Chapter 362 Great Sage, Human Beings Appear in Our World! - Socially Anxious Witch in the Apocalypse

Lin Jiu Jiu cried for a long time. Helpless, Xia Xiao An didn't know when she had been embraced again. All she could do was silently pat Lin Jiu Jiu's back. Su Miao contemplated Lin Jiu Jiu's predicament, noting down certain points of suspicion. Being in the same place but not sharing the same space-time; such an occurrence was too peculiar. In other words, when Su Miao sensed someone watching her from the Si Tian platform, it wasn't merely an illusion; it was real. Yet, the gaze that reached her was so subtle it was almost nonexistent. Su Miao drew a line in her notes and wrote "Surface" above it, sketching a thought bubble beside it, abbreviated as "M1." Beneath the line for "Surface," she added another line labeled “Subspace," with a thought bubble marked as "M2." Below the Subspace line, she drew a line for "In-Between Space," alongside a thought bubble abbreviated as "M3." Finally, beneath the In-Between Space line, she drew another line labeled "Inner World." This arrangement clarified everything. Su Miao, Xia Xiao An, and Su Luo Li entered the Inner World via M1. Due to some reason, Lin Jiu Jiu plunged from the Surface into the Subspace, then transitioned through Subspace into In-Between Space via M2, and finally entered the Inner World via M3. This meant that at least two spatial layers existed between the Earth's surface and the Inner World. Moreover, M1 could potentially be M2, but Su Miao had no evidence to support this. This raises a question. With four spatial worlds, namely the Surface World, Subspace, In-Between Space, and the Inner World, why is the Inner World termed as such? Is it because it's the innermost? There must be something particularly unique about it. Lin Jiu Jiu finally stopped crying. Xia Xiao An's expression turned slightly distressed. Lin Jiu Jiu's tears had soaked her shoulder, sticky and uncomfortable, making a bath seem necessary. If the campsite were stationary, it wouldn't be an issue, but since they're traveling and anything could happen, every moment counts. Bathing is something to avoid unless necessary. She shuddered to think about what might occur if danger struck while bathing. Thankfully, the nanomaterial clothing she wore couldn’t get dirty. For now, she could set this aside. ... Su Miao thought about her purpose for coming to the Inner World—to find her possibly lost parents and bring them back. Other matters were peripheral, merely there to gather clues during her search. The next step was understanding the situation in the Inner World. The most crucial aspect was the map. Su Miao recalled the mysterious railway and the seemingly unique caravan. Whether by following the railway or finding that special caravan, she should be able to gather some clues. Once they had a rough map, navigating the Inner World would become considerably easier. Su Miao asked, "Jiu Jiu, how much intel does the Twelve Authorities have about the Inner World?" Wiping away her tears, Lin Jiu Jiu retrieved a holographic phone from her magical space: "Sister Su Miao, I downloaded all the information about the Inner World collected by the Twelve Authorities." "Alright." Su Miao took the holographic phone. With a soft tap, a holographic screen lit up in front of Su Miao. The information was sorted by a simple categorization rule, making it very convenient to browse through. ... [Si Heng]: Where there are ghosts, there are immortals. In the East, there is the Immortal Realm and the Netherworld. In the West, there are Spirit Mountains and Hell, similar to the two sides of a coin. [Si Heng]: The apocalyptic theory provided by Irena (Feng Xiao Shi) on the Night Snack Forum has been incredibly beneficial to us. The doomsday catastrophe is both the end and an opportunity. Whether we can attain eternal existence depends on this exploration of the Inner World. [Si Heng]: The power we control already speaks volumes. [Si Shu]: Confirmed intel indicates the existence of gods and demons in the Inner World. If we can obtain their remains or heritage, it would be tremendously advantageous for us. [Si Sui]: After opening the Inner World, it's uncertain if the Twelve Authorities will continue to exist. [Si Zhi]: The establishment of any organization hinges on whether its members can provide enough benefits. We're all adults here, so let's speak plainly. [Si Wu]: The Inner World is a post-apocalyptic world. Finding the corpses of the gods might not be difficult for those present here, but surviving in the Inner World is a challenge. I wish you all the best of luck. ... Judging by the timestamp, this