Chapter 350 Si Zhi, lost his mind - Socially Anxious Witch in the Apocalypse

"Your Highness!" Myna emerged from the ruins of the Elder of the Mountain, gazing upon the battlefield that had been turned into wasteland, sensing the lingering aura, trembling with fear. She soared into the sky, circling once to ensure no humans or mutated beasts approached before landing. Si Shu said, "Su Miao, matters here are resolved. Do you want to leave together?" Su Miao shook her head. "No." Si Shu continued, "Then I'll take my leave. Si Di's death will draw the attention of the others from the Twelve Divisions, especially Si Zhi. It's best to leave soon. I'll message you when the gate opens." Su Miao nodded in understanding. Si Shu released an aircraft from her spatial storage and opened her book, summoning several empowered individuals who escorted her away. Su Miao remained motionless, quietly watching over Si Di's corpse. Typically, a regular empowered individual's body would be completely reduced to ashes in about 30 seconds. However, Si Di's body was peculiar; the purple flames enveloped it for a full 15 minutes before it was entirely incinerated. No one interfered with the process. A burst of starlight bloomed! Su Miao cast a spell, causing starlight to bloom beautifully, lingering over the battlefield without dissipating. "Let's go, Myna." "Alright, Your Highness!" Myna's body instantly enlarged and flew beside Su Miao. Su Miao took a step, standing atop Myna, and together they departed. ... A few minutes earlier, ten kilometers away on a high peak, Feng Xiaoshi's live broadcast continued. Viewers watched, with hearts filled with shock, as the final battle between Su Miao, Si Shu, and Si Di unfolded. [Enigmatic Reverie]: "Did Si Di's gravity field fail?" [Cherish Life With Humanity]: "But Su Miao still seemed affected." [Si Night]: "It's not that the gravity field failed; rather, Si Di's field was too weak to suppress Si Shu and Su Miao." [Si Rite]: "We warned Si Di during the meetings not to focus too heavily on devouring powers. Acquired abilities are strong indeed, but they never compare to those one has mastered." [Si Sin]: "Si Di should have known Si Shu's tricks, but not vice versa. He's at a huge disadvantage." [Sky Observer]: "What the hell is happening? Are all the veteran organizations here?" [Fish Big Fish Big]: "Besides backstabbing, is that all you veteran organizations do?" [Dorothy's Quantum Kitty]: "Lady Irena truly has a formidable presence." [Vergil]: "Veteran organization folks, aren't you going to help?" Feng Xiaoshi, observing the battlefield, commented, "Si Di's weakness has been discovered. This battle is nearing its conclusion." ... [Dancing Ice Fairy彡]: "!!!" [Star Realm]: "Did the two magicians from the Illuminati turn into books?" [Moonlit Palace]: "What's Su Miao doing?" [ShoWest I Look Handsome]: "What did Si Shu do? Such beautiful butterflies!" [Braid of the Paramecium]: "A butterfly just touched Si Di, and he froze? Oh gosh!" [TomJang]: "In a battle of the strong, every second is crucial. Si Di was immobilized for 3 seconds..." ... [I Feel Like I Can Joke]: "Si Di is unbelievable. Even after being struck by a barrel-thick lightning bolt, he wasn't charred." [kagero_kai]: "Wow, in a flash, Su Miao pierced Si Di with her sword!" [Abyss Diver]: "I didn't even see Su Miao draw her sword." [Lava Boiling White Rabbit]: "Neither did I." ... [Faithful Words]: "Praise the sun, for only the sun is eternal." [Rabbit King]: "Si Di just died like that? Can't even kill the pink demon, useless!" [It's Ritsuko Yo]: "Lady Su Miao is kind, helping cremate Si Di and even sending fireworks." [Lonely Dream in the Clouds]: "So touching." [Security Captain]: "I attest that Lady Su Miao is always this compassionate, whether it's an enemy or a passerby. She can't bear to leave corpses exposed." [Si Life]: "Indeed." ... Feng Xiaoshi said, "Si Di is dead, and this battle is over. That's it for today's live stream, goodbye everyone!" Si Shu left in an aircraft, while Su Miao departed on Myna in her large bird form. All necessary data had been collected. The hypotheses requiring validation were confirmed. The trip was worth it. Feng Xiaoshi was in a good mood. Just as she was about to end the broadcast and pack up her equipment, the world abruptly plunged into darkness. Startled, Feng Xiaoshi immediately retrieved her staff as darkness descended. Blinding light flared, illuminating everything around her. [Night Demon_Eb]: "What's happening? Why did it suddenly go dark?" [Ink Feather Lament]: "This must be @Si Night's doing!" [Pickled Dragon Head]: "Did Si Night arrive?" [Aiyi]: "Is Si Night going to attack Irena?" [Si Night]: "Stop spreading rumors. I'm not