I'm quitting!

Chapter 42 Welcome, goodbye.

The gray-white wasteland stretched endlessly, while the dark green giant pillars stood tall, their surfaces covered with suckers that opened and closed in unison.

Just as Lin Xiaofan was about to remove the protective barrier, Lao Xian's voice rushed over along the blue light band:

[Boss!]

"What? Wait a minute!"

[Um… during the period when you removed your soul protection, to prevent the parasite from backfiring through the internet… cough, through the soul channel, I must immediately sever the connection with you. In other words—once the channel is severed, you will be completely sealed within Mi Yuyao's soul space.]

"Whatever... I wasn't planning on going out anyway, unless I killed it."

But once it sensed something was wrong, it struggled to escape back into the depths of Mi Yuyao's soul...

The consequences are self-evident—once they re-establish themselves and become firmly locked in, luring them out again will be as difficult as climbing to the heavens. It's a one-shot deal; failure means certain death.

Lin Xiaofan remained silent for two breaths, then suddenly smiled.

"Understood... lure them into the trap, then weld the city gate shut."

After speaking, the protective true essence on the outer layer of the soul peeled away inch by inch. The feeling was as if one were standing naked in a frozen wasteland—the gale of the soul space poured in instantly, freezing the consciousness so that it shivered.

Come on, boss! Kill that bastard!

The blue light band suddenly disappeared.

Lin Xiaofan became completely isolated.

Almost simultaneously, the giant pillar of dark green vines trembled violently. Among the dense array of suction cups, the largest one slowly turned towards Lin Xiaofan, its depths tinged with a murky fluorescent green—not a visual sensation, but a more primal "sniffing" sensation.

It is being appreciated.

"Come on," Lin Xiaofan grinned, his smile sinister. "My soul is far more nutritious than your host's—it's like a buffet, all you can eat."

The giant pillar remained completely still.

The roots beneath his feet were already stirring.

Dozens of dark green tentacles, like snakes and pythons, arched out from the cracked earth, tentatively extending half a foot towards Lin Xiaofan before retracting, as if weighing their options or hesitating.

Lin Xiaofan's mind raced—this thing actually has some brains; it's not stupid and won't rashly abandon its host who has been rooted in it for years.

We need to add fuel to the fire.

He activated the Seed of the Dark Sun.

A wisp of pure Yang energy, warm and gentle, emanated from the depths of the soul.

The aura that entered the host's senses was like placing a steaming cauldron in front of starving people.

The dark green giant pillar suddenly let out a sharp screech!

All the roots simultaneously detached from the ground, like iron filings drawn by a magnet, sweeping towards Lin Xiaofan in an overwhelming manner!

The roots of the parasitic pioneer have pierced the surface of the soul, and dark green threads spread out like a spider web.

Do it!

The chilling and scorching true essence intertwined, rushing and surging along the meridians of consciousness, fiercely twisting towards the sprouting roots!

A microscopic storm of ice and fire erupted within the soul.

The vanguard roots instantly condensed into ice crystals, which were then completely vaporized by the golden flames.

However, the speed of the parasite's regeneration is even faster—at the broken surface, three new shoots burst forth simultaneously, spreading wildly at a terrifying rate six times that of the original host!

It is not about taking root, but about "colonizing".

Although Old Xian's voice has ceased, the countdown to the limit still echoes in my mind—

Ten! Nine! Eight!

Lin Xiaofan's eyes widened in fury, and the flow of true energy within his meridians increased by another 20%. However, for every meridian severed, three more grew; for every three destroyed, nine more sprang up. The exponential spread was so rapid that its strangulation was impossible to catch!

We must find the core.

He suddenly closed his eyes, drawing his spiritual sense inward—in the very center of the vast network of roots, a dark red seed the size of a fingernail floated silently.

Seven! Six! Five!

The dark red seeds were completely enveloped by layers of roots, making them impossible to reach.

Lin Xiaofan ignored it, his true essence transformed into a steel drill, twisting open the protective root and piercing straight towards the core.

Puff-!

His spiritual consciousness was violently shaken, and his divine soul was being consumed to the limit.

The parasite twists its roots, seemingly sensing that its prey is nearing its end, and suddenly changes its attack, heading straight for the root of the dantian.

Click—!

