New concept of the mysterious way to ascend to immortality

Chapter 195 [The Star Egg]

In the bustling business hall, Meng Xiyue was awakened by the sound of an announcement.

The small, pink-haired girl jolted awake, suddenly sitting bolt upright, her eyes wide with shock: "What...what happened to me?!"

Upon waking, she quickly began to feel her body, her small hand touching her mouth and nose. After looking down and confirming there was no blood, her expression became confused.

For a moment, I couldn't tell if it was real or a dream.
Everything that happened in the [Time Rift] was so real. Even this business hall in front of us was once littered with corpses, collapsed and broken, and full of traces of battle.

But at that moment, another voice inside her told her that it was all a lie.

In her 'memory', after arriving at the [Astral Bank] by airship, the group smoothly entered the lobby to conduct their business, received a number, and waited quietly. Bored out of her mind, she fell into a deep sleep.

So she asked in confusion, "Am I dreaming?"

Suddenly, she jolted, feeling the tightness of her bulging pocket. She instinctively reached into her pocket and pulled out a handful of loose change and coins.

Huh? How come there's so much loose change? This isn't like me at all! Wait, no! This isn't my money at all; I earned it in my dream by 'looting corpses' with Xiaozhuzi!

Since my backpack was already full, I had no choice but to put the small amount of money in my pocket. So... I wasn't dreaming, it was all real! The [Time-Space Fault] successfully returned me to the present world, and I was given a layer of fake 'real memories'?!

Realizing the problem, Meng Xiyue quickly grabbed her backpack from the seat next to her. Upon opening it, she immediately discovered the slightly contaminated and damaged 'skull server,' and her expression gradually turned grim.

Finally, with a mournful expression, she turned to Yuan Zhu and the other person beside her, who looked at her with concern and curiosity, and cried out, "Ah Miao, all my Little Pumpkins are gone! Were they repaired like this store?"

The more she spoke, the heavier her heart became. She was heartbroken and looked at her own reflection with pity, as if the world had abandoned her.

Her deduction was reasonable. Since the previously destroyed hall was completely repaired after the [Spatial Rift] returned, and the unconscious and dead passersby were all resurrected and began handling business at the counter, wouldn't it be logical that the 'Little Pumpkin' stolen from the VIP lounge would also be reset to its state before it was stolen?
Upon hearing this, Yuan Zhu was also startled and quickly checked his [Soul Space], then breathed a sigh of relief. The [Holy Seal] was indeed powerful; this space was located inside the 'Holy Light Network,' protected by the source of holy light, and was sacred and inviolable.

Therefore, more than thirty small pumpkins were neatly arranged in the Soul Space. Each one had its own small space of varying sizes, which was filled with handicrafts, calligraphy and paintings, antiques... It was truly a fruitful day.

So Yuan Zhu comforted him, saying, "Don't be sad. As the saying goes, 'A lost melon may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.' Although you lost the little pumpkin, you kept your allowance!"

He pointed to the loose change in Meng Xiyue's hand; these were collected from the [Fault Line], and the total amount was not small.

"Huh?" The heartbroken and desperate pink-haired girl suddenly paused, surprised. "That's right! They were all obtained from the [Fault Line], so how come the banknotes and coins are safe, but the [Little Pumpkin] is gone?"

This made her even more heartbroken!

Ah Miao suddenly spoke up: "Your little pumpkin isn't lost, it's all here with me. I was worried you wouldn't be able to hide it in your backpack, so I took the liberty of putting it away for you. It's not too late to return it after we leave the Star Bank."

"It's not lost?" Meng Xiyue came to her senses and giggled again, saying to A Miao, "Yes, yes, it's not too late, Sister Miao, please keep it safe for me. But why are we still in the bank? Why don't we just leave?"

Those memories from the [spatial fault line] melted away like ice and snow, becoming clear again. Meanwhile, the false memories that attracted attention became as hazy as a dream.

She then realized that the three of them had made a fortune in the [Spatial Fault] without encountering any danger. So, from the perspective of a bystander, they cleverly avoided the biggest conflict and even won a round by doing nothing, touching the [Star Core].

I originally came to the bank to transfer money to A-Miao to buy weapons. But this transaction was already completed inside the [Fault Line], so there's no need to stay any longer. I should leave quickly and return my [Little Pumpkin]!

A-Miao replied, "The reason I stayed is twofold. First, I'm waiting for you two to wake up. We can't just drag you out while you're asleep; that would be too conspicuous. Second, I plan to take care of some business."

Yuan Zhu chimed in, "Yes, yes, I also need to handle some business. I need to settle my expenses in [Huangliang Township] and deposit some money."

He's already a regular at Huangliang Township and plans to frequently visit for team-building activities (with the Bailing Club). Furthermore, having his own 'private dreamland' in the Bubble World, he has a strong interest in Huangliang Township, this veteran and established large-scale dreamland, and intends to observe, learn, and improve his own Pure Love Cockroach Township.

