"I see, no wonder you were so certain that Taoyuan Village Master holds the technological knowledge you desire..." I understood.

Xu Gou nodded and then supplemented with the subsequent events he experienced.

As a Great Impermanence Level power, Xu Gou's position in Taoyuan Village was second only to Taoyuan Village Master Meng Zhang himself, granting him high authority and access to many secrets, including a considerable amount of technological knowledge shared from the Human Bureau. Although he wasn't able to obtain the crucial part of the resurrection technology, through a series of explorations and investigations, he wasn't entirely without gains.

But the deeper he delved, the more painfully he realized one thing... even if he truly obtained the resurrection technology developed by Ying Lingyun when alive, he wouldn't be able to reunite with the female researcher Ai Ye.

Because the death of female researcher Ai Ye and the revival of Great Demon Silver Moon sought by Ying Lingyun in life belonged to different contexts. The latter was simply killed, although both the physical body and soul were crushed into powder, dying thoroughly, the nature of the death wasn't particularly unique.

The former was much more complex—the most troublesome aspect being that the cause of female researcher Ai Ye's death was sacrificing herself as a living offering to initiate the rebirth technique.

In other words, she was the foundation of the existence of "reborn Xu Gou".

From this perspective, female researcher Ai Ye couldn't be considered an "ordinary person who achieved nothing", but rather a significant figure who sacrificed her life for the reincarnation of person-made God.

If I intended to prevent her death by altering history, it would be equivalent to turning some Great Impermanence existence into "something that never happened" through time travel. Anyone with a bit of mystical knowledge would understand that this is impossible.

Even if the intention wasn't to change history, but rather to try resurrecting through other means, it would be considered a withdrawal of her self-sacrificial act, denying Xu Gou's second life. In light of this, reviving Ai Ye might be as challenging as reviving a deceased Great Impermanence, which in fact becomes an impossible mission.

Xu Gou harbored some hope, wanting to first acquire the resurrection technology developed by Ying Lingyun and then proceed, but the actions of Taoyuan Village Master repeatedly challenged his moral boundaries.

Despite Xu Gou having suffered hellish torment in the Human Bureau, leading his personality to develop a cynical hue, his heart generally retained an ordinary benevolent side... or maybe it was his love for female researcher Ai Ye that prevented him from truly becoming deranged.

And when Taoyuan Village Master instigated an unprecedented massacre in the Southern City, he fell into immense turmoil.

On one hand, to revive his beloved, he had to stay by Taoyuan Village Master's side; on the other, he couldn't accept becoming an accomplice to the heinous act of killing thirty million people.

He hadn't personally acted during the massacre in Taoyuan Village, nor had he participated in indirect slaughter. Even if he did choose to betray Taoyuan Village Master at that moment, his power wouldn't be able to stop it... however, as so many humans died tragically, he indeed stood on the same side as the killer, soaking in the boundless, wailing horror, an irrefutable fact.

During the previous fight with me, perhaps he didn't appear as foolish as outwardly shown, not naively believing that by teaming up with Meng Zhang's incarnations, they could overpower me using quantity over quality... As a user of silver gold element magical power, he should have extremely strong intuition in combat, adept at assessing situations in battle.

In his heart, there might be a deliberately pursued thought for defeat, one even he hasn't fully realized.

At this moment, his honesty might include reasons stemming from that aspect.

"To be honest, I haven't completely ruled out the idea of relying on 'Paradise'..." Xu Gou said in a complex tone, "Although I haven't traded with Master of Divine Seal, I at least need to attempt that direction... but I'm uncertain whether I can resist the temptation when 'Paradise' descends... the temptation of reuniting with Ai Ye."

He paused slightly, then looked at me, and asked, "No. 3, why are you enemies with Taoyuan Village Master? I don't know what your dream is, but with your such strong mana, you must have a goal worth pursuing at all costs.

"I may be an outsider to the realm of mysticism, but I'm aware of one thing. Mana becomes loose and weak in those who lack clear will and ideals, but you are completely not like that. No matter what the dream is, it can be realized in 'Paradise' to an extent even beyond reality... why would you risk death as opposed to siding against Taoyuan Village Master?"

