escape, but 'they' had already noticed this strange soul that had intruded into 'High Heaven'. Boom!
Luo Ji's soul was like a small boat, swept by the tumultuous waves of emotion, plunging into a deeper ocean.
But just as he felt his consciousness was about to be assimilated and torn apart by this endless madness.
Buzz!
A light tore through the chaotic sea of emotions.
It was a pure light, seemingly possessing supreme order, traversing this chaotic dimension.
Like an indestructible divine sword, it cleaved through the mist of chaos.
In this chaotic, dark ocean, it stood as the sole, silent and sturdy lighthouse, standing on a reef.
[Astronomical Beacon!]
This term inexplicably surged in Luo Ji's mind.
As if it were innate knowledge, that light contained hope, making him eager, as if clutching at a final straw, he used all his consciousness and strength to desperately swim towards that light.
Luo Ji suddenly opened his eyes, waking with a start as if from a nightmare, gasping for breath.
"Hoo… hoo…" His body was drenched in cold sweat, his head throbbing. He looked around in terror until he saw the weary Jane.
"Welcome back, Luo Ji." Jane seemed very tired. Seeing that he had woken up, she extinguished the 'incense burner' and put it back in her bosom.
"What happened? I… I seem to have had a very terrible dream!"
He wanted to say what happened in the dream, but he didn't know how to organize his words.
"Don't panic, Luo Ji."
Jane forced a smile.
"Sense carefully, and you will find… the world is different."
Sense?
Luo Ji only realized after being reminded that the entire world seemed… different.
He could clearly feel the source of the faint energy flowing in the air, and he could hear extremely subtle sounds. Even as his thoughts turned, the empty can, thrown into the grass not far away, trembled slightly and floated in mid-air.
And in his mind, the image of that crazy, magnificent, and terrifying boiling star sea was branded, indelible!
"Congratulations, Luo Ji."
Jane said softly.
"From now on, you are no longer an ordinary person, but… an Awakened!"
"An Awakened One?"
This was a completely new term; at least, in Luo Ji's understanding of the world two hundred years later, he couldn't find any related vocabulary.
Seeing his reaction, Zhuang Yan drew a clock-like pattern on the soft mud ground.
"To explain a psyker, we must first start here." Zhuang Yan then divided the 'clock' into twenty-four letters, and continued, "This matter is known to only a very few within the Holy Terra Alliance."
Luo Ji's gaze fell on the diagram.
"This is the positive and negative twenty-four level classification for Awakened Ones. You don't need to understand too much about the negative levels. Based on your psychic fluctuations after awakening, you are currently at this level… Beta."
"This level… is there anything special about it?" Luo Ji asked curiously.
"Those who awaken, we call them 'psykers'," Zhuang Yan patiently explained to him. "But there are also significant differences among them. For example, the Beta level you are at after awakening means you are barely able to control it. You need rigorous training to use this power."
"Wait, barely control, rigorous training… Do you mean this power is very dangerous?"
Luo Ji found the blind spot in her explanation.
"Yes."
Zhuang Yan nodded very seriously and said in a deep voice, "Never think that awakened psychic power can be used at will. Its essence comes from what you call that 'nightmare' space, and a psyker is like a 'valve,' intercepting a portion of power from the Warp through their own soul and willpower, and manifesting it in the current world. The more power you can intercept, the higher your psyker classification level, but similarly… the greater the risk."
"Risk, what exactly does that refer to?" Luo Ji asked.
"You've delved into the Warp; you must have seen 'them,' right?" Zhuang Yan said.
"You mean…" Luo Ji thought of the four strange Loki, hanging in the distant sky, and couldn't help but shiver, nodding with lingering fear, "I've seen them, and many others… I can't describe them, but they gave me a very bad feeling."
"Those 'four' you saw are the Loki who each control different authorities within the Warp."
Zhuang Yan did not intend to delve too deeply into this topic.
"You don't need to know their names, and those terrifying projections are 'daemons' born from the Warp. Once you awaken as a psyker, your soul's projection in the Warp will become more conspicuous than that of an ordinary person, like a light bulb. The more frequently you use psychic power, the clearer and brighter your soul projection will become. Do you know what this means?"
Looking at Zhuang Yan's chilling gaze, Luo Ji swallowed.
"I… will be discovered by them?"
"Exactly." Zhuang Yan nodded forcefully, then continued, "This is the second risk I wanted to talk about. The daemons in the Warp cannot directly come to the current world. They must use some kind of 'anchor point,' and psykers are the best 'anchor points.' Once your soul is devoured by a daemon, they can use your body to break through the barrier between the current world and the Warp, establish a temporary 'door,' and then directly descend into the real universe."
"Wait, you mean… the daemons from that space will appear in the real universe?!"
Luo Ji's eyes suddenly widened, and uncontrollable terror climbed onto his face, with beads of sweat breaking out on his forehead.
"Yes, this is the 'danger' of psykers."
Zhuang Yan said, "The higher the level of the psyker, the greater the risk of losing control. And if a top-level psyker loses control…"
"Gulp…" Luo Ji swallowed, unable to resist asking, "What would happen?"
"Boom!"
Zhuang Yan made a fireworks explosion gesture and said faintly, "According to the data, if an Alpha-level psyker loses control, the entire Earth will be torn apart by his uncontrolled psychic power, forming a 'rift' of interstellar scale. Countless daemons will pour out from it, and this rift will never close. The Warp will completely lose control, thereby affecting the civilization of the entire universe."
"?"
Luo Ji's mind went blank, and it took him a while to recover. He said dryly, "This is… too unscientific. It shouldn't be possible, right?"
For him, someone who had studied modern scientific knowledge since childhood, to believe that a human could blow up the entire Solar System was truly a fantasy. Mass and energy are completely unequal; even Einstein would be stunned for a few seconds!
"I also wish it were false." Zhuang Yan seemed to have known he wouldn't believe it. She took out the data pad she carried with her and pulled up a document.
"This is an event that occurred during the Lunar Rebellion, later sealed in the archives. Even within the High Lords Council, only the Astartes Chapter, the Martian Mechanicum, and our Battle sisters are authorized to view it."
The document contained an image of a colossal crater, no, to call it colossal was an understatement; this crater almost occupied two-thirds of the photograph, its immense scale being extremely rare.
"This crater… couldn't be the 'South Pole-Aitken Basin,' could it?" Luo Ji's astronomical knowledge was not bad. Such a huge crater in the photo immediately made him think of the largest impact crater previously discovered on the Moon.
