Mental strength completely exhausted.

Enveloped by the deep sea waters, he floated upwards. At this moment, Gu Shen felt as light as a feather.

There was none of the stinging pain that came with using the "Ruler of Truth."

Because everything here was completed under the protection of the deep sea… No wonder so many transcendents chose to undergo trials in the deep-water zone…

"Is it over?"

Gu Shen's last conscious thought murmured, "Would this count as me… completing the first layer of the trial?"

…

…

"It's still early."

He woke up.

Gu Shen was startled awake in a cold sweat. He wasn't back in his apartment, but sitting on a speeding train.

Outside the window, arcs of electricity sparked and sputtered. The rumbling of the wheels was heavy. It all felt like a dream.

He was back at the very beginning.

And across from him sat the girl he longed to see day and night. Bathed in holy light, she was breathtakingly beautiful. Her white dress swayed, revealing her snow-white, almost dazzling, calves and ankles.

"Where is this…?"

Gu Shen stared blankly at the girl across from him. The light rail sped through the void of electricity and light. Outside the window, countless sparks burst and vanished. The three characters, Ling Ling Yao, were strikingly bright.

"This is my home. You could also think of it as… a secret, unknown area within the deep-water zone."

Chu Ling explained calmly.

Then, she closed the book in her hands, stood up, and said with a hint of anger in her voice, "You were showing off during the transcendent trial, just to hold on a little longer? Do you know that without the protection of the deep sea's rules, your mental strength would have been damaged!"

He was still in the deep-water zone, within the transcendent link!

Gu Shen was somewhat taken aback. Seeing Chu Ling's rare display of anger, he quickly smiled apologetically and said cautiously, "I was wrong, I was wrong… Isn't it… because you're here?"

If he hadn't heard Chu Ling's voice, he wouldn't have been so reckless.

But for some reason… when she was around, he felt like a different person. No matter how crazy the idea, he felt like he could try it.

Chu Ling suddenly fell silent.

She couldn't bear to say anything more, but sighed and asked softly, "Didn't you ever think… what if I had failed?"

Gu Shen shook his head with a smile, "Then it would be my own fault, and I would never blame you."

"Alright, this trial is over! I promise you, I'll act according to my abilities in the future!" Gu Shen raised his hand and swore loudly, then asked softly, "Um… just now… would you say I maintained the ability's stability?"

"Yes, but what's the use?"

Chu Ling said helplessly, "You should have felt it, right? Your current transcendent power is really weak. The scene in the deep sea trial is completely different from that in the Cage of Specters."

Gu Shen was silent.

Indeed, it was a completely different scene… No wonder he couldn't use this transcendent power in real life.

Because it was just too weak.

"You're more amazing than I thought. The first layer of the transcendent trial is actually about the understanding of 'stability.' Most people will spend dozens of links to explore the characteristics of their own abilities. Most transcendents can complete the first layer of the trial; it's not that difficult." Chu Ling said unhappily, "You're a ruthless person, directly gritting your teeth and resolving the maintenance of stability in one go… If I hadn't lifted the deep sea's protective measures and allowed you to recklessly resist the resistance, you would have been forcibly ejected from the deep-water zone and disconnected."

"Right… I'm still in the link." Gu Shen scratched his head. "Is this place also part of the deep-water zone?"

"The deep-water zone is much larger than you think."

Chu Ling said slowly, "A transcendent's strength determines their own permissions. Of course, this is a rule written in the rules… but there are exceptions."

For example, herself.

"The deep sea monitors everyone in the deep-water zone… but Ling Ling Yao is something it can't see within the rules. So, this place is absolutely safe." Chu Ling chuckled softly, "Or rather… so far, Ling Ling Yao is absolutely safe."

Gu Shen fell into thought.

He tried to digest the large amount of information in Chu Ling's few words.

Who would call the residence of their mental space their home… Each link is so timely…

A person who can ignore the rules of the deep sea.

A person who doesn't worry about being traced.

"Then in that case, our first meeting…"

Gu Shen slowly breathed out and said, "Was here? Like this?"

"Yes… an accidental mental link, without any warning, happened so suddenly."

Chu Ling lowered her eyes, her crystal eyelashes and hair swaying in the blazing light. She said softly with emotion, "Actually, no one else can enter this train, but you became an exception. I'm not sure what the specific reason is. Maybe it's a coincidence, maybe it's… an arrangement of fate."

She thought for a while.

She had more to say, but after careful consideration… she decided to hold back for now.

"This place… is too real."

Gu Shen reached out and touched the railing, and then touched the long window in front of him… all the feedback was so real, the cold, hard iron, the vents blowing warm air, the sparks sputtering outside the window.

"So, my encounter with Ling Ling Yao… is it real?"

This was the question he didn't dare to ask, but had to ask.

Meeting Chu Ling was like a dream.

And he was afraid that this was just a dream.

"…"

Chu Ling didn't answer the question, but sighed, "I can't give you an answer. Because I'm also searching for the answer to all of this… Do you remember the question I asked you?"

Gu Shen was stunned.

The first time they met, Chu Ling asked him a very important question.

Between the 3rd and 4th mark on the ruler, does pi exist?

The deep-water zone created by the deep sea is a space that exists in the mental realm… between reality and illusion, like "pi" in this question.

Does it exist?

No one knows.

"Tonight's link is actually to let you feel your 'transcendent power.' Gu Shen… your transcendent power is very special, symbolizing the establishment of 'order.' Although it's currently very weak, it has high growth potential." Chu Ling's eyes lit up and she said solemnly, "If you want to make your 'Blazing Fire' stronger, you need to find transcendent source matter…"

Speaking of this, she suddenly frowned.

The arcs of electricity sputtering on the entire Ling Ling Yao train became rapid, and the incandescent lights began to flicker.

What happened?

Gu Shen was stunned.

"Transcendent sealed objects… transcendents… are all 'transcendent source matter' that exist outside…"

Chu Ling's image suddenly fluctuated in front of Gu Shen. As the train bumped, she was no longer a real person, but transformed into a cluster of garbled code that was broken and reorganized.

"What's going on?" Gu Shen stood up anxiously, looking around. The entire Ling Ling Yao train emitted a low rumble, and its speed began to increase. All the sounds were decreasing and disappearing, and the arcs of electricity outside the window were also gradually disappearing, as if it was about to enter an endless night.

"Tonight, the deep sea's system… will undergo a round of upgrades…"

Chu Ling's voice was intermittent.

"They… have always… been looking for me…"

She looked at Gu Shen, her eyes full of apologetic smiles, "During this time… you need to take care of yourself… I'm afraid… I have to disconnect for a while…"

"I'll wait for you!"

Gu Shen's voice interrupted Chu Ling.

Chu Ling was stunned.

She saw Gu Shen's clear, bright eyes, and the firm hand stretched out in mid-air. On that face, constantly covered and obscured by digital garbled code, there was first a hint of bewilderment, and then a little helplessness.

She smiled, and the clean smile on her face was erased by countless jumping characters.

In the chaotic space-time, the two people kept missing each other, never truly making contact in a meaningful way.

But this time.

The train trembled and bumped.

Although, it was only for a moment.

But the fingertips of the young man and girl, touched each other.