Forgotten Photo Studio

Chapter 165 Void Dao Embryo
"This is... Soul-Suppressing Iron?"

Chen Zhiwei leaned closer with concern, carefully examining the seemingly inconspicuous piece of iron that carried their great hopes.

“Yes.” Xu Yan nodded emphatically, his voice trembling slightly. “With it, we… I finally have the power to suppress ‘Yuan’.”

He gripped the piece of broken iron tightly, as if he were grasping at his own life.

However, a deeper thought then emerged.

Last time, without any preparation, he instinctively pressed the Soul-Suppressing Iron into his right palm, and the iron strangely merged into his body, the process of which was chaotic and unclear.

Now, he is no longer the clueless cleaner. He has a formal silver-level terminal in the "center" and intelligence resources provided by the Han Group.

He needs to figure out why himself?

Why can one's body both become a container for the "Abyss" and fuse with the Soul-Suppressing Iron?
“Zhiwei,” he looked up, his eyes sharp, “help me. I need to look something up.”

Chen Zhiwei immediately understood his intention and replied without hesitation, "Okay."

The two sat down again, and Xu Yan simultaneously activated the dark silver terminal and the black encrypted terminal given to him by Han Wenshan.

He input keywords such as "Soul-Suppressing Iron", "Special Physique", "Container", and "Fusion" to perform cross-referencing and in-depth comparison.

The Silver-level terminal provides a wealth of public and internal information about psionic carriers and individuals with special talents, but core information concerning "sealed containers" and "autonomous fusion" is mostly vague or lacks sufficient access.

And Han's intelligence network once again demonstrated its astonishing capabilities, bypassing many of the search restrictions set by the "center" and unearthing even more secretive information from scanned copies of ancient books, abandoned reports from fringe research institutes, and even snippets of information from some taboo experiments.

Xu Yan's gaze darted rapidly between the two screens, filtering through massive amounts of data.

Chen Zhiwei, on the other hand, used her keen perception of energy and runes to help him analyze those obscure passages involving physical descriptions and energy affinity.

Time passed by, and the only sounds in the sealed room were the faint hum of the terminal and the focused breathing of the two people.

Suddenly, Xu Yan's finger stopped on a scanned copy of an ancient book retrieved from the Han family's terminal, marked as "Top Secret - Fragment".

The inscription above describes a theoretically existing innate constitution in an ancient seal script, accompanied by a simplified diagram of energy circulation.

"...Its form is like the void, capable of containing all rivers, able to accommodate extraordinary forces, neither defiled nor pure, thus it is called the 'Void Dao Embryo'..."

Chen Zhiwei's voice trembled with disbelief as he continued reading the even more astonishing account:
"...If one obtains the opportunity to cultivate and perfect one's Dao embryo, one can transcend the shackles of this world and glimpse the true nature of all realms..."

This short sentence seemed to unfold an unimaginably grand picture before her.

Her expression gradually shifted from surprise to a profound shock, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on Xu Yan's hand.

Xu Yan's pupils suddenly contracted!
This description is remarkably similar to his own situation.

The ability to contain the violent and bizarre energy of "Abyss" without immediately collapsing, and the ability to spontaneously fuse with the rare Soul-Suppressing Iron... all of this seems to have an answer.

“Void… Dao Embryo…”

He muttered to himself, repeatedly chewing over those four words.

A sense of clarity washed over him. Although the specific mysteries and potential risks of his constitution remained a mystery, at least for the first time, he had truly touched the edge of the secrets of his own body.

He looked at Chen Zhiwei, his eyes flashing with a complex light. There was the shock of learning the truth, the solemnity of not knowing the future, but more than anything, there was an unprecedented determination to take control of his own destiny.

"Void Dao Embryo... Senior Brother, you... you actually possess this kind of physique that only exists in legends?"

Chen Zhiwei's voice was filled with undisguised astonishment as she looked at Xu Yan, as if she were seeing him for the first time.

"It seems so." Xu Yan twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a smile that was hardly a smile. "Zhiwei, be on guard for me. I will fuse the Soul-Suppressing Iron now."

