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Chapter 1639 Final Chapter: Guarding the Coastline: "OE: Die from the Ocean (24)"

But why was it that when Gesang Gyatso first met him, he was covered in wounds and barely breathing, as if he were torturing himself?

“This is not something I should be thinking…” Gesang Gyatso gently shook his head. “Doing my job well is the best I can do for him.”

He picked up his pen, put his arm around Xiaoxiao's shoulder, and walked towards the future, towards the passing years.

……

[Genesis Era 5: 2052]

The first global census of creative potential has been launched, utilizing the "Ming An System" to assess the creativity and imagination of all citizens aged 10 and above worldwide, establishing a talent pool. The first batch of creative preparation classes have been established in various locations.

……

[Genesis Era 10: 2057]

With the full support of the world, construction has begun next to the world's hub on the "Tower of Creation," designed to accommodate 100,000 creators in the future. The project is expected to last for decades.

The first generation of young people raised under the "creation" education philosophy are beginning to emerge; they are known as the "creation generation," and their way of thinking is completely different from that of their predecessors. While older generations of scientists and engineers continue to support the operation of civilization, the core of society is beginning to shift towards "creation."

……

[Genesis Era 20: 2067]

The Academy of Sciences announced that, by combining the energy of the World Tree, the authority of faith, and cutting-edge information technology, it has successfully developed a device that can transform thought ideas into information, named the "Pen of Creation".

(Personal Notes by Gesang Gyatso): The pagoda has been erected, like a pillar reaching to the sky. I stood at its base, gazing upwards, my neck aching. So many capable people are about to enter; they're about to begin writing their stories to save everyone. New settlements have been built around the pagoda, inhabited by people from all over the world. I move through these settlements daily, recording people's hopes, anxieties, and imaginations about the future. Sometimes, I think of my mother, who passed away three years ago. What would she think if she knew of this scene?
……

[Genesis Era 30: 2077]

Between 2048 and 2077, the timeline of "a generation" has arrived.
The selection process for the "100,000 Sequence" has officially begun. After nearly thirty years of training, selection, and assessment, a million potential candidates have been identified from hundreds of millions of applicants. The selection process employs a closed-door test, with joint review by the Realm Lord, the Peak Alliance, and top scholars.

During this period, the Lord of the Realm became increasingly reclusive, making far fewer public appearances. He still appeared young, but his gaze became increasingly profound and unfathomable. He only occasionally appeared at the construction site of the "Tower of Creation" or at important meetings, and spoke very little.

(Personal Notes - Gesang Gyatso): I was fortunate enough to see the Lord of the Realm from afar. He seemed unchanged, only more serene, like ice deep within a snow-capped mountain. He walked past the life support pods of the Creators, examining them closely. At that moment, he didn't seem like a lofty god, but more like... someone sending children on their journeys? I couldn't say. But I noticed he lingered for an unusually long time in front of one pod. I couldn't make out who was there. That evening, I added a note to my record: The Lord of the Realm patrolled the tower, his expression solemn, as if burdened with deep sorrow.

……

[Genesis Era 31: 2078]

The "Tower of Creation" was officially opened, marking the completion of a giant tower after twenty years of construction. One hundred thousand creators, carrying the "Pen of Creation," moved into the tower in batches.

Some who were not selected chose to join the "Distant Exploration Program," continuing their search for other slim hopes in deep space. Many more chose to stay, becoming watchmen, responsible for maintaining the operation of civilization.

On December 31, 2077, the final list was released. A total of 12 creators were confirmed. They came from various fields, ranging in age from twelve to seventy, and were the culmination of generations of effort. The world watched them, regarding them as the "spark sculptors" of civilization.

……

—Society officially entered the "Genesis Era".

……

[Genesis Era 41: 2088]

The consciousness of 100,000 creators resonates with the World Tree through the "Creative Pen".

