【 Relic: memory collector's earring 】
【 Secret Phrase: Shadows of memory also carry weight 】
【 Ability 1: Memory Archive Seal 】
【 Description: Can actively store fragments of one's own memory. The earring will display different lusters depending on the stored content: warm orange for softness, cold gleam for pain, black for chaos... 】
【 Ability 2: Memory Manifestation 】
【 Description: Manifests objects from memory. The clearer the memory, the more real the object. 】
【 Side Effect: When worn, occasionally dreams will occur. These dreams are distorted and pieced together from the dreams of surrounding living beings and one's own forgotten memories. Additionally, there is a fondness for accessories; upon encountering beautiful objects one likes, it is very easy to feel an urge to adorn them with accessories. 】
【 Recommendation: Do not store other people's memories yourself 】
【 ▇▇ Message: Devour boldly, use with confidence, treat with caution 】
Li Andy stared at himself in the mirror, wearing the black teardrop earring, lost in thought.
“memory collector's earring...?”
He could confirm that in his memory of the lost grim realm, this relic absolutely did not exist!
The unknown was filled with fear.
He planned to take off this ominous earring first, but he was astonished to find that the earring turned into powder in his hand.
His gaze followed the powder as it fell, and he saw his own shadow, still wearing the earring.
Then, a long-lost feeling of fullness came from within.
“Damn, it just ate it?!”
Li Andy tried to pinch the earring with his shadow. As soon as he touched it, his vision suddenly changed.
A towering, strange tree stood before him.
It looked like a tree, with countless branches, but its leaves were made of countless dream bubbles. Its towering trunk was a surging sea of data. As it gently swayed, this chaotic world was like a dream, like an illusion.
It... was the true form of the Book House!
【 Third transaction, visitor, which memory do you wish to use? 】
The other party's inquiry echoed in Li Andy's mind, the voice mechanical and devoid of emotion.
Li Andy was about to speak but found he couldn't control himself.
Immediately after, his body automatically spoke:
“Third time? Did we have transactions before?”
Li Andy suddenly understood that he seemed to be viewing a “memory.”
【 ... 】 The Book House did not answer; it seemed this option was not available.
The 'Li Andy' in the memory pondered for a few seconds, then replied:
“I don't plan to trade with memories. Can I use a trial instead?”
【 Yes. But a trial is an experiment, and the consequences of the experiment are borne by the trial participant. Please reconfirm, then state your request. 】
“Confirmed, I need the Translator's Earring.” Li Andy's purpose was clear.
But the Book House suddenly fell silent. After several seconds, it responded:
【 There is no memory of the 'Translator's Earring' here. 】
“None? What do you mean?”
Li Andy was stunned and wanted to ask further, but he was instantly swallowed by a surging mass of dream bubbles. His vision gradually blurred, leaving only that mechanical voice echoing in his ears:
【 Experiment, begin. 】
“Hmph!”
Li Andy's eyes widened, realizing he was back in the swirling stream of books.
He held his throbbing forehead, understanding that he had activated the Memory Archive Seal ability.
He checked his memory's 【inventory】 and found it was still incredibly heavy.
In other words, there were still many 【memories】 stored inside!
Li Andy's breathing was a little rapid. Ignoring his headache, he chose to open his memory again, searching for the truth he wanted.
The next second, he was back under the towering, strange tree.
Only this time, a man in a gray and white Daoist robe appeared in his vision.
【 Are you sure you want to split off these corrupted memories? Are you aware of the consequences? 】 The strange tree's voice was not as mechanical and cold as before.
“It's fine.”
The Daoist-robed man smiled freely, his voice strangely familiar to Li Andy, “I am always me. Sometimes forgetting is also a form of protection, isn't it?”
Li Andy was stunned.
And the Daoist-robed man seemed to have sensed his prying gaze, turning to look over.
The other person's appearance was exactly like his own!
Only, within that unfamiliar outline, there were a few indescribable traces of vicissitude.
The Daoist-robed man picked up a flask, took a swig, and smiled as he raised his cup to him:
“Your current alcohol tolerance can't handle this level of intoxication, don't drink too much.”
