Chapter 445: Chapter 409: Sang Que’s Plan
Modern era, inside the meeting room of Lishi Mountain Base.
Ever since bringing the first group back, Sang Que has spent every day either training or attending meetings, endlessly meeting with various departments at the research institute.
The research materials and intelligence brought back this time have stirred the entire research institute into action. Without any directive, everyone voluntarily worked overtime, engaging tirelessly in research and discussion within the laboratories.
At Kang Mingxiu’s request, Sang Que also brought back three zombies for the medical department as research materials.
In addition to this, samples of the blood mist from Qinzhou, the withered trees affected by the blood mist, and the Second Layer’s evil spirits were also brought back.
Zhao Yunshu and Yao Zhen, after seven days, obtained significant information about the Daoist Lord and, utilizing the power of the Daoist Lord, had Yao Zhen draw various talismans.
Qiao Ling’s pills, the yin objects and secret artifacts from the Ghost Vendor, the snake gu from Cheng Ge, the ink on Liu Tianyou, Yu Da’s saliva, and samples from the Bright Moon Mountain like insects, plants, soil, as well as blood, hair, and even urine and feces from the locals were collected.
Sufficient for research that could last for years.
Upon returning this time, Sang Que felt that Lishi Mountain seemed increasingly ’dangerous’ to her. She estimated that currently many weapons in Huaxia were certainly aimed at this place, and any sign of trouble would quickly turn it into ruins.
The meetings conducted in previous days were too technical; Sang Que found them sleep-inducing. But today, as they prepared to discuss the next steps, Sang Que became energized and reported her preliminary ideas about Jinzhou’s plan to build the Great Wall to the meeting.
After the report, the meeting was paused until late into the night when all related personnel were urgently assembled for a secret meeting.
In the conference room, Sang Que once again saw the elderly gentleman, with Zhao Yunshu seated beside him, holding a thick stack of materials and reporting to him.
Sang Que sat opposite the elderly gentleman, with professors and researchers from the institute on one side of the table, and important military figures on the other side, just like before.
Zhao Yunshu’s report lasted an hour, and everyone waited for an hour.
After Zhao Yunshu’s report, the elderly man removed his glasses, pinched his nose bridge, closed his eyes to ponder for a while, and then slowly began to speak.
"This exploration of the Otherworld has yielded substantial achievements. So far, these research results appear to have profound impacts across Huaxia’s various fields, which is why our exploration of the Otherworld must continue deeply."
Everyone nodded in agreement, especially professors like Ye Changqing and the researchers seated behind them.
The elderly man continued, "This exploration will require a long time and a safe place to ensure the safety of all personnel, but now an issue has arisen that we must face. Sang Que, please speak; you have a better understanding of matters involving the Otherworld and possess the highest decision-making authority on those matters."
Sang Que was predetermined to lead the topics concerning the Deceit Dynasty, and from the outset, it was agreed upon, with the elderly man granting her enough respect in front of everyone present, causing the looks at Sang Que to carry less disdain.
Having prepared her wording earlier that day, Sang Que spoke immediately, "I am leading everyone to explore the Otherworld not for invasion and destruction but to enhance Huaxia’s overall strength through the Otherworld, to eventually unite with people from the Otherworld to find a way to end the Spiritual Era, which is our ultimate goal."
"I understand that with Huaxia’s strength, changing a dynasty in the Otherworld is an easy task, but due to the presence of supernatural powers, doing so presents significant risks. If it results in unforeseen consequences, it might end up affecting our own world, and we do not wish for a lifeless wasteland either."
Apart from a few radicals from the military turning their heads in silence, others nodded frequently.
Sang Que ignored the radicals, "The court is planning to build the Great Wall in the Qianyue Mountain Range, with construction starting next spring. During this period, Jinzhou will conduct bandit suppression. In front of Bright Moon Mountain is Qingfeng Temple, which can hold for a while. Whether we will openly break relations with the court, I need to visit Shengjing to decide."
