Forty-nine rules of the end times

Chapter 435 New Members

"...Don't take those things said online to heart. Putting aside whether the 'Demon Race' really exists, even if they do, the universe is so vast, how could they possibly find Tianshui Star? And even if they did find it, humanity, having already endured so many calamities, is afraid of another one?"

Zhang Minglu spoke earnestly, and on the other end of the phone was Guan Tong.

As the online discussion escalated, he worried that Guan Tong would feel uncomfortable after seeing it, so after discussing it with Gao Liangwei, he made a phone call, ostensibly to comfort her, but also to express his stance.

The official statement indicates that while the government does not support online public opinion, it still acknowledges your contributions and efforts.

"Besides, the public opinion has escalated so quickly and fiercely this time. Nobody would believe there wasn't someone pulling the strings behind the scenes! I think it's not just aimed at you, but at the entire North Star. It's hard to say whether there are cultists, parasites, or other enemies of humanity guiding it. The Human Alliance is already investigating the internal leak, and I believe we'll have results soon."

Zhang Minglu spoke for a while, but seeing that the other side remained silent, he felt a little panicked: "Guan Tong, are you listening?"

"Yes," Guan Tong said.

"Then what do you think..."

"I understand what Dr. Zhang means. Don't worry, I don't pay much attention to public opinion, and I will not change my principles of conduct because of other people's opinions."

Zhang Minglu breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

His biggest worry was that Guan Tong would act impulsively and do something irrational.

Upon closer reflection, although Guan Tong is at an age where he is prone to impulsiveness, he has experienced so many ups and downs that his psychological maturity has long surpassed that of an ordinary twenty-year-old.

If someone's mentality collapses and their true nature is abandoned simply because of some harsh words, then they really don't seem like a "shadow."

“It’s good that you think that way,” Zhang Minglu said. “The public has discerning eyes, and I think it won’t be long before public opinion clears your name. But to be on the safe side, it would be better if you kept a low profile for a while, so that some people wouldn’t be swayed by public opinion and do anything detrimental to you.”

Guan Tong said frankly, "As I said, I won't change myself because of other people's opinions. So I won't deliberately be high-profile or low-profile, I'll just do what I should do. If anyone opposes me, I'll just bear the consequences myself, so let's leave it at that for now."

"This……"

Before Zhang Minglu could say anything, the receiver beeped, signaling the end of the call.

"Sigh." He sighed and put down his phone.

Silver Fox was standing to the side with his arms crossed. Seeing Zhang Minglu's helpless expression, he asked curiously, "What did he say?"

"I'll still do things my own way; there's no way I'll keep a low profile."

"Hehe, that's not surprising. Rather, it would be surprising if he had listened to you, Doctor, and kept a low profile."

Zhang Minglu looked at her, puzzled: "Silver Fox, do you think I'm wrong to say that? Faced with overwhelming negative public opinion, isn't it a wise choice to keep a low profile and wait for the storm to pass?"

Silver Fox smiled and shook his head: "For those celebrities and internet personalities in the past, playing dumb in the face of unfavorable public opinion was indeed a wise choice. But Doctor, don't forget that Guan Tong's identity is 'Shadow'... After we've worked with him a few times, we seem to have unconsciously overlooked his title and strength as the 'World's Number One Ascender'."

Zhang Minglu was slightly taken aback.

A hint of nostalgia appeared in Silver Fox's eyes: "I remember back in the army, which elite soldier didn't have an arrogant attitude of 'I'm the best in the world'? Even the Dragon Soul Captain was very arrogant back then, but he only toned down his arrogance after he became a special forces instructor."

The powerful Ascended Ones of today are ten or even a hundred times stronger than the King of Soldiers of the past. Especially top Ascended Ones like Guan Tong, who can single-handedly destroy a city, how could he possibly yield to public opinion and act discreetly?

“…You’re right.” Zhang Minglu nodded. “I didn’t think about it deeply enough. There really aren’t many forces in the world that can restrain an Ascended Being like a ‘Shadow’.”

After saying that, Zhang Minglu turned the page: "We can't rest during the interval of this rule. The Black Flag Country needs manpower to rebuild the coalition. The person in charge wants you, Chen Na and Xiaobai to go and help. You should prepare and set off."

"Yes."

……

Guan Tong put away his phone; Zhang Minglu wasn't the only one who had contacted him in just one day.

Chen Na, Xu Xiaotian, and even Ye Lianka contacted him shortly after the public outcry broke out, either to inquire about his well-being and offer comfort, or to speak out on his behalf.

To his surprise, Shi Jingyi did not contact him or say anything to him through the mental network.

