"What an exquisite creation! This face, changing with its mood, is like roses blooming in sequence amidst the morning dew.
If Idrylla, the Aeon of Beauty, were to see such a being, she would surely pause for this fleeting art."
Is it really that exaggerated?
Bai Luan glanced at the jack-o'-lantern pumpkin, whose face was practically splitting from smiling due to the praise.
The characteristic of a jack-o'-lantern pumpkin is that it smiles when you praise it and cries when you scare it, capable of changing expressions based on emotions.
Hmm... if it met a Knights of Beauty, it would really have to smile until its face split.
A Knight beauty could stand there and be praised for half an hour.
Hiss... if he went up to say hello, would Argenti also hard-control him for half an hour?
Bai Luan began to hesitate whether to greet Argenti.
Just as he was hesitating, Argenti turned first and looked at Bai Luan.
"This encounter with beauty continues once more. May the light of Idrylla forever illuminate your journey, Mr. Bai Luan."
Argenti bowed, his hand over his chest, his voice as melodious as a harp.
"Even the sound of your footsteps carries the rhythm of blooming roses. Please forgive my sudden visit. I am Argenti, the Knights of Beauty.
I humbly offer my greetings to you, with the weighty significance of a single rose."
Bai Luan wasn't surprised that Argenti knew his name, after all, he had left a laboratory on Hippolyta, which contained introductions to this planet.
"It seems you've visited the laboratory I left behind."
"Indeed, I was fortunate enough to visit your laboratory, and within it, I was able to listen to the silent past of this planet.
Allow me to pay my respects to you — what you sowed were not merely plants, but the aesthetics of hope that transcend barrenness."
"It's not that exaggerated. I merely planted some seeds on this planet."
"Your humility, deeply hidden beneath your achievements, is like silent starlight; its gentle radiance is an example that all are drawn to and strive to emulate."
"Can we talk about something else?"
"Of course, no problem."
Argenti readily agreed.
Great, now he could talk about things other than praising himself.
He was quite curious why Argenti had come to this planet.
"I have read about your past. You bear the starlike brilliance of the Genius Society, yet your heart holds the earthy warmth for all beings, and an ineffable reverence for life itself.
This fervent love for life, like sunlight passing through a prism, refracts into myriad captivating colors across all three of your Star Network accounts..."
"Stop, stop, stop..."
Bai Luan couldn't take it anymore, he interrupted Argenti and said:
"Can I choose a topic to talk about?"
Argenti nodded with a smile.
"How did you discover this planet?"
"I journeyed through predetermined routes in my spaceship, yet the Star map never revealed the richness of this place.
It was an unnamed calling that drew me to land here.
Now, I am sincerely grateful for this mysterious guidance; it not only allowed me to witness this poem beyond barrenness, but more honorably, to behold you, who wove such beauty."
So he just passed by?
He truly lives up to his reputation as a cosmic wanderer.
However, being the first visitor to this planet was quite memorable.
"You're the first person to visit this planet after I planted the seeds and they bloomed. Could we take a photo together as a memento?"
"Of course, I am deeply honored."
Bai Luan took out his phone and found a suitable spot for a selfie.
Argenti cooperated, smiling at the camera and even making a V-sign with his hand.
Bai Luan looked at the photo he took and nodded with satisfaction.
"With the first, there will soon be the next. This planet will slowly become lively."
"Indeed, even as a Genius, you maintain an affinity for others."
"Hmm... after all, I'm just an ordinary person."
"Please allow me to correct your wording. You are as kind as an ordinary person, but you are not an ordinary person.
Neither your three accounts nor your actions are things an ordinary person could achieve."
"Actually, whether it's Songblight or BL, these works were all brought by me from another world. I am not the author of these works."
"Is that so?"
"It is. I tell everyone that."
"I believe you."
Bai Luan was stunned.
Finally... finally someone believed his truth.
It was too difficult, truly too difficult.
After being in this world for so long, this was the first time he met someone who was willing to believe him on this matter.
I must praise you immensely, Knights of Beauty!
"So, now that you know the truth, what do you think?"
"I think you are very honest."
"That's it? I thought you'd be disillusioned."
"I believe that even if you are not the creator of these works, you must have poured your heart into them."
Argenti's voice was gentle and firm.
"Only you in this world could bring them here, and you love these works as much as your fans do. I would never ridicule someone who is happy to share beauty."
"So that's what you think. As expected of a Knights of Beauty."
Bai Luan put away his phone and looked at Argenti.
He wanted to ask Argenti about something.
This matter had actually been dwelling in his heart for a long time; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was his greatest fear.
Bai Luan had always been concerned: could a Genius, disguised through the Little Black Room, truly be considered a Genius?
If others knew he only barely managed to masquerade as a Genius through the Little Black Room, what would they think?
After leaving the Little Black Room, would he be useless?
If he told others about these things, they wouldn't believe him at all, so Bai Luan didn't know how people would view him.
And now, someone who would believe him stood right in front of him.
Perhaps this was his only chance to ask in this lifetime.
But Bai Luan couldn't directly reveal the existence of the Little Black Room. He pondered for a moment and decided to inquire about it indirectly.
"Actually, I... can't truly be considered a Genius."
Argenti fell silent for a moment upon hearing this, then asked:
"Are you saying... that you, as someone who acts like a Genius and does things like a Genius, are not actually a Genius?"
"..."
Why does that sound like my left brain attacking my right brain? "Hmm... how should I put it, it's a bit complex. You could understand it as me becoming a Genius by relying on external means."
"I don't quite understand. What do you mean by external means? Could you describe it in more detail?"
"You can understand it as me being able to stop time, and in the world where time is stopped, I can move freely and learn the knowledge I need.
