Forgotten Photo Studio

Chapter 181 Extraordinary! Advancing to Gold Rank
Inside the workshop, the air was so heavy it seemed as if water could drip from it.

The cobbled-together purification prototype was completely destroyed; its wreckage emitted a burnt smell, resembling an altar after a sacrifice.

The focus has now shifted to the other side of the room—the “psychic infusion prototype” that A-Zhe has meticulously modified.

Its structure is more complex and precise, with a transparent crystal chamber surrounded by countless tiny runes at its core, which is currently emitting a stable and soft milky white halo.

Xu Yan's gaze was calm and steady as he slowly swept over the three orbs of light suspended in the guiding force field.

Just by gazing at them, a faint stinging pain returned to my meridians, which had just begun to calm down. It was the body's most direct reaction to the source of the rules it had once fought against.

His gaze first fell on the deep "emptiness" on the left.

Shadow Crystal.

Even after being purified, it still exudes a chilling aura.

Xu Yan remembered how, in the shadows of the dataport, the shadowy humanoid silently devoured the light, distorted space, and longed to pull him into eternal nothingness.

At this moment, within this crystal, there seemed to be an invisible shadow still flowing autonomously, following that chilling law of "erasure".

Just by making eye contact, he felt as if his gaze was being sucked in, and even the surrounding air seemed to dim.

"This thing... is practically a denial of 'existence' itself." He felt a chill run down his spine.

To wield it is like walking a tightrope over a bottomless abyss; a slight misstep could lead to being swallowed up by this pure darkness.

However, if one can master it, one will also gain the unpredictable power to merge into the shadows and transform into nothingness.

His gaze shifted to the right and landed on the constantly changing shape of the eerie green light in the center.

Parasitic crystals.

It is not like an inanimate object, but more like a sleeping, cunning life form.

The eerie green light flickered like breath, its surface sometimes smooth as a mirror, reflecting his own blurry face, and sometimes revealing countless fine lines like nerve veins, as if silently exploring the boundaries of the force field, searching for an opportunity.

Ah Zhe couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, "Brother Yan, this thing gives me the creeps! I feel like it might come to life at any moment and crawl into the machine, or... crawl into a person's brain!"

Xu Yan nodded slightly, without denying it.

He had experienced the terror of having his soul infiltrated and his will altered by invisible roots more clearly than A Zhe.

This crystal embodies the ultimate in "permeation" and "simulation," making it an extremely dangerous double-edged sword.

If used well, it can be ever-changing and all-pervasive; if used poorly, it will backfire and turn you into a puppet controlled by it.

Finally, his gaze settled on the dark red ball of light on the far right, a mixture of congealed blood and sunset.

A crystallization of emotions.

Before he even made direct contact, a whisper mixed with endless pain, despair, and madness crashed against the barriers of his consciousness like a tidal wave.

In the dim light, it seemed as if countless distorted faces floated and wailed in the dark red light.

This is the one with the most direct impact on the mind among the three crystals.

The unsettling dark red fluctuation that Chen Zhiwei sensed outside the door originated from it.

Xu Yan's brows furrowed imperceptibly.

This crystal carries too many negative emotions that have been forcibly stripped away and purified; it is a cruel manifestation of the rules of "memory weaving" and "emotional resonance".

It is itself a purgatory of emotions.

Absorbing it is not only a test of strength, but also an ultimate test of one's will and the bottom line of humanity.

"Any one of these could cause a bloodbath if it were to fall into the wrong hands." Xu Yan's voice was low, carrying a hint of weariness that was barely perceptible, a result of the experience of fighting life and death.

He knew better than anyone what price he had paid and what risks he had taken to obtain those three crystals.

They are no longer simple energies, but three dangerous and powerful keys containing fragments of the world's underlying rules.

It is the only way to open the golden gate and step onto the path to the extraordinary, but it is also a temptation that could drag him into an abyss of no return.

He took a deep breath, and his eyes regained their firmness and sharpness.

Risks and opportunities coexist.

Now that we've come this far, there's no turning back.

He stopped looking at the three captivating crystals and calmly walked towards the crystal chamber.

