Chapter 2

If life could start over, it would surely be a great joy.

If the end of the previous life was filled with the pain of terminal cancer, then when reborn into a younger self and a somewhat different new world, the joy would be doubled.

"......Is this a chance given by heaven to make up for the regrets of the previous life?"

The biggest regret of Lu Anping's previous life was dedicating himself entirely to his career and neglecting his family.

When he had accumulated considerable wealth, his hardworking parents had already passed away.

"This time, I will make up for it."

Looking at his parents, who were at least thirty years younger, Lu Anping silently made a vow.

"It's cancer, late-stage."

A routine health check gave the same answer, and he broke down.

He gave up, let things slide, and waited to die.

He had given up, but someone had not.

"......No disease is completely hopeless, even if there's only 1%...... Foolish child, it's too early to give up."

The mere theoretical cure rate was enough for his parents back home to abandon everything, sell their house, their assets, and everything they had, and even start borrowing.

Ha, should he be grateful for the emerging online lending system and its low threshold?

Two elderly people who didn't know how to use their phones quickly learned how to borrow online.

They maxed out all their online loans, borrowed from everyone they could, and managed to gather the hundreds of thousands needed for the surgery and the even more expensive follow-up treatments.

"That child, obedient from a young age, our only son, he's very studious, always our pride..... He's our treasure. We never expected him to achieve great things, we just hoped he would live a peaceful life. Doctor......"

The old father, a farmer with little education, had never begged anyone in his life.

He bowed his head, offered a cigarette, forced a smile, and pleaded with the doctor in the hallway.

The cigarettes, costing 1.5 yuan each, were something he usually couldn't afford, but the doctor on the other side didn't even look at them.

The young man, standing behind the wall, felt a sudden pain, and tears involuntarily streamed down his face.

His mother, who had always been gentle, said the harshest words of her life to her son, who was almost in despair and begged his parents to give up treatment.

"You can't give up...... If you die, we will follow you!"

Faced with his mother's tears and threats, the emaciated Lu Anping became even more silent.

The barriers of two lifetimes vanished in the face of the familiar and cherished faces, and the genuine love and concern.

He silently nodded and accepted all reasonable and unreasonable treatments, hoping for the miracle the doctor spoke of.

But science seemed to have no miracles, and the final verdict was a death sentence of "at most half a month."

Fortunately, this new world was not just about science; it also had supernatural realms known as "pollution."

Although most people who entered these realms ended up dead, some survivors not only lived but also awakened strange abilities.

"The survival rate is low, the chance of awakening abilities is even lower, and the probability of the awakened ability curing cancer...... is at least not zero."

Thus, he became a night walker.

Using every means possible, he dragged his sick body to search for the realm that led to death.

This time, the miracle really came. He found the realm and survived until the end.

But the miracle only came halfway. His Life Bank ability could now only spend, not earn, changing his death sentence to a slow death... He had to quickly enhance his ability and find a way to earn life points.

"Enough. Enough, as long as there's a chance to live, there's hope. But this monitored residence...... is quite annoying."

More troublesome was that the realm he entered was particularly extraordinary, a so-called divine realm, a ZZZ-level pollutant.

As a result, he became a monitored subject of "relevant authorities," and Xia Qin, a deputy captain of the local secret keeper, became his cohabitant as a monitor.

To Xia Qin, the monitoring was just a formality.

"......I have my own life and can't waste it on you. Become a secret keeper. Only by becoming a professional secret keeper will you not be a threat but a partner, and you might gain freedom...... Before that, I will use my guarantee to repay your life-saving deed in the realm."

In a few years, the already "polluted" Lu Anping would either be dead or become a colleague, and things would naturally change.

Only Lu Anping himself knew that this vigilance was not excessive, but even a bit insufficient.

The decision of the relevant authorities was not wrong; pollution would only be covered by higher-level pollution.

From the perspective of the general public, directly eliminating him might be the best choice.

In fact, even though the report mentioned the lowest threat level Z (near-divine) and the highest threat level ZZZ (divine), they still underestimated Lu Anping's "special" nature.

In the realm, he obtained not just a rule-level ability that hid most of its true nature.

He held the key to easily destroy a city.

"Open, my realm......"

A silver key, bound to his soul, was the key to the realm and a component of his divine ability.

"......Open the door for your master, the Abandoned Courtyard. Hey, how are you, my divine prisoner."

The next moment, the world twisted, and the scenery of another world appeared before him.

A circular classical arena, seemingly long neglected, with broken wall decorations and carvings, parasitic plants climbing the walkways, and rotten stone seats.

But the strange scenery was nothing compared to the miraculous owner.

An oak throne emitted a natural incense, with twisted wooden tendrils blooming with pure white flowers. On the throne made of flowers and oak, a white sacred beast lay.

