Chapter 143

When the story progressed with the protagonist at its core, the author would rotate the spotlight and page space among key supporting characters. This served both to enrich the narrative and to develop the characters more fully, a commonly used technique in manga.

In the original storyline, every member of the Cloud Soarers team had their own dedicated highlight arc, and the original female lead, Ye Zheng, was no exception.

The intricately patterned dome towered over the two of them. Sykes’ voice echoed across the empty high platform.

“Ye Zheng, this will be our last collaboration.”

He placed heavy emphasis on the word “last.” Without giving Ye Zheng another glance, he strode toward the exit of the hunting ground. Just before stepping out, he threw back one final remark: “In return, my personal attendant will fulfill your request.”

Ye Zheng tilted her head slightly, watching Sykes’ retreating figure with a contemplative gaze.

Compared to the first time they’d formally met, Sykes had genuinely become much smarter. He had already learned how to negotiate and how to exercise patience.

His growth had been far too sudden. Aside from the memories she’d accidentally helped him awaken, there had to be other factors at play. Ye Zheng recalled the subtle dynamic between the Emperor and Sykes. Sykes clearly harbored a great deal of resentment toward the Emperor.

The way Sykes had deliberately emphasized the word “last” earlier carried a faint trace of rejection. Was he rejecting her as a teammate, or… was he deeply dissatisfied with the marriage the Emperor had arranged for him?

From Sykes’ reaction, Ye Zheng could tell he most likely already knew about the Emperor’s arrangement and was resisting this future marriage.

This wasn’t surprising. The Emperor viewed her as a Blessed Reliquary. This marriage was essentially a continuation of the Hope Project. He probably wanted to test whether two “successful products” could produce an even more successful “hope.”

『Since both of you, as the involved parties, are resisting this arrangement, are you going to team up with Sykes?』 the system asked curiously.

“Any cooperation would require energy to build and maintain trust. Sykes isn’t worth that investment.”

Besides, she hadn’t forgotten that the system had told her she would be killed by Sykes in the original plot.

There were still no clear clues regarding that part of the storyline. Ye Zheng couldn’t figure out why Sykes would want to kill her. Although she had already altered many plot points, the story itself carried a kind of gravitational pull. If it was a crucial turning point, fate would push them toward the predetermined ending through all kinds of means.

Just the thought that a death ending still existed filled Ye Zheng’s heart with an indescribable sense of urgency. If Sykes was truly set on killing her, then with her current strength, resisting him would be extremely difficult.

It was impossible to significantly improve her abilities in a short period of time, but what if she managed to obtain 【Mother of All Things】?

A miraculous power capable of creating life, the treasured inheritance passed down through generations of the Church. Once again, Ye Zheng made up her mind. She had to obtain it.

Just as Ye Zheng was about to leave the hunting grounds, a familiar voice called out to her. She turned her head and met Ye Di’s dispirited face.

“Oh, Little Di, you’re still working here?”

“Wasn’t this the amazing job you arranged for me? The moment school ends, I have to come to this… this incredibly prestigious and luxurious place to keep watch over those monsters.” Ye Di hurriedly corrected himself when he noticed someone passing by.

Ye Zheng gently reassured him, “Father will soon be promoted to Chief Judge of the Ability Tribunal. Don’t be so impatient. In the future, your prospects will surely be just as bright as Father’s…”

After the Saintess’ trial had ended, Ye Fanjing had deliberately avoided her at home. This was the first time Ye Zheng had seen him acting so timid and withdrawn within the household. She hadn’t found an opportunity to probe him for information yet, but she had learned about his upcoming promotion.

The Ability Tribunal was different from the courts of the Upper District. It handled only cases involving major ability users, while also managing strange domain resources, dealing with domain-related disasters, and coordinating the relevant personnel.

The authority of the Chief Judge of the Ability Tribunal far exceeded that of the Upper District’s Chief Justice. The previous Chief Judge had stepped down in apology after the Blood Flower incident caused by Sela. Ye Zheng hadn’t expected the Emperor to be so generous toward Ye Fanjing, so generous that it almost felt like a trap.