……

[Genesis Era 50: 2097]

The first stable IF (Inception Context) storyline was born, depicting a low-magic fantasy world. It successfully and stably existed for over a year, accepting a small number of consciousnesses for access and experience. Though still rudimentary, it proved the plan's feasibility and greatly encouraged the people. The "Creation Pen" was updated to its seventh generation, significantly improving its stability. Creators gradually mastered the writing techniques, and IF stories of different styles began to flourish.

(Personal Notes - Gesang Gyatso): The first worldline was a success! When the news spread, the entire settlement was in an uproar; people sang and danced as if it were New Year's. I was happy too, and drank quite a bit with Brother Xiaoxiao.

……

[Genesis Era 60: 2107]

Preparations for the "Great Migration" have begun, with more than half of the IF lines reaching basic stability standards. Global preparations for the migration have commenced, and society is in a state of anxious anticipation.

……

[Genesis Era 65: 2112]

Realm Lord Su Ming'an inspected the main floors of the "Tower of Creation." He walked among rows of life support pods for creators, remaining silent for a long time. Some of his entourage noticed that the Realm Lord sighed several times.

……

[Genesis Era 70: 2117]

The 100,000 IF lines are operating stably, circling the "Lost Pearl Star," undergoing continuous fine-tuning and iteration. The United Government and the World Hub announced that they will launch the final phase of the "100,000 into One" program, where the public will need to register by selecting the IF line category they wish to join.

(Personal Notes - Gesang Gyatso): So many years have passed, and I've grown old. The staff of the Records Office have changed time and again. Ten thousand worlds… truly an unimaginable feat. I look at the registration forms; people are choosing the worlds they want to go to in the future, and the various life choices are bizarre and varied. I touch the increasingly smooth stone in my arms, thinking of my mother on the grasslands, thinking of that night when she led Su Ming'an home on an ox. Where will the future lead?

……

Seventy years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Once you've made up your mind, time seems to fly by.

People around me come and go, but the divine remains ever holy and radiant.

"Lord Realm Lord."

As Su Ming'an entered the top floor of the World Hub, the swivel chair turned around, revealing a blond-haired, blue-eyed boy sitting in it.

"Let's set the end of everything on December 30, 2118, a beautiful snowy day." The boy smiled as he manipulated the light screen.

—This is the seventh Vice Lord of the Realm, Kelsar.

In 2062, Yu Zhu abdicated due to illness. Yueying and Li Li had no intention of taking over, so Su Ming'an searched among his allies and the united government, but the results were unsatisfactory. Finally, Su Ming'an ventured into the world and found this temporary successor. This appearance was not intentional; it was merely a coincidence.

How amazing! A hundred years have passed, four generations have passed, and yet a familiar figure has been born again in this world.

Su Ming'an was not surprised. Since the old world and the ruined world were only a matter of time, yet they could produce a group of primordial beings like "Su Wensheng" and "Akto", then if Zhai Xing had enough time, similar beings might also be born.

Time has passed so long that another similar person has been born. It's like spring turning to autumn, and a new century has brought forth a new rose.

His connection with Kelsar began in the winter of 2052. After the plan was released in the first year of creation, Su Ming'an handed over everything to the characters and companions he had written, while he used his clones to travel around the world. It wasn't that he wanted to be lazy, but that he knew his physical condition and that he had to maintain his survival with the minimum means of survival. Continuing to overwork and burn himself out would lead to death.

Unable to expend divine power or use his abilities, Su Ming'an maintained his ordinary human form, wearing a mask as he traveled far and wide. He made occasional acquaintances, but these were fleeting and superficial. He knew he was merely a passerby, and there was no need to leave behind too many ties or attachments. To want to hold onto something would be tantamount to squeezing his own life out of him. He only needed to maintain his detached, indifferent demeanor, enduring until the day his plan was realized.

One day, he came to a village and saw a blond, blue-eyed child being bullied. He didn't want to do anything, but the fire in his heart was too strong to be extinguished, so he helped him and met two brothers, Vinio and Danton.

Vinio is a blond, blue-eyed boy, while Danton has heterochromia. A local custom dictates that people with heterochromia must wear masks and avoid looking directly at others. To protect Danton, Vinio wears the mask along with him and is bullied by the others.

