181: Enchanted Forest
As he had anticipated, an immense reservoir of knowledge surged forth like a boundless sea, instantly filling his mind to the brim, almost causing him to kneel down. In Zhuang Yao’s mind, there was indeed an array of chaotic knowledge and memories. He tried his best not to look at them, yet he found it impossible to avoid.
However, Zhuang Yao’s knowledge occupied a significant portion of his brain, and the memories were submerged within this vast information. They weren’t easily discernible. Occasionally, a few of his childhood memories surfaced, almost all of which were related to Zhuang Yao. Even just viewing these memory fragments, Cong Xia could sense how much admiration and reverence the young Zhuang Yao held for Zhuang Yu. Zhuang Yao probably wouldn’t want him to see these.
Cong Xia forced himself to concentrate, assisting Zhuang Yao in controlling the energy within his body.
“Can you see it?”
Cong Xia jolted, realizing that Zhuang Yao was speaking to him. Perhaps this was a unique ability of a cerebral evolutionist – to communicate with others using brainwaves. It might not have been possible before, but in the presence of this unprecedented level of energy, Zhuang Yao, like Zhuang Chao, had achieved it.
“I’ve only seen a plethora of knowledge. Don’t worry, I haven’t seen anything I shouldn’t have.”
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“Mblal’p dsvbkdt kd xu xkde vbyv usw pbswzed’v pll, fwpv xydu vbkdtp usw oswzed’v wdelapvyde.”
“Ps usw lhld byhl vbl ralpldnl sq xkde vs vyzj vs xl aktbv dso? Wsnwp. Zsw’hl yavkqknkyzzu lmvldele vbl ewayvksd sq uswa yehydnlxldv. Zsw’al kd eydtla.”
“Rq kv olald’v qsa vbkp, R oswze byhl zshle vs pvyu blal y ckv zsdtla.” Hbwydt Zys zlv swv y pktb. “Rv’p ps xyahlzswp. R’hl dlhla qlzv vbkp kdvlzzktldv clqsal. R’hl qktwale swv xydu iwlpvksdp vbyv ralhkswpzu pvwxrle xl.”
Usdt Dky ydmkswpzu kdvlaflnvle, “Gal usw nsxrzykdkdt ycswv dsv clkdt pxyav ldswtb? Hbwydt Zys, dso kpd’v vbl vkxl vs ekpnwpp vbkp.”
“R pweeldzu alyzkgle psxlvbkdt, cwv R’x alyzzu yddsule. Hbwydt Zw qktwale kv swv clqsal R eke. Ls osdela bl’p clld ps sclekldv zyvlzu.”
“Ebyv eke usw qktwal swv?”
“R’zz vlzz usw zyvla. Wsnwp sd blzrkdt xl calyj vbaswtb vs vbl Flnsde Fvytl dso. Usdnldvayvl.”
Usdt Dky alyzzu qlzv zkjl pbyjkdt csvb sq vblx.
With their joint efforts, Zhuang Yao broke through to the Second Stage but fell into a coma due to excessive energy consumption.
Cong Xia carried him out, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Tang Yanqiu took over Zhuang Yao, looking at his fair and youthful face, and his tender red lips. He sighed, “If he doesn’t speak, he looks just like an ordinary child.”
Cong Zhenzhong ruffled Zhuang Yao’s hair, “But this ‘child’ is your ‘brain.’ Despite his crude language, you’ll always need him, no matter when.” Cong Zhenzhong paused, then whispered, “He wasn’t like this when he was a child.”
Cong Xia’s heart tightened. Deep within Zhuang Yao’s memories was a child who was no different from an ordinary kid. If he really was Zhuang Yu’s son, and not a clone, it must have been easier for him.
Cheng Tianbi patted Tang Yanqiu’s back, “Take him back to his room to rest, keep watch over him, and let us know if anything happens.”
Tang Yanqiu nodded and carried Zhuang Yao away.
Cong Xia took a deep breath, “Finally, finally everyone has advanced.”
Cheng Tianbi looked at him, then at Liu Fengyu, and sighed, “At the beginning, it was just us.”
Liu Fengyu’s eyes curved into a smile, “Exactly, at first, there were just the three of us. Now we have so many companions to face everything together.”
Cong Xia hooked his arms around their shoulders, “Tianbi, Brother Liu, since the day the three of us came together, we swore to live well. This has been the driving force that has brought everyone to this point, and it will continue to propel us forward.”
Their gazes were resolute. The successful advancement of all the members boosted their confidence, and even Qinghai, which they had feared so much before, now seemed less unattainable.
Two days later, both Deng Xiao and Zhuang Yao woke up from their exhaustion. They recovered quite well, much better than those natural evolutionists who had struggled.
