Necromancer, summoning 055? What the heck?

Chapter 340 Life Resonance and the Legend of Luck
In fact, there were quite a few clever people in Dongxia who had a keen sense of things and felt that something was wrong.

This operation was massive, almost a nationwide mobilization. Although Dongxia had laid a lot of groundwork for this operation, in the eyes of those who were interested, the fact that every step was explained in a seamless and reasonable way was itself an unreasonable situation.

The biggest incongruity lies in the fact that the central axis of Dongxia is a continuous, stable, and efficient government with policy continuity.

This meant that he didn't need to take any short-sighted measures during his term, unlike the local administrators of Dongxia.

He would never rashly change his established space program just to compete with a certain country, or try to "seize the initiative." He always proceeds methodically and systematically.

He wouldn't suddenly start recruiting soldiers and building ships, making a big show of it, loading bullets and brandishing weapons just because of the recent sudden changes in the international situation.

The detailed arrangements were finalized five or ten years ago in the previous planning cycle; while the more macro-level strategic planning can be traced back to thirty or fifty years ago, or even to that special period shortly after the establishment of Dongxia.

In short, this governing system is frighteningly stable. Even if it acts out in a fit of rage and tension at a certain time, those who know it understand that it is likely just a carefully planned "performance".

Its anger was calculated, its toughness was planned. Many years ago, it had prepared more than one contingency plan for the arrival of "this day".

But this time is different, really different!

Such a large-scale operation, involving over a billion people, was carried out without any prior preparation.

This is not a special period similar to a public health emergency; it's just a patriotic education session. Why act so radically and impatiently?

No matter how many rational explanations you give, it's still not reasonable.

While organizing patriotic education for the public, new information continues to emerge.

Non-Dongxia citizens are prohibited from entering the Ziyun Base. Certain individuals with special criminal records are also prohibited from entering the Ziyun Base. Furthermore, some people have been surprised to discover that the entire Ziyun Base and a large surrounding area have been quietly designated as an absolute no-fly zone, where even drones are not allowed to take off.

See it peek out and you're done for; get close and you're caught!
There is a significant difference between intelligent people and ordinary people. When faced with the same matter shrouded in mystery, ordinary people know that they "don't know," but they don't know "why they don't know."

They might think they just lack some connections and need to ask around more.

A wise person knows what they don't know, and also knows why they don't know.

You definitely shouldn't know this!

Therefore, these clever people quickly abandoned the idea of ​​continuing to investigate, and instead secretly and quietly began to arrange for their family members to receive this "patriotic education" in batches.

You have to admit, some people just have a natural instinct to avoid risk.

However, these clever people never imagined that obeying the arrangements did not mean the country was unaware of their position.

The Compassionate Voyage Project has, in turn, used this Life Resonance ceremony to complete a special systematic identification.

The life resonance of the World Tree [Sprout] is a long-term process and does not produce immediate results. However, it ultimately completes the initial transformation through the infiltration of special spiritual energy. Therefore, any life form that has received the resonance can sense slight traces of spiritual energy within its body.

Can these trace amounts of spiritual energy within the body be detected? Of course!
It can not only detect, but also quantify detection.

The device used for testing is commonly known as a magic detector in the Starry Continent. That's right, it's the same device that Morton used to give Chen Mo a comprehensive, all-around physical examination when he completed his Elemental Enlightenment as a prospective apprentice.

This kind of magic detector is standard equipment in the magic tower. It is mainly used to check the students' aptitude and status. With Chen Mo's current strength and status, it is certainly not a problem for him to get a few high-precision magic detectors.

Two more were sent from Dongxia's hometown, and for a long time, they were used to conduct physical examinations and monitor the condition of the professional soldiers trained there.

Until the Life Resonance was activated, it was discovered that the resonator might have some connection with psychic energy, so one of them was moved over as a tool to assist in observation and data collection.

Initially, the Ziyun working group under the Cihang Engineering Department did not discover anything unusual.

This is not surprising. Those who can work on the front lines at such a core and confidential location as the [Purple Cloud] base, whether researchers, engineers, or security personnel, are all elites who have undergone rigorous selection and whose loyalty is impeccable.

The psionic traces generated within their bodies due to resonance were very similar in value, with no discernible difference.

However, as batches of Dongxia people walked through the "Riding the Waves" hall and successfully completed the "Life Resonance," the huge fluctuations in the values ​​of the magic detector placed at the exit quickly attracted the attention of the "Purple Cloud" working group.

