New concept of the mysterious way to ascend to immortality

Chapter 196 Zhou Chu: Elbow, come with me to the Security Bureau for investigation!

Hearing A-Miao's statement, Yuan Zhu asked curiously, "Does that mean that many people in this world are not their original selves?"

Meng Xiyue, also looking curious and eager to learn, came over, wanting to hear A Miao's unique insights.

After a moment's thought, A-Miao said, "I don't know about other places, but in Running over the past 20 years, there have been at least four large-scale incidents of altering public perception. Each one affected no less than one-fifth of Running City. The memories of ordinary people within the affected area have been altered and covered up several times. And these are just the things I personally experienced and have kept in my memory. Apart from that, whether my experiences and perceptions were altered and covered up as I did today, or even copied and replaced after my death, is unknown."

Hearing her words, Meng Xiyue felt a chill run down her spine, and she fell into a self-tortured state of mind, wondering if "I" was not really her, if the real Meng Xiyue had died in childhood, and if the current her was just a substitute.

Yuan Zhu, on the other hand, was completely unfazed, maintaining an exceptionally good attitude. He knew perfectly well that he was a fake, a transmigrator. His soul was deeply bound to the [Great Wilderness Immortal Scripture], making him impossible to fake! No, he was a [real fake]!
Seeing Meng Xiyue's bewildered and uncertain expression, completely caught in a cycle of inner conflict, A Miao patted her head helplessly and comforted her, "There's no need to dwell on this. The reason you are who you are now is because of the combination of your memories from the latest timeline. This is your true self. Let me tell you a good way to resolve this problem."

"Mortals have no right to decide their own 'truth and falsehood'; they can only silently endure and let fate play its tricks on them. But it's different for those with abilities. When your strength reaches the [Seed] level, you have the right to protect your memories and personality from external interference. In this regard, the [Soul Crystals] of the Sanctuary are particularly famous!"

A-Miao glanced at Yuan Zhu and boasted, "[Soul Crystals] are notoriously stubborn and stable. Once memory information and personality consciousness are recorded, they are very difficult to tamper with or overwrite. As one's strength increases, not only do the number of [Soul Crystals] increase, but their strength also rises, becoming indestructible. They can clearly remember one's 'real life' and calmly review layer upon layer of cognitive alterations, memory overwriting, and temporal changes..."

"The strong are not affected by the world. Instead, they are like an anchor, planted in the river of time and space, bearing all impacts and remaining steadfast."

Yuan Zhu proudly puffed out his chest: I'm awesome!

A-Miao rolled her eyes: Was I talking about you? I was talking about the 'ideologically rigid' ancient relic of the Ultimate Sanctuary!
Meng Xiyue was stunned and didn't know what to say for a moment. She only knew that becoming stronger was the only way to preserve her true self.

But this Ah Miao is amazing! She can clearly remember the four instances of group cognition manipulation that Run Ning experienced, which means she was already a powerful being long ago and was unaffected by them. She also takes this 'future person revising the history line' in stride.

Then look at the silly Zhu Zi standing there, still proudly puffing out his chest. He's obviously a clueless kid who can't remember anything. He was washed up four times in his hometown but still doesn't think there's anything wrong with it and remains smug.

Is condensing a Soul Crystal that powerful? You're not the same person you used to be!

"Sister Miaomiao, do you think I might have suffered memory alteration like this fool, or even had my timeline overwritten?" Despite being comforted, Meng Xiyue was still inexplicably worried, feeling that she was no longer pure.

A-Miao asked in confusion, "Do you have any regrets or dissatisfaction with your life?"

"No, I'm quite happy. My family is harmonious, my dad is very wealthy, and my mom is very supportive of my studies."

A-Miao: "That's settled then. A metropolis like Taixi must have experienced more accidents and changes, whether overt or covert, than Running. But Taixi has survived to this day, which means that all the crises that happened in the past have been resolved. Perhaps you were overwritten, but in those timelines, you were likely caught up in crises and family changes... Do you really want to live that kind of life?"

Yuan Zhu, standing to the side, rested his chin on his hand, pondering whether he should bring his deceased 'mother' back to life so that his younger brother could experience a wave of 'motherly love' and thus settle the karma from his previous life.
Little Spicy Stick advised, "Boss, don't be reckless! Get your brother a few more wives, strengthen the Yuan family, and you'll pay off your karma!"

"That's right, this one is the easiest."

...

An hour later, the three of them finished their business and left the Star Bank smoothly. After breathing in the fresh air again, Yuan Zhu felt that the wonderful experience of the previous three hours was like a dream.

Protected by the Soul Crystal, he could still clearly recall every move from the Time-Space Fault, but a sense of unreality remained. Meanwhile, Meng Xiyue appeared preoccupied throughout.

