Chapter 327 My Lifelong Love, Jinli

Looking into her big, curious eyes, Xiao Qidi smiled and said, "Why don't you guess?"

“If I’m not mistaken…” Ning Jinli said while pondering, “You and Ning Hai used the theory of spacetime displacement in the same way. Moreover, judging from your actions just now, your world has been developing for a much longer period of time than Ning Hai’s world. His world is a hundred years old, so your world… could it be that two hundred years have passed?”

At this point, Ning Jinli exclaimed and pinched Xiao Qidi's cheek, "I can't believe you're over two hundred years old."

Xiao Qidi laughed and said, "You only guessed half right."

"Only guessed half right? Which half was right, and which half was wrong?"

"Hmm..."

Xiao Qidi pondered for a moment, "The correct part is that I did use the theory of time-space displacement. After the technology developed to the point where it could open time-space channels, I located your current time period. The wrong part is that it is more than two hundred years."

Ning Jinli asked, "Three hundred years?"

Xiao Qidi shook his head.

"Tsk... Could it be five hundred years?" Ning Jinli continued to guess.

Xiao Qidi looked into her eyes and said, word by word, "It's two thousand years ago."

"Two thousand years!?" Ning Jinli was shocked. "You...you're not lying to me, are you? You've lived for two thousand years?"

Xiao Qidi said softly, "In the ten years after you closed the time portal—"

"Stop!" Ning Jinli emphasized, "I've already told you, it wasn't my idea to close them; all the passages disappeared after I fell unconscious."

“I’m sorry,” Xiao Qidi continued, “In the ten years after the time-space passage disappeared, based on the large amount of historical data you left behind, and with the advice of the hundreds of scientific research experts who remained in Da Xuan, I fundamentally changed Da Xuan’s system. With the support of science and technology, Da Xuan was able to develop across eras.”

"Later, I unified the world and established the super Chinese civilization. Social productivity and technological level continued to advance by leaps and bounds. I also compiled the Tianxuan Heart Method that you taught me into textbooks so that everyone could learn it, especially the new generation, who can be exposed to it from kindergarten."

"As a result, the physical fitness of people around the world is getting better and better. Coupled with the development of medical and biological technologies, life expectancy continues to increase."

"As the super Chinese civilization grows stronger, the moral and physical qualities of human beings have undergone tremendous changes, resulting in a better environment and more time to continue to study science and technology."

"After two thousand years of development, our population has reached hundreds of billions, and the other planets in the solar system have also been developed into vibrant homes. Moreover, we have also developed space jump technology, and it won't be long before we can explore the outer space beyond the solar system."

After hearing this brief description, Ning Jinli was so surprised she couldn't close her mouth.

No wonder Xiao Qidi could wipe out the entire army of millions of invaders with just a single spaceship used for mining.

No wonder he was able to easily defuse a mothership self-destruction crisis that could have destroyed the Earth; he could have simply towed the mothership to his junkyard to deal with it.

If the world is like an ant facing an elephant when confronting the Advent Legion.

Therefore, compared to the two thousand years of technological advancement of World 1, the gap between the Advent Legion and the sun is like a grain of sand.

If there are enough ants and they are united enough, there is still a slight chance that they can kill an elephant.

But a single grain of sand doesn't even qualify to get close to the sun.

"What would a highly developed world that has continued to develop for two thousand years look like?" Ning Jinli's eyes were filled with longing.

Although Xiao Qidi's brief description and the fact that she had just witnessed his casual display of strength gave her a glimpse into the situation, the actual circumstances were still beyond her imagination.

Xiao Qidi smiled slightly, "You'll find out."

Ning Jinli suddenly snapped out of her daze, "Wait! Then you're... already over two thousand years old?!"

Xiao Qidi smiled but remained silent.

This mysterious smile left Ning Jinli puzzled for a moment, and she asked suspiciously, "No, even if your world's technology is constantly developing, and with the assistance of the Heavenly Profound Heart Sutra, it can make the lifespan of each generation longer and longer, but... it still takes a very long time, right? How can you make people live for two thousand years in the first few generations of development?"

As Xiao Qidi listened to her muttering to herself, his smile deepened.

Ning Jinli frowned. "Could it be that you used some kind of technology that allows people to go into a long-term state of dormancy? Oh right, what happened to those hundreds of top Chinese scientists I sent over back then?"

Xiao Qidi touched his nose, then suddenly sighed, a sad expression on his face. "Actually... I am not Xiao Qidi. Xiao Qidi passed away more than a thousand years ago."

