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Suning has now completely taken control of Sector C-127 and has enabled the adventurers and survivors there to live a happy life.

However, it wasn't without its negative effects; his confidantes were also affected to some extent by the bloody world.

After all, this is a post-apocalyptic wasteland without laws, morals, or order, and even normal people like Chen Xiaojun and Hu Yue are finding it hard to cope.

Of course, Chen Xiaojun, who had several time-travel experiences with Su Ning, was in a better position, but Hu Yue's situation was much more complicated.

When Hu Yue woke up from her dream, her fingers instinctively reached for the pulse pistol under her pillow.

When she touched nothing, cold sweat instantly soaked her back...

In the wasteland, being out of your possession of weapons means death.

Moonlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, drawing a silver line on the floor.

She stared at the ray of light for a full three minutes before suddenly remembering that she had returned to the real world.

This is Suning's top-tier luxury residence in Shanghai, Tan Palace No. 9. The view outside the window should be a dazzling city night view, not the endless acid rain.

"Having a nightmare again?"

"Ah."

Hu Yue shuddered and turned to see Su Ning leaning against the door frame, holding a cup of hot milk in her hand.

He was dressed in a simple white T-shirt and casual pants, looking like an ordinary urban youth, completely unlike the immortal emperor who could annihilate thousands of troops with a wave of his hand in the wasteland world.

“I dreamt about… that dog-headed child.” Hu Yue took the milk, her hands trembling involuntarily. “When it pounced on me, I smashed its head open… and then I realized it wasn’t holding a knife…”

She didn't finish.

The milk glass reflected its distorted image...

The once exquisite makeup has been eroded by the elements, fine lines have appeared at the corners of the eyes, and most frighteningly, the eyes have lost their once bright and lively sparkle, replaced by the cold and sharp gaze of a sniper.

“Only three months…” Hu Yue suddenly choked up, “How did I become like this?”

Su Ning sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers gently tracing her temples.

A cool breeze entered her mind, and Hu Yue felt her tense nerves relax slightly.

“Time flows differently in the wasteland,” he said softly. “It’s three months for us, but your biological clock has already endured seven and a half years of acid rain and apocalyptic survival. Next, there will be snowstorms, extreme cold, high temperatures, floods… and other disasters.”

Seven years.

That's enough to mold a pampered finance woman into a ruthless "Warrior Goddess".

Hu Yue recalled that when she first returned last week, she instinctively looked for cover when she saw the fresh meat section in the supermarket; she almost drew her gun and fired when she heard a car horn; the most terrifying thing was that last night when she watched a movie, she scoffed at the scene where the protagonist hesitated to save the hostages—"Just blow his head off, you idiot."

"Where's Junjun?" she suddenly asked.

“She’s meditating on the balcony.” Su Ning sighed. “Her Azure Frost Sword automatically unsheathed again last night and almost cut the delivery guy in half.”

Hu Yue gave a wry smile.

A Foundation Establishment stage sword cultivator's Dao heart should be as clear as a mirror, but Chen Xiaojun now is like her sword...

A sharp edge is easily broken.

In the wasteland, it was she who proposed executing all the captured raiders; it was she who destroyed an entire settlement suspected of being infected with the virus with a single sword strike; and it was she who increasingly revealed an almost manic smile during battles.

"Can we... go back to normal?" Hu Yue asked softly.

Suning did not respond immediately.

He spread his palm, and real-time images of Sector C-127 appeared in the ripples of space: AI robots were maintaining facilities according to their programs, the remnants of the Blood Wolf Gang were trapped in the military camp by the array, and civilians were living in peace and contentment...

Everything was frozen in the state it was in when they left.

“Hu Yue, this isn’t weakness,” he finally spoke. “Seven years of continuous killing and survival would require a psychological reboot for anyone. Especially…”

He paused, then pointed to the photo frame on Hu Yue's dressing table.

That was a team photo from three years ago in the dungeon world. Hu Yue was wearing a Chanel suit and smiling sweetly, while Chen Xiaojun was dressed in a white dress and looked elegant and refined.

"You don't belong to that world."

