area51novel Chapter 72 As everyone knows, I am a Memory Recruiter
Chapter 72 As everyone knows, I am a Memory Recruiter
The illusory aura completely disappeared into space, and the suffocating high-energy field within the Lin Yuan territory gradually subsided, leaving only the rustling sound of the Jianmu tree branches and leaves unconsciously rubbing against each other, and the low moaning of the distant Void Sea tide.
But another kind of silence, a deeper and more eerie silence, enveloped the center of the battlefield.
Everyone in the Starry Sky Train crew, including the battle-hardened General Jing Yuan, seemed to be frozen in place.
Standing still, all eyes were focused on Qingyuan, who had just stretched and had a relaxed expression on her face, as if she had finished her work.
What happened in those few short minutes was so unimaginable and so mind-blowing that everyone's brains were in a state of mental overload.
A casual flick of the finger that easily crippled the arm of the Great Lord of Annihilation...
An absolute defense, a mysterious white lotus that remains unmoved despite relentless bombardment...
Borrowing from the General God, and the Flowing Color Memory God who reshaped it with a wave of his hand...
And finally, the chillingly cruel "cycle of birth and death" as a form of hospitality...
Every scene pushes the boundaries of their understanding of the word "power".
This was not a battle; it was a one-sided, almost artistic "demonstration," with the presenter displaying an impatience akin to being disturbed during a nap.
The silence lasted for a full ten seconds.
"..."
“…………”
"........."
The silence was first broken by a short, sharp gasp, as if someone had choked.
Then, the gasps turned into increasingly rapid, suppressed breathing, finally bursting into a scream filled with chaotic emotions that pierced the throat:
"Aaaaaaaahh ...
The scream came from March 7th. The girl with light blue hair covered her chest with one hand and pointed at Qingyuan with the other.
Her fingers trembled like reeds in the wind, and her beautiful eyes widened in shock, filled with the realization that her worldview had collapsed.
"This...this is too much—!!!" Her voice trembled, her words incoherent. "It's too brutal! It's too outrageous! It's...too much!!!"
She shook her head violently, as if trying to shake off the recurring image of "birth and death, reincarnation" playing in her mind, then stared intently at Qing Yuan, her voice trembling with sobs and accusation:
"You! You're a doctor!!! You're the onboard physician on our train!!!"
Aren't you usually in charge of rescuing people, treating injuries, and planting flowers and plants?!
At most, I'm just a little stronger, a little faster, and occasionally come up with some weird inventions... But what was that just now?!
Is that what doctors are supposed to do?! What hospital doctor would hold a person (even a supreme ruler of extinction) down on the ground and subject them to rebirth and extinction tens of thousands of times as "entertainment"?!
This is practically the Demon King! The final boss?!
She became more and more excited as she spoke, gesturing wildly: "And you've clearly been slacking off all along!"
When we attacked Schwarz, you ran away; when we attacked Huanlong, you were still sleeping in the lotus flower during the first half of the fight!
The result was this kind of...this kind of...
She racked her brains for a suitable word, and finally managed to come up with, "This kind of unconventional operation!"
What do you expect us, the people who have worked so hard to cooperate, to look like?
Like those idiots who go all out to deal damage in front of the boss room only to find out their teammates are GMs (game administrators) using instant-kill cheats!
Xing, standing to the side, didn't jump up and down with excitement like March 7th, but her face still showed an extremely complex expression.
She glanced at Qingyuan, then at the spot where the illusory divine body had collapsed, and then at the baseball bat in her hand. After a moment of silence, she uttered a soft, murmured sentence:
"...Next time we play cards, can you let me win a few rounds? I'm afraid you'll get so frustrated with losing that you'll give me a taste of 'birth and death' too."
Even the usually calm and taciturn Dan Heng frowned slightly, his gaze shifting between Qing Yuan and Jing Yuan.
He gripped the Cloud-Striking Spear tightly, the cold glint of its tip seemingly dimmed compared to usual, as if all weapons had lost their meaning before some incomprehensible power.
He didn't speak, but his blue eyes were filled with scrutiny and deep questions.
Walter Young pushed up his glasses, revealing a deep gaze behind the lenses.
He had experienced the baptism of the Honkai and witnessed the power of the Herrschers, but the precise control that Qingyuan had just shown over "existence" and "nothingness," and the arbitrary domination of the Jianmu, a cosmic wonder, still exceeded his cognitive framework.
This is not just about sheer power, but also about a kind of control over the underlying rules of the world that is almost like "manipulating" them.
