Chapter 75: A Farewell in Anticipation of Reunion

"Heh, I think we’ve already been friends for a long time." There was a faintly amused smile on her face. Zhuang Xiaoyuan felt no more regrets about leaving this world. She had met new friends and gained new bonds. Even if they never met again, she would always remember Xiaosi.

The deep happiness that came from gaining Zhuang Xiaosi’s friendship had swept away all of Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s lingering regrets and reluctance. Moreover, Zhuang Xiaosi had discovered her own emotions, and in the future, more and more among the mecha girls would come to understand their feelings as well. Perhaps at that time, their world would become truly vibrant.

"Then... farewell, Xiaoyuan." Because of Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s words, Zhuang Xiaosi broke into a radiant smile. She held onto that most beautiful smile, her eyes glimmering with unshed tears, and waved to Zhuang Xiaoyuan, looking forward to their next meeting.

"Yes, goodbye, Xiaosi." She returned an equally brilliant smile. Wrapped in that smile, Zhuang Xiaoyuan vanished into a halo of bright white light...

Focused only on each other, neither Zhuang Xiaosi nor Zhuang Xiaoyuan noticed that a white light, almost indistinguishable from the one that carried Zhuang Xiaoyuan away, flashed from the World Crystal and merged into Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s body...

The world was pitch-black, and even with spiritual perception, it remained an endless primordial darkness. Zhuang Xiaoyuan waited quietly here. Unlike the first time she had come to this place, she could now sense the existence of her spiritual form. This dark world was probably some kind of antechamber for the Guardian Spirit Trial.

Familiar with the darkness, Zhuang Xiaoyuan felt no fear or anxiety. Having just parted with Zhuang Xiaosi, she had calmed her heart, filled with hope that they might meet again, looking forward to what the future would bring.

Of course, lingering in this darkness was not just for sentiment; it was also for the rewards of the Guardian Spirit Trial.

The golden parchment, which had always issued the Guardian Spirit Trial tasks, hovered before her. This time, it displayed not only the progress of the trial but also the rewards earned upon completion.

[Guardian Spirit Trial – Complete] Calculating results...

[Task One Complete] Divine Power Cultivation Potential Increased

[Task Two Complete] Blank Character Generation Card Obtained

[Task Three Complete] Ability to Generate Character Connections Obtained

[Final Task: Origin – Complete]: Blessing of the White Data World Obtained.

Divine Power Cultivation Potential Increased? That means my cultivation potential should now be at the fifth tier. As expected of the Guardian Spirit’s trial, the rewards are truly extravagant—normally, only rare and priceless divine artifacts can increase one’s cultivation potential. The reward for Task Two is a character generation card? So, besides raising my divine power tier, the trial also grants me a character card—what good news. Task Three: ability to generate character connections? What’s that? And the blessing of the White Data World—what could that be?

In this pitch-black space, existing only as a spiritual form, she couldn’t sense any changes in herself. After confirming what she had gained from the trial, Zhuang Xiaoyuan left the darkness. She couldn’t wait to see what changes her achievements in the trial would bring.

Slowly she opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was a huge, orderly character for “Stillness.” She was in the Underground Chamber of Stillness at the Command Center’s training base, where the Divine Armored Warriors—Maple City’s Guardian Team—were stationed. This Guardian Spirit Trial had truly lasted a long, long time.

With a sigh, Zhuang Xiaoyuan began to check her gains. As she circulated her spiritual power, her Guardian Spirit behind her emitted a faint divine energy, which flowed into the nebula vortex within her body. The divine power entering her now was several times greater than before.

Indeed, her cultivation potential had leaped from the lowest tier straight to the fifth tier. This meant her cultivation speed was now several times what it had been. With the amplification of cultivation potions, her progress would be even faster, since the effects of such potions depended on one’s potential—the greater the potential, the better the absorption and the greater the boost.

After checking her current cultivation speed, Zhuang Xiaoyuan turned her attention to the character cards within the nebula vortex. Five cards now stood quietly, rotating slowly.

Five cards? She frowned in puzzlement and directed her spiritual power toward the five cards in the nebula vortex. They were in two distinct arrangements: four cards were laid out horizontally, orbiting the center of the vortex, while above them stood a single, unique card glowing softly with white light.

The four lower cards were just as she expected. From left to right, the first was the Culinary Goddess, Erina Nakiri, her first transformation; the second, unmistakably, was the Rogue Immortal, Huang Xiaoyan; the third had been generated during her preparations for the Guardian Spirit Trial; and the fourth, the reward for Task Two—a black, blank card.

A sweep of spiritual power across the four cards revealed nothing unusual. Her focus shifted to the strange card at the top—a white card, distinct from the transformation cards below.

The illustration on this card was not of a single girl but depicted a vast, high-tech base. In the sky above, countless mecha girls soared, too many to count. Leading them was one who looked awfully familiar... like Zhuang Xiaosi.

As Zhuang Xiaoyuan concentrated her spiritual power on this unique card, a line of text appeared at the bottom:

[White Data World: The World Where Mecha Girls Live]

[World Guardian: Rapid Assault Battle Maiden—Zhuang Xiaosi]

[Card Effects:

All mechanical attacks’ damage increased.
All mechanical mobility equipment’s speed increased.
All mechanical equipment gains auto-repair function.
All mechanical transformation abilities’ cooldown halved.
Usage: Activates automatically upon contact with equipment]

"...Is this... a World Card? I didn’t expect something like this. The character cards grant strange abilities through transformation, but a World Card seems to enhance all sorts of roles. It’s almost like a permanently active passive ability—and its range of effect is quite broad." Noticing the card’s description, a flash of delight shone in Zhuang Xiaoyuan’s eyes. It was not just because of the abilities it granted, but because of what the card itself signified.