Although rationally she was 100% certain of what had happened, and after leaving the bank, she retrieved her 'little pumpkin' from Ah Miao, she remained mentally disoriented, as if in a dream, trapped in some kind of mental vortex, immersed in her own world, becoming listless and unwilling to communicate with others.

At this moment, A-Miao said to the two of them, "I have received the prepayment. Let's part ways now. I promise to bring the goods back to Running within a week, and then I will contact you again."

Yuan Zhu nodded, though reluctant to part with the beautiful and fragrant A-Miao. But since they didn't really have much in common, he chose to say goodbye: "Take care, Running, goodbye!"

Anyway, we'll be living in the same city in the future, so we'll actually have more opportunities to interact. We can slowly cultivate our feelings... Hmm, the most important thing right now is to become stronger, otherwise, with the man being weaker and the woman stronger, it's easy for the woman to be the one to push him down.

Meng Xiyue said with a hint of reluctance, "Goodbye, Sister Miao. Let's keep in touch by letter."

"Okay, goodbye." The young woman, who had made a great haul, waved goodbye and disappeared into the crowd.

Compared to the dazed Yuan Zhu and her companion, she was in an exceptionally good mood. What a wonderful day! They were truly two lucky charms.

……

After A Miao left, Yuan Zhu and the other person wandered aimlessly through the streets in silence, neither of them in a good mental state.

Perhaps the events of the previous three hours had been too stimulating, causing their mental state to exceed its limits, making it difficult for them to cope. Now, entering a period of exhaustion, each burdened with their own thoughts, they didn't even want to talk.

Fortunately, Meng Xiyue was somewhat polite and bought two popsicles from a roadside shop, which made the atmosphere even more silent.

As they walked, Meng Xiyue led him into a dead end. Looking at the high wall in front of him, he couldn't help but ask, "Hey, what's wrong with you?"

Meng Xiyue, who was facing the wall, came back to her senses: "Huh?"

"Ah!" The pink-haired boy, realizing what had happened, gave an embarrassed smile. "I was thinking about the information leaked from the [Star Core] in my mind, which made me mentally confused and unable to concentrate."

She hesitated, then sighed, "Zhu Zi, I'm coming clean! It's not that I don't want to take you sightseeing, it's just that my mind is stuffed with a bunch of indigestible good things, and I can't calm down. I'm too tired to take care of you; I just want to go back to the academy." Yuan Zhu, who was gradually getting used to her ways, asked, "Go back to the academy? For what purpose? To become a guinea pig and be studied?"

The latter gave a thumbs-up, praising sincerely, "You understand me!"

"Aren't you afraid of being sliced ​​up?"

Meng Xiyue said proudly, "Such valuable research material as me will only be cherished and protected. Who would have the heart to touch me?! Rather than burying myself in blindly exploring, wasting time and energy, and even missing opportunities, it would be better to indirectly reveal some secrets, cooperate with the academy, and have big experts consult and conduct research on me."

"I won't reveal everything about my exposure to the 'Starry Sky Project,' which is currently in the works, and how I gained an opportunity. I'll only say that I received unknown benefits from the 'Space of Gods,' which are still in my mind, and I hope to cooperate with the academy. I will be the subject of the research, contributing 30% of the final results, with the remainder going to me personally. However, the academy will have the right of first refusal and priority in cooperating with the development of related technologies."

Upon hearing her introduction, Yuan Zhu immediately thought of Erzhuzi. Rather than wasting his time in Konoha, being watched by the Anbu, getting no resources and being ostracized, he might as well join the ninja world's chief scientist, enjoy all kinds of cutting-edge technology and ruthless work, graduate smoothly, turn his back on his investors, and settle the score by killing them.

Meng Xiyue's move of "getting involved herself and investing in the project" was truly a wise choice.

Unfortunately, he possessed the Great Wilderness Immortal Scripture, which destined him to follow the path of independent research and development by the people, and he could only work silently and mindlessly.

Yuan Zhu: "So, you're breaking up now? Once you've figured something out, don't forget to tell me. Let me take a look; maybe it'll give me some inspiration."

His main purpose in coming to Taixi City was to finalize the cooperation details regarding the [Skull Server. Shadow Domain]. Fortunately, these issues were settled yesterday. Specific projects will only begin upon his return to the 'Underworld'. Parting ways now is not unacceptable.

Unfortunately, her promise of a week-long, all-inclusive trip to Taixi City, including food and lodging, is likely to fall through! On the contrary, I brought her a bunch of [Little Pumpkins] and [Starry Sky Project] opportunities; she truly owes me so much!
Just as Yuan Zhu was lamenting that Meng Xiyue was shameless and only knew how to take advantage of him, she shook her head: "It's not that bad, it's not that bad! You're unfamiliar with this place, and I don't feel comfortable letting you wander around alone. I've already contacted Zhou Chu, let's go see her now. It's not too late to part ways after I entrust you to her care."

