Boom, boom, boom. The leader heard his own heartbeat, as if it were a pump spewing blood.
Having served the Eternal Mother for many years, he had a vague idea of Her immense power, something beyond myths, beyond even the vast starry sky. If this young man were truly the long-standing rival of the Eternal Mother, how terrifying he must be!
And yet, across the boundless space and numerous barriers, this opponent had simply reached out and pulled him from a heavily guarded place. This feat surpassed all logic and his own understanding of supernatural abilities. Moreover, the opponent showed no fear of the Eternal Mother, so his words might indeed be true.
Could such a terrifying being really appear in the world when the apocalypse arrives and the world’s restrictions weaken?
Would the Eternal Mother descend with divine might to save him?
Don’t be afraid. If I die, I can return to the Pure Land! The leader kept reassuring himself, suppressing his rational side with his fanatically devout mindset.
Meng Qi slowly walked down the stairs, hands in his pockets, approaching the leader of the Luo Sect with a slight smile. “Is there anything you’d like to say?”
Anything to say? The leader’s thought of sacrificing himself for the faith was interrupted. He was puzzled by the question, his mind racing, when suddenly a realization struck him. “Did you summon me because the prohibition against manifesting divinity in the mortal world has been lifted?”
“The final apocalypse has arrived, and the restrictions have loosened! The ancient heavenly decrees no longer apply!”
He sounded almost defiant.
Meng Qi hadn’t really planned what to ask, so he followed the topic. “Who set the rule that forbids manifesting divinity in the mortal world?”
“Eh…” Caught off guard by the counter-question, the leader clearly hesitated. After a few breaths, he replied, “I don’t know. Anyway, the Eternal Mother commanded us to rebel, but forbade us from claiming divinity in the mortal world. It wasn’t until twenty years ago that She hinted through dreams about the final apocalypse, and I gradually began testing my supernatural abilities.”
Could it be that the Eternal Mother actually obeyed the so-called heavenly decree forbidding manifesting divinity in the mortal world? Meng Qi was puzzled and smiled. “What else did the Eternal Mother instruct you to do?”
The leader thought for a moment, deciding it wasn’t a big secret. Since this person was so powerful, there was no need to stubbornly resist. He hesitated, then said, “Spread the faith, unify the sects, honor the Eternal Mother together, and return to our Pure Land. Also, the Eternal Mother instructed me not to act recklessly, to know the proper limits, to rely on worldly forces as much as possible, and to avoid triggering supernatural conflicts.”
See? Our Luo Sect follows all the rules. There’s no need to target me! The leader silently added in his mind.
Meng Qi became even more puzzled. The Eternal Mother was once the Golden Emperor and now a great figure beyond the world. Why would She show such caution in spreading Her teachings on Earth? It wasn’t normal—extremely abnormal!
What exactly was She afraid of?
Meng Qi probed carefully, even using the Yuanxin Seal, but the leader knew very little. He could only recite Luo Sect history like a master of treasures and had only a vague understanding of concepts similar to the “Ten Thousand Heavens.” He failed to provide any useful clues.
The heavenly secrets of Earth were obscured, the Eternal Mother was cautious, and there were worldly versions of the “Investiture of the Gods” and “Journey to the West”… How interesting… Meng Qi sighed inwardly, smiling at the Luo Sect leader as he spoke in a deep, magnetic voice, “A preacher must not be greedy for wealth or lust, nor use power or divinity to oppress others.”
“A preacher must be free from worldly desires, dedicate himself to society, and help fellow believers.”
…
Each sentence entered the leader’s ears, leaving him confused and puzzled, yet his heart gradually felt purified, as if awakening a sense of redemption and selfless sacrifice.
“Eternal Mother, Pure Land,” he murmured with his head bowed. When he looked up again, the young man with his hands in his pockets had already vanished.
…
The sun was high in the sky. “Meng Xiaoqi” rubbed his eyes, letting his mind wander freely, savoring the wonderful Sunday morning.
The phrase “From now on, you’re my brother,” the “Ten Thousand Worlds Universal Symbol,” and even the goddess he secretly admired inviting him for dinner—all were just dreams of a lonely bachelor!