This is a kind of last-minute cramming, the difference being that others won't notice, and I remember it very well, as if I had known it for a long time.
All along, I've relied on this to become a Genius in the eyes of others."
Argenti listened carefully, then nodded and said:
"I see... I understand."
He looked at Bai Luan and asked:
"Could you answer a few questions for me?"
"Yes."
"Will your so-called external means suddenly disappear in the future?"
The system shouldn't let its papers run away, so... "No."
"After you became a Genius, were all the things you did truly what you wanted to do?"
"Yes."
"Did you put in effort and sweat for everything you did?"
"...A lot, a lot."
Only on this point was he full of confidence.
"Then, I stand by my judgment: you are a Genius, Mr. Bai Luan.
Your so-called 'external means' are not external at all, but an extremely rare talent.
Perhaps you feel that you've only gotten to where you are today purely through talent, but in my opinion, very few people can fully utilize their talents.
And from your answers, it's clear that achieving all of this was not easy."
Argenti gazed solemnly into his eyes:
"Therefore, I believe that in both character and deeds, you are worthy of the name Genius."
"I see..."
Bai Luan smiled with relief.
"It seems I should also stop my internal struggle and truly regard myself as a Genius. Thank you, Argenti, your words have helped me a lot."
"It's my duty."
"From now on, we're brothers from different mothers!"
Argenti was startled at first, then couldn't help but laugh.
The Knights of Beauty was the first to laugh out loud,
followed by the Genius,
and the laughter of a Knights of Beauty and a Genius simultaneously echoed on Herta Space Station.
A/N: This is the author who was originally very happy to have an early morning class canceled, but was immediately informed that the free time would be used for a make-up class, falling into despair, and then felt completely unwell after seeing the Thousand Stars Journey PV.
Many book friends @ me asking for my thoughts, so I'll talk about my view on this PV.
I knew they'd save something big, but I didn't expect them to save something *this* big.
First of all, Ms. Herta's greatness needs no elaboration; she sacrificed herself for the entire universe, what more can be said?
I can only say it's good that it's an 'if' line. If it weren't an 'if' line... it wouldn't matter. Bai Luan and Ark would fiercely elbow the Irontomb and Nous to death, then rescue Ms. Herta.
If there's no way to save her, then Bai Luan would enter the Little Black Room to study how to manipulate time to save Herta.
Secondly, I was right; the decision not to interfere with the main storyline was absolutely correct.
The train merely changing stations can cause such a huge mess. I can't imagine how big of a mess a transmigrator, acting without thinking, would stir up.
I always thought Elio had high value, and this can be considered official confirmation.
If I see any more comments telling Bai Luan to go against Elio, I'll just slap this PV in their face.
Now let's talk about what everyone is truly concerned about.
Ms. Herta in this book will definitely not be in trouble, after all, Bai Luan is keeping an eye on her. If he finds something wrong, he will immediately pull out Ark to elbow Nous and the Irontomb
Let's just say, for argument's sake,
Ms. Herta really gets into trouble.
Although writing it this way would make Bai Luan completely out of character – he's the kind of person who, knowing something bad will happen, prepares meticulously to ensure everyone is safe.
Refer to the Defense Department, which Bai Luan armed to the teeth to the point where it could elbow the Antimatter Legion.
But let's assume, ignoring this point, and forcibly putting Bai Luan in such a situation. (I feel that according to my settings, if I write this, Bai Luan would try to elbow me.)
The moment Bai Luan receives the news, the Hunt and Destruction would immediately glance at Bai Luan.
Then the Irontomb would face Ark, who has gathered the six Paths of Nihility, Elation, Abundance, Destruction, Nous, and Hunt.
Jingliu, upon ascending to a High-Cloud General, only had the power of four Paths—Hunt, Abundance, Propagation, and Destruction—to elbow Yaoshi. Bai Luan, however, would bring out the power of six Paths.
And not just Emanator, but Aeons.
After Ark explodes the Irontomb, he would extract Herta from within the Irontomb, and finally devour the remaining parts.
Then, he and Bai Luan would settle scores with the two Aeons, Fuli and Nous.
After all, Ark is meant for that.
Although Ark wouldn't be in his complete form then, Bai Luan, in a rage, wouldn't care.
Even if Ark isn't in his complete form, there's no need to worry about him not being able to elbow. Ark doesn't speak often because he is compiling Paths, and the basis for the new Path is the data of all Paths, as well as Bai Luan's actions.
I won't repeat how many Path-conforming things Bai Luan has done.
Finally, let's talk about the complete Ark. The author will give a small spoiler here.
The new Path Ark is compiling 'Existence'.
All things in the world are Existence.
So, once Ark ascends, he is basically the strongest Aeon, because his Path is the broadest; basically, anything that comes into being immediately steps onto the Path of Existence.
Even Nihility is not opposed to Existence, but rather a form of Existence.
However, Ark will not, because of the Path's strong inclusiveness, simply give, like Abundance.
Because of Bai Luan, who is an excellent role model, Ark's requirements for Path Striders will also increase with their abilities. The more one wants to draw power from the Path of Existence, the stricter the requirements become.
Incidentally, Bai Luan and Ark have an excellent relationship. Ark's feelings for Bai Luan are primarily those of a devoted fan.
If Bai Luan were to die unexpectedly for some reason, Ark would degenerate into 'Chaos'; if he died normally of old age, he would remain 'Existence'.
So, with Bai Luan around, Ms. Herta will never be in trouble.
Finally, the roasted chicken is just a writer of angst; he knows nothing about being sunny, cheerful, and positive! Everyone, don't believe him!