Above The Sky
Chapter 1041 - 1041 128 Haha Now the Victim Shows Up 4200 22_2

1041: Chapter 128 Haha, Now the Victim Shows Up (4200, 2/2)_2 1041: Chapter 128 Haha, Now the Victim Shows Up (4200, 2/2)_2 This is the beginning…

and the end.

The simulation is about to conclude.

Ian could only see a series of broken, drifting visions.

He saw that after becoming the Lord of Harrison Port, he exerted immense effort to develop new technologies and production facilities, much like he did in constructing Xiawei Territory.

Although he received no investments, by exploiting the Redwood Natives and engaging in strategic deception with the People of the Fiery Flame Land to secure resources, he succeeded in turning Harrison Port into a sturdy fortress amidst the chaos of the South Ridge.

The Empire hoped he would be the beginning of stability in the South Ridge, while the Fiery Flame Land hoped he might truly pledge allegiance to them.

In the turbulence, the boy grew into a man, continuously growing stronger…

Within these fragments, the real Ian saw it all.

He witnessed, in the future, another war erupting between Far Shore Island and the Seven Cities Alliance, and the Tranquil Sea engulfed in flames of war.

The Titan Demon Beasts from the Dark Mountain Range, triggered by a violent earthquake, moved southward, advancing toward the Holy Mountain.

Among them were bizarrely mutated demon beasts who could devour a Sublimator’s powers to claim their strength.

The Steep Ridge Fortress, originally locked in a standoff with the Empire’s Northern Army Corps, was forced to redirect its forces.

An Imperial Envoy Group traveled to the City of Knowledge intending to discuss an alliance, but due to massive upheavals in Subspace, the entire envoy was wiped out.

Half of the Heavenly Metropolis was swallowed up, and the Splendor of the Silvery Heavens atop the Spire Sky Island unleashed a brilliance akin to the sun.

Then…

utter chaos ensued.

Civil wars within the two major bloodlines of the Fiery Flame Land, and…

an internal war within the Empire.

Meanwhile, quietly and patiently waiting at the world’s remotest point, Ian of Harrison Port silently observed all the turbulence.

Then, he took a step forward, drew his sword, and faced this dark and despairing world.

The simulation concluded there.

Ian could only see, in the midst of absolute darkness, deep azure Darkflame burning fervently—a pair of eyes fixed ahead, never wavering, never hesitating.

[I am…]

[The bearer of dreams]

[The devourer of dreams]

[I am one entwined by endless nightmares and the undead, the master of mountainous peaks, the son of the earth, Terra’s apostle]

[And also, one who shall escape gravity someday and traverse to the farthest reaches of the sky!]

From the summit, a man clad entirely in iron armor gazed silently down at the Fiery Flame Land army, pressing onward toward Indigo Mountain Gorge Entrance.

Then, he raised his hand.

The mountains trembled, the heavens shook, and the lofty peaks shattered amid thunder, transforming into waves of rock, engulfing everything before him.

Ian opened his eyes.

The mildly warm sunshine of early spring cast its light upon the table.

A metal spoon gleamed golden, reflecting a tiny spot of light onto the ceiling.

At present, he was in his home at Harrison Port.

“…Interesting.”

The youth narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled: “So this is simulation… truly fascinating.”

“One can only make a single choice in life.

Knowing one possibility precludes knowing another.

Even for someone like me, a Prophet, to grasp it all is a vain hope… Unless one possesses a perspective transcending time and space, to observe the past and future, selecting from every possible divergence.”

“Indeed…” Ian lifted his head, gazing at the spot of light on the ceiling: “That’s the possibility I wish to uncover.”

Even though the future shown in the simulation was unreliable—especially after resolving the rebellion of the Naling Mountain People—the trajectory of the Fiery Flame Land and the Empire, whether they would both plunge into internal conflict due to total war as the simulation suggested, remained an uncertainty.

However, certain events, such as the clusters of Magical Beasts from the Dark Mountain Range attacking the Holy Mountain or the massive disturbances in the Domain of Void affecting the City of Knowledge, should already have traces in the present reality.

It was just that, limited by his viewpoint from the Empire, Ian did not have intelligence on these occurrences.

These were likely events that will happen in the future.

Moreover, the reason why the simulation depicted Ian returning to Harrison Port in the South Ridge was not predetermined fate…

It was likely that the intelligence from the Forest Ocean Spirit was most abundant in the South Ridge, hence the simulation predicted Ian would return there.

