Chapter 1409
Chapter 1409 - 1405: God of Redemption
1,539 words
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8 min read
"...Uh, I don’t think I’ve been gone for ten years, it should have been only half a year."
"Fate always has too many surprises for people, or rather, shocks."
The reunion happened much sooner than expected.
The Ark Mothership Redemption had expanded several times over since the last encounter... It was significantly larger than its sister ship, the "Redemption."
[Savior Ark. Little Sang (Upper Gold); she is evolving...]
When Lu Ping’an identified it, he faintly sensed something amiss, and upon encountering Captain Guan in the Ark bar, many speculations turned into reality.
By the bar, two metal arms quickly finished mixing a drink.
Although Lu Ping’an had little talent for cooking, he surprisingly had some knack for beverage preparation.
He gently passed the pale yellow glass across, the homebrewed yellow wine mix was Old Guan’s favorite.
"...That’s the taste, you still remember."
"For you, it might have been quite some time, for me, it’s only been half a year since we last drank together on Earth..."
Lu Ping’an served himself a glass of Red Star vodka, his journey on the Red Star had sparked an interest in this strong flavor.
"Tell me, what’s this Ascension all about?"
"Haven’t you seen it... I thought I’d have to spend a lot of effort explaining to you, but seeing you now, I realize you’ve gone much further than any of us..."
Compared to half a year ago, Guan Xinxian looked younger, at least the prematurely developed silver hair had vanished without a trace.
But his actions, his speech, and even where his gaze fell, all seemed to carry a subtle "echo"... In Lu Ping’an’s view, this was interference from a high-dimensional existence upon the material world or, to put it more colloquially...
"Divinity? I have none. I just overcame a tribulation on Earth and gained some enhancement."
To Lu Ping’an’s eyes, what this "middle-aged man" Guan Xinxian had in excess was overflowing Divinity.
Ascension? He wasn’t joking; in reality, he was already on that path.
Merely the existence of Deities, even just demi-gods with some Divine essence, due to their overwhelming "mass," would become perpetual sources of "Order contamination."
"Sorry, I still can’t quite control myself..."
He let out a wry smile and downed another shot of yellow wine, the airlifted fried peanuts crackled in his mouth, and Old Guan showed a nostalgic expression.
He had thought he was completely unconcerned, but just one meal and drinks with this old friend made it impossible to walk away...
"I want to Ascend."
"Is it you who wants this, or does this world desire it?"
"Both. It proposed the idea, and I think it’s pretty good."
"Alright, I’ll help you."
Looking at Old Guan before him, Lu Ping’an sighed.
Some things, Lu Ping’an had already guessed upon receiving the news, and now upon meeting, everything was thoroughly confirmed.
The Guan Xinxian before him was now more than just a Rule-level... He even possessed a trace of Divinity that a Quasi-God should not have.
"Mercy, Redemption, Hope..."
Lu Ping’an’s eyes perceived the Divinity named "Savior" on Guan Xinxian...
Lu Ping’an didn’t know if this was a good thing, but since it was the other’s choice, and he had come asking for help, Lu Ping’an wouldn’t refuse.
"When I was traveling around selling trees, planting trees, the World’s Will... or rather, Fate, found me. In a world headed toward Doomsday, a God of Redemption was needed."
That day, within the Silent Mountain Range World, when it fell into Doomsday, even the bewildered World’s Will began to attempt salvation.
In Lu Ping’an’s memory, what They could interfere with was limited; Their most instinctual act was to mass-produce "Heroes," guiding those potential beings onto the path of world salvation.
And in the upper domains that Lu Ping’an could not touch at the time, various Newborn Deities were also produced in large numbers... but most of them, in the end, were like that Newborn Dragon God who ascended and then took off.
In the Doomsday, lowering the standards for ascension had become a survival instinct of the world, not just for supporting "savior heroes," but sometimes those Newborn Deities were in themselves the stabilizers the world desperately needed to evolve with "World’s Reason (Rule Evolution)."
