Forge a path to success.

Chapter 338 Blood Smoke and Blooming Thorns (3)

One day ago, the secret room.

"Do you know how the divine tree 'senses' the city-state?" Wang Quan asked.

As it spoke, it looked at Lylena, and the female assassin instinctively avoided its gaze: "How would I know? It is... you know, the city-state was built on its body."

"You believe that the Divine Tree can naturally control everything in the city-state, just as humans can sense pleasure or pain. This is the most common perception; I think 99% of the citizens in the city-state think this way," Wang Quan said. "However, Lyrna, can you sense the movements of the bacteria on your own body?"

"How can it be……"

“See? Even at point 5, you can’t do that. You need to be at least at the level of a Holy Son to have complete knowledge of a particular part of your body.” Wang Quan drew a fat spider. “However, the Divine Tree of the Forest walks the path of the ephemeral world, and its body is not the foundation of its enlightenment. This huge trunk, as large as a city, is not flesh to the Divine Tree, but rather its ‘body’.”

To perceive the movement of a single one among countless bacteria on the surface of an organism would be far too difficult, even for the Divine Tree! This isn't a matter of power, but rather a matter of subjective time scale. A single instant perceived by the Divine Tree is almost half a lifetime for the life forms on its trunk.

"Therefore, it must use methods outside of subjective perception to 'perceive' the city-state, namely a surveillance network built upon a divine power system. Its divine power is its 'nerves,' and the divine guards are its cells, its ears, its eyes, and its hands. If the divine guards issue an alert, this defense system will be activated immediately, but if a high-authority divine guard continuously sends out 'harmless' signals..."

Wang Quan drew a tree wearing an eye patch and drew a small flame next to the tree.

"It will know nothing, even if a flood were to break out somewhere in the body."

“That makes sense. Even a powerful aircraft carrier wouldn’t be able to detect a fire in a room inside the ship after hacking into the system,” Guo Yutu said. “However, please allow me to raise two small questions… First, if Jing Sha’s network of superhuman strength is so weak that even I can hack into it, how has this old tree survived until now?”

“Excellent question! If this were 1000 years ago, we would already be hanging on the gallows in Mansa Star Castle. If this were 500 years ago, the captains of the Divine Guard would be waiting at the door, ready to give us a surprise,” Wang Quan laughed. “But this is the year 3001 of the Candlelight Calendar. The Thorn Tree is embroiled in internal strife, and the city-state, which prides itself on unity, is actively embracing absurd laws. The Thorn Tree is old, like a decaying old man clinging to life on a sickbed. People only see its magnificent outer robe and are immersed in the extravagance it has created with its life’s blood.”

Guo Yutu nodded: "The second question is, what makes you so confident that you can deceive this... old man of mass 7?"

Wang Quan turned his hand back and revealed a black full moon. The full moon split open its mouth and smiled silently.

"Because I am the divine child of the First Abyss," it said.

·
Now, the third pulse sequence.

"Nothing for now, but it's so hot, I really want a vacation..."

The incoherent male voice still echoed in the channel, perfectly matching Just Trek's usual tone. The real Trek simultaneously issued a warning using both mental and vocal means: "The Third Pulse is in critical condition, urgently needing support. That's a fake!"

But there was no response.

His voice never reached the channel; his speaking privileges were inexplicably taken away by technology and transferred to the imposter. The imposter's impersonation of Jas Trek was so lifelike that even Jas Trek himself began to doubt his own voice.

The imposter Trek continued to complain to his colleagues: "But seriously, I hope everyone takes responsibility for the safety of their own area. If something happens back home while I'm providing support, well, let's just say my performance review will be pretty bad..."

"Can you please stop saying such embarrassing things now, Just Trek?"

"I don't need to rely on your help, old man."

"If you're having cash flow problems, I can lend it to you for free!"

His colleagues joked around, ending the conversation. In the tense atmosphere of the holiday, even exchanging a few words was a rare moment of relaxation. Banningtik initiated a private chat with him: "Trek, what's the actual situation?"

"There are several demon-possessed individuals, and their motives are unclear at the moment. I'm currently observing the situation. I may send you an application once I've determined their identities."

"Okay. Don't worry during this period. If needed, just apply for a divine strike. I'll take responsibility."

The communication ended, and Trek silently moved the bomb, as if he could hear the prisoner's snickering.

While his communication was blocked, he was allowed access to the channel and a certain degree of control over the situation. This was clearly a psychological tactic to disrupt his mindset. The prisoner used this feeling of complete control as bait to try and throw him off balance. In this race against time, one wrong step could lead to a series of mistakes.