"As for our secret cooperation, leave all the technical aspects to me. Your immediate priority is to return to [Happy Home] and check the exchange list of [Gods' Space] to see if there's a good head to serve as the [server] for the Shadow Domain. Your idea for [Cockroach Village] is interesting, but it requires a large number of high-quality 'heads' to support it."

Then, after a moment's hesitation, she offered another idea: "Or...we could actually ask the captain to get a high-quality 'good head' from the [underworld]. To be honest, I think the head of a [Heavenly Rank Qi Refiner] is excellent!"

...

Yuan Zhu was naturally aware of the situation at the Heavenly Realm, which could be divided into three stages of transformation: [Essence, Qi, and Spirit].

[Essence]: Requires completion of [Armor Forging (Insect Armor)], which is similar to the [Armor] of the Knight system, and also like the [Cocoon] of an insect. After enveloping the body, it can complete a new round of physical transformation (cocooning), and completely refine, devour, and absorb the [Insect Egg Dao Seed] in the dantian.

[Qi]: Qi cultivators communicate with the [Nightmare Dimension] to obtain a kind of external (polluted) energy from the Nightmare World, and combine it with the 'Qi Silk' to refine [Innate True Qi], thereby triggering a transformation of the soul.

[God]: Encased in the [cocoon], and nourished and stimulated by the innate true qi, it begins to [emerge (abnormal development)], refining and absorbing the 'insect eggs ([seeds])', cultivating a primordial spirit, and perfectly controlling the insect pollution, no longer in a symbiotic/parasitic relationship.

The three processes proceed simultaneously, permeating and transforming each other at the same time. Only when everything is complete will the [Zerg] truly live up to its name. They can nurture countless 'Zerg Eggs' to cultivate their own race and create their own [Zerg Cities].

Beyond this, there is a fourth transformation: binding to a [Dream Hole], gaining the recognition of heaven and earth (the Bubble World), and becoming a [True Celestial Rank].

Those who possess the [Dream Hole] can control the channels for mass-producing ordinary Heavenly Rank items.

In Meng Xiyue's eyes, a top-tier Heavenly Rank head would inevitably contain a complete set of data on [Essence, Qi, and Spirit]. If connected to Yuan Zhu's [Shadow Dream Hole], it might be possible to develop a top-tier [Server]. Combined with [Shadow Law Domain], it could create a small, knock-off insect city!

...

Around 3 p.m., the two waited for Zhou Chu, who had taken leave to meet them, at a coastal cafe in Taixi.

Ironhead Sister is at it again today, looking dashing in her investigator's outfit. She exudes a tall and alluring charm, and although she and Ah Miao are both "Female Knights," their styles are so different. While she's beautiful, I just can't bring myself to like her. She's a reliable and good brother!

Meng Xiyue complained, "They're both 'knights,' so why is Sister Miaomiao so charming, while I get goosebumps just looking at her?"

"I agree. Maybe she's too righteous? Besides, what kind of 'knight' is she? She's clearly a 'law and order' type!"

"No wonder, I was wondering why there was no affinity at all, it turns out it was that evil [Law]! I was almost fooled by her disguise."

All those responsible for pollution will eventually be brought to justice!
After some back and forth, Meng Xiyue decisively sold Yuan Zhu and ran away on her own. Zhou Chu, on the other hand, was more concerned about Yuan Zhu, this potential criminal from the [Gods' Space], and couldn't wait to bring him back to the station for investigation.

"Come with me to the Security Bureau for a simple aptitude test. Based on the investigation report, I will have an expert create a professional 'Cultivation Plan' for you." She spoke sweetly, but Yuan Zhu knew exactly what she was thinking.

If you don't trust me, then we're not brothers anymore!
Before he could finish his coffee, Zhou Chu forced him to pay the bill and then dragged him to the Security Bureau's advanced testing lab for a thorough physical examination.

After much effort, the report was finally obtained, concluding that the individual was in excellent health, had a low level of contamination deviation, possessed high-quality Holy Light, and had an outstanding soul strength for its rank.

This only shows that the Soul Crystal is a superior type among many power systems, and its attributes in the Soul Domain are extremely outstanding.

In Zhou Chu's explanation, the landmark stage of "species" can be roughly divided into three levels: upper, middle, and lower, depending on the type of "pollution system".

Just like how Golden Cores are divided into nine grades, six grades, and three grades, representing the value and potential of the [Seed of Pollution], the Holy Hall's [Soul Crystal] is undoubtedly the highest grade; once condensed, it is [Superior].

(End of this chapter)