After determining that the numerical differences in the spiritual energy infiltrating these bodies did not stem from differences in physical constitution, but rather from differences in the sense of identity with the history and culture of the Eastern Xia, the [Purple Cloud] working group immediately initiated a comparative registration.

Some of the data-driven conclusions drawn left the entire Cihang Engineering Department speechless.

"Based on the overall data, the level of recognition of Dongxia... is inversely proportional to wealth... and wealth value!"

"Of course, this is not strictly symmetrical data, but overall... this is the overall statistical trend."

Upon seeing the rows of strikingly red numbers and trend lines on the screen, the entire [Compassionate Voyage] project team fell into a long silence.

For some reason, everyone finds this data very jarring.

"Why is this? What about the analysis report? What were the expert panel's opinions?"

Faced with the questioning from the commander-in-chief and the top leader, the [Purple Cloud] working group dared not be negligent and immediately presented a thick stack of analysis reports, of course, with a disclaimer first.

"Currently, the data sample is relatively small, and there may be some individual differences that cause data bias..."

The commander-in-chief frowned and interrupted the prelude: "Get straight to the conclusion!"

"Yes!"

"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief! Reporting to all leaders!"

"The analysis given by the expert group so far mainly points to two possible directions."

"The first area is the issue of self-awareness and social belonging."

"According to the expert group's model analysis, individuals who have accumulated a high level of wealth generally have a higher self-evaluation of their abilities and value. Within their cognitive framework, they tend to believe that their 'contribution' to the development of Dongxia is far greater than the 'support' from the Dongxia platform and system."

"To go further, a considerable proportion of this group subconsciously believe that even without Dongxia, with their abilities and skills, they could achieve success in other countries and under other systems, and might even achieve greater, unrestrained success. They are dissatisfied with the many restrictions imposed on them by Dongxia."

"Correspondingly, they tend to believe that without the contributions of 'elites' like them, Dongxia's development would be significantly slower, and it might even stagnate in some areas."

"For many low-income groups, most of them have no way or resources to leave Dongxia, and the vast majority of them have never stepped out of the country in their entire lives."

"Their lives are closely linked to the country's policies and social stability. They generally believe that they need to depend on the country and society to survive, and they recognize that the country is more important than the individual."

"This difference in self-perception, while not absolute, is quite evident in the general trend."

"The second direction is the distinction between emotional venting and the object of attribution."

"For some ordinary people, although they also have some dissatisfaction with the various difficulties and injustices they encounter in life, they tend to attribute the root of these problems to specific 'individuals' or 'localities'."

"For example, a mean and greedy boss, a county magistrate who holds a position but does nothing, or a judge who bends the law for personal gain."

"That is to say, no matter which level they complain about, they are still targeting the 'individual' rather than the 'system'."

"Many people still naively believe that the current environment is generally good. As for certain bad phenomena and problems, as long as some bad individuals are arrested and a good official is appointed, the clouds will part and the moon will shine again."

"However, for a considerable portion of the population who are economically or socially superior, or who consider themselves 'elites' in terms of knowledge, they are more accustomed to talking about 'systemic flaws,' 'institutional constraints,' and 'cultural inferiority.'"

“They prefer to attribute problems to fundamental issues of ‘nation’ and ‘system’ rather than issues at the level of ‘people’ implementing them. Therefore, when it comes to a sense of national identity as a whole, their level of identification is relatively lower.”

"In addition, Professor Liu, who is in charge of the three groups studying socioeconomics, also put forward a... well, rather sharp point."

Professor Liu believes that during the specific historical period of rapid economic development in Dongxia, many groups that completed the initial rapid accumulation of capital more or less took advantage of some drawbacks, loopholes and gray areas that existed during the period of national system transformation in the process of wealth accumulation. In the process of development and expansion, they also generally used a lot of 'unconventional means' that were outside the rules.

"Therefore, their attitude towards this system is complex. They are 'adept at' exploiting its rules and loopholes for their own benefit, but deep down, they lack the most basic 'respect' and 'awe' for it, and even regard the system as an object that can be manipulated and played against at will."

There are some additional, scattered additions later.

For example, some groups have a kind of "instrumental identification" with the state. Although Dongxia's textbooks have always clearly stated that the state is a tool of the ruling class, for most ordinary people, the state is a great concept that carries history, culture, honor and the future.

