Chapter 77 Survival

　　The wisteria tree rose from the ground.

　　Transforming into a large umbrella.

　　Countless willow branches hung down from the edge of the wisteria umbrella. Zhou Jiren stood beneath the umbrella, the dim rain absorbed by the withered wisteria wood. In the distance, the night sky over the small street looked like a dilapidated old oil painting.

　　Gu Shen supported his senior sister, gently lowering Nan Jin.

　　"The reason I knocked her unconscious is because she shouldn't see this scene... Sometimes, knowing secrets is a burden. It will bring trouble not only to her, but also to you."

　　Zhou Jiren stood in front of the rain curtain, lost in thought for a long time. "Your ability is a huge trouble."

　　Gu Shen was stunned.

　　He came to his teacher's side and released that wisp of blazing fire.

　　Without external stimulation, the blazing fire was exceptionally obedient and docile, like his own child.

　　A slender flame wrapped around his fingertip, sometimes leaping, sometimes coiling.

　　"The Council has been searching for a way to 'save the world'... Since you've been to the tenth floor of the Flower Banner's underground, you should know about the 'Gene Law'," Zhou Jiren said in a low voice. "If the Council could allow the Gene Law to pass, what else are they incapable of doing?"

　　"I can eliminate 'points of order collapse'..."

　　Gu Shen was somewhat bewildered. He asked softly, "Isn't that a good thing?"

　　"It is... Of course, it is."

　　Zhou Jiren laughed, but there was no joy in his laughter, only endless complexity. "It's a good thing for the world, but for you... not necessarily."

　　"Xiao Gu..."

　　"If one day, you have to sacrifice yourself to bring stability to this world... what would you choose?"

　　Zhou Jiren turned to look at Gu Shen.

　　Gu Shen looked at the flame in his palm, bouncing around. Before him was another quiet, long night. The world slept soundly in the darkness, filled with peace and tranquility. Everything was beautiful.

　　"Only by sacrificing myself can I bring stability to this world?"

　　Gu Shen asked softly.

　　The only answer he received was a soft word.

　　"...Yes."

　　"Perhaps... maybe?"

　　He scratched his head, feeling a little uncomfortable with such a serious question. The old guy was always so nonchalant. Suddenly being so serious made him feel lost.

　　Zhou Jiren gave him a suspicious look.

　　"...If you want to hear the truth, then pretend I didn't say anything," Gu Shen quickly added.

　　"To err is human," Zhou Jiren smiled. "My greatest wish is to live to be two hundred years old... so if this question were posed to me, I would choose... no."

　　"But you are the Grand Arbiter of the Eastern Continent..."

　　"So what?"

　　Mr. Tree spoke softly, "The Grand Arbiter of the Eastern Continent is just a title. It's me now, but it can be someone else in the future... The person who wears the crown of justice is not necessarily a true believer willing to sacrifice himself. So... I am the Grand Arbiter of the Eastern Continent, what does that have to do with my fear of death?"

　　It sounded like a shameless statement.

　　But... it was very real.

　　"The cruelty of this world lies in the fact that when you are pushed to the top of the wave, it doesn't matter whether you want to or not..."

　　"If one day I need to be sacrificed to bring peace to billions of people in the Five Continents."

　　"Then... I will be sacrificed... This outcome has nothing to do with what I want or don't want."

　　Zhou Jiren said meaningfully, "Do you understand what I mean?"

　　"I understand... and I don't understand completely..."

　　Gu Shen's voice grew softer, laced with self-deprecation. "So, being able to eliminate 'points of order collapse' is actually an unfortunate thing..."

　　The first time he met Mr. Tree.

　　The old guy threatened him with dissection research. Gu Shen knew... that he was just saying it.

　　But now it was different.

　　If the true ability of the blazing fire were to spread... all the important figures in the Five Continents Council would be shocked. Gu Shen could vaguely guess what fate awaited him. The countless points of order collapse in the Five Continents, and even those black spots in the Northern Causal Fortress, would all need him to "save" them.

　　It sounded nice in name, calling it salvation.

　　But from that moment on, his fate would no longer be under his own control.

　　"That's not right either."

　　Zhou Jiren chuckled softly, "It's both the greatest luck and the greatest misfortune... It depends on your strength. If you are strong enough, who would dare to touch you?"

　　"The Council has seven Supreme Council seats, reserved only for those who wield a Seed of Fire. Currently, apart from your blazing fire, the only ones who can completely erase 'points of order collapse' are those who wield a Seed of Fire and are close to God. They are seen as the future saviors of humanity, the hope of saving the Five Continents... Indeed, they are no longer beings that mortals can understand. They only need to spread a wisp of their will to dispatch apostles to carry their extraordinary power. Isn't this the power that only 'God' possesses?"

　　Mr. Tree looked at Gu Shen and said, "But if someone... can do all this without a Seed of Fire... what do you think they will do when they find out?"

　　Cold sweat broke out on Gu Shen's back.

　　"Not everyone has a noble and great soul, just as you saw just now... Even the Grand Arbiter of the Eastern Continent has a side that fears death. I still have unfinished wishes, so I must stay alive. And those who inherit the name of greatness are not necessarily upright and honorable."

　　At this point, Zhou Jiren paused.

　　He sighed from the bottom of his heart, "It's worth mentioning that Gu Changzhi is an exception... This guy is like a wall forged of light from head to toe, frank and unyielding. If he could sacrifice himself to bring peace to the world, Gu Changzhi would choose to sacrifice himself without hesitation."

　　"Gu Changzhi..."

　　He heard the name again.

　　Gu Shen naturally felt respect in his heart.

　　Some people, even after death, are mourned by countless people, revered by countless people, and regarded as a benchmark by countless people... Gu Changzhi was clearly that kind of person.

　　Ironically, although Gu Changzhi was not dead, he was only asleep.

　　But everyone seemed to assume that he would never wake up.

　　"Sometimes I wonder if you two share the same last name, could there be any connection..." Zhou Jiren glanced at Gu Shen and sneered, "But obviously, the same last name is just a coincidence. From personality to ability, you two have nothing in common. You are completely different people from two different worlds."

　　Gu Shen did not feel ashamed at all.

　　He retorted with confidence, "But I am also very afraid of death... How can there be someone in this world who is not afraid of death?"

　　"Yes... I also don't understand."

　　Zhou Jiren shrugged, "I will never be able to understand what a man like Gu Changzhi is thinking. Isn't he afraid of death? When you die, you have nothing."

　　He stretched out his hand.

　　And rubbed it.

　　His palms were dry.

　　The rain outside had stopped.

　　"We can't be Gu Changzhi." The old guy turned around and looked at Gu Shen. "If you are afraid of death but want to make a contribution to this world, then remember this... No matter what happens to this world, make sure you survive first. Only by living can you have the opportunity to contribute."

　　Gu Shen's expression was complicated.

　　This was not the first time he had heard such words.

　　Survive.