To the Ends of the Earth with My Beloved

The Nether Sea shuddered. Excited hissing echoed through every corner. The moment the blockade lifted and the space station opened its doors to the worm, darkness surged and boiled, rushing upward along countless cables without a second thought! Deafening rumbles rang out continuously. "Protective isolation layers one, two, three, and four have been completely destroyed. The fifth isolation layer is collapsing," Isis's reporting voice sounded. "While your standards of naming and morality leave much to be desired, your talent as bait proves to be truly exceptional. Congratulations, sir. The plan's success rate has risen to seventy percent." Ji Jue was puzzled. "Why is there still thirty percent left?" "That depends on how long you can hold out." A hint of playful mockery surfaced in Isis's cold voice. "Though I do not doubt your capability, even among calamity beasts, your guest is notoriously insatiable." She said, "I'm afraid you are going to suffer a little." *Snap!* The sound of fracturing rang out from within Ji Jue's soul. He let out a silent sigh. His soul expanded, fusing into the workshop, controlling the surging quicksilver to repair the fissures rapidly spreading across the workshop's foundation disk. At this moment, between sea and sky amidst raging waves, thunder, and lightning, boundless black snow ascended into the air, pulled by a powerful magnetic field to breach the atmosphere and plunge into the vast void. And between sea and sky, the spires had all been eroded and converted by darkness. Viscous fluid surged, clawing frantically upward against countless cables, burrowing into every nook and cranny of the space station. Disparate forms of spiritus collided. Sovereign Virtue spiritus and corrupted spiritus ground against each other in turbulent agitation, sparks bursting outward. In a daze of energy, the silhouette of a colossal worm seemed to emerge, half-revealed. Hundreds, thousands of slender limbs coiled around the space station. Pitch-black darkness spread. Viscous corrupted spiritus seeped out, boring from the outside in into this plump, succulent empty shell. Across the steel, eerie eyes opened and closed out of nowhere. Amid the flowing quicksilver, metallic glint and fleshy tones alternated in rolling waves. All that could be felt was an all-pervading hunger. Like drool, the corrupted spiritus surged inward with horrifying corrosiveness and assimilative power, pouring into the space station... There could be no better food, no better husk! Not only did it contain a sea of spiritus, but the space station—forged by extracting near-limitless materials—was the perfect embryo and vessel for the Nether Sea Worm. Through the connection of infinite cables, It could hardly wait to take root inside! —Parasitism! Hissing reverberated. The worm sang in ecstatic triumph. Just as it had previously parasitized the mortal realm, it yearned to fuse completely with the entire world and become one with it. Yet, no matter how staggering the worm's mass, the mortal realm was still far too vast, not to mention constrained and hindered by Sovereign Virtue. It could only use it to transform and gestate anew. Now, however, the moment an immaculate husk appeared within its perception, drawn by frenzied instinct, the worm could no longer hold back its hunger. "So enthusiastic," Ji Jue chuckled softly. He maintained the space station's structure while gradually easing the constraints, luring It deeper inward bit by bit, enjoying the sight of that pollution twisting and squeezing its way in. "What's the rush? We've still got plenty of good days ahead of us..." *Boom!* The sixth isolation layer shattered. The workshop's outer perimeter was completely overrun! An endless torrent of darkness swept in with feral fury! "Eighty-one percent," Isis said. "Please hold on." "I know." The liquid in the life-support vat was practically boiling. Aside from massive doses of life-sustaining medicine, pure liquefied spiritus poured rapidly into Ji Jue's soul, only to be squandered away the next instant. The horrifying drain, sufficient to incinerate Ji Jue's soul in an instant, was merely the minor price of piloting this behemoth. At most, it was as simple as reaching out to press a button. Yet even that simple action nearly drained Ji Jue of all his strength. By contrast, Isis—who truly bore the burden of the entire workshop's consumption and vaporized seas of spiritus every second—remained calm and composed. She was born to control all this; right now, she was merely running at full sprint. To