Chapter 162-The Manga Pariah's Guide to Self-Salvation

Ye Zheng took Bai Muqing, wearing Royal Academy uniforms, and entered the Royal Academy in a low-key manner.

"Hey, did you hear? The Crown Prince actually lost..."

"I thought with the Divine Academy withdrawing from the competition this time, our team would win without any suspense."

"What do you mean lost? The official results haven't been announced yet. Don't listen to the wind and rain."

It was just break time at the academy. In less than half a day, the result of the ability competition had already spread into the school. The final winner was actually a contestant from the Middle District. This was undoubtedly a bolt from the blue for the proud students of the Royal Academy.

The Royal Team had the Crown Prince and the Saintess, yet lost to a nobody. Before His Majesty the Emperor personally awarded the champion, no one was willing to believe this result.

Ye Zheng passed through a patch of complaints and wailing, leading Bai Muqing to the Royal Academy's library.

As the most luxurious academy in the Empire, the Royal Academy's library not only had many books but also many collections. Treasures that required spending a fortune to obtain at auctions were displayed casually in glass cabinets in this library for students to study and appreciate.

For example, perfectly preserved monster specimens, mutant plant specimens, and various peculiar minerals from Demonic Domains.

There weren't many people in the exhibition room. It was only lively during the time when freshmen just enrolled. Senior students' sense of novelty for this place had long passed. Moreover, coming to the exhibition room couldn't improve abilities. At most, during campus romances, couples would hide in this large and secluded place to be intimate.

Fortunately, today Ye Zheng didn't encounter any young couples sneaking around in the exhibition room.

She pulled Bai Muqing to a glass cabinet. On the soft cloth of the glass cabinet lay an irregular green crystal, so green and translucent that it could almost reflect a person's face clearly.

A label was attached to the glass cabinet: Core of S-rank Demonic Domain [Spatial Turbulence] — Green Mirror (Part).

Bai Muqing looked ahead, but her hand accurately touched the label below and read, "Spatial Turbulence... is the core power of the Imperial Station."

The Imperial Station was the transportation station connecting the upper district, Middle District, lower district, and every small district. Ye Zheng and Bai Muqing were both very familiar with the Imperial Station. The express train of the Imperial Station could send them to the lower district in just ten minutes; it was their best choice to go to the lower district.

The Imperial Station's superior speed came from the S-rank Demonic Domain [Spatial Turbulence].

This Demonic Domain had no monsters, only jumping and disordered space. A genius ability user used its characteristics to transform it into a station. Its core, named Green Mirror, was stored underground in the Imperial Station.

What was exhibited in the glass cabinet was only a small part of the Green Mirror, and it might not even be the real thing, just a model.

But Ye Zheng hoped it was the real thing.

She took out a small bag. The green fragments were spread out in front of Bai Muqing, refracting white light.

"What is this?" Bai Muqing asked.

She suddenly blinked slowly. "It, and it, emit the same aura."

Bai Muqing pointed to the fragments Ye Zheng brought, then pointed to the green crystal in the glass cabinet, looking puzzled.

Ye Zheng lowered her eyes and curled up the corners of her mouth, appearing a trace of slyness. She guessed right.

She weighed the fragments in her hand and said, "This is a part of Wen Xiaoxing's body."

Bai Muqing reacted quickly. "Wen Xiaoxing was... created using this thing?"

"The Pope Wen Jian, how could he possess such an ability..."

"This is his ability [Mother of All Things], which can create new life on the basis of anything."

Bai Muqing fell silent. So Wen Jian had been using that Middle District welfare institute, no, maybe even more innocent people, to experiment with his ability, turning people into unknown monsters.

Ye Zheng placed the fragment on the glass cabinet. To the naked eye, there was no difference between the two.

Inferring from the characteristics of the Demonic Domain [Spatial Turbulence], its core Green Mirror had the ability to graft space, while Wen Xiaoxing's [Fate Singularity] seemed to infinitely amplify this ability. It could even graft other world lines.

But the world lines [Fate Singularity] could graft were also limited. The System once said the word 'coordinates'. This ability could only reach the neighboring coordinates of the Main World where she was.

The two-dimensional plane world she entered at that time was the limit [Fate Singularity] could reach, the coordinate furthest from the Main World—

Perhaps, it was also the coordinate closest to the high-dimensional world where the readers were.

Ye Zheng couldn't help but pick up a fragment. Under the white light, the green crystal was even more translucent. Ye Zheng saw her own dazed eyes on it.