"Why are you showing me this?"
"Unfortunately, this is not the 'South Pole-Aitken Basin'."
However, Zhuang Yan shook her head and said, "Its diameter reaches two thousand eight hundred kilometers, and its depth is almost fifteen kilometers, even larger than the South Pole-Aitken Basin. And the cause of it was… a suddenly awakened and uncontrolled psyker, the only spontaneously awakened psyker in the two hundred years since the establishment of the Holy Terra Alliance. He directly destroyed the rebel legions during the rebellion, indirectly leading to our victory."
"The official public result of the accident investigation was that our side used a 'Whirlwind Torpedo' from the Martian Mechanicum."
"But the true reason is known only to the Astartes, the Martian Mechanicum, and the Battle sisters. Since this incident, they have intensified their inspection and monitoring of humanity, regularly taking away individuals with awakening risks for management."
Putting away the data pad, Zhuang Yan looked at Luo Ji again.
"Now, do you still think it's impossible?"
"If it's so dangerous, then why did you still want me to become a psyker?" Luo Ji's eyes showed a hint of confusion. He wasn't a fool; from Zhuang Yan's behavior since he woke up, including the strange censer, it wasn't hard to deduce that the person who made him a 'psyker' was Zhuang Yan herself.
"Originally, I didn't want to do this either…"
Zhuang Yan sighed softly and said, "If possible, I would have preferred for you to complete this mission as a human. But… the risks along the way are extremely high. I must ensure that even if something happens to me, you have the ability to complete the mission alone. That's why I was forced to use this method to awaken you as a psyker."
It sounded like all of this was for his own good.
But what about in reality?
From beginning to end, what Zhuang Yan cared about was only whether he could complete the mission, not him as a person.
Understanding this, Luo Ji stared intently at Zhuang Yan, his heart chilled by half, revealing a self-mocking sneer.
"I really should thank you, Zhuang Yan, thank you for making me a psyker."
"I'm sorry."
Zhuang Yan didn't argue, she just silently lowered her head.
"This is my mission."
Yes, this was Zhuang Yan's mission, including the Battle sisters who died along the way to rescue him. They all died for the future of humanity.
Luo Ji knew they were not wrong; he was the one who was wrong, he should not have harbored unnecessary expectations.
"Alright, I will do as you wish, Zhuang Yan." He completely gave up, the last trace of expectation for the 'Zhuang Yan' character in his heart, his eyes instantly cold and indifferent, like a hard rock.
"Once I deliver the key and awaken the 'Seal Bearer,' I will no longer owe you or Shi Qiang anything. I don't want to see you again after that."
After speaking, he grabbed his backpack and, without looking at Zhuang Yan kneeling before him, slipped out of the tent beside her.
"Let's go. Don't waste any more time."
Luo Ji didn't look at Zhuang Yan, who was frozen in place, and walked towards the target direction, carrying his backpack.
"I'm sorry… Luo Ji."
Zhuang Yan, kneeling on the ground, sighed softly and turned to look at Luo Ji's retreating figure, a trace of imperceptible sadness flowing in her eyes.
While Luo Ji and Zhuang Yan were in the process of escaping, another major event occurred.
The space fleet monitoring station in Jupiter's orbit discovered an alien 'probe' with a rounded head, a pointed tail, and a teardrop shape. Even more astonishingly, the surface of this 'probe' was extremely smooth, a completely reflective mirror. The light from the surrounding worlds reflected on its surface in a very fluid pattern of light, making it appear pure and beautiful.
This probe was named 'Waterdrop'.
In fact, if it weren't for repeated confirmation by the Martian Mechanicum, no one would have believed it was a mechanical probe.
The world's best physicists, based on detection results and data, unanimously concluded that this 'probe' was constructed from strong interaction force materials, with an absolutely hard and smooth outer shell, a surface temperature infinitely close to absolute zero, making it very difficult to destroy by physical means.
And the civilization capable of manufacturing such a 'probe' was, without a doubt… the Trisolaran civilization, which had been silent for nearly two hundred years!
The Trisolaran fleet had truly arrived!
The Holy Terra Alliance immediately mobilized its space fleet and set up defenses near Jupiter's orbit.
Subsequently, the High Lords belonging to humanity also issued the highest level of alert to the Mechanicum Chapter on Mars and the Astartes Chapter on the Moon. Once an invasion by the Trisolaran civilization fleet was detected, fleets were to be dispatched at any time to engage the enemy.
However, what happened next overturned humanity's understanding.
This 'Waterdrop' probe sent by the Trisolaran fleet actually stopped in Jupiter's orbit, maintaining a relatively safe distance from the human fleet.
At the same time, the Waterdrop probe sent several communication messages to humanity.
The content sent by the Trisolaran civilization was simple, roughly: their fleet had traveled for several light-years, and due to humanity's short-term technological explosion, it was already difficult for them to possess the feasibility of destroying humanity and completely occupying Earth.
Therefore, under the new council formed by the Trisolarans, they wished to conduct peaceful negotiations with humanity.
The 'Waterdrop' was the advance probe sent to Earth based on this request. It possessed no offensive or weapon systems, only self-preservation capabilities. The Trisolaran Civilization Council hoped to establish a good friendship with humanity and negotiate on this basis.
The Trisolaran civilization, under the harsh environment of three Suns, found it difficult to continue to maintain its survival and civilization.
They pleaded with humanity, to the extent possible, to grant them a living space in the Solar System, and were willing to pay the price for their previous recklessness and various malicious acts. The Trisolarans conveyed their desire for peaceful coexistence to humanity.
Of course, to avoid misunderstandings and to reassure humanity.
The Trisolaran civilization proposed a new plan, which was to significantly downsize their civilization's vast fleet.
In addition, a new regulatory body could be established, with humanity occupying two-thirds and Trisolarans one-third of the seats, to jointly oversee the future Trisolaran civilization. This would both alleviate humanity's vigilance and demonstrate the Trisolaran civilization's sincerity.
The Trisolaran civilization even proposed at the end of the communication that they were willing to help humanity by providing more advanced scientific concepts, technologies, and knowledge.
If the regulatory body and the disbanding of the army were merely to reassure humanity.
Then the latter point, that the Trisolarans were willing to selflessly help humanity and bestow knowledge, touched the hearts of many people.
This news quickly spread, triggering widespread discussion in human society.