her, it was as natural as breathing. "Labyrinth layer activated," she said. "I require your regulation and assistance. Please grit your teeth." "Because what follows might hurt a little." At that instant, a shrill, agonizing scream rose from the innermost core of the space station, so piercing that not even the world-shaking din could drown it out. The moment the outer layer was completely breached, the entire space station unfolded like a lotus. From the pitch-black sea, a tidal surge soared upward, breaking free from gravity's tether to slam squarely into the space station, sweeping in endlessly like an unyielding torrent. And like a black hole, the space station swallowed everything that arrived. Refusing nothing, yielding everything! Nether Sea Project, Phase Five—[Transfer], initiate! Everything was destiny's finest arrangement. Had the worm remained unmoved and unresponsive, no matter how much Ji Jue drained and wore it down with the Nether Sea Project, success would have been nearly impossible. The worm was too complex, and the Nether Sea was far too vast. If It maintained Its parasitism upon the mortal realm, victory would be unattainable. No matter how much blood It lost, so long as a shred of residue remained, it could corrupt and transform again, giving rise to a new worm. Dying only to be reborn, perhaps spawning even more. If one were to knock It out of the cycle and force It to manifest a physical form, it would be difficult to stop Its evolution, metamorphosis, or even Its rampage and escape. The former offered no victory; the latter courted defeat at the final hurdle. Trapped between two dead ends, vexing on both fronts, neither option viable. That was why opportunities had to be created by any means necessary, through tireless rounds of probing and luring, driving It at all costs into a corner where It had no choice but to wait for death. Through continuous bloodletting and disruption, throwing its instincts into disarray, all to await this moment of transfer. Emptying the cage to swap the bird! Just as a certain ancient sage once said: all tactics boil down to a base race! The moment the worm voluntarily pulled its tentacles from the mortal realm and burrowed into the brand-new body Ji Jue had prepared for it, the Nether Sea's corruption ceased to be a threat. Now, Ji Jue's workshop would replace the mortal realm and become the Nether Sea itself! The immense cycle constructed within the workshop, modeled after the Nether Sea's own cycle, would become the worm's new host. If the cold mortal realm does not welcome you, why not come sit in this warm little house? I've prepared roses, candles, and dinner, meticulous service, and a bed as soft as a dream. "Come in, please, make yourself at home." Amid the scorching agony, Ji Jue smiled, feeling the corruption spread within the core. Endless darkness rose and swirled, wrapping around the space station, devouring everything. In the end, the space station high in the sky was completely submerged. The metallic gleam vanished, replaced by the squirming texture of countless masses of flesh crawling across its gargantuan body. As the system broke down and spun entirely out of control, only the tiny vat containing Ji Jue was left bobbing in the darkness. The instant the worm completed its parasitism, even the steel became its flesh. High in the heavens, grotesque wings unfolded one after another from the megastructure. Bizarre eyes surfaced across its entire surface. With the mutation and aberration of its structure, the phantom of the worm manifested from the void. And then... it was thoroughly engulfed by the silvery light rising from the earth! The dancing silvery white enveloped the entire space station like wrapping material, followed by countless crisscrossing cables entangling it. Skillfully packaged, sealed, and bound! *Boom!* The mutated worm struggled wildly, thrashing violently, yet it could not move. At that moment, the numerous circulating spiritus loops within it stalled and halted under the shackles of Solid Alchemy. If he hadn't prepared a little surprise inside this empty husk, why would Ji Jue have gone to all this trouble? Even if, limited by his power, he could only drag its heels at the crucial juncture, even a momentary delay meant it was already too late. Curtains of quicksilver draped, bound, and locked down in rapid succession at unbelievable speed—faster even than the pace of destruction. In the end, not a trace of the space station or the worm remained visible in the sky. There was only a silvery-white cube, vast as a moon, its surface