Clearly, Shi Jingyi knew he wouldn't be affected by such public opinion, so there was no need for her to contact him specifically to say anything. Just like caring for someone doesn't require constant concern and attention; doing so might actually make the other person feel suffocated.

However, he did have something to discuss with Shi Jingyi—the matter that the Black Star and White Star siblings had asked him to do. Their younger brother, Alan, didn't have much time left; if they couldn't find a treatment soon, they would have to use the memories from Soroma to upload the treatment plan.

So after receiving the information from the Moon Key, he didn't rush to Yunhua. Instead, he returned to Pinglu, found Shi Jingyi, and told her about it.

After hearing this, Shi Jingyi agreed to try to treat the boy named Alan. Time was precious, so the two used a teleportation item to arrive outside the Twin Star Bar in the evening.

Guan Tong called Hei Xing, who quickly opened the door and welcomed the two inside.

"You are... Shi Jingyi, a lecturer at the Beixing Mind Power Academy!"

Bai Xing came out from the inner room and was slightly surprised to see Shi Jingyi. She didn't expect that the assistant Guan Tong mentioned would be this important figure.

After nodding in acknowledgment, Shi Jingyi got straight to the point: "Take me to see that boy."

"Okay, okay! Please follow me!"

Black Star and White Star led the two to a room in the bar. Inside the room was a bedroom with a hospital bed and some life support equipment such as a ventilator. A teenager who looked similar to Black Star was lying on the bed, fast asleep.

Shi Jingyi sat down on the edge of the bed and gently placed her palm on Alan's forehead.

A soft glow emerged, gently seeping into the boy's body, starting from the palm of her hand.

Black Star and White Star stood nervously to one side, not daring to make a sound to disturb them.

After a short while, Shi Jingyi withdrew her hand, seemingly lost in thought.

Guan Tong asked, "How is he?"

Shi Jingyi shook her head: "It's not good. I can sense that he is still conscious, but his mental power is not responding to me, and he seems to be in a chaotic state."

Bai Xing looked desperate: "So...it can't be cured?"

Black Star didn't speak, but pursed his lips, his knuckles turning slightly white as he clenched his fist.

Shi Jingyi said to the two of them, "If there is a way to strongly stimulate his consciousness, and with the guidance of my mental power, it may be possible to help him get out of his chaotic state and start to have the subjective initiative to 'want to wake up'. In this way, there may still be a chance for him to wake up."

“Conscious stimulation?” Black Star asked hastily. “White Star and I call his name and talk to him every day, but it’s no use at all. We’ve never seen him react in any way.”

"This level of stimulation is not enough."

"What should we do? We've tried electric shocks, but they're completely ineffective!"

Shi Jingyi shook her head slightly; she was also helpless when it came to stimulation at the level of mental consciousness. Just as the three of them were at a loss, Guan Tong suddenly spoke up: "Any strong mental stimulation will do, good or bad?"

Shi Jingyi looked at him: "Do you have a solution?"

“I don’t have any good ways to stimulate you,” Guan Tong said. “I do have bad ones.”

What he was referring to was the newly acquired title ability, [Crimson Forge].

Once activated, it can forcibly pull the consciousness of others into it, subjecting them to the torment of terrifying images.

Compared to the emotional stimulation that Black Star and White Star use to "talk," this is naturally considered a "bad" form of stimulation.

Shi Jingyi said, "Whether it's good or bad, as long as the stimulation intensity is high enough, it's fine."

"That should be fine."

This ability can uncover a person's deepest fears and materialize them into realistic scenarios, enough to scare a person to the point of madness or even death. The level of stimulation is not just high, but super.

Despite the risks involved, given the current situation, we have no choice but to fight fire with fire.

Guan Tong felt this was more reliable than sending the boy to Soma to upload his memories.

Black Star urged impatiently, "Then we'll have to rely on your help! If you can help Allen get better, we...we will be extremely grateful!"

Guan Tong nodded slightly, and Shi Jingyi held Alan's wrists: "Guan Tong, let's begin. If the mental stimulation you create is effective, the mental energy in his body should start flowing again. I will assist it in circulating throughout his body to accelerate his self-healing."

"it is good."

Guan Tong bent down and examined the boy's eyelids.

The [Crimson Forge] ability requires eye contact to activate, and even if the target is unconscious, it should not affect the effect.

He lifted Allen's eyelids, saw those lifeless pupils, and activated his power.

In an instant, a red hue appeared deep within the boy's previously dark and chaotic consciousness, and then rapidly expanded!
It digs into the boy's memories and generates terrifying scenarios based on them.

Under the intense stimulation of these scenarios, the boy's dormant consciousness quickly began to react. From the moment he felt terror, he emerged from his state of confusion and began to perceive the dual weight of his mind and consciousness.

Shi Jingyi's eyes lit up: "His mental power has started to activate!"

She immediately channeled a large amount of mental energy into the boy's body, which resonated with his own mental energy and began to circulate.

As a lecturer, she has taught thousands of students and encountered countless different kinds of spiritual energy, making her adept at assisting others in the flow of spiritual energy.

Soon, the boy's own mental energy began to circulate under her guidance, activating his body.

When Black Star and White Star saw their younger brother's eyelids twitch slightly, they both excitedly covered their mouths, their eyes reddening!

"Alright." After a moment, Shi Jingyi said to Guan Tong, "The stimulation can stop now. His mental energy has begun to circulate on its own."

Upon hearing this, Guan Tong withdrew his power. In less than two minutes, his flowing mental energy had been completely depleted, demonstrating the astonishing consumption of the [Crimson Furnace].

But judging from the results, it seems to be good.

"Alan's eyelids twitched just now, we all saw it!" Bai Xing wiped her eyes, her voice choked with emotion. "Will he wake up soon?"

Shi Jingyi released the boy's wrist, stood up and said, "Now that his mental energy has resumed, I think he will wake up soon. In the meantime, you should talk to him more; it should be helpful."

"Yes! We definitely will!"

"Thank you so much!"

Black Star and White Star immediately sat down on the edge of the bed, each grabbing one of the boy's hands.

Seeing this, Guan Tong and Shi Jingyi took the initiative to leave the inner room and go to the outside of the bar.

"Did you get that 'bad' ability to stimulate others from eliminating 'demons'?" Shi Jingyi asked curiously.

Guan Tong was somewhat surprised: "How did you guess?"

Shi Jingyi smiled slightly and pointed to her eyes: "It only works through sight, isn't that the characteristic of 'Scarlet Fear'? Besides, you also eliminated the 'demon' and ended the rules ahead of time... There aren't that many coincidences in the world."

"...That's true."

By flipping the boy's eyelids, he was essentially telling others that this ability required vision to activate.

“Since those two were the middlemen, even if they didn’t think too much about it now because they were excited about their relatives, they would definitely figure out the source of your ability after they calmed down,” Shi Jingyi said.

"Black Star and White Star, they have been cooperating with me for a long time and can be trusted. Moreover, since they are smart people, they should know what the consequences would be if they repaid kindness with enmity to 'Shadow'."

Guan Tong's threat made Shi Jingyi smile slightly. Since she was curious, she asked again, "Speaking of which, are there really 'demons'?"

That's a very pertinent question.

“Actually, I don’t know either. The term ‘demon’ has always been used by Robert and some of the astronauts before. Maybe they really did encounter something on Terra,” Guan Tong said. “But in my consciousness space—I only saw a cloud of mist-like life form. It was the culprit that created the terrifying scene.”

Shi Jingyi understood: "So, the so-called revenge of the 'Demon Clan' is not true, and those criticisms against you are also unfounded."

Upon hearing this, Guan Tong hesitated for a moment before resolutely saying, "Actually... I can't be sure either. But even if what Robert said is true, I won't regret it, nor will I feel guilty."

Shi Jingyi hummed in agreement but did not express her opinion.

As the two were about to leave, Black Star ran out and called out to them, "Gentlemen! Don't rush off, my brother and I haven't thanked you yet!"

Shi Jingyi said, "If you want to thank someone, thank him. I only helped a little." After she finished speaking, she looked at Guan Tong and said, "I'll go back first."

"Okay, you can go now."

After Shi Jingyi left, Hei Xing said to Guan Tong with utmost seriousness, "You saved Alan, which means you saved me and Bai Xing. I know you don't lack Ascension Coins, but I hope you can give us a chance to express our gratitude!"

Guan Tong looked at Hei Xing, and a thought came to mind.

“I’ve established an organization,” he said. “The purpose is to explore the rules of the apocalypse and the truth behind the Firebringers. There aren’t many members yet because I only want curious, inquisitive people to join us and work together towards a common goal. I don’t know…”

Before he could finish speaking, Black Star excitedly exclaimed, "I'm willing to join! White Star too! The three of us siblings have always been very curious about the Fire Thieves. If it weren't for Alan's accident, White Star and I wouldn't have become middlemen to earn Ascendant Coins to save Alan's life!"

Guan Tong smiled after hearing this and extended her hand: "Welcome to the 'Tracing the Origins Guild'."

(End of this chapter)