The mystery surrounding Qingyuan's origins in his heart not only remained unsolved, but instead became an even more complicated knot.
All eyes, in a complex mix of emotions, eventually turned to another key figure present—General Jing Yuan of the Divine Strategy Army.
This supreme military commander of the immortal ship Luofu had just personally experienced the entire process from being trapped and on the verge of death to being rescued, and then witnessing the divine lord he summoned being "borrowed," reshaped, and unleashed with unimaginable power.
At this moment, his golden eyes were calm and still, and the usual, unfathomable, lazy smile on his face had also disappeared. He was just quietly watching Qing Yuan, as if he were seeing this person for the first time.
He didn't show his emotions as openly as he did on March 7th, nor did he fall into deep thought like Walter.
The general's silence carries a greater weight, a silence befitting a ruler and strategist.
After a long silence, Jing Yuan finally spoke slowly, his voice steady, revealing neither joy nor anger, but every word seemed to have been carefully considered:
"Miss Qingyuan."
He didn't use a more casual term, but rather the formal word "girl".
"For what happened today, Jingyuan, on behalf of the countless lives of Luofu, thanks you for your help, young lady."
He nodded slightly, his manners impeccable. "If it weren't for your intervention, Miss, Jingyuan would likely have met with misfortune, and the calamity of Huanlong would have been difficult to quell quickly."
First, set the tone and express gratitude; this is basic etiquette for both the general and the beneficiary.
Then, the tone shifted slightly.
"Indeed," Jing Yuan raised his eyes, his gaze falling squarely on Qing Yuan's face, "the skills you just displayed... truly broadened my horizons."
"Controlling the power of the Jianmu tree, wielding the form of a divine lord, and possessing the profound powers that pertain to the essence of 'existence'..."
He paused, seemingly considering his words.
"Forgive Jingyuan for speaking frankly, but such power is rarely heard of, not to mention ordinary practitioners of destiny, even among the envoys of various factions."
The girl claimed to be the physician accompanying the Starry Sky Train and also possessed the blessing of "abundance".
But what he just displayed in his white-haired form was clearly the extremely profound power of 'nothingness' and 'memory', and even... " He looked at the abundant flower in Qingyuan's hair, which had returned to its verdant state but had previously shifted and changed, "...and the faint aura of the 'immortal' dragon descendant.
"Multiple supreme destinies are gathered in one body, and can be used freely and integrated."
Jing Yuan took a light step forward. Although he did not release any pressure, his aura of being in a superior position naturally emanated from him. "Such astonishing abilities... I wonder who you are, young lady? And what is your purpose in coming to Luofu?"
His questions went straight to the heart of the matter, gentle yet unavoidable (or so I guess).
This is not only his personal question, but also a "risk assessment" and "position inquiry" that the Immortal Boat Alliance must conduct regarding this suddenly appearing being with unpredictable power.
All eyes were once again focused on Qingyuan.
Despite Jing Yuan's sharp questioning and the obvious confusion, shock, and even a hint of wariness in her companions' eyes, Qing Yuan's relaxed smile remained unchanged.
She even winked playfully, as if the other person had only asked a trivial question.
"Oh dear, General, why are you so serious?" She waved her hand, her tone as relaxed as if she were discussing what to have for dinner. "It's not that complicated for me."
As I just mentioned, I borrowed your deity for a moment.
"As for why it works that way..." She stroked her chin, as if thinking, then suddenly "had an epiphany," holding up a finger, "Oh! I remember! It's probably because—I'm essentially a 'Memory User'!"
"The one who remembers?" Jing Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Yes, yes!" Qingyuan nodded vigorously and began to make up a story in a serious tone, "They are followers of the 'Memory' Star God Fuli."
You know, right? Those who remember are best at reading, saving, and reproducing 'memories'.
She spread her hands, with a "this makes perfect sense" expression on her face: "What I just did was actually 'read' the 'memory' of the God-King's full-force attack, and then 'reproduced' it."
However, in the process of recreating it, I added a little of my personal "interpretation" and "beautification"—for example, making it look prettier, more concentrated in power, and incidentally borrowing some of the Jianmu's power as "fuel"... Well, that's about it!
She spoke with great enthusiasm, as if sharing a fun little trick.
"As for why it can control the Jianmu tree?" Qingyuan tilted her head, "The Jianmu tree has existed for so long, it has very strong 'memories' of its own!"