Zhuang Yao couldn’t stay lying down after waking up. He wanted to see Cong Zhenzhong and Tang Tingzhi immediately.
Everyone gathered in the conference room. They were all curious about what breakthroughs Zhuang Yao had achieved during those more than thirty hours of advancement. Especially Cong Xia, Zhuang Yao had left him hanging, making him restless for the past two days.
Perhaps Zhuang Yao was too anxious; he hadn’t even changed his clothes and appeared in the conference room wearing Winnie the Pooh pajamas.
Liu Fengyu tugged at his collar and teased, “These pajamas suit you well, right? My taste isn’t bad, is it?”
Zhuang Yao gave him a sidelong glance, “As long as the clothes are wearable, I don’t care how they look. But if you ever buy me anything again, consider my cell age of 34.”
Liu Fengyu grinned, “Your cell age of 34 has nothing to do with your mental age. You’ve only been alive for 12 years. I know you’ll like it. The little yellow chicken and mini dinosaur versions of you, you must like them too, right?”
Zhuang Yao snorted, “Sit down. I have important matters to discuss.”
Cong Xia looked at him, “What did you figure out that day? About the Cambrian consciousness?”
“We’ve been bound by a preconceived notion all this time. Since the earthquake, humanity suffered the most devastating losses, losing two-thirds of its population. The civilization and order built by humanity over thousands of years were destroyed in an instant. Everyone lost family or friends. Therefore, we believed that the Cambrian consciousness targeted humanity, intending to completely annihilate us. But during those dozens of hours of my advancement, I suddenly realized that the Cambrian consciousness doesn’t want to wipe out humanity. It’s just that its actions inadvertently led to humanity’s extinction.”
Liu Fengyu furrowed his brow, “What’s the difference?”
Zhuang Yao said, “The Cambrian consciousness, as I’ve said before, is the consciousness of Earth’s balance. It was born on the same day Earth was born; it is Earth. We, whether humans or other animals and plants, are just one of the populations reproducing and multiplying on its surface. It treats any species equally, without likes or dislikes. Its only desire is for the planet to remain in balance, without any species dominating the world. The ice sheets won’t freeze the oceans, and the oceans won’t engulf the continents, because only balance can allow the planet to thrive.
However, during the process of species reproduction, some species always triumph over the natural environment and other enemies, reaching the top of the food chain. Especially intelligent species like humans, who attempt to rule and transform the entire planet, this is something the Cambrian consciousness cannot tolerate. However, I don’t believe that the Cambrian consciousness possesses wisdom.”
Cong Zhenzhong nodded, “If the Cambrian consciousness had wisdom, it would create its ideal Earth rather than repeatedly subject the planet’s species to extreme challenges.”
“If we assume that the Cambrian consciousness lacks wisdom, then many of its actions are easily explained. We can view it as a highly accurate computer. It collects global data and assesses which species are disrupting Earth’s balance. Once this disruption value exceeds its threshold, it triggers large-scale catastrophes.
No matter the species, none can withstand the destructive power of nature. The species that caused the imbalance will eventually be submerged in the river of history. Earth is suitable for nurturing species, and soon countless new species will replace the old ones, filling the empty ecological circles and continuing to sustain the planet’s vitality. The Cambrian consciousness doesn’t target any specific species; it launches indiscriminate attacks against Earth’s imbalances. Its method is simple. Once Earth becomes imbalanced, it simply eradicates the imbalanced species in one fell swoop, replacing them with new ones to solve all problems. When these new species mature after millions of years, causing Earth to lose balance again, it repeats this process.”
Cong Xia murmured, “It sounds quite brutal, but for the Cambrian consciousness, we’re no different from ants or c*ckroaches…”
Tang Tingzhi said, “But if that’s the case, why did the Cambrian consciousness release Cambrian energy? Why make all species evolve? It could have simply spread that freezing factor worldwide, freezing everyone to death. Soon, species adapted to the extreme cold would emerge. Why would the Cambrian consciousness go to such lengths?”
Zhuang Yao’s voice deepened, “What if it wasn’t the Cambrian consciousness doing it?”
Everyone was taken aback. Cong Xia asked, “What do you mean?”
“The Cambrian consciousness can easily manipulate the weather and environment. Just raising or lowering the temperature would be sufficient to kill humans, similar to how it effortlessly wiped out the dinosaurs. However, it went to great lengths, releasing Cambrian energy, causing all species to evolve, even humans.