"Now? Right here?" Chen Zhiwei's heart tightened, and she subconsciously grabbed his arm. "Isn't this too risky? You were just..."

Having just experienced the terrifying moment when he was almost possessed, she really didn't want to see him immediately attempt such a dangerous thing again.

Xu Yan patted the back of her hand, deliberately keeping his tone relaxed: "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

However, the fleeting seriousness in the depths of his eyes revealed that his inner peace was far from what appeared to be.

He had no confidence at all, but the Soul-Suppressing Iron had to be fused as soon as possible. Every moment of delay would increase the backlash from the "Abyss" and the potential dangers from the outside world.

Chen Zhiwei gave him a deep look and said nothing more.

She knew him; once he made a decision, he would never look back.

She immediately took action, solemnly taking out several "Guardian Golden Bell Talismans" that emitted a soft glow from her talisman bag, and arranged them around Xu Yan in specific positions to form a simple protective talisman array.

At the same time, she held the Soul-Suppressing Bell tightly in her hand, its spiritual energy subtly contained, ready to ring it at any moment to stabilize Xu Yan's potentially out-of-control mind.

Once ready, she retreated to the edge of the talisman array, watching Xu Yan intently.

Xu Yan took a deep breath, and his eyes suddenly became sharp as knives.

He stretched out his right hand and slowly rolled up his sleeve, revealing the dark blue-green patterns beneath, which seemed to writhe like living things and exuded an ominous aura.

Immediately afterwards, he gripped the dark "Soul-Suppressing Iron" with his left hand, his five fingers tightening until his knuckles turned white.

That posture didn't seem like holding something of hope, but rather like holding a poisoned dagger, full of resolute and dangerous aura!

Then, to Chen Zhiwei's horrified gaze, he suddenly and mercilessly stabbed the Soul-Suppressing Iron into the center of the most violently writhing and darkest-colored lines on his right arm.

"Senior brother! What are you doing?!"

Chen Zhiwei's scream instantly changed tone, filled with sobs and incomprehensible terror!

She thought fusion would be some kind of gentle ritual, never imagining it would be such a violent way!

"Feed it."

Xu Yan's voice was eerily calm, as if he were stating a fact that had nothing to do with him.

"Pfft——!"

A shattering sound, not from tearing flesh, but from a collision of some deeper rules, suddenly exploded out!

The moment the Soul-Suppressing Iron came into contact with the bluish-black patterns, time and space seemed to freeze once again.

The deep, dark, almost swallowing blue light and the ominous, restless bluish-black light, like two evil dragons locked in a life-or-death struggle, suddenly erupted from their point of contact, frantically intertwining, tearing, and annihilating each other.

The blinding light made Xu Yan's right arm appear almost transparent, revealing the blood vessels, bones, and dark blue-green veins beneath the skin.

"Uhhhhhh-!!!"

Xu Yan could no longer suppress the terrifying pain that originated from the depths of his soul and let out a heart-wrenching roar.

His entire right arm trembled and twisted uncontrollably, as if countless extremely fine, cold glass needles were frantically piercing and cutting through the muscles and fascia beneath his skin.

The feeling was as if my entire arm was about to be completely torn apart and disintegrated by these two completely opposite yet equally powerful forces in the next second.

Even more terrifying was that the terrifying light, interwoven with blue and black, instantly expanded from him as a silent yet unstoppable flood, forming an absolute and suffocating "silent domain"!
Wherever the law swept, everything fell into a deathly silence.

Not far away, the corpse of the "old dog," slowly oozing foul liquid and bubbling, the subtle wet sounds of bubbles bursting inside its body, the residual resentment emanating from its body... everything was instantly frozen and stagnant.

Like a terrifying wax figure whose pause button had been suddenly pressed by an invisible giant hand, it remained in the same hideous and pathetic posture as before, now plunged into absolute silence.

Absolute annihilation.

