Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 360: Chapter 359 The True Meaning of Implementing Will

Chapter 360: Chapter 359 The True Meaning of Implementing Will

“…..I don’t quite understand what you mean.”

Fang Zheng didn’t feel that there was any disgrace in not being able to defeat the other party. To be capable of constructing such a powerful space, it was normal for him not to win. If he could have won, why would he waste words with the adversary?

“It’s simple. The reason you feel you cannot defeat me is that you have not really considered defeating me to achieve victory. However, it’s quite peculiar that you are filled with a determination to survive. Not only that, but I can also sense a very strong confidence in you, that as long as you can survive, you will inevitably achieve victory…. Truly a contradictory logic.”

Hearing what the other party said, Fang Zheng was startled and then fell silent.

Indeed, just as the other party mentioned, Fang Zheng had never thought about defeating the opponent from the start. He just wanted to probe and investigate the opponent’s strength to find a way to defeat them. But that was all. If you asked how determined Fang Zheng was to defeat the current opponent… he really didn’t have any particular thoughts about it.

Perhaps because of this, Fang Zheng’s attacks had no effect on the opponent at all.

On the contrary, Fang Zheng had always been obsessed with surviving. After all, when he came to this world, he had found himself in a life and death battle as soon as he opened his eyes. After that, Fang Zheng’s desire for survival increased to an extreme. At that time, he was not only very weak but also had a bounty on his head for being a cultist. For Fang Zheng at that time, keeping himself alive was of paramount importance in his life.

The training in the Black Soul World further strengthened Fang Zheng’s will to “be timid rather than reckless”. This was also why every time he encountered trouble or danger, his first reaction was to extract himself and flee. If not for the system assigning missions, Fang Zheng would absolutely not put himself in danger. The reason he would complete the system’s missions was also because if he did not complete them, his strength would weaken, but if he completed them, his strength would become even stronger, thereby providing more assurance for his survival.

It can be said that till now, everything Fang Zheng had done boiled down to one thing.

Survival.

Nothing more.

“You have demonstrated your convictions through battle. Now, it’s time for a verbal confrontation.”

While speaking, the shadowy figure raised his longsword again.

“So, tell me, do you have something you want to protect?”

“Of course.”

Fang Zheng replied without hesitation. If at the very beginning of his arrival in this world he was alone, now, there were increasingly more things that Fang Zheng felt the need to protect.

“Then, are you willing to go to any lengths to protect it, even if it means sacrificing your own life?”

“I am not willing.”

Fang Zheng’s answer was still without hesitation, and this time, the shadowy figure hesitated for a moment.

“……..Why.”

“The reasons are complex, but in short… you can think of it as some kind of summoning contract. If I die, then they would have no way to continue existing in this world. Therefore, for their sake, I also cannot die.”

“Good, very interesting, I understand what you mean.”

Upon hearing Fang Zheng’s response, the shadow showed a touch of a smile.

“So….. what exactly are you dissatisfied with in your own will?”

“……..”

This time, Fang Zheng was plunged into silence and then knitted his brows, thinking carefully for a moment.

“Maybe it’s because… it’s not quite honorable enough?”

Fang Zheng wasn’t joking. As he said, he always felt that this kind of thinking probably couldn’t be a reason to become stronger. After all, Fang Zheng had seen many novels, movies, and TV shows where characters became stronger either because “they could sacrifice everything for power” or because “they could sacrifice their own lives to protect others” and so on. But for Fang Zheng, his will was clearly not that extreme.

As a joke, if becoming bald could make him invincible, then Fang Zheng would still have to consider his hairstyle; he wasn’t ready to give up his hair for invincibility.

That’s why Fang Zheng thought his thinking wasn’t “honorable” enough, at least not compared to those “protagonists” or “villains.” He didn’t have any sort of thoughts like “sacrifice XX for XX,” nor the unwavering resolve to see it through.

“I think… I can understand what you mean.”

Facing such an unexpected answer from Fang Zheng, that silhouette seemed somewhat surprised. After a rare moment of silence, they simply sighed.

“Indeed, to sacrifice something for power is a rule of this world, but protection is also a firm belief. Living for oneself and living for others is nothing to be ashamed of.”

At this point, that silhouette chuckled softly.

“I’ve seen many people, as you said, who are willing to sacrifice a lot to become stronger. But… how interesting, there are also outliers like you. So, I’ll repeat what I’ve once told them, to you.”

Upon hearing this, Fang Zheng focused his spirit and listened carefully to the other person’s words.

“Be true to your own desires, be true to your heart. The opinions of others are merely the dust of the mortal world; you and only you are your own master. And your power, too, will exist only for yourself. Also… you need to create a swordsmanship that belongs to you. What you are using now is just something you’ve obtained from elsewhere. Creating your own swordsmanship will help you see more clearly the path you need to move forward on.”

After saying this, the silhouette sheathed their longsword.

“All right, that’s enough for now. I truly look forward to the heights you will reach. Furthermore, I can sense that what you’re displaying now is not your real power… So, one last question, what do you think is your true power?”

“………”

Upon hearing this question, Fang Zheng fell silent. He glanced at the greatsword in his hand and then sighed softly.

“Any power that belongs to me, is my power.”

“……Very interesting, you may leave now.”

As the voice faded, a thick white fog emerged once more, enveloping Fang Zheng. When he opened his eyes again, he was back inside the Mage Tower, and the mirror that should have stood before him had vanished without a trace.

“True power, huh?”

As he stared at his palm, Fang Zheng mused aloud. Honestly, according to the usual trope, he should’ve answered ‘spirit’ or ‘will’ or something of that sort, but for Fang Zheng, there was only that answer. Whether it was the power of the Dimensional Codex, the knowledge and spells he had learned in this world, or strengths he had obtained from other worlds, all those powers ultimately had one purpose: to allow Fang Zheng to continue to exist, to survive.

“I really dislike this kind of reading comprehension. No clue how many points I’d get marked off.”

Shaking his head, Fang Zheng dropped his hand and sighed. Although the fight hadn’t helped him break through the Legendary threshold, it did help Fang Zheng realize the flaws in his existence. He had never considered his will as “honorable,” and it was exactly because of that he had been limiting himself, unable to break through. Now, what Fang Zheng needed to do was to let go of that thinking.

No, or rather… should he take a roundabout way to rescue the situation?

Fang Zheng raised his hand, and quickly, the Dimensional Codex reappeared in front of him.

Staring at the patterns on the Dimensional Codex, Fang Zheng furrowed his eyebrows.

He had a premonition that the next world might very well be where he found the key to his breakthrough.

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