Will you become their master, or be devoured by them? The answer lies in what follows.

Xu Yan removed his blood-stained clothes and calmly walked into the crystal cabin at the core of the prototype.

His gaze swept over the three floating crystals, his eyes showing no greed, only absolute calm and a trace of awe for power.

He knew that what he needed to do next was not only to absorb energy, but also to understand and integrate the fragments of rules contained within it, and to complete the transformation of the essence of life.

The hatch slid shut silently, and a milky-white aura of basic psionic energy enveloped him, synchronizing his life field.

"Brother Yan, are you ready?" A Zhe's voice came through the built-in audio transmission system, carrying an unprecedented seriousness. "I've optimized the energy guidance algorithm for this system, improving its stability by 25%, but directly infusing three types of D-level rule-based psionic energy... there's no precedent in the database. The risk factor is immeasurable."

"Let's begin." Xu Yan closed his eyes, his voice completely calm.

He had long since disregarded life and death; there was no other way but to move forward.

"Initiating Phase One: Synchronizing the Psionic Link and Life Field." A Zhe took a deep breath, his hands flying across the control runes.

hum-

The machine emitted a deep, harmonious hum.

Inside the crystal cabin, a milky white halo, like a living fluid, slowly seeped into Xu Yan's skin, resonating with his own life field.

He felt every cell in his body trembling slightly, as if preparing for an impending catastrophe.

"Synchronization rate 98%! Exceeding expectations!" A Zhe stared intently at the data stream, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by greater tension. "Second stage: Preparation for the infusion of rule-based psionic energy... First, shadow psionic energy!"

He carefully manipulated the force field, guiding the deep essence of shadow psionic energy to a specific interface above the crystal chamber.

"First sequence, Shadow Crystal, inject! Flow rate 5%!"

A wisp of dark energy, as thin as a hair yet as heavy as mercury, pierced through the crystal barrier and was precisely injected into Xu Yan's Baihui acupoint, like a living shadow serpent.

"Well--!"

Xu Yan's body trembled violently, and he let out a suppressed groan.

An indescribable, excruciating pain erupted instantly!

But amidst this pain, Xu Yan's "spiritual perception" unfolded with unprecedented clarity.

This is no longer an external energy impact, but a forced rewriting of the essence of life.

In his perception, the wisp of shadowy psionic energy did not simply flow into his meridians, but transformed into countless basic particles, smaller than cells and containing the rules of "devouring" and "nothingness," which forcefully merged into every inch of his flesh and blood, and every segment of his genetic chain.

The excruciating pain transcended the realm of the nerves, reaching the depths of the soul, as if to cast an absolute shadow over the very foundation of his existence.

His skin was covered with bulging veins, giving it an unhealthy bluish-black color, and his overall outline began to blur, as if he were about to blend into the surrounding shadows.

"Vitality signs are fluctuating drastically! Soul stability has decreased by 10%!" A Zhe's voice was filled with anxiety. "Yan-ge, hold on!"

“Continue…” Xu Yan squeezed out the two words through gritted teeth, his will like a lighthouse in a storm, stubbornly holding onto the last vestiges of clarity.

The shadow energy wasn't destroying things with brute force, but rather transformed into countless tiny runes containing the rule of "devouring," like the most precise scalpel, dismantling and reconstructing the energy structure of his cells, transforming them towards a more efficient, more "empty" and "hidden" direction.

Energy is not about filling, but about reshaping.

The essence of promotion is the evolution of one's life blueprint towards a higher form of rules.

He no longer resisted, but actively guided this power, trying to understand the true meaning of "shadow" contained in each rune—it was not pure destruction, but a "transformation of existence," a wisdom of merging into the environment and returning to silence.

“Shadow Psionic Fusion 31%...45%...68%! Approaching stability! Second Sequence, Parasitic Crystal, Inject!” A Zhe dared not delay for a moment and immediately guided the ball of dark green psionic essence.

A pale green, vibrant energy surged in.

This time, the pain became bizarre, as if countless tiny roots were "taking root" in his energy channels and soul barriers, attempting to simulate and assimilate his essence.

In his spiritual vision, the green patterns representing the rule of "parasitism" met the black runes representing "shadow".