The three tails below the throne swayed freely, the snake heads between the tails enjoying the offerings from the fruit platter, and a massive beast body faintly shimmered with lightning. Upon closer inspection, it was one with the wooden throne.

Part of its flesh had become wooden, with oak roots wrapping around its skin, and its twisted deer-like horns were sacred and natural. The tiger stripes on its body had the luster of oak bark.

A living tree, or rather, a living beast, appeared in a form beyond human understanding, a demigod in the mortal world. This was once her realm, her world.

She was Keldalys, the sacred beast of life, a great demigod.

At the same time, she was Lu Anping's greatest gain from the realm.

However, the demigod's situation was a bit strange, and her expression seemed as if she had eaten something wrong.

"Hey, Keldalys, your work efficiency is a bit low. Be careful, I might dock your pay, uh, you don't have a salary, does this have anything to do with the debt you owe me?"

Wearing a large blue-red cleaning uniform, a white apron, a cleaning cap, and holding a mop and a dustpan, her three tails held a cloth, a bucket, and a toilet plunger.

The entire beast looked like a cleaning lady... and indeed, she was doing the work of a cleaning lady.

At that moment, the pure giant beast, with its massive body leaning against the wall, held a mop larger than a utility pole, cleaning the bloodstains and ivy on the ground... because the new owner was quite clean!

When she saw Lu Anping's arrival, even though her illusory body could not resist the commands of the world's master, her beast eyes were still full of murderous intent.

"......The binding is not permanent, rules always have loopholes, no contract is indefinite, and no one can always be vigilant. As a mortal, as a weakling, you dared to humiliate a deity, enslave a deity. Boy, I admire your courage, but one day, I will savor the deliciousness of your soul for a hundred years......"

The "sacred beast" dropped her disguise, baring her teeth, revealing naked resentment, curses, and threats... but dressed as a cleaning lady, she continued to mop the floor while cursing, which was not very intimidating.

But the content of her words was 100% true.

The binding always had gaps, and as a demigod, Keldalys had a high chance of ignoring any "rule" level or lower curses.

Smart people always leave a way out.

A weakling binding a strong one, like a lamb binding a wolf, should take advantage of the situation to gather more information and resources, rather than offend to the point of death, which would likely lead to a backlash.

Seeing the sacred beast's unmasked malice and threats, Lu Anping smiled.

If he didn't fix that damn system, he had at most half a year to live, so why worry about the future?

"Ha ha, I look forward to that day, the sooner the better, but......"

After thinking for a moment, he slapped his forehead, finally realizing what was wrong.

"I'm a shut-in, and my secret home has a cleaning lady, which is a bit embarrassing...... By the way, Keldalys, can you change into a human form?"

As a bonus of the realm "Abandoned Courtyard," the "tower spirit" Keldalys could not refuse the "reasonable request" of the "world master," such as cleaning the environment or changing into a form more suitable to the master's taste.

"Ooh, blonde beast ears, spiral curls, blue eyes, a mature nun, nice, nice, this human form is great. This outfit doesn't suit you, come, change into a maid uniform. Strange, you seem familiar...... Never mind, if I can't remember, I won't."

"Uh, something's missing. Right, let's call Keldalys 'Chris.' Come, Miss Chris, give the master a smile, please say 'Master, how are you' sweetly......"

"Great, very great, come, let me take a few photos and post them online...... Don't pull the skirt, I can't see the underwear, I swear on my character, what, I don't have a character, I'm not a person...... Okay, okay, since I'm not a person, take off your panties and take two more. Yes, yes, that's the look of shy disgust and fear! Yes! That's it!"

"Don't want to wear a maid uniform? Of course, I'm not a demon. You can take off the maid uniform, just wearing an apron and white stockings is even better, or just wearing a doctor's white coat is also good...... No? Ha, disappointing, I've already prepared my camera."

Today, after leaving the monitor's sight, Lu Anping, as usual, sped down the path of joy... and death.

In a sense, he should thank the other party for their gift.

That day, when he left the "Abandoned Courtyard," he received this great gift.

[Ability Life Bank awakened, system analyzing, understanding and reconstructing world rules......]

[Analysis complete, current situation explained: Keldalys' ascension ceremony failed, the victor is Lu Anping.]

[As the first to complete the realm and pass the test, Lu Anping's overall evaluation is 'SS.' Based on his wish to 'live happily,' he receives the gift from the Mother Goddess, a Law-level (demigod-level) ability—Gift of Life and Recompense.]

[Detected that the victor Lu Anping has lost his life. How can the victor of the Mother Goddess's ceremony lose his life! Adjust and upgrade the gift 'Gift of Life'...... Burn the spiritual essence of the failed Keldalys to make up for the shortfall!]

