Shi Hanfeng’s finger slid lightly across the smooth surface of his Personal Terminal.
A faint blue glow illuminated the sharp lines of his profile.
He brought up the Communication Interface.
Ling Shan’er’s name lay quietly at the top of the list—but then, his entire contact list only had two people.
He tapped his fingertip, quickly editing and sending a text message:
“Miss Ling Shan’er, is it convenient to meet? I have some precious metals and unused Equipment brought from another world that I’d like to trade, and exchange for some things.”
Almost the moment the message was sent, a reply floated onto the screen.
The speed made one suspect the other party spent all twenty-four hours glued to the terminal.
“Of course. Mr. Shi, are you having trouble with Funds? If you urgently need money, I can advance this month’s stipend to you in advance. There’s no need to use precious Destiny Points. Of course, if that’s not enough, I can personally lend you some as well.”
The corner of Shi Hanfeng’s mouth lifted slightly.
He smiled and shook his head.
Do robots also get a salary?
He thought, but quickly dismissed the notion.
“Thank you for your concern.”
His fingers flew across the screen as he typed.
“I’m not acting on a whim. What I’m selling are spoils from the Novice Quest World, useless to keep, so I’d rather exchange them for practical goods. They weren’t exchanged for Destiny Points.”
“Understood. My Office is here. I’ll wait for you.”
Ling Shan’er’s reply was just as fast, without any superfluous emotion.
Following it was a coordinate pointer for a map.
Shi Hanfeng looked at the route marked on the terminal, then stood and headed for her Office.
Not long after, a door slid open silently, revealing a spacious interior.
It didn’t look like an Office—more like a blend of high-tech pawnshop and bank vault.
Cold white light spilled from the ceiling, illuminating several independent transparent compartments arranged along the walls.
Ling Shan’er stood outside one of the compartments.
Her silver-gray uniform was immaculate, her face adorned with that programmatic gentle expression.
“Mr. Shi, this way, please.”
Inside, there was only an alloy table and two chairs.
A complex Scanner was embedded in the tabletop, glowing faint blue.
“Please place the items to be evaluated in the scan area.”
Shi Hanfeng moved his mind.
Ripples spread in the air as if a water surface had been gently touched.
With a crisp metallic clang, a small pile of Gold Coins and Silver Coins appeared on the Scanner, gleaming enticingly.
Next were several pieces of Equipment emitting faint energy fluctuations—loot he’d obtained from treasure chests, now obsolete with better options available.
Time to clear them out.
A scanning beam swept down from above.
Complex figures and identification information flickered rapidly on the screen at the side of the table.
Ling Shan’er’s gaze swept across the screen, then landed on Shi Hanfeng.
A hint of elusive emotion flashed in her eyes, as if a program was recalculating some unexpected variable.
“Assessment complete.”
She quickly reported a string of numbers.
“The total value is 1.85 million in Funds. Shall I transfer it to your Account now?”
“Thank you.”
Shi Hanfeng nodded.
He didn’t pay much attention to the number on the screen.
Still, the sum was enough for his next plan.
“Alright.”
Ling Shan’er nodded.
Her fingers moved skillfully across the built-in interface on the table, as if she had practiced the action countless times.
“Funds have been credited to your Account. Now, what resources do you wish to exchange?”
Shi Hanfeng didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he opened the Resource Exchange List on his Personal Terminal, his gaze scanning quickly across the categories of Building Materials, Prefabricated Building Modules, Survival Supplies, and Crop Seeds.
After reading the Great Annihilation document, his thoughts had shifted considerably.
Overly hiding one’s strength could be self-defeating—sometimes, hiding too long only made you a pig waiting to be slaughtered.
An army marches on its stomach.
Since the authorities dared to record this kind of black history to warn future generations, it also reflected their attitude to some extent.
In that case, revealing things not touching on core secrets wasn’t a problem.
Just as well to use modern conveniences and get the Base set up first.
What’s missing can be scraped from the Novice Quest World later.
“I need a Custom Module for a house that doesn’t require a foundation and can be rapidly deployed, with a basic circulation system.”
He continued.
“In addition, I need a large amount of long-term storage Compressed Food and Clean Drinking Water. And all kinds of common crops—no, better if they’re high-yield, resilient, and fast-growing modified seeds. I want all varieties.”
Ling Shan’er listened quietly, her programmatic expression unchanged, as if she were simply recording an ordinary order.