"Suning, is this your experience?"

"It's much more complicated than the wasteland world! Compared to the scenarios I've encountered, these are child's play."

"..."

……

The following morning, at the Shanghai Mental Health Center.

“PTSD is accompanied by mild dissociative symptoms.” Professor Lin, a renowned trauma psychologist, adjusted his glasses. “Ms. Hu’s case is particularly typical—hypervigilance, emotional numbness, and a dulled sense of morality. Ms. Chen’s situation is more complex; her special experiences amplified her psychological trauma.”

Suning nodded: "That's why we need your 'cognitive restructuring therapy'."

"Can I know about their experiences?"

"That's not appropriate! Does it mean that treatment is impossible without knowing the patient's past experiences?"

“No, that’s not it! Theoretically, it’s still feasible.” Professor Lin pulled up a set of brain scans, not arguing with Su Ning, “but the ‘traumatic environment’ they experienced was too unique. Conventional virtual reality exposure therapy simply cannot simulate it…”

“I’ll handle this part.” A silver glint appeared at Su Ning’s fingertips. “Your team just needs to develop the treatment plan.”

Professor Lin stared at the silver light for a long time, then suddenly smiled: "Okay! I understand."

He said seriously, "The plan is as follows: first, stabilize emotions with medication; then, use progressive memory reconstruction technology to repair moral cognition; and finally..."

The door to the examination room was suddenly kicked open.

Jiang Si rushed in in a panic, her dog ears standing up: "Master... Su Ning! Zhuang Hanyan blew up the microwave! She said she wanted to research some kind of 'electromagnetic pulse weapon'..."

Suning sighed.

He almost forgot about these three troublemakers he brought back from another world...

Half-demon assassin Jiang Si is obsessed with police and gangster movies, practicing wall-climbing on the roof of the apartment building every day; biochemical expert Zhuang Hanyan dismantles all the home appliances to study "low-level technology"; and the female knight-errant Chai Jing, who comes from a pirate background, almost shoots through her neighbor's drone with a bow and arrow.

"Should we deal with these problem children first?" Professor Lin couldn't help but chuckle.

……

Three days later, Marina Bay Theme Park.

Hu Yue sat on the carousel, gripping the bar tightly.

This "childish project" that she once scoffed at is now making it hard for her to breathe...

Spending too much time in the wasteland can trigger panic from any sense of being exposed without any warning.

“Relax.” Chen Xiaojun, whose face was also pale, sat down beside her. “There are no snipers here…no mutated beasts…”

The carousel began to spin, and cheerful music started playing.

Hu Yue suddenly froze. The melody sounded too much like the music boxes carried by suicide bombers in the wasteland...

"Don't look around." Su Ning, who was in the front row, turned around. "Look at me."

His eyes sparkled like a galaxy, drawing Hu Yue's attention involuntarily.

Those starlight gradually turned into fragments of memory...

The joy of signing her first order worth hundreds of millions of yuan, the warmth of rescuing stray cats, even the secret delight of using her mother's lipstick as a child...

All the beautiful experiences buried by bloody memories resurfaced.

When the rocking horse stopped, Hu Yue found herself in tears.

But this time it wasn't the breakdown after waking from a nightmare, but something indescribable...

Relieved.

"It's working!" Professor Lin recorded the data nearby. "Emotional responses are beginning to return to normal thresholds!"

The following treatments were like magic: when Chen Xiaojun watched the dolphin show at the aquarium, the Qing Shuang Sword did not buzz for the first time when someone approached; Jiang Si and Chai Jing finally understood that "modern weapons" do not need to actually kill through participating in cosplay activities; Zhuang Hanyan was arranged to enter a university laboratory to satisfy her almost perverse scientific research desires in a controlled environment.

But the most important turning point happened late on the seventh day.

Hu Yue suddenly woke up and found Chen Xiaojun standing by her bedside, the Qing Shuang sword pointed at her throat.

"Xiaojun?" she asked cautiously.

Chen Xiaojun's pupils were unfocused: "East District...radiation leak discovered...it must be cleaned up..."

