It has been a few days since my meeting with Herta. Awakening her spirit roots and handing her the [Two Phase Art] feels like giving a nuclear terrorist even more nuclear bombs. Although I am reassured by her. The actions she took when Irontomb was about to break out earned my trust. At the very least, Herta has an "acceptable" moral compass. Something so rare throughout the cosmos, not to mention within the Genius Society.
I spent my time in leisure, going around the somewhat foreign Earth as well as the colonies placed throughout the solar system. Living space is not a problem despite humanity's exaggerated reproductive rate. The universe never found it a problem because of its vastness. However, I could feel it might face a problem with Earth's humanity.
Most, if not all living beings, possess a certain drawback. The long-lived species of the Xianzhou Alliance, for example, are cursed with Abundance, causing them to be mara-struck in exchange of their long lifespans. They are basically a lite version of the immortal civilization Earth is turning out to be. In this way, their insane numbers are balanced out through that process.
Earth is different. There is always a thirty percent chance of someone possessing spirit roots for cultivation. Three hundred years ago, Mobius and Vill-V increased that probability to fifty percent through the combination of imaginary, quantum, honkai, and immortal cultivation.
Rough estimates place Earth's population at two trillion. That was the result of Qi Refining cultivators' boost in their physical body, exponentially increasing their fertility rate. Mortals also received varying supplements tied to it. These two factors contributed to the heightened population after a mere five hundred years. Out of these, the numbers of cultivators are around a trillion. Though anyone beyond the Foundation Establishment Realm has their fertility rates lowered, it is still an exaggerated amount.
My brief calculations (i.e., divination) showed the Xianzhou Alliance's population to be around a hundred billion at best. Releasing the people within the solar system is bound to create a massive rippling effect throughout the universe.
As for our high-end combat power, twenty-two Void Refinement Realm experts, each capable of using the forbidden technique to touch the threshold of Dao Integration Realm, are enough. There are also Welt Yang and Chen Tianwu at the Nascent Soul Realm, and then the 2,000 Golden Core Realm cultivators following them.
Going through all the changes made me look forward to everyone's future… one that I have personally rewritten. The regrets I have washed away… the tearful resolutions I turned into something much more…
A sense of satisfaction I never felt before welled up inside my chest.
The view from the summit of Mount Tai is reflected from my eyes. There is thick white mist as far as the eyes could see. Beyond that lay the bustling well-organized cities. The presence of flying artifacts and vehicles did not make things harder for others. The lack of the honkai's powerful aftermath, in turn, granted everyone different lives.
Now, all that's left is to tie the knot on Amphoreus' side… and show the universe a romantic ending it has never seen before.
My power…
I can pull it off, no?
…
Of course I could.
Swoosh-!
The sudden appearance of someone halted my thoughts. I turned around and saw it was Bronya. The ordinary office uniform turned into a beautiful ornament with her presence. Her drill-styled long silver hair perfectly matched the sternness coming off from the office uniform. There was also something slightly seductive by the way she moves…
Wait a minute.
That's not right.
Bronya flirts with me through her eyes. She loves seeing my reaction out of it. She never acts like this outside the bedroom. I tried to do a little peek with my divination and received immediate results.
Bronya is busy at her office thrashing someone inside a desktop game.
I have a stinging feeling this is not Griseo. That leaves me with one other suspect. The girl who received Elation's blessing.
Vita.
"How are you?"
Bronya's voice came out of her lips. The slight pause between her words showed a tinge of concern and curiosity.
"If I said it was nothing, would you believe me?"
*****
"Bronya" happened to come across Shi Tian's rare sentimental moments. It was something he kept hidden from others. He is very transparent with his thoughts. His directness was very apparent since the day he came into this world. It was this openness that caused others to fall hard for him, something brought upon their chance to empathize with him.
"Bronya"... Vita only met Shi Tian several times. Each time, he gave the impression of someone very reliable. Someone their civilization did not have. The way she turned out in the end, becoming the detached godly being known as "Sa", showed how unreliable she was as their civilization's last hope.
Shi Tian was also strong, unbelievably so, both in terms of his connection with others and his sheer physical capabilities. He could get others to follow his lead, receiving their undying devotion that follows him through life and death. It was something no ordinary person could pull off, hence Vita became curious.
What kind of man is he in private?
Would he be a loving person? A considerate gentleman? Or someone cute and childish?
Before she got to answer these questions, she was blindsided by what she saw: undying devotion.
Just as others would give their lives for him, he would gladly offer his for theirs. However, Shi Tian also knew how others would react with his disappearance. Thus the conflicted back she saw today.
'Even he can feel powerless at times…'
Vita could not help but marvel at the vastness of the world, and at the same time, the human depth hidden by Shi Tian.
"How are you?"
That was the only question she could think of. It was a genuine question coming from the depths of her heart.
"If I said it was nothing, would you believe me?" He asked back.
"...Maybe I will."
A bright smile appeared on Shi Tian's face. The short laugh that escaped his mouth expressed his real emotions.
'This "Bronya" seems cute too…'