He stretched lazily, sat up slowly, and instinctively turned to his desk. The silver metal plate and the note lay there quietly, exactly as he had left them before sleep.
Was it real?
Did I see a ghost?
Or was it someone’s prank?
Meng Xiaoqi’s mind became hazy. The memories of last night felt like a dream. He shook his head, deciding to go out and ask his parents if they had encountered anything strange or if anyone had entered his room.
Stepping out of his bedroom, Meng Xiaoqi saw his father moving the sofa and coffee table aside, practicing his health-enhancing Tai Chi in the living room. Each movement was graceful and rhythmic. On the dining table was a small bowl containing a greenish, lustrous liquid that looked delicious.
“Hey, Dad, you’re not going out to practice today? Why are you doing Tai Chi at home?” Meng Xiaoqi, always eager to taste something new, walked over and picked up the bowl. “What’s this?”
Usually, when he asked “What is this?” it meant “Can I eat it?”
“It’s a nourishing tonic made from Isatis root. I specially saved a bowl for you. Believe me, it’s really effective!” His father, with a relaxed posture, continued his movements without losing his breath.
Isatis tonic? Specifically for me? Meng Xiaoqi looked at the color, took a sip, and found it refreshingly sweet, completely different from the usual Isatis he had tasted.
He gulped it down. The liquid flowed like a stream through his throat, into his stomach, then spread out like icy water, soaking every cell in his body.
“Good…” Just as Meng Xiaoqi was about to say “so refreshing,” his father interrupted, “Little rascal, this time you’ve got great taste. That Isatis root you bought must be something close to becoming a spirit. I feel like I have endless energy. I might as well do some Tai Chi to burn it off.”
You bought it? Meng Xiaoqi looked at his father in confusion. He noticed a faint vapor rising from his father’s head, hovering steadily about a foot and four inches above it. His movements became faster, flowing like clouds and water, leaving Meng Xiaoqi in awe.
He immediately forgot his question and blurted out, “Dad, did you cultivate internal energy?”
As a devoted fan of martial arts and xianxia novels, that was his first thought.
Can health-enhancing Tai Chi actually cultivate internal energy?
“I don’t know how it happened. After drinking this Isatis tonic, I felt surging warmth throughout my body. My spirit is high, and I’m full of energy. It’s a great thing!” His father answered joyfully.
Meng Xiaoqi’s mouth twitched. It was just Isatis root. Could it really make someone fly?
As the thought crossed his mind, he suddenly gaped in shock. His father was moving faster and faster, emitting a faint green glow around his body, as if the air had solidified into a force lifting him slowly two feet off the ground.
He really can fly… Meng Xiaoqi’s mouth hung open like a wooden statue.
As the warmth dissipated and the green glow faded, Meng Xiaoqi’s father landed gently, feeling as light as a swallow, as if he had undergone the legendary body transformation described in martial arts novels.
Could it really be that nearly spiritual Isatis root? Meng Xiaoqi’s father looked at his hands and feet, both delighted and puzzled.
At that moment, Meng Xiaoqi also felt waves of warmth rolling through his body, seeping into his cells, changing him subtly, bringing a tingling yet pleasant sensation.
“Son, you finally know how to take care of your old mother,” his mother said happily, stepping out from the room and pointing at her face. “You bought something really good this time. Look, in less than ten minutes, my wrinkles are gone, and my skin is as smooth as when I was seventeen or eighteen.”
After showing off, she suddenly frowned. “This must have been expensive, right? How much did you spend? Did you use up our savings? We’re old and won’t be around forever. Don’t waste money like this!”
Her concern was evident.
Meng Xiaoqi was completely confused but before he could speak, his phone in his pocket began to ring.
He took it out and saw it was a former colleague, someone he still kept in touch with even after changing numbers.
“Old Du, what’s up?” Meng Xiaoqi asked instinctively.
Old Du chuckled. “Meng Qi, I didn’t know you were doing so well. You didn’t even tell me.”
“Where am I doing well…” Meng Xiaoqi was even more confused.
