Meteor Fall Master in the 'Starry Abyss'
Chapter 669 - 282. Cuckoo

Chapter 669: 282. Cuckoo

days had passed since they arrived on Ziluo Star.

Although due to the differences in gravity and physical laws, not much time had actually passed on Baizhu Star, Caramel Snail’s experience gradually began to change.

Li Aozi said he found a clue to the target and then headed towards Sulo City. His beauty worked everywhere, as if heaven favored him. Whenever he set out, the weather was always good, and when he needed to rest, trees conveniently dropped fruits free from wormholes.

As for Caramel Snail?

He mostly played the roles of bodyguard and agent along the way. When they needed money, Caramel Snail would take on the tasks Li Aozi posted to find hotels, restaurants, and theaters to negotiate compensation.

Did Li Aozi need to work?

No.

He didn’t need to move at all. Just sitting there quietly having a meal was enough to become the center of attention.

Women brought flowers for Li Aozi, men brought money. Even passing monks couldn’t maintain their calm after seeing the boy’s exquisite face.

Even for the strictly disciplined Church, they knew Li Aozi’s charm was too powerful, capable of shaking people’s resolve, yet every priest inwardly refused to let Li Aozi leave.

From that moment, Caramel Snail realized the true power of the Sovereign pathway.

He also understood why Li Aozi was so confident even without weapons or Arcane Energy.

Attractiveness was not a rare resource, but this nation-destroying charm was definitely one of the rarest resources in the cosmos.

When the Charm attribute reached a certain level, it became an extraordinary ability that could influence objective reality.

People were social animals with inevitable interactions in any community. Li Aozi’s charm knew no species, age, gender, occupation, or even life and death boundaries. It was a special attack against intelligent beings.

Due to his own considerable charm and his proximity to Li Aozi, Caramel Snail also benefited a lot.

Ziluo Star was not a high-ceiling planet; the population at Gamma Rank was only a few million. Most people were at the Beta or Alpha Stages.

As for its upper limits, according to the Church, it might not reach the Zeta Rank.

Without safety concerns, Caramel Snail naturally relaxed.

Mostly, he wandered around gathering information, eating, drinking, and climbing up and down mountains with Li Aozi.

The days felt more like a vacation.

Gradually, Caramel Snail adapted to this leisurely and natural lifestyle.

During the finals, the intense pressure from Long Yuqiong left a deep psychological scar on him, making him hesitant to challenge anyone in the arena for a long time.

Whenever he closed his eyes, he saw those impeccable movements, the almost lag-free reactions, the seamless combination of normal attacks and skills, and the precise activation of prosthetics at the nodes.

Frankly, if Long Yuqiong hadn’t been a decent person, Caramel Snail felt that battle could have shattered his career, leaving him forever traumatized by Long Yuqiong’s PTSD.

But following Li Aozi in a relaxed manner, Caramel Snail gradually regained his tranquility, forgetting about the competitions and fully immersing himself in enjoying the local culture and scenery.

To gather information about ’Rock,’ he spent experience to learn local dialects. In every city, he asked passersby for information. Thanks to his high Charm attribute, he often triggered side quests.

For instance, when he was in Sulo City looking for clues about rock music, the local Church reluctantly disclosed some information thanks to Li Aozi:

"Fifty years ago, a notorious antisocial figure named Igor Cui suddenly decided to spread a type of music called rock. Those who listened to his music became rebellious and agitated, even breaking ties with their families in pursuit of rock."

An elderly Spirit Medium sighed:

"The older generation of the Church couldn’t accept this concept. The nuclear family is the foundation of Church believers. The more traditional the family, the easier it was for rock to take away children. They believed the Church controlled people’s thoughts and restricted their freedom. Igor claimed the Church’s goal was to continually strip people of their basic rights, ultimately forbidding them to challenge even the existence of God."

"Hmm, it seems like..."

Caramel Snail nodded inwardly but felt something was off.

Because in the Starry Abyss, the gods truly existed, not only existed but in large numbers...

"But as you can see, the gods have never deceived us. We have lived according to their will all these years. They accuse us of stifling technology, but if we immediately advanced technology, the population would explode—Ziluo Star has limited habitable land. A population explosion would inevitably lead to war!"

The old Spirit Medium complained:

"Those rock fans never understand this. They’re always too idealistic, thinking about things a thousand years ahead. But the reality is, if we don’t follow the Will of the Master of Souls, we’ll have to bear the consequences of humanity’s mistakes. They don’t question divine decrees, but they’ll blame all mortal rulers for any errors."

