Tao Yao grabbed the system sprite that was flapping around in a panic.
Xiao Xiao was startled by the sudden capture, her little wings fluttering anxiously in Tao Yao's palm.
"Ugh! Master… I'll tell you, I'll tell you…"
Xiao Xiao called out in a flustered voice, filled with panic and fear.
Her small face turned red, her eyes full of anxiety.
"Master, please calm down! Xiao Xiao really didn't mean to hide anything…"
Tao Yao stared firmly at Xiao Xiao, her expression revealing a hint of barely noticeable gentleness.
She knew that Xiao Xiao had always been very loyal.
But now, she needed to know the truth.
Tao Yao slightly relaxed her grip but still did not completely let go of Xiao Xiao.
"Then tell me the truth, Xiao Xiao."
Tao Yao's voice softened a bit, but her tone remained resolute, "What exactly do you remember?"
Xiao Xiao squirmed uneasily in Tao Yao's hand.
Her small wings trembled slightly, her eyes filled with confusion and hesitation.
"Master… I… I really…"
Tao Yao took a deep breath and slowly loosened her hand.
Xiao Xiao immediately felt relieved but did not immediately fly away.
Instead, she hovered in front of Tao Yao, her gaze filled with complex emotions.
Tao Yao quietly watched Xiao Xiao, waiting for her to speak.
The room fell into silence for a moment, broken only by the sound of waves outside.
Finally, Xiao Xiao flapped her small wings and slowly spoke up.
"Master, I do remember some things, some things about the Goddess and the creations of the gods…"
Tao Yao's eyes widened slightly, she held her breath and pressed on:
"So, you remembered who the other creations of the gods are?"
Xiao Xiao's expression became even more complicated as she flew onto Tao Yao's shoulder, whispering.
"Um… Although there are still some vague impressions, I have mostly remembered the other creations of the gods."
At this point, Xiao Xiao hesitated for a moment before continuing to speak.
"Besides me and Little Fox, the various different fairies are all creations of the Goddess."
Tao Yao frowned slightly, feeling as if she had touched on a greater secret.
"Keep going, Xiao Xiao," she urged softly.
Xiao Xiao took a deep breath, as if organizing her words.
"The Goddess created seeds that can nurture fairies, and fairies are born from demon flowers. These fairies each represent different elements and powers of nature."
"For example, in the ancient world constructed by you, Master, the fire fairy, shadow fairy, poison fairy, and snow fairy, they are all creations of the Goddess."
"Each fairy has its unique abilities and responsibilities, working together to maintain the balance of the world."
After listening to Xiao Xiao's words, Tao Yao fell into silence.
Her gaze became profound, as if she was pondering some deep issue.
After a long while, she slowly spoke:
"So… the ancient history I fabricated truly exists?"
To allow players to better feel her character's past and to better attract popularity, Tao Yao had fabricated a history.
The several fairies were arranged into this fictional history for that very reason.
Yet, according to the words of the system sprite Xiao Xiao, if these fairies truly exist, combined with various feelings... does that mean her fabricated history is actually real?!
This realization made Tao Yao feel both excited and confused.
Upon hearing Tao Yao's question, Xiao Xiao appeared even more nervous and flustered.
Her small wings flapped more violently, and her voice rose in pitch.
"Yes, Master! Don't you think this is unbelievable? It clearly was just history you fabricated… yet it actually exists… this feeling is so strange!"
According to Xiao Xiao, it was indeed very strange.
It was as if an invisible hand were hiding behind the scenes, pushing everything forward.
This feeling inevitably gave rise to conspiracy theories.
As if the entire world were cloaked in a layer of mysterious veils.
Tao Yao's gaze suddenly sharpened, and she thought of another question: "What about Forget-Me-Not? Could that little girl also be from the previous civilization?"
The Little Forget-Me-Not in the ancient flower language was a character that Tao Yao specifically arranged, based on the popular Forget-Me-Not of the current timeline game ranking.
The purpose was naturally to ride on her popularity.
After all, Tao Yao was well aware that everyone has their own preferences, and relying solely on herself made it difficult to achieve large-scale popularity.
That is why she intended to hitch a ride on Little Forget-Me-Not's popularity.
Hearing this question, Xiao Xiao looked even more anxious.
Her voice trembled slightly, carrying a hint of uncertainty:
"Master... Little Forget-Me-Not seems to also be a creation of the gods, but there's something a bit different…"
Tao Yao's brow furrowed more tightly; she pressed further, "What do you mean by 'seems'? Is she or isn't she?"
Upon hearing Tao Yao's probing question, Xiao Xiao appeared even more restless.
