I discovered a world bug.

races...

In a sense, this concept is not much different from the one Lin Shu had previously obtained from Qin Lang.

The only difference is in the "description".

The so-called "transformation of fortune" is actually the same as the revival of the "mysterious factor" that Qin Lang mentioned.

So that's all you wanted to tell me?

Brother Xu, isn't this a bit unnecessary?

"Is that all?"

Lin Shu frowned slightly and asked:

"I know you have your own way of looking at the world, and perhaps that way is correct."

"But I have to say... it doesn't seem like anything has changed."

"I already know all of this..."

"What's your hurry?"

Sun Xiaoyi rolled her eyes.

"This is just the basics—just to make sure you understand what follows."

"What really matters is the inference derived from this fundamental concept—we call it, authority, and key."

authority?

key?

What is this thing again?

"It's not hard to understand."

Sun Xiaoyi pulled out a pack of cigarettes from her pocket, indicating that she was quite addicted to smoking.

"So-called authority is simply the identity of a race."

"The Great Dao cycles through beginnings and ends, and the primordial energy separates, unites, flourishes, declines, and is born and dies. This is an irresistible law. In this process, the people will inevitably be chosen by the Great Dao and born into this world."

"People often carry the burden of a karmic connection—we don't know where this connection comes from. To be honest, many people with this karmic connection are not the 'perfectly virtuous and sincere people' recorded in ancient books; some are even simply evil people."

"But in any case, the Daoist connection and the race of people exist."

"The people are the key to the world's cycle. They will build a bridge between the Supreme Emperor's Tribulation and the Dragon-Han Tribulation, or rather, continue a lineage of the Great Dao, helping this world to continue its cyclical development."

"Therefore, the Great Dao also requires that the race must exist."

"When one race is wiped out or lost, another race will take its place."

"This is what is called 'authority'."

...It's really not hard to understand.

So the so-called "people" are the so-called "chosen ones"?

The "path" that the people bear is what is called "authority".

The massacre of people was not merely for the purpose of severing ties with nature—though, in terms of the outcome, they certainly did "sever ties with nature."

But their true purpose was actually to seize power...

hiss......

Now, the opponent's motivation became completely clear.

The previously unresolved questions have now been answered.

really......

The organization Xu Feng belongs to is really not that simple!

"Is this why you're unwilling to join official organizations? Don't you want power to fall into the hands of the authorities?"

Yes and no.

In an instant, Sun Xiaoyi had lit her third cigarette—it looked like she had been holding it in for too long in the hospital room.

"We certainly do not want power to fall into the hands of forces that we do not understand or can not fully trust."

"But frankly speaking, people living in this country still have a basis for trusting the government."

"Over the past few decades, many people have criticized the government. I criticized it when I was young, but the more I understand, the more I realize how difficult it is to govern a country, and that they have done a pretty good job."

"So simply because of 'distrust' won't make us reject official sources."

"More importantly, there's another reason—the key."

"This is the second concept."

"Lin Shu, what do you think is the role of the race?"

"Forehead......"

Lin Shu hesitated for a moment, then tentatively replied:

"Mastering rituals, restarting the world, and ensuring the continuation of humanity?"

"...That's a very broad statement..."

Sun Xiaoyi shook her head, amused.

"Forget it, I won't ask you anymore—the most important responsibility and role of the people is that word 'people'."

"The people are a seed, and also a key."

"Those who possess the power of the race will rapidly increase their abilities in 'rituals'."

"Just like you—do you know why the official research on rituals was so lagging behind before?"

"It's not because they lack heritage, it's not because they lack resources, it's because they haven't found a truly strong enough race."

"Without a sufficiently strong and deeply rooted lineage of people, their study of rituals cannot proceed smoothly."

"Take the yarrow stalk and tortoise shell divination you are familiar with as an example. As far as I know, they had not previously reconstructed this ritual."

"Why? Is it because their ritual procedures are flawed, they lack resources, or they are short-staffed?"

No.