Therefore, he needs to open an account at the Star Bank and deposit a large sum of money so that he can continue to spend on credit and avoid being blacklisted.

Seeing that the two were not planning to leave, Meng Xiyue rubbed her eyes and leaned back in her chair to rest: "Alright then, I'll deposit some money while I'm at it. By the way, don't take out those anonymous savings cards that come with the [Little Pumpkin], that's a bit reckless."

[Astral Bank] Just after a batch of 'little pumpkins' were stolen, the accompanying bonus cards suddenly appeared on the counter. This operation is as conspicuous as robbing a bank, then taking off your stockings, not even changing your clothes, and carrying a sack back to deposit money.

Yuan Zhu rolled her eyes at her: "Who do you think you are?"

At this moment, Yuan Zhu, who had also regained all his memories, was simultaneously experiencing the strange and contradictory feeling of two kinds of 'true and false memories' coexisting, while reviewing what he had gained in the 'time-space rift'.

Then I heard a question from beside me: "Did you obtain anything from the [Star Core]?"

Upon hearing this, he was initially bewildered, but then he came to his senses and began to perceive and study the 'information' in his brain. As a result, with the help of the spicy snack, he discovered a huge 'unknown file' in the 'Soul Firewall (Data Cache Area)'.

Then, he gradually realized that in the early stages of the countdown, with the assistance (buffering) of the Great Wilderness Immortal Scripture, he had forcibly copied an unreadable 'file' from the Star Core. At this moment, it was completely integrated and placed in the Data Soul. Not only could it not break through the defense to read it, but it was also like an unhatched egg.
According to Xiaolatiao's analysis, this document not only fails to provide valuable information, but also absorbs and uses "data-driven soul information" as nourishment to nurture itself.

Yuan Zhu was somewhat wary: "Is this a bad thing?" Little Spicy Strip proudly replied: "Of course not. Not to mention you, even I am 100% confident that I can completely delete it from the 'Data-Driven Soul'! So, it doesn't pose a threat, and it belongs to you."

Currently, this 'egg' (unknown file) doesn't absorb much of the knowledge (data-driven information) he possesses. It shows no interest in either [Shadow] or [Holy Light], and exudes a picky hunger, yearning to obtain more valuable and nutritious 'food' from Yuan Zhu's soul to re-optimize and replenish itself.

Spicy Strips said, "I can guarantee that this 'thing (egg/unknown file)' now belongs to us 100%. But what's strange about it is that it's not a living thing! Nor is it an artificial intelligence with a soul like mine! Nor is it a new pollution system. Instead, it's like a 'fragmented and unreadable' [knowledge system framework]."

"In my view, it is a rudimentary framework of a profound and systematic 'extraordinary knowledge system (core of the stars)' originating from the future. It is eager for your support and needs to use its own knowledge to fill in the framework and transform it into an 'embryo'. After it is perfected, it will hatch into a complete 'systematic knowledge system' of its own."

Yuan Zhu raised an eyebrow, somewhat intrigued, and asked, "Constructing a knowledge system for [Constellations]? Or, a 'transcendent path' for cultivating a [Star Host]?"

Twenty-two "paths of God" inexplicably appeared in his mind.

In the world of best friends, each path to godhood involves a dozen or so potion recipes and rituals, with the highest level capable of creating a god. Even if one doesn't use it and lacks the matching extraordinary characteristics, simply knowing the complete set of 'sequence information' is already an extraordinary level of knowledge.

The 'egg' currently lingering in the [Boss Template] bears a resemblance to the 'incomplete, developing' [Path of the Gods]. Does it represent the complete set of Ascension knowledge for one of the [Twenty-Eight Mansions]?
Therefore, it is neither a living organism (egg), nor a soul, nor a source of pollution like the "species." Rather, it is a completely new "supernatural constellation knowledge system" that has taken its own shape and been defined by itself, fed by its own "supernatural knowledge and polluting elements."
Will it eventually evolve into an independent "supernatural system" that it can control?
Little Spicy Strip responded, "In short, although we haven't gained anything yet, I think this is a worthwhile investment. This should be a great treasure, and we can nurture it slowly. According to the records in the [Immortal Scripture], it has absorbed some nutrients."

"What was absorbed?"

Spicy Strip: "Some basic contaminated energy about shadows and holy light, and some basic knowledge (datafied soul information). It only ate a little, and then stopped. It doesn't seem interested in the deeper [Tiger Demon Abilities] and [Holy Light Skills]. Moreover, the energy and knowledge it consumed won't affect your original understanding. So, boss, you need to try more, find out its areas of interest, conduct specific learning, summarize valuable information, and then feed it back in."

...