crawling with pitch-black spots that appeared and disappeared, trapped within the cage. The worm howled and thrashed in fury. "What are you waiting for, Isis?" Ji Jue whistled. "I can hardly wait to contribute to humanity's space program." "Understood, sir," Isis replied. "I wish you a pleasant demise." Nether Sea Project, Phase Six: [Exile], engage! The mortal realm roared! Deep beneath the earth, rivers of quicksilver surging through the strata intertwined, manifesting the aura of Sovereign Virtue. Then, countless blessings surged in berserk frenzy, clashing chaotically, detonating and losing control in mutual conflict. The earth rumbled. Entropy, Tianyuan, White Stag, Embers, Vortex... With the shattering of countless blessings, boundless Sovereign Virtue essence soared upward from this polluted sea. Its staggering concentration and volume engulfed and dispelled every abomination, instantly transforming the demonic realm into a sanctuary. Even if only for a fleeting instant, it was enough to manifest the contours of Sovereign Virtue's might. A towering, boundless cubic city; a formless path ascending to heaven; a vortex woven from infinite life; a great furnace raining stars like embers; ever-shifting, violently bursting arcs of lightning... *Boom!* Sovereign Virtue reigns supreme! Nothing needed to be done; there was no longer any need to do anything. The mere repulsion between Sovereign Virtue and Great Sin was enough to raise an unprecedented wave, violently ejecting the unfathomably heavy cube straight out of the mortal realm! Not to mention the countless propulsion engines mounted outside the cage. The pale atmosphere roiled like a furious ocean. Amid the rushing tide, the cubic cage soared toward the boundless void! Countless points of light flickered—thruster adjustments and steering assists. After countless calculations, everything unfolded precisely as the equations dictated, flawless mechanics replaying within this artificial world, propelling Ji Jue and the worm... —straight toward the sun! Inside the containment, darkness rioted, surged, and struggled. Yet it was already too late. In the absolute emptiness of the freezing vacuum, not even matter existed. The moment it painstakingly gnawed through the cubic cage and breached the void, the worm stiffened in the extreme cold. Internally, the surging corrupted spiritus was constrained at every turn under Ji Jue's interference. Even if it wanted to evolve again to adapt to the cosmic vacuum, there was no time. Along their flight trajectory, blinding blasts of fusion bombs detonated in succession like a multi-stage propulsion system, accelerating them to a terrifying speed sufficient to break free of the planetary system. Now, they were a brick propelled to the limit by explosions, flying recklessly toward the eternal sun like a moth metamorphosed from a worm! A moth darting into the flame. The moment its dull, chaotic instinct finally grasped the truth, the worm let out its final screech. Impossible to tell whether it was fear, rage, or a curse. "Don't panic, don't worry. Aren't I right here with you?" Ji Jue smiled nonchalantly. "Entangled for centuries—that makes us practically soulmates through lifetimes. What matters is living and dying together, never to be parted." "..." In the dark, a shimmering illusion of starlight flickered. As if retching. "Though I was already well aware of your predilections, it remains difficult to swallow. If word got out, I'm afraid I would become a shameful laughingstock among workshop spirits." Isis asked with heartfelt earnestness, "May I please kill you?" "Hm?" Ji Jue was mildly startled. "You didn't leave?" He clearly remembered executing the transfer protocol and ejecting Isis before the workshop lost control. "Are you in your right mind?" A scornful retort came. "Without me, who would maintain the core layer and ensure our course? Relying on that so-called passion and bonds of yours?" "I might not feel the passion, but look, aren't the bonds right here?" Ji Jue couldn't help bursting into laughter. "Should I say thank you?" "No need. After all, I've waited centuries for this chance to scrap you with my own hands." Isis remained indifferent, unmoved. "However, shouldn't we say goodbye, sir?" "I don't know." Ji Jue sighed ruefully. "Will you miss me?" Isis spoke no more. Just like that, they silently watched the blazing light in the distance expand rapidly, expanding, expanding further, until it consumed their vision entirely. Gravity seized everything, swallowing it all. The plunge began. Behind the fractured cube, the