Her small wings quivered slightly, and her voice became hesitant:
"Master, regarding Little Forget-Me-Not... I… my memory is a bit fuzzy. In the images I recalled about the creations of the gods, she doesn't seem to exist."
Tao Yao furrowed her brows, thoughtfully looking at Xiao Xiao. She continued to inquire, "What about the large Forget-Me-Not in the original trajectory of the game? Do you have any information on her?"
Xiao Xiao's voice grew even weaker, tinged with helplessness:
"Master, this is a game world constructed by the Goddess... Xiao Xiao is also uncertain of everyone's identity... Moreover, with your current popularity value, without significantly using the popularity value, we can only manage matters on your side while keeping an eye on the main character group of the game."
"Forget-Me-Not is currently not part of the main character group and is outside our monitoring range... Even if we wanted to understand, we are powerless."
After hearing this, Tao Yao sighed gently, feeling a bit dejected as she said:
"Then, as you said, we can only personally meet the current Forget-Me-Not and see if she can recognize me, and then we can determine whether Little Forget-Me-Not truly existed in my fabricated ancient history, right?"
Xiao Xiao nodded, responding softly:
"Yes, Master."
Tao Yao fell into contemplation.
She recalled everything she had done in the previous and this version, realizing that many of the plots she once fabricated had actually become reality.
This feeling excited her but also puzzled her.
She couldn't help but think, what could be the reason for this?
Was it because of the original memories of this body?
It was as if her subconscious had coincidentally established a plot based on reality in today's flower language?
Or was it something else?
Unable to figure it out, Tao Yao shook her head, deciding to temporarily stop probing into this issue.
She then asked, "What about Hiyakura? How is she doing?"
Xiao Xiao replied:
"Master, since Hiyakura withdrew from the ancient flower language, her companion Violet has already been taken away by Shiro. Currently, there are no traces of Violet found in the entire Twin Cities…"
Upon hearing Shiro's name, Tao Yao couldn't help but rub her temples, feeling a headache.
Speaking of Shiro only made Tao Yao feel a wave of headache.
According to the system's function, popularity values can be converted into divine power, and then divine power can influence the trajectory of this world constructed by the Goddess.
But it could only influence; due to the inability to fully control every detail, she never thought that Shiro would actually obtain the entry to the ancient flower language.
Moreover, she directly captured Hiyakura's companion.
Starting the exploration of the ancient flower language in such a manner...
Fortunately, the maid did not harm the main character group, so Tao Yao decided to follow this development, let it be, and actively participate in the ancient flower language she had woven.
Seeing Tao Yao's reaction, Xiao Xiao cautiously said:
"Master, your maid seems to have gone crazy; there's an increasingly abnormal feeling…"
Tao Yao sighed, helplessly saying:
"Sigh, find an opportunity to send her a dream…"
"This…"
Xiao Xiao wanted to say something more.
But Tao Yao suddenly reached out, picked her up, and gently placed her on her shoulder.
Tao Yao said slowly, "Alright, we've asked everything we need to; let's go out and take a stroll for now."
Xiao Xiao, looking bewildered, asked in surprise:
"Huh? What about version 1.5? Master, you should be thinking about how to influence version 1.5 properly, right?"
Tao Yao lightly tapped Xiao Xiao's forehead with her finger, smiling as she said, "If I do all the thinking, then what use are you? Come on, let's go outside and have a look; we might find new inspiration."
Tao Yao gently placed Xiao Xiao on her shoulder and stepped out of the room.
The sea breeze brushed against her, carrying a salty and fishy scent that revitalized her spirit.
She took a deep breath and gazed at the shimmering sea in the distance, saying:
"Xiao Xiao, if nothing unexpected happens, this Sea Kingdom should be the map for the next major version. We've been here for so long and haven't properly explored yet."
"Now's the time, we should take a good look around, and soon we'll be moving again."
Xiao Xiao, upon hearing this, fluttered her wings slightly and exclaimed in surprise, "Huh? Moving so soon? Master, we just got settled here!"
Tao Yao chuckled lightly, reaching out to gently stroke Xiao Xiao's head, soothing her:
"Don't worry, we'll still remain here for one version. We'll leave after the main character group arrives. For now, stay with me and observe together!"
Speaking of the underwater world.
She hadn't experienced it in two lifetimes.
It was just in time to witness it firsthand.
…
The Sea Kingdom, established under the underwater world.
This is another large map of the game "Fairy Journey," aside from the Land of Dawn.
It would officially launch after the 2.0 version, and the main character group and players currently had no opportunity to explore here.
However, as a special NPC, Tao Yao was fortunate to arrive here early to live.
Walking out of the coastal village where Tao Yao resided, the scene before her was astonishing.
The entire Sea Kingdom was half above sea level and half submerged underwater.