“Sister, I heard that Yu Tianming is planning to withdraw from the Royal Team. For this competition, could you please speak to the Crown Prince about…” Ye Di looked at her with hopeful eyes and pointed at himself.

He’d had more than enough of this place that reeked of monster saliva. What was the point of the Crown Prince frequently visiting the hunting grounds? He never even spared him a glance, let alone showed any sign of appreciation. Ye Zheng really was scheming against him again!

Ye Zheng lowered her gaze slightly, looking at her younger brother, who stood only 1.7 meters tall. She studied his resentful expression for a moment before smiling faintly and giving a small nod.

“Of course. You’re an S-Class ability user. I don’t think His Highness will turn you down.”

Ye Di’s face instantly lit up with a bright smile. He tried to move closer to Ye Zheng, calling her “Sister” over and over again. Ye Zheng calmly stepped aside, avoiding his touch. “I still have things to handle. If you want to join the Royal Team, then make sure you properly fulfill your current duties first. The Crown Prince has always been keeping an eye on your performance.”

“Really?” Ye Di asked, half doubtful, half hopeful.

Ye Zheng gave a casual nod. Ye Di loved dressing extravagantly and wandering around everywhere. It’d probably be impossible for Sykes not to notice him.

Having gotten the answer he wanted, Ye Di left happily, completely unaware of what kind of future awaited him.

Ye Zheng slipped her hand into her coat pocket and tightly gripped her phone.

In the latest preview of the original plot, “Ye Zheng” stood on a small boat drifting in the middle of the water, guarding the unconscious Pei Xi. She shielded him from behind while facing Ye Di alone.

Ye Di’s ability was similar to their mother’s. In the manga, he controlled the algae beneath the water, as if trying to drag the entire boat down into the depths. At the same time, the Ye Zheng in the manga wore an expression that mixed helplessness with a trace of determination as she struggled to hold him back, buying time for Pei Xi to regain consciousness.

This scene was one of the few standout moments for Ye Zheng in the original manga.

When the system told her that her main arc in the manga was about to begin, Ye Zheng couldn’t help but feel a surge of anticipation. She quickly opened the manga app on her phone to check, only to end up showing a look of disgust.

【In the original plot, Ye Zheng joins the Cloud Soarers team, while Ye Di joins the Royal Team. To protect Pei Xi, you, the dedicated healer, make up your mind to stop your most beloved younger brother.】

After hearing the system’s explanation, Ye Zheng’s expression grew even more incredulous. Just the phrase “your most beloved younger brother” was enough to leave her stunned for an entire day.

The so-called highlight plot was completely ridiculous, yet it revealed quite a bit of useful information. The tournament would take place in a location with a massive lake, which would be extremely advantageous for her.

Ye Di’s sudden appearance suggested that, in the original plot, someone from the Royal Team had also withdrawn. Although Ye Di was a useless idiot, his S-Class ability was still strong enough. It wasn’t surprising that he’d been chosen for the Royal Team.

Now, instead of being opponents like in the original storyline, she and Ye Di were about to become teammates. She couldn’t help but wonder how the story would unfold from here.

Perhaps she’d knock Pei Xi unconscious first, then conveniently give her willful younger brother a good beating as well?

Ye Zheng felt this development was quite ideal. She could accept it, and it would even save her some of the action points needed to modify the plot.

After sending Ye Di away, Ye Zheng exited through the main gate of the hunting ground. A man in a guard uniform stood outside the door. Ye Zheng recognized him as one of Sykes’ recently promoted subordinates. Sykes had told her she could approach this personal attendant if she had any requests.

“Saintess, how may I serve you?”

“I wish to visit the imperial palace’s library. Please arrange it at once.”

“Uh… today?”

“Immediately. I want to go now.”

Ye Zheng’s tone didn’t leave any room for refusal.

She had already gone through every book in the Church’s collection without finding any further clues. The imperial palace’s library was far larger and more enigmatic; perhaps she’d discover some useful surprises there.

