From the end of the world

Chapter 421: The Power of the Divine Seal Fragment
I recalled the scene when Xuanming suddenly attacked Xiaowan.

When I saw Xuan Ming suddenly concentrate his flames to attack Xiao Wan, I instinctively thought he was going to kill Xiao Wan, but after thinking about it, I realized that was not the case. His "attack" lacked killing intent. If his flames could set the degree of damage like mine, that flame would probably not really kill Xiao Wan.

Zhu Shi suspected that Xuan Ming's purpose was not to "kill" but to "capture", and I think this expression is appropriate. Yes, the thoughts filled in the flames, and the final action of swallowing the small bowl into it, did have a very strong sense of control and capture. Xuan Ming might really have intended to grab the small bowl at the moment of the destruction of the virtual world.

But what is his specific purpose?
Also, since he wanted to capture Xiaowan, why did he remind Xiaowan beforehand, clearly stating the value and danger of the Son of Divinity, and even asking Xiaowan to be more careful?
I felt a contradiction in this, but I couldn't tell whether the contradiction was in my own reasoning or in Xuanming himself.

Ma Zao was still worried about Xiao Wan, who had lost contact with her in the apocalypse, and I tried to comfort her. In fact, I didn't think I would never see Xiao Wan again. It was just that to outsiders, my basis might seem illusory.

In my mind, my adventure started with my encounter with Ma Zao, and was advanced by the mysterious power of Ma Zao. Being in her vortex, I not only encountered countless strange events that I could not encounter in the past, but also met Xiao Wan who lived in the future. And this series of events is definitely not something I can withdraw from at will if I want to. Because it is not easy to "quit halfway", there is no interruption in the adventure.

In other words, it is impossible for me to cut off all contact with Xiaowan before I have solved all the mysteries about her and have not really understood her. We will definitely meet again somewhere. Even if there is no material evidence, I will not doubt it at all.

I understand that this has gone beyond belief and has reached the point of superstition. But I just believe in Ma Zao's power. Even though I am now regarded as a god by countless demon hunters and Ma Zao is regarded as a girl under my protection, in my own opinion, Ma Zao is my real god.

Under my seemingly flawed inference, Ma Zao gradually calmed down, as if he believed what I said.

Zhu Shi looked at me and Ma Zao, and suddenly said, "Speaking of which, now that it has been confirmed that I am not Xiao Wan, then regarding the engagement..."

"Are you planning to break off the engagement?" I asked.

Hearing me say the word "broken engagement", Zhu Shi didn't know what he thought of. He suddenly covered his mouth and laughed, then quickly regained his serious expression and continued: "Well, let me make it clear in advance that I have no opinion on you, Brother Zhuang. It's just that since I am not Ma Zao's friend in the doomsday era, it should be difficult for Ma Zao to accept that you and I have a child, so..."

"No, I have no objection." Ma Zao said seriously, "Instead, if Zhu Shi must have a child, then I hope you will have it with Zhuang Cheng."

"Why? Is it because you think Xiaowan might be my child?" Zhu Shi asked back, "But even if Xiaowan is my future daughter, she is not necessarily the child of Zhuang Cheng and me, right?"

"But, Xiaowan is the same as Zhushi when he was a child, a son of divinity, right?" Ma Zao said, "I heard that it is very difficult for a son of divinity to be born in later times, but Xiaowan still appeared. So, if the mother is Zhushi, it makes sense to assume that the father is Da Wuchang, right?"

And speaking of the person among the Great Impermanence that Zhu Shihui would come into contact with who is most likely to marry and have children with, the only person that comes to mind is me - this is probably what Ma Zao wanted to say.

Taking a step back, considering that Xiaowan has Zhu Shi's childhood memories, the speculation that "Xiaowan is Zhu Shi" has not been completely blocked. It is possible that some accidents caused Xiaowan to malfunction and unable to accept the two names Zhu Shi and Zhu Jiuxing again.

In fact, there is some supporting evidence that Ma Zao may not have thought of, which is also inferred from the point that "Xiaowan carries Zhu Shi's childhood memories."

It's not surprising that demon hunters actively record their skills into their genetic genes and pass them on to their offspring. What's strange is that even their childhood memories are recorded in them. This situation may only happen to those demons who are born to pass on their memories to their offspring, and coincidentally, I may also belong to that kind of "demon".

My flesh and blood are all made of flames, or in other words, they are mimicked by spirits, and can preserve memories. Even my genetic factors may have this property. Combining the knowledge of mysticism that I have learned, if my genetic factors enter Zhu Shi's womb and form offspring, this offspring may also absorb the mother's memory information in the process of absorbing the mother's physiological and spiritual nutrients.

This is definitely not a fantasy. Similar examples can be found in Luo Shan's historical records. Some demon hunters who are half-blooded with demons do exhibit this trait.

