Please don't question multi-week players

Chapter 178. Lost Items (2)

[I... there's one more site I haven't checked?]

Jiang Jianxin wondered.

Intuition didn't give her a direct answer, but instead guided her:

Please think about it carefully.

Jiang Jianxin stood there, something suddenly flashing through his mind.

...The fourth time I wandered around the cemetery.

...Only cemeteries allow tombstones of any size to be erected anywhere.

...Everyone will be resurrected in the cemetery.

There was one site that had always been the most unique, yet no one had ever doubted it—or rather, no one dared to doubt it.

Because triggering a pollution source requires directly destroying the site, but the cemetery is filled with everyone's tombstones.

That's the respawn point—who would dare destroy their own respawn point, unafraid of digging their own grave?
[Is it the cemetery station...?]

Jiang Jianxin asked, his mind trembling.

【correct. 】

The intuitive answer was decisive.

But... if we destroy the cemetery station, won't everyone die?

Jiang Jianxin asked with difficulty.

If someone else destroys the cemetery, their own tombstone in the cemetery will also be shattered—not only will they perish, but the entire contaminated area will be destroyed as well.

But do you still remember? Your tombstone—

[Standing outside the cemetery.]

Intuition spoke slowly, lines of subtitles flashing through his mind, as if revealing a mystery.

Countless fragments of information flashed through Jiang Jianxin's mind like a blizzard.

Yes, everyone's tombstone is in the cemetery, but hers is not. Both times she was resurrected, she crawled directly out from the subway platform.

—She can be resurrected an unlimited number of times; no matter how many times she dies, she can be resurrected.

—That was something lost in the fourth playthrough, something that originally belonged to her.

Guess who it's waiting for.

Intuition slowly revealed its final words.

Everything was so cleverly designed that all that was missing was her ID number.

Jiang Jianxin suddenly understood, and she smiled as she said:

"So that's it..."

"So, I don't need to eliminate my competitors; the conditions have already blocked them for me."

Jiang Jianxin said thoughtfully.

—In the fourth playthrough, she appears to be a ruthless character, and in fact, she is indeed ruthless in her actions. Anyone who dares to compete with her is doomed. Regardless of the process and development, this item will ultimately end up in her hands.

[That's how Luobogang is.]

Intuition succinctly summarized it.

"Sword Master...has the source of the pollution not appeared?"

Zuo Siquan leaned closer, his gaze sweeping over the tranquil ruins before looking down at his own arm, his fingertips gently touching the spreading scales, his voice tinged with unease.

She could feel a cool, slippery sensation on her neck, and vaguely guessed what was growing there.

—She only has one life left.

If the source of pollution cannot be found, it will be completely eroded...

She pursed her lips, not daring to think any further.

At the same time, Chu Zhibai and Xia Qizhen also turned their gazes to Jiang Jianxin.

The white-robed swordsman silently raised his longsword, about to speak, when hurried footsteps sounded behind him.

"So... have you found the source of the pollution yet?"

Wen Yu rushed over, his breathing slightly disordered, and a small, dark blue fish floated quietly on his shoulder.

The little fish on Jiang Jianxin's shoulder suddenly transformed into a stream of light, flew towards Wen Yu, and finally merged with his little fish.

Wen Yu looked up at the Sword Master in front of her—her white clothes were stained with dust, and her arms were mostly covered with scales, but her expression remained calm, as if she had everything under control.

"Not here."

Jiang Jianxin said calmly.

"But I know where it is."

Do you need me to come with you?

Wen Yu asked.

"Do you want to compete with me for the source of pollution?" Jiang Jianxin didn't say it outright, but glanced at him sideways and gave him a subtle reminder.

Wen Yu was a smart man; he instantly understood and immediately raised his hands, saying:
"I understand, don't misunderstand, I was just asking if I needed help. This thing is suppressing me like crazy, I'm trying to avoid it as fast as I can."

"unnecessary."

Jiang Jianxin replied quickly.