Only Xu Yan's suppressed, painful gasps, like those of a broken bellows, and Chen Zhiwei's frantically pounding heartbeat due to extreme shock, became the only two jarring yet incredibly insignificant noises in this deathly silent world.

Xu Yan knelt down on one knee, his left hand pressing down hard on his right arm, which was convulsing violently and seemed about to leave his body.

There, the Soul-Suppressing Iron was slowly but steadily sinking into his flesh and blood, engaging in a perilous and life-or-death fusion and confrontation with the "Abyss" hidden within.

Chen Zhiwei's mouth dropped open, her face turned deathly pale, and she was so frightened by this scene that it was beyond her knowledge and understanding that she could hardly breathe.

Before me, Xu Yan, enveloped in a dark blue and black light, knelt in agony in the absolute silence. His figure... exuded a chilling, inhuman mystery and terror.

Is he still the senior who would joke and play with her, and who would fix her hair in the morning?
At this moment, besides overwhelming worry, Chen Zhiwei also felt a strange fear that she herself was unwilling to admit.

I don't know how much time passed; it felt like just a moment, yet also like an eternity.

The frantically intertwined and tearing blue-black light on his right arm finally receded slowly like the tide, and the intense pain that made his soul tremble gradually subsided, transforming into a deep, tingling, numb, and heavy feeling that seemed to be branded into his bone marrow.

Xu Yan knelt on one knee, panting heavily. Sweat had soaked through his back, and his face was as pale as paper.

But he could clearly feel that the restless and devouring desire that always existed in his right arm, belonging to the "Abyss," was forcibly suppressed by a cold, heavy, yet incredibly stable force. Although it did not disappear, it was like a ferocious beast that had been put on a leash, temporarily dormant.

He slowly raised his trembling right hand and opened his palm.

Among the original lines on his palm, there was an extremely complex and deep blue mark.

The shape of the brand was vaguely the outline of that Soul-Suppressing Iron fragment, but its interior was filled with even more subtle patterns that seemed to contain the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, exuding an aura of eternal "stillness".

At the edge of that dark blue mark, one could vaguely see a few extremely fine bluish-black lines, like imprisoned venomous snakes, slowly swimming, yet unable to cross the line.

This is the Soul-Suppressing Iron Brand.

"Is it...successful?"

Chen Zhiwei's voice trembled with relief as she cautiously approached, her gaze fixed on the brand that emitted a ghostly blue light.

Xu Yan tried clenching his fist, feeling the unprecedented, heavy yet controlled power in his right arm, and let out a long, thorough sigh.

"Yes, for now... it's under control." His voice was still a little hoarse, but it carried a sense of weariness and relief after a heavy burden had been lifted.

Chen Zhiwei looked at his pale face and sweaty hair, and reached out her hand with heartache, wanting to touch the brand, but she was afraid of causing some change, so her fingertips stopped in mid-air.

"How do you feel? Are you still feeling uncomfortable?"

"It's alright, I'm just a little weak." With her help, Xu Yan stood up and moved his still sore and numb right arm.

He glanced at the "old dog's" corpse on the ground, still frozen in place, and at the still deathly silent space swept by the "Silent Domain," and frowned slightly.

"We shouldn't stay here any longer. The commotion we just made will likely attract unwanted attention. We need to leave as soon as possible."

Chen Zhiwei nodded immediately and quickly tidied up the talisman array and the soul-suppressing bell she had set up.

The two took one last look at the eerie and perilous secret room, then, without lingering, supported each other and quickly walked toward the sliding metal hatch.

Just as they were about to leave, Xu Yan's gaze inadvertently swept over the wall where the old dog had shown the surveillance footage earlier.

Although the wall has now returned to its original alloy appearance, a tiny, non-standard storage device appears to be plugged into an inconspicuous interface on the control panel below.

A thought struck him, and he stepped forward to pull it off.

This is very likely some information that the evil spirit has backed up.

The faint blue mark on Xu Yan's palm was like a glimmer of light guiding him home in the darkness, or a shackle and medal etched into his destiny.

The Soul-Suppressing Iron has been fused, but the road ahead remains shrouded in mystery. But at least for now, they have gained a crucial respite.