The possibility that Xiaowan is the daughter of Zhu Shi and I seems to be getting higher and higher.

Zhu Shi seemed to want to refute something, and I don’t know if she was thinking in the same direction as me. After opening and closing her mouth silently several times, her face slowly showed a look of realization and astonishment, and she looked at me.

"No, no, no..." Zhu Shi muttered, "This is too absurd. Xiaowan is my and Senior Brother Zhuang's daughter... After all, if it weren't for Ma Zao, Senior Brother Zhuang and I would never have really met..."

"But in the apocalypse, there is no such thing as anchoring. Even without anchoring, the Great Impermanence can still contact the strange world normally. That is to say, even without me, Zhuang Cheng can still get to know Zhu Shini, a demon hunter." Ma Zao actually burst out with wisdom that he didn't usually have at this juncture. "After you and Zhuang Cheng met, your grandfather will definitely find a way to bring you together. You shouldn't be unhappy about marrying and having children with each other, right?"

"...Well, it seems so." Zhu Shi could only admit it.

I had to nod my head. According to Ma Zao's reasoning, the birth of Xiao Wan between Zhu Shi and I was a natural consequence. Although I don't know why Zhu Shi and I were not with Xiao Wan during the apocalypse, if I think about it carefully, this reasoning is even more reliable than the explanation Xiao Wan gave in the virtual world at that time.

"And if Xiaowan must have a father, I hope Zhuang Cheng will be Xiaowan's father."

Ma Zao seemed to have mixed a strange selfish motive into his reasoning.

"Reasoning alone is not enough, a verification step is needed in the end," I reminded.

"Well, verify, verify..."

Ma Zao racked his brains to think, and then it was as if a light bulb lit up above his head, and he said: "——Otherwise, Zhuang Cheng and Zhu Shi should first decide what name to give to their daughter if they have one, and then bring it up and ask Xiao Wan when they meet in the future?"

I was shocked to find that my real boyfriend was urging me to discuss with other women what name to give to my daughter if I had one.

Afterwards, perhaps because he was worried that his presence would interfere with the discussion between Zhu Shi and me, Ma left early.

Zhu Shiyi said in a joking tone: "Brother Zhuang, are you disliked by Ma Zao? Why do I feel like Ma Zao is trying hard to push me towards you?"

"If that's the case, I'll be relieved."

This sentence was just nonsense. If Ma Zao hated me, I would definitely not feel at ease, but Ma Zao's problem might be more complicated than that.

I want to monopolize Ma Zao, but she doesn't have that mindset. Is it because she doesn't like me? I think it's the opposite. Although it may make me seem narcissistic, I think Ma Zao is very, very attached to me.

While being attached to me, Ma Zao did not have any possessiveness towards me. I think this was because she lacked the desire to survive.

Although she is no longer as pessimistic as she used to be, and no longer occasionally shows a self-destructive side, she still has a strong habit of self-destruction in her consciousness. The ice is three feet thick, and it is not formed in a day. This path dependence may even penetrate into the underlying logic of her thinking. And this kind of thinking inertia may make her more inclined to "die for something" rather than "live for something" when facing certain important choices.

I don't know whether she was consciously or unconsciously thinking about what would happen after she disappeared from my side.

On the one hand, I hope she can change herself and face the world with a sunny and healthy heart; on the other hand, I actually find her morbid and fragile side cute and want her to remain the same, while also wanting to do my best to embrace her and warm her.

After a casual discussion with Zhu Shi, she left first, and I stayed in the room, testing the connection between myself and the fragment of the divine seal.

Even though Xiaowan is not around right now, the blessing she bestowed on me seems to have not completely faded. Perhaps it is because Xiaowan is still praying for me in the apocalypse. The effect is not as strong as when I was in the virtual world, but it is enough to provide me with obvious help.

I am in great shape now, and all indicators, including my perception, are highly flexible. Although I haven't broken through the upper limit, this state of approaching the upper limit is not something that can be achieved casually. With this favorable wind, I have a deeper grasp of the connection between myself and the fragments of the God Seal than before, and even vaguely grasp the mysterious power that exists in the fragments of the God Seal.

At a certain moment, just like the gear of the spirit accurately bit into another gear, my spirit seemed to have finally pried open a trace of mysterious power and was able to draw it out.

Then, I let my spirit wrap around that trace of mysterious power and tried to make it manifest. I raised my right hand, and like using a lighter, an orange-red flame burned on my fingertips.

This is a flame mixed with the power of the fragments of the divine seal. I have successfully drawn out the power of the fragments of the divine seal!

Although the amount is very small and we cannot expect it to produce a strong effect, it is a breakthrough from zero to one, proving that I am also qualified to manipulate the power of the divine seal fragments.

This tiny flame looked very similar to the flames I normally summoned, and I could tell the difference immediately.

(End of this chapter)