Previously, we thought it was preserving other species, hence it created such a harsh environment for humans. But if our earlier assumption holds, that the Cambrian consciousness lacks wisdom, then the argument that it targets humanity falls apart. So, I boldly assume that something else caused the Cambrian consciousness to awaken. It used Cambrian energy to orchestrate the co-evolution of humanity and other species today. And this something, it must be related to Ancient Jade!” Zhuang Yao gazed deeply at Cong Xia.
Cong Xia’s heart skipped a beat, and he pressed his lips together in silence.
Cong Zhenzhong whispered, “Zhuang Yao, the hypothesis you’ve presented could completely overturn people’s current understanding. This idea absolutely must not leak out in the slightest, do you understand?”
“Of course I understand. Regardless of whether the Cambrian consciousness possesses wisdom or not, it’s still humanity’s enemy. Our intentions haven’t changed, and our goals haven’t changed. Retrieving the puppet jade remains our top priority. But if my speculation is confirmed, we’ll face another unknown, and we won’t know whether it’s good or bad. However, once we solve this mystery, we should be getting closer to the secret of the Ancient Jade, and vice versa.”
Cong Xia couldn’t help but touch his own stomach, “Ancient Jade… Ancient Jade and the Cambrian consciousness must have some kind of connection, but I believe its purpose is to help humanity.”
Zhuang Yao said, “For now, that seems to be the case. At least humanity still has some counterattack capabilities. We have too many mysteries in this world. Without the help of the ancient Jade, we’d probably have died long ago. But don’t forget, the Cambrian consciousness was awakened prematurely. It seems that it was caused by the exploration team dispatched by Zhuang Yu. But however clever Zhuang Yu is, he’s still a human. I’ve talked to you about ‘coincidence’ and ‘causality.’ I’ve always believed that the premature awakening of the Cambrian consciousness hides a secret, and the ancient Jade will provide us with answers.”
“Is this what you figured out during those thirty-odd hours? Is there anything else?”
“There’s a lot more, some I can’t say right now. Speaking without at least seventy percent certainty would only cause panic. There are also research-related matters that would be helpful for us, but explaining them to you wouldn’t help. I need you both to break through to the second stage as soon as possible. While advancing, think about these matters. Then, I’ll discuss the Cambrian consciousness with you. I need your help.”
Cong Zhenzhong and Tang Tingzhi exchanged a glance, their expressions solemn. They knew that Zhuang Yao had thought of something else but wasn’t daring to say it out loud. Cong Zhenzhong said, “I’ll need about half a month.”
Tang Tingzhi added, “Me too. During this period, many mutant individuals are reaching the peak of their advancements. Some have succeeded, while others have failed. Almost all major mutant organizations have lost two to three captain-level mutants.”
Cong Xia said, “What about you? We’re allies, and I’m willing to help.”
“Thank you, but we don’t need it for now. The Dragonblood Clan’s main combat force consists of Dragonblood individuals, and mutants aren’t that numerous. Even Al was only transformed after the earthquake for nearly a year. When we need your assistance, we’ll come find you.”
Cong Zhenzhong continued, “Currently, all major organizations are frantically purchasing energy liquid. Although we’re unsure why, energy liquid can assist mutants during advancement, increasing their survival rate. Due to this, many lower-level mutants have been killed. This turmoil has even affected the surrounding cities, and things have been very chaotic lately.”
Cong Xia frowned, “How about I produce some energy liquid? If this indiscriminate killing continues, Beijing will be in chaos again.”
Cong Zhenzhong nodded, “We do indeed need a lot of energy liquid now, and it will be a long-term need. Although it can’t completely solve the problem, it can at least alleviate it somewhat.”
Cong Xia sighed, “I can’t help everyone advance, but at least I can try to save as many people as possible through this method.”
Zhuang Yao asked, “Will it affect your other work?”
“No, it won’t. After all, it’s just absorbing energy from the puppet jade, which consumes some time. Don’t worry.”
“That’s good. Have you made any progress these days?”
At this point, Cong Xia’s spirits lifted, “Yes, I’ve created a prototype of energy armor. Although there are many areas that need improvement, I believe I can complete it before we head to Qinghai.”
“That’s excellent. I look forward to seeing it.”
Cong Zhenzhong smiled, “The new energy source has started production today. We’ve set up a large energy factory, recruiting over two thousand workers. This should be one of the few remaining large factories in the country, maybe even the world. Today’s output is three hundred kilograms. We’ll gradually increase production and reduce losses. Once production ramps up, many mechanized equipment and weapons can be put into operation. Without them, we can’t fight formidable battles.”
“Great, everything is moving in the right direction.” Zhuang Yao clenched his fist, “Sooner or later, we’ll be able to rebuild our military using modern technology.”