The figure disappeared outside the door, and the hatch of the secret chamber slowly closed, sealing the deathly silence and secrets inside back into the shadowy depths of Liuquan Village.

We returned to the bizarre and bustling alleyways of Liuquanji.

The outside world remained noisy, as if the thrilling battle for souls had never happened.

"Finally it's out."

Chen Zhiwei looked at Xu Yan and breathed a sigh of relief, but there was still a trace of lingering fatigue between her brows.

The mission was accomplished, but the process was far too dangerous.

Xu Yan nodded, but his gaze fell on the tiny memory device he had taken from the control panel.

A thought flickered in his mind, and he said to Chen Zhiwei, "Let's find a safe place and see what's inside."

The two quickly found a psychic meditation room on the edge of the market that offered a short rest and guaranteed privacy.

After closing the door and activating the soundproof barrier, Xu Yan connected the memory to his silver terminal.

Thanks to the high-privilege decryption module provided by the Han family terminal, the content displayed on the screen after the data was read and decrypted made the two of them gasp for breath.

This is far more than just transaction records of "Soul-Suppressing Iron" or scattered memories of evil spirits.

The memory was successfully decrypted, and a well-structured and clearly categorized database interface appeared on the terminal screen.

The information contained within made even the well-informed Xu Yan hold his breath.

He first opened the folder labeled "Contractor Files".

Inside were detailed files on dozens of bronze and silver-level contractors active in the surrounding area, the level of detail of which was outrageous:

Ability Analysis: It includes not only the publicly known psionic attributes and proficient skills, but also subtle habits of energy circulation, micro-expressions before casting spells, and estimated skill cooldown times.

Character weaknesses and hidden secrets: A silver-level contractor known for his bravery suffers from severe claustrophobia; another seemingly upright bronze-level elite secretly uses his missions to resell controlled spiritual materials... These pieces of information, at certain times, are worth far more than a million.

Xu Yan even saw several well-known and reputable figures within the "center," but behind them were untold dirty deals.

Xu Yan immediately pulled up his own silver-level terminal and the encrypted terminal given to him by Han Wenshan for cross-verification. He found that the accuracy of these black market intelligence reports was frighteningly high, and they even supplemented the deliberately obscured or missing parts of the official files.

The second folder is 【Liuquan Collection - Dark Web】.

This is almost a "God's-eye view" map of Liuquan Collection:
Distribution of Power and Hidden Passages: The actual control range of each major power, the buffer zones and friction points between them are clearly marked, as well as several escape or infiltration passages leading to the outskirts of the market or other hidden areas that were not even mentioned in the Han family's intelligence.

Merchants' backgrounds and transaction codes: The records detail the true identities, backgrounds, personalities, and preferences of dozens of key black market merchants, as well as the specific codes they use when conducting large-scale or contraband transactions, which are changed regularly.

Resource Stockpiling Points: This map marks the locations of several extremely well-hidden, important resource warehouses belonging to different factions, including psionic materials, weapons, and even some confiscated ancient artifacts. Possessing this map means they have almost the advantages of "invisibility" and "foresight" in Flowing Springs, and their access to resources and ability to mitigate risks will increase exponentially.

Xu Yan's gaze was fixed on the detailed information about [Liuquan Collection - Dark Web] on the screen, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table.

The value of this intelligence is undeniable, but keeping it only for personal review is like letting a precious gem be covered in dust.

It must be transformed into tangible resources and advantages.

An idea quickly formed in his mind—Han Wenshan!

The head of the Han Group not only had the strength and appetite to process this intelligence, but also had a history of cooperation with them and had previously provided them with considerable assistance.

Now is the perfect time to reciprocate and seek deeper cooperation.

Without further hesitation, he dialed Han Wenshan's private number directly using an encrypted line.

The call was connected almost instantly, clearly indicating that the number had extremely high priority.

"Mr. Xu?" Han Wenshan's calm voice came through, revealing little emotion, but the speed at which the call connected indicated his importance. "How have things been lately?"

