Absolute Choice
Absolute Choice - Chapter 506: What are rules? They never existed from the beginning

"Aliens? Advanced technological product?"

The Infernal Queen scoffed and said, "If we are talking about aliens, to the Transcendental World of the past, humans are the true aliens! As for the land of trials, it is indeed an advanced technological product to present day humans."

"However, to the Transcendental World's three races from fifteen thousand years ago, using spatial powers to open up an alternate space and use nomological powers to create a trial program was only a process that was dependent on time. Back then, humans who were adept at magic and battle Qi could easily do it too."

"However, the human world experienced three calamities in the next fifteen thousand years. Every time, they faced annihilation so civilization constantly declined. Most of the battle Qi and magic systems were lost so they lost all knowledge of spatial and nomological powers."

"Hence, they began to believe that the land of trials with alternate spaces in them is an advanced technological product left behind by aliens! Now, humans are laughably weak when compared to their ancestors from fifteen thousand years ago. If any one of the three races of the Transcendental World had survived, it would be extremely simple for them to win back the Transcendental World!"

The three calamities caused human civilization to wane. This was an easily understandable logic but how powerful was the civilization from fifteen thousand years ago? Even an amazing existence like the land of trials could be constructed through the powers of man? He had believed that the human world was a world with advanced martial developments, but compared to fifteen thousand years ago, it was only 'lowly'?

However, the world of the seventh level had replicated the history from twenty thousand years ago. Why was the difference so great in just five thousand years?

Just as such thoughts arose in Shi Xiaobai, the Infernal Queen had guessed his thoughts. She said softly, "Darling must be wondering. Since the seventh level's world has the historical background of the Transcendental World from twenty thousand years ago, why would the difference be so great in just five thousand years?"

"But has Darling ever realized that this land of trials is meant for the training of the realm of mortals? Oh, it's also the Psionic Mortal Realm that you people call in the psonic cultivation system. Then, in the replication of that history, advanced things like spatial and nomological powers naturally would not appear."

"If not, the trial-takers would be crushed. Even the three kings like King Leonis had his strength greatly decreased. The historical King Leonis would be someone even the strongest expert in the present day human world would not be able to defeat."

"In short, the seventh level only replicates a historical background but the strength and development have been tweaked. Many things that people in the mortal realm cannot reach would be hidden or deleted."

Shi Xiaobai was enlightened after such an explanation. Regardless of the veracity of the Infernal Queen's account of history, how could King Leonis, the strongest warrior of a race, be defeated by him at the Psionic Mortal Realm? Furthermore, there were many suspicious points in the world of the seventh level. It was very likely that the strength and development of the trial had been decreased.

However, it was impossible for him to judge how true the words of the Infernal Queen were.

Shi Xiaobai was not foolish enough to fully believe her. Any matter could be twisted into something different from the bias subjectivity of the narrator, not to mention the Infernal Queen, who spoke in a way that left people guessing.

Shi Xiaobai did not ask further and returned to the topic at hand again, "After saying so much, what is the choice?"

The Infernal Queen squinted her eyes and gave a coquettish smile. Again, she did not directly answer him and instead said with a chuckle, "Although the land of trials is not some advanced technological product, the construction of an intricate land of trials like the Nine Revolutions Transcendental Tower is also quite a momentous task."

"The Transcendents had spent three thousand years without finishing it. Fifteen thousand years ago, when the humans invaded, they had just finished 'renovating' the seventh level. Therefore, the construction of the eighth and ninth level's trials was actually not completed."

"However, when the humans forced the Transcendents to the old location of Transcendence, the Transcendent King threw his 'inheritance' into the Nine Revolutions Transcendental Tower with all his might before his death. Therefore, the eighth and ninth levels exist."

When Shi Xiaobai heard this, he had roughly guessed where things were heading.

The Infernal Queen did not leave him hanging as he said, "With Darling's intelligence, you must have guessed it. Yes, the Transcendent's King's inheritance is on the ninth level! And the Nine Revolutions Transcendental Tower was originally meant to be a land of trials to train the younger generation of Transcendents. Hence, the Transcendent King's inheritance has only one goal now—to choose the Transcendent King's successor!"

When Shi Xiaobai heard this, he pricked his brows up and said, "Since humans are the enemy for annihilating the Transcendents, wouldn't there be some contradiction in choosing a human trial-taker as the successor to the Transcendent King?"

The Infernal Queen said with a nod, "Indeed. The Transcendent King originally hoped that a successor could be chosen from another species other than humans so as to continue on the bloodline of the Transcendents."

"But other than humans, there have been no other species that have cleared the seventh level. And after the three calamities, other than the remnant humans, all other species were wiped out. So, a successor can only be chosen from a human trial-taker."

Shi Xiaobai frowned and said, "Choosing a successor from the enemy?"