The two did not merge immediately, but rather resembled two different programming languages ​​vying for control of the system, probing and eroding each other.

There are both exclusions and coexistences among the rules.

Forcibly suppressing them will only lead to internal friction; it is necessary to find the "interface" and "balance point" between them.

Xu Yan did not forcibly separate them, but carefully observed the subtle fluctuations produced when they collided, searching for the harmonious rhythm in the darkness.

He realized that the "simulation" of "parasite" might be used to reconcile the "devouring" of "shadow," making the devouring more precise and deceptive.

"Energy conflict intensifies! Stability decreases!" A Zhe's anxious voice came through.

At this critical juncture of internal and external troubles, a resolute glint flashed in Xu Yan's eyes.

"Ah Zhe! Third Sequence, Emotional Crystallization, Inject! Now!"

"What?! At the same time?! That's too risky!" A Zhe exclaimed in shock.

"Execute!" Xu Yan's order left no room for doubt.

Ah Zhe gritted his teeth and channeled the dark red spiritual energy into it!
The energy of the complex flow of emotional information rushed into his body like a flood breaking through a dam!
The addition of this third force was like pouring ice water into boiling oil.

The characteristics of the three rules were broken and blended, and deep within his dantian, they condensed and collapsed in an unprecedented way!
The complex and ever-changing characteristics of "memory" and "resonance" in emotional rules did not exacerbate the conflict; instead, they acted as a peculiar catalyst and adhesive.

It briefly "simulates" a "memory scene" in which shadows and parasitic rules coexist harmoniously, providing an illusory yet effective reference template for their fusion.

The three rules achieved an extremely fragile, yet real, dynamic balance within Xu Yan's body.

At the very moment this balance was achieved—

Xu Yan felt as if his soul had been suddenly "pulled" out of his heavy body by some invisible force!

He "saw" his body still sitting cross-legged inside the crystal capsule, but the way he perceived the world had completely changed.

Instead of relying solely on the five senses, we observe everything with a more essential and direct "spiritual vision."

He "saw" the spiritual particles floating in the air, like dust particles, yet containing all sorts of information; he "saw" the flow of energy and emotional colors that constituted A Zhe's body; he could even vaguely "perceive" Chen Zhiwei's pure and warm spiritual fluctuations outside the workshop, filled with worry and prayer.

His consciousness was elevating and expanding, touching beneath the surface of the world, the flowing "reality" composed of countless rules and information.

Outside, the prototype machine shook violently, the crystal cabin emitted a groan of unbearable strain, and blinding light burst forth from Xu Yan's body.

Outside the work area.

Chen Zhiwei gripped the front of her clothes tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force.

She couldn't see what was happening inside the dark room, but the heavy door was now like a war drum being struck by a heavy hammer, emitting a heart-palpitating roar and vibration.

What terrified her even more was that an indescribable light and aura were uncontrollably leaking from the gap below the door.

At times, the shadows, deep as an abyss and seemingly capable of swallowing all light, caused the space around the door crack to distort slightly;

At times, it is a strange, writhing, eerie green glow that seems to be trying to seep outwards like a living thing, carrying an unsettling sense of parasitism;
At other times, dark red fluctuations, as dark as blood and mixed with countless painful screams and despairing thoughts, assaulted her already sensitive soul.

Three distinct and terrifying lights flashed and flickered wildly behind the door, even eroding each other, illuminating the corridor outside in a bizarre and surreal way, like the entrance to a demon's lair.

The air was filled with the acrid smell of burning ozone, and a soul-chilling pressure emanating from the realm of rules.

Chen Zhiwei's face was deathly pale. She could clearly sense the inhuman pain and danger that the person she cared about was enduring behind the door.

The immense spiritual pressure was like a tangible wave, crashing against her senses wave after wave, making it almost impossible for her to breathe, and her heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an icy hand.

She couldn't hear Xu Yan's muffled groans, nor could she see his gruesome state with blood flowing from his seven orifices, but this silent storm of energy emanating through the crack in the door terrified and pained her more than any sight or sound.

