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Join the ServerGern nodded firmly, without a moment’s hesitation.
His will, capable of enduring the Heretic God’s corruption for so long, was a testament to its extraordinary strength.
Witnessing Gern’s reaction, a long-lost smile finally graced Snow’s usually impassive face.
Yet, this smile was undeniably stiff, a rigid curve on her lips. It had been so long since she last smiled that she could no longer recall the passage of time.
“Indeed, you possess the qualifications to become a vessel for the Kindling.”
“By the way, Linbao is with you, isn’t she? I can sense her presence.”
“Linbao? Who is that?”
“Hmm…” Snow lowered her head, a hint of vexation in her voice.
“Didn’t Linbao tell you? She’s the Dragon Girl named Karine.”
Only then did Gern realize Snow was referring to the Dragon Kindling within him.
He shook his head, indicating that Karine had not communicated anything to him.
“I see… Ah, then allow me to explain.”
“Hmm… Where should I begin? Let’s start with the secret realms.”
“Mr. Gern, as you must have observed, this place is a phantom image of a world from a thousand years ago.”
“Secret realms are essentially small worlds existing independently. They can be artificially created, or they can form naturally.”
“These miniature worlds can evade the erosion of Chaos power, provided, of course, that they are not discovered by it.”
“This particular realm is a remnant of a war fought a millennium ago. The immense energy fluctuations annihilated the stability of this space, causing it to detach from the main world.”
“I was rather unlucky. At the time, I didn’t even check if it was an artificially created realm before diving in.”
Snow let out a bitter laugh, her smile tinged with weariness and a touch of resignation.
Gern remained silent, allowing Snow to continue her tale.
“Artificially created minor secret realms boast far superior environments and possess a certain resistance against Chaos power.”
“You’ve likely seen Linbao’s small world already, haven’t you? Wasn’t it beautiful?”
Gern’s lips twitched. The memory of that small world remained vividly etched in his mind, even now.
During his time there, he was either being hunted or on the verge of death. How could such experiences not leave a profound impression?
Still, compared to the minor secret realm before them, Linbao’s world was indeed a place of remarkable beauty.
“So, what exactly are you trying to convey?”
“I mean to say that these secret realms, whether artificially crafted or naturally formed, can transport you back to a previous timeline.”
“However, the exact point in time you return to is a matter of luck. Some Kindling might never be able to return at all.”
“We undertake this because Kindling can continually merge and grow stronger. This is an insight we’ve gleaned over countless ages.”
“The very first Kindling wielder conceived the idea of merging all racial Kindling. However, an unknown repulsive force prevented her vision from succeeding.”
“Thus, we were forced to retreat into these secret realms, awaiting the opportune moment when these small worlds would overlap with history.”
“Only by fusing Kindling of the same origin can its power truly grow without end.”
“I no longer know how many Kindling wielders have undergone reincarnation, carrying the Kindling through countless cycles—perhaps thousands, even tens of thousands of times.”
As she spoke, Snow’s eyes sharpened abruptly, her gaze upon Gern filled with profound solemnity.
“Gern, your unique nature confirms the conjectures of my earliest self. I hope you will carry our Kindling and usher in a new era.”
“What will become of you after I fuse with the Kindling?”
“Me?” Snow offered a wistful smile.
“Naturally, I will return to dust. Having lived for so long, it is time for me to finally rest.”
Her expression was one of profound relief, as if she wasn’t facing death, but rather… rebirth.
Gern remained silent. He took a step back, shaking his head slowly.
“At least you are still here…” Gern’s words of refusal were cut short by Snow.
“Life’s grandeur lies in its clear understanding that we are destined to face death. To live too long is hardly a blessing.”
She patted Gern’s shoulder, her eyes utterly devoid of life.
“Mr. Gern, at the very end of my life, may I see Linbao?”
“Hmm? How would you like to see her?”
“Here…” Snow gently tapped Gern’s dantian. Instantly, a dazzling white light enveloped his entire body.
As the light dissipated, a silver-haired young woman with dragon horns protruding from her head appeared before Snow.
Upon seeing the young woman’s face, Snow smiled once more.
This time, her smile was not as rigid as before; a flicker of her original vitality had returned to it.
A single tear traced the smooth, gentle curve of her cheek, falling to the ground and splashing into a tiny pool.
She embraced the young woman’s delicate form, pressing her entire body against Gern.
Gern instinctively tried to struggle, to break free from Snow’s embrace, but then Snow’s murmuring voice reached her ears.
“Linbao… Sister is so tired. Sister just wants to rest for a little while, a very little while. Please don’t push me away, okay?”
Faced with the young woman’s plea, Gern ceased her struggles, sighing helplessly as she allowed Snow to hold her.
“Sister Snow, you’ve been well…” Just then, a voice seemed to resound within Gern’s mind.
The voice was incredibly ethereal. As if Snow had heard it, her smile widened, and her embrace tightened further.
“Linbao…”
As if possessed, Gern opened her mouth and responded.
“I am here…”
“Linbao!”
Linbao…
I am here…
Linbao…
Snow’s voice gradually faded, and specks of starlight slowly dissipated within Gern’s embrace.
Only a red bead, glowing with firelight, remained in her place.
The residual warmth from Snow’s transformed body had yet to fade. Gern stared blankly at the dazzling Kindling, unsure whether she should reach out and take it.
But suddenly, the Kindling flew towards Gern, and before she could react, it had already merged into her body.
“Mr. Gern, this is my gift to you all. Carry our share… and live on.”
Instantly, a scorching aura enveloped Gern’s entire body. The battle qi within her surged, and the loosened bottleneck was instantly shattered by this immense power.
She soared from a Third Order Knight to the first stage of the Fourth Order, and even then, her power threatened to breakthrough further.
Gern was startled. She quickly sat cross-legged, striving to stabilize the rampant power within her.
Even so, she only managed to halt her ascent after reaching the fifth stage of the Fourth Order.
Before Gern could even catch her breath, the Kindling within her body began to riot.
Cold sweat gradually beaded on Gern’s forehead; the power of this Kindling proved far more tumultuous than she had anticipated.
The Dragon Girl Kindling, as if asserting its dominion, launched the first assault against this intruder.
Not to be outdone, the Fox Girl Kindling unleashed a torrent of wild flame power, sweeping through Gern’s entire dantian.
For a moment, she couldn’t suppress it, and a mouthful of fresh blood erupted from her lips.
Fortunately, the Divine King’s blessing still protected her, preventing Gern’s body from being shattered by the two Kindling.
As for the Serpent Kindling, which had not undergone reincarnation, it struggled to survive, caught between the Dragon and Fox powers. Gern even worried it might be shattered by the fierce shockwaves of their conflict.
The powers of ice and fire swirled ceaselessly within her dantian, neither gaining the upper hand as they continuously clashed.
More and more fine sweat slicked Gern’s forehead. She bit her lip tightly, and tears shimmered faintly at the corners of her eyes.
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