Old Du laughed. “Cai Yang told me. Chairman and CEO of the Ten Thousand Worlds Universal Group. You thought you could hide it from me?”
“Chairman and CEO?” Meng Xiaoqi looked at himself. What was going on?
“Right! You’re a successful man now. Don’t forget your old buddies. We should go out for drinks sometime.” Old Du, satisfied with his message, ended the call.
Before Meng Xiaoqi could process it, call after call came in, all from old friends, some congratulating him, others trying to reconnect—all mentioning the Chairman and CEO of the Ten Thousand Worlds Universal Group.
Ten Thousand Worlds Universal Group? After the chaos, Meng Xiaoqi suddenly remembered the note with the Ten Thousand Worlds Universal Symbol written on it!
Was it because of that? Meng Xiaoqi wasn’t stupid. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead, but his body felt incredibly good, full of energy and vitality.
He rushed back to his bedroom without saying a word to his parents, grabbed the note and the metal plate, and read and examined them repeatedly.
What exactly is this?
Just as he was about to investigate further, the phone rang again. This time it was Cai Yang.
Meng Xiaoqi’s heart raced again, but he chose to answer.
“Hey, busy guy, how about we set dinner for tonight?” Cai Yang’s sweet voice came through.
Meng Xiaoqi hurriedly agreed. “Great, sure!”
“Then seven o’clock tonight at Baihui Garden. Don’t be late,” Cai Yang said with a laugh. “I won’t keep you from your work, Mr. CEO.”
CEO… Meng Xiaoqi’s eyelids twitched. He wasn’t really a chairman or CEO.
His peaceful life had suddenly turned into a drama. He was both shocked and confused. After thinking it through, he decided to be honest and not deceive his friends.
Although the title of Chairman and CEO sounded impressive, a false title couldn’t become real.
Feeling restless with the surging warmth in his body, Meng Xiaoqi decided to go out for a walk to calm down before calling everyone to explain.
He changed into sportswear and walked down the stairs, planning to run around the old neighborhood.
How did today feel like a myth where a fox repays a favor? Suddenly gaining unexpected benefits and an unexpected title… Meng Xiaoqi thought while running. But he had never saved a fox. At most, he had fed stray dogs and cats. Could it be a Siberian Husky or a Garfield cat repaying him?
“How beautiful this car is!” Suddenly, whispers of admiration came from around him.
Meng Xiaoqi followed the sound and saw a black car parked outside the community gate. Its lines were smooth, its shape elegant. Though he didn’t recognize the brand, its appearance alone marked it as a luxury, perhaps even a limited edition.
So beautiful! Just as he thought, the car door opened, and a beautiful white-collar woman stepped out gracefully, her figure swaying like a movie star.
A beautiful car must be matched with a beautiful woman… Meng Xiaoqi saw the woman walking toward him and quickly shifted his gaze, pretending to admire the scenery.
The beautiful woman stopped in front of Meng Xiaoqi, making his heart skip a beat. Was she going to slap him for staring?
But he had only been admiring her!
The woman smiled, showing eight teeth:
“Chairman, I’m here to pick you up.”
Chairman… Meng Xiaoqi was struck like by lightning, frozen in place, surrounded by curious gazes.
I really became the Chairman and CEO?
This isn’t a dream…
He quickly took out the metal plate, not caring about anything else, and pressed the button in the center.
The Ten Thousand Worlds Universal Group must be related to the Ten Thousand Worlds Universal Symbol. He wanted to see what the master of the symbol was really up to!
Beep, beep, beep. After three beeps, a deep, magnetic voice came from the other side: “Hey, you have something to ask?”
Meng Xiaoqi took a deep breath. “Who exactly are you? What do you really want?”
After a brief silence, he heard the other side ask:
“By the way, do you understand quantum mechanics?”
What kind of question is that… Near the luxury car, beside the beautiful secretary, Meng Xiaoqi’s expression was blank, his hair blowing in the wind.
…
Meng Qi casually sat on the sofa, idly rubbing the Ten Thousand Worlds Universal Symbol in his hand, smiling as he waited for Meng Xiaoqi’s answer. Opposite him sat the short, fat old man, curiously watching the metal plate!
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