Hu Yue immediately realized that this was a flashback phenomenon caused by combat stress.

She slowly raised her hands and responded with the wasteland world's password: "Purification process initiated. I am Hu Yue, friendly force, number NB-147."

Chen Xiaojun's wrist trembled slightly.

Hu Yue took the opportunity to gently grasp the hand holding the sword: "Remember? We had hot pot in Shanghai in the real world yesterday, and you said the sesame sauce was too greasy..."

The sword tip slowly drooped.

Chen Xiaojun suddenly collapsed to her knees, sword energy surging wildly around her: "I can't control... those images... those people I've killed..."

Su Ning appeared in the room instantly and pointed a finger at her brow.

Before Chen Xiaojun fell into a deep sleep, she heard his gentle voice: "I'll take you somewhere tomorrow."

……

As the fireworks at Disneyland illuminated the night sky, Hu Yue felt something hard melting in her heart.

When the Mickey Mouse balloon floated past, when the children's laughter reached his ears, when Chen Xiaojun instinctively caught the little girl who had fallen instead of drawing his sword...

She finally understood Suning's intention.

“Civilization needs to be revisited.” Bathed in the light of the fireworks, Su Ning’s face was half-lit and half-shadowed. “Like these fireworks, in the wasteland they could only be used as signal flares, but here…”

“It’s something that brings joy to people,” Chen Xiaojun replied softly, a small, harmless sword flower condensing at her fingertips, which then turned into a point of light and rose into the air.

Jiang Si suddenly pointed to her heart: "Here... it feels strange, warm and a little sore..."

“That’s called being moved, silly girl.” Zhuang Hanyan pushed up her non-prescription glasses, which she had somehow acquired. “According to my research, it’s one of the most precious human emotions.”

That evening, everyone returned to the mansion.

Hu Yue took a long-awaited rose bath, while Chen Xiaojun quietly flipped through a collection of poems that had been gathering dust for many years.

When Suning checked the surveillance footage of area C-127, they found that the array was functioning properly...

Time seemed to stand still there, waiting for them to return in better condition.

“Master,” Chai Jing suddenly leaned closer, “when are we going back to that world?” Su Ning raised an eyebrow: “I thought you guys preferred it here.”

“Yes, I like it.” Chai Jing fiddled with her newly bought smartphone. “But aren’t those people waiting for salvation in the acid rain… also another kind of ‘reality’?”

Outside the window, the city lights shone like a galaxy.

Su Ning thought of the eyes in the wasteland yearning for light and answered softly:

"When you truly find yourselves."

……

After calming down her female confidantes, Su Ning suddenly received a message from the system.

It turned out to be a way for him to re-enter the world of "A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality".

Furthermore, it requires that one's martial arts skills be rebuilt from scratch, and that one cannot use technological power or Jin Yong's martial arts techniques.

If he can cultivate to the Immortal Emperor level again, he will have complete control over the spatial world, and the system will disappear completely. In the future, Su Ning will be able to control his own freedom.

When Su Ning told Chen Xiaojun, Chen Xiaojun also wanted to travel through time with Su Ning.

However, considering that this time might be extremely dangerous and that he might not even be able to protect himself, he decided not to bring Chen Xiaojun and instructed her to seek treatment in the real world.

The cultivation level of the Immortal Emperor receded like a tide, and the extraction of every bit of spiritual power felt like having one's tendons and bones ripped out.

Su Ning sat cross-legged in the secret room, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, but he gritted his teeth and didn't utter a sound.

"Su Ning, are you really sure you want to do this?" Chen Xiaojun asked Su Ning with a worried expression. "The risk of losing your cultivation and having to start over is too great. What if you fail..."

"No need for further words." Su Ning opened his eyes, his gaze sparkling like stars. "Having been bound by the system for tens of thousands of years, constantly traversing dungeon worlds, I will not let this opportunity slip by."

Two objects floated in front of him: an ancient bronze sword and a book gleaming with gold.

The former is his natal magic weapon, the Void Blade, in the world of "A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality," while the latter is "The Return of All Laws," which integrates all the martial arts in Jin Yong's world.