Very useful stuff, Ye Zheng thought.

It was a pity that its own function was limited. [Fate Singularity] was a masterpiece jointly supported by Wen Jian's [Mother of All Things] and the mysterious power of the high-dimensional world.

On the green mirror surface, Ye Zheng's eyes suddenly widened, like another black bright mirror.

The moment she took the fragment from Wen Xiaoxing's hand, he showed an expression of despair and anger. Perhaps [Fate Singularity] hadn't disappeared; the fragment she held now was the key to activating [Fate Singularity].

"Someone is coming," Bai Muqing suddenly said aloud.

Ye Zheng came back to her senses. She packed the fragments again. After confirming the source of the green fragments, she understood what to do next.

"Accompany me to the Imperial Station again, Muqing."

Generally speaking, an ability of the level of [Fate Singularity] couldn't be activated at will. It was said that the ability user who built the Imperial Station back then also utilized complex designs to make the Demonic Domain [Spatial Turbulence] a facility beneficial to the people.

If she could understand the structure of the Imperial Station, perhaps she could also find a way to utilize [Fate Singularity].

The two left the exhibition room and walked unhurriedly on the tree-lined path. Bai Muqing's pace was on the slow side. Unknowingly, she fell behind Ye Zheng. Ye Zheng stopped and turned her head until Bai Muqing slowly walked to her side.

"You seem to have something on your mind, Muqing."

Bai Muqing pondered for a moment and said, "Ye Zheng, can you prove that those fragments come from Wen Xiaoxing?"

As soon as the voice fell, she quickly added, "I'm not doubting you."

"I think if we can prove this point, plus the evidence I found of Wen Xiaoxing's dealings with the Pope, and the evidence of the Pope and that welfare institute, Wen Jian will receive the judgment he deserves."

Deserved judgment? Ye Zheng looked at Bai Muqing's side profile, spacing out for a moment.

The autumn sun was warm. The soft light shone on Bai Muqing's fair face, yet appeared exceptionally dazzling. Ye Zheng subconsciously blinked her eyes.

Things weren't that simple. Wen Jian had been the Pope for several years after all; the dirty things in private were far more than one. Trying to judge him through normal procedures was a difficult thing. If she, the Saintess, reported and appealed, the high-level officials of the Curia would inevitably lean more towards Wen Jian. And although Bai Muqing's identity carried weight, that weight came from her family. Would the Bai family be willing to provoke the Pope inexplicably?

At this moment, Ye Zheng gazed at Bai Muqing's determined expression. She knew the Bai family wouldn't be willing, but once Bai Muqing chose this path, she wouldn't turn back.

She might really be able to achieve a just judgment.

But now, Ye Zheng wanted to stop Bai Muqing from choosing this path.

Because the key to [Fate Singularity] couldn't be made public as evidence.

"I understand Wen Jian's means. He can control the Curia's court. Moreover, I don't have strong evidence to prove that these fragments are related to Wen Xiaoxing."

Fake. These fragments were once Wen Xiaoxing's eye. When she wrapped white cloth around him to cover the eye socket, she clearly discovered a trace remaining inside.

Ye Zheng returned a helpless smile. "Sorry, I should have paid attention to this at that time."

A trace of disappointment flashed across Bai Muqing's face. "It seems we still have to find stronger evidence."

"By the way, why are we going to the Imperial Station?"

Ye Zheng answered quickly, "Wen Jian very likely stole the core Green Mirror buried under the Imperial Station to create Wen Xiaoxing. We might be able to find evidence."

Bai Muqing's complexion improved. She nodded in approval. Ye Zheng had always been the smartest peer around her; she never doubted this.

She occasionally did some outrageous things, for example, using a fake sword to confuse the Hope God's real sword, silently killing Yin Kong. The final winner of the ability competition that shocked everyone this time might also be related to Ye Zheng. But she knew that Ye Zheng acted out of a firm and noble goal.

Knowing this was enough.

Unknowingly, Bai Muqing quickened her pace and walked side by side with Ye Zheng. She was shorter than Ye Zheng, plus her unique vision, her walking pace was slightly slow.

She sensed it; Ye Zheng's pace seemed to have slowed down a bit too.

Today was the first time they had walked together for so long. Bai Muqing looked up slightly in the sunlight, her white pupils half-closed, and an obvious smile flashed across her always cold face.

Now, they had a common goal. There would still be many days of walking together in the future.

