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Chapter 1645 The Endgame Part 4: "OE: The Guiding Lighthouse in the Universe (1)"

If this world were a boundless plain, and we sailed eastward, we could forever reach a new East.

—Herman Melville, Moby-Dick

……

The night before the Lord of the Realm was to be executed.

In the pitch-black room, a single candle flickered. Vice Lord Kellsar stepped into the darkness and gazed toward its end.

He saw the Lord of the Realm curled up in a large chair, the bitter fragrance lingering in the air. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows behind Him, the bustling city traffic flowed by, the night enveloping Him like velvet. His eyes were closed, as if he were deep in thought.

It was 2118. The "Creation Project" was in full swing. Humanity firmly believed that, according to Su Ming'an, as long as people wrote 100,000 beautiful world lines, they could break the barrier of Pearl Star and allow the two planets to successfully merge. However, those in the know understood that this plan was nothing but nonsense. How could the barrier of an advanced civilization be broken so easily by writing? If that were the case, the previous Echoes wouldn't have had to go through so much trouble.

So, for over seventy years, was Su Ming'an merely trying to deceive humanity and give all of humanity a false hope?
Vice Realm Lord Kelsar held a candle, gazing at the figure huddled in the depths of the night, and murmured, "Realm Lord, we can no longer find another habitable planet, nor can we break through the civilization barrier of the Lost Pearl Star. We can't get in. What should we do?"

"You'll know when that day comes," came Su Ming'an's slightly cold voice from the darkness.

He rarely smiled or showed any expression; his voice was always quiet and slightly cold, as if he had long since become a qualified deity.

Which day?

"The day I reveal that this plan is a lie, the day people see me as a sinner who deceived the world, the day Lu Shu goes up the mountain to kill me."

"Are you trying to... incite people's negative emotions, to call yourself an evil dragon, and to emulate the Holy Revelation? But even so, it is impossible to break through the barrier of civilization."

“That’s just an extra.” Su Ming’an suddenly looked at him and then said, “Karlsar, you still have a chance to escape.”

Kael'thas understood that if Su Ming'an were to reveal the truth that day, humanity's wrath would surely extend to him. He lowered his head, his blue eyes burning like fire in the darkness, and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect:

“Five years ago, you adopted me and nurtured me with great care, raising me from an ordinary village boy to the position of deputy world lord. At that time, I knew that I was a target, a target to divert attention from your true confidant, Lü Shu. With me in the open, he could safely hide. I have received the glory you bestowed upon me, and naturally I will bear the responsibility. I will not run away, not even to my death.”

Su Ming'an's eyelashes trembled.

At this point, his emotions have become extremely volatile, but the words of the seemingly insignificant person before him still move him deeply.

"Gods." The young man raised his head and gently opened his arms.

"I really liked what Grandpa Vinio, who adopted me, said—"

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

"【We're about to leave this planet. This is just a void, not our true home planet, Zhai Xing. No one remembers us. Yet I guard this void of memories, walking and guarding... like guarding a river destined to flow away.】"

"[Actually, when I was little, I really wanted to be a bird and fly into the sky. Unfortunately, it seems like I was tied down by something, tied down by something...]"

"Grandpa Vinio thought about it his whole life, but he never understood what was holding him back. Maybe I'm a little smarter than Grandpa, I figured it out a long time ago."

The young man slightly raised his head, revealing a childlike, innocent smile:
"...It's love."

Love.

Humans fought for it relentlessly, and gods were condemned to eternal damnation for it.

In the darkness, the god opened his eyes.

Like a riot of rosy clouds, like a mighty wind, when those eyes looked over, the mayfly seemed to see countless rainbows. In an instant, the pale walls seemed to be covered with golden daisies.

Caesar never approached this god; His heart was like a frozen universe, accessible only to the first humans, leaving only silence for those who came after.

What role would I play in the eyes of this deity? A fleeting, insignificant figure? A speck of dust willingly facing death? A footnote that only appears briefly?
Compared to that vast future, I am just an insignificant little character, a smokescreen to protect Lu Shu. How can a mayfly enter the heart of a god?
Was He ever just a passionate young man yearning to be a hero, like himself? What froze His passion, and what shaped Him? When His ideal is realized, when He fully reveals the secrets of His plan—on that day, will He reveal a smile as pure and beautiful as a camellia?