"Thanks to President Han, everything went smoothly." Xu Yan's tone was calm, but then his tone changed abruptly, like a sharp sword being drawn, "However, in the process of dealing with the target, we unexpectedly obtained something... that President Han might be more interested in."

"Oh?" Han Wenshan's tone rose slightly, revealing the keenness characteristic of a business tycoon.

"It's about Liuquan Market." Xu Yan cut straight to the point, his words like a carefully honed blade. "President Han, do you think the Han Group is interested in... taking over Liuquan Market, this 'fat piece of meat' that exists outside the rules but gathers enormous resources and people?"

There was a two-second silence on the other end of the phone, clearly Han Wenshan was quickly processing the enormous amount of information and potential risks contained in that sentence.

“Mr. Xu, the waters of Liuquan are very deep, and various forces are deeply intertwined. If one thing is done, the whole situation will be affected.” His response was cautious and experienced.

“Muddy waters are good for catching fish.” Xu Yan’s voice carried a hint of cold laughter. “Moreover, precisely because this place is not openly protected by the authorities, certain ‘cleanup’ and ‘integration’ actions, as long as they are done cleanly and efficiently, may actually be tacitly approved or even praised. I happen to have a sufficiently detailed ‘water area map’ and ‘fish distribution map’ on hand.”

He did not specify the contents of the intelligence, but the metaphors of "water area map" and "fish distribution map" were enough for Han Wenshan to understand its significance.

"Mr. Xu, how would you like to cooperate?" Han Wenshan stopped beating around the bush and asked the most crucial question directly.

Profit sharing is the core of all cooperation.

Xu Yan already had a plan in mind:

“I can provide the intelligence to President Han right now. Han’s Group has a professional analysis team and operational capabilities. I need you to develop a detailed and actionable ‘resource acquisition’ and ‘risk avoidance’ plan based on this intelligence in the shortest possible time. I am currently in Liuquan Village and can assist with preliminary verification and some key actions.”

He paused, then stated his conditions, his words clear and firm:
"As for the profits, I will take 30% of all material resources directly obtained based on this intelligence. And I will take 15% of the profits generated from this and the future sustainable revenue channels in Liuquan Village. Furthermore, the Han family needs to promise to provide limited support in terms of intelligence and resources in the event of any future conflicts between me and the 'Center' or other forces, in accordance with your own risk assessment bottom line."

This price is not low, especially considering the shares that generate continuous profits, which is tantamount to taking a share of the pie in the new order that Han's family may establish in the future.

However, Xu Yan possessed core intelligence and was on the front lines, giving him irreplaceable operational value. More importantly, he demonstrated the vision and strength to engage in dialogue with Han Wenshan on equal terms.

There was another brief silence on the other end of the phone, with only the faint sound of breathing audible.

Xu Yan didn't urge him and waited patiently.

He knew that Han Wenshan was rapidly weighing the pros and cons of the intelligence's authenticity and value, the risks and rewards of the operation, and the advantages and disadvantages of maintaining a long-term relationship with Xu Yan...

A few seconds later, Han Wenshan's voice rang out again, carrying a hint of decisiveness and appreciation:

"A very fair price, Mr. Xu. We'll do it your way. Send the intelligence over immediately; my people will handle it with the highest priority. Keep communications open; I'll communicate with you directly once the preliminary plan is finalized."

He didn't haggle, because he knew that building trust and understanding with a "partner" who had great potential and held key leverage was far more valuable in the long run than any short-term gains or losses.

"It's a pleasure to cooperate, Mr. Han." Xu Yan hung up the phone and quickly sent the encrypted data packet of [Liuquan Collection - Dark Web] through the Han family terminal.

He exhaled softly, his eyes sharply fixed on the dazzling market outside the window.

The pieces have been placed; the next step is to leverage this "prophetic" advantage to seize the greatest possible survival capital for themselves and Zhiwei in this murky water.

The collaboration with Han Wenshan is a high-risk gamble, but it may also be a key step in their rapid rise.