The guard personally escorted Ye Zheng to the most secluded corner of the imperial palace. A magnificent circular white structure stood tall on the barren ground, with barely anyone in sight.

Ye Zheng pushed the door open and entered the library alone. Without disturbing any staff, she walked around the building to familiarize herself with its classification system. Before long, on the third floor, she found a tall bookshelf lined with volumes that recorded history.

Most historical records were written by clergy. However, among the authors in the imperial family’s collection, there were not only clergy members but also noble scholars and imperial princes. Their perspectives were clearly different from the Church’s official accounts.

For instance, the book she was currently reading, History of the Upper District, described suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of a certain Pope. It was said that during his funeral, someone had accidentally pushed open the coffin lid and was horrified to find that his body had already withered into a dried mummy.

The official explanation claimed he had died from overwork. At the time, a wave of conspiracy theories swept through the Upper District, suggesting that this Pope had been punished by the God of Hope for neglecting his duties, which was why his corpse had appeared so abnormal. The Church quickly suppressed those rumors.

“A dried mummy?”

It sounded rather pitiful. The inheritance of 【Mother of All Things】 would very likely drain all the life force from its previous holder. Based on this, it seemed that the holder’s death was indeed a necessary condition for the inheritance.

Ye Zheng felt somewhat confused. Could it be that every Pope had willingly sacrificed their life just to pass the ability on to the next generation?

That was impossible.

The power to create all things, along with the supreme authority that came with it, raises the question of how many people could willingly and selflessly offer up their own lives for someone else?

The fact that 【Mother of All Things】 had been passed down from one generation to the next could only mean that each Pope hadn’t had any real choice but to do exactly that.

Ye Zheng returned History of the Upper District to the bookshelf, then began flipping through several other books. All of a sudden, her brows slowly drew together. She placed a few books on the floor, spread them open, and crouched down to examine them closely.

“Divine Calendar Year 208… Divine Calendar Year 208… Divine Calendar Year 209.”

Ye Zheng realized that the recorded date of death for one particular Pope differed depending on the source. Two of these books listed it as Divine Calendar Year 208, yet every record from the Church stated it was Divine Calendar Year 209.

She continued reading at a rapid pace. It wasn’t just a single Pope, several others also had discrepancies in their recorded dates of death, and in certain cases, even the dates of their succession didn’t match.

“The duration of their tenure perfectly matches the length of time they possessed 【Mother of All Things】…”

Why would they go out of their way to obscure the timeline? Ye Zheng had previously calculated the average length of each Pope’s reign, and it came out to twenty-five years.

It was entirely possible that every Pope could only wield 【Mother of All Things】 for twenty-five years. And once those twenty-five years had passed, their death would be unavoidable!

Ye Zheng’s expression turned grave. She didn’t have the patience to wait for Wen Jian to complete a full twenty-five-year term.

✧✧✧✧✧

“Respected Pope, just yesterday, the Church in the Lower District received quite a number of prayer letters again. The people are hoping that the Saintess can go to the Lower District to preside over the sermon.”

“It seems they’ve grown tired of seeing us old faces.”

The hunched old man in white robes leaned on his cane. Although his eyes were clouded, they gleamed with an unusual sharpness as he looked at Wen Jian with a smile.

Wen Jian silently stared back at the old man. He was one of the red-robed cardinals, Bishop Ai Xian. During the papal election meeting back then, this old man must’ve been one of those who voted against him.

“The Saintess’s fame and prestige are hardly any less than yours. As expected of the Saintess you personally chose back then, Your Holiness. Truly remarkable.”

The old man’s undisguised mockery made it impossible for Wen Jian to maintain his usual gentle expression.

“Ye Zheng is indeed an exceptionally outstanding child, but she’s still too young. I’m not at ease leaving the sermon in her hands. What does Your Holiness think?”

A calculating glint flickered through the old man’s clouded eyes.

At those words, Wen Jian, who stood in the center of the room with his hands clasped behind his back, slowly curved his lips into a smile tinged with coldness.

“I believe we’ve already reached an agreement on this matter. The Saintess is still far too young, yet she herself fails to recognize it.”