Some people believed that this was the Trisolaran civilization deliberately playing the victim, and that vigilance should not be relaxed under any circumstances; the danger must be nipped in the bud.
But many more people believed that since the Trisolarans were willing to be under supervision, disband their army, and bestow scientific and technological knowledge, this already demonstrated their sincerity. Moreover, the Trisolarans' past actions were also for survival, and there was no need to exterminate such an intelligent and wise civilization. Humanity and the Trisolarans should coexist harmoniously.
Fierce debates erupted on the societal level, and most crucially, since the establishment of the Holy Terra Alliance, its high-pressure living environment had made these new-era humans forget their past fears.
Now, they desired a new, relaxed, and harmonious society.
Thus, under the Trisolaran civilization fleet's almost 'playing the victim' behavior, the High Lords Council of the Holy Terra Alliance had no choice but to deliberate again.
And the content of the deliberation was how to correctly treat and deal with the 'Trisolaran Civilization'.
This meeting was open to the public throughout, and the fleet commander representing the 'Trisolaran Civilization' would also join the meeting.
It is worth mentioning that, unlike two centuries ago, the initial design for a tripartite balance of power, with mutual checks and balances, had been completely overturned after the successive deaths of Wade Thomas, Manuel Rey Diaz, and Shi Qiang.
Today's Holy Terra High Lords Council, in addition to the representatives who still served the Astartes Chapter and the Martian Mechanicum.
Organizations like the Inquisition and the Terra Administrative Academy had fallen under the control of the U.S. Federation and the European Federation.
And the meeting, under such circumstances, officially commenced.
The first formal communication with the Trisolaran civilization will be held via live broadcast among the High Lords Council of the Holy Terra Alliance, and across all Worlds and social strata.
For many, what they longed for was never war, oppression, or control, but freedom and peace.
Why did such a situation arise?
The answer is actually simple: two hundred years ago, human society was in a state of fear of the Trisolaran civilization. At that time, humanity did not possess the means to contend with the Trisolaran civilization, like lambs to the slaughter. Thus, the 'Holy Terra Alliance' came into being.
The initial intention of Holy Terra was to protect humanity.
Mandatory conscription, unified global population management, a high-pressure living environment, fixed material allocation according to social strata, and other measures were all for the more efficient purpose of equipping humanity with the means to resist the Trisolarans.
But what about now?
Humanity believes that they now possess the 'confidence' to contend with the Trisolaran civilization and make them fear.
Their space fleets blot out the Sun, their colonies are spread throughout the Solar System, and even—they are protected by humanity's two great 'guardians'!
The Astartes and the Martian Mechanicum!
The wisdom of the Martian Mechanicum allowed human civilization to complete in just two centuries a journey that other civilizations might need thousands or tens of thousands of years to traverse, erasing the 'generational gap' between humanity and the Trisolarans.
And the power of the 'Astartes' made humanity believe that these powerful 'demigods' could defend humanity against those invaders at any time, in any place, and under any circumstances.
Humanity possessed both strength and wisdom!
Given this, the majority of people in human civilization, from top to bottom, believed that this peace negotiation would be a beautiful beginning, a good foundation for correcting the inherently flawed and dark forest universe theory.
Besides, the Trisolarans already knew they were wrong, and they were willing to pay the price for it. Isn't that enough?
With such thoughts, the High Lords of Holy Terra took their seats one after another, and the global live broadcast also began simultaneously.
Most of humanity across the world stared at the large screen with hopeful anticipation, holding their breath.
On the giant screen, a creature distinctly different from humanity, yet somewhat similar, appeared before the eyes of the entire world, including the High Lords of Holy Terra.
Is this a Trisolaran?
Just as everyone was observing the appearance of this civilization, which resembled humanity, the other party spoke.
"Greetings, on behalf of the Supreme Commander of the Trisolaran Fleet and head of the Council, I extend our most sincere respect to the Earthlings and the High Lords of the Holy Terra Alliance."
Saying this, the other party unexpectedly used human etiquette and bowed to them.
Several High Lords exchanged glances, remaining silent.
"Of course, for the smooth progression of our conversation, and considering the differences between our civilizations, you may refer to me as 'Emissary'."
The 'Emissary' said very sincerely.
"In the history of human civilization that we understand, this term has been endowed with many meanings, but we hope that this name can become a 'bridge' between humanity and the Trisolarans, and this bridge will also lead to peace."
"Hello, Emissary."
The High Lord in charge of the North U.S. Federation spoke first.
"In your communication, you mentioned the desire to coexist peacefully with humanity, and that you are willing to withdraw your fleet and be under human supervision. Is this true?"
"Yes, esteemed High Lord Nasir."
The Emissary did not hesitate and readily admitted this, while continuing.
"Withdrawing troops, establishing supervisory bodies, freely gifting scientific knowledge to humanity, progressing together, and maintaining peace are the collective consensus of the Trisolaran civilization. The head sincerely hopes that humanity and the Trisolarans can overcome prejudice and misunderstanding."
"But these are just your verbal promises, aren't they?"
Another High Lord said.
"Mr. Emissary, over the past two hundred years, you have inflicted unimaginable pain and suffering on humanity, including the Lunar Rebellion incident, which you secretly instigated, didn't you?"
"Indeed, we cannot deny it."
The Emissary did not evade the question, but still said very sincerely.
"In the past two hundred years, the Trisolaran civilization did harbor some malice towards humanity, but this was merely out of consideration for civilization's survival needs, and it was also the result of a mistaken judgment by the previous head of the Council. We are willing to admit our mistakes and pay the price for them, and isn't this peace negotiation a good start?"
"Your narrative is problematic, Emissary."
The High Lord of the Asia-Pacific Federation was an elderly man, but he was still energetic, with absolute rationality in the depths of his eyes.
"You are deliberately confusing facts. If it were truly out of civilization's survival needs, you could have conducted peace negotiations with humanity two hundred years ago, couldn't you?"
The Emissary was silent for a few seconds before slowly saying.
"You are right, but—this was a mistaken strategy by the previous head."
"No need for so many explanations." The old man continued to say unhurriedly.
"For us, whether it was the mistake of your previous head or the current one, in my opinion, you are not suddenly longing for peace; you simply concluded after an assessment that it is no longer possible to occupy Earth without a single soldier, as you did two hundred years ago, and that is why you are conveying a desire for peace to humanity, correct?"