Xu Yan ended the call with Han Wenshan, and the quiet room returned to silence, with only the terminal screen still emitting a faint glow.

He turned his head and met Chen Zhiwei's clear eyes, which were filled with complex emotions.

"Brother, you..."

Chen Zhiwei hesitated, having overheard the entire exchange between Xu Yan and Han Wenshan.

That decisiveness, that calm and boldness in using intelligence that could stir up a bloodbath as a bargaining chip to divide profits with business tycoons, felt somewhat unfamiliar to her, yet also quite reasonable.

The Xu Yan before her was no longer the young man who needed her reminders about daily chores in the photo studio, but a chess player who had struggled on the brink of life and death and had quickly grown into a player capable of strategizing and planning.

"Do you think I'm taking too much of a risk? Or that I'm too greedy?" Xu Yan saw through her hesitation and softened his tone.

Chen Zhiwei shook her head, her eyes gradually hardening:

“No. I just… need some time to adjust. But I know that to survive, to find out the truth, we can’t just passively cope. Utilizing all available resources is a necessary choice. But…” She paused, lowering her voice, “cooperating with a power like the Han family is like asking a tiger for its skin.”

“I understand.” Xu Yan nodded. “Therefore, the bargaining chips and bottom lines must be clear. We provide them with much-needed intelligence and initial operational capabilities in exchange for resources and the possibility of future protection. It’s a deal, each getting what they need. Trust needs to be built on the basis of common interests and mutual respect.”

He analyzed it calmly, as if he were disassembling the structure of a talisman.

Looking at his composed profile, Chen Zhiwei's unease was gradually replaced by a determination to "share weal and woe".

She gave a soft "hmm" and said no more. She simply and silently recounted and categorized her talismans, preparing to deal with any unexpected situation at any time.

No matter what decision Xu Yan makes, she will stand by his side and support him in her own way.

After calming Chen Zhiwei's worries, Xu Yan took a deep breath and turned his gaze back to the terminal screen.

The intelligence from Liuquan Village has been processed. Next, we will move on to another area that may harbor an even greater storm.

His finger slid across the screen and tapped the folder titled "Center: Undercurrents".

It contains a large amount of non-public information about the "center":
Mission briefings and resource allocation: Recent unpublished summaries of high-priority mission backgrounds, as well as a clear bias in the allocation of internal resources within the “Center,” including senior contractors, specialized equipment, and research support, suggest the “Center’s” future strategic priorities.

Departmental power friction: This section records the details of friction between several powerful departments due to resources, authority, or ideologies. Although it is not the core issue, it is enough to help those who are interested avoid stepping on certain hidden landmines when dealing with the "center".

This information, like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, though fragmented, was enough to give them a vague yet crucial prediction of the internal workings of this behemoth, the "center."

What made Xu Yan's heart pound was a encrypted sub-file titled "[Ling Shu · Reverse Source]".

When Xu Yan opened the file and successfully cracked it, what appeared on the screen was not a complete program or technique, but some obviously incomplete yet alarming research notes and experimental data fragments.

The two held their breath and read it word by word.

As Xu Yan's understanding deepened, his heart began to pound uncontrollably, and his fingers gripping the edge of the terminal turned slightly white from the force.

Even the usually calm Chen Zhiwei couldn't help but gasp, her beautiful eyes filled with shock.

The efficient extraction method: The notes pointed out sharply that the method commonly used by the "center" to extract spiritual energy from ghosts for infusion is extremely inefficient and causes huge energy loss and waste of "spiritual qualities" in the purification process.

It proposes a disruptive theory based on "reverse analysis of energy resonance frequency," claiming that by accurately analyzing the inherent energy frequencies of ghosts of different levels and applying reverse resonance, it can theoretically improve the efficiency and purity of psionic energy extraction by several times or even ten times.

Although the notes lack the most crucial frequency database and the specific technical path for applying reverse resonance, this direction itself is like a lightning bolt piercing the night sky, illuminating a completely new path, full of taboos yet brimming with potential.