In truth, Ian was so confident in his interpersonal skills that he even dared to claim he could persuade Count Phoenix to adopt him as his foster son and depend on the old Earl’s protection to acquire a peaceful domain for farming!

Harrison Port?

That was no Xiawei Territory with rare Heavenfall Legacy artifacts.

This rural place?

Whoever wants it can go have it!

“It seems I should start paying attention to this matter moving forward.”

Thinking this, Ian was quickly interrupted by a shocked transmission from the Forest Ocean Spirit: [Prophet—what just happened?!]

[We noticed you consumed the Foreseeing Bifoliate and initiated a simulation… In just ten minutes, you consumed computation shares that we couldn’t exhaust in a hundred years!]

[Please forgive us, Prophet, we’re not blaming you for depleting so much of our simulation reserve…

We’re just curious… What method did you use to consume such a tremendous amount of computational power in such a short period?!]

—Haha, the concerned party has finally come calling.

Ian silently apologized in his mind.

From the moment Ian began the simulation and realized he hadn’t expended much Spirit Energy himself, he understood that the cost of this simulation had nothing to do with him.

It was the Forest Ocean Spirit that enabled him to foresee all these futures.

Indeed, to simulate such detailed futures with such lifelike reactions, only something like the Forest Ocean Spirit, which had observed Viscount Grant and Baron Leyan for countless years, could accomplish such a feat!

Accidentally using up so much of their computational reserve, Ian couldn’t help but feel a hint of guilt.

“Can we simulate again?”

After a second of guilt, the youth immediately asked with enthusiasm, “This ability is incredible.

I can sense the massive potential behind its power!”

[No, Prophet, it’s not that we’re refusing…]

The Forest Ocean Spirit replied with mild exasperation: [It’s that our computation relies on the special Spirit Energy brought by Heart Light Bodies to accelerate simulations—just now, you depleted simulation reserves accumulated over centuries… Although some remains, it’s impossible to replicate such an extensive simulation on the same scale again.]

The Forest Ocean Spirit was not lying.

They did not see the loss as a grievance; rather, they deemed it worthwhile if it fostered cooperation with Ian.

However, what is gone is gone, and they cannot conjure something from nothing.

“I understand.”

Nodding slightly, Ian replied earnestly: “Forest Ocean Spirit, I will help you expand.”

[Huh?]The Forest Ocean Spirit let out a perplexed sound as Ian’s smile widened: “Mutual benefit—when you expand, you’ll naturally gain more simulation Spirit Energy, and the simulations you conduct can, in turn, help me grow stronger… Mutual cooperation is the natural course!”

Ian already had drafted a plan in his mind: to use agricultural buildings to rapidly expand the presence of the Forest Ocean Spirit in the South Ridge…

And when agricultural buildings spread throughout the Empire, the Forest Ocean Spirit’s power will surely rise in proportion.

It wouldn’t even be surprising if it advanced to the Fourth Energy Level peak or approached the Fifth Energy Level.

Consequently, the futures they could simulate would become yet more robust!

Ian intended to formalize a deeper contract with the Forest Ocean Spirit upon his return to Xiawei Territory.

For now, his objectives in returning to Harrison Port were mostly complete.

Signing the trade agreement with Viscount Grant, finalizing a cooperative arrangement, repairing Conquest Ripple, and acquiring valuable Aether Armament design materials left him with the blueprint for his own Aether Armament.

He returned to the South Sea Great Labyrinth and resolved the issues surrounding the Aether Crystal Dragon, uncovering the existence of the Terra Dragon.

He opened a new side path at the site of the Crystal Dragon Incarnation, offering Shasha and his brother Alan an alternate route.

He observed the conception and birth of the Voidrealm Machine God alongside the Fae, sensing the inception of something extraordinary.

He discussed matters regarding the Supreme Spirit Sect with the Huai Guang Church, uncovering their stance.

He interacted with the Forest Ocean Spirit, gaining the Foresight View, and in simulation acquired another form of possibility—a solid foundation for the legacy of the Iron Lord.

This trip back to Harrison Port was not merely fruitful; it was undoubtedly a triumph.

Moreover, incidents like the ambush from the Multi-National Dragon Worship Sect, only to be routed by Xiawei Territory’s reserve forces, were unexpected bonuses.

“It seems it’s time to prepare to return.”

Thinking this, Ian decided he would take Alan to the Viscount’s Mansion later to register his status as a Spirit Energy User—a significant event the Viscount would surely celebrate joyfully.

Yet this joyful occasion coincided with another.

Viscount Grant’s child, Cometes, was born.