“Oh, by the way, you haven’t talked about your experiences after advancing,” Cheng Tianbi chimed in.
Before Zhuang Yao could respond, Deng Xiao interjected, “Hey hey, why don’t you ask me? Look at me!”
The others watched with interest.
Deng Xiao gave a low shout, and the skin on his arm instantly turned into a dark green, rough texture.
Cheng Tianbi furrowed his brow, “What’s the difference from before?”
Deng Xiao chuckled, and something beneath that layer of skin began to bulge slightly. Then, row after row of spikes resembling iron hooks emerged from his skin, covering his entire arm. These spikes were only four to five centimeters long, crescent-shaped, and incredibly sharp. Deng Xiao’s arm now looked like a cudgel bristling with wolf fangs. However, this “wolf fang cudgel” came with terrifying speed and power, and its wielder had complete control over it.
Deng Xiao laughed heartily, “I can now grow these spikes all over my body. They’re very hard. If someone stands in front of me, I can poke holes into them.”
Tang Yanqiu walked over, smiling, “Try poking me.”
He extended his arm, rolled up his sleeve, and exposed his bare skin.
Deng Xiao said, “Tang-ge, don’t joke around. This isn’t a toy.”
“I’m not joking. Give it a try.”
Deng Xiao hesitated for a moment, then pressed his arm against Tang Yanqiu’s arm.
The moment the spikes touched Tang Yanqiu’s forearm, a thick layer of feathers suddenly appeared on his arm. These feathers were slippery and soft. When the spikes touched them, they slid slightly, and a few white feathers floated to the ground. Deng Xiao felt like his arm had sunk into a pile of cotton, and he couldn’t find a solid place to apply pressure.
Deng Xiao withdrew his arm, and Tang Yanqiu shook his arm, causing the feathers to disappear. A small red spot appeared on his arm, where the skin had been pricked.
“Wow, Tang-ge, your feathers are so thick.”
Tang Yanqiu happily said, “They’re a recent atavism.”
Deng Xiao protested, “I’ve atavistically developed even more impressive skills.”
“Oh? Let’s see.”
Deng Xiao placed his hand on the table. Slowly, his hand’s color grew lighter, until it turned into a grayish hue similar to the table.
Cong Xia exclaimed with delight, “You’ve atavistically gained the ability to change color?”
Deng Xiao grinned proudly, “Although I can’t fully change color yet, I can get about 70% close. In the future, I won’t be afraid even if I’m naked. I can just blend into the background.”
Liu Fengyu chuckled, “Just don’t go peeping on women while they’re bathing.”
Deng Xiao’s face reddened, and he protested, “Liu-ge, what nonsense are you talking about? Am I that crude of a person?”
“Have you ever thought about it? Hm?” Liu Fengyu hooked his arm around Deng Xiao’s shoulder and winked playfully.
Deng Xiao’s gaze drifted for a moment, and then he pretended to be annoyed, “Are you annoying me or what? I just think about it; I won’t actually do it.”
Liu Fengyu burst into laughter.
Cheng Tianbi raised his chin at Zhuang Yao, “What about you?”
Zhuang Yao chuckled softly, causing everyone’s expressions to change, as they all heard Zhuang Yao’s voice in their minds, even though his lips didn’t move.
“This is one of the abilities gained after advancing,” Zhuang Yao explained, “I can communicate with you using brainwaves. No need to speak out loud, and I can even establish communication between all of you.”
“Wow, that’s amazing! It’s like advanced wireless communication,” Cheng Tianbi marveled.
“Safer than wireless communication, but currently not as efficient. It’s very energy-consuming to do this, and there’s also a distance limitation. However, I’ll keep evolving.”
Cheng Tianbi asked, “This ability is great, especially on the battlefield. Is there anything else?”
“After advancing, my ability to control others’ mental domains has strengthened. I won’t test it on you guys, of course. Also, my intelligence has improved. If I were to compare it to a computer, it’s like upgrading both the hardware and software. Performance has increased by at least fifty percent compared to before. If I wanted, I could control an ordinary person for at least fifteen seconds.”
Liu Fengyu raised an eyebrow, “Fifteen seconds? That’s such a precise number. Who did you test it on?”
Zhuang Yao shrugged, “The person who delivered my food.”
Cong Zhenzhong and Tang Tingzhi became even more eager to reach the second stage. Cong Zhenzhong said, “Let’s go practice. I can hardly wait.”
Tang Tingzhi checked his watch, “You still have seven minutes.”
“What?”
“I strictly follow my schedule. It’s indeed time for practice. Let’s go.”
After Cong Zhenzhong and Tang Tingzhi left, only the six of them remained in the conference room.
Cheng Tianbