What evil intentions could an evil god possibly have?

Then it realized that it hadn't hugged anyone in a long time, and now it was Shen Muchan who was hugging it. It couldn't help but feel sad and upset.

Why are you crying?

Shen Muchan looked at the licked-clean plate and asked curiously, "Was it too spicy?"

Songtang was taken aback by what she heard, and her sad mood vanished instantly. She meowed irritably, as if to say, "Are you an idiot again?"

Shen Muchan said, "Ask what's wrong?"

"No wonder she said you were an incompetent maid, not even knowing what flavors she didn't like. You're truly remarkable."

"She usually orders takeout."

"Are you implying it's her fault?"

"I'm doing this part-time on a temporary basis, and besides, I have no prior experience."

"Shifting the blame?"

That's the truth.

"No wonder you can't beat me!"

The white cat snorted, its eyes full of pride, before it realized another very serious problem.

It turned its head with some difficulty and saw Su Yan looking at it, her expression calm.

Shen Muchan looked at it apologetically, thinking to herself that this was not her fault, but Gu Yuqiu's idea.

She regarded Gu Yuqiu as her biggest enemy. These days, she had been living together for a rare time, so she naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity to observe him. How could she not know that he didn't like spicy food?

She even seriously considered whether it would have a miraculous effect if she turned a large lake into a boiling pot and then threw Gu Yuqiu into it, such as breaking his mental will.

Unfortunately, this is something she can hardly accomplish on her own without help; she needs the cooperation of local forces.

After last night's battle, the Special Affairs Bureau was destined not to stand against Gu Yuqiu, so she had no choice but to give up the idea.

From this perspective, she actually found a way to survive.

"Let's eat something."

Gu Yuqiu gave her an appreciative look, then looked away and asked Su Yan, "What flavor do you want to eat?"

At this point, how could Su Yan not see through the changes behind it all? She said, "Spicy, and whatever you think tastes good, that's fine."

Gu Yuqiu said "okay".

After that, only the sounds of wind and snow, the crackling of burning charcoal, and the rich aroma of sliced ​​meat remained on the balcony.

A long period of silence.

This isn't because they had strict rules about eating from a young age, forbidding them from talking; rather, it's because they've all walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and are used to resolving things quickly to reduce wasted time and avoid accidents.

Of course, the silence at this moment has nothing to do with these things.

But they do enjoy this environment more.

I don't know how much time passed, but the meat that I had prepared on the spot was finally grilled up, leaving only the vegetables that I didn't like.

Shen Muchan reached out and took a tissue to wipe Songtang's mouth, removing the drops of grease from its fur.

Gu Yuqiu refilled Su Yan's glass and said, "Shall we just chat?"

Su Yan glanced at the white cat and the girl beside her, her meaning clear.

"That's why I said whatever."

Gu Yuqiu leaned back in the comfortable wicker chair, looked up at the snowy sky, and said softly, "It was just casual conversation, just drunken talk."

Su Yan said indifferently, "Every word we say, no matter how casual, is like a thunderbolt in this world, capable of affecting the future of millions of people."

Gu Yuqiu did not refute it, because it was true.

She knew very well that the reason Su Yan had maintained a low profile all these years was because of this sentence.

"But no one else can hear us, can't they?"

Gu Yuqiu's gaze fell on the many corners hidden in the night, looking at the Special Affairs Bureau agents hiding among them, without the slightest disgust in his eyes.

Su Yan asked, "So what do you want to talk about?"

Shen Muchan suddenly said, "I have a question."

Su Yan glanced at her and said, "It'd better be interesting."

"I think so."

Shen Muchan didn't panic at those words and said seriously, "I want to know, how can someone as worthless as Xinglu stand so high?"

She always looked down on Stardew, firmly believing that her existence was an insult to effort, and that strength was inextricably linked to fate and bloodline.

However, due to her limited location, she was not as high as Stardew and could not see those views, so her thoughts remained just that—thoughts.

Su Yan said expressionlessly, "This is a very big topic."

No matter how you look at it, this sentence means I don't want to talk.

Shen Muchan was somewhat disappointed and hummed in agreement.

Just then, Gu Yuqiu's voice rang out.

"It's also a very interesting question, and I've thought about it before."

Thinking back on those past events, she said, "However, although my views at the time were generally correct, they ultimately missed the big picture and were somewhat one-sided."

Shen Muchan asked seriously, "What is it?"

Gu Yuqiu asked, "There are six steps to the Ascension to Divinity. What are the differences between them?"

Shen Muchan was slightly taken aback, not understanding why she would bring up such a well-known issue, but thinking about the answer to follow, she patiently repeated it again.

"From the first stage of perception, you establish a connection with that sea. Your body will be affected by it and become stronger, and your senses will become more acute. But at this stage, you are still an ordinary person."

“In most regions, the second stage is considered extraordinary because at this stage, extraordinary individuals are no longer limited to their physical bodies and can literally control the wind and rain, even if the scale is too small.”

"Later on, the third stage is when extraordinary individuals establish connections with the real world."

"The fourth stage is to gain the approval of that sea and leave your mark on it. That's when we got our nickname... Innocent Queen, which sounds better than Crimson."

"Only when one reaches the fifth level will a transcendent being fully lock onto their path and delve deeper into their own power, no longer merely displaying its superficial application. For example, before I reached the fifth level, I could only influence my own time, but after reaching the fifth level, I can change the real world and create a sanctuary."

She paused here, looked at Gu Yuqiu, and said, "Next is your domain."

Su Yan's lips curled slightly as she thought to herself that she had told me about the scenery that followed.

"So you still don't understand?"

Gu Yuqiu took a sip of wine, looked at Shen Muchan, and said with a slight sneer, "That ocean is an illusion, while you exist in the real world. There's no need to go into detail about the first two stages. The real purpose of the third stage, which is to establish a connection with the world, is to leave an anchor point so as not to get completely lost."

Shen Muchan seemed to be deep in thought when she said, "Is this a process of humanity fighting against that ocean?"

"More or less, but that's a biased view."

"So, you mean Stardew was so pathetic because she failed?"

"Of course not, because she has never succeeded."

"What...does this mean?"

"That's what makes Stardew special."

Gu Yuqiu smiled and said, "You can think of her as a creation of that void ocean, a successful yet unsuccessful attempt."

Su Yan suddenly said, "I don't understand. Please explain more clearly."

It was only then that Shen Muchan and Bai Mao realized that she, who had been drinking with her head down, had actually been listening attentively and was not indifferent.

Gu Yuqiu took a final sip of wine and then spoke at length.

"Initially, the sea was pure, and the threshold to transcendence was extremely low. Life's yearning for power is both innate and instinctive, so all life surged towards the sea, gaining power and creating glory while simultaneously dying. The corpses of these lives remained in the real world, and also in that sea. Unlike the body, which leaves nutrients for the land, the corpse of the soul leaves only impurities. Thus, the sea gradually became polluted and lost its clarity. This is the fundamental reason why the threshold to transcendence later became increasingly high. As time passed, the former gods, now the Old Gods, before completely losing themselves, made a decision to prolong their existence. In simple terms, this decision was suicide. They sank their souls into the sea, entering a seemingly eternal hibernation to escape their responsibilities. From today's perspective, this idea was indeed useful, but it also brought a very interesting consequence."

She said, "The sea, which should have been unconscious, was influenced by this false death and developed a will."

Her tone was casual, as if she were talking about something insignificant that wouldn't affect her at all, and even gave the impression that she could do whatever she wanted.

Shen Muchan was silent for a while before saying, "I don't feel that the sea has a will. Even if it does, it's utter chaos and madness."

Gu Yuqiu smiled slightly.

She mocked, "Why are they crazy? Because too many gods commit suicide, so wouldn't they become mentally ill?"

"So what's the deal with Star Dew?" Shen Muchan recalled her initial question.

"It's very simple."

Gu Yuqiu said calmly, "Her appearance is a rational decision made by all the chaotic wills of that sea to prevent the true return of the old gods and to cut off the possibility of being influenced from the origin of the self."

Shen Muchan found this utterly unreasonable and asked, "Then why does she look so much like an idiot?"

"Her power was bestowed."

Gu Yuqiu said, "If there's a problem with the water source, how can people who drink the water not be affected? Especially someone like her who's being chased around for water."

That's all for now.

Shen Muchan looked at Gu Yuqiu.

Songtang suddenly thought of a question, the same one that Shen Muchan was thinking.

Su Yan brought up the question.

"What about Lin Mushi?"

She looked at Gu Yuqiu and asked earnestly, "What will she be like after ascending to the throne of godhood?"

P.S.: I'm taking a shower and having some noodles. I'll write another chapter before 10 PM. (Yesterday's tomorrow is today, so I didn't skip it!)

Chapter 152: I Only Love Myself

In a sense, this is the most important problem that the human world will face today.

This issue not only involves the future world order, but also directly concerns the three most crucial things: whether humanity can continue to exist, and in what way it will continue.

No one can be sure what Lin Mushi will be like when she wakes up again, whether her personality will change, or whether she will inherit the idea of ​​severing humanity's future.

Except Gu Yuqiu.