"What?!" Ning Jinli's pupils trembled.

Xiao Qidi continued, “I am Xiao Qidi’s direct descendant, and I look most like him, almost like we were made from the same mold. You see, even you couldn’t tell the difference. Alas, it’s a pity that my ancestor missed you all his life, but he never got to see you before he died… I’m just fulfilling his last wish by pretending to be him to see you.”

Ning Jinli's mind went blank for a moment. "You...is everything you said true?"

Xiao Qidi took out a yellowed letter from his pocket.

"This was written by him two thousand years ago, and he entrusted it to future generations for safekeeping. Fortunately, based on the theory of time-space displacement, we have developed mature time-space travel technology, which allows us to find this world while you are still alive and deliver this letter to you. Otherwise, we would really have to do as he said and burn this letter in front of your tombstone."

The sudden news struck Ning Jinli like a thunderbolt.

She found it hard to believe, but as she took the envelope, she saw on the back a message from Xiao Qidi, a message to future generations—

"If, during my lifetime, technology has not yet found that world, I ask future generations to keep my ashes safe after my death. When the time comes that technology succeeds, bury my ashes in the land of that world. I suppose Ning Jinli will no longer be alive by then, so please burn this letter in front of her tombstone."

This is indeed his handwriting.

Ning Jinli's mind was in complete chaos, and tears blurred her vision.

“Take a look,” Xiao Qidi said, “My handsome and great ancestor wrote down all his heartfelt words and longing for you in this.”

Ning Jinli trembled all over as she opened the letter with tears in her eyes.

The first line of the letter, the salutation, is—

"My one true love, Jinli."

The first few words alone carried a longing that spanned two thousand years, striking Ning Jinli's heart directly.

Ning Jinli cried her heart out, too exhausted to read any further. She clutched the letter to her chest and slowly squatted down on the ground.

Xiao Qidi's eyes were filled with panic. He quickly reached out and supported her back, channeling his gentle inner energy to protect her heart. "Um... Jinli, I..."

Ning Jinli lowered her head and burst into tears.

Xiao Qidi panicked even more and quickly squatted down, saying, "Jinli, actually—"

"Slap!" Ning Jinli suddenly looked up and slapped him hard across the face. Her tearful eyes glared at him angrily. "Since you are his descendant, it's one thing for you to pretend to be him to see me and fulfill his last wish, but you even hugged and kissed me?! How dare you!"

"Huh?!" Xiao Qidi was stunned.

Ning Jinli slapped him again, "I'm his lover, so I'm practically your ancestor too! How dare you disrespect your ancestor, don't you deserve to die!"

Xiao Qidi's cheeks twitched, and for a moment he really couldn't refute it.

Ning Jinli said with a stern face, "You bastard, slap yourself until I'm satisfied!"

Xiao Qidi was stunned. "No, listen to me..."

"Hurry up and fan us! We'll talk after you're done!" Ning Jinli commanded forcefully.

Xiao Qidi was helpless, his face contorted in a grimace, as he raised his right hand.

Just as he was about to slap himself, Ning Jinli suddenly burst out laughing.

Xiao Qidi's hand froze beside his cheek, a head full of question marks popping out.

"Hahahaha!" Ning Jinli laughed so hard she bent over.

Xiao Qidi was immediately as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, thinking that he had gone too far and provoked Ning Jinli to the point of mental breakdown.

He immediately told the truth:

"Jinli, I'm so sorry! I just wanted to tease you. Actually, I'm not a descendant of Xiao Qidi. I am Xiao Qidi!"

"Back then, I really thought I wouldn't live to see it, so I wrote that letter."

"I never expected that after I mastered the Heavenly Profound Heart Technique, my lifespan would increase significantly. Then, thanks to advancements in biomedical technology, I continued to extend my lifespan, and that's how I've lived until now."

"The average lifespan in my world has now reached over four thousand years. Oh, and the hundreds of scientists who stayed behind in my world have also achieved lifespan breakthroughs during their lifetimes. Similarly, with the continuous advancement of technology, their lifespans have been continuously extended, so they are all still alive."

After he hurriedly finished speaking, he suddenly noticed that Ning Jinli was tilting her head and looking at him, her big, teary eyes clearly revealing a cunning look.

"Jinli, you..." Xiao Qidi finally realized what was going on.

Ning Jinli snorted, "You're allowed to tease me, but I'm not allowed to tease you? Do you know you were wrong?"

Xiao Qidi's pupils gradually dilated, and he said with delight, "You scared me to death! So you already saw through me?"