With that, the other person's shadow stretched out, instantly engulfing Li Andy.
When he regained his senses, he was already back in the stream of books.
Li Andy gasped for air, his mind throbbing. He couldn't read the memories in the 【Memory Archive】 anymore for now.
What did that person mean?
Who exactly was he?! He... was me?
Could it be that he really had transmigrated a long time ago?!
Li Andy floated limply in the air, his thoughts incredibly chaotic.
He couldn't confirm whether these so-called memories were true or false.
For a moment, he even began to doubt whether his own 【transmigrator】 memories were true or false.
“Ugh...”
At this moment, Sophia's whimpering interrupted his thoughts.
The blonde girl's brows were tightly furrowed, seemingly caught in a nightmare.
Li Andy froze, suddenly remembering he had important business to attend to.
Truth and falsehood weren't important right now! He needed to truly wake these girls up first!
He gritted his teeth, shook off the distracting thoughts, gripped the girl's hand, and once again plunged into the mindscape.
“Andy?!” “Brother?!”
Sophia and Youxi saw Li Andy's return, their faces immediately brightening. But the next second, an explosion occurred behind them, and their expressions instantly turned bitter.
“The Jasmines are fighting! Hurry and stop them!”
Li Andy was stunned, looking up only to see Jasmines filling the sky, divided into two factions. Each side was led by one person, like generals of heavenly soldiers going to war, confronting each other at the heavenly gate.
“Only valuable memories are worth keeping!”
The Jasmine leading the right side, wearing glasses, had a solemn expression.
“You shouldn't cling to them; you should let go earlier. You are the origin; you should know best that our existence space is limited.”
The Jasmine on the left bit her lip, her expression pained:
“Meilin...”
“Don't call me Meilin!” The spectacled Jasmine interrupted sharply, “Meilin is just a personality you imagined to escape! All of us have been called Meilin by you!”
The Jasmine clutched her head in pain:
“Then what is valuable?”
The spectacled Jasmine sneered:
“Since you don't know, then let us decide for ourselves. The primary purpose of life is survival. If one cannot survive, then it proves there is no value.”
With that, she also plunged into the chaotic battle above.
In the sky, Jasmines continuously fell, and the personalities and memories that came with them shattered and dissipated.
The white-clothed Jasmine, called the origin, clutched her chest, painfully prostrating herself on the ground. In her vacant pupils, various memories flashed like a revolving lantern.
She had actually been forgetting all along, but each beat of her mechanical heart transmitted those heavy experiences.
Her frail body simply couldn't bear it.
Memories that gave rise to consciousness were fighting for living space, and a huge torrent of information constantly washed over her. The traces of the origin became increasingly blurred.
Origin?
Was she really the origin?
Jasmine felt herself growing weaker and weaker, her consciousness becoming more and more ethereal.
“Andy, what exactly is going on with Jasmine?!”
Sophia's expression was anxious; the falling bodies of familiar figures caused a huge impact on her mind.
“Memory overflow, system self-cleaning.”
“Huh?” Sophia's expression gradually became confused.
Li Andy didn't explain. He frowned, suddenly realizing that the Memory Archive Seal ability of the memory collector's earring could solve Jasmine's current problem.
But the problem was, the earring had already been swallowed by his shadow!
Wait, the earring seemed to have a second ability—
【 Memory Manifestation 】 【 Description: Manifests objects from memory. The clearer the memory, the more real the object. 】
Li Andy concentrated, looking at his palm, feeling a large portion of the spiritual energy within him instantly drained away.
But a dark, ink-drop-like earring now lay safely in his hand.
“It really works...”
“What about the Translator's Earring?”
Li Andy subconsciously recalled. The next second, his face turned pale, and his body swayed, the remaining spiritual energy being drained by half again.
“Brother?!”
Youxi and Sophia quickly supported him.
“What's wrong?”
Li Andy straightened up and spread open his other hand.
A light blue teardrop earring indeed lay quietly within it.
However, perhaps because the memory was not deep enough, or the spiritual energy was not sufficient.
The edges of the light blue teardrop earring were somewhat blurred, and its color was a bit distorted.