"Senior brother..." she murmured unconsciously, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

There was nothing she could do but stare intently at the door that seemed ready to shatter at any moment, pouring all her worries, prayers, and even her entire spirit into it, as if this could alleviate even the slightest bit of his pain.

And it was at the very moment when her wholehearted concern and prayers reached their peak—

Inside the workshop, Xu Yan, on the verge of his limit, seemed to vaguely capture a pure and warm thought deep in his soul that transcended the heavy doors.

A Zhe stared in disbelief as the energy readings skyrocketed, breaking through one limit after another that he thought was impossible.

At the same time, the three streams of spiritual energy within Xu Yan's body that had finally reached a dynamic balance began the final and most crucial step—reconstructing the golden spiritual core!
Deep within his dantian, the originally unstable, misty vortex of spiritual energy at the silver level began to collapse and condense wildly inward under the pressure, forging, and fusion of the three kinds of rule forces!
Just like in the beginning of the universe, nebulae gathered to form stars!

An extremely small, yet stable and powerful, dark golden prism containing a trace of chaos and nothingness slowly took shape and solidified in the center of his dantian.

Golden Spirit Core!

The moment the dark golden spirit core was fully formed.

"boom!!!"

An indescribable, boundless aura, like a sleeping dragon awakening, erupted from Xu Yan's center.

Click!

The crystal chamber emitted a crisp sound and was instantly covered in cracks.

All the lights in the dark room suddenly went out and then suddenly came back on, the light becoming extremely dazzling.

The defensive formations carved on the ground activated themselves to their maximum potential, shimmering with light and emitting a humming sound as if they were overwhelmed.

The powerful spiritual pressure, like a tangible storm, swept through the entire photo studio and even penetrated outwards, making Chen Zhiwei in the outer hall feel breathless and as if her heart was being gripped by an invisible hand.

Golden Spirit Core! Success!

The instant the spirit core took shape, Xu Yan felt a heavy shackle that had been binding him break with a crash.

His consciousness soared to new heights, as if connected to the very breath of the entire universe.

He could "hear" the rhythm of the flow of spiritual particles in the air, "see" the energy veins deep within matter, and even vaguely perceive the warm and pure soul light of Chen Zhiwei not far away, a light that was filled with worry and prayer.

But this is just the beginning!
At the very moment his life level completed the leap, the time and space around him seemed to lose their original form and began to ripple and fold like water.

His perspective was no longer limited to the present moment, but was suddenly elevated to an indescribable dimension, allowing him to glimpse the countless fragments that this "Forgotten Photo Studio" carries, flowing through the river of time.

He "saw" it!
The scene before me is no longer a simple darkroom, but has transformed into countless overlapping images, like old-fashioned film. Each "negative" captures a moment in this photo studio, and their simultaneous presentation creates a three-dimensional, wondrous panorama that spans the past and present:
—On a yellowed “negative”, a young mother is smiling as she hangs a black and white portrait of herself on the now empty wall, her eyes gentle and full of expectation.

— Another “negative” flickers, showing a strict yet kind master teaching his young son how to adjust the camera aperture and how to perfectly develop images in a darkroom, with the smell of fixer filling the air.

In a slightly somber but warm-toned photograph, he and Chen Zhiwei stand side by side, facing an "echoing ghost" formed from past memories. Though fear is in Chen Zhiwei's eyes, she grips his sleeve tightly, while he himself raises the camera of fate...

—More "film negatives" flashed by, recording the silence of the photo studio, the traces of battle, and his days and nights studying runes alone...

These images of time and space rush past him like a rushing river. He is not simply recalling, but observing events that occurred on different timelines simultaneously from a higher-dimensional perspective.

He felt the weight of time, and the laughter, tears, heritage, and protection that this small photo studio carried.

Is this the perception of the Gold level? Touching more dimensions of time and space?
And deep within this endless expanse of time and space, in the darker and more chaotic dimensional rifts that transcended the current dream realm, he saw a familiar yet resilient figure—

It was his father!
My father's figure was blurry and distant, as if seen through a thick, constantly distorting layer of frosted glass.

He was in a bizarre and chaotic world where the rules were even more broken. Perhaps it was the eighth layer, or even a deeper layer of dream.
He walked with difficulty, seemingly frantically searching for something.