She surveyed the crowd, her gaze sweeping over the scales covering their bodies, her voice steady as the ringing of a sword:
"Trust me, wait for me."

The Tangguang Sword drew a cold arc in her hand, its tip pointing straight at her heart.

Just as the sword was about to pierce through, a magnificent golden magic array suddenly unfolded.

The sheer size and complexity of this magic array far exceeded anything anyone could see. The oppressive force contained within it caused the air to freeze, as if even time itself was being frozen.

Wen Yu's pupils contracted slightly as he stared at the flowing patterns on the magic array, a thoughtful expression flashing across his face.

"boom--"

Golden light roared out from the magic array, and the familiar scene played out once again—the dazzling pillar of light pierced through Jiang Jianxin's body, completely engulfing her figure.

Only a few wisps of golden dust remained on the spot.

……

Cemetery Station.

The soil slid down, and Jiang Jianxin struggled to get up from the damp grave soil. When he opened his eyes, he met the familiar face from his fourth playthrough.

The hooded child stood before her, holding a black umbrella, his voice calm:

"Dead again?"

"Who did this this time?"

Jiang Jianxin looked directly at her and spoke slowly and deliberately:
"Myself."

The air suddenly solidified.

The hooded child remained silent for a long time before finally speaking:
"Did you guess the answer?"

Jiang Jianxin frowned slightly and asked in return:
"You clearly knew the location of the belongings, so why didn't you tell me when we first met?"

The hooded child spoke calmly, as if stating a given fact:

"The family forbids me from speaking of it."

She said that if she had told you from the beginning, there would have been one less step.

"This step is not related to the final outcome of the underwater contaminated area, but it will affect the future."

"Without it, she couldn't make her next move."

Jiang Jianxin's pupils contracted slightly:
"Have you ever met a prophet?"

The hooded child simply nodded:

"Ah."

Jiang Jianxin looked surprised.

She thought that each of her playthroughs was independent, but she didn't expect that the fourth playthrough would be an exception. She actually connected with the first playthrough, which was something she never expected.

Seeing that Jiang Jianxin was still going to ask, the hooded child slightly raised his hand to stop him, his voice soft but undeniable:

"Do not ask."

"She's playing a game of chess that transcends time and space, and you and I—"

"They are all part of the game."

Beneath the shadow of the umbrella, the child's eyes were as deep and unfathomable as an ancient well.

"Follow her guidance, and you will find your place in the predetermined future."

Jiang Jianxin's throat bobbed, and all his questions finally turned into a suppressed sigh.

"Go."

The hooded child pointed in the direction of the cemetery:

"Your comrades have waited too long."

The Tangguang Sword hummed in his palm. Jiang Jianxin glanced one last time at the fading afterimage, then turned around, his robes billowing like a white crane spreading its wings.

At the end of the subway station, the rusty black iron gate slowly opened.

Amidst the creaking of decaying hinges, countless tombstones pierced the sky, unleashing an ancient and oppressive aura of death.

That place holds the secrets of all reincarnations and awaits the final swordsman.

Oops, I thought I set a specific time to publish, but when I came back and saw the draft was still in my drafts, I realized I forgot to set it (╥_╥).
The underwater contaminated area is almost over. This section contains a lot of foreshadowing for what's to come and connects to the earlier parts. Here's a summary for those who didn't understand:
1. An unknown but important link that will play a role later in the text.

2. In the normal future, Jiang Jianxin will not come to the underwater polluted area instance. The foreknowledge family arranged for Zuo Siquan to be placed in the Dream Pavilion, and let Jiang Jianxin go underwater. The first piece of her two chess pieces has already begun to be mobilized.

3. The Foresight House and the God of Death and Silence knew each other, specifically because she could see the future, and the God of Death and Silence was a god.

4. The Predictor House has extensive connections with the God of Death and Silence, and the third playthrough, which has healing abilities, is also connected to the God of Death and Silence.

Update tomorrow during the day~