And in this world, where countless intelligent creatures faced annihilation, in an era where every life form could only fend for itself, who could embody the concept of "Redemption" more than Guan Xinxian, who navigated the Ark and rescued people everywhere?
"I felt something was off before, the way two World Fragments found you..."
The favor of the world comes not without causation; it may be a reward as much as an expectation.
The favor of fate often has a price tag attached to it, unseen in the cosmic engine.
Lu Ping’an closed his eyes, pondered for a moment, and in the end, still shook his head.
Hurried, too hurried, not just this world, but Guan Xinxian himself.
Guan Xinxian’s talent was exceptional, and his accumulation was sufficient, otherwise, he wouldn’t have become a true Rule-level entity so young... but he was still a vast distance from the real standards for divinity.
If he tried to Ascend, if he sought to amass the faith of tens of thousands of life forms to ascend to the Divine’s Throne, if he tried to "merge paths" with this world, then he would naturally be infused with too many external "Rules"... Would such a forcibly sustained Deity still be him?
"Humanity becomes quite diluted in the process. How about we wait another ten years..."
Lu Ping’an set down his wine cup, turned his head, and offered his sincere advice.
If he were to fully commit resources to cultivate Guan Xinxian, in ten years’ time, he should be able to build his Base to the latter half of the eighth tier, and then, even if he barely reached divinity, most of his humanity should remain.
"This world, perhaps, can wait, but every day there are people who should have been saved, who die in despair."
The calm words carried no emotional fluctuation. In those serene eyes that had seen too many tragedies and too much despair, lay a true sense of helplessness and sorrow.
This world may not be in a hurry for a God of Redemption, but the weak here need one...
"...there’s no need, this place is not Earth; you don’t need to be in a rush to save them, we can think long-term."
Lu Ping’an opened his mouth, knowing that most likely he couldn’t dissuade him, but he still wanted to say some "nonsense."
Ascending in such a world, with Guan Xinxian’s accumulation, he would most likely be completely bound to this world. Was that really a good thing?
"If salvation has to pick races, places, and reasons, then... heh, that’s just my self-gratification. I want to save them, not because of who they are, but simply because they are born innocent and shouldn’t have to endure despair and death."
At that moment, the discourse of divinity and humanity merged, and Lu Ping’an knew this was his own choice.
He understood, Lu Ping’an understood. Having once been in despair and longing for redemption... then really, upon seeing the disaster-stricken, what reason was there not to reach out a hand?
"Heh, you are such a person... Give me some time, I’ll try my best to help you maintain your humanity."
Understanding, he understood, but Lu Ping’an was not prepared to accept that; otherwise, as a savior himself, wouldn’t that be too tragic?
"No need, in my view, if offering a hand without self, without preferences and dislikes, is also a good thing."
In his eyes, was there determination, hesitation? Was it fatigue, the agony of having to make choices amid countless acts of redemption? Or the pain of seeing countless disasters yet feeling powerless?
Perhaps he really felt that becoming a machine, stripped of humanity by divinity, indiscriminately offering redemption to all life forms, was a form of happiness...
Looking at the weary-faced Guan Xinxian, Lu Ping’an understood... perhaps, this "limitless tenderness" had also pushed him to the brink of collapse, and Ascension to him was a form of liberation...
He had not actually come to ask for Lu Ping’an’s help, with the world’s willing devotion of resources, his ascension was just a matter of time.
"Earth’s ’Redemption Hand’ also has humanity; rescuing indiscriminately, saving a villain is tantamount to harming countless victims... Just give us a little time, at least, we hope our friend won’t be silenced like this."
After mulling it over, and glancing at the peanuts and yellow wine on the table, Guan Xinxian finally nodded.
"Indeed, I cannot tolerate the notion that those villains also get rescued... Thank you."
"No need, this is what I want to do."
"Still, thank you, brother."
"...Live well, brother."
Cups touched lightly, and they were emptied in one gulp.
— End of Chapter 1409 —