It's a pity I won't be able to see it.

To eat the king's food and serve the king faithfully is all that matters.

……

On December 31, 2118, Realm Lord Su Ming'an revealed that the "Creation Project" was a lie—humanity was destined to be unable to break through the barrier of the Lost Pearl Star, and the hopes that humanity had carried for seventy years were wrong from the very beginning. They could no longer find another planet and were destined to gradually perish under the pursuit of higher dimensions and the depletion of resources.

Humanity descended into chaos and rage, turning its anger towards the arrogant and ruthless gods.

At this moment, Bei Wang and Lü Shu stepped forward.

……

[In the scene, Lü Shu's eyes were lifeless as he said in a deep voice, "I think you've all heard of a name—Bei Wang. For the past hundred years, he has dedicated himself to recording information about extraterrestrial objects, and has already touched upon the realm of higher dimensions, even possessing a small world. If we want to reverse Earth's fate of being swallowed by the Lost Pearl Star, we can leave Earth, go to Bei Wang's small world, and abandon this doomed shipwreck!"]

……

In an instant, extreme despair turned into extreme hope, and everyone clung tightly to the last straw—as long as they could slay the World Tree, which was the manifestation of the gods, and use the gods' flesh and blood to nourish the small world to the north, humanity could board this final Noah's Ark.

Hasn't He already decayed? His humanity has been worn away over the long years, which is to be expected. They are grateful for everything He has done, but when He becomes an obstacle to civilization, the choice is obvious.

Godslaying is imminent.

In the highest-level office of the World Hub, the blond-haired, blue-eyed Kelsel sat behind a large desk, a leather-bound diary open before him. His pen moved fluently, leaving behind the last few lines of clear and neat handwriting:

[New Era Records, Morning of December 31, 2118]

Everything is proceeding according to the Realm Lord's plan.

Today, Lord Su Ming'an, the Realm Lord, declared to the world that the "Creation Project" was a lie, and at dawn, he fell into slumber.

The world's anger and despair were all part of the plan, without any omissions.

[In accordance with the Emergency Regulations and the prior authorization of the Lord of the Realm, His Excellency Lü Shu, His Excellency Bei Wang, and the Emergency Committee of the United Government shall temporarily assume command of the Civilization.]

[We will proceed with the next step of the plan in accordance with the previous arrangements made by the Realm Lord.]

[I have fulfilled my personal responsibilities.]

May civilization...progress.

……

The pen nib paused slightly over the word "forward," and Kelsa closed his diary, slowly tightened the pen cap, and placed it aside, his movements meticulous, as if this were just one of countless ordinary tasks.

He was then calmly taken away and imprisoned.

On the morning of December 31, 2118, under the watchful eyes of the world, the second, Lü Shu, ascended the sacred mountain, and the god fell at Lü Shu's sword.

This scene is heartbreaking; they once held this deity in the highest esteem.

People sighed, for now that the gods were dead, they awaited the opening of the small world they looked north to—

However, this is only the second lie.

……

"Su Ming'an, you know perfectly well that the barrier is impenetrable, yet you still want people to enter the small world of Beiwang?"

"No, that's a lie too. The little world to the north isn't big enough for everyone to enter."

"One lie after another, what are you trying to do?"

"I can't tell you the truth, I'm afraid someone will overhear. Just do as I say, don't ask why, okay? At the right time, deliver the right blow."

"...You're so cruel, Su Ming'an."

【"Feel sorry."】

"...Okay, if this is your wish, I will make your dream come true."

……

—The gods of Cloud City raised their heads.

Beneath the overwhelming brilliance of god-slaying—under the lenses of the entire world—beneath the fallen, ancient tree, He revealed the second truth.

The small world to the north, even with the support of the World Tree, is not large enough to accommodate everyone.

This is still a lie.

He ruthlessly smothered hope, telling people that no matter which path they took, it was ultimately a dead end.

It was as if people were destined to perish.