Ye Zheng walked on the inner side of the road. The trees behind the fence scrambled to cast sparse shadows. Light and shadow danced on her face, making even her smile become suspended.

The corner of her eyes always paid attention to Bai Muqing. Although Bai Muqing could use [Divine Domain] to sense large-scale activities, for some subtle activities, her vision appeared not sensitive enough.

Ye Zheng had cooperated with many dangerous people. Not to mention Sierra, Sykes, even the most annoying Wen Jian, at special times she could endure to reach a brief cooperation.

Among numerous cooperative relationships, Bai Muqing was the friendliest and strongest, yet she was the candidate Ye Zheng least wanted to cooperate with.

"Someone from the Bai family works at the Imperial Station. I can ask him to pull up the visitor records to see if there are any suspicious people entering or leaving."

"Okay. But it would be even better if we could enter the place where the core is stored in person."

Ye Zheng sighed with emotion.

Bai Muqing thought for a moment and said, "You are right. Let's try."

Lower District.

"Percy, Wen Xiaoxing should go back to Cloud-Soaring Academy. He is originally a student of the academy, and not our team member. Why should we accept him?"

"Although Lucy isn't as clever as him, this guy, don't you think he is a bit too clever?"

Inside the hotel, Roy pointed at the innocent-looking Wen Xiaoxing, his tone agitated.

Percy pinched the center of his brows with a headache. "Lucy has always been a member of the Cloud-Soaring Squad; this won't change. Wen Xiaoxing is just staying with us temporarily. After all, we are seniors; let's be more tolerant of juniors."

Roy's tone was somewhat sarcastic. "Tolerating and tolerating, the championship is just gone."

Percy was speechless for a moment. He knew Roy had always suspected Wen Xiaoxing. He released the tranquilizer at the wrong time, leading Wu Shu to find an opportunity by a strange combination of circumstances. This point had to make people suspicious.

But Wen Xiaoxing had no reason to help Wu Shu. Wu Shu was not a noble from the upper district and couldn't give him money and power. Moreover, looking at Wen Xiaoxing's attire, his family background should be good, not to the extent of being bought off.

Percy comforted himself. If it weren't for losing the championship, he wouldn't have left alone dejectedly and coincidentally saved that group of innocent workers.

The nice guy Caleb looked at his companions. First, he pulled Roy over and patted his shoulder, then clumsily comforted Wen Xiaoxing verbally. After all, he was their junior; they shouldn't treat him with such a harsh attitude.

However, he didn't expect that Wen Xiaoxing, whose expression was normal originally, suddenly stood up from the chair. As if he had suffered a great grievance, he pointed to his left eye wrapped in white cloth and said:

"For the competition, my eye was hurt like this, yet you still blame me. I don't want to be with you anymore!"

The three members of the Cloud-Soaring Squad were dumbfounded and didn't react at all. They only saw Wen Xiaoxing angrily snatch the door and leave the room. The door was slammed with a loud bang.

Wen Xiaoxing, who ran onto the street, suddenly became gloomy-faced, losing the anger and grievance just now. He rolled his only remaining right eye.

Damn it! Having lost [Fate Singularity], any random golden retriever could bully him now. Did that Roy think he was Sykes?

His left eye was taken away and thrown away by Ye Zheng. Actually, afterwards, he suspected a bit that Ye Zheng secretly kept it, but now wasn't a good time to ask Ye Zheng for the eye. Whenever he thought of Ye Zheng's condescending eyes last night, it was as if the night wind wrapped in coldness enveloped him again.

But Wen Xiaoxing thought for a whole night. He wasn't willing to resign himself to fate. Ye Zheng could kill her way back to the Main World from the layers of malice in [Fate Singularity]; why should he give up?

Today was the nineteenth day of his life. He learned a precious lesson from Ye Zheng, even more precious than what Wen Jian taught him—

Never yielding to fate; this was a virtue as precious as the human spine.

Ye Zheng took away his left eye, then he would create another one for himself. [Fate Singularity] would eventually return to his hands. At that time, Roy, Sykes, Wen Jian, Ye Zheng... all would be controlled by him!

Thinking of this, Wen Xiaoxing's steps became more jubilant.

He was going to the Imperial Station to sneak into that place quietly. There must be a way to awaken [Fate Singularity] again and break the fate ridden over by Ye Zheng!

Author's Note: However, Zheng expressed: Override! (GIF of arm floating and five fingers spreading)

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