there. This is the polar night descending on Central Asia. The disorder of sun and moon hasn't ended." [Si Life]: "Hmm, not Si Night, it's Si Zhi?" ... "Miss Irena, greetings!" Si Zhi, clad in a black trench coat, appeared atop the peak. The magical barrier Feng Xiaoshi had set up dissolved like flowing water, disappearing with an artistic grace. With utmost politeness, Si Zhi said, "Apologies for the unexpected visit." Feng Xiaoshi retorted, "If it's unexpected, then no need to say it." Si Zhi continued, "I've been pondering certain questions for a long time. Recently, I've hit an impasse and wish to consult Miss Irena." Feng Xiaoshi frowned. "Speak." Her intuition told her that Si Zhi's mental state was extremely unstable, akin to the mutated monsters she studied—specifically, empowered individuals on the verge of complete transformation into mutated creatures. Having witnessed the battle between Si Shu and Si Di firsthand, she knew it transcended normal human combat. If Si Zhi were to transform into a mutated creature before her eyes, she couldn't imagine the horrors. Si Zhi inquired, "The essence of humans awakening and evolving into empowered individuals—is it truly corruption?" "If it is corruption, does that mean our world has been corrupted too?" "If our entire world is corrupted, does it imply the entire universe is corrupted?" These questions ignited the chatroom, its fervor rivaling the earlier intense battle. ... [City Light Dweller]: "This might sound rude, but Si Zhi sounds like 'demented.'" [Primary Dream Nature]: "Is awakening's essence really corruption? Wasn't it a hypothesis in the last post?" [Green Rose Breeze]: "Sounds more like those bizarre, Lovecraftian mythos-invaded, cultivation or fantasy worlds." [Green Tomato]: "Don't say that, it reminds me of those mutated monsters—some are truly grotesque." [Summer Twilight Wonder]: "Lady Irena, is it really corruption? I'm scared." [Pollen-Allergic Fragrance]: "Everyone, don't be afraid. Lady Irena's last research report mentioned that if scared, find a brother and chop an arm." ... Feng Xiaoshi replied, "Yes, at least according to my current research. More verification is needed." Si Zhi's expression grew grave. "Does this mean the future of empowered individuals is to become mutated monsters? Hahaha, mutated monsters!" "I read your last research report. Some people can stop the mutation by acting early, but for others, it only hastens it." "For humans, the rate is 3.31%, for beast-type empowered individuals, it's 11.56%, and for mutated animals, it's 30.55%." These statistics were so precise they sent shivers down the spine. Feng Xiaoshi asked, "How many subjects were in your experiments?" Si Zhi grinned widely. "5000 humans, 2000 beast-type empowered individuals, 10,000 mutated rats, all halted at the first stage of mutation." "Further findings indicate that the more times one undergoes awakening and evolution, the lesser the chances to avert mutation later." "This excludes data from those who rapidly underwent complete mutation in a short period." ... [Five Elements Guardian]: "Damn, another veteran organization's member lost it." [Snowbound Wanderer]: "None in that organization seem normal." [kaminomono]: "Staying away from such lunatics would be safer. Will Irena be safe?" [Reliable Archery]: "The fact that he used so many empowered individuals for experiments is terrifying!" [Heavenly Spirit]: "Hold on, is Si Zhi's experimental data genuine?" [Silent Observer]: "Is humanity's future really to become mutated monsters? I don't want that!" [Meow Meow Bug_]: "I refuse this future. Lady Irena, please save us." [Shi Gong Xing Xi]: "Is this the real truth of the apocalypse?" ... Madman! Standing before her, Si Zhi was a true madman. Feng Xiaoshi quickly grasped Si Zhi's objective and said, "Are you trying to study the source of the corruption?" Si Zhi affirmed, "Precisely. I've studied all of Lady Irena's research reports, analyzed those experiment videos frame by frame." "I believe Lady Irena has discovered the source; otherwise, she wouldn't have published them as hypotheses." Feng Xiaoshi responded, "I refuse." Si Zhi laughed, a wild, frenzied laughter. "Lady Irena, do you realize what you're saying? You're rejecting the future of human civilization." Feng Xiaoshi shook her head, "I refuse to collaborate with a madman who has lost his mind." Si Zhi's laughter grew even more deranged. Lost his mind? That was the term he loathed most; no one had ever dared say it to his face, not even members of the Twelve Divisions. Boom! A terrifying aura erupted. Feng Xiaoshi remained unfazed, waving her staff to unleash magic, causing the mountain peak to explode. In an instant, the surrounding