After figuring out what he had gained from the [Star Core], he turned to Meng Xiyue, who was asking curious questions: "What did you get from that [Star Core]? I'm completely confused. I feel like there's something in my head, but I can't access it. Instead, I have a headache, feel strained, and feel uncomfortable."

Meng Xiyue asked in surprise, "Uh? Is that what you feel?"

She subconsciously touched the non-existent blood in the corners of her eyes and nose, still feeling lingering fear as she said, "Besides bleeding from all seven orifices and the intense phantom pain from brain overload, I have gained a lot of 'dormant knowledge' in my mind that I can't understand or comprehend, but which is certainly very valuable."

Yuan Zhu: "What do you mean by 'uncomprehending, yet valuable, and dormant knowledge'? Tell me, what's going on here?"

Meng Xiyue: "I can vaguely recall the feeling when I touched the [Star Core]. It was a massive, extraordinary core containing a vast amount of information. After I made contact, it tried to reveal higher-level 'information' to me. However, my strength, abilities, cognition, and the extraordinary power and knowledge I possess were limited. Only the 'knowledge' that I could understand and comprehend was qualified to resonate with the [Star Core]."

"It's like a dam containing an inexhaustible source of water, and I'm just a small container. I use my own knowledge and understanding as a 'connecting vessel and filter,' filtering out some 'higher knowledge' that resonates with me from the dam's immense pressure and pouring it into my mind. Under terrifying pressure, I only stopped when my soul (the container) was full and on the verge of bursting."

"Therefore, I am certain that this wave of gains has been substantial. The 'superior knowledge' acquired must be closely related to the [School of Knowledge], but I am not yet able to read and comprehend it. I can only settle down for a period of time, conserve my energy, and allow my soul to further strengthen and grow before slowly absorbing these nutrients."

Yuan Zhu understood, but became even more puzzled. How could this guy's situation be so completely different from his own?
Although he couldn't read it either, and it was also forcibly instilled in him, he didn't feel that he had acquired 'advanced knowledge' that he could slowly digest and absorb on his own.

On the contrary, this mass of 'knowledge' is crying out for food, wanting to be fed with 'knowledge' and transformed into its own shape?

It's all reversed! There's no gain at all, only one-sided continuous giving, with no end in sight to the 'day of incubation'.

Then he looked at A-Miao with an expectant gaze.

A Miao put aside her distractions: "My feelings are similar to Meng Xiyue's, but there are also differences. I remained clear-headed throughout, actively filtering and selecting the information that the [Star Core] fed me, and ultimately selectively absorbed some knowledge that I could understand and comprehend, which can be considered as enriching and enhancing my own foundation."

Yuan Zhu was even more dissatisfied. It seemed like I was the only one who was different?
"What did you gain?"

A-Miao shook her head: "Don't ask about these things in the future; it's an extremely sensitive matter of personal privacy. To put it simply, it's about how to establish a close connection with the Astral Plane and obtain starlight energy, whether you're in the human realm or on different planes. It also includes a guide to survival and combat in the Astral Plane, how to evolve yourself into an Astral life form suitable for the Astral environment, and so on."

Meng Xiyue: "Do you want to ascend to outer space?"

"I haven't thought about it yet, but I can consider it."

Just as the group was talking in hushed tones, Meng Xiyue suddenly nudged Yuan Zhu: "Hey, hey, look! That guy, in the bright blue striped suit, isn't he dead? Do you remember him?"

Following Meng Xiyue's directions, Yuan Zhu saw a man in a blue suit finish his business and pass by them. Then, he suddenly recalled the image of the man lying dead in the corridor, his body dismembered, his eyes wide open in death.

This person was parasitized by the 'Buddha Cocoon' in the [Spatial Fault], and then killed by the veteran team. Unexpectedly, he has now come back to life?
A-Miao: "What happened inside the [Spatial Fault] can be considered a dream, a false illusion for you and me now. Of everything we experienced in the [Spatial Fault], only our true gains have been preserved. Everything else has been rewritten."

Yuan Zhu: "What about the impact on the 'timeline'?"

A-Miao: "The Buddhist sect's plot to seize the [Star Core] failed, and they are unaware of what happened within the [Fault Line]. The stolen supplies from the [Astral Bank] have been rebalanced by the [Time and Space Security Bureau]. These were supplies that had already been consumed and are now ours. As for the corpses, those that met the conditions for resurrection have been resurrected; the few whose souls were destroyed have been replaced with replicas, just like the originals; only those that couldn't even be replicated have been completely erased, and the gaps they created have been corrected, so they never existed from beginning to end."

Meng Xiyue: "That sounds pretty terrible!"

Ah Miao: "That's how the world is. Do you think you've lived a peaceful and stable life for the past ten years, retaining your most authentic memories and a complete personality?"

(End of this chapter)