Upon leaving the ruins, the villagers of the Serpent Deity Village decided to temporarily setup a camp that was just outside of the ruins' entrance.
Four days have passed since the incident, and on this day—
"Ai, it really is about time for us to distance ourselves from this place."
Saying this, Xu Tian Kun rises to a stand, and simultaneously, all eyes turn to her.
As a means to get the military and the various Guilds off their backs, the village had given away every last drop of their Spirit Extract reserves.
"…"
Unable to formulate her words quite yet, silence looms in the air, and eventually—
"If you're unable to decide on a direction, why not just come with me?"
"Uh?"
Emerging from behind a tree is a woman with long black hair and thin-framed glasses. Her attire consists of a lab coat over a pink sweater with a black skirt.
Positioning themselves to the woman's sides are two white dolls.
Different from the military dolls and Tian Cheng, the two dolls' structures are centered around a teardrop-shaped upper body as their core.
Extending from the teardrop-shaped body are humanoid arms and a round head.
As these dolls do not possess any legs, propulsion devices are used to allow them to levitate their sharp bases five inches off the ground.
Other than the dolls, there is also a large metal casket behind the woman's back—that is floating a few inches off the ground.
If Long Hua was here, he might recognize this woman to be the same person—that he had drawn his ballot from, on the day of his graduation from S09.
"You…?"
Turning to the woman, Xu Tian Kun narrows her eyes, to which, the former heaves a sigh, and asks—
"Surnamed Xu, Primordial Star Realm—does that ring any bells?"
"…!"
The Primordial Star Realm, that was the star region that Xu Tian Kun had originated from—during her life as a practitioner.
"Y-You're someone of the Primordial Star Realm?"
"…?"
Confusion appears on the woman's face. But momentarily, she realizes her mistake.
"Apologizes, I've gotten too used to putting on a disguise while out in public."
As green light emanates from the woman's body, shades of deep green appear on the woman's black hair, while her blue eyes turn gold.
"Recognize me now?"
"…"
Blinking her red eyes, Xu Tian Kun opens her mouth in shock, and asks—
"Jiu… Jiǔ Shēng, you're still around?!"
"Un."
A soft light emanates from Jiu Sheng's golden eyes—seeing as how Xu Tian Kun still remembers her.
Drawing closer to Jiu Sheng, Xu Tian Kun can't help but examine the former, and asks—
"D-Do you still-?"
Shaking her head, Jiu Sheng raises a sigh, and says—
"My strength as a Half-Monarch, it's long gone… Right now, I can't even demonstrate a quarter of my original strength."
"Ai…"
Stepping forward, Zhu Xu represents the villagers to ask—
"Ancestor Xu, who is this?"
Turning to Zhu Xu and the other villagers, Xu Tian Kun replies—
"Someone from my hometown, I guess? It's all ancient history at this point…"
As Jiu Sheng presses a hand onto the metal casket, cold air spews out from within, as it opens to reveal a body—that possesses the same appearance as Xu Tian Kun.
"This is a vessel that I've prepared for you—using my Relic's ability."
"Oh?"
Looking at the body—that is dressed in a hospital patient's gown, Xu Tian Kun examines it through her limited divine senses.
Confirming that it doesn't possess anything related to the laws of the Leng Bing Realm, Xu Tian Kun approaches the body and merges with it.
Rather quickly—
"…"
Successfully merging herself with the body, Xu Tian Kun opens its red eyes, and steps out of the casket.
"Damn, it's cold. Still, I suppose, I should be glad to have a proper vessel now?"
Opening and closing her right hand, Xu Tian Kun gets a proper feel for her current vessel, while the villagers nearby can't help but look on with clear bewilderment.
"Mm, glad you like it. Now, about my words from before…"
As Jiu Sheng says this, Xu Tian Kun hugs her by wrapping her cold arms around the former's neck.
Raising a frown, Jiu Sheng pushes against Xu Tian Kun with one hand, and says—
"Back off, your body temperature is far too low…"
"I'm only showing my best friend my gratitude."
"You can show your gratitude by answering my question with a yes."
"Hmm."
Backing away from Jiu Sheng, Xu Tian Kun's expression turns solemn, as she replies—
"Let's hear what it is that you have planned first."
"…"
"…"
Following Xu Tian Kun's question, the villagers nearby all directed their full attention towards Jiu Sheng.
The questions that they have are many, and the situation itself—with how abrupt everything is being pushed forward, saying that they have a difficult time processing their current reality would be an understatement.
"…"
Straightening her hair and lab coat, Jiu Sheng answers—
"The situation is like this. Uh… Quite a long story, but to summarize, a certain family in this world, they managed to acquire the rights to excavate a certain ruin. What makes those ruins special is the fact that they are interconnected. What they haven't figured out is, it's not just two ruins that are connected together, but three."
"…?"
Blinking her eyes, Xu Tian Kun frowns, and asks—
"This third ruin in its entirety, anything unique about it?"
Nodding her head, Jiu Sheng explains—
"In recent years, I've recalled some memories related to a place—that holds a vast amount of Spirit Extracts. That place, it was created during the first Leng Bing Realm, it was the combined efforts of almost everyone when they were at their prime. If we can activate the devices there, we may be able to fight our way out of this world once and for all."
"…Hope City, you mean?"
"…"
"…"
Silence looms in the air between Xu Tian Kun and Jiu Sheng—upon the former throwing the place's name out.
(Activating the devices there… Hmm.)
(Words and plans are cheap—for they are the product of an ideal, but executing them, that would be a trial…)
Maintaining an expression of contemplation on their faces, silence continues to loom over the air, but eventually—
"…"
Taking a step forward, Hui Sang breaks the silence, and says—
"Ancestor Xu, I agree to go with this person."
"Un."
Stepping forward as well, Yang Hai nods, and adds—
"Agreed. We can no longer avoid a reset, so we might as well fight."
Nodding to the two's statement himself, Zhu Xu says—
"Indeed. I intend to end this current life of mine by battling the Ling Yuan family to the end."
"I also agree!"
"Me as well!"
Simultaneously, similar voices of approval come from the other villagers, to which, Xu Tian Kun heaves a sigh, and answers—
"Fine."
Approaching Xu Tian Kun, Jiu Sheng whispers—
"Actually, we might be able to avoid another reset—if that employee of mine manages to acquire what we need."
"Hm?"
Hearing this, Xu Tian Kun raises an eye, and replies—
"Tell me more about this."