It's as if those in power are merely manipulating the emotions of all humanity, draining their feelings, and sending them from heaven to hell and back again.

Since the barrier is impossible to break, and the small world to the north cannot contain humanity, is humanity destined for extinction? Why deceive them repeatedly?
Just as people were in a state of anger and despair—they suddenly discovered that the world had changed.

……

"What's going on..." A geologist, drowsy from staying up all night, picked up his coffee cup, about to take a sip, when he noticed that the coffee in the cup was inexplicably tilted to one side, as if gravity had gone out of balance.

At the same moment, at an observatory in China, a technician routinely glanced at a star chart and discovered that two planets were approaching each other.

"Merged, fused together...?" The technician's legs trembled with shock, unable to tell whether he was confused or overjoyed.

—At the moment of the god's death, the two planets began to merge successfully, and the small world ignored the once insurmountable barrier of the Lost Pearl Star.

The news spread like wildfire within the academic community, igniting a global online frenzy. The academic world was in an uproar, as no theory could explain why the "power of creation" could possibly break through that barrier of civilization.

"why is that!?"

"It's clearly a lie told by the gods, so why...?"

"Why did the two planets successfully merge as soon as the god died? How can this principle be explained?"

People were confused and bewildered.

So, what exactly is that "civilization barrier" of the lost planet that has blocked humanity for seventy years? If it is an indestructible wall, why does it only allow a few hundred thousand people to enter? If it is not an indestructible wall, why can it prevent seven billion lives from entering? What role do Su Ming'an's plan, the 100,000 timelines, and the seemingly absurd "power of creation" play here?
In the midst of the stalemate, countless people racked their brains, but it was the most innocent child who unintentionally uncovered the truth.

In the eastern part of China, the white-haired Yang Changxu is teaching his great-grandson to read. The four- or five-year-old boy stares at the new word "mirror" on the tablet, babbling the pinyin. The tablet displays pictures of various mirrors: dressing mirrors, rearview mirrors, funhouse mirrors…

At this moment, the television was broadcasting live, and the "Barrier of the Lost Pearl Civilization," which had troubled humanity for generations, was marked. Experts were fiercely debating why the small world had suddenly succeeded in ignoring the barrier of the Lost Pearl.

Little Yang raised his face, his innocent gaze fixed on the "barrier" on the screen. In his childlike mind, unburdened by preconceived notions, a simple association formed. He tugged at his mother's sleeve and uttered a startling statement:
"Mom, look at that shiny circle...it looks like a huge mirror!"

Children's words are innocent, yet they are like a startling bolt of lightning.

The child smiled sweetly, but everyone else was struck dumb.

"Mirror... mirror!?" The white-haired Yang Changxu was stunned. He straightened his hunched back. He was too old and his mind was dizzy, but at this moment, it was as if a lightning bolt had struck him.

At first, he just thought the child was naive, but when Yang Changxu looked at the "barrier" on the star map, a crazy idea struck him.

He jumped up suddenly, his eyes bloodshot:
"The mirror...that's it!"

……

—What if, from the beginning, the essence of the "world barrier" was not a "wall" that blocked everything, but a "mirror"?

……

In the common perception of humankind, the "world barrier" is a wall, indestructible and airtight, which can firmly keep the flow of supernatural forces outside civilization.

However, once a new idea emerges, it can no longer be ignored. At the same time, the demise of the Realm Lord also subtly connects to this speculation.

The news was quickly relayed to the newly established World Integration Research Headquarters. People began to re-examine the question: why were hundreds of thousands of "pioneers" able to successfully cross the barrier and reach the Lost Pearl Star to begin infrastructure development in the early days, while the seven billion people who later mobilized the entire world's resources were blocked from entering?

Theoretical physicists began to wildly reason along the lines of the "mirror"—what if it wasn't a material barrier in the traditional sense, but rather a layer of rules on a cosmic scale? What if it wasn't "blocking" the Zhai Xing people, but instead "reflecting" back the Zhai Xing people's attempt to reach the Lost Pearl Star, along with the differences carried by humanity, intact?
—What if it's "reflection" instead of "blocking"?
What if what humanity has been trying to "break" is actually a projection of its own perception?
Su Ming'an's "Creation Project" has 100,000 world lines, which are using countless possible "world settings" to wash away, cover up, or "persuade" this mirror so that it no longer reflects all aspects of humanity, but tends to be consistent, until it is allowed to pass!