However, it was not the lotus flower that was broken.

All the roots suddenly stopped, and fine cracks appeared.

The parasitic seed touched upon the deepest layer of Lin Xiaofan's soul, a layer that had always been shut out by the "world," a layer that felt out of place.

His soul is fundamentally incompatible with the rules of the world.

This "lawless land" has left the parasites, who rely on the laws of nature, completely bewildered.

Four! Three!

The parasite panicked and desperately tried to break free and escape back into the depths of Mi Yuyao's soul.

"Trying to leave?! You're paying the bill!"

Before he could even be surprised, Lin Xiaofan's soul was in turmoil—the underlying logic of "world rejection" was suddenly triggered, and a strong rejection reaction locked his roots tightly.

Core exposure.

two!

The cold current condensed into needles, golden flames wrapped around their tips, and ice and fire combined to transform into a torrential rain that pelted the center of the dark red seed!

One!

The dark red seeds shattered completely, and the countless roots withered and turned to ash in an instant.

However, what leaked from the crack was not only the emerald green essence of life—it was also mixed with a wisp of chilling gray-black fluff.

The flocculent material had no fixed shape and continued to writhe strangely, distorting and swallowing the surrounding light.

Countless overlapping, viscous whispers suddenly flooded Lin Xiaofan's mind, as if some enormous shadow was coldly watching from beyond dimensions. It was a "sense of alienation" that transcended fear, causing the edge of his reason to tremble wildly, and his soul even showed signs of dissolving.

My consciousness gradually became hazy and chaotic, and I could see several black holes with the fluidity of oil slowly rotating before my eyes.

"Well…!"

In the critical moment, the power of the Star Shadow spontaneously enveloped the area, instantly triggering the eruption of the Seed of Aoyang—pure golden light collided violently with the gray-black flocculent matter and the emerald essence.

There was no explosion.

An unbelievable transformation occurred among the three.

The gray-black color was absorbed, the emerald green color was purified, and finally condensed in mid-air into a drop of liquid light with a flowing halo of pale gold and emerald green.

The blue light strip has been reconnected.

Are you... alright?

Lao Xian's greeting was slightly distorted.

[My God, boss! Creating life force?!]

"Hiss... Don't yell... My head still hurts..." Lin Xiaofan rubbed his forehead with one hand, swaying as he spoke.

After a long while, my vision finally refocused, and I could see the droplet in front of me clearly.

"Creative Spirit Breath? What's that?"

[What a wonderful item! Even outside this realm, this is a top-tier product. Although I haven't seen the real thing in person, it is said that every drop of the spirit of creation contains countless great worlds, serving as the cornerstone of the origin of existence.]

"So, Dior? Does that mean we're going to be deified?!"

Hmm... but this drop won't do, the purity is too low.

Lin Xiaofan's excitement instantly froze: "Then what are you so excited about?!"

Oh dear... this is to relieve your fatigue from fighting so hard, boss!

Although its purity is not up to standard, in terms of vitality concentration, it is more than a thousand times more concentrated than 99.6% primordial wood energy.

Lin Xiaofan stared at the drop of light liquid and exhaled a long breath:

"At least it's a concept-level item... not a bad deal."

The seedlings vanished into nothingness, and the wasteland was suddenly plunged into deathly silence.

Lin Xiaofan looked up and saw that where the giant pillar had disappeared, Mi Yuyao's divine soul projection was curled up on the ground, like a withered leaf swept away by the autumn wind.

A pot of withered things had appeared in front of her, though she didn't know when.

A Biluo Orchid.

The stems were charred black, the leaves were dry and curled like paper, and the roots were already rotten—this was the manifestation of the void in her soul, the "emotional emptiness" that had been planted and rooted there for years.

Mi Yuyao's lifeless eyes were fixed on the withered orchid, her lips parted slightly, uttering a murmur softer than a mosquito's buzz:

"...It doesn't bloom."

"Why won't it bloom?"

"Is it because I'm... not good enough...?"

Lin Xiaofan remained silent for a few moments, then stepped forward and squatted down.

He didn't say "You're great," nor did he say "Your mother loves you."

With a mere stretch of his hand, he separated a tiny wisp of life-giving energy, which dripped directly onto the roots of the withered orchid.

wow——

The charred crust cracked.