broadcasting equipment was destroyed, and live feed screens went black on platforms like Weibo and Nightfall app. [Loved at First Sight]: "Why did it go dark?" [It's Ritsuko Yo]: "Oh no, Si Zhi has gone berserk." [Engraved_cA]: "Ah, anyone nearby? Is Lady Irena okay?" [Visible But Untouchable]: "@Si Night, you must be nearby, right? What's your explanation?" [Spring Circle Spring]: "Lady Irena will be fine." ... In the polar night, another terrifying battle erupted outside the Elder's ruins. Unbeknownst to Su Miao, standing on Myna, she returned to the cherry blossom tree's magical barrier. "Sister Su Miao!" Xia Xiaoan and Lin Jiujiu rushed to greet her. "Yes, everything is fine." Su Miao entered the villa, walked to the second floor, and casually retrieved a large amount of food from her magical space, placing it on the table. Then she entered a room, flopped onto the bed, and said, "I'm going to sleep for a while." The constant battles had drained her magical powers and true essence, pushing her to the brink of her limit. Fortunately, after the battle, no one dared to make a move, not even those harboring malice. Too bad she had no energy left to eliminate those ill-intentioned individuals. This apocalyptic world was terrifying. One had to guard against natural disasters, mutated animals, and plants. Survival was already difficult enough, yet the most frightening adversaries were the fellow humans struggling to survive. The fact that those with malevolent intents were still alive left Su Miao uneasy. She was too exhausted; anything else could wait until she woke. Xia Xiaoan, Lin Jiujiu, and Myna were there, giving Su Miao peace of mind. Closing her eyes, Su Miao drifted into deep slumber. ... The polar night returned, persisting unknowingly for half a month. Within the cherry blossom tree's magical barrier, magical lamps emitted a gentle glow, casting a warm light within the darkness. However, Xia Xiaoan, Lin Jiujiu, and Myna remained worried throughout these days. Su Miao had not awakened since she fell asleep. Her room was unlocked, and they checked in daily to see if anything had changed. "Su Miao hasn't woken up today either." Xia Xiaoan closed the door, speaking with concern. Lin Jiujiu glanced at Su Miao's room and said, "I'm sure Sister Su Miao will wake up soon." Xia Xiaoan nodded, "Yes." In the past, when Sister Su Miao slept or dreamed, Xia Xiaoan could hear her thoughts. But ever since Su Miao established a mental barrier, Xia Xiaoan could hear nothing. This only made her more anxious. The situation was the same for Lin Jiujiu. She had tried using her dreams to observe Su Miao's status but found only an endless starry sky when she attempted to peek. If Xia Xiaoan hadn't been with Lin Jiujiu, she might have gotten lost in Su Miao's dreamscape. It was too dangerous! It wasn't that Lin Jiujiu's dream abilities were inadequate, but upon contact with Su Miao's dream, she saw not only the infinite cosmos but also the reforged silver sword. Just one glimpse, and Lin Jiujiu felt as if her soul might be obliterated. Thankfully, the sword recognized Lin Jiujiu and reigned in most of its power, allowing her to safely retreat. Since that incident, Lin Jiujiu dared not make any further attempts. Patiently waiting for Sister Su Miao to wake was the best course. Their daily routine consisting of harvesting mutated vegetables and fruits, cooking, studying, practicing Taiji Mind Flow, and checking if Su Miao had awoken. As for Myna, she helped around unless she was engaged in online debates. If not debating online, Myna remained in bird form. During debates, Myna shifted into her human form as Su Luoli. Myna expressed that typing with claws could damage the phone screen, and using her hands for typing was faster and more efficient for debates. Time flew by, with a month passing in the blink of an eye, showing no signs of the polar night ending. Survivors on Earth were engulfed in massive panic. Only then did some realize, albeit belatedly, that while the blizzard had ended, the sun and moon disorder had not. However, the daily lives of Lin Jiujiu, Xia Xiaoan, and Myna remained unchanged. They continued to wait for Su Miao to awaken. One day, Xia Xiaoan suddenly recalled something and said, "I read online that Sister Su Miao is like a martial land immortal. If that's true, does her sleep equal meditation, like in those cultivation dramas where retreats last for several years, decades, or even centuries?" Lin Jiujiu and Su Luoli exchanged a startled glance. Could that really be the case? Suddenly, the bedroom door opened, and a familiar voice rang out. "Good morning!" Su Miao yawned, bleary-eyed, appearing as if she could sleep a little longer. (End of chapter)