He is the leader of the Tantric sect in Chagdu.

Chapter 71 is delightful!

After Sherlock's long speech, Ai's gaze went completely blank.

"I feel like I'm hearing a lot of things—I understand every single word, but why do I still not quite understand?"

He shook his head vigorously, his eyes earnest, "Is there a data-saving version?"

"Why are you just like those recent college graduates doing interns—all you do is ask people for the data-saving version, without any context?"

O

Sherlock looked at him with a disappointed expression, but then quickly relaxed when he thought of Ai's age. He patiently explained, "There are more details about the Germination process in the think tank, but ultimately, it is a hurdle that is difficult to cross through experience alone. The nourishment collected by different qualified individuals is completely different, and the ideologies they lick are vastly different. Even the Foundation cannot record all the situations."

He concluded by saying, "In the simplest terms, in the rite of budding, you must use the deepest desire in your vessel to interpret the correctness of the path you are on—whether it is truly superior or not. Even if it has insurmountable flaws and weaknesses, you must have the determination to make up for them and continue to the end."

"

"Those who cannot even transcend their own true thoughts, and who even rely on deception to conceal their true intentions, are mediocre individuals blocked from the mystical world by the Rite of Sprouting." Their path ends with those who qualify; that red pool is no longer a realm they can tread.

Sherlock said softly, "Sprout, this is a trial of the heart."

—The Trial of the Heart.

After silently repeating the word in her mind, Ai nodded, looking thoughtful: "I understand."

"Do you really understand?" Sherlock exhaled a puff of white mist and suddenly asked.

"Okay, actually I don't fully understand." Ai couldn't help but sigh and mutter, "Although I have gained a lot of insights, without actual experience, I still can't understand how to overcome my own inner struggles."

"Then let's be honest—don't use those old hands' rhetoric from outside companies; foundations don't tolerate that kind of convoluted approach."

Sherlock called over a waiter and ordered two more dishes. Turning back, he continued, "While I can't offer you direct assistance, as someone who has been there before, I can share some of my personal experience."

Facing Ai's expectant gaze, Sherlock's eyes dimmed almost imperceptibly, but he quickly regained his composure. He said softly, "Before it sprouts, it's best to be in an environment you are familiar with—familiarity here doesn't refer to your most frequented place, but rather the place that holds the deepest memories and greatest significance for you."

"Significance—most important?"

"That's right."

Sherlock affirmed, "Although there's no data to support it—based on my own experience, and the opinions of many predecessors who completed the Budding Ritual, staying at a point that is significant to you does indeed have some impact on the budding process—"

Ai frowned and said helplessly, "This is too far-fetched. It sounds like the health benefits of goji berries—"

Sherlock shrugged: "That's how it is with climbing the ladder. Mediocre people just need to be stepping stones, while geniuses have a lot more to consider."

1

Changing the subject, the uncle sighed softly, "This success rate is only possible after many pioneers laid the foundation for mysticism—in the past, although I didn't experience that period, I could roughly understand some of the chaos at that time."

Like any middle-aged man with a strong desire to express himself, Sherlock lit another cigarette and slowly began to recount the old stories that seasoned veterans often mentioned.

"About several decades ago, the mysterious structure of the Nest City was not yet fully stable—the so-called official power was just a name, and no faction could establish absolute authority in the mystical world."

"Back then—the activities of official mystical scholars did indeed lean more towards study groups," everyone maintained only basic channels of communication, each kept their own secrets, the organization was loose and administratively inefficient, and perhaps this is why unofficial esoteric cults were far more rampant during that period than they are now."

Sherlock's eyes gleamed: "However, later, the Foundation underwent a transformation, with an organization called the 'Heart of the Heart' Council gaining control of the Foundation's internal discourse. They restructured the Foundation's organization, under the leadership of the first 'Swordholder'..."

Under his leadership, the Hearthstone Council was transformed into the "Court of Justice," which was the precursor to the Trinity Foundation and one of the earliest of its three pillars.

"This is the truth of fire—the power of change and shaping. All change originates from fire, and all rebirth after burning begins with its rising. Just as recorded in ancient history, it is the birth of fire that has brought the power of civilization back to humankind."

"Fire—" New meat was served, and Ai's mouth was stuffed full, making her speech indistinct. "Is this the guiding principle of your path, the Path of Burning Steel?"