Xu Yan instantly realized that what his father was looking for was the trace of his mother's disappearance!
As if sensing Xu Yan's gaze that transcended the realm of dreams, the father, who was struggling forward, suddenly stopped and slowly raised his head.

Separated by layers of time and space barriers, and by layers of despairing dreams, the father and son's gazes met in this incredible moment.

The father's weathered face, etched with weariness and perseverance, showed a change when he saw Xu Yan.

Especially when he sensed the nascent golden spirit core within him, which contained infinite possibilities, he was first incredibly shocked. Then, his tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and the corners of his mouth turned up with difficulty but with absolute sincerity, revealing a smile of extreme relief and pride!
That smile seemed to say, "Yan'er, you did it... Keep going!"

That smile, like warm sunshine, instantly pierced through all dimensional barriers, shining into Xu Yan's heart and giving him unprecedented strength and certainty.

The scene receded like the tide, and the folded spacetime returned to normal.

Amidst this deluge of information, a deeper realization struck him—his ability to see these spacetime fragments so clearly was not solely due to the enhanced perception resulting from his advancement to the Gold rank.

This "Forgotten Photo Studio" is itself an extremely special place.

It is not an ordinary building, but a strange node anchored in the river of time.

Its walls, its floors, and every memory it holds are like an invaluable "negative" that records multiple times and spaces.

It is itself a stable small "spacetime singularity", resisting the erosion of the external "abyss" and the distortion of dream rules, firmly fixing those important, emotional and obsessive moments here.

As for Xu Yan, the current inheritor of the photo studio, his life level has leaped forward. The golden spiritual core in his body, which integrates multiple rules and contains a trace of the true meaning of "protection" and "memory", is like a matching key. At the moment of successful advancement, it resonated strongly with the "space-time node" of the photo studio, thus passively but completely "activating" it!
It was this "activation" that allowed him to glimpse such clear and magnificent images of time and space.

This is not simply due to his ability, but a miracle resulting from the combined efforts of him and this "family".

It was no accident that my mother chose this place and that my master passed on his skills here!

This discovery deeply shocked him.

The photo studio is not only a refuge for him and Chen Zhiwei, but may also hide deeper secrets about his parents, about "Yuan", and even about how to repair this broken dream!

Xu Yan slowly opened his eyes.

Those eyes were as deep as the ancient starry sky, with shadows seemingly flowing in the depths of the left pupil and data light seemingly appearing and disappearing in the right eye.

His eyes shone with an inner light, deep and unfathomable, as if he had just witnessed the birth and reincarnation of the entire universe. That brief experience of transcending dimensions gave him a completely new and revolutionary understanding of the world, of power, and of the path ahead.

His pale complexion returned to a rosy hue, his skin became smooth and radiant, all his injuries were completely healed, and every movement he made carried a natural sense of harmony with his surroundings.

He took a light step, and the cracked crystal hatch seemed to be touched by an invisible force, quietly turning into dust.

He stood quietly, his energy submissive and yielding, as if he were the rightful master of this 'spacetime node'.

From this day forward, he, Xu Yan, will officially step into the Golden Realm and become a true—Transcendent!
The door to the dark room slid open slowly as A-Zhe's breath caught in his throat with tension.

Xu Yan walked out from there.

There was no earth-shattering aura emanating from it, nor any dazzling spectacle surrounding it.

He was just standing there, yet he made Ah Zhe hold his breath instantly.

Not the same.

The Xu Yan before me still had those cold and stern eyes, but the feeling he gave off was completely different.

If he was a sharp sword drawn from its sheath before, its edge fully revealed, then he is now like a bottomless pool, calm on the surface but containing immeasurable power and mystery within.

His aura was completely contained, yet it seemed to resonate in an indescribable harmony with the surrounding environment—the cold metal, the flowing air, and even the array runes carved on the walls.

“Yan…Brother Yan?” A Zhe’s voice trembled with disbelief.

Xu Yan's gaze fell on A Zhe. His eyes were calm, yet A Zhe felt as if he had been seen through from the inside out.

