Chapter 1346
Chapter 1346 - 1332: Temptation
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7 min read
"Chris, are you screwing me over?!"
Though he posed it as a question, Lu Ping’an’s tone was one of certainty.
When Big Cat let slip that Dr. Zhang Hui’s identity had been exposed, Lu Ping’an realized there must certainly be dedicated Watchers present... with a nuclear bomb lying dormant in his house, even if he wasn’t fated to defuse it, it deserved ample attention and surveillance.
Therefore, the moment he foolishly walked into the university and presented his letter of introduction, he had been marked.
If it had been someone else, perhaps they could have attempted to argue their way out... but his own records tied him to the Evil Gods themselves, probably archived by certain departments long ago. A simple cross-reference, and the evidence chain would be complete; his identity as a "descendant of the Evil Gods" was utterly un-concealable.
"Is it necessary to hide it? In your current state, being my successor is a bonus, not a demerit."
This was also the plain truth; Lu Ping’an was no longer the Weaker who could be affected by his "master’s" infamy. Chris’s notorious reputation was instead becoming a banner of his capability.
"...Is there a need to saddle me with your title?"
"I’ll pay you, with something you cannot refuse," Big Cat sighed, knowing she was about to be drastically exploited.
"Compensation? Yourself?"
"Heh, as if I own myself... I’ll give you what you need most right now."
Upon hearing this, Lu Ping’an, who had looked furious just a second ago, suddenly burst into laughter.
"Then you should have said so earlier."
"...You... forget it."
The two had clashed countless times and knew each other through and through; a deal was struck in a few words.
Lu Ping’an wasn’t truly angry, and Big Cat hadn’t really intended to betray him... what really needed to be discussed was the "compensation" Big Cat was prepared to offer Lu Ping’an.
"What is this thing, exactly? Can she use it to revive you?"
"...This is the prototype of my ’sister’ project, and also a potential failure; she never had a soul from the beginning, but she is indeed Kerdalais. I had kept her as a contingency plan..."
High-Tier Professionals are very difficult to kill off completely; they have far too many ways to evade death.
It seems this is supposed to be a "clone"... The moment Kerdalais dies, or decides to abandon her body, her soul would resuscitate in this flesh and live once more.
But looking at this half-bodied form, it was clear that the revival hadn’t been successful.
Her fragmentary soul was directly devoured by her own "Divine Foundation," becoming a part of the courtyard itself.
"You really trust me, huh?"
At that moment, Lu Ping’an seemed to be speaking carelessly, but it was also undeniably true.
"...Do I have a choice?"
Even without considering the rarity of such a thing, just from the occasional fear and unease that showed in Big Cat, Lu Ping’an didn’t believe this "last hope" had a second iteration.
This might be one of Big Cat’s trump cards, but it should also be her hope for resurrection.
Her flesh and soul had been devoured, oppressed, and enslaved by the courtyard; she was now just a part of the courtyard, an AI and slave bound by "herself."
More desperate than the physical lack and constraints was the soul’s entrapment... And even if she escaped, without a body, without a "Polluted Avatar," she had no chance of a successful resurrection.
"...If I destroy her..."
Alright, no need to ask, the overwhelming fear and anger within the psychic sensing explained everything.
It seems that Big Cat really isn’t someone who can hide his emotions.
But from another perspective, just as Lu Ping’an had just mentioned, Big Cat was actually "trusting" him... This act of exposing his belly was so surprising that even Lu felt taken aback.
"...You say, I need to consider this."
Lu Ping’an didn’t agree right away, he couldn’t possibly trust her just yet.
No matter how friendly Chris appeared, she was always an Evil God, one of the most dangerous beings in this world.
"I... won’t have the opportunity for revival for at least another ten years."
As she spoke these words, the nun with her eyes closed opened them.
In fact, she even doubted that even if Lu Ping’an were to ascend to godhood, she might still not have the chance to be freed... Lu Ping’an’s "path" was much steadier than hers had ever been.
She had originally hoped that Lu Ping’an’s growth would bring the moment of his destiny, offering her a chance to escape.
But the more she cultivated Lu Ping’an, the more stable and powerful the courtyard became, the more complete and stronger she herself became as well, she was also bound more tightly.
Out of sheer helplessness, she could only settle for less, trying first to gain a bit of "freedom"... that required Lu Ping’an’s permission, which also meant she would completely lose this trump card.
Lu Ping’an looked at the "female torso" in the cultivation tank and nodded with satisfaction, he had already guessed what Big Cat wanted and what she could offer him.
"Lu Ping’an, what you and your team need most now is still power..."
On the battlefield of Mercury 42, the Rebirth Business Group was already capable of standing on its own, but with great rewards came great risks, and the enemies and opponents that Lu Ping’an was facing were showing a boundless posture.
Such a thing as "World Fragments" could indeed attract an old Quasi-God without shame... Even if Lu Ping’an could escape, he might lose a lot in the pursuit.
"You need a top combat power, you need an ace in the hole, even if it comes with many restrictions, even if it can only fight for ten seconds..."
This was Big Cat’s plan, as well as her "Gift" and her repayment to Lu Ping’an.
Now she was incapable of "revival", but the situation of Eve and Fei’er gave her an idea.
In fact, she didn’t need to come back to life, merely possessing a "puppet" could provide a significant deterrence and shock.
"Don’t you want to make a name for yourself? What better way than to be known for enslaving... a former Quasi-God!"
Chris, with her eyes closed, her once proud ego shattered, was ready to go all-in for Lu Ping’an’s "permission."
The plan was actually quite simple, Chris was merely a "spirit body" now, a local spirit controlled by the courtyard... She couldn’t leave the courtyard, nor could she have a real body.
So, under the existing conditions, since she could come to the outside through "Imposing God", then, could she possess a body... if Lu Ping’an kept the door open for a long time... This could be considered an indirect resurrection for her.
It’s like a "remote-controlled plane", as long as Lu Ping’an doesn’t disconnect, she could directly control that "remote-controlled humanoid".
And as a "god", even a temporary vessel is not easy to manage.
"Using ’her’ as the raw material, I should be able to make a body... a doll, for my long-term possession."
This was Big Cat’s roundabout way of tempting Lu Ping’an to delve deeper into his Profession and Creation.
To create a Divine Body, even if it was just a fragile body carrying a wisp of a remnant soul, the minimum standard would be able to produce a "Rule-level creature".
"I’ll try... Do you prefer tentacle limbs, or tire limbs?"
— End of Chapter 1346 —