"Everything you have said is true, and we cannot quibble. The wounds inflicted by the Trisolaran civilization on humanity are irreparable, but no matter what, at least now we are willing to strive for peace."
The Emissary directly admitted his statement, while also expressing the attitude of the Trisolaran civilization.
"If possible, we are also willing to publicly apologize to humanity for our previous mistakes."
"Not enough."
Interrupting the speech was Isaac, the current Grand Inquisitor of the Inquisition. He hailed from the British subdivision of the European Federation, was extremely firm in his methods, and was the only radical since Wade.
"Then what is your intention?"
The Emissary looked at the Grand Inquisitor.
"I cannot trust you." The Grand Inquisitor's eyes were cold, tinged with a subtle killing intent.
"If you want to earn our trust, how about—right here, you announce the list of ETO members?"
As he said this, the Grand Inquisitor's chilling gaze swept over the High Lords, the human representatives, one by one, saying meaningfully.
"Presumably, none of you would object to my opinion, would you? After all, for two civilizations to coexist peacefully, some sincerity must be shown."
"Alright."
This action by the Emissary greatly surprised the Grand Inquisitor, so much so that he was stunned for a few seconds.
"If doing so can make humanity believe in our sincerity, we are willing to disclose the members of the ETO organization."
The Emissary paused, giving humanity time to think, then continued.
"Of course, most of the ETO's actions were at our behest, so please view this fairly. Whatever mistakes they committed, we are willing to bear the responsibility for them. This is also what the head wishes us to convey."
It must be said that the Trisolaran 'Emissary's' action garnered a great deal of goodwill from humanity across the world. Not only was it willing to hand over the list of ETO members, but it also took responsibility for the sins they committed, which was tantamount to admitting the Trisolarans' past acts of aggression.
People with sincere attitudes are always easy to forgive, aren't they?
The Grand Inquisitor was silent for a few seconds, seemingly acknowledging its statement, but still harbored some doubts, so he said.
"There is one more thing: you need to disclose your fleet coordinates."
At these words, several High Lords turned their heads.
Even the 'Emissary' fell into a long silence.
"Grand Inquisitor, you should know that we cannot disclose our fleet coordinates. This is based on the simplest chain of suspicion. If humanity has no intention of peaceful coexistence with us, once we disclose our fleet coordinates, it will cause a huge blow to the Trisolaran fleet. If it were humanity, would you disclose them?"
"So, there's nothing to discuss?"
The Grand Inquisitor sneered and closed his eyes.
"In that case, I believe the Trisolaran civilization has no sincerity for peace negotiations, and this meeting can end."
The High Lord of the Asia-Pacific Federation also agreed.
"If the Trisolaran civilization cannot even give humanity basic trust, then how can humanity believe that you are not 'Trojan' horses with aggressive intentions?"
The story of the Trojan horse was already well-known to humanity.
"Please allow me to apply to the 'head'."
After the Emissary finished speaking, it fell silent.
Clearly, it was communicating with the head using the Trisolarans' special organs.
Soon, the Emissary sighed and said.
"Alright, the head believes this is the first step to making humanity trust us. We are willing to disclose the fleet's coordinates, and we also hope—humanity will keep its promise."
A map of interstellar scale coordinates was displayed on the screen, and the most conspicuous red dot on it was the current coordinates of the Trisolaran fleet, very, very close to the Solar System.
"In summary, the Trisolaran civilization has shown its sincerity, and I believe in-depth negotiations can proceed."
The High Lords of North U.S. and Europe successively expressed their opinions.
"This is an extremely rare experience. Perhaps humanity can put aside past grievances and jointly create a more brilliant future with the Trisolaran civilization, rather than like this now—what do you think?"
The Grand Inquisitor looked around and found that the only ones still silent were him and the caucasian Federation representative, while everyone else, without exception, expressed agreement.
His face was a little grim.
"Wait, the representatives of the Astartes and the Martian Mechanicum are not present at today's meeting. I think we need to discuss this further."
"No need for further discussion."
At this moment, the High Lord of the North U.S. Federation sneered.
"Don't forget, this is an internal matter for us Earthlings. The Astartes and the Martian Mechanicum, in the end, are not considered Earthlings. According to the laws left by the 'Seal Bearer,' they cannot interfere with humanity's choices."
Too fast!
This… isn't right!
The Grand Inquisitor frowned tightly, staring at them with an extremely gloomy gaze.
"Grand Inquisitor, this is the will of the people."
The High Lord of the North U.S. Federation smiled faintly, his eyes full of triumph.
Ding Yi is humanity's leading physicist.
Ever since humanity's technology was blockaded by the Sophons two hundred years ago, he changed professions.
That's right!
The current Ding Yi is a veritable tech-priest, the first in human history to pass the many tests of the Martian Mechanicum as a human!
Even the Arch-Magos of the Martian Mechanicum acknowledged 'Ding Yi's' talent and predicted that in fifty years at most, Ding Yi would become the first 'Arch-Magos of the Mechanicum' of human identity in history, which speaks volumes about his exceptional talent.
After obtaining the identity of a tech-priest, Ding Yi did not stay on Mars but chose to continue working on Earth, and his research direction shifted to mechanical aspects.
Of course, he was also one of the people watching the live broadcast.
"Ding Yi, what do you think?" The accompanying researcher asked, staring at the live council meeting.
"What aspect are you referring to?"
Ding Yi pushed up his glasses. Although he was a tech-priest, he had not undergone external mechanical implantation, making him somewhat of an anomaly.
Without external mechanical assistance, he was still able to learn the long and daunting prayers and knowledge of the Mechanicum, which explains why the Martian Arch-Magos considered him extraordinarily talented.
"The Trisolarans, of course!"
The researcher said helplessly.
"Do you think what they are saying is true or false?"
Ding Yi was silent for a few seconds, then turned his head to look at his friend beside him, saying meaningfully.
"True or false—does it matter?"
His friend was a bit confused by his strange tone.
"Doesn't it matter? What do you mean?"
"Nothing."
Ding Yi sighed lightly, his gaze falling on the screen.
"Whether it's true or false doesn't matter. What matters is that the choice is not in our hands at all. Moreover, what truly worries me is that the Trisolaran civilization has never given up—the idea of invasion."
"No, that can't be—"
His friend's heart suddenly sank, and he swallowed, somewhat incredulous.
"If they really do as they say, withdraw their fleet and be under human supervision, how can the Trisolaran civilization invade us? Besides, don't we still have the Mechanicum and the Astartes?"