Autonomous Infusion Hypothesis: What shocked them even more was the even bolder idea that followed—could they bypass the “center’s” strict control and standardized processes and use specially customized equipment and this improved, highly efficient refining method to complete the psionic infusion on their own?

Next to the notebook, written in scarlet ink, was a note that read, "Extremely dangerous! Estimated failure rate exceeds 90%! Risk of severe psionic distortion, mental contamination, and physical disintegration!"

But this bloody warning only further confirmed that this conjecture was not mere speculation! This undoubtedly opened a door for Xu Yan, a door that was both deadly tempting and extremely dangerous, leading to rapid improvement in strength and even the possibility of completely breaking free from the control of the "center" in the future!

"Senior brother...this..."

Chen Zhiwei's voice trembled slightly as she looked at Xu Yan, her eyes filled with both excitement for the technology's future and deep concern about its terrifying risks.

She didn't understand why Xu Yan was so obsessed with quickly reaching the Gold level, but she could feel the heavy pressure from the "Abyss" within him, as well as the strong will deep within him that he didn't want to be controlled by others.

If there were a faster way to become stronger, she would certainly be happy for him, but this way... was too dangerous.

Xu Yan stared intently at the screen, his chest heaving slightly.

This means that he may no longer have to rely entirely on the "center's" slow, controlled, and unknown promotion system, and has the possibility of exploring on his own, quickly reaching the gold level, and even glimpsing higher levels.

This was an irresistible temptation for him!
“This thing… is amazing, but also too dangerous.” Xu Yan’s voice was low and hoarse as he forced himself to calm down. “With just the two of us, let alone completing it, we would have difficulty even understanding the basic theories.”

Chen Zhiwei immediately understood his meaning, and a name came to mind: "A Zhe! He's the best at these kinds of technical things, and... he's quick-witted enough."

But then, she frowned slightly, unconsciously fidgeting with her fingers, her tone hesitant, "But, something so sensitive, even taboo... is it really okay to tell him? This isn't just about technology, it's about a power that could potentially overturn the existing order..."

Her concerns were not unfounded.

If this technology were to be leaked, the resulting storm would be unimaginable.

Xu Yan remained silent for a moment, his mind flashing back to the scenes of fighting side by side with A Zhe in his previous life and entrusting each other with their lives, and the scene of A Zhe still helping them to research the data bomb without reservation after their reunion in this life.

That trust, forged in dire circumstances, is not easily shaken.

"If you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them." Xu Yan raised his head, his eyes regaining their decisiveness. "A Zhe... is trustworthy. Moreover, we can't get anything done on our own. We need his skills and ideas."

Without further hesitation, he took out his communicator and dialed A-Zhe's number.

The call connected, and Ah Zhe's voice, slightly tired but still energetic, came through: "Brother Yan? We just got a new idea for the data bomb, what's up?"

“Ah Zhe,” Xu Yan said bluntly and seriously, “the research on the data bomb is very important, but right now, I need you to spare some of your energy to prioritize research on something else.”

"Oh? What could be so important to you, Brother Yan?" A Zhe's curiosity was immediately piqued.

“A fragment of a forbidden technique concerning… ‘Psionic Refining and Infusion’,” Xu Yan said in a deep voice. “I will send you the encrypted data later. Remember, this is top secret. Destroy it after reading, and never leak it. I need you to assess its feasibility, and… whether we can complete it, or even make it possible.”

Ah Zhe on the other end of the phone paused noticeably, his breathing seeming to quicken, before his voice, tinged with suppressed excitement, came through: "Forbidden technology?! Psionic energy extraction and infusion?! My god... Brother Yan, don't worry! This stuff is totally to my liking! I swear on all my code, not a single word will be leaked! I'll immediately unleash my strongest computing power to analyze it!"

After hanging up the phone, Xu Yan sent the encrypted data packet of [Ling Shu·Ni Yuan] over.

He looked at Chen Zhiwei, both of them with a hint of expectation in their eyes, as well as an unshakeable sense of gravity.

They entrusted a key that could change their destiny or bring destruction to a trustworthy partner.