Above the sea, majestic architectural complexes stood in order, with white spires piercing the clouds and golden domes shining brilliantly in the sunlight.
In the distance, a massive lighthouse stood on the coastline as if it were the guardian of this sea area.
Countless large and small islands floated on the sea.
They were connected by intricate bridges and water transportation.
Colorful sailboats moved between them, composing a beautiful picture.
However, this was only half of the beautiful scenery of the Sea Kingdom.
Tao Yao stood at the edge of the coast, gazing into the crystal-clear water.
Through the water's surface, she could vaguely see the outline of the underwater world.
Grand underwater palaces, intricate coral mazes, and various strange underwater creatures together formed a mysterious and enchanting underwater kingdom.
"It's truly amazing," Tao Yao sighed softly, "But, according to the usual plot, entering the underwater world should require special props, right? After all, how could ordinary humans breathe underwater, right?"
Xiao Xiao immediately excitedly explained:
"Master is so smart! Exactly, in the world set by the Goddess, there guards a giant sea beast in the Sea Kingdom that has been subdued by humans."
"It is because of the existence of that beast that the people of the Sea Kingdom are able to live in the underwater world."
Xiao Xiao continued to elaborate:
"And if you want to walk freely underwater, you need the Azure Water Pearl."
"As for the Azure Water Pearl, as its name suggests, it's a treasure that contains powerful magic. It not only allows people to breathe freely underwater but also withstands the immense water pressure of the deep sea."
"In addition…"
"The Azure Water Pearl has other magical functions. It allows the user to swim effortlessly in the water, greatly increasing their speed. Some advanced Azure Water Pearls can even enable simple communication with marine creatures. This is very useful when exploring underwater ruins or dealing with aquatic beings."
Xiao Xiao was rattling on about the marvelous qualities of the Azure Water Pearl, but Tao Yao suddenly interrupted her:
"Alright, Xiao Xiao. Since it's so amazing, let's take out the Azure Water Pearl."
Xiao Xiao's words came to an abrupt halt; it looked at Tao Yao in surprise, her voice carrying a hint of panic: "Huh? Master, how do you know Xiao Xiao has the Azure Water Pearl?"
Tao Yao chuckled lightly, a glimmer of cunning flashing in her eyes:
"Knowing you as I do, if you didn't have it, would you have rambled on like this?"
Xiao Xiao blushed deeply at Tao Yao's words.
Flapping her small wings, she pulled out a crystal-clear pearl from who knows where and handed it to Tao Yao.
This pearl emitted a soft blue light, as if containing the mystery and charm of the entire ocean.
Tao Yao took the Azure Water Pearl and examined it carefully.
The pearl refracted beautiful light under the sun, as if countless tiny streams of water were flowing within.
She gently tightened her grip on the pearl, feeling a cool energy spreading from her palm.
"What a magical object!" Tao Yao exclaimed.
Then, holding the Azure Water Pearl, Tao Yao stepped out toward this Sea Kingdom with Xiao Xiao.
She gently pressed the pearl to her face, and instantly felt a refreshing energy enveloping her.
With each step, her body gradually felt lighter, as if it had lost its weight.
"Xiao Xiao, let's go down and take a look."
Tao Yao said softly, then leaped into the sea without hesitation.
The water flow gently wrapped around her, but she felt no suffocation or discomfort.
On the contrary, she found she could breathe freely, just as she would on land.
The magical power of the Azure Water Pearl flowed within her, allowing her to swim gracefully beneath the water.
Tao Yao gently swung her legs and swam towards the underwater city.
As she delved deeper, she discovered that the scenes here were even more spectacular than she had imagined.
Huge coral buildings unfolded before her, and colorful schools of fish darted among them.
Various uniquely shaped underwater plants swayed gently with the current, adding a touch of fantasy to this underwater world.
After swimming through a lush sea grass forest, Tao Yao saw the main city of the Sea Kingdom.
This city was built on a massive underwater volcano, utilizing geothermal energy to power the entire city.
In the center of the city stood a colossal shell-shaped building, surrounded by countless smaller structures, forming a bustling underwater metropolis.
Tao Yao gently swam, blending in with a group of mermen who were entering the city.
These mermen had the upper bodies of humans and the lower bodies of fish, and they seemed accustomed to the arrival of outsiders, not casting Tao Yao any special glances.
Upon entering the city, Tao Yao began to carefully observe her surroundings.
She noticed that in some hidden corners, between the dense coral, there were occasionally shimmering boxes.
These boxes were cleverly concealed by seaweed and shells, making them difficult to spot unless one looked closely.
"These should be the underwater treasure chests…"
Tao Yao thought to herself, "If Hiyakura were to come here, she would definitely be excitedly searching for these treasure chests. However, given her personality, she might focus too much on treasure-hunting and end up triggering a trap!"