But for another group of people, it's really just a tool; if it works, they use it; if it doesn't, they can switch to another one at any time.

For example, the globalization of asset allocation and lifestyles, coupled with the "caste" class characteristics that use wealth and culture as barriers, makes it easier for them to find "kindred spirits" across national borders. In this context, their "class attributes" far outweigh their "ethnic attributes" and "national attributes."

One person becomes wealthy, and three generations immigrate – this is a typical example.

The presenter's Mandarin was very standard, and every word was clearly delivered to every corner of the meeting room.

It also resonated in everyone's heart.

Throughout the entire report, the atmosphere was extremely oppressive, as if even the air itself had solidified. Apart from the occasional suppressed breathing, you could hear a pin drop.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

As time went on, the impact of this project, codenamed "Purple Cloud Patriotic Education" but actually "Life Resonance," began to spread slowly like ripples.

The longer the immersion time in this function of "Life Resonance" is, the better the effect.

At first, no one was really aware of it; they were just immersed in the lingering aftertaste of leaving the "Riding the Waves" hall. They felt as if they had been cleansed after listening to this magnificent and stirring piece, "The Iron Torrent," and were refreshed and invigorated.

But gradually, some people began to realize that something was wrong.

Long-term illness can be a source of expertise, especially for those suffering from chronic diseases that require long-term medication and treatment. They have a thorough understanding of their own physical condition, even better than doctors and medical equipment.

Initially, some patients noticed some small, positive changes in their bodies, but they didn't connect the cause of these changes with patriotic education, which seemed completely unrelated.

However, with a large sample size, some people will inevitably make connections.

In the folk traditions of Dongxia, there has been a long-standing reverence and belief in various supernatural forces and spirits. Some people believe in ghosts, gods, ancestral protection, feng shui and fortune, and all mysterious forces that may exist in the dark and can protect them.

Once these people encounter a problem they cannot explain, they will turn to metaphysics to find the cause.

As a result, some people began to recall special events they had recently experienced, and when these elements were combined, a magical story emerged.

Ziyun Mountain is blessed with great fortune!

From its initial small-scale dissemination, to more and more people adding details and supplementing the logic of the story based on their own experiences, it eventually evolved into a complete and intact myth.

The story begins more than a hundred years ago, when Dongxia was poor, weak, and suffered from bullying.

Legend has it that the Eastern Xia Kingdom has existed for thousands of years, possessing profound cultural heritage and an ever-flowing cycle, blessed by a vast dragon vein and boundless national fortune.

However, since modern times, the dragon vein has been repeatedly damaged by foreign invasions and foreign powers knocking on its door. The magnificent fortune that coexisted with Dongxia has been stripped away and divided by some villains using evil magic, and even taken overseas.

It should be emphasized that these legendary elements were not fabricated on the spot for this incident. They are a collection of various versions of legends that have been circulating among the people of Dongxia for a long time.

These legends are not only deeply believed by many Dongxia people, but also by many institutions and individuals in neighboring countries influenced by Dongxia culture, who have conducted in-depth research on them.

For example, the "One Universe Soul-Suppressing Tower" of the Four-Clawed Sea Serpent Kingdom was built to "suppress" the great power fortune of Dongxia from the perspectives of feng shui and spirit.

Okay, now, the story begins to take a new turn.

Dongxia was, after all, an ancient civilization, its spirit enduring and its foundation unbroken. After its initial calamity, the remaining dragon veins began to slowly repair themselves. Relying on the indomitable will and struggle of the people on this land, the nation gradually recovered its vitality and returned to the path of prosperity.

In recent years, with the explosive growth of Dongxia's comprehensive national strength, the previously damaged national fortune has become increasingly prosperous. As a result, the divine connection between the masters who protect the country and the reclusive masters in various places has become increasingly clear.

By deducing the movement of the stars and surveying the direction of the earth's spiritual energy, they finally pinpointed two branches of fortune that had been left out in the world! These two branches of fortune are like two "whiskers" on the corner of a dragon's mouth. One is connected to the Pearl Island that is isolated overseas and has not yet returned, while the other has landed on the Liuqiu Islands, which have been in turmoil recently!

Now you understand why Dongxia was willing to break its long-standing national policy and march its troops into Liuqiu!

Now that we've become powerful, of course we must reclaim the lost fortune.

The logical chain is thus perfectly connected.