was a discussion among the Twelve Authorities just before the Inner World opened. This record contained some crucial information and was therefore included in the intel. Su Miao continued reading. ... [The book "Blood Magic" originates from the Inner World. According to intel acquired through special channels, the book's rightful owner is a deceased demon god. The demon wished to resurrect through "Blood Magic," but alas, across countless ages, "Blood Magic" was destroyed by Sorceress Su Miao.] ... [Intelligent lifeforms exist within the Inner World beyond our comprehension. I've compiled a list based on the available materials. See "Bestiary of the Inner World" for details.] ... [The greatest concern at present is the map of the Inner World. I've checked various materials, but the maps remain fragmented and cannot be pieced together into a coherent whole. I have the unsettling sense that ancient human novels might actually contain the original maps.] ... Su Miao finished perusing all the materials, slightly furrowing her brow. Her instincts told her that while certain facts in the material were accurate, much crucial information remained concealed. At this moment, Lin Jiu Jiu remarked, "Sister Xiaomiao said the intel shared by the Twelve Authorities should be used as a reference. It’s best not to take it as complete truth, as fully believing it could lead to big trouble, because the Twelve Authorities often withhold part of the truth when sharing intel." "Understood." Su Miao nodded. Among the intel, she focused primarily on the "Bestiary of the Inner World" and anything map-related. The rest, she merely skimmed through, without delving deeply. ... The sound of bells echoed into the distance. The crocodile caravan moved forward along the dried ancient riverbed. Trading journeys were an ancient commercial activity on the Ice Wasteland and were inherently perilous. But to make money, marry, and obtain more essential supplies, trading journeys were necessary. Without them, the exchange of materials could falter, leading to significant problems. In the past, joining a trading caravan was arduous work, yet everyone embarked cheerfully, brimming with hopes for the future. This time was different. They had discovered what seemed to be a human-like creature while passing the outskirts of an abandoned city. Human beings from legend, and these ones could fly. It was terrifying! "Stay alert, everyone." The humanoid mole kindled a campfire on the ground, uttering with worry. "Old Yan, there's nothing to fret about—aren't they just humans? Tens of thousands of years ago, our ancestors were humans too." From the sidelines, a dog-headed person surreptitiously poured himself a large mug of ale, drinking with relish. Old Yan shook his head: "No, it is different. You see, a great sage has issued a bounty. Humans appearing on the Ice Wasteland could bring devastating disasters to the nations here. We're to exercise utmost caution and report immediately upon discovering any humans." Not far off, a trio of frogmen approached: "Old Yan, did the great sage mention what to do upon finding humans?" "What else? Devour them." Before Old Yan could respond, a lynx man remarked from a distance: "Didn't your teachers at school tell you? Humans are also called 'shan,' and they're supposedly delicious." A young sparrow mentioned: "Yes, I've heard that’s what they say. Humans were supposedly hunted to extinction for food on the Ice Wasteland. Just look at the human food names still circulated in town: 'Wife Cake,' 'Couple's Lung Slices,' and so on." "Humans even ate each other. It's quite savage." "…" Another bear-head person chimed in: "Yes, yes, I've read that book. It lists many ways to eat, but alas, with humans extinct, we can't even attempt to have a taste." Before he knew it, drool trickled down. The lynx man expressed disdain: "Say what you will, but stop drooling, or else I'll beat you." The bear-head man remained unfazed: "You can believe I'll eat you up instead!" The lynx man felt instant displeasure, glaring intensely at the bear-head man: "Alright, bear cub, watch how this cat gives you a thrashing!" Old Yan shouted: "No fighting; I'll dock your pay if you brawl!" Reluctantly, the bear-head man and lynx man exchanged fierce looks but refrained from fighting for the sake of their wages. Suddenly, a hidden rat man inquired: "Old Yan, do you think the one flying in the sky was really a human?" Old Yan shook his head: "She could fly and resembled the deities venerated in ancient ruins. You know, many deity representations take human forms. It's hard to say, but if she is human, then it's truly terrifying." "I've read