“Of course,” Ning Jinli wrinkled her nose. “You underestimate me too much.”

"Jinli..." Xiao Qidi breathed a sigh of relief and hugged her tightly. "I'm sorry, I was wrong. I shouldn't have teased you like that... When did you figure it out?"

Ning Jinli said, "The moment I saw you, I knew it was you. So when you said you were a descendant of Xiao Qidi and were fulfilling his wishes, I didn't believe you at all. I just wanted to see what tricks you were up to."

Xiao Qidi gave an awkward smile.

Ning Jinli leaned against his chest and whispered, "The man I love most, the man I've always longed for... how could I not recognize him..."

A single whisper touched the softest spot in Xiao Qidi's heart.

Even after living for over two thousand years, she still couldn't hold back her tears.

"Jinli, I miss you so much, I really, really miss you. I... I have been doing my best to live, doing my best to advance technology, and I have been waiting."

"Two thousand years have passed, and time travel technology has finally matured completely, enabling cross-time and spacetime searches and precise location. I can finally open a time portal directly to your side, and I have finally seen you again..."

He hugged Ning Jinli tightly as he spoke.

The weight of more than two thousand years of persistent effort and endless longing cannot be contained in just a few words.

Ning Jinli was both touched and heartbroken. "You bastard... You can see me now, and you still show me that letter? Are you trying to make me cry my eyes out..."

Xiao Qidi whispered in her ear, "I want you to know that my love for you has existed for a very long time, and it has never changed until now."

“Me too,” Ning Jinli gently cupped his hard face, which was covered in tears. “I have also been trying to find you, but I have only been trying for a few months since I woke up, while you have been trying for two thousand years… I can imagine how you feel.”

“Jinli…” Xiao Qidi once again couldn’t help but shed tears.

Ning Jinli tilted her head back and kissed him, saying between kisses, "From now on, we'll never be apart again."

——

A few days later.

Legions from various civilizations in other parallel universes that came to provide support gradually withdrew.

Before withdrawing, they also signed a friendly agreement with China, promising to maintain contact and exchange resources for common development.

Xiao Qidi also brought back hundreds of top Chinese scientists who had been left behind in his world.

They also waited for two thousand years before finally returning to their original world and reuniting with their family and friends. Fortunately, only fifteen years had passed in their original world, and their family and friends were still alive.

Following this, Xiao Qidi dispatched a large number of personnel and equipment to begin assisting in the reconstruction of China.

On behalf of the tens of millions of surviving Chinese people, the top leaders of China expressed their gratitude to Xiao Qidi.

Xiao Qidi said there was no need for thanks, because more than two thousand years ago in his world, it was Jin Li and the Huaxia Kingdom that had always supported her who gave him tremendous help, making his world so advanced and wonderful. Now it was his turn to repay the debt of gratitude.

Thus, China, which had almost suffered annihilation, has once again tenaciously survived and will usher in an even greater rebirth.

The arrangements for the aftermath of the heroes who sacrificed their lives in this battle are being carried out simultaneously.

On the ruins, homes are being rebuilt, world order is beginning to be restored, and cemeteries and monuments to heroes are being built one after another.

However, Shangguan Ying's situation is not optimistic.

Her body was on the verge of complete collapse, so severe that even the medical technology of Xiao Qidi's world could not improve her condition.

The only option is to place her in a hibernation pod before she dies, preserving her last bit of bodily function, and then awaken her once medical technology advances to the point where it can cure her.

However, given her condition, the probability of her being awakened after entering hibernation is extremely low.

But this is the only hopeful solution.

A few minutes before they were to put her into the hibernation pod, she asked to see Ning Jinli.

When Ning Jinli arrived at a specially made ward and saw Shangguan Ying, who was barely recognizable as a human, she couldn't help but burst into tears despite trying her best to control her emotions.

"Jinli..." Shangguan Ying opened her eyes slightly and uttered an extremely weak voice.

Ning Jinli knelt beside the hospital bed, getting as close as possible, "Sister Ying, I'm here."

"Don't cry..." Shangguan Ying said softly, "I...I have actually lived for over a hundred years. For me, I have experienced and witnessed China...reborn from the brink of despair twice...Even if I die, it doesn't matter, because I...I have fulfilled the historical mission you entrusted to me..."

"What?" Ning Jinli froze, wiping away her tears, and exclaimed in shock, "Sister Ying, you're over a hundred years old? And... when did I give you a historical mission? What does that mean?"