"Yes, you're right, but the problem is—"
Ding Yi looked worriedly at the Martian Mechanicum and Astartes representatives who were absent from this council meeting, saying with a slight unease.
"But what if, and I mean if—they have a way to bypass the protection of these two great orders?"
His friend's heart immediately skipped a beat.
"Im, impossible, right?" As soon as he thought of the possibility Ding Yi mentioned, a fine layer of cold sweat seeped from his forehead.
"This is, this is the last firewall the 'Seal Bearer' left for humanity."
"Even the most solid firewall can fail sometimes."
Ding Yi said indifferently.
"I need to go back to Mars. You continue the research here for me."
"So urgent?"
His friend was shocked.
"This research concerns the engine innovation of human warships, and it has reached a critical moment. If you're not here—I'm worried something might happen."
The reason he said this was because the project Ding Yi was researching was completely independent of the Martian Mechanicum, a brand new field, namely, the black hole field!
Traveling from one star system to another, spanning tens or hundreds of light-years, even at light speed, would take an extremely long time. But once the 'black hole field' research is completed, humanity will be able to achieve 'wormhole jumps' as in science fiction novels, covering distances of hundreds or thousands of light-years in just a brief moment!
It was precisely because of the greatness of this research that his friend was so nervous.
"There are some things I want to ask the Martian Arch-Magos myself." Ding Yi lowered his head, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.
"This matter is far more important than my research."
....
The Trisolarans are innocent!
Humanity should embrace peace, embrace hope!
Reject war, world Peace!
For a time, public opinion, representing all strata of society, mushroomed.
Humanity, having long forgotten war, completely overlooked the terror of two hundred years ago, and the Holy Terra Alliance, always under high pressure, was like a pressure cooker. The Trisolarans' plea for peace became the hot topic that ignited this 'pressure cooker'.
But, this was not the most terrifying thing.
What truly worried the representative of the Inquisition, Grand Inquisitor Isaac, was that out of the twelve High Lord seats of the Holy Terra Alliance, a staggering six individuals had already clearly expressed their support for accommodating Trisolaran civilization and establishing a harmonious order!
Among the five High Lord seats representing humanity, four High Lords had even preliminarily agreed to the proposal put forth by the Trisolaran civilization.
What about the rest?
Apart from the 'State Religion', the 'Terra Administrative Office' and the 'Terra Legal Department' also stood on the opposing side.
What does this mean?
Among the High Lords, with only twelve total seats, those with thoughts of peaceful negotiation already accounted for a full half!
The High Lords who insisted that the Trisolaran civilization should not be trusted so easily amounted to... only two.
The only ones who could restrain 'them', the Adeptus Astartes and the Martian Mechanicus cult, were inexplicably absent from this council meeting, and even to this day, despite the Inquisition repeatedly sending people to seek their reply, there has been no response.
This situation was as if... the Adeptus Astartes and the Martian Mechanicus cult had handed the right of choice over to humanity!
In the outside world, the increasingly intense rhetoric was rampant. Most people even believed that ideas like 'heretics deserve death', 'human supremacy', and 'dark forest' were outdated relics of a bygone era.
Humanity in the new era should embrace Trisolaran civilization.
Such rhetoric had, in a very short time, sparked enormous discussion and even large-scale protests.
Among those most criticized was the 'Inquisition', which had always propagated extreme theories.
After all, over the past two hundred years, the Inquisition had always played a terrifying 'role'; they were ruthless yet wielded immense power, including judicial and execution authority.
This was clearly at odds with the new era that humanity was supposed to embrace.
From these clamorous statements, Grand Inquisitor Isaac had keenly sensed that the gravity of the situation seemed to be beyond his control.
Too fast!
From the Trisolarans' peaceful negotiations with Earth to the public opinion boiling over, only a few short days had passed.
Clearly, behind this... someone must be manipulating it!
After much deliberation, Isaac felt he could not wait any longer, or he would be waiting for death.
His intuition told him that the Trisolarans' invasion... had already begun!
It was just that, unlike the blatant aggression of two hundred years ago, if humanity could evolve, then the Trisolarans could too.
The Trisolarans had become more cunning, more covert.
Disband the fleet? Willing to accept control? Even willing to impart knowledge?
No!
A sneer appeared on Isaac's stern face; this little trick might fool children.
Now, he was one hundred percent certain that the infiltration of the Holy Terra Alliance by ETO had begun two hundred years ago.
It was no exaggeration to say that among the current High Lords, two-thirds of those who advocated peaceful negotiations... were ETO's people!
He had to do something.
If anyone could turn the tide, at least stop their plan, then it must be him.
The Inquisition's power was extremely high; in fact, when necessary, as Grand Inquisitor, he could forcibly deploy Astartes Warbands.
But Isaac did not do this. He believed there was still room for maneuver.
Once the Astartes Warbands were deployed, the result would inevitably be... a Great Purge!
Just like the 'sinner' nation that was erased two hundred years ago, now the Penitent Legion, he did not want to see such a tragic situation. So Isaac deliberated repeatedly and made a call.
"I am Isaac, let's talk."
On the other end of the communication, it seemed he had not expected to receive his call at this time.
"I don't think we have anything to talk about, Isaac."
An old voice came from the communicator.
"This is very important, I must meet you!"
Isaac reiterated again.
However, the person on the other end of the communicator still disagreed. He seemed to know what Isaac would say and spoke a step ahead:
"I'm sorry, Isaac, I don't think your choice is wrong.
But... our philosophies differ. I believe that blindly rejecting alien life will only lead humanity to a terrible future. This attempt might be a good start, and you should also try to believe in 'hope'. The universe may not always be dark, right?
"What if... the other party harbors ill intentions from the start?" Isaac sneered.
"I'm not denying your philosophy, but at least... we must be prepared, right?"
The other party fell into a long silence, seemingly also contemplating the risks involved.
"If you are unwilling, then I will invoke the 'Inquisition's' highest judgment."
Seeing that he still wouldn't budge, Isaac's tone involuntarily hardened, and he said in a deep voice.
"You should be clear about the meaning of this 'Highest Judgment'."
The Highest Judgment was an order given by Seal Holder to the Inquisition, allowing it to forcibly requisition Astartes Warbands during humanity's most critical moments.
The other party clearly understood the gravity of this order, so after a moment of silence, he sighed.
"Alright, tell me, where should we meet?"
"Right here" Isaac lowered his voice, and after speaking, he hung up the communication.