But Shi Hanfeng could feel a subtle shift in the air.
“Understood. I will plan according to your request. However, as there are many items involved, I will try to keep the price within the amount you just exchanged. Do you agree?”
“I agree.”
Shi Hanfeng nodded.
This was the whole purpose of the exchange.
He didn’t care if the money was spent—this was a necessary investment.
“Alright. The Custom Module will take time to allocate. Estimated completion is ten standard workdays. Food, water, and seeds can be extracted now.”
Shi Hanfeng didn’t hesitate.
He confirmed with a nod.
The next moment, a new prompt appeared on the terminal.
***
It was a small yet vibrant world.
The sky was a gentle milky white, radiating a steady and bright source of light.
Beneath his feet stretched endless grassland, lush and green, the whole expanse like an island wrapped in water.
The outermost waters merged into a hazy white mist at the boundary, the fog forming the limits of this space—sealing away everything, leaving only endless silence.
But peace was only temporary.
He still had more important things to do.
With a thought, the Destiny Echo: Memory Crystal—purchased for 10,000 Destiny Points—appeared in his palm.
It was about the size of a pigeon’s egg, its body a deep, dark blue, as if a galaxy slowly revolved within.
Inside the crystal, countless tiny points of light flickered.
Looking closer, the patterns seemed to shift and flow, making one slightly dizzy after a while.
It felt cold to the touch, yet within the chill was a faint warmth, as if it possessed its own heartbeat.
“Just don’t blow up my head.”
He muttered, self-mockery in his tone.
After all, anything from a Star God was unpredictable.
He lay back on the grass, taking a deep breath, adjusting his body and mind to their best state.
The scent of grass filled him, helping him calm down.
His focus sharpened until the only thing in his vision was the reflection of the blue crystal in his palm—like the whole world had condensed into this tiny gem.
He hesitated no more.
His fingers tightened, and the crystal shattered with a soft sound, dissolving into countless glittering stardust that spiraled like awakened fireflies and merged into his body.
In an instant, a wave of soul-freezing cold swept through his mind.
The scene before his eyes twisted and broke, shattering like a mirror, fragments scattering everywhere.
The landscape vanished, replaced by a boundless white space.
Then, a graceful, gentle voice sounded opposite him—like a spring breeze brushing the strings of a harp, soothing and charming.
“Is this Good-Seen Heaven of Fuli? No, just a piece of unique mental landscape.”
The voice paused slightly, as if sensing something.
Shi Hanfeng looked up.
In the pure white space, particles of light traced lines drawn by an invisible brush, slowly forming a tall figure.
The newcomer wore a simple yet elegant white robe, golden hair cascading smoothly like moonlit water, their features noble and handsome.
A pair of smiling golden eyes held wisdom and serenity.
His posture was unhurried, demeanor refined, as if a noble youth from an ancient house had come to politely greet a new neighbor.
“Hello.”
He nodded slightly, the gesture natural and graceful, imbued with innate elegance.
“By the perception of this time-space, this should be our first formal meeting. I am Rochet. Pleased to meet you.”
“Hello.”
Shi Hanfeng returned the gaze calmly.
He’d already expected this.
Just look at what the recollectors usually did.
Stealing Messenger’s memories and getting locked up, then acting as a confident hand and ending up a plucked OBGYN holy hand.
With employees like that, the stuff their boss left behind was bound to be even worse.
If he didn’t see Rochet, that would’ve felt wrong.
“Is this a space built from the Memory Echo?”
“That’s not quite accurate. It’s just one part forming this space.”
Rochet smiled gently.
The warmth of his expression was like a spring breeze.
“It could be called the space between echoes—a fragment of past memory, briefly materialized by the power of the Star God and your own existence, allowing us to converse.”
His gaze landed on Shi Hanfeng—not probing, but more like observing with interest.
He tilted his head slightly, lips curling into a subtly kind arc.
“You are calmer than I imagined, Mr. Shi Hanfeng. Or perhaps I should say, my current bearer?”
“Call me whatever you like. But let’s skip the pointless small talk. Why not get to the real business?”
Shi Hanfeng spoke bluntly.
He had self-awareness—he was just an ordinary person, and compared to the one before him, he knew he couldn’t win at games.
Best to be direct.
“Are you the complete consciousness of the Rochet template? Or just a remnant memory fragment?”
