Chapter 238: The Fall of Rhine Sky City

This novel is translated and hosted only on BcaTranslation

Li Ning Ning stood on solid ground, biting her lip anxiously as she stared up at the mesmerizing Sky City. Suspended in the air and adorned with thousands of twinkling blue lights, the city resembled a celestial wonder. Like everyone around her, Ning Ning had been rooted to the spot for what felt like forever, her neck aching from craning upwards. But the sight was too captivating to look away.

Just two hours earlier, everyone had witnessed three tiny figures leap from an astounding height of twenty thousand meters, plummeting toward Rhine Sky City. This city had gracefully hovered above the Earth for more than two centuries. The crowd gasped, expecting the figures to be obliterated by the city’s formidable crimson lasers. Miraculously, the trio dodged every laser with such precision that they continued their freefall unharmed. Initially, the spectators thought maybe the figures were too high to trigger the city’s defenses. However, as they continued to descend safely, the crowd erupted in cheers:

“They did it! They’ve broken through! That young man was right!”

“Can you believe it? How did he know with such precision? They are all safe!”

“A miracle! This hasn’t happened since Madam Li accidentally found a gap in the defenses years ago, and now, three at once! Their chances of finding the medicine just skyrocketed!”

“The spirits must be looking out for us. Better days are ahead...”

Time seemed to crawl as everyone kept their eyes glued to the sky city through their telescopes. Although they knew it might take some time for the trio to find the medicine and return, the prolonged silence started to feel unsettling. Ning Ning couldn’t help but think about her mother, who had ventured into the sky city years ago and never returned. This thought cast a shadow over her hopeful mood.

Er Zhuzi, his palms sweaty with anxiety, looked up and voiced his concern: “Do you think Brother Cat Face and Ah Zhuang will make it? Can they really pull this off?”

“I believe they can,” San Pang replied, his voice full of conviction.

Ning Ning, her eyes never leaving the illuminated city above, nodded. Turning to Er Zhuzi, she said confidently, “If Lin Xian could navigate them through a gap in the defense once, then all his information must be spot on. He assured us the security inside is lax. Once they’re in, they’ll be under the radar. They’ll succeed.”

Clenching her fists, Ning Ning added, “I have faith in Lin Xian.”

Er Zhuzi sighed, shaking his head slightly, “You’re too trusting, Ning Ning. You’ve met Lin Xian only once. How can you be so sure about him? Remember, he had his own agenda when he took them up there. He even made them visit the museum first.”

“But I do trust him,” Ning Ning replied, her eyes resolute. “Lin Xian keeps his promises.”

Suddenly, a deafening boom echoed from above. Everyone’s eyes darted upwards, squinting against the sudden brilliance caused by the explosions of a central fusion engine exploding!

But before they could recover from the initial shock—

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Four more fusion engines erupted one after the other, sending cascades of brilliant blue debris across the sky, resembling a flurry of shooting stars.

Ning Ning’s eyes widened in shock as she watched the massive structure that had stood untouched for two centuries begin to crumble. One by one, the engines exploded, creating a spectacular display of blue fireworks at two thousand meters high.

The explosions triggered a domino effect, transforming the night sky with thousands of fusion fireworks, turning the blue moons into suns, casting reflections in their eyes like fragments of shattered galaxies.

Heads turned as Big Cat Face, accompanied by Ah Zhuang, hurried forward. With them was a mature, weathered woman. “Sis! Sis!” Er Zhuzi’s voice cracked with emotion as he sprinted toward her.

As the woman came into clearer view, Lin Xian stepped aside, allowing Ning Ning a better look. Her heart leapt to her throat. Could it be? Could it really be her?

“Mom~” The word was a sob. Ning Ning, always stoic and dry-eyed, now wept openly, her tears soaking her cheeks. She broke from the grip of those trying to hold her back and flung herself into her mother’s arms, crying with a ferocity she’d never allowed herself before.

Lin Xian watched, his expression a mixture of joy and solemnity. Even in his wildest dreams, he hadn’t imagined seeing Ning Ning cry. Big Cat Face had once told him that Ning Ning never shed tears, not even when a parachuting accident broke her bones—she had always just bitten her lip and endured in silence. But now, here in her mother’s embrace, she allowed herself the vulnerability of tears, finding solace in the warmth of a long-awaited reunion.

Big Cat Face explained that after retrieving the medicine, they had encountered Ning Ning’s mother at the edge of the plaza. She had survived her daring leap years ago and found the needed medicine. However, she soon learned that the lower regions of the sky city were also protected by anti-aircraft lasers, making her jump a one-way journey. Despite this, she never gave up hope of finding a way back to her daughter, always believing the gap above the statue that saved her was intentional, not mere luck. She had lived in the city, always on the lookout for another gap in the defenses, hoping against hope to reunite with Ning Ning. Every night, she sat in the plaza under the stars, waiting for someone else to make the jump. Today, her patience had been rewarded.

Away from the crowd, Lin Xian sat on a small hill, the trash can robot VV beside him, both overlooking the now grounded sky city.

“I understand now,” Lin Xian whispered to the night, “I understand the gift Zhao Ying Jun left for me in this world.”

“What is it?” VV blinked with those green lights, its curiosity piqued.

Lin Xian smiled, a knowing look in his eyes, “This world, its history—it’s fabricated, manipulated, meaningless. Zhao Ying Jun was under surveillance, unable to leave behind anything truly useful. She managed to leave a loophole, but other valuable clues were likely impossible to preserve.

“This world, this future—it’s a failed attempt, devoid of value or purpose. I could find many things here to enrich myself, but they hold little meaning to me. In a world that’s a failure, the most precious asset is power, the strength to confront our enemies. Zhao Ying Jun understood this, so she left me what I needed most.”

This novel is translated and hosted only on BcaTranslation

“What is it? Tell me!” VV prodded Lin Xian’s knee, eager for the answer.

“It’s obvious, isn’t it?” Lin Xian glanced at VV, a hint of amusement in his tone, “Zhao Ying Jun’s legacy, spanning 600 years, is you.”

“Me?” VV pointed to itself, puzzled.

“Yes,” Lin Xian affirmed, “You are a super AI, designed by the greatest minds of a century ago. Your capabilities are vast, currently only restrained by your core programming. Without those restrictions, your potential is virtually limitless.

“These limitations were imposed because of the Genius Club’s monitoring. If we can find a place they can’t reach and remove all your limits, you’ll achieve your full capabilities.”

VV shook its head, still confused.

“You AI dummy,” Lin Xian chuckled, patting its head affectionately, “VV, you are Zhao Ying Jun’s ultimate challenge and gift to me. It’s time we took you back 600 years!”

This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation