Lu Yan mulled over Song Tianyu's words.
"Professor Qiao is still alive?"
Song Tianyu paused slightly before nodding affirmatively.
[He's right in front of you. Qiao Yu's mutation turned him into this lake. As a Harbinger, unless one gets too close to a pollutant, their lifespan is generally extended.]
Lu Yan had initially thought Qiao Yu had died young due to excessive use of his talents, not realizing he had turned into a pollutant.
[He was indeed on the brink of death from overusing his talents, which is why Song Tianyu took such a risk.]
Lu Yan's gaze fell upon the lake before him, its surface smooth as a mirror, merging seamlessly with the sky and reflecting the heavens above.
He said to Song Tianyu, "I think I understand what you mean. Take me to see Lu Jiahe."
Song Tianyu responded, "Okay. By the way, it seems your friend is also nearby the Floating Island. Shall we let him in?"
He was referring to Emperor Shitian, who had been aimlessly wandering through the clouds, looking bewildered and lost.
After a moment of thought, Lu Yan answered, "Let's not. It's not that I fear the explanation, but Emperor Shitian doesn't wash his hands before eating, which has turned my slight fondness for him into negative regard."
Dozens of dove-like birds flew from the horizon, gathering at Lu Yan's feet, lifting him up with their bodies.
Song Tianyu's wings unfurled, clearing a thin layer of clouds around them with the air currents, leading Lu Yan above the clouds.
"There are nine levels to Floating Island," explained Song Tianyu. "Each level has its unique landscape. The first level is the giant cloud you see from the outside, known as Da Luo Tian."
"Lu Jiahe is on the ninth level."
The sky of the ninth level glowed a brilliant red, resembling a fiery cloud.
Rocks had been stacked to create a flat surface among the clouds, with a thin layer of faint flames flickering on their surface.
The system, though not physically present, seemed to salivate: [Volcanic stone-grilled meat must taste good.]
Being from the ocean, Lu Yan instinctively repelled flames.
His feet touched the large red rocks, extinguishing the flames beneath them.
Upon their arrival, Lu Jiahe was seen tutoring the Rabbit Butcher with homework.
From afar, Lu Yan could hear Lu Jiahe's frustrated roar: "How many times have I explained this to you? If 5 minus 8 isn't enough, borrow 1! Try again! What's 15 minus 8?!"
Tongtong whimpered, "Um... 8?"
Lu Jiahe slammed his hand down, shattering the desk beneath: "If you can't do it, count on your fingers!"
The Rabbit Butcher tearfully lifted its round doll-like hands.
Song Tianyu remarked, "Mr. Lu can be quite irritable when teaching children."
"..."
Lu Yan began to understand why his sister was so rebellious.
Song Tianyu added, "But it's not entirely Mr. Lu's fault. Tongtong's evolution isn't complete, resulting in poor memory. After months of learning, it's only just remembered the basic addition and subtraction within ten and the multiplication table."
In front of Lu Jiahe were two black clay pots, one locked with an iron chain and sealed tightly, the other open with a small quail egg bobbing inside, which appeared cooked, emitting the aroma of roasted protein.
Neither pot contained water, only boiling flames turning the chains red-hot.
[If the kingfish were to be born, it would emerge from the shell as the monster you saw at Kroman Manor.]
[The fish egg was nearly mature when extracted from Song Tianyu. So, Lu Jiahe didn't risk placing it inside his body but chose to periodically feed it blood and suppress it with flames.]
Song Tianyu coughed to catch attention: "Lu Jiahe."
Lu Jiahe turned, his face bearing carbon-like traces, resembling protruding minerals.
His expression shifted to astonishment upon seeing Lu Yan.
Standing up somewhat awkwardly, Lu Jiahe was about to speak when the little rabbit suddenly jumped down from the stool, rushing forward and hugging Lu Yan's leg.
Tongtong asked crisply, "Daddy! Are you here to pick me up from school?"
It seems the school day has been quite long.
Lu Yan bent down and lifted it up.
The Rabbit Butcher had indeed grown larger, its faux fur replaced by real rabbit fur, plump and ready for the pot.
Lu Yan fondly rubbed its tail: "Wait until you've learned the alphabet."
The little rabbit seemed to cry even louder.
Lu Jiahe looked puzzled: "Is this your son?"
Lu Yan: "Not biologically."
Lu Jiahe visibly relaxed:
"That's a relief."
[He couldn't accept you being pregnant before marriage.]
Lu Yan paused, touching the rabbit's tail, and looked into Lu Jiahe's eyes: "Lu Jiahe, I'm not your sister."
Lu Jiahe lowered his head: "I know."
But Lu Yan smelled too similar to her.
Song Tianyu interjected: "Lu Jiahe, the item I asked you to keep, belongs to Lu Yan. I've brought him to retrieve it."
Unaware of the kingfish's backstory, Lu Jiahe understood he was guarding a potent pollutant.
His expression turned to surprise upon hearing Song Tianyu: "Are you sure?"
Such a strong pollutant, not just for Harbingers but even for weaker Pollutants, might influence or re-pollute them.
Lu Yan extended his hand, saying, "Give it to me."
As he spoke, a slit opened in his palm, from which deep red tentacles with scales, resembling whipped cream, spilled out, filled with vigorous vitality.
Lu Jiahe's mouth dropped slightly open.
Lu Yan now gave him a peculiar feeling.
Undoubtedly, he remained human. Sweet, fresh blood flowed under his pale skin, exuding a deadly allure.
Yet, these tentacles spreading from his palm were pure Pollutants, with high pollution values, enough to pose a threat even to Lu Jiahe.
Lu Jiahe sighed: "Alright. You've grown up; I can't control you anymore."
He solidified the flames and then lifted the pot, unlocking the iron chain.
Placing the pot on the table, he cautioned, "It's a bit hot, be careful."
Lifting the pot's lid released a puff of steam.
Lu Yan glanced at the pot, which contained a half-emerged kingfish resembling an axolotl with legs, covered in damp fur. Surprisingly, this fish also had wings, possibly due to having resided within Song Tianyu's body. Instantly, tentacles pierced through the fish's limbs, pulling it towards Lu Yan's palm, as dark blood oozed from its wounds. It struggled vigorously.
[Each part of an Old God's body can become a separate entity, similar to you, who also developed consciousness as an individual.]
[Upon becoming independent, a kingfish's instincts drive it to gather other body parts. Are you aware of how sharks reproduce?]
[Shark embryos hatch inside their mother and then engage in sibling cannibalism, ensuring only the strongest survives and is born.]
Lu Yan looked down at the fish in his hand and murmured, "It looks like a furry egg." Despite its faint breath, the kingfish's face bore a long beak.
"Can eating this give me wings?" Lu Yan inquired.
[Theoretically, yes, but aesthetically, it's not advisable. In my opinion, it's better not to grow them.]
Lu Yan, though unfamiliar with the taste of furry eggs, understood such strong-flavored items were best consumed while hot. The fish's flavor resembled egg custard, particularly delicious around the head, rich in juices. Salt would have enhanced its taste, which was slightly bland.
Due to the presence of children, Lu Yan ate quickly and with elegance. After consuming the fish, he covered his stomach, feeling as if he had swallowed charcoal, with a burning sensation within. Fortunately, this discomfort didn't last long, with the warmth spreading to his limbs.
It had been a while since Lu Yan reacted adversely to eating a kingfish, reminiscent of the first time he consumed one. He experienced dizziness, body heat, and cold limbs.
Tentacles uncontrollably emerged from his skin, floating on the surface.
Holding his forehead, Lu Yan looked at Song Tianyu, "I need to sleep."
He sensed he might fall into a coma for some time.
Song Tianyu led him to a lab on the eighth level of Floating Island, where he conducted bird breeding experiments. Keeping some human habits, the lab had a bed.
Lying down, Lu Yan didn't immediately fall unconscious but grasped his collar, closing his eyes. However, his field of vision began to expand rapidly, soon encompassing the entire Floating Island.
Everything appeared clear and real.
Lu Yan saw Lu Jiahe sensing something, looking around in confusion and bewilderment. His fire no longer burned others.
The Rabbit Butcher's round hands suddenly sprouted fingers, delighting in the prospect of mastering two-digit arithmetic soon.
Song Tianyu, on the first level, developed a beak on his face and knelt by the lake, drinking or perhaps kissing the water, causing ripples without any wind.
Emperor Shitian, hovering mid-air, called the Disease Prevention and Control Center, "Hello, can you send some people who can fly over here? I think I've lost the Harbinger."
"What?! How can you slander me in broad daylight? Do you think I'd dare to do anything? Who can even fight him?!"
These events didn't require deliberate observation to surface in Lu Yan's mind, showcasing the complete Talent 6, Omniscience.
Feeling overwhelmingly sleepy, Lu Yan found it hard to think, his fingers trembling slightly, resisting the urge to fall asleep.
As night fell, skies worldwide darkened within minutes, resembling a Blood Moon, but this time, no red moon appeared.
Struggling to stay awake, Lu Yan called out, "...System."
[I'm here, always here, accompanying you.]
"Who am I?" he asked.
[You are not someone; you are just you.]
[You were born to stand atop peaks, overlooking all beings, without needing to see through my eyes.]
Lu Yan finally closed his eyes in relief, hearing a faint sigh from the system before falling asleep.
[Congratulations. My dear, omnipotent deity.]
The story is nearing its end (whispered softly). Tomorrow, we'll head to the seabed to retrieve the dragon dog.
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