The Infernal Queen said, "It's not a simple process. By accepting the inheritance of the Transcendent King, the bloodline of the successor would be replaced by the bloodline of the Transcendents. Therefore, the three human trial-takers that previously reached the eighth level had rejected it."

Shi Xiaobai scoffed and said, "Perhaps no one is willing to become a green-skinned dwarf. Considering your personality, you would try your best to conceal such an expensive price and entice the trial-taker with the power of the inheritance, right?"

"Darling sure...understands me," said the Infernal Queen said with a coquettish smile. "If it's possible, I'll definitely use all sorts of blandishments to make trial-takers that are qualified enough to thirst for the Transcendent King's inheritance. Unfortunately, the acceptance of the inheritance has to be voluntary."

"There is to be no resistance. Furthermore, the transformation would happen during the acceptance. If I were to conceal the truth, the successor would resist out of shock while receiving the inheritance and that would not only lead to the successor's death, it will also destroy the inheritance. That is an outcome I do not wish to see. Hence, there is a need to find a willing human who is talented enough to reach the eighth level."

Shi Xiaobai rolled his eyes. "It's no wonder there has been no success for ten thousand years considering the stringent conditions."

Shi Xiaobai did not believe that a genius who could reach the eighth level would choose to become a 'monster' like a green-skinned dwarf.

"No, there is something inaccurate with Darling's words."

The Infernal Queen said with a light smile, "By accepting the Transcendent King's inheritance, one's strength will immediately rise to the peak of the world. To a rookie at the Psionic Mortal Realm, such strength is quite an enticing thing. At least, under my enticement, the ambitious guy that wanted to conquer the world had deliberated for an hour before he gave up reluctantly!"

That was the price to pay. By becoming a Transcendent, one could obtain tremendous amount power. A human who desired strength in an absurd manner might accept it. However, any human who could reach the eighth level would be an extremely talented person with a bright future ahead. Such an act was very unlikely.

At least, Shi Xiaobai was not foolish enough to become a green-skinned monster for strength.

Shi Xiaobai said softly, "You know very well that This King will not agree to it."

The Infernal Queen said with a nod, "That's right, how can I not understand Darling's disposition? So, didn't you see me cut out the promotion of the heritage powers of the Transcendent King?"

Shi Xiaobai glanced at her nonchalantly and expressed his commendation for her. She was not foolish enough to do something pointless. He said, "Since you know it, why aren't you letting This King leave?"

The Infernal Queen chuckled and said, "There are necessary steps that need to be adhered to. After all, that is what the rules say. Furthermore, I still hold a sliver of hope that Darling might suddenly have a brain aneurysm and agree to it."

The corners of Shi Xiaobai's mouth twitched as he said in a speechless manner, "Don't hope for such impossible wishes to be true. Since the steps are done, let This King go."

"There is still one final step."

The Infernal Queen smiled and suddenly said seriously, "Shi Xiaobai, do you choose to clear the eighth level's trial or fail."

That was the eighth level's choice?

Shi Xiaobai heaved a sigh of relief. There was no pressure with the choice. He looked seriously at the Infernal Queen and said affirmatively, "This King chooses failure!"

"Ah!?"

A look of pleasant surprise suffused the Infernal Queen's face as she said loudly, "Darling, Darling, you actually chose to clear the level!? Ah! Did I hear wrong?"

Shi Xiaobai was stunned and immediately felt a dark cloud over his head. He said solemnly, "You have indeed heard wrong. This King chooses to fail."

"Really!?"

The Infernal Queen seemed to respond in pleasant surprise as though they were speaking different languages. "Did I really not hear wrong? Does Darling choose to clear the level? Ah, I'm truly pleasantly surprised!"

Shi Xiaobai was puzzled and did not know what craziness the Infernal Queen was up to. But immediately, he realized something as his expression changed drastically!

"You are doing it on purpose!?"

The Infernal Queen continued saying happily as if she had not heard him, "That's great. My mission has finally ended. I'll send Darling straight to the ninth level!"

Just as the Infernal Queen's words faded away, a golden beam of light fell from the sky and covered Shi Xiaobai in it.

It was the golden transmission light!

Shi Xiaobai's expression changed drastically. "How can you take such liberties? It doesn't abide by the rules!"

Heavens, why did the Infernal Queen ignore the eighth level's rules?

Filled with questions, Shi Xiaobai was lifted up by the golden beam of light and with a whoosh, he was sent to the ninth level.

The Infernal Queen gradually wiped away the smile from her 'fake act'. With a sneer, she muttered to herself, "What are rules? They never existed from the beginning." IChooseDogLeading (我选择狗带) when read in Chinese sounds like I Choose Go Die. It was a meme that resulted from a former member of famous Korean boygroup, EXO, TAO (Huang Zitao). At a concert, there was a part in a rap that where he said "", but due to a mispronunciation, it sounded like he will not easily choose to be led by dogs. This phrase now means 'I'd rather die/I choose death'.