No amount of complaining or regret will help; what needs to be considered is what one has gained. The criminal also possesses an extraordinary ability to mimic, able to imitate "Just Trek" with a level of detail that even he himself cannot distinguish. Simultaneously, he possesses unbelievable hacking skills, capable of hacking into the Guardians' communication channels in broad daylight without being detected. He is practically a criminal genius…

No, that can't be.

It's definitely not just one person.

A Supreme Ascendant with astonishing destructive power, skilled in bomb making, and capable of sending out challenge letters. A hacker with bizarre technology who infiltrates communication channels. And then there's the imposter who excels at concealment, mimicking himself right in front of him. There are at least three culprits...

At least three top-tier particles are besieging the third pulse sequence!
From the very first moment since the incident, Trek felt a nagging tension, knowing that the situation would always be worse than those involved imagined. He had already guessed at three points of mass 5; how many points of mass 4, and how many points of mass 3, were acting under their command?
·
"...Our city-state is great because of unity! The time for the thorns to bloom has come once again, a time to remember the spirit of our ancestors. Malice is running rampant in the name of the law; those with conscience, contribute your strength to the cause!"

The fourth politician finished his speech, but few responded. He was like a washed-up actor nearing retirement, having exhausted all his talents on stage only to garner polite, sporadic applause. The floats continued their journey to the music, while Ji Huaisu in the lounge drew the curtains.

"The popularity is terrible," Van der commented.

Ji Huaisu shook her head: "I didn't mean to slander anyone, but compared to Parriman, we're simply..."

"A bunch of chickens and dogs," Senator Klose said with a wry smile.

The opposition lawmakers tried their best to demonstrate their patriotism and demeanor, but they lacked Parryman's eloquence and admirable bearing. Comparing these staid middle-aged men to Speaker Parryman was like comparing a battlefield soldier to a general; even those unfamiliar with politics could see that they were simply not in the same league.

“Honestly, this shouldn’t be the case. You opposition groups need someone in charge, right? How come you can’t even find someone to lead the charge?” Van der complained.

Councilor Klose still smiled bitterly; the man's face seemed to have no other expression. He asked, "Captain Ji, your Huilong City is full of powerful figures, so how come you were surrounded by three heretics until last year before barely escaping?" Ji Huaisu immediately understood the implication and said sadly, "Many people died."

“The same goes for the thorns,” said Congressman Croz. “The responsible people, the people who understand the greater good, the people who are capable of standing alone—those who could be the leaders of the masses—all died on the battlefield 20 years ago. The military’s voice is not what it used to be, and the soldiers are divided due to the casualties. Because the public’s pain needs an outlet, we have put the former commander in court again… So, of course, the supporters behind the commander, and even the entire faction, have been severely damaged.”

He shook his head and sighed, “That’s how the effects of war are, one thing after another falls… Unconsciously, the masses have chosen Parrymanism as a painkiller, and individual thinking has been swept up by the group, thus creating the current predicament. Those with feelings and righteousness die on the battlefield, while a cowardly and timid man like me, who is powerless to fight the enemy, has survived to this day. Isn’t that ridiculous?”

He finally couldn't even maintain his smile, and hung his head dejectedly, looking every bit like a disheartened middle-aged man. Van der couldn't bear to see him like this and comforted him, "At least you stood up."

"The difference in strength and background is too great. We people have barely managed to gain a foothold with the help of Outer Dust Island. Rather than standing up, it's more like being pushed out."

He repeatedly stroked the silver badge, like a victim rubbing the casing of a magic lamp, hoping the omnipotent genie would appear and solve the problem. Ji Huaisu glanced at her watch; there were still thirty seconds until Crozier's speech. She needed to change the subject to get the politician back on track.

"Having funding is better than having nothing. Your supporters will help you even if it's just to minimize your losses."

“I’ve been waiting for her to contact me, after all, she’s a very wise person…” Kloz stood up, “Unfortunately, I still couldn’t make it in time, so I can only hope that the Divine Tree will bless me.”

He mustered his courage, stepped out into the public eye, and began to recount the same old clichés about honor, responsibility, and love. Ji Huaisu felt a sudden empathy; she had just been thinking that things would be much easier if Chu Hengkong were here.

"I wonder how his training is going," Van der muttered.

"Don't worry, he'll definitely make it if anything happens."

Ji Huaisu said this, but he did not relax at all.