"It's because everyone under their command lacks the necessary affinity for the Dao."

"Even if the correct rituals are performed, they cannot see or analyze them—because the effects are extremely minimal."

"They need to put in several times, even tens or hundreds of times, more effort to restore a set of rituals. Even for the government with unlimited resources, such a consumption would be extremely difficult."

"That's why they were a step, or even several steps, slower."

"But everything will change once you join them."

"You're like a key, helping them open that door... That's what a key is."

After she finished speaking, Lin Shu remained silent for a full half minute.

After a long silence, he nodded and said:

"Understood."

"But I still don't understand why the key and the authority would become an obstacle for you to join the officialdom...etc."

In that instant, a flash of inspiration struck Lin Shu.

He figured out the question he had raised.

Why?

Because a key is more than just a key; once the door is "opened," the entire force's power in rituals will increase exponentially at an extremely fast pace.

Just like now.

Compared to the "Research Team 1" I had just encountered, the strength of Team 1 had actually increased several times over!

More resources invested, stronger rituals, and greater trust from the top...

It is foreseeable that explosive development is just around the corner.

The key to all of this is yourself, the key.

"...A key is not just a key."

Lin Shu took a deep breath.

"This is... a nuclear weapon from the Ritual World."

"That's right."

Sun Xiaoyi threw away the cigarette butt in her hand and didn't light it again this time.

"The key is the nuclear weapon."

"As we said before, any power that understands rituals and the 'cycle,' no matter what language or description they use, will subconsciously try to seize power."

"Having the key will increase their efficiency in seizing power countless times. In fact, if one day they can eliminate all other forces besides their own, then all power will fall into their hands."

"This is... an era of great strife, and a bloody one at that."

"Based on these considerations, we have to be cautious."

"Of course, we also hope that you will be more cautious."

"We don't know if your decision to join the government was right or wrong, but it seems most likely it was."

"But if one day you realize you've made a mistake, then I hope... you can back out in time."

"So now you know why we refused to join the official team?"

"It's not simply a matter of distrust."

"We need to leave this world a way out."

"alright......"

Sun Xiaoyi waved her hand.

"This is what Brother Xu wanted to tell you. I hope you'll think about it carefully when you get back."

"I have to go—your focus will definitely be on the Hongyuan Society from now on, right?"

"Yes."

Lin Shu did not hide it.

"We must first eliminate some of their influence within the country by destroying mountains and temples."

"Yes, I'll take a share."

Sun Xiaoyi answered without hesitation:

"You guys sometimes do stupid things, but at least you act like human beings."

"Yu Zhe and his group, the Hongyuan Society... now it seems like they're all idiots."

"Killing them would be good for everyone."

"Write down my phone number. If you need anything from me, you can contact me directly."

"clear."

Lin Shu exchanged phone numbers with Sun Xiaoyi, who then turned and left, while Lin Shu went upstairs with mixed feelings.

You yourself are that key...

This responsibility seems far too heavy.

but......

I had no choice but to take responsibility.

Pushing open the door, the medical staff arranged by Qin Lang were already preparing to transfer Luo Hou. Seeing Lin Shu walk in, he nodded and said in a calm tone:

"Luo Hou is about to leave, and we are also preparing to retreat back to Linchuan."

"So, are you... still coming with us?"

Lin Shu was stunned for a moment.

"Let's go."

He replied:

"Definitely."

In an instant, the corners of Qin Lang's mouth turned up a few degrees.

"Then pack your things—I'll go back and continue interrogating Yu Zhe, dig out information about the Hongyuan Society, and try to take them down within the next week or two."

"Last time we said we'd have a holiday but we didn't. This time we're really giving you two days off."

"If you need anything, just tell me, and I..."

"I actually do."

Lin Shu interrupted Qin Lang.

"When you interrogate Yu Zhe, focus on uncovering the ritual procedures of the Yinshan method first."

"This thing is very important—I have a feeling that if I could get the specific ritual text of the Yinshan Method, my 'Snake'...

"It can probably be promoted one more level."