Going to Shengjing had already been decided earlier; apart from fulfilling the promised rescue, the most crucial task is retrieving Yin Child’s heart and preparing the progression ritual.
As a man-made ghost, Yin Child’s hands, eyes, and tongue have been replaced by powerful yin objects, but the heart remains her own, lacking any special abilities, yet it is the irreplaceable part of Yin Child.
Even if Yin Child temporarily uses her heart to complete herself, reaching the Sixth Level in capability, she still falls short of truly becoming a Ghost God.
This time, Yin Child’s progression ritual from the Sixth Level to the Seventh Level mirrors her previous transition from the Second Layer to the Third Layer.
Back then, calling it a progression ritual was actually Yin Child seeking to fulfill her desire, she was eager for revenge, and also schemed to trip up Sang Que, hoping Sang Que would be killed while dealing with powerful foes like the Daoist, Monk, and government officers and grant Yin Child freedom.
Yet, Yin Child did not anticipate Sang Que’s good fortune, accidentally meeting the conditions while falling into the storyteller’s narrative, and had no choice but to progress.
This time, the Daoist, Monk, and government officers that Yin Child desires are the true culprits who initially dismembered her original form, refined her into a ghost, and assembled the yin object to her body, turning her into what she is now.
Yin Child wants the tongue of the chanting Monk, the eyes of the Daoist who carved her heart, and the hands of the Evil Suppression Bureau officer who dismembered and assembled her.
Meeting these conditions, and replacing Yin Child’s own heart, as long as Sang Que’s capabilities keep up, they can attempt to cross the chasm between Ghost Level and Ghost God Realm together.
After all, Yin Child has already consumed a Five Spirits God, and with Sang Que not lacking incense, should the power of fear fall short, Sang Que has alternative plans.
If the trip to Shengjing goes smoothly, she could attain some strength to contend with Zuo Jinye, then she wouldn’t need to leave Bright Moon Mountain and could deal with the Da Xuan Dynasty on equal terms.
If the trip to Shengjing doesn’t go smoothly, she has measures to counter it. She never planned to just wait for fate and prefers to be prepared for contingencies.
"Professor Qin, the blood mist we brought back and the evil spirits within it, what changes did they undergo when confronted with obsidian?"
Suddenly named, Qin Zhixian paused for a moment, everyone turned to him simultaneously, and he cleared his throat, saying, "That blood mist, it possesses strong corrosive qualities; anything alive that comes into contact with it quickly withers and dies. Hardly anything can trap that blood mist, but surprisingly, obsidian can block this blood mist and cause it to dissipate over time."
The equipment Sang Que used to contain the blood mist was given by the Ghost Vendor, mixed with obsidian fragments inside.
"Regarding the evil spirits generated within the blood mist, obsidian products can confine them. The Second Layer’s evil spirit brought back by Sang Que, when confined in a box made of obsidian for three days, was burned to ashes; it would remain in ash form without recovery if the box wasn’t opened."
The savvy individuals present, and those familiar with the Otherworld’s terrain, now grasped Sang Que’s intention.
Sang Que explained, "Initially, I indeed wanted to establish Bright Moon Mountain as Huaxia’s base in the Otherworld, but currently, it seems not the most suitable. Qinzhou, which none dare venture into, is the right choice."
In the Deceit Dynasty, obsidian is monopolized by the Buddhist Sect and is an extremely scarce resource. Even Shengjing City cannot afford to use whole obsidian blocks for construction; the Buddhist Sect only uses it for Buddha statues and some magic artifacts without wasting a fragment.
However, in the modern era, obsidian is abundant and readily available.
Now, they could entirely use Bright Moon Mountain as a temporary base, access Qinzhou through the cliff at the back of Bright Moon Mountain, and build a secure base there using obsidian within Qinzhou.
Eventually, as Qinzhou’s blood mist gradually recedes, or if she becomes capable of resolving the Qinzhou Death Domain issue, the entirety of Qinzhou could be taken under control.