"I need to go meet someone."
He gave this instruction to the accompanying Inquisitor, then left the Inquisition directly into the night.
However, no one knew.
Grand Inquisitor Isaac, after saying those words, completely vanished!
Just three days after he disappeared, a proposal titled "Trisolaran Civilization and Earth Civilization Peaceful Coexistence Proposal" was freshly released.
And this, in the eyes of many humans, was hailed as a symbol of human civilization entering a new era.
In the streets and alleys, people cheered.
It was as if they had finally waited for the good news they had long anticipated.
This era is an era of peace, and should no longer be controlled by the decadent theories of old humanity, including Seal Holder. Humanity should put aside past grievances and join hands with Trisolaran civilization to enter a new, peaceful era.
In the century named 'Hope', the Holy Terra High Lord Council officially finalized the placement process for the Trisolaran fleet.
Based on mutual trust, the initial settlement area for the Trisolaran civilization would be on Titan, Saturn's moon.
Considering the vast population of Trisolaran civilization, this was merely the first step.
And the Martian Mechanicus cult, including the Adeptus Astartes on the Moon, which had always made Trisolaran civilization extremely wary and even fearful, surprisingly maintained silence throughout, even completely cutting off contact with Earth, as if... they didn't care at all.
The Trisolarans truly did, as they promised, transmit new scientific technologies and knowledge to humanity.
Everything seemed to be proceeding as humanity had hoped.
A beautiful, peaceful era, like an exquisite painting, slowly unfolded amidst humanity's expectations.
The introduction of the peace proposal symbolized humanity entering a completely new era.
In this era, the traces that once belonged to Seal Holder were slowly being erased, bit by bit.
And Ding Yi, as a Tech-Priest, after meeting the 'Archmagos' at the Martian Mechanicus cult, received a refusal, and could only watch helplessly as humanity slid step by step into the abyss, powerless to do anything.
"This is humanity's choice."
This was the Archmagos, the mechanical life form's answer.
Compared to the upheaval in the outside world, Luo Ji's situation was much worse.
Due to his mission, he and Zhuang Yan embarked on a long journey, and after several days of high-altitude trekking, finally reached the roof of this world, the highest mountain range on Earth.
Snow covered the mountains, and as it was nearing the end of November, the monsoon became more ferocious and violent.
Their current location was once a temple two hundred years ago.
At that time, humanity still had the courage to climb and overcome desperate situations, and this temple was the starting point for all brave adventurers.
But now, this temple was long dilapidated, and no one had come for a long time.
"Good news, there are still climbing tools left by humans two hundred years ago here." Luo Ji found some tools in the dilapidated temple base camp, but his face showed no joy at all.
"But the bad news is... many of these things are unusable."
Two hundred years of erosion had long rotted these tools.
He held a rusty ice axe and turned to Zhuang Yan.
"Now the problem is, have you ever seen anyone climb Mount Everest in long sleeves during the snowy season?"
Yes, he was still only wearing a long-sleeved shirt, providing almost zero warmth.
If he hadn't 'awakened' as a psyker and used psychic powers to maintain his body temperature along the way, he would probably have frozen to death by now.
But this was already his limit. If they went any higher... Luo Ji couldn't guarantee that he could still maintain his body temperature with psychic powers.
psykers are not omnipotent, at least... he has his limits.
"Don't worry." However, Zhuang Yan gave him a reassuring look, re-adjusted her huge backpack, then slung it over her body, and looked up at the majestic snow-capped mountain that reached into the clouds.
"As long as we can get up there, I'll find a way."
"I must be crazy" Luo Ji looked at the snow mountain, unable to help but smile bitterly.
If he wasn't crazy, why would he be wearing long sleeves, following her to climb Mount Everest in the monsoon-ridden snow?
Unfortunately, there's no turning back in this world.
"Since we're here" After Zhuang Yan finished adjusting her backpack, she came to Luo Ji's side, patted his shoulder, and smiled.
"Didn't people from the past always like to say that?"
"I hate that saying."
Luo Ji grumbled angrily, then helplessly turned around and picked out a few usable items from the 'climbers'' relics, bringing them along. Although hope was slim, at least these things could give him some comfort.
Soon, their climb began.
Mount Everest in November was in its most terrifying climatic period.
Huge monsoons, carrying hail and snowflakes, instantly engulfed the two figures like a flood.
The depth of the snow under their feet could even reach their knees, and every step forward required immense effort.
"Wheeze... wheeze"
Luo Ji purely relied on his own will, following Zhuang Yan as they climbed the terrifying steep slopes, cliffs, and snow slopes.
He used psychic power to maintain his body temperature while fighting against the 'whispers' in his mind.
After climbing for an unknown amount of time, Luo Ji, exhausted, suddenly fell face down in the snow.
However, when he struggled out of the thick snow, his heart almost stopped. He found that he couldn't find 'Zhuang Yan'.
Zhuang Yan, who should have been leading the way, had disappeared. Her figure was swallowed by the heavy snow, and even her footprints vanished.
"Zhuang Yan! Zhuang Yan!"
Luo Ji suddenly panicked. He lowered his voice, calling out cautiously.
But in the cold snow around him, there was no response.
"Damn... am I lost?"
Just as Luo Ji was in a panic, he suddenly saw a black, church-like building standing in the distance, deep within the snow-covered ice valley.
Using psychic power, he saw the name of that church in the vast snowstorm.
"Boulder... Monastery?"
At this moment, Luo Ji, whose body and spirit were both pushed to their limits, had no energy left to ponder why he was seeing such a peculiar 'monastery' on a snow-capped mountain at an altitude of over seven thousand meters.
He had lost contact with Zhuang Yan, wasn't carrying emergency equipment, and was in an environment over seven thousand meters high with temperatures dozens of degrees below zero.
Cold, hunger, and loneliness—these harsh realities forced him to quickly find a shelter that could withstand blizzards and strong winds, and provide him warmth.
Otherwise, it wouldn't be long before he would starve to death, even if he didn't freeze.
The blizzard would cover all traces!
Thinking of this, Luo Ji, relying on his tenacious will to survive, squeezed out his last bit of physical and mental strength, maintaining a weak psionic barrier, and trudged through a meter-thick layer of snow.
"Hey! I'm here!"
His voice was hoarse, and his shouts were completely swallowed by the storm, unable to carry through.
It was monsoon season, compounded by raging wind and snow.