A touch of tender green peeks out from between the cracks.

Mi Yuyao's pupils suddenly contracted.

New shoots sprout, leaves emerge, stems stretch, petals unfold—in just a few breaths, a brand new Biluo orchid grows from the withered remains, its tip blooming with a small pink flower the size of a bell.

The petals trembled slightly, much like the upturned eyelashes of a little girl when she stops crying and starts to smile.

Mi Yuyao stared blankly at the flower.

Then, tears fell.

But what flowed past was a smiling face.

It is not a foolish laugh, nor empty tears—it is the scalding tears of someone who has been imprisoned in a dark room for far too long, finally seeing light seeping through the crack in the door, tears that are a mixture of surprise, joy, and fear.

"It's open..."

She picked up the orchid with utmost care, as if it were the most precious treasure in the world.

"My mother said... if it blooms... it will stay with me..."

Lin Xiaofan stood up, looked up into the distance, and spoke in a very soft voice:

"She's always been there."

A crack suddenly appeared in the gray-white sky.

Sunlight poured down, turning the entire wasteland into a warm, pale gold.

The moment consciousness returned, Lin Xiaofan swayed violently and almost fell off the edge of the bed.

Every part of my body aches and hurts – the backlash from overexerting my spirit is ten times more ferocious than a hangover.

The sesame ball pounced immediately, its fluffy head rubbing against his cheek, and word bubbles burst one after another:

"Living, living, living!"

"Maqiu is so happy to smell a scent she likes!"

"Yes, I'm back."

He raised his hand and gently stroked it, then sat down with his knees propped up and glanced sideways.

Mi Yuyao's eyelashes were trembling slightly.

Those eyes, empty for years, gradually focused, finally settling on the bamboo shed entrance—Mi Lanfang stood with her back to them, her figure as straight as a pine tree.

"……mother?"

A single word, as light as a gossamer thread.

Mi Lanfang's shoulder visibly trembled.

She turned around.

For the first time, Lin Xiaofan saw this master of spiritual plants lose control of his facial expressions—his eyes were red-rimmed, his lips trembled slightly, and all his composure and calmness shattered at that moment.

"Yu Yao".

Mi Yuyao propped herself up from the soft couch, clutching tightly in her hand the pot of Biluo Orchid that had bloomed again and should not have existed in this world.

The mother and daughter looked at each other.

There was no wailing, no kneeling in repentance.

Mi Yuyao simply held the potted flower high, like a child presenting a treasure, and said in a hoarse voice:

"Mother, look—it's open."

Mi Lanfang took the flowers, her fingertips brushing against the petals, and finally couldn't resist embracing her daughter.

Lin Xiaofan silently withdrew his gaze and patted Maqiu's head: "Come on, let's go out for some fresh air... We won't freeload off other people's reunion dinners."

Outside the bamboo shed, the sun's shadow is slanting westward.

"As expected of a concept-level prop, it's just as outrageous as the Three Green Cauldrons... The flower that I dripped into her soul space actually came to life in reality."

Old Xian floated to the side: [Boss, the passage just broke. I only detected an extremely dangerous high-dimensional data fluctuation. How exactly did you create that drop of 'Creative Spirit Breath'?]

"Hmm..." Lin Xiaofan pondered for a moment before slowly speaking.

"As the core of the host plant shattered, some grayish-black fibrous material burst out. The material had no fixed shape, and the onlookers were driven mad. It collided suddenly with my Seed of the Primordial Sun and the life essence inherent in the host plant, and thus they merged."

[Grayish-black flocculent matter? No fixed shape...]

Old Xian muttered to himself.

[Could it be a remnant of the "mutated" Script Management Bureau? How did that thing end up here... It shouldn't be able to penetrate dimensional barriers...]

"Oh right, the second half wasn't under my control; it was the Star Shadow Power within me that triggered the Seed of the Aoyang on its own."

[Looks like we need to take a good look at that "Star Shadow Military Manual" that can respond to Maqiu's hair; maybe you can even find a high-dimensional skill, boss!]

Lin Xiaofan did not respond immediately.

He gazed silently at the old man's shimmering fish body, then suddenly spoke:

"Old Xian, I've been investigating that book, so there's no rush."

"Now... I only have one question—did you already know about the special nature of my soul?"