"System, seal them away." Su Ning waved his hand and set up nine layers of restrictions. "Since the mission requires that we not use technological power or Jin Yong's martial arts, let's go all the way this time."

As the last trace of immortal power dissipated, the excruciating pain caused Su Ning's vision to go black.

In a daze, he heard the system's final notification tone:
[Mission Initiated: Rebuild your cultivation to the Immortal Emperor Realm and gain complete control over space...]

“Su Ning…” Chen Xiaojun looked at Su Ning’s gradually disappearing figure with a face full of worry.

She lunged forward to grab her lover's hand, but only grasped a handful of starlight.

"Wait for me to come back." Su Ning's voice echoed in the void. "This time, I will return with true freedom..."

……

When the light from the time travel faded, Su Ning found herself curled up in a bumpy carriage.

The wooden carriage reeked of mold and sweat. Three thin, pale-faced boys huddled opposite each other, one of whom, with unusually bright eyes, was secretly sizing himself up.

"You're awake?" The boy with thick eyebrows and big eyes handed over a water pouch. "My name is Zhang Tie, this is Han Li, and that's Li Feiyu. Before you fainted, you said your name was Su Ning?"

The water in the water bladder had a rusty taste.

Su Ning pretended to take a sip, secretly circulating his basic cultivation technique to check his body...

His meridians were completely empty, and he couldn't even cast the simplest fireball spell.

The only saving grace is that spatial awareness is still present, though it is so weak that it can only detect objects within three feet of the body.

"Thank you," he replied in a hoarse voice, his gaze sweeping over the three of them.

Zhang Tie is honest and simple, Li Feiyu is unruly and rebellious, and Han Li...

This future mighty demon Han is currently just a country boy as wary as a small beast.

Su Ning noticed that his right hand was always on his waist, where a rusty knife was hidden.

The carriage suddenly braked hard, and shouts and curses came from outside.

The cool and handsome Li Feiyu lifted the carriage curtain and saw hundreds of carriages crowded on the mountain road, with pavilions and eaves faintly visible among the cliffs in the distance.

"We've arrived at the Seven Mysteries Sect!" the driver shouted. "Kids, remember to perform well during the test. If you're chosen by the Immortal Master, you'll live a life of luxury!"

Suning followed the crowd toward the testing plaza, secretly adjusting his breathing rhythm.

He must precisely control the test scores...

He needed to be chosen by Doctor Mo, but he couldn't stand out too much and attract too much attention, since his goal this time was the "Eternal Spring Technique".

"First test: Strength test!"

The lean old man pointed to the bronze cauldron in the center of the arena.

The boys stepped forward one by one, and those who could lift it a foot high were qualified.

When it was Su Ning's turn, he deliberately made his arms tremble and barely managed to lift the cauldron to 12 inches.

"Inferior, pass."

In the second poison test, he pretended to be stung by a scorpion but endured it without backing down; in the third endurance run, he calculated precisely and always stayed at the end of the second group.

When the final rankings were announced, Suning looked at his ninth-place ranking and secretly breathed a sigh of relief...

It just so happens to fall within Doctor Mo's apprenticeship range.

"You, you, and you." The withered old man pointed at Han Li, who was ranked eighth, himself, who was ranked ninth, and Zhang Tie, who was ranked tenth. "Come with me."

Mo Juren had deep-set eyes and carried a faint medicinal scent as he walked.

Su Ning followed behind with her head down, but her spatial awareness keenly detected the three poisoned needles hidden in the old man's sleeve, and...

An unusual aura lingering around the heart.

"This is Divine Hand Valley." Doctor Mo pushed aside the bamboo fence. "From today onwards, you will practice martial arts during the day and study medicine at night."

Han Li carefully observed the herb garden, Zhang Tie excitedly touched the wooden training dummy, while Su Ning's attention was entirely focused on the blood-red jade pendant at Doctor Mo's waist...

With his remaining spatial perception, he could clearly see that a twisted soul was sealed within the jade pendant.

That night, lying on the communal bed listening to Zhang Tie's snoring, Su Ning opened her eyes in the darkness.

