Free Web NovelChapter 139: Chapter 139: Remnants of the Salvation Army
’The DNA of Arthur Seldon’s descendant?’
Shen Feng raised an eyebrow, not quite buying it.
Having survived the baptism of the Stone Statue Apocalypse, he had already mastered a great deal of biological and anthropological knowledge. Coupled with the information he had later researched on his own, while he might not be a full-fledged biologist, he was at least halfway there.
’If Arthur Seldon’s control over the Nanomechanical Insects was indeed DNA-based and had always been effective, why didn’t he terminate everything when the Gray Tide spun out of control?’
’In other words, even if Arthur Seldon failed to stop it because he died in an accident, his descendant’s DNA and his own are two completely different things.’
DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid, a biological macromolecule that carries genetic information.
A descendant’s DNA doesn’t come entirely from Arthur Seldon; they’re completely different matters.
’Could that really be effective against the Gray Tide?’
’Besides, after all this time, who the hell knows where to find Arthur Seldon’s descendant? They probably got trapped somewhere and starved to death long ago...’
Seeing Shen Feng’s unconvinced expression, Daisy hurriedly explained,
"Actually, a lot of people know about this. It’s a legend that circulates in this apocalypse. As for where it came from or who started it, no one knows... But..."
Shen Feng narrowed his eyes and asked, "But what?"
As he spoke, he took out another small white pill and gently placed it in front of Daisy.
Daisy quickly snatched up the pill and said rapidly,
"But it seems there are many other settlements in this world, some much larger than this one... I once met someone who came for a divination. He claimed to be from some ’Graveyard,’ and he scoffed at the Holy Sanctuary, saying his home was the last hope for humanity—mankind’s Zion. Perhaps these rumors started there."
"It’s said that Arthur Seldon’s descendant might be living in the Gray Tide Graveyard. He’s supposed to be a young boy right now. He will become our Moses, our King Arthur, our Saint, and lead humanity back to the light."
As she spoke, Daisy’s eyes filled with a look of piety and anticipation. She clearly believed this with all her heart.
Zion, in ancient Hebrew, means "shelter" or "sanctuary."
In the scriptures of Western religions like Judaism and Christianity, Zion is also the place where Yahweh dwells.
In *The Matrix*, the underground city inhabited by free humans is named Zion.
After hearing Daisy’s description, Shen Feng was struck by a powerful sense of theatricality.
Former employees of the Sky Technology Company and their descendants, who possess special clearance and are immune to attacks from the Nanomechanical Construction Machines.
The so-called Gray Tide Graveyard, a legendary settlement housing a large number of survivors, the last bastion of hope for humanity.
And the descendant of Arthur Seldon, the legendary chosen one who can control the Gray Tide.
It was all just the classic backdrop for a hero’s origin story. The whole thing was no different from tales like King Arthur, never straying from the framework described by Joseph Campbell in *The Hero with a Thousand Faces*.
’It feels like someone is directing all of this from behind the scenes.’
’And if such a director really exists, they’re a third-rate one at best. This story is just too cliché...’
"It’s not just you, you know. Lots of people are looking for him... or rather, everyone is. Many of the Holy Sanctuary People desperately wish they were Arthur Seldon’s descendant, entitled to endless glory. But they’ve all failed..."
Daisy said, a little lost in thought.
To have fallen asleep in the former age of technology and woken up in this apocalyptic world where everything has collapsed and resources are critically scarce—it was enough to drive almost anyone into despair.
Some who were already psychologically fragile even chose suicide to escape it all.
The reason those who endured managed to keep going, besides their own will to survive, was the one thing that sustained them: faith in this legend of salvation.
Many forced themselves to believe that one day, Arthur Seldon’s descendant would, just like in the myths, discover the power within their DNA, control the terrifying Gray Tide, and transform this broken world back into the beautiful home it once was.
Until then, they had to struggle to survive. Just survive...
Shen Feng nodded, not bothering to question Daisy’s words.
’Waking someone from a comforting dream in a sealed room is a deeply immoral act.’
Regardless, he now had a new lead.
Shen Feng sighed and put down another pill.