The 'monastery' appeared to be within reach, not far away, but for Luo Ji, whose physical and mental limits were reached, it had become an insurmountable chasm.
Just then.
In his forward vision, amidst the vast white blizzard, a figure suddenly appeared.
"Help, help me!"
The moment he saw that figure, Luo Ji, as if grasping a lifeline, strained his voice to its limits, calling for help.
However, it seemed the distance between them was too great, and the howling storm obscured his cries, causing the other party to not notice him at all.
Luo Ji grew more anxious, disregarding whether it would trigger an avalanche, he quickened his pace towards the figure while using his psionic power to amplify his voice, attempting to draw attention to himself.
But an accident, precisely, happened at this moment.
Perhaps due to his haste, Luo Ji, while walking, failed to notice the slope of the snow beneath his feet, suddenly lost his balance, and fell towards the steep icy slope on his left.
Not good!
The moment this thought flashed through Luo Ji's mind, he had already tumbled down, rolling and falling along the steep icy slope into the depths of an ice valley crevice.
Due to crustal compression, such crevices frequently appeared on Mount Everest, and the one he fell into was about ten meters deep; fortunately, the interior of the crevice was narrow, providing a buffer, otherwise, if he had fallen directly, he would probably have been reduced to a pulp on the spot.
Bang!
The moment his body slammed onto the ice, the excruciating pain of fractured bones and internal organs caused a final thought to flash through Luo Ji's mind.
It's over! Falling into such a deep crevice, it would be impossible for anyone to find him!
And then, the intense pain triggered a protective mechanism in his brain, severing his consciousness, and darkness enveloped him.
He didn't know how much time had passed.
Luo Ji groggily woke up, finding his entire body aching unbearably, and his throat felt like it was on fire.
"water—...water."
He tried to get up, but he had no strength at all.
At this moment, a person clad in a gray robe walked in. Seeing Luo Ji trying to get up, he quickly stepped forward to stop him.
"You are very weak right now, don't move around. Tell me if there's anything you want."
Luo Ji opened his mouth, pointing with difficulty at the table, expressing his intention.
The person brought a bowl of water, helped him drink it. The cool water poured down his throat, extinguishing the fire in his almost burning throat, and only then did Luo Ji feel slightly better.
After drinking the water, Luo Ji's mind cleared considerably, and he realized he was in a stone room, seemingly carved out of a cave. Not far away, on a rough wall, a flame was lit for illumination.
"Where is this?"
The moment he spoke, even he was startled; his voice had become extremely hoarse, sounding like coarse pebbles grinding together.
"This is the 'Boulder Monastery'."
The person in the gray robe handed over a stone bowl, filled with steaming herbal soup.
"You're lucky. When brother Garcia found you, you were already severely injured and showing symptoms of hypothermia. Ten more minutes and you would have been beyond saving."
"Tha—nk—you—" Luo Ji struggled to utter two words. He felt as if razor blades were in his throat; every word he spoke felt like a blade scraping through.
"Don't thank me."
The person shook his head.
"You should thank brother Garcia. With such a heavy blizzard and strong winds, no one else would have been able to find you. This medicine was specially prepared for you; it will help your body recover faster."
Luo Ji didn't waste words, holding the stone bowl with his frostbitten hands and bringing the liquid medicine to his mouth.
The moment the viscous medicine entered his mouth, a mixture of putrid, salty, and extremely fishy flavors, like rotten eggs fermented for months and mixed with a large amount of salt, challenged the limits of human physiology, making him almost vomit.
"Don't vomit." The person in the gray robe seemed to have anticipated his reaction.
"This bowl of medicine was carefully prepared. If you vomit it, there won't be any more. Although the taste isn't great, the effect is definitely hundreds of times better than anything outside."
Hearing this, Luo Ji's eye twitched uncontrollably. He stared down at the viscous medicine, took a deep breath, and then, as if preparing for death, tilted his head back and gulped it down.
Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!
After finally finishing it, Luo Ji suppressed the urge to gag, grabbed the water from the table, and took several big gulps to barely suppress the nausea. His eyes were red, and he was panting heavily.
The foulness of this medicine, in his perception, was absolutely number one; even eating excrement would rank lower!
Seeing him finish the medicine, the gray-robed person finally relaxed and nodded.
"Good, you rest. I won't disturb you anymore."
"Wait, wait—" Seeing him about to leave, Luo Ji grabbed his sleeve and hastily asked.
"I, I have something I want to ask of you."
"What is it?"
The gray-robed person stopped and asked.
"I have another companion; she's also on this snow mountain." Luo Ji, weakened, paused for a breath before continuing.
"We got separated due to the blizzard. She should be coming back to look for me. I—I want to ask if you can search around? She's a female, about one meter sixty-eight tall, and her name is Zhuang Yan."
The gray-robed person thought for a moment and said.
"Alright, I will inform brother Garcia to do his best to search the surroundings and see if he can find the person you mentioned."
"Thank you, thank you all."
Luo Ji felt both grateful and moved.
One had to know that the blizzard outside was heavy, and the winds were raging. In such conditions, searching for someone outside was not only extremely difficult but also life-threatening.
"Oh, and this—is this yours?"
Just as the gray-robed person was about to leave the stone room, he seemed to suddenly remember something.
He stopped at the doorway, pulled out a pendant with a rusty iron piece from inside his gray robe, and dangled it in front of Luo Ji.
"Key"?!
Luo Ji was startled, instinctively touching his chest.
Indeed, it was empty. Looking at the 'pendant' in the gray-robed person's hand, he immediately felt a wave of fear and, still shaken, nodded.
"Yes, that's mine. Thank you"
He couldn't even imagine what would happen if he lost this thing... how would he face Zhuang Yan?
"By your reaction, it must be very important, right?" The gray-robed person's gaze swept over the pendant, then fell on Luo Ji, revealing a meaningful smile.
"Since it's something important, you must take good care of it. Don't lose it again."
With that, he tossed the pendant to Luo Ji.
Luo Ji, having recovered what was lost, clutched the "iron piece" tightly, letting out a long sigh of relief, not forgetting to thank him.
Thus, Luo Ji recuperated in the stone room, periodically asking the gray-robed person who brought him food and water if there was any news of Zhuang Yan.
And each time, the results plunged Luo Ji's hopes into despair.
Finally, on the fourth day, the gray-robed person brought him an item... a lily emblem.
"Brother Garcia found this on a snow slope at an altitude of seven thousand nine hundred meters." The gray-robed person handed the lily emblem to Luo Ji, his voice filled with regret.