“The secondary energy circuit below your left scapula has a 0.3-second delay in its operation due to the accumulation of psionic energy at the third node. This is a hidden problem left over from the last modification of the ‘Psionic Resonator.’ In the long run, it will affect the flexibility of your right arm and may even cause deviations when inscribing runes.” Xu Yan’s voice was calm and even, but it struck A Zhe like a bolt of lightning.

A Zhe's eyes widened suddenly, and he subconsciously touched his left shoulder and back.

He hid this subtle discomfort very well, to the point that he almost ignored it himself. Yan-ge actually... only glanced at it?
This is not just an increase in strength, it's a fundamental difference in the dimension of perception!
Xu Yan now "sees" A Zhe not just by his appearance and actions, but can directly "see" the flow of spiritual energy in his body, whether the circuits are smooth, and can even perceive the extremely small energy stagnation point that originated from a past operational error.

His thinking speed and information processing ability have reached an unbelievable level.

As if by subconscious action, Xu Yan moved his feet slightly, and his figure seemed to blur for a moment.

It wasn't that he was moving at high speed, but rather that the light around him naturally underwent a very subtle deflection, causing his silhouette to briefly merge with the shadow of the wall, as if he were meant to be part of the shadow.

This is a manifestation of the shadow rules being integrated into one's instincts; it requires no deliberate activation, and one can become invisible while walking, sitting, or lying down.

He raised his hand, and a wisp of gray energy, seemingly nonexistent in reality, quietly emerged from his fingertips.

This energy no longer possesses a single attribute; it seems to simultaneously possess the devouring properties of shadow, the parasitic simulation properties, and the disturbing properties of a trace of emotional resonance.

With a slight thought, Xu Yan gently touched a discarded metal part on the workbench next to him.

There was no loud noise, no light.

The surface of the metal part first appeared to be corroded by an invisible force, quickly becoming dull. Then, its internal structure seemed to be detected and simulated by some kind of force.

Finally, a slight energy oscillation triggered the "stress memory" at the microscopic level of the metal itself, causing it to emit an extremely faint, mournful tremor!
Rule integration!

It is no longer a simple skill switching, but a fusion of multiple rules and characteristics, forming a more corrosive and destructive chaotic psionic energy.

Ah Zhe was dumbfounded; this was completely beyond his understanding of the application of psychic energy.

Xu Yan had already withdrawn her energy, and her gaze passed over A Zhe, landing on the door leading from the workshop to the outer hall.

In his spiritual vision, he could clearly "see" outside the door the ball of soul light that flickered like a candle flame in the wind, yet exuded a pure and warm aura—Chen Zhiwei.

She stood there the whole time, never leaving.

Xu Yan took a step forward, his figure seemingly shrinking to an inch, and in an instant he was already at the door, gently opening it.

Outside the door, Chen Zhiwei leaned against the wall, her face pale, tears still wet on the corners of her eyes, her hands clasped tightly to her chest.

The moment the door opened, she abruptly looked up, her watery eyes meeting Xu Yan's deep, calm gaze.

All the worries, fears, and long waits turned into a torrent that burst its banks at this moment.

She couldn't say anything, but suddenly took a step forward and threw herself into Xu Yan's arms, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist, burying her face in his chest, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Xu Yan's body stiffened for a moment, then slowly relaxed.

He could clearly sense the trembling in her soul, a tremendous emotional surge of relief and reunion after a near-death experience.

He raised his hand and hugged her back, somewhat awkwardly but with unwavering determination, gently patting her back.

"I did it." His deep voice rang in her ear, steady and strong, with a reassuring certainty. "Don't be afraid."

These two simple words are like the most effective soothing balm.

Chen Zhiwei's tense nerves finally relaxed, and she nodded gently in his arms, letting out a muffled "hmm".

The embrace was brief, yet warm enough.

Xu Yan gently released her, placed his hands on her shoulders, and looked down into her eyes. Under his golden vision, Chen Zhiwei's soul state was clearer than ever before.

He could "see" the delicate yet resilient "connections" between her and this dream world, and he could sense the small, tightly wrapped "true spirit" deep within her original consciousness, closely connected to the core of Shen Mengyao's subconscious.