I answered, "If future me were to fall into 'Paradise', perhaps I could truly become satisfied there, but the current me cannot accept such a future."

In the dream, it seems that I might have everything I desire, but what I truly want isn't something so 'within reach'.

I dislike battles destined to fail, and I also dislike battles destined to win. Nothing is less satisfying to me than an 'adventure that absolutely guarantees wish fulfillment'. Adventuring in a dream that ensures wishful thinking is like cheating in a virtual game; it might be thrilling at first, but soon it becomes hollow.

Of course, since it truly is a dream where anything desired can be achieved, perhaps it could also conjure extremely challenging nightmares, rendering me immobile there. Yet the notion that it's intentionally catering to my interest inevitably feels off-putting.

Who knows, perhaps 'Paradise' can also make dream me forget that I'm dreaming, or transform my personality in the dream to 'accept such pleasure', etc. But for the present, clear-minded me, that kind of development is intolerable.

I'm not necessarily rejecting 'Paradise' without consideration. I sometimes wonder if perhaps there is a possibility of joining Taoyuan Village. Even if just to prevent being caught off-guard by a sudden question thrown by the opponent in battle, causing hesitation on the battlefield, it's important to ponder different possibilities routinely.

However many patterns I conceive, I can't imagine any justification that could persuade me to accept such a dream.

"Is that so..."

Xu Gou appeared to be trying to understand my thoughts, and then he complexly asked, "Then... don't you hate me? Don't you want to kill me?"

"Hate you, why?" I wondered.

"I've attacked you with sword and blade more than once... Generally, people would want to eliminate me thoroughly." Xu Gou said.

"You merely wanted to kill me, after all. Such trivial matters don't bother me." I said.

"'Merely'?" Xu Gou echoed in astonishment.

In fact, I really welcome people like him. But if he posed a threat to those around me, I wouldn't let him live, no matter what. Xu Gou is the opposite, hence I've never felt any animosity towards him.

"Back to the point, Mr. Xugou, let's begin spirit communication with Ms. Ai Ye now." Little Bowl said.

"Right here?" Xu Gou asked cautiously, "Do we need any special preparations?"

"No need." Little Bowl looked around, "If you think doing it right here on the street isn't suitable, we can change location first."

Somehow, the area originally demolished by our battle, the city center, had once again transformed back into the relatively complete appearance of urban streets.

We entered a chain clothing store along the street.

Xu Gou's large black power armor was too bulky, and as he entered, he damaged the main entrance. Little Bowl glanced back at Xu Gou and said, "Mr. Xugou, can you step out from that armor? I need to use your body as a medium."

"Does it have to be without the armor?" Xu Gou seemed awkward.

Little Bowl asked curiously, "Is there any reason you can't take it off?"

Is it because the body beneath the armor is female? I speculated. I had previously suspected that since Xu Gou achieved rebirth using female researcher Ai Ye's body, the real physical appearance might be that of his beloved woman. Xu Gou's reaction somewhat confirms this.

But since he's a Great Impermanence now, even an artificially made one, changing his appearance should be effortless. I can't imagine why he couldn't do that, or perhaps it's not inability but unwillingness?

Excluding reasons like having a transvestism, perhaps the real reason is that he feels since the current body is 'borrowed', it shouldn't be altered freely... precisely because the body's owner holds such an important place in his heart, he values it greatly, and perhaps preserving the body's original appearance might hold a commemorative aspect. I can somewhat understand those sentiments. Xu Gou may occasionally look in the mirror, reminiscing past memories and interactions with his beloved.

These are ultimately my speculations, and they may not reflect reality. Xu Gou hadn't directly answered Little Bowl, instead falling into an embarrassed silence.

Little Bowl said kindly, "It's alright, Mr. Xugou. Since you're unwilling, then continue wearing the armor. It's fine to maintain it like this."

Xu Gou first sighed with relief, then as if recalling something, said anxiously, "By the way, about what you said earlier... can you really revive Ai Ye?"