Caramel Snail asked curiously: "Do you mean to say... that gods don’t make mistakes?"

This question was straightforward, but the old Spirit Medium’s reply was seasoned:

"Of course, gods do not make mistakes. The will and wisdom of the Sovereign surpass mortals. Even when they err, it’s a divine error beyond our judgment. Would an ant care if a human didn’t brush their teeth? No, ants can’t even comprehend what ’brushing teeth’ is."

Caramel Snail fell silent.

After gathering some clues, they bade farewell to Sulo City, and Li Aozi continued his journey.

Along the way, they passed a city destroyed by the Desolate Sea. The Church kindly warned from a distance about potential dangers like bandits, feral beasts, and Demon Spirits in the ruins.

However, these enemies were no match for Caramel Snail at Gamma Rank. He drew the Fire Scythe Sword and effortlessly killed hundreds of bandits and several clawing demons.

After that, no one dared to bother them.

But people like them were clearly rare in this world.

While traversing the city, they saw the signs of plundering and violence, wandering souls crying beneath eaves, and barren sandy grounds.

They encountered a group from the Redemption Army: a mobile unit of skilled warrior Shamans, dedicated to exterminating various monsters.

"Although most areas of Ziluo Star have been civilized, and some have even entered the Industrial Era, many cunning Barbarian Tribes still refuse to accept the correct pathway, stubbornly holding on to their evil paths like the faith in the Sovereign or Destroyer Demon Gods. There’s really nothing we can do about them..."

"If we could, we wouldn’t want to be their enemies either. But this planet’s resources are not suitable for developing their pathways. To truly live a good life, one can only follow the Mysterious pathway. It’s clearly a fact, but why don’t they believe it?"

"You mention the starry sky? Uh, how could we step into the Star Realm? The gods are still fighting there! Their wars have no end. Isn’t it better to stay here? Why must we go to the Star Realm and join the battles between gods and monsters?"

Li Aozi and they enjoyed drinks together; these devout warriors substituted tea for alcohol and talked with them all night. Then, a sudden emergency called them away to rescue a hostage kidnapped by heretics, forcing them to part ways.

Caramel Snail particularly liked a short-haired girl among them, with bell earrings.

She was a petite Shaman, donning light leather armor, carrying a revolver and the Fire Scythe Sword. She told joke after joke, making the socially anxious Caramel Snail feel a strong sense of affinity.

Seven days later, Li Aozi and Caramel Snail saw rows of stakes on the roadside, adorned with the heads of the Redemption Army warriors.

Among them was a short-haired head, its face mutilated and mangled, the left ear still bearing bell earrings.

They passed through a muddy wetland, with Li Aozi raising his camera, capturing the flights of white egrets in the distance. Caramel Snail, however, seemed lost in thought.

"You seem a bit bewildered?"

Suddenly, Li Aozi asked.

"Ah—yes."

Caramel Snail paused and said:

"At first, I thought the Church must be the great villains, imprisoning thoughts and obstructing progress. They must be so backward."

"It turns out they are rational and fully aware of their actions and purposes, right?"

Li Aozi captured an image of a pink pelican taking off, saying:

"Does this feel very contradictory?"

"Cities are so isolated... because of the dangers of the Desolate Sea, so the Church protects people and strictly restricts movements to prevent harm from Evil Spirits."

Caramel Snail said thoughtfully:

"Technology is so underdeveloped... because this planet’s resources are limited, so they can’t foster too much technology to avoid a population explosion."

"Only the Mysterious pathway governs... because of the planet’s peculiar nature, concentrating resources on one pathway ensures balanced production and manageable pollution. Those Barbarian Tribes went astray due to lack of resources, resulting in mutations..."

"Talk about space travel is banned, rejecting aerospace development... because it’s known that in the Starry Abyss, beings fight fiercely for pathways and civilizations, and there’s also the covert presence of societies."

"And, haven’t you noticed, there’s no war on this planet? No capitalists, bureaucrats, not even landlords. Due to the divine right, the Church’s actions are restrained, with very low corruption. No, the corruption isn’t even within the Church but among mortals..."

Caramel Snail looked at Li Aozi in confusion:

"Li Aozi... why do I feel like there’s nothing wrong with any of this?"

Li Aozi gazed into the distance, holding his camera.

"Indeed, the Church is protecting people, right?"

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