[The shortfall has been made up, the Law ability has been upgraded to a Rule ability. Congratulations, host Lu Anping, you have awakened a Rule-level (divine) ability—Life Bank.]

[Based on the ascension rules, the victor takes everything from the sacrifice. Congratulations, host Lu Anping, you have obtained the independent realm 'Abandoned Courtyard' and the 'bound soul of Keldalys.']

[Detected that the host has lost life signs, automatically activate the sub-function of Life Bank, Life Extension Payment. Current credit rating is average, divided into six installments, now loaning 6000 life points......]

Reading the system's prompts, Lu Anping was excited by the generosity of the sacred beast.

Although he had not yet found a stable source of life points, but......

"Living means there's hope. By the way, my cute little Chris, can you dance, even a cat dance? Do you plan to debut and make money, like a 10 to 0 ratio......"

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[May 7, 1998, Comprehensive Report on the "Keldalys Ancient City Ascension Ceremony"

Confidentiality Level: Z-level Top Secret.

Event Party 1: 'Balance Beast' Keldalys, 9th-level demigod, known paths include beast tamer, healer, black knight, etc., involved in over a thousand cases, affecting millions of people, wanted by seventeen worlds.

Event Cause: It was confirmed that she 'replaced' intern healer Liu Yiyi and infiltrated the Linchi Hospital of the ancient city for three years and four months, during which she collected sacrifices to prepare for her ascension ceremony.

Ceremony Overview: As a demigod's ascension ceremony, she needed to prove her 'doctrine' to the 'source' as a real 'truth' and an eternal rule, elevating from a physical individual to a 'conceptual eternity.'

Keldalys' Doctrine: Life is merely an instinct to continue. To ensure one's survival, everything can be abandoned, and morality, friendship, and law are nonsense. I, Keldalys, am the pinnacle of life.

Ceremony Process: Two most 'intimate' people are forced to fight, the winner lives, the loser dies.

Realm Rule: Anyone can exchange their lifespan for power.

Ceremony Status: Both parties exchange their lifespans, and the winner is often old and frail. Before the appearance of a 'reverser,' the forced combatants were either dead or retired.

If there were no 'reverser,' her ceremony site would continue to expand, constantly inviting 'mortals' to participate in the ceremony, engaging in 'one-on-one' life battles. It was expected that millions of people in the ancient city would be gradually drawn in, becoming 'proof of the doctrine.'

The remains of the losers become components of the 'Mother of Life' statue. When all the city's lives are sacrificed (repeated invitations may occur), the 'Tree of Ascension' is formed, and the ascension ceremony ends.

Event Party 2: 'Reverser' Lu Anping (monitoring number Z7862).

The second party, Lu Anping, is suspected to be Keldalys' 'fate reverser.' He was a patient after Keldalys' infiltration and was originally planned as a sacrifice (666 desperate and fallen individuals), but was later abandoned due to his overly positive attitude (??).

At 1:20 AM that night, he appeared at the ceremony site for unknown reasons and was drawn into the ceremony. (Note: Suspected to have awakened an unknown high-level rule ability, trace investigation abilities are ineffective against him.)

The 'reverser' Lu Anping, to save others, directly challenged the realm master Keldalys, sacrificing his entire life for power, and defeated Keldalys, proving that her 'doctrine' was a false proposition. The new proposition might be:

"Life is not just an instinct to continue. Sacrifice for others exists. Keldalys is not the pinnacle of life...... Lu Anping is above Keldalys."

Note: Ascension is against nature. Any form of ascension will face numerous challenges, and any action may encounter 'fate' or 'world' resistance or negation.

When the ascension ceremony reaches a certain level, the existence being sacrificed will be extracted from reality, making it impossible to challenge...... At that point, all obstacles are futile, and only active sacrifice at the beginning can stop it.

Considering that the first party's disguise was the second party's doctor, the 'realm' information was revealed by the first party, and multiple causal connections (rescue and hunt) were formed unknowingly, the reporter highly suspects that Lu Anping is the fate reverser, and his sudden appearance was arranged by 'fate.'

Event Outcome: Keldalys died (suspected), Lu Anping survived, thirteen professional secret keepers were killed, and twenty-four professional secret keepers retired.

Event Follow-up: Based on the third law of pollution, the reverser Lu Anping is confirmed to be polluted and has a high probability of awakening a high-threat Mother Goddess ability. According to the secret keeper code, Article 97, he is considered a Z to ZZZ-level pollution source, and it is recommended to eliminate him...... or monitor him under the guarantee of a guarantor.

Monitoring Time: Lifetime.

Designated Monitor and Guarantor: Deputy Captain of the Special Task Force 3, Xian District, Ancient City, Xia Qin]