Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 957: Chapter 1: Before

If there is an Elysium, a Land of Ultimate Bliss, this place is it.

This is the place where people can immediately experience this feeling, both visually and sensorially—heaven.

The ruler of heaven is singular, the faith of heaven is singular, heaven itself is singular.

At this moment, the newly born Angels are receiving teachings from the Archangel—they were imbued with a lot of knowledge upon birth, but this knowledge is not systematic and requires subsequent human categorization.

“…The main world is singular, but also not singular. It is a special entity that can theoretically infinitely self-proliferate and split along the dimension of time. Therefore, we have marked the discovered main worlds from No.1 onward. So far, a total of 99 main worlds have been found. Within these 99 different yet similar main worlds, numerous world fragments split off. Of course, the cultural history on these world fragments basically does not deviate from the timeline of the main world from which they split…”

The Archangel is explaining its understanding of the world system, while a group of child-like newborn Angels are taking class notes throughout.

“So where did the Lord originally come from?” Soon, a voice of confusion arose from among the young Angels.

The Archangel above smiled slightly at this time, “The Lord originally came from the No.7 main world. But actually, in every main present world, there is a presence of the Lord. However, the moment the Lord becomes a god, every my Lord in the main present worlds simultaneously becomes a god and separates from each of their main present worlds, merging as the singular entity in the multiverse main present world.”

Seeing the more confused expressions of the child Angels below, the Archangel smiled again and said, “For example, in the No.7 main present world, where my Lord first became a god, It used seven days to create the world, while in the No.9 main present world, my Lord has not yet shed Its mortal body. But at the moment the creation of the No.7 main present world is completed, this segment of history will start to permeate different main present worlds through special ties between my Lord’s different entities in the multiverse, thereby allowing the great achievement of my Lord’s creation to be spread in different main present worlds.”

“So will the deeds of my Lord from other main present worlds also be reflected in the No.7 main present world?” It is still the same voice of confusion—from the newborn Angels.

The Archangel once again looked at the young Angel and nodded, “That’s right, that’s why in different present worlds, complicated and temporally chaotic transmissions are spread. Of course, what the common people of the main present worlds can understand is that my Lord is omnipotent, It has numerous embodiments that can trigger different miracles simultaneously… Are there any other questions?”

“Teacher! So which main present world did the Great Flood Apocalypse occur in? And what has become of that main present world now?” Still the same voice of confusion.

“Why are you curious about this?” The Archangel did not immediately answer but calmly asked.

“Because everyone says the sinner Noah has been captured by Master Gabriel and is now imprisoned in Eden. I am very curious why Noah betrayed my Lord.” Among the young Angels, a small figure stood up.

The Archangel smiled slightly at this time and asked, “Child, what’s your name?”

“Metatron.” The newborn Angel replied respectfully.

“Very good.”

The Archangel nodded and then gestured for Metatron to sit down before saying, “I will cover the matter of the sinner Noah in the historical synopsis of the No.18 main present world later. For now, let me focus on explaining the world view of the main present world. Metatron, your peers are still amidst chaotic knowledge. So let me deliver the lecture according to plan and organize the knowledge. Can I?”

“Oh… I’m sorry, I know I was wrong.” Metatron lowered his head at this moment.

…

“Truly restless, isn’t it, Father?”

On heaven’s blooming earth, Noah suddenly said—he was perhaps the most relaxed prisoner, trapped on an almost infinitely vast land: Eden.

There were actually no shackles on his body, nor was his movement restricted in Eden—he simply could not leave this divine garden voluntarily.

Before him was It, dressed in a linen robe, sitting cross-legged with closed eyes.

Upon hearing Noah speak, It slowly opened Its eyes and calmly said, “In the young Angels, a peculiar entity has appeared, I need to keep an eye on it.”

Noah shook his head and said, “They are like products from a modern human factory. No matter how precise the machine, it will always produce flawed items… But God is perfect, and what He creates should also be perfect. However, peculiar entities still appear, such as the first Lucifer… Father, don’t you think this is quite ironic?”

“You should know that I am not perfect.” It also shook Its head, “At the limits of our understanding, perhaps only It is truly perfect. But whether this perfection is truly perfect, we do not know, as this remains within our understanding.”

“Higher dimensions, is it…” Noah pondered.

“Perhaps dimensions are also limitless.” It suddenly said.

Noah shook his head again, then glanced at this land, suddenly saying, “From my perspective, this place is actually perfect, just like You. Because here, and You, theoretically also existed because of It. So, since within the scope of Your cognition It is perfect, then You born because of It should also be perfect.”

It said calmly, “Do not forget that the ability to create perfection also indicates that whether the creation is perfect depends on the creator’s idea.”

“Though time means little to us,” Noah just sighed, “but let’s try not to waste time in such dead-end discussions… Father, I will not bring back the Ark, even if You keep me imprisoned here forever.”

“Still refusing to give up?” It looked at Noah, “Searching for the original main present world.”

“Only the Ark can safely navigate through the dimensional fissures.”

Noah also sat down cross-legged and said softly, “Since Father, You do not wish to do it, nor abandon these pitiable children, then let us, this group of forsaken lives go… to the original main world, to the birthplace of all.”

After hearing this, It slowly closed Its eyes.

Heaven ushered in Eternal Night.

…

…

As if it is forever night, always waiting for the light that never comes… maybe, daylight does not exist at all—at least, Fish Ball Qiang thinks so.

At the Front Hall Square of the Palace of Eternal Night, a shadowy figure is leaping around with great agility, deftly dodging attack after attack from the Void Primordial Demons—the figure has indeed attracted dozens of Void Primordial Demons behind.

This person is Fish Ball Qiang.