I merely "saw" the memory of it being empowered and growing by the God of Abundance, and then "asked" it to cooperate with me a little, following the trajectory of that memory. It's friendly, isn't it?"
"What about the power of 'nothingness'?" Xing interrupted abruptly, her gaze sharp. "The moment the illusionary arm dissipated, and the White Lotus's defense, had nothing to do with 'memory'."
"Well..." Qingyuan blinked, her expression unchanged and her heart unmoved. "When a memory seeker comes into contact with many memories, they will always encounter some memory fragments that are 'about to be forgotten' or 'almost nothingness'."
With more research, one naturally grasps a bit of the essence of "nothingness."
This is similar to how a chef, after cooking for a long time, might also learn a bit about medicinal herbs and their effects—it's about applying knowledge to different situations!
Her explanation, while seemingly connected to the identity of the "Memory Registrar" in every sentence, sounded strongly like a deception when put together.
In particular, the explanation that casually attributes the manipulation of Jianmu and the control of multiple destinies to "reading memories" and "personal beautification" is extremely perfunctory.
Jing Yuan listened quietly, his face expressionless, neither expressing belief nor directly questioning.
He simply looked deeply at Qing Yuan with his golden eyes, which seemed to see through people's hearts, and then suddenly smiled.
The smile returned to his face, languid and gentle, as if the sharp questioning from before had never happened.
"I see." Jing Yuan nodded, his tone returning to its usual casualness. "The Way of the 'Rememberer' is indeed profound and extraordinary. Today has truly broadened my horizons."
He didn't ask any further questions.
It wasn't that he believed this flawed excuse, but rather that as a general of the Divine Strategy Army, he knew how to assess the situation and knew when to advance and when to retreat.
The "Blue Kite Girl" in front of us is clearly unwilling to reveal her true background, but so far, she has shown goodwill towards the Fairy Boat and the train crew (although her methods are horrifying).
Forcing questions will not only fail to uncover the truth, but may also push potential allies to the opposite side.
It would be better to go with the flow, maintain superficial harmony, and observe from the shadows.
The Immortal Ship's intelligence network would naturally verify information related to the "Memory Recipient." He himself would also have more time to assess the true intentions of this mysterious being.
"However," Jing Yuan changed the subject, a hint of mischief in his smile, "Qing Yuan's way of 'entertaining' guests is indeed... unique."
If we have any distinguished guests next time, perhaps we could discuss a more...gentle welcome ceremony?
Upon hearing this, Qingyuan laughed heartily and patted Jingyuan on the shoulder (a gesture that made the Cloud Cavalry guards beside her twitch): "Of course, of course! Next time, I'll try to serve you only lotus-infused tea and avoid all the formalities!"
A potentially tense confrontation was abruptly averted with Qingyuan's joking excuse about being a "rememberer" and Jingyuan's tacit approval.
But everyone knows in their hearts that some questions, once planted, will not easily disappear.
The heavy fog surrounding Qingyuan was only temporarily concealed today, not dispelled.
"Alright," Jing Yuan turned around, facing the train crew, regaining his commanding presence, "Although Huanlong has retreated, the hidden dangers of Jianmu have not been eliminated, and Luofu is in dire need of reconstruction."
Further details require further discussion. You have all had a long day; please return to your lodgings and rest. We will discuss this again tomorrow.
His gaze swept over Qingyuan, his expression meaningful.
"Especially Miss Qingyuan... entertaining guests must have taken a lot of effort, so she should rest well."
Qingyuan nodded with a smile, seemingly oblivious to the deeper meaning in his words: "General is right, I should go back and catch up on my sleep. That last bit was quite tiring!"
As she spoke, she even yawned in a mock manner, squeezing out a few sleepy tears from the corner of her eye.
Under the guidance of the personnel arranged by Jing Yuan, the train crew began to leave Lin Yuan Realm. March 7th was still muttering to himself, Xing looked thoughtfully at Qing Yuan's back, Dan Heng followed silently, and Walter Yang looked solemn.
Qingyuan walked in the middle of the group, feeling Jingyuan's ever-present and inquisitive gaze behind her, and a faint smile appeared on her lips, unnoticed by anyone.
"The excuse of 'remembering' should last for a while, right?"
She looked up at the simulated starry sky on the artificial canopy of Luofu.
"After all, real 'memories' are far more complex, and... far more interesting, than they imagine."
As for the truth about the "transmigrator," and the enormous potential that the "setting document" bestowed upon her, which even she herself was still exploring, let it continue to slumber under the temporary mask of the "Memory Recipient."