legends where humans eat everything, and everyone could become each other's food, just like how our ancestors supposedly treated humans," someone added. The group fell silent. They didn't want to discuss the day's encounter any further. Old Yan suggested, "Let's get some rest, everyone. Tomorrow, we need to hurry to Mohe Town. With the help of the town elder's treasure, we can send the news up. If what we found was truly a human, we'll receive a hefty bounty." The Bearhead Man asked, "Old Yan, can we eat it if we get the chance?" Old Yan replied, "Think about the one we saw today. Would you still want to eat it?" The Bearhead Man scratched the back of his head, responding naively, "If there's a chance, I'd definitely take a bite, even if it's a deity." The Lynx Man shifted uneasily away from the Bearhead Man, distancing himself to avoid any potential blood splatter should the Bearhead Man meet a fatal end. Anyone with common sense wouldn’t dare to dream of eating a flying human with their meager strength. Humans were just too dangerous. Old Yan advised, "Stop thinking about it. It's better to sleep early." ... The next morning, caravan members woke and set about feeding the crocodiles, packing up the campsite, checking the goods, and continuing their journey. After a six-hour trek, they arrived at Mohe Town. Upon entering Mohe Town, it appeared desolate, empty, devoid of any human presence. But with the bell's sound, the town sprang to life. Various humanoid intelligent beings emerged, eager to trade their homemade goods with the caravan. "Don't rush, everyone! We brought plenty of goods this time. No need to worry!" Old Yan shouted through a loudspeaker, maintaining order. A Bullhead Man approached mysteriously and said, "Old Yan, the town mayor wants to see you. He has some very special cargo." Old Yan glanced at the Bullhead Man curiously, asking, "What kind of cargo is so secretive?" Quietly, the Bullhead Man replied, "A human." Old Yan took a deep breath and quickly pulled the Bullhead Man aside, whispering, "A human?" The Bullhead Man patted his chest confidently, "Yes, a human." "How do you know it's a human?" The Bullhead Man's smile grew more enigmatic, "Old Yan, have you forgotten? Mr. Aoci, the historian, lives right here in Mohe Town." Hearing Mr. Aoci's name, Old Yan felt a surge of respect. If Mr. Aoci identified it as a human, it had to be a human. Excited, Old Yan thought of the tales he could tell for a lifetime about seeing a real human. The Bullhead Man mentioned, "This is all thanks to the great sage's prophecy about humans appearing on the icy wasteland, especially near Mohe Town. Otherwise, we wouldn't have this opportunity." "I heard that the Red Rose City is about to host a culinary festival. Imagine how popular it would be if they featured humans as part of it." "This would surely make it the most successful festival ever." Old Yan's mole-like eyes darted back and forth rapidly. Weighing the potential benefits, he recalled the skyborne Sorceress Su Miao and hoped she was merely a passing deity, not a human. "Alright, take me to see the cargo." "This way." ... In a dry dungeon, Tao Yujie opened her eyes. Attempting to move, she was met with excruciating pain radiating from her abdomen. Gazing down, she discovered a massive wound on her abdomen, covered with some unknown medicinal paste. The searing pain convinced Tao Yujie that she was still alive and had been saved, but the prison-like surroundings forebode ill. She had been captured. Who could it be? Struggling to turn her head, Tao Yujie looked into the distance. Nearby, bedraggled Donkeyhead People and Horshead People were imprisoned, their eyes vacant and distressed. "Many beast-transformers," was Tao Yujie's initial thought. Yet, no intel from the Twelve Authorities mentioned beast-transformers in the Inner World. Wait? Suddenly, Tao Yujie's heart clenched. She noticed several beast-transformers clinging to their prison bars, eyes fixed on her with ravenous intent. It felt like being the most delectable prey discovered by hungry wolves. "They want to eat me!?" The notion was both absurd and terrifying to Tao Yujie. Despite her disbelief, the intent in their eyes and the drool confirmed her fears. Was this the afterlife, a hell? No, it wasn't any hell—she was still in the human realm! Seeing some of her companions who had also survived and were now imprisoned, their conditions appeared worse. She needed to escape quickly. Tao Yujie began to plot her jailbreak. She wondered if Si Tian might come in. Concern gripped her. Best if Sorceress Su Miao was summoned; with her arrival, everything would be fine. (Chapter end)