worm writhed in fury, crawling out of the cage like shedding a shell. When its colossal wings proved useless, it did not hesitate to tear off limbs and rip its own flesh. Through an explosive qualitative leap of corruption, spiritus gushed out like blood as it tried to leap toward the empty cosmos. Alas, it was already too late. Amid the boundless, searing light, a tiny wisp of orange danced and rose, streaming outward like a ribbon to form a magnificent river spanning the void. The solar prominence drifted nimbly, winding around the worm and sweeping clean through. The scourge of the mortal realm was reduced to ash and dust. Vanished without a trace. Lowly and crouched, a worm to the death. Ji Jue opened his eyes. The pain of incineration had lasted only an instant; long before that, he had grown numb. In a mere moment's trance, he was already seated on the sofa in the lounge, hearing the crackle of the fireplace, wrapped in cozy warmth. "Seventy points," Tianlu nodded in critique. "Knowing how to exploit the nature of the worm and the repulsion between Sovereign Virtue and Great Sin—that boldness is indeed remarkable. A pity that, despite a good concept, there was little to write home about in the execution. Too much time wasted, too many resources consumed. Truly lacking in cost-effectiveness." Ji Jue was still immersed in the recent memories and did not respond. After a long while, he suddenly asked, "Have you ever bought groceries?" "Hm?" Tianlu raised an eyebrow. "In your entire life, if you'd ever stepped into a wet market to buy a single stalk of greens, you wouldn't be spouting such pig shit." Ji Jue glanced sideways at him. "Fast, high-quality, fresh, and cheap to boot? The vendor uncle would just tell you: take it or leave it, and piss off if you're not buying. Save the daydreams for your sleep. Don't get in the way of honest business." "Mmm, credit where it's due, you have a point," Tianlu nodded in genuine agreement. "Though usually when I say something like that, plenty of people rush to deliver materials and money to my doorstep, telling me to take my time and do it whenever I'm free. The situation you describe—I've truly never run into it. Ah, a life of hardship is a precious life experience too." "..." The corner of Ji Jue's eye twitched once, then twitched again. His fists tightened. "So, care for another round?" Tianlu smiled. "Your momentum is running hot. Care to keep at it?" "Pass. I'm sick of it." Ji Jue shook his head. "Flailing around inside someone else's blueprint to solve fixed problems is honestly boring. Once is enough. Now that I've beaten the game, there's no need to torture myself with New Game Plus." Tianlu fell silent. That look in his eyes was so familiar. The identical cold detachment and defiance seen in Ye Xian, that rebellious bone refusing to be arranged or controlled, the distaste for manipulation and meddling... All at once, he seemed to understand why his student could get along with him. Tianlu smiled with regret. "Then it seems we stop here," he said. "Given your talent, reaching this level is already commendable." "At this point, why bother with such clumsy reverse psychology?" Ji Jue looked at him. "Do you think that works?" "Doesn't it?" Tianlu looked back curiously, his smile unchanged. Ji Jue did not speak. After a long while. "If you really want to see it, I have another solution and answer for you," Ji Jue sighed softly and gave a mocking smirk. "Simple, rapid, convenient—it fits your requirements to a tee... but I'm afraid you might not like it." *Click!* He pressed the remote. Time reversed, returning to the origin. Only, along with Ji Jue, Isis had also been brought out from the past simulation. "Good morning, sir." The soul within the vessel offered a greeting. "It appears not only did you fail to die completely, but a new round of torment is about to begin, correct?" "Perhaps." Ji Jue shrugged slightly. "Remember what I promised you, Isis?" "Freedom? Or perhaps amusement? Release and clocking off?" The workshop spirit countered, "According to my records, your unbacked promises are like the vows of a fickle lover—countless, yet devoid of any possibility of fulfillment, without exception." "Is that so? What a shame." Ji Jue sighed. "Then let's begin with the very first promise." He took a step back and placed the remote control in his hand atop Isis's vessel. Amid the dead silence, the starlight inside the vessel trembled, almost frozen. Motionless. "I'll leave all of this to you, Isis." Ji Jue spread his hands and smiled as he told her: "From now on, you are free."