Chapter 307: Chapter 300: S-Rank Skill: Knowledge Hacker
New information flashed before Shi Ming’s eyes.
’This young researcher is one of the two S-rank Awakened stationed at the Xirang Research Institute?’
[Cheese—oh, no, Knowledge is power. Some derive power from cheese, others from knowledge. Is there really much of a difference?]
[S-rank Skill: Knowledge Hacker]
[Rank: 42]
[From the Sea Beast "Millennium Insect."]
[Greatly enhances the user’s intelligence, learning ability, and research capacity. Upon active use, the user enters "Knowledge Hacker" mode, where all living beings and objects appear as collections of data, information, and knowledge.]
[A Knowledge Hacker can more acutely perceive a target’s weaknesses and the flaws in all things.]
[When a Knowledge Hacker touches a target, they can inject an incomprehensible "knowledge paradox." This overloads the target’s logical core, causing their thought processes to freeze. They will immediately cease their current actions and prioritize solving the knowledge paradox. The effect is doubled on targets reliant on fixed thought patterns, slightly reduced on highly intelligent targets, and can forcibly convert zero-intelligence targets into Knowledge Puppets!]
’What a bizarre skill,’ Shi Ming complained internally. ’A logic bomb, basically? Like the old computer viruses.’
Despite his inner thoughts, he responded politely to the researcher.
"It is indeed a pity. The literary works of the Land Era, many of which were timeless treasures worthy of being passed down, were masterpieces of civilization. Yet so many were lost during the Wandering Era. Less than a tenth have been preserved. This is true for literature, and even more so for the transmission of other knowledge. It is undeniably a great loss for humanity."
A hint of approval appeared in the female researcher’s eyes.
She seemed to have rarely met outsiders and asked:
"Do you have much time for reading while sailing the seas?"
Shi Ming replied seriously:
"Bacon said that knowledge is power. Awakening by bathing in Sea Beast Blood is one way to obtain power; acquiring knowledge through reading is another. There is no superiority or inferiority between the two. The only difference is that one seeks power externally, while the other seeks it internally."
The female researcher nodded.
In the Wandering Era, few people held such views.
Most Awakened, especially the captains of wandering ships, had their minds filled with thoughts of muscle, wealth, and force. They failed to recognize the importance of learning, often considering reading a waste of time. Even if they did manage to sit down with a book, their minds were restless.
’This young man before me seems a little different?’
Seeing the two of them chatting, Li Jiuyuan walked over and made introductions.
"Shi Ming, this is the pillar of the institute, Chen Qingyu. She’s also my senior sister. Don’t be fooled by her youth; her research and academic abilities are only slightly inferior to my own."
"Senior Sister, this is Shi Ming. Despite his youth, he’s a powerful S-rank Awakened."
The researcher, Chen Qingyu, was very curious about Shi Ming’s life as the captain of a wandering ship. The Xirang Research Institute rarely had visitors, and communication with the outside world was inconvenient. Seizing the opportunity, she began asking Shi Ming about his experiences and interesting stories from the sea.
But all the topics inevitably turned to research and analysis. Talking with her was like attending an academic seminar.
For example:
The high temperatures of the Sea of Boiling and speculations about the sea beasts behind it.
The pros and cons of the Great Maelstrom’s formation for the Endless Ocean.
Whether a core area capable of reaching absolute zero existed in the Extreme North Ice Sea.
And so on.
"Captain Shi, you are so young, yet so knowledgeable and well-read."
A hint of longing for life at sea appeared in her eyes.
"Researcher Chen, you rarely go to sea, yet you know so much about its phenomena. That is even more admirable."
The two exchanged compliments.
After their conversation ended, Researcher Chen said goodbye to them.
She poured them a pot of tea and then left the lounge.
"My senior sister has been on Mount Everest since birth. Like most researchers at the Xirang Research Institute, she has rarely ventured far from it. Even when she occasionally explores the ocean, it’s on an ordinary boat, so she can’t travel for very long. That’s why she’s so interested in the daily lives of wandering ship captains."
"I can understand that."
If it were Shi Ming, being confined to such a small space for so long would only make him long for the outside world even more.
Adventure, power, battle, and passion were in his blood.
He could never curl up in some quiet, peaceful corner.
Besides, Mount Everest, this last piece of land, was no peaceful Peach Blossom Spring.
"If you were fated to be trapped in one place, under such circumstances, wouldn’t acquiring more knowledge just bring more pain?"
Li Jiuyuan shook his head.
"She once said,"
"She would rather suffer for knowledge than find happiness in ignorance."
Rong Bing returned to the reception hall from the reporting station.
"The intermission of the Sub-Blade Storm has ended. The institute is investigating the cause."
"Our mission is now complete."
The Snow-Crowned Jade plant and the two newly discovered points leaking life signatures were enough for Xirang and Da Yu to investigate what was happening inside the mountain. Shi Ming’s mission—to "explore Mount Everest and find traces of a Holy Hall-level Sea Beast’s existence or evidence of its demise"—was now complete.
As for subsequent exploration, Xirang would be in charge for the time being.
Xirang had been stationed here for thirty years and knew better how to investigate potential crises and opportunities. With a Holy Hall-level Sea Beast having inexplicably fallen, no one would let their guard down, even if Shi Ming hadn’t warned them about the hidden circumstances.
All the intelligence and the exploration process recorded by their instruments had also been backed up at the Xirang Research Institute.
Shi Ming had discovered the Snow-Crowned Jade, so it would be converted into a certain amount of Contribution Points and added to his Da Yu’s Treasure Vault terminal.
On the return voyage, Shi Ming stood alone on the deck, watching the towering mountain peak gradually recede into the distance.
He would be back again soon.
After coming into contact with the blood of the Creation Celestial Pillar and upgrading his Arm of Power, the fusion of his Fallen Sanctuary had also accelerated under the power of life. The process was nearing completion. In five days at most, he would transcend the realm of S-rank Awakened and advance to become a Saint Hall Level Awakener!
Although the power of his Fallen Sanctuary was only at the entry-level of the Saint Hall rank.
But compared to S-rank, it was a qualitative leap!
By then, after he killed the Great Black Heaven Dragon, the secrets of this mountain, no matter how mysterious, would have nowhere to hide from his sight with the power of two Saint Hall abilities!
If it was an opportunity, he would seize it.
If it was a threat, he would swiftly eliminate it!
After Kunwu returned to Da Yu and completed the mission handover, Shi Ming returned to the Da Yun to wait for his Contribution Points to be deposited. This would take about one to two days.
During this time, he had many things to take care of.
For instance, compiling the esoteric scriptures and intelligence from the great stone monument,
and also, using his current resources to upgrade the Da Yun to General-rank 5, then determining the materials needed to ascend it to King-rank and planning his next move.
Once the Contribution Points arrived, he also needed to go to Da Yu’s Treasure Vault to redeem a Seed of Life and break through with his [Arm of Conquest] again!
Busy!
His schedule was too packed!
...
*BEEP*
A message came from [Let There Be Light] at his waist.
He entered the captain’s quarters, took out the communicator from the Huangshi, and connected to Let There Be Light. The group had been quiet recently. The Lighthouse was stationed over the Fujing Mountain Sea Region, apparently conducting some kind of secret research.
Looking at the message before him, his eyes gleamed.
’Something big is coming?’