She couldn't explain where this illusion came from, but ever since the parade began, she could always smell a faint smell of smoke.

·
"Hey, smoking isn't allowed at headquarters," its colleague reminded it.

"Wake up, brother," it said listlessly. "I'm afraid I won't make it through the day without some, or you could give me some leaves."

His colleague glanced around quickly and shoved a roll of leaves into his hand. "That's enough," she nodded, heading towards the restroom with dark circles under her eyes. These were leaves of the mulberry tree (Zheling) containing irritants, a key ingredient in some addictive drugs, but also used medicinally. The "local tobacco" made from mulberry leaves was essentially a product skirting the edge of the law, but under pressure, there was no time to worry about that. The most important thing was to stay at their post.

He put the leaf in his mouth and chewed it; it tasted somewhat like betel nut. Chu Hengkong had never liked betel nut; he always said that chewing this stuff would make you sickly, but he was smoking a cigarette while saying this.

Its old friend always had such double standards. He set one set for himself and another for others, reveling in his self-created little world. After all, he set the standards himself, and he always had a reason when something went wrong. "I'm always right, aren't I?" she mimicked Chu Hengkong's tone, even though he would never say such a thing. The imagined reaction of the assassin made him chuckle.

It, or she, or he, passed through the restroom and arrived at the secret room at the far end of the third floor. It stopped five meters from the room; Huan Ge's array could conceal it, but one more step and the assassin would sense its arrival. There was a minuscule chance that Chu Hengkong would embrace it. More likely, however, the enraged man would shred it to pieces.

Its gaze pierced through the heavy door, looking at the man sitting cross-legged behind it. Blood-red wings were growing from his back.

"You're almost there..." it applauded sincerely. "A sense of responsibility can even help you overcome the past."

Unable to perceive any inherent weaknesses, the blood refining was nearly complete, and the man behind the door had become an unshakeable presence. Chu Hengkong still couldn't let go of the past, yet his morbid sense of responsibility forced him to take flight, like pulling himself up by his own hair to soar into the sky.

The ascending array drawn with blood is converging towards the center, forming a small circle on the wall.

A black full moon.

“Let’s go back to the labyrinth of childhood,” Wang Quan said.

The black moon rose and expanded, its hazy light engulfing the secret chamber. No one could find the killer anymore; the gravity from the Cradle of Oblivion had seized him, causing his wings, poised to take flight, to droop, trapping him in an inescapable past.

The transformation of particle 4 is crossing the first abyss, but standing in front of the door at this moment is the spokesperson of the abyss.

Wang Quan chuckled lightly, turned around, and left the secret chamber that could not be explored.

"The snake isn't coming," he said in the channel. "Let's begin."

·
"...Citizens, I am proud of our city-state, and I am proud to be a member of the Thorn Robe. This pride comes not only from our strength and prosperity, but also from the justice we uphold and the responsibilities we bear. It is through this that we have shed our beastly nature and become upright citizens!"

The floats continued forward, the crowd parting to make way, like water flowing over obstructing rocks. But this time, some supporters paused, some listened to Senator Croz's voice. He was the only hardliner among the hardliners with any real support, and he shouted to them: "Only beasts and scoundrels believe in self-preservation. If unity is lost, if covenants are broken, what will our thorny robe rely on? Do not betray our civilization!!"

Kroz finished speaking, his heart emptied before those still willing to listen. He knew these words couldn't stop the tide, but according to his boss's plan, he could at least secure a glimmer of hope for a counterattack. He stood in the car with a clear conscience, awaiting the insults and ridicule that awaited him.

"Politicians who spread fallacies!" "Have you forgotten the blood shed 20 years ago?!" "Do you feel honored to live in the space won for you by the dead?!" "We don't want to be pawns for others anymore!"

The expected chorus of curses erupted, but there were also faint voices of rebuttal. "He's right!" "Where is your shame?" "Please respect those who speak out for justice." Surprisingly, there were many. Far more than he had anticipated. Kross felt a strange sense of familiarity; he seemed to have seen the burly man in the crowd who had spoken up for him before.

Where was it again? It seems to be from a program not long ago...

He held a restaurant hostage at gunpoint... for...

Croz's face turned deathly pale as his gaze met that of the man. The terrorist, Hilland, laughed maniacally as he and his accomplices approached the citizens who were about to throw rotten fruit. They drew their cold guns.

"You are not worthy to be a member of the Thorn Robe!"

As opponents of the bill, they opened fire on civilians.

(End of this chapter)