"I'm very sorry, brother Garcia said... he has searched the surroundings thoroughly, but he couldn't find the girl you mentioned."
Luo Ji stared at the lily emblem.
He remembered this; it was the emblem embedded in a Battle sister's helmet, but now... it appeared in this form.
This meant... Zhuang Yan had met with an accident!
But, she was a Battle sister, how could she have met with an accident?
Although he desperately wanted to tell himself that Zhuang Yan couldn't have met with an accident, she was a Battle sister, so powerful, so radiant... but the evidence before him transformed into a cruel reality, shattering his last shred of hope.
Before the snow mountain, all beings are equal!
Zhuang Yan was a Battle sister, yes, but ultimately, she was just a human being.
As long as one is human, one cannot escape natural disasters. In the sub-zero temperatures of the snow mountain, even someone as strong as Zhuang Yan could meet with an accident.
"Tha, thank you all" He struggled to control his tumultuous emotions, tremblingly taking the lily emblem from the gray-robed person's hand, his gaze blank and hollow, as if lost in some memory.
"I don't know why you chose to climb the snow mountain this season, but"
The gray-robed person deliberated for a moment, then sighed.
"Listen to my advice, go back."
Listening to the gray-robed person's advice, Luo Ji's gaze remained hollow. He gripped the lily emblem tightly until its edge cut his palm, and the seeping blood stained the emblem. Only then did the pain awaken him.
"Sorry, I might have to disappoint you."
Luo Ji took a deep breath, as if having made a certain decision, and tucked the lily emblem into his clothes.
"I'm leaving. Thank you for your care these past few days."
"You're still going higher?"
The gray-robed person frowned, his tone tinged with a sense of disappointment.
"Didn't you hear me? The snow mountain this season has temperatures as low as sixty degrees below zero. In your current condition, going higher is suicide."
"I know."
Luo Ji didn't refute him; these were facts, and he was well aware of them.
"If you know, why are you still going up?" The gray-robed person looked puzzled.
"What is up there that's worth dying for? If you want to climb the snow mountain, you can completely wait until May of next year; the climate will be much better then, and there won't be blizzards."
"I also want to wait until next year, but... there's no time."
Luo Ji sighed self-deprecatingly.
"I have a reason I must go up, no matter what... I must go up!"
"Your body hasn't recovered, and the blizzard outside is heavy. Are you really leaving?" The gray-robed person watched him, saying in a deep voice.
"I must warn you, once you leave here, in this climate, you will last at most three days... you will surely die. No one will save you then."
"Thank you for your kindness, I appreciate it." Luo Ji exhaled a mouthful of stale air, squatting down to pack his belongings.
Seeing him quickly pack his gear, including necessary warmth, food, and water, the gray-robed person couldn't help but sigh.
"Is it worth it? Although I don't know why you are so determined to climb the snow mountain this season, but... is it worth sacrificing your life for this?"
Is it worth it?
This was a good question, making Luo Ji pause for a moment, then his face filled with sarcasm and self-mockery.
"Of course, it's not worth it."
The gray-robed person was taken aback.
"From my personal perspective, there's nothing that is worth me sacrificing my life for."
Luo Ji picked up his packed backpack, slung it over his shoulder, and said faintly.
"I am a selfish person, living only for myself. Things like responsibility or duty have nothing to do with me, and I don't care what this world becomes."
The gray-robed person was even more confused.
"Since that's the case"
"But this is something I must do!"
Suddenly, Luo Ji spoke with an extremely firm voice.
"I don't care about this world, nor do I care about humanity... But I care about her, and I care about them. My life was saved by them. It is noble to repay kindness, and I must... repay this kindness, right?"
Consider it, repaying a debt!
Luo Ji walked out of the stone room without hesitation. Looking at his departing back, a look of relief appeared on the gray-robed person's face.
"May the Emperor protect you, Luo Ji."
Luo Ji left the 'Boulder Monastery'.
The blizzard outside grew heavier, the wind howled in his ears, and the extreme cold could freeze a person to death in a matter of minutes.
The air he exhaled almost immediately crystallized into ice after leaving his body.
And the path upwards was completely submerged by thick snow, making it impossible to see the crevices hidden beneath the ice, which undoubtedly increased the difficulty of the climb. As the gray-robed person had said, this was almost certainly a path to certain death.
"Zhuang, Zhuang Yan... I'm coming!"
Luo Ji, climbing through the blizzard, moved upwards with difficulty.
He had to reach the secret chamber at the summit of the snow mountain before his psionic power reached its limit.
Only then could he fulfill his promise to Zhuang Yan.
Perhaps it was for Zhuang Yan, or perhaps for the promise in his heart, Luo Ji braved the wind and snow, enduring the harsh climate without rest, for two consecutive days, finally overcoming the last obstacle.
Even he was surprised that he had truly, by sheer willpower, climbed to the summit of the snow mountain under almost impossible circumstances.
He had arrived!
When he reached the summit of Mount Everest, a massive, dark palace came into his view.
"This... is where The Signatory hibernates?"
Luo Ji moved forward with difficulty, literally wading through the snow that threatened to engulf him, carving out a path.
The palace gates seemed to detect someone approaching. Amidst the swirling blizzard, they slowly creaked open a crack, as if inviting him in.
Luo Ji inhaled a deep breath of cold air, clutched the 'Key' in his embrace, and stepped into the palace without hesitation.
Inside the dark palace, flames were lit one by one.
They illuminated an extremely vast space; the entire palace was filled with an ancient and mysterious style.
Along the long pathway, knight statues stood on both sides, their faces lifelike, clad in power armor, wielding bolters and chainswords.
Luo Ji followed this pathway deeper, and at the end, he saw an even taller statue.
One hand rested on a sword, the other on a shield, a crown on its head, with an expression of compassion.
And beneath this massive statue, a person knelt on one knee, also dressed in a simple gray robe.
But even kneeling, one could immediately discern his far-beyond-human physique.
Sensing someone had intruded, the person slowly stood up, like a magnificent mountain, radiating a suffocating aura that enveloped Luo Ji.
"Long time no see, Mr. Luo Ji."
"It, it's you?!"
Gazing at the 'giant', long-sealed memories instantly flooded Luo Ji's mind.
"Maximus, that is my name."
The 'giant' slowly descended from the shrine, his eyes calm.
"You have finally come. I have been waiting for you... for two hundred years."