Saving her is no longer a vague wish.

Xu Yan understood perfectly.

The first step is to find a way to safely sever or replace the "connections" to Shen Mengyao's dreams without harming her true spirit.

This requires greater power and a deeper understanding of the rules of dreams.

The goal has never been clearer.

He turned to A-Zhe, who was following behind him and whose eyes were also a little red, and said solemnly, "A-Zhe, I could not have succeeded without the equipment and support you provided. You deserve half the credit for this."

Ah Zhe vigorously wiped his face, grinned, and said with the shyness and pride typical of a technician, "What are you saying, Brother Yan? As long as I can help! I'm glad you're alright!"

Xu Yan nodded, pondered for a moment, and said, "Also, during my promotion, I took advantage of the photo studio's unique location to see some... fragments of the past. About my mother, about the photo studio itself. It might be more complicated than we imagined. We'll need to study it carefully together afterward."

He did not mention his father; the information was too shocking and needed to be kept hidden for the time being.

However, sharing some information can make Ah Zhe feel more involved and have more direction.

After calming the two down, Xu Yan turned his gaze back to the familiar "Forgotten Photo Studio." He closed his eyes, and a completely new spiritual vision unfolded before him.

The world has completely changed in his "eyes".

The walls, floors, counters... all the physical objects seemed to become semi-transparent, and the flow of energy, the marks of history, and even the lingering emotional fluctuations within them were displayed before him like layers of paintings.

He "saw" the exquisite energy nodes left behind by his master when he set up the defensive formation, which were still operating silently; he "saw" the faint Daoist rhyme left here when his master taught him, about "the moment when light and shadow are frozen is eternity"; he also "saw" more previously imperceptible, hidden in corners or deep in objects, faint but unusually stable spacetime markers, like road signs, pointing to different fragments of the past.

Xu Yan's gaze slowly swept over every corner of the photo studio, his newly formed golden eyes seemingly able to pierce through the curtain of time.

When his gaze fell on the northwest corner of the wall, his pupils contracted slightly—it was radiating a pale golden light that only he could see, like an old photograph suspended in time.

"What's wrong?" Chen Zhiwei keenly noticed the change in his expression and asked softly.

Xu Yan did not answer immediately, but instead raised his hand and pressed it lightly against the wall.

The moment his fingertips touched it, a fragmented image flashed in his mind: a gentle woman was tiptoeing to hang a photo frame on the wall, and when she turned around, there were still traces of tears in the corners of her eyes.

“This is a mark left by my mother.” He withdrew his hand, his voice low. “This photo studio holds secrets we don’t know.”

Chen Zhiwei took two steps closer, hesitated, and reached out her hand, but stopped just before touching it: "I can feel that the energy fluctuations here are very special, like... like time being frozen."

“That’s right.” Xu Yan turned to her, his gold-level perception allowing him to clearly “see” the subtle resonance between Chen Zhiwei and this space. “This place is not only our sanctuary, but it may also hold the key to solving the mystery.”

A Zhe curiously leaned closer: "Brother Yan, are you saying there's something behind this wall?"

“Not entirely.” A wisp of chaotic spiritual energy flickered at Xu Yan’s fingertips as he lightly traced it across the wall. Surprisingly, his fingers sank directly into the wall, as if reaching into another dimension. “This is a fragment of spacetime anchored here. I need to find a suitable time to delve deeper into its secrets.”

Chen Zhiwei looked at his fingers embedded in the wall, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes: "Is it dangerous?"

“It’s much safer here than at the data port.” Xu Yan withdrew his hand, his gaze sharpening. “But I have to go to the data port again. Last time I was forced to flee, this time…” He condensed a ball of gray energy in his palm, within which shadows could be vaguely seen flowing and eerie light flickering. “I’m going to meet that C-level.”

"Are you crazy?" Ah Zhe gasped. "That's a regional catastrophe-level event!"

“That’s precisely why we must go.” Xu Yan withdrew his energy, his gaze falling on Chen Zhiwei’s pale face. “Passive waiting has never been my style. The data port not only holds threats, but also the answers we need—about the infiltration of ‘Abyss’, about the truth of this world.”