Fish Ball Qiang doesn’t know when he discovered he could move—but even though he can move, his range of activity is only limited to the Front Hall Square of the Palace of Eternal Night.

Despite this, Fish Ball Qiang still has many things not to worry about—such as he seems to have no needs for eating, drinking, defecation.

He does not feel hunger, and even exhaustion rarely appears—even if he does feel tired, he just needs to sit and rest for a while, and his stamina will quickly recover.

Moreover, Fish Ball Qiang found his body constantly becoming stronger. The most direct evidence was that not long ago, Fish Ball Qiang managed to fend off a Void Primordial Demon with a single punch… Although he merely pushed it back instead of killing it with one blow, it at least proved one thing: Fish Ball Qiang was not completely powerless against these Void Primordial Demons.

The little girl who called herself Zang Jian had never appeared, and with these changes happening to his body, Fish Ball Qiang wanted to find someone to ask about it but couldn’t.

Therefore, Fish Ball Qiang could only attribute these changes to Old Zhong finally opening his eyes, allowing his adventure to unfold according to a normal storyline and so forth.

“Watch me, Cloud Palm Strike! Ah da da da!!!”

Suddenly, on the Plaza of the Palace of Eternal Night, the figure being chased by a Void Primordial Demon turned and swiftly pushed out with their palms—of course, this attack with only form and no special power merely pushed back a Void Primordial Demon.

But Fish Ball Qiang was having a great time, feeling like he had become a powerful character in a Hong Kong martial arts comic, just missing some special effects!

“What is this human doing?”

On a high tower of the Palace of Eternal Night, a rugged young man wearing a samurai outfit, with a long and a short katana hanging at his waist, batted his eyes curiously and asked.

“Just venting some excess energy, probably thinks they’ve become a martial arts master.” Zang Jian, who was sitting cross-legged, responded calmly. “Musashi, is there something you need from me?”

The young man called Musashi turned his head forty-five degrees, “I was merely sent over to tell you to head to Between the Thrones.”

“What’s the matter?” Zang Jian asked with slight surprise.

Between the Thrones is the residence of the original Transcendents and the deepest part of the Void Lost Paradise. Of course, as the guardian of the ‘gate’ to the Void Lost Paradise, Zang Jian also has permission to reach Between the Thrones directly.

“It seems one of our Thrones has been taken to heaven.” Musashi turned with a slightly belligerent look in his eyes, “It looks like a war is about to start, as many folks have been called back recently.”

Zang Jian suddenly closed his eyes, and after a while, opened them again, “Understood, I’ll head over once I finish this theme.”

Musashi scratched his head with a helpless look, “There’s no such thing, is there… How about having a bout with me? I really want to try my strength against the Ten Famed Swords all at once!”

“Fighting is prohibited in Paradise Lost,” Zang Jian responded calmly.

Musashi pursed his lips and then pointed to Fish Ball Qiang on the plaza who was yelling the ‘Heaven Frost Fist’, saying with a squinted smile, “Then can I borrow this toy for a bit?”

“Suit yourself, just don’t disturb me in doing my theme.” Zang Jian closed his eyes once more.

Perhaps this is the only pleasure left?

Just like how I’ve always wanted to spar with others… I really miss that era.

Yagyu, Sasaki, Marume, Ito… There’s a group that kept pushing and pursuing me constantly…

Musashi stepped onto the window frame and jumped into the Front Hall Square.

His body landed precisely on the back of a Void Primordial Demon—pinning it savagely onto the floor.

In this instant, it seemed to completely enrage all the Void Primordial Demons, who suddenly rushed at Musashi with bared teeth and claws.

At this moment, Musashi gripped his long and short sidearm swords with both hands and stepped out with his left foot, lowering his entire body into a blade-drawing stance.

“Niten Ichi-ryu·Sun and Moon!”

There were no sun and moon in the rift of the Void, but at this moment Fish Ball Qiang felt as if he saw the sun and moon shining brightly, his mind turning blank in an instant… When he snapped back to realization, the air above the plaza was filled with falling Void Primordial Demons, shredded into countless pieces…

“Want to learn the sword?”

Musashi turned and, with the small tachi resting on his shoulder, pointed the long sword at Fish Ball Qiang, suddenly asking.

Fish Ball Qiang shivered and without a word knelt on the ground, “Master, please accept this disciple’s bow!”

“No, no, you misunderstood.” Musashi shook his head, “I didn’t plan to take you as a disciple.”

Fish Ball Qiang was stunned, “Then what was that question for?”

“Asking if you want to learn doesn’t mean I’ll take you. Similarly, not taking you doesn’t mean I won’t teach you,” Musashi sat down cross-legged, casually throwing the long sword forward.

The long sword stuck into the ground in front of Fish Ball Qiang, and Musashi lazily said, “However, if you can pull it out before I leave, I might consider taking you as a disciple by name.”

“W-when are you leaving?” Fish Ball Qiang asked instinctively.

Musashi chuckled, “Before the next wave of Void Primordial Demons arrives.”

Fish Ball Qiang, without thinking, reached for the handle of the long sword, only for Musashi to suddenly say, “Oh, by the way, if you can’t pull it out before the next wave of Void Primordial Demons arrives, it will drain all your energy.”

“W-what do you mean?” Fish Ball Qiang paused, his hand frozen.

Musashi calmly explained, “Meaning without energy, you’ll be devoured by a Void Primordial Demon in an instant when facing it… So, do you still want to try?”

— Give up, after all, you’re just a failure, stop thinking the adventure would land on you.

Suddenly, Fish Ball Qiang seemed to hear his own voice.

Give up.

Give up.

Give up…

Fish Ball Qiang’s palm suddenly grasped the handle of the long sword.