"The Creation Project is not a nonsensical plan, nor is it some outrageous method that can 'break through the barriers of advanced civilizations with a few casual strokes'..." A sense of shock and awe suddenly welled up in Yang Changxu's heart. It was awe for Su Ming'an, who realized from the very beginning that this was the best plan. "This is completely effective... the best special attack against the essence of the barrier!"

……

"--I see."

Seventy years ago, during an inspection, Su Lin approached the surface of the Lost Pearl Star and discerned the true nature of the barrier. His golden eyes flashed with understanding, and he suddenly smiled, finding it amusing.

“Really? It’s not a ‘wall,’ it’s more like a ‘mirror.’” Su Ming’an touched the halo on the surface of the Lost Pearl Star.

"What do you plan to do?" Su Lin asked.

Su Ming'an's eyes flashed with thought, and he said softly, "This barrier is essentially an information filter. When a small group tries to cross it, they are like individual particles that can successfully reach the other side—that's why our hundreds of thousands of explorers were able to enter successfully before."

"However, when seven billion people, with a unified, strong, colonization-oriented collective consciousness, focused like a powerful searchlight on the crack, the collective deterministic observation caused a collapse. They became a definite macroscopic object. This object was reflected back by the 'mirror' of the universe."

Su Lin crossed her arms and said, "You seem to know a lot about this stuff."

I don't like your barbed words.

“That’s a compliment.” Su Lin looked ahead. “So, how should we deal with this barrier? Since its essence is a mirror, we can’t just break it.”

Su Ming'an pursed his lips, seemingly deep in thought: "Su Lin, what do you think is the best way for us to pass through a [mirror]?"

In the silent universe, the stars glitter, and all things are still.

Su Lin closed his eyes, then opened them a moment later:

"—Go look in this mirror."

It's not about breaking, but about illuminating.

When a person looks into a mirror, their image will be reflected in the mirror.

Their silhouettes, silhouetted against the slowly rotating, vibrant planet, appeared like frost and snow beneath a rainbow, blurry and distant. Gazing at the vast sea of ​​stars, Su Ming'an conceived a foolproof plan:
"...In the next century, I will launch a 'Creation Project' to select 100,000 creators and write 100,000 world lines. This is not to accumulate energy to 'smash' this mirror, but to write its reflection."

"Based on the information I've accumulated in Rovassa—the theory of light and darkness—life's reality (dark side) and illusion (light side) are like two sides of a coin, and a mirror is the boundary connecting the light and dark sides."

"What the creators need to do is to continuously write countless beautiful, hopeful 'possibilities' about the merging of the two stars into the mirror, eventually forming a clear 'reflection' beneath the lake's surface (the smooth side)."

"When enough 'reflections' are solidified on the light surface, cause and effect are reversed—it is not that the Zhai Xing people had to make a difficult journey before the fusion of the Yizhu Xing; rather, the reality that 'the Zhai Xing people exist inside the mirror' is defined first, and the outside of the mirror has to respond accordingly to conform to this 'effect' that has already been written."

They don't go to look in the mirror and project themselves into it.

Instead, the "reflection" is first written into the mirror through the crack, reversing cause and effect, so that the mirror reflects them from outside the mirror.

"The only way to get someone into the mirror is..." Su Ming'an smiled, as if he had finally solved a long-standing puzzle, "First, let our image be reflected in the mirror, and then the logic of us looking in the mirror will inevitably exist outside the mirror."

"In this way, we will no longer be rejected by this civilization."

The two worlds did not physically collide and break apart, but rather merged into an inseparable whole.

The 100,000 world lines written by humans... When the reflection of the light surface is optimized to perfection, this optimization is also reflected back to the Zhai Xingren themselves.

……

—They, like words of magic, wrote down "themselves" on the other side, and at the same time reshaped "their true selves" on this side.

……