Chen Zhiwei bit her lip, a resolute glint in her eyes, and stepped forward to grab Xu Yan's arm: "This time, take me with you!"

Xu Yan stopped and turned to look at her, shaking his head with a calm and firm gaze: "No. The situation deep inside the data port is more complicated than last time. C-level awakenings have exacerbated the chaos in the rules. With your current strength, it's too dangerous."

Seeing the light in Chen Zhiwei's eyes dim instantly and his expression of resentment, his tone softened a bit, but it was still undeniable: "You need to improve your strength as soon as possible. Don't stay in the back and wait, but catch up in a more efficient way."

He turned to A Zhe and clearly assigned him the tasks: "A Zhe, you have two core tasks while I'm away."

"First, activate and maintain the highest level of defense for the photo studio to ensure its absolute safety."

"Second," he said to A Zhe, his gaze sweeping over Chen Zhiwei, "using our existing technology and resources, with you in charge, to provide Zhiwei with targeted psionic energy infusion. The goal is to help her steadily raise her strength from Silver III to the peak of Silver I before I return."

Chen Zhiwei was stunned, somewhat unable to believe her ears.

Targeted psionic infusion requires enormous resources and effort.

Xu Yan looked at her and continued to reveal an even more astonishing plan: "The Data Port is a source of danger, but also a treasure trove of resources. I will hunt down more and higher-quality D-rank ghosts and bring them back. When the reserves are sufficient, with A-Zhe and I protecting you, you can directly attempt to break through to the Gold rank."

These words not only shocked Chen Zhiwei, but even A Zhe's eyes widened.

Breaking through to the Gold rank? This is a level that countless Silver rank powerhouses dream of but dare not attempt lightly!
"As for you, A-Zhe," Xu Yan's gaze returned to the tech geek, "your skills and intellect are our core assets, but your own strength must also keep up. All resources used to upgrade your level, no matter how expensive, will be borne by me. Don't have any worries, buy or exchange whatever you need."

After saying that, without waiting for A Zhe's reaction, he took out the encrypted terminal and quickly operated it a few times.

With a soft "beep," A Zhe's terminal emitted a notification.

He looked down, his eyes widened instantly, and his voice trembled: "Four...four million?! Brother Yan! That's too much! I..."

This huge sum of money is enough to buy the top-of-the-line psionic enhancement potions and related resources on the market, and even to get some rare components leaked from laboratories.

“This is an investment, and it’s also a reward.” Xu Yan interrupted him, her tone calm but weighty. “Ensuring the photo studio is safe and sound, ensuring Zhiwei’s smooth promotion, and ensuring you can keep up with our pace. We are a team, and your strength is crucial.”

A Zhe stared at the long string of zeros on the terminal, then at Xu Yan with her determined gaze and Chen Zhiwei with her complicated expression. He clenched his fist tightly, a surge of indescribable heat rising in his chest.

He stopped refusing and nodded emphatically: "I understand, Brother Yan! Don't worry! Leave the family to me! I will do my best!"

Xu Yan patted him on the shoulder, then looked at Chen Zhiwei: "Hurry up and get stronger. When I come back, I hope to see a Silver Peak player who can stand alone. In the future, we will need to face even stronger enemies side by side."

Chen Zhiwei looked at Xu Yan. He not only planned his own adventure, but also paved a clear and solid path for her and A Zhe's growth, and invested huge resources without hesitation.

This sense of responsibility and loyalty filled her heart with warmth and motivation.

She no longer insisted on going with him, but took a deep breath, her eyes regaining their resolve: "I will! You must be careful!"

Xu Yan took one last look around the photo studio that held so many memories. His gaze seemed to pierce through layers of space, and he saw the figure struggling to move forward in a deeper dream.

His father's gratified smile was etched into his heart, a gesture of approval and a silent entrustment.

Search for the father, rescue Zhiwei, and lead your companions to grow together.

These goals, closely intertwined, illuminated his path forward.

Gold level is not the end, but the beginning of truly being able to protect those who matter and fulfill promises.

Now, he is ready to step into that dangerous ruin once again, for a stronger return and for a better future for everyone.

(End of this chapter)