“They looked down on Danton, saying that anyone wearing a mask was a monster,” Vinio whispered. “I put on the mask with Danton, and they said I was a monster too.”

Su Ming'an thought for a moment, then pointed to the clown mask on his face: "I'm wearing a mask too."

“But you don’t seem like a monster either,” Vinio said. “Monsters have nothing to do with masks, only with their hearts.”

Vinio enthusiastically pulled Su Ming'an along, and they folded paper airplanes, flew kites, and rolled around on the hillside. Su Ming'an kept his eyes on Vinio, constantly wondering if this boy was actually Noel in disguise, running up to him. His sixth sense, being that of a god, was very sharp, and he decided to stay and observe Vinio.

The observation lasted for about half a month. Vinio was like an ordinary child, cheerful and lively. One day, he suddenly said to Su Ming'an with envy:
“I know you are no ordinary person. You must be that legendary realm lord, that god.”

Su Ming'an was startled and asked calmly, "Why do you think that?"

“You are otherworldly. Although you only have the strength of an ordinary person, I feel that nothing can stop you. I carefully observed the image on the screen. Although you are wearing a mask, your figure and hands are exactly the same as those on the screen.”

"...Smart." Su Ming'an calmly looked into the distance.

“I envy you,” Vinio said.

"why?"

“You can go to very, very far places… You can touch the stars and roam the sea of ​​stars. You don’t have to be trapped on the ground, doing the same things day after day. Your every move is the whole world. Nothing holds you back…” Vinio said softly, looking up at his head. “You are free.”

"As for me, I long to be as free as you, but my future will probably be confined to the village, or like the uncle next door, harvesting wheat, finding a lover I like, getting married, having children, and living out my life."

...He's not Noel. Su Ming'an gradually became certain of this answer. Words can be faked, but temperament cannot.

He received news yesterday that the new tower was completed, and it was time for him to go back after his rest there.

He rose and bid farewell to Vinio and Danton. The children enthusiastically presented him with the most beautiful lavender, which Su Ming'an touched with his finger and transformed into an immortal flower.

More than sixty years later, in 2113, Su Ming'an happened to pass by this place and found that the lavender plains that once covered the land had been reduced to ashes, leaving only devastation. The golden windmills that once turned slowly had also disappeared, leaving only broken walls and ruins.

He searched for a while and found an old woman. When he asked her what was wrong, she sighed and shook her head.
"Gone! This beautiful lavender plain was still here when I was young, but then they built some ridiculous thing... the Creation Tower? All the life force here was drained away by those adults! They went off to write stories!"

"Alas, more and more beautiful scenery is disappearing. The Realm Lord rarely shows himself; perhaps his soul's lifespan is nearing its end! Some of those who start wars are becoming increasingly rampant... But thankfully, I heard we're leaving soon!"

"I really miss this planet! I participated in the World Game when I was young. I was only four years old and didn't understand anything. Luckily, a Dean named Noel took me in! Alas, let's not dwell on the past. He's just a damned traitor now! Anyway, the lavender is gone, the windmills are gone. If you want to see the beautiful scenery of Yu Kingdom, just head towards the center!"

"The village that used to be here...?" Su Ming'an asked.

"Village? What village is left? Forty years ago, a group of ability users passed through this place and turned it into a battlefield. They burned, killed, and looted, and now there's nothing left!"

The old lady shook her head and left. Su Ming'an stood there, slowly opened his palm, revealing the lavender preserved flowers he was holding.

He knelt down and slowly buried the preserved lavender flower in the soil.

"...God?"

A surprised voice came from behind.

Su Ming'an turned around and saw an elderly man with white hair, his deep blue eyes filled with astonishment, leaning on a cane.

More than sixty years have passed, and Vinio, who was once a boy, has become an elderly man in his sixties.