Dongxia first took Liuqiu, then managed to destroy the One Universe Soul-Suppressing Tower. Without that suppressing and binding power, the long-imprisoned fortune broke free from its restraints like a dragon emerging from the abyss, and reconnected with Dongxia's dragon vein.

The root of this fortune lies on Purple Cloud Mountain.

More precisely, it is enshrined in the "Riding the Waves" hall of the Ziyun Base.

Protected by thousands of Dongxia warriors, nurtured by the spiritual energy of Ziyun Heaven and Earth, and preceded by the stirring and surging steel torrent march, it is said that behind it all, various masters have set up a Zhou Tian Grand Array, enough to ignite the righteous energy within.

What happened next was a natural consequence.

This fortune has been wandering away for so long, and now that it's finally returned, shouldn't it see its descendants and see how everyone is doing?

Look at this personality, it's just like our ancestors from Dongxia!
The government has arranged it, and everyone has to go to Ziyun Mountain, just like visiting an old elder they haven't seen for many years. They have to go to the "Changfeng Polang" hall and let the "ancestor" who has returned home in glory take a good look and touch the top!

Once you receive this blessing, you will enjoy good health, be free from all diseases, and be protected from all calamities!
This story is rich in detail and logically consistent. It contains the tragedy and weight of history, the legend and exhilaration of treasure hunting and revenge, and the national pride of a powerful nation wiping away its shame. It is almost a new myth tailor-made for the people of Dongxia and in line with the modern context.

Originally, everyone should just treat this as a lighthearted read and have a good laugh.

but!

The key lies in this "but"! More and more people returning from the [Purple Cloud Base] are experiencing real changes in their bodies.

Time is the best standard for testing truth and the best catalyst for creating legends.

Several months later, the physical and mental states of the first group of people who entered the "Riding the Waves" hall began to show significant differences that could not be ignored.

The patient, who had been suffering from chronic bronchitis for many years, no longer coughed as violently as he used to;
Middle-aged people who have long suffered from insomnia have found that their sleep quality has significantly improved;

Some office workers who were in a sub-healthy state have found that they have more energy than before and are less tired even when working overtime.

There were even patients diagnosed with mild depression whose families reported that after returning from Ziyun Mountain, their children's emotions were significantly more stable and cheerful, they were willing to go out and about, and their long-lost smiles returned to their faces...

Aside from those who are still experiencing hair loss and their hair not growing back as usual, others have noticed some different changes to varying degrees.

These changes are not earth-shattering, nor are they a cure for terminal illnesses or a rejuvenation, but when many subtle yet real and continuously improving things accumulate together, quantitative changes finally lead to qualitative changes.

People began to associate Dongxia's series of actions with the changes in their own bodies.

The government's massive investment and transportation subsidies, the local government's mobilization and coordination, yet the bizarre rule that the tourist attraction refuses entry to foreigners and even forces seriously ill patients to go to Ziyun Mountain...

Many illogical plot points suddenly found their most reasonable explanations in that instant.

Connected, everything connected!
Public opinion exploded instantly, with a mix of excitement, pride, awe, and relief spreading like wildfire.

Following this line of reasoning, many who were initially skeptical began to feel a chill run down their spines.

For example, while everyone else was excitedly sharing the positive changes in their or their family's health after returning from Ziyun Mountain, one person didn't. Why? When everyone recalled it, they realized that this guy always talked badly about Dongxia!
According to the theological theories of the Eastern Xia Dynasty, if you worship the gods and it has no effect, it means you are not sincere!
Comparing this guy's daily words and actions, it's clear that he is indeed "insincere"!
This matches up again!
In short, when people use this carefully constructed legend of "the return of Ziyun's fortune" as a template to reverse-engineer and explain every detail of the entire event, they find that it makes perfect sense no matter how they think about it, and the details are all very coherent.

This psychological effect leads many people to examine their own changes more closely, and then become increasingly convinced of their beliefs.

Amid this overwhelming tide, some people panicked completely.

The well-known expert who once published a powerful article online titled "Patriotism: How It Became a Business" has quietly deleted the article at some point.

However, the internet has a long memory. A screenshot of that article was pinned to the top by another highly influential internet celebrity, accompanied by the meaningful text "A record of history, an echo of the times," attracting countless netizens to take photos and leave comments.

The most liked reply contained only three words.

"Do you regret it?"

Years later, another reply to this comment was pushed to yet another peak by netizens who repeatedly dug up old posts.

The reply, consisting of only one word, came from the expert's own social media account.

"Ok!"

(End of this chapter)