"That's right." Sherlock started roasting the meat again with his body heat, while snatching meat from the little brat opposite him. "You fucking eat slower."

Although not the grand path of the Fire Criterion, the Path of Burning Steel is quite famous among all the paths—as the path originally mastered by the "Court of Justice," those "enforcers" have a mysterious obsession with this path—after all, in an era when the development of mystical powers was insufficient, a Burning Steel user who could use human flesh and blood as a hydraulic press was an existence that wild cultists could not contend with.

"Violence is in the hands of civilization"—that is the original order.

Finally, Sherlock's secret stash couldn't hold out any longer, so the host and guests were left in a state of merriment. The uncle looked grief-stricken, while Ai, rubbing her swollen belly, leaned against the wall and walked out of the restaurant.

"Burp, I'm so full."

After saying goodbye to Sherlock, the fox made his way back.

Along the way, he started thinking about how to make money again, both for the sake of food and for his future development—

He recalled Mithril: the Foundation sells it to you for 2 credits per unit, it's an internal price, employees must pass multiple identity verifications by the think tank to purchase it, there's a certain purchase limit each month, and smuggling is strictly prohibited—these regulations are all necessary.

After all, if this thing were given to those wild, mysterious societies, it could fetch at least ten times the price on the black market—when Ai heard about that price difference, her heart rate almost soared to 200.

—Damn it, people die for money!

However, he was quickly given another dose of cold water—even if he was willing to be a spy, he had to carefully consider whether he could evade the foundation's investigation—as for those non-governmental organizations that had been dealt with to the point of losing their temper, unless they were newbies who didn't care about money or their lives (the crazy people who didn't care about their lives were already dead), they would stay as far away as possible from these "internal special edition" materials.

If we force it—we might get reported by "concerned citizens," and then we'd lose our secure jobs.

However, after this deep dive, the fox's mindset underwent a slight change—

Perhaps something that could be called "purity" has increased?

—Now it seems—

Ai's eyes lit up, and a dangerous thought suddenly occurred to her:

The reason why private factions dare not accept bribes from government officials is that "think tanks" are essentially the technology of foundations. Regarding the transfer of large amounts of credit points—one or two transactions are a small problem, but once a huge amount of money is involved, they will be arrested on the spot very quickly.

However, with the invincible Xiaobai providing cover, the think tank may not be able to control Fox. Although "Credit Points" are the think tank's highest-level currency encryption system and cannot be tampered with or added to out of thin air, there are still loopholes in the process of misappropriation and transfer, and there is a lot of room for manipulation here!

As for the dumping party, if the black market doesn't dare to accept the goods, who else would dare to accept them?

—I, "Mr. Grey," dare to buy and sell!

Since they're already among the top names on Chaodu's blacklist, what's there to be afraid of with mere smuggling?

Goods generate money, money generates goods, and the foundation is a large and powerful entity. If we don't keep an eye on it for free, where else can we get start-up capital? — Are we going to rely on those illiterate, poor guys in the suburbs who can't read a single word?

Obviously impossible.

Moreover, as a proud member of the foundation, although he may seem like a double agent, as the top superior of the cult, Ai could completely turn this smuggling into a virtuous cycle.

Ellen profits from the Foundation, while Gray profits from the general public and can also secretly give back to them. As for those wild mystical apprentices, since they can afford to buy hundreds of thousands of mithril coins, they are likely backed by a company. Small capitalists who go down to the city are most easily bewitched by intangible magic, and they probably don't lack this kind of money.

They exchanged a string of numbers for mysterious materials to enhance themselves, resulting in a win-win situation for both host and guests.

No one will be harmed in this process!

Thinking like this, the urge to do bad things becomes more and more intense.

As for why they would use such a risky way to make money—first, the execution ground that Gray built in the suburbs may be very powerful, but this power is ultimately just a superficial and rootless thing—the most crucial problem has never been solved: the suburbs are areas that have been removed from the Nest's system and separated from the "production process," and there are no complete raw materials and production lines there.

Supplies, food? Buy from outside. Money? Steal, rob, or engage in shady deals. Manpower? Borrow from outside—

It was just like a primitive hunting tribal society.

Such a structure is too old and outdated. Whether it is technology or mystery, to build a complete and healthy production chain, complete infrastructure is required. To establish a faction that can truly eat at the same table with the Foundation, it is impossible to rely solely on forcibly taking from the outside. It will soon be interrupted due to changes in the environment and expansion of the scale, until it falls apart.