Thinking of this, Tao Yao couldn't help but break into a slight smile.
Continuing to swim, she unknowingly arrived at the city's central area.
This was a vast plaza surrounded by various shops and stalls.
Colorful coral lanterns hung overhead, casting a warm glow over the entire area.
Various marine creatures bustled about,
Some were peddling goods, some were shopping, and some seemed to just be leisurely strolling.
Tao Yao noticed that the level of prosperity here surpassed even that of the Star-Moon Twin Cities in the Land of Dawn.
A variety of rare and exotic treasures were on display; some were items she had never seen before.
Compared to the Land of Dawn, the Sea Kingdom was evidently more prosperous.
Here, not only were there common goods from the land, but also many unique marine products.
Colorful shell products, shimmering pearls, potions made from uniquely shaped underwater plants...
This unprecedentedly novel experience filled Tao Yao with curiosity and excitement.
She browsed and paused.
Sometimes stopping to admire exquisite coral carvings, and sometimes being captivated by glowing deep-sea fish scales.
Each stall seemed to have its unique treasures, overwhelming the senses.
Excitement sparkled in Tao Yao's eyes; she had never imagined the underwater world could be so vibrant.
In an inconspicuous corner, Tao Yao saw a stall filled with seashells.
She couldn't help but walk over and picked up a uniquely shaped seashell.
This seashell was much smaller than the one she remembered from the Seashell Park.
But its shape was astonishingly similar.
Looking at the seashell in her hand, Tao Yao couldn't help but recall that night.
It felt as though the scenes of her dancing with Hiyakura in Seashell Park were just yesterday.
At that time, they had danced gracefully by that gigantic seashell to music; that wonderful feeling still lingered vividly in her mind.
"To think that I encountered a similar seashell here…"
Tao Yao gently stroked the smooth surface of the seashell, a wave of nostalgia washing over her.
Just then, the stall owner noticed Tao Yao's interest.
He was an amiable-looking middle-aged man, smiling as he said to Tao Yao, "Little girl, you have a good eye! These are a batch of magical seashells that just arrived, and inside are recordings of Miss Coral's new songs!"
"Coral?" Tao Yao repeated in confusion.
The stall owner paused for a moment before realization dawned on him, and he laughed, saying, "Ah, little girl, you must be from outside! If that's the case, it's normal not to know Miss Coral."
He eagerly explained:
"Miss Coral is the most famous singer in our Sea Kingdom. Her voice is like that of a sea spirit, soothing people's hearts, allowing listeners to feel the tenderness and power of the ocean."
"Her singing resonates throughout the entire Sea Kingdom, and there are even rumors that the giant sea beast of the Sea Kingdom is moved by her voice!"
After listening, Tao Yao fell into contemplation. After a while, she asked again, "Is there anything else?"
The stall owner excitedly replied, "Of course! Every seashell here has recorded different songs. There are works by Miss Coral as well as other renowned singers in the Sea Kingdom. Little girl, you can listen to many, and I guarantee you will like them!"
Tao Yao began to carefully select.
Perhaps it was coincidence, or perhaps it was fate.
She surprisingly found a seashell extremely similar to the one from Seashell Park, and inside was the music that she and Hiyakura danced to back then.
Hearing the familiar melody, a smile involuntarily rose at the corners of Tao Yao's mouth.
She said to the stall owner, "I'll take this one, this one, and this one."
"Great!"
The stall owner eagerly responded, knowing he had encountered a big customer.
Thus, he quickly began to pack the seashells Tao Yao chose, his face beaming with joy.
Just then, Tao Yao picked up the seashell similar to the one from Seashell Park and said to the stall owner, "Boss, could you do me a favor?"
"Of course, little girl, please say!" The stall owner answered enthusiastically.
Tao Yao softly said:
"If you ever see a girl with red hair, who is very beautiful but also a bit silly, could you help me give this little seashell to her?"
The stall owner looked somewhat puzzled but nodded in agreement.
Tao Yao continued:
"Hmm… don't tell her that it's from me."
"Just say it's part of a lucky draw or something; any random reason will do. Just don't let her know someone specifically gave it to her."
After a moment's thought, Tao Yao added:
"If you can't meet her, then forget it."
Although the stall owner didn't understand Tao Yao's reasoning, he still agreed:
"Alright… I suppose."
"Though I don't know why you would make such a request, since you bought it, as long as I'm here, I will help you fulfill this request."
Tao Yao nodded in satisfaction, picked up the seashells she had purchased, and turned to leave.
The stall owner watched Tao Yao's departing figure, muttering to himself:
"What a strange little girl; she's not a mermaid, yet learns to cover her face like one…"