Ling Cage: Twelve Talismans? I have everything I need.

Chapter 188 Possible
"Let's go." Yang Chen didn't linger. He gestured to Bai Yuetian and turned to walk out.

Bai Yuetian glanced at Flynn, who was still processing the information, and casually said, "Young man, go find somewhere else to stay. This place is suffocating."

Flynn stared blankly at the departing figures of the two men until the metal door closed again. Only then did he let out a long sigh, looking around the "data room" that imprisoned him with a complex and unreadable expression.

Freedom...has it arrived so suddenly?
Yang Chen and Bai Yuetian left the crowded archives room.

The passageway remained empty, with only the echoes of their footsteps reverberating.

Bai Yuetian put his hands in his pockets, turned his head to Yang Chen and smirked: "So, it seems that Charles can be considered a 'chosen one' by some means?"

"I was marked by some unknown thing, though it's completely useless now."

Yang Chen looked ahead and said calmly, "Whether he is the 'chosen one' is still hard to say. Marking a child is not just to give him a big gift, is it?"

"Tsk, you're right." Bai Yuetian shrugged.

"Let's go find Yue Kui and see what she's up to at the ecological base."

Without another word, the two figures moved slightly and disappeared at the end of the passage.

Dr. Flynn then came out, glanced back at the archives where he had been confined for so long, and walked with somewhat unsteady steps toward the brightly lit corridor.

……

Ecological base, core research area.

Bai Yuekui was standing in front of a huge screen, which displayed complex vital signs data and gene sequence maps.

Her gaze was calm, her fingertips occasionally tracing different contrast modules.

In the center of the projection is the body structure model generated yesterday after the medical robot scanned Mark. Next to it are the data of those "clones" deep in the ecological base.

The two have a 100% overlap in skeletal structure, organ morphology, and even some subtle physiological indicators.

The same.

At this moment, the automatic door of the research area slid open, and Yang Chen and Bai Yuetian walked in.

"What are you looking at so intently?" Bai Yuetian leaned closer, his gaze sweeping over the screen. "Hey, isn't that the kid? The comparison results with those 'backups' in the jar are in?"

Bai Yuekui nodded slightly and turned off the screen: "Yes, confirmed. A special individual with independent life essence."

Bai Yuetian asked, "What do we do with him? The 'Scorching Blood' plan?"

The unique aspect of the Mana ecosystem lies in the fact that it seems to share a common underlying consciousness, or rather, a unified 'information field'.

The Devouring Beasts are its tentacles and weapons, while the Life Essence is its food and target.

If there were an entity possessing human will, yet capable of accessing this ecological consciousness to some extent and delving into its core, it would theoretically be possible to interfere with it from within, or even... dismantle it.

But this is based on two premises.

First, this 'ecological chimera' must possess a sufficiently strong and unwavering human will to resist the assimilation and erosion of ecological consciousness.

Second, he must be able to maintain independent thinking while integrating ecological consciousness, and find the weaknesses or loopholes in that unified consciousness.
"The plan to eliminate the 'blood' has too many uncontrollable factors." Bai Yuekui shook his head. "Until the very last moment, it's best not to rely on this."

“As for Mark…” Bai Yuekui hesitated slightly.

“Let him grow up like a normal child. ASH will also keep an eye on him and will tell us if there are any signs of him being influenced by ecological awareness.”

As soon as Bai Yuekui finished speaking, ASH's unique voice rang out in the research area.

"Yue Kui, Yang Chen, there is new confirmation regarding the Kloto System... and 'the other me'."

Yang Chen and Bai Yuekui turned their heads at the same time to look in the direction of the sound, and Bai Yuetian also raised his eyebrows.

"Speak," Bai Yuekui said succinctly.

"Back then, my consciousness was devoured by Mana's original body, but my consciousness should have also 'existed' in the ecosystem at the same time."

“In theory, it is possible to predict the future as long as there is sufficient computing power,” ASH affirmed. “However, there are variables. Yang Chen and the power he carries are not within the given probability.”

ASH paused for a moment: "All my deductive models are based on known physical laws, ecological evolution patterns, and the logic of human behavior."

"Yang Chen's existence, and the talismans he possesses, are revolutionary exogenous variables that fill the future with incalculable possibilities."

Bai Yuetian whistled: "Oh, so our Orange is a 'plan breaker'?"

Yang Chen rolled his eyes at Bai Yuetian.

“So,” Bai Yuekui concluded, “the other ASH knows me, but doesn’t know Orange.”

ASH paused for a moment: "Yes, I'm afraid I'm also making efforts in that regard."

As the three were talking, Xiao Yuekui's surprised voice came from a nearby experimental cubicle.