“I’ve already made the necessary arrangements. Since she’s the Saintess I personally selected, it’s only appropriate that I send someone… to properly guide her.”

Catching the unmistakable killing intent in Wen Jian’s eyes, the old man nodded in quiet satisfaction, let out a slow yawn, and then turned to leave.

One Pope and twelve cardinals were more than sufficient to lead the Church and its followers, the old man thought.

✧✧✧✧✧

Lower District, a modest tavern.

“Hello, seniors. I’m Wen Xiaoxing, a second-year student from Cloud Soarers Academy.”

The young boy, dressed in a white shirt and a coffee-colored vest, greeted them earnestly. He had short, deep brown hair and slightly upturned green eyes that gave him a faintly sly look.

His bright and cheerful voice spread through the otherwise quiet atmosphere, yet for a brief moment, no one responded.

Kyle glanced at his two teammates. Pei Xi and Roy were both unusually silent, leaving him no choice but to force himself to respond, “Uh… welcome, Xiaoxing. We’re really grateful that you could step in and fill the empty spot…”

Pei Xi pressed his lips tightly together, his gaze fixed intently on the new member.

Lu Qi was no longer with them. She’d chosen to remain in the Western District for the time being. The Cloud Soarers team, now reduced to just three members, couldn’t handle the final match. This was the decisive game that would determine the ultimate victor.

They’d asked the principal to select an outstanding student to take Lu Qi’s place. And so, this Junior Wen had arrived here.

Pei Xi felt a trace of doubt. Although they were third-year students, if Wen Xiaoxing were truly an exceptionally outstanding second-year, they should’ve at least had some impression of him. Yet throughout their time at the academy, they didn’t seem to have ever seen this Wen Xiaoxing before.

“I’m a transfer student who joined midway through the term. I transferred to Cloud Soarers Academy specifically because of the Cloud Soarers team’s achievements. I never expected I’d actually get the chance to fight alongside all of you!”

Wen Xiaoxing’s expression was somewhat exaggerated, yet it didn’t come off as insincere. Instead, it carried an easygoing charm that made him quite likable.

Pei Xi knew that, as the captain, he should be the one to properly welcome him at this moment, yet he still felt that something wasn’t quite right. But what exactly was it?

Suddenly, someone gave Pei Xi’s arm a light nudge. Roy leaned in close to his ear, his eyes still fixed on the boy who was chatting animatedly with Kyle.

“Don’t you think he looks a little familiar?”

Familiar? Pei Xi gave a small nod.

He lowered his blue eyes, a thoughtful and slightly puzzled expression appearing on his face. “His personality is somewhat like… that Yinkong from the Divine Academy?”

When it came to Yinkong, Pei Xi had only recently learned that he had been missing for quite some time. Because of his disappearance, along with Bai Muqing’s withdrawal, the Divine Academy had ultimately chosen to forfeit the competition.

Roy nodded, picking up where Pei Xi had left off. “But his appearance is somewhat like… that person”

Pei Xi lifted his head at those words and, by coincidence, met Wen Xiaoxing’s gaze. Those lively green eyes blinked at him as if in greeting.

“…Like Zhao Mei.”

Pei Xi spoke the name with a hint of discomfort. He steadied himself, deciding to first carry out his duty as captain, and forcibly pushed those strange thoughts aside. Then he began conversing with Wen Xiaoxing.

Wen Xiaoxing was remarkably good at talking. With just a few sentences, he could quickly grow familiar with others. In that regard, he was completely different from Zhao Mei.

Pei Xi gradually relaxed. As their conversation continued, he suddenly recalled an important detail: Wen Xiaoxing still hadn’t told them what his ability was.

The compatibility between abilities was extremely important. If Wen Xiaoxing’s ability didn’t align with the team, Pei Xi might not be able to keep him.

“My ability?”

Wen Xiaoxing seemed to have gotten thirsty from all the talking. He casually picked up a glass of water and used it to cover half his face as he drank. His response to Pei Xi came out slightly muffled.

『Fate Singularity』