Han Li, who was in the next bed, was also awake, and was using the moonlight to look through the "Eternal Spring Skill" manual that had been sent to him for exile.

"Senior Brother Su?" Han Li noticed the gaze and subconsciously hid the book.

"Just call me Su Ning." He lowered his voice. "What do you think of... Doctor Mo?"

Han Li remained silent for a long time before uttering two words: "Terrifying."

Moonlight streamed through the window, casting dappled patterns of light between the two.

At this moment, the future legendary Han Laomo and the reborn Immortal Emperor are just two ordinary teenagers who have noticed their master's abnormality.

The next morning, when Doctor Mo demonstrated his martial arts, Su Ning deliberately appeared clumsy in the "Stepping Clouds" lightness skill, but showed a little brilliance in delicate moves such as the "Entangling Silk Hand".

Sure enough, at lunchtime, Dr. Mo kept him behind alone:

"You're quite skilled with your hands; you'll be in charge of grinding medicine from now on."

In the pharmacy, Su Ning ground cinnabar while observing Doctor Mo's method of dispensing medicine.

As the old man turned around, he quickly used his fingernail to pick up a bit of black powder and hid it in his sleeve...

These are the raw materials for the "poison pill" prepared for Han Li.

"Hurry up!" Doctor Mo suddenly turned around and patted his shoulder with his withered, claw-like hand.

A chilling aura crept up his arm, but was repelled by some invisible force just before it reached his heart.

A glint of light flashed in the old man's eyes: "You've practiced Qi cultivation?"

"Master, my family has passed down some breathing techniques," Su Ning feigned alarm, "They say they can strengthen the body..."

Doctor Mo narrowed his eyes and suddenly grabbed his wrist to take his pulse.

Just as Su Ning was about to take a risk and use his last bit of spatial power, the old man released his grip: "From now on, only practice the skills I teach you."

"Yes! Master."

As Su Ning walked out of the pharmacy, a cold smile appeared on her face.

In that brief moment, he clearly sensed that another consciousness was hidden within Doctor Mo's body...

Yu Zitong's ghost is the real threat.

Three months passed, and Han Li became increasingly silent, while Zhang Tie developed a great admiration for Doctor Mo.

During the evening class that day, Doctor Mo suddenly announced that he would test the progress of the "Changchun Gong" exercise.

"Han Li, circulate your Qi throughout the body."

When Han Li managed to summon a wisp of spiritual energy, Doctor Mo's eyes flashed with joy, but he pretended to be stern: "Stupid! Zhang Tie, you come here!"

The honest-looking boy blushed but still failed to draw qi into his body, which once again left Doctor Mo with a look of helplessness.

When it was Su Ning's turn, he took a deep breath, and his spiritual energy circulated along a specific route, causing a faint blue light to emanate from his body.

"Qi Refining Level 1?!" Doctor Mo suddenly stood up, an unnatural flush appearing on his gaunt face. "When did you break through?"

"This disciple doesn't know either," Su Ning feigned ignorance. "I just practiced according to what the book said, and a few days ago I suddenly felt a heat in my dantian..."

Doctor Mo's hands trembled slightly with excitement, but he forced himself to remain calm: "Good! From today onwards, you will receive an extra portion of spirit rice every day. Han Li, Zhang Tie, you should learn more from Su Ning!"

"Yes! Master."

Back at his residence, Han Li unusually took the initiative to speak: "Senior Brother Su, could you give me some guidance in my cultivation?"

Looking at this future Old Devil Han, whose eyes were now pleading, Su Ning's heart softened: "Actually, I have a trick..."

He deliberately revealed several key points of the "Eternal Spring Skill," but concealed his understanding of the skill from his previous life.

Han Li was overjoyed and went to cultivate overnight.

In the stillness of the night, Su Ning sat cross-legged on the bed, his consciousness sinking into his body.

Deep within the dantian, a barely perceptible spatial seed is slowly rotating...

This is his last trump card.

"Doctor Mo should be making his move soon..." Su Ning looked out the window at the crescent moon, "Yu Zitong, let's see who possesses whom this time."

...(End of chapter)