"Wow! Was it...was it dancing just now?"

They turned to look and saw Tasia standing in front of an operating table in the experimental area separated by reinforced glass, while Little Moon King was standing on tiptoe, peering through the glass wall with wide eyes.

On the operating table was a specially made transparent container, inside which was a constantly writhing spinal worm.

Tasia's fingers tapped rapidly on the control panel as she explained to Little Moonbeam, "It's not dancing, it's releasing a special pheromone that we call 'scarlet pheromone'."

She pressed the last button, and a faint electric current seemed to flash inside the container. The spinal worm suddenly arched violently, and a scarlet mist emanated from it, filling the limited cavity of the container.

Almost simultaneously, a special receiver on the side of the container lit up, capturing and rapidly analyzing the scarlet pigments.

Immediately afterwards, another screen next to it began to flicker with shattered images.

Those were fragments of memories belonging to the original owner of this spine-borne worm.

The scene flashes across ruined city streets, panicked figures running, the shadow of a huge and ferocious Devouring Beast, and finally, the despair of being swallowed up...

"Ah!" Little Yuekui exclaimed softly as she watched the rapidly flashing images on the screen, her eyes still fixed on the screen.

"Sister Tasia, are these... are these things it saw before?"

“Yes, little boss, you can understand it that way.” Tasia nodded. “The spine worms themselves are a product of the Mana ecosystem, but their predecessors were humans.”

"These scarlet pigments carry fragments of their pre-transformation memories."

Xiao Yuekui watched as another fragmented image flashed across the screen, resembling a family photo.

Yang Chen and the other two walked over. Bai Yuekui looked at Xiao Yuekui's profile and asked softly, "How are you feeling?"

Xiao Yuekui turned around, saw Bai Yuekui and Yang Chen, and immediately ran over, grabbing Bai Yuekui's hand: "Sister, this place is very interesting."

Looking into Xiao Yuekui's bright eyes, Bai Yuekui knew that she was truly interested in this place.

"Go back first."

"okay."

Xiao Yuekui nodded obediently, took one last reluctant look at the spine-like Gu, and followed Bai Yuekui outside.

The group left the ecological base and headed towards the village.

On the way, Yang Chen glanced at Bai Yuekui, who was holding Xiao Yuekui's hand, and asked casually, "Xiao Kui, you've been playing in the village for a few days. Do you want to go back to Jiuchuan? Your parents and Xiao Tian must miss you a lot."

He was secretly planning that if Xiao Yuekui wanted to go back, wouldn't he and Yuekui have some alone time again?
To everyone's surprise, Xiao Yuekui immediately shook her head: "No! It's so much more fun here than at home! There's Maido, and Sister Tasia showed me the red mist, and so many other things I've never seen before! I don't want to go back so soon!"

Yang Chen's expectation vanished instantly, and he sighed inwardly.

Well, it seems this little light bulb is planning to stay on forever.

He could almost picture the next few days, with a little one forever separating him and Bai Yuekui. Bai Yuekui glanced at Yang Chen, seemingly seeing through his little scheme, and gave a barely perceptible smile, but said nothing.

Just then, Xiao Yuekui suddenly tugged at the hem of her clothes and muttered softly, "But... I don't think I have any clothes to change into..."

She wore the same outfit when she came to the village, and after playing for a few days, although she paid attention to hygiene, she definitely needed to change and wash it.

Yang Chen's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this! The opportunity had arrived!

He immediately said, "No clothes to wear? That is indeed a problem."

"Look, Yuekui is busy too. How about I take you back to Jiuchuan to get your clothes? It'll be quick, we'll be there in a flash."

Xiao Yuekui tilted her head, looked at Yang Chen, then at Bai Yuekui, and then shook her head at Yang Chen.

She pointed her little hand: "No. Yang Chen, you're fast, you go get it for me!"

Yang Chen's smile froze on his face: "..."

Bai Yuekui finally couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head as he looked at Yang Chen's discomfiture.

Xiao Yuekui tugged at Bai Yuekui's hand and shook it, adding, "My sister and I are busy together! Thank you, Yang Chen!"

Looking at Xiao Yuekui's innocent smile and then at Bai Yuekui beside him who was clearly smiling, Yang Chen could only sigh helplessly and resignedly stand up.

"Alright, alright, I'll go get it." He scratched his head, but tears were silently streaming down his face.

Not only did he fail to get rid of the little light bulb, he also became a deliveryman.

Seeing Yang Chen's frustrated yet unable to vent his anger, Bai Yuekui's smile deepened: "Go ahead, go ahead, thank you for your hard work."

"It's not hard work, it's just bad luck," Yang Chen muttered to himself.