Whether the road ahead is an abyss or a path to heaven, perhaps it all depends on what Ah Zhe can glean from it.

In addition, the database contains a large number of lost records about ancient techniques such as talismans, formations, and weapon crafting from various schools.

Some of the incomplete rune structures and energy circulation models subtly echoed some of the rune techniques passed down by Chen Zhiwei's grandfather, and could even fill in some key points that she had never been able to understand.

For Chen Zhiwei, this was like opening a new window, and its value was no less than gaining a powerful inheritance.

Looking at the massive amount of information scrolling across the screen, Xu Yan and Chen Zhiwei exchanged a speechless glance, both seeing immense shock and joy in each other's eyes.

This time, they not only obtained the coveted "Soul-Suppressing Iron" and thwarted the evil spirit's plot, but also unexpectedly gained hope for the future.

What was originally just an adventure for survival turned out to be far more rewarding than anyone could have imagined.

This immense sense of accomplishment overshadowed all fatigue and lingering fear, replacing it with an unprecedented sense of fulfillment and anticipation for the future.

“It seems,” Xu Yan took a deep breath, shut down the terminal, carefully put away the memory, his eyes gleaming with a sharp light, “that we’ve really struck gold this time.”

Chen Zhiwei nodded vigorously, a blush rising on her pale face from excitement.

She knew that with these things, their future path, though destined to be bumpy, would at least no longer be a directionless groping in the dark.

Xu Yan had just turned off the memory when the encrypted communicator vibrated again, and the screen displayed the name "Han Wenshan".

Xu Yan and Chen Zhiwei exchanged a glance, took a deep breath, and pressed the answer button.

"President Han, your efficiency is astonishing," Xu Yan said first, his tone steady.

"The intelligence provided by Mr. Xu is worthy of such efficiency." Han Wenshan's voice came through the receiver, still calm, but upon closer listening, one could detect a suppressed sharpness, the kind that comes with a hunter spotting his prey. "The preliminary analysis is complete. I'll get straight to the point."

"The authenticity and value of the intelligence have been cross-verified by our think tank, and the initial assessment is that its credibility exceeds 92%. Based on this, I have mobilized the 'Dark Currents' action department under the group, as well as three 'white glove' companies that are ostensibly unrelated to the Han family but are absolutely reliable."

"Our primary targets are the No. 3 and No. 7 supply depots marked in the intelligence."

Han Wenshan speaks slowly, but every word carries immense weight.

"According to intelligence, these two locations are relatively poorly guarded and contain a large number of high-purity psionic crystals and a batch of controlled runic weapons. The operation will commence simultaneously in 45 minutes, employing a 'feint attack' strategy to create small-scale chaos and complete the transfer of supplies as quickly as possible."

Mr. Xu, Ms. Chen, your job is to clear the perimeter. If there are other Silver-level contractors or unknown ghosts, those are for you to handle.

"Secondly, regarding intelligence networks."

Han Wenshan continued,

"We have identified three black market dealers on the list with relatively 'clean' backgrounds and little involvement with major powers. A 'white glove' company will handle a few small but stable transactions at a price 10% higher than the market price to establish initial trust."

At the same time, we will use the transaction codes and personality preferences in the intelligence to try to contact a key figure—a middleman codenamed 'Mole,' who controls nearly 30% of the gray information flow in Liuquan Group.

The goal is to establish a preliminary, covert intelligence feedback channel of our own within 48 hours.

"The last, and most important, step."

Han Wenshan's tone became more forceful.

"The intelligence report mentions the points of conflict between the 'Black Bone Gang' and the 'Blood Raven Clan' in the 'Dark Alley District.' I plan to 'edit' this intelligence appropriately and then 'anonymously' provide it to the 'Secret Magic Society,' a third-party force with whom they have conflicts."

At the same time, we will secretly inform the 'Black Bone Gang' that the 'Blood Raven Clan' is in contact with the Han Group, intending to purchase a batch of heavy psionic barrier-breaking weapons.

(End of this chapter)