Clearly, parasitism is not a sound long-term development model.

However—if it's only used to obtain "start-up capital," then the argument is quite different.

Ai nodded to herself, thinking she was a genius.

As for the second driving force behind choosing smuggling, "That sounds really interesting—"

The fox felt his mentality was getting worse and worse, as if he was further revealing his true nature. This way of life, which involved maneuvering in extreme opposition, gave him unprecedented pleasure. Although he would sometimes be "cowardly," like a cowardly yet playful little devil, "provocation" and "manipulation" would bring him a sweet and dangerous taste, like sipping poison, so much so that he couldn't stop.

In such an absurd and bizarre world, all elements are like chaotic and frenzied colors splashed on a painting. One should imprint all of this on the pupil with the joyful attitude of appreciating avant-garde art.

Moreover, Ai Yi has seen an important "time point" gradually approaching, or even imminent.

It concerns the extension of the will of "gray".

In the past two weeks, he hadn't forgotten about the secret sect's operations. Although he was inside enemy territory, he maintained contact with Nie and the others—the faction in the outskirts had already consolidated nearly half of its members, and with the spread of "Ash Authority" in the suburbs, the remaining part might be completed even faster.

As for the remaining troublesome troublemakers with mysterious powers, they can be dealt with by a combination of force and negotiation, but perhaps it would be better to have "Mr. Gray" personally intervene—just like a chairman having to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for his own company's IPO.

However, we'll have to wait until I advance in my skill level before making a decision.

Ai Yi twitched the corners of his mouth, feeling inexplicably excited. If Hui only wanted to create power like other civilian societies to better support himself, he didn't need to occupy the entire suburbs or bring his power into the open. Doing so would only attract more hostility and prying eyes. It was much easier and more comfortable to keep "operating underground".

The fox's smile deepened, and joy slowly rose within him.

He squinted, the gray matter revealing a hazy vision to him. Although he couldn't see the specific things clearly from a great distance, he could still tell that "it" was hatching.

In the dim light, the fox sensed a phantom: a singularity born of malice, the biggest gamble Gray had left for himself at his peak, aside from the intercalation—a pervasive black mist swirling around the underground in the distant suburbs, outlining a faint silhouette.

A crown of filth, black yet sacred, pulsating like the beating of a heart:

Ai's eyes were burning:

Whether it was the "gray matter" that had repelled the Foundation, or the unusual transport of "malicious sewage" that Ai had sensed long ago—through his connection with the Gray Court, he could feel the ominous tremor buried deep underground in the suburbs after the Grand Ceremony, and further changes—

All of this seems to be proclaiming a certain meaning: perhaps Gray's ambition is more magnificent than people imagine—his envisioned esoteric sect is capable of standing firmly under the spotlight and having the power to speak with the Foundation.

The fox, walking the path of gray, felt an intense longing, fueled by the same ambition about to hatch, amidst the slowly subsiding buzzing in its belly.

He swallowed hard, gulping down this incredibly delicious desire.

"bud."

Despite the pleasure, the fox did not forget its main quest.

"The most important place for me —"

Ai wiped away his drool, swallowing back his surging emotions. The boiling red liquid calmed down, and he pondered the question, somewhat lost in thought.

He stood in the corridor for several minutes before finally coming to his senses, as if waking from a dream.

-

The think tank icon appeared in his eyes. He skillfully opened a pinned communication box and looked at the chat history on it—the last message he sent was from two days ago.

[“A true man among men”: Have you eaten properly?]

[“Dudududu”: I ate! (Hands on hips) (Image)]

Although the photo was of a bento box, the angle was strange, revealing a fleshy, fair thigh of a woman sitting cross-legged on the sofa. Ai Yi had difficulty looking away.

The latest message was sent last night, but he went to bed early because he was going on a deep dive, so he didn't receive it. [“Dudududu”: This is what I ate today. (Image)]

[A man among men replied: "Sister Dudu, have you ever eaten seafood?"]

Just a few seconds later, [“Beep beep beep beep”: “No!”]

The fox searched online to see if ordinary people could eat the animals in the Red Pool. After receiving a "yes" answer, it turned around and went back to the restaurant.

He thought to himself.

I should go back and check on that stupid bird sometime.

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