Vinio never truly left the village. That year, the village suffered a disaster; he was fortunate enough to be away and escape, but upon returning home, he found both his wife and children dead. He couldn't help but regretfully recall that fleeting glimpse of his youth—if only he had begged the Lord of the Realm to protect this place back then, would they have avoided this calamity?
But on what grounds? What grounds does he have to demand that the Lord of the Realm take care of this place?

But it's just a matter of helping out; it doesn't require much effort, does it? Why not lend him a hand?
Only the agony of midnight struggles continued to torment him. At that moment, he finally understood why the Lord of the Realm walked the world wearing a mask. If one were to become entangled in karma, there would be people like him who, knowing full well that their thoughts were unreasonable, still wanted to make extravagant wishes.

Finally, as the years passed, he grew into an old man, letting go of the loves and hates of his past, leaving only numbness. He remained in this place, tending the graves of his wife and Dandong, occasionally scattering lavender seeds, hoping to recreate his former hometown. The surrounding villages still retained the tradition of discriminating against people with heterochromia, and he always wore a mask.

Under a grey-blue sky, on a scarred land, two masked figures walked slowly side by side. One was old and frail with white hair, the other was as young as ever, radiant as a god.

"Gods," the old man murmured, "tell me, what is the meaning of my life spent staying here, guarding my homeland?"

"..." The young god remained silent.

"Years later, a decade or more later, we will leave this planet. This place is just a void, not our true home planet Zhai Xing. No one will remember it. But I will guard the void of memories, walking and guarding... like guarding a river destined to flow away."

"..."

"Gods, I truly envy you. But I also know that you have it very tough."

"..."

"In your long and vast life, will someone like me leave even the slightest trace of your memory? Actually, when I was little, I really wanted to be a bird, to fly into the sky. But alas, it seems I'm tethered by something, tethered by something..."

"..."

"God, what are you thinking?"

Su Ming'an slowly turned his head and looked at Vinio's deep blue eyes, his golden hair, and his smiling, aged face.

"I'm thinking..." he said softly.
"So this is what you look like when you get old..."

That evening, Su Ming'an attended Vinio's funeral.

The old man lost his wife and children in his life, was discriminated against, and had no relatives or friends. He was like a ghost guarding his doomed hometown.

Su Ming'an buried the preserved flower from sixty years ago in Vinio's arms, erected a small monument, and inscribed it with the words: "This is the hometown that will forever accompany you." As he was about to get up and leave, he saw a timid, small figure standing beside him.

A blond, blue-eyed boy wearing a mask looked up at him.

In a daze, Su Ming'an seemed to see a new cycle of reincarnation.

“I am the adopted child of Grandpa Vinio. My name is Caesar,” the boy said. “He told me to go out, to go out, but I always felt that I couldn’t go out before he passed away. Now, I am free. Can I go with you?”

Su Ming'an had no interest in raising children, but he used the Ming'an System to examine Kelsar, and Kelsar's spiritual brilliance was extremely high.

He immediately took Kelsar back and entrusted him to the Ming'an System for careful instruction. Finally, the long-vacant position of Deputy Realm Lord had a qualified candidate.

Nearly a century has passed, and the top players from back then have been consciously cultivating successors to prevent a generational gap in Zhai Xing's strength after their lifespan ends. Su Ming'an is no exception; Kelsa is the most talented new generation in terms of creation that he has ever seen.

But sometimes, he would still think of Vinio.

Perhaps some are destined to soar to great heights, while others are destined never to fly. If Vinio had possessed the brilliance of Caesar, he wouldn't have ended up this way. And there are countless ordinary people like Vinio in this world who are unwilling to accept their fate.

Therefore, Su Ming'an never dared to indulge in illusions, knowing that he represented a miracle that too many people would never dare to dream of in their lifetime.

"Get ready," Su Ming'an instructed Kelsar.
"Let's finish it."

This is his real plan, which he has kept hidden from the world for a long time.

The moment of final revelation is approaching.

He too... is about to face the ending he had already decided and written.

It was a vast, boundless, beautiful, and azure ocean.

……

[Genesis Era 71: 2118]

Terminal command issued.

The sea level rose.

……