“Neither, though close enough.”
Rochet nodded approvingly.
“I’m not the complete Rochet. More accurately, I’m a memory formed from the template’s attached information—a Memory Echo of ‘ideas’ and ‘experiences.’ I manifested through your borrowing of Fuli’s power, here to explain the origin and purpose of this power to you.”
He raised a hand elegantly.
A pure white glow danced at his fingertips, like a sprite in motion.
“You may see me as a temporary narrator.”
His gaze seemed to pierce the white space, peering into some of Shi Hanfeng’s past experiences.
Interest flickered in his golden eyes.
“I perceive some interesting fragments. Your actions in that world of suffering and small evils were quite bold. Ah, you even met a beautiful lady.”
He chuckled softly, a laugh both graceful and making Shi Hanfeng feel inexplicably uneasy.
“You seem… quite popular with the ladies? Even after only a few days, you managed to earn a girl’s open affection and trust. That talent matches your appearance well.”
Of all things, Shi Hanfeng never expected that the first serious words out of Rochet’s mouth—who looked so elegant—would be this.
So, you’re a gossip after all.
A strong sense of speechlessness swept over him.
He could even feel the muscles on his face twitching.
This was ten thousand miles away from the philosophical opening about the nature of power and the laws of the world he’d imagined.
Seeming to notice Shi Hanfeng’s emotional turmoil, Otto toned down his teasing a bit.
But the laughter in his deep eyes didn’t disappear entirely.
He nodded lightly, his tone slowing, tinged with nostalgia.
“No more jokes. That golden-haired Nun possessed a strong and pure soul. Even amidst suffering, her eyes still held an untainted light.”
He spoke softly, as if admiring a beautiful painting.
“That look reminds me of an old friend.”
These words dropped like a pebble into Shi Hanfeng’s heart, sending ripples through his emotions.
Rochet’s words seemed to have a guiding effect, instantly bringing a clear image of Aili to Shi Hanfeng’s mind.
Especially her appearance after shedding her nun’s robes, donning action-friendly clothing, and tying her golden hair into a neat ponytail.
Brave, focused, with a naïve yet steadfast temperament.
‘Indeed, she does resemble Yolandelle in her youth.’
The thought surfaced involuntarily.
Although the similarity was only in temperament, after the owner of the face pointed it out, it became especially clear.
“Heh…”
Rochet let out a light laugh, interrupting Shi Hanfeng’s thoughts.
He shook his head, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes—nostalgia, gratitude, and a hint of hidden guilt.
“Resemblance is just resemblance.”
His tone returned to its warm, indifferent calmness.
“They are entirely different beings, walking entirely different destinies.”
His gaze returned to Shi Hanfeng, as if transcending countless time and space, carrying a sense of reflection.
“To me, I am a Rescuer. My life, in the end, was redeemed by one person.”
His voice was soft, yet carried indescribable weight.
“And you…”
He shifted, gaze fixed on Shi Hanfeng with admiration.
“To that Nun, you were the one who reached out when she was about to fall into endless darkness, pulling her back into the light, giving her strength and purpose—the very redemption capable of changing her life.”
“In that sense…”
Rochet—the mastermind who plotted to take down the Star God—now sounded just a little envious.
“…I truly envy you, Lord Shi Hanfeng.”
“Moreover,”
He leaned forward slightly, his tone full of open admiration.
“To finally face a god—even if only a frail Pseudo-God—and wield the flames of destruction… that takes uncommon courage.”
Pseudo-God… Unfortunately, I’m just a weakling who can’t even beat a Pseudo-God.
Unlike you, who aimed to bring down a Star God.
Shi Hanfeng’s lips twitched.
He answered honestly:
“I can’t compare to you. I just happened to dislike that so-called god, happened to have something that could hurt it, and happened… that it wasn’t strong enough. If it had been a Star God, I wouldn’t have stood a chance.”
Rochet smiled quietly at this.
The laughter held the joy of meeting a kindred spirit.
“To dislike it and act upon that feeling is already more than most can do. Prudence is good, but there’s no need to belittle yourself. Though our chosen paths differ outwardly, at their core, we both understand when it’s time to reveal our blades. Don’t you think?”
He bowed slightly again, as graceful as ever.
“Because we are alike, I am willing to guide you on this road. Who knows? Perhaps we’ll meet again.”