"Where is the Gray Tide Graveyard? And how was it formed?"
A delighted look crossed Daisy’s face. She quickly pocketed the pill and shot Shen Feng a grateful glance.
’The questions this person was asking were common knowledge around here, worth far less than three pills. The fact that he gave her another one was clearly, in part, an act of goodwill.’
She immediately answered in earnest, "The Gray Tide Graveyard has only ever existed in rumors. It’s said to be somewhere to the southeast. Legend has it that the area was once an ocean, and it’s where Arthur Seldon was buried. Later, it became a burial ground for mechanical monsters..."
Then, after checking to make sure no one was paying attention to her, Daisy lowered her voice and said through gritted teeth,
"That damn Arthur Seldon ruined everything for humanity. If you find his grave, be sure to take a piss on it for me."
Shen Feng couldn’t help but grin. ’This Daisy is pretty interesting.’
He was just about to reply when a hooded man, who had been standing at a nearby stall seemingly browsing goods, suddenly spun around. He aimed a slightly rusted shotgun at Shen Feng and Daisy and shouted,
"You have insulted the great God of the Firmament, Arthur Seldon! You have broken the laws of the Holy Sanctuary and must be sentenced to death!"
As he spoke, he yanked open his collar, revealing a worn, faded Sky Company employee uniform underneath.
He was one of the Holy Sanctuary People, an agent tasked with surveillance—a spy!
Hearing his words and seeing his uniform, everyone nearby showed looks of terror, as if they had just seen the plague itself.
In this place, that worn, faded, orange-red uniform was like the Flying Fish Robe of the Jinyi Guard—an undeniable symbol of superior status, to say nothing of the shotgun in his hands! freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
Daisy’s face instantly turned deathly pale. She stammered,
"No, Officer, I... I’m sick, I was just talking nonsense! No, I didn’t say anything..."
The Holy Sanctuary People had only one form of punishment: the punishment of the earth. They would chop a person to pieces and turn them into fertilizer.
While they didn’t eat human flesh, they did eat the fruit grown from soil fertilized with it.
Just then, several other Holy Sanctuary People on patrol strutted over and surrounded Shen Feng and Daisy, clearly having no intention of listening to any explanations.
The spy snorted coldly and said, "Take them away. They will face the judgment of the Executive Officer. Especially these two newcomers. They say they climbed up from below the thousandth floor. They must be heinous criminals. The purity of the Holy Sanctuary will not be defiled by them."
From his words, it was clear that he and Billy had been targeted the moment they arrived.
Billy looked panicked. "Sir," he said to Shen Feng, "what do we do?"
’This kid from Asia is tough, but they all have guns!’
Shen Feng let out a dry chuckle. "Let’s go have a look."
’So, according to this spy, these so-called Holy Sanctuary People still use the title of Chief Executive Officer, or CEO. It’s ridiculous.’
These people were the descendants of Sky Technology Company employees. Now, they were basically Arthur Seldon’s fanatical stans.
’There are probably ten thousand people here at most, and they’re still playing at secret police and surveillance. It’s just comical.’
"Move it!" one of the Holy Sanctuary People shouted at Shen Feng, waving his gun with a grim expression.
Shen Feng nodded. He wasn’t angry. With a grin, he followed behind the spy, and Billy hurried to keep up.
Daisy, trembling with fear, had no choice but to follow as well.
At that moment, she was filled with regret. She shouldn’t have had that slip of the tongue. Not only had she doomed herself, but she had also gotten this kind-looking Black man caught up in it.
Seeing Shen Feng’s group of three being arrested and led away by the spy, the Holy Sanctuary People in their tattered uniforms wore scornful expressions. The outsiders, however, all looked terrified, afraid that the trouble would spread to them.
"Manager Amir, what did these outsiders do?" one of the patrolling Holy Sanctuary People asked with a smirk. "Did they fail to pay their taxes on time?"
They even retained the title of "Manager."
The spy, Amir, put on a serious face. "They slandered the great God of the Firmament, Arthur Seldon. I suspect they’re remnants of the Salvation Army."