So, after returning to his residence, Yang Chen glanced at the two sisters who were huddled together talking, resignedly activated the Rabbit Talisman, and his figure instantly disappeared from the spot.

Yang Chen appeared at the Bai family villa.

He opened the door with practiced ease, then went to Xiao Yuekui's room and began to pack Xiao Yuekui's clothes.

As Yang Chen tidied up the little skirt, shirt, and pants, he felt a little uneasy.

To think that he, a dignified talisman holder and one of the de facto leaders of Dragonbone Village, had actually fallen to the point of running errands for little girls and packing their underwear.

"Alas, what a miserable life..." He sighed again, but didn't stop folding the clothes carefully.

The room was quiet, and he didn't see anyone else when he came in.

"ASH, where are your parents-in-law?" Yang Chen asked casually.

He knew that the Bai family's ASH was everywhere.

ASH's voice immediately rang out: "Yang Chen, Bai Jingyu is currently at the company, and Teresa is with Xiao Tian outside."

Yang Chen nodded and continued what he was doing.

At this moment, ASH's voice rang out again, reporting proactively: "In addition, Yang Chen, Professor Horn is currently actively contacting many of his old friends in the academic circle, trying to build a more core research team."

"I have conducted a preliminary screening and assessment of the historical background, academic reputation and potential risks of Professor Horn's contacts. The people on the list appear to be trustworthy and have profound expertise in their respective fields."

Yang Chen paused slightly in his movements.

"It seems Professor Horn is planning something big." Yang Chen folded the last jacket and put it into the prepared bag.

“Yes,” ASH confirmed. “The initial communication went smoothly. We expect the core team to be initially established within the next one to two weeks. At that time, you will need to return to Jiuchuan to lead the team to the ecological base.”

Yang Chen understood the importance of this.

In-depth research on the ecology of manna requires top-notch scientific research capabilities.

"Okay." Yang Chen picked up the bag containing the clothes and prepared to leave.

“Yes, I will keep an eye on the progress,” ASH replied.

Yang Chen, carrying a bag of clothes, said, "By the way, Ash, tell your father-in-law that Xiao Kui will be staying in the village for a few more days, so he doesn't need to worry."

“The message has been delivered,” ASH responded immediately.

Yang Chen nodded, walked out of the house without further delay, and prepared to activate the Rabbit Talisman to return to Dragon Bone Village.

However, the expected sense of spatial travel did not come; instead, the scene before my eyes was wildly distorted.

The surrounding area was a chaotic urban street scene.

It was indeed Hisakawa City, but it was definitely not the Hisakawa he had just been in.

The buildings in the distance are still intact, with thick black smoke billowing from some areas.

Traffic was congested on the streets.

"What...what's going on?" Yang Chen was shocked and looked around warily.

"Are you an idiot? Where did you come from? Don't block my way. If you want to die, go die somewhere else."

The driver honked the horn repeatedly, but Yang Chen ignored it, his gaze drawn to a tall building in the distance.

On the huge screen of that tall building, a wanted poster was being displayed.

The face on the screen was Bai Yuekui, dressed in prison clothes.

The wanted poster showed her with black hair, her eyes conveying a sense of death.

Just then, Yang Chen looked up and saw a motorcycle falling down from above!
Behind the motorcycle, a lithe figure followed closely, deployed a parachute, and the speed decreased sharply.

Although they were not close, Yang Chen still recognized that it was Bai Yuekui.

"Moon Queen!"

Yang Chen shouted out, not caring about what was going on. The power of the rabbit and chicken talismans within his body erupted simultaneously, and his figure was about to soar into the sky, rushing towards the falling figure.

However, just as his magic surged forth and his feet were about to leave the ground...

The scene before me changed again.

Chaotic streets, explosions, falling figures... everything vanished in an instant!

The next second, I felt my feet firmly planted on solid ground, and the surrounding scenery appeared.

He stood in front of Dragonbone Village, still holding the bag containing Little Moon Clan's clothes. The afterglow of the setting sun shone peacefully, as if everything that had just happened was merely a fleeting illusion.

But the image of Bai Yuekui falling under the parachute in his mind reminded him that it was definitely not just an illusion.

“Just now… that was…” Yang Chen’s eyes were filled with confusion, and his brows were tightly furrowed.

What did he just see?
Was that Yue Kui's past? Was it one of her escapes during the early stages of the collapse of the old world?

"Hey, Yue Kui, did someone just call you?"

A round-headed robot is gripping the back seat of a motorcycle tightly with its mechanical arm.

After hearing the little robot's words, Bai Yuekui, who was driving a motorcycle, glanced at Hisakawa Defense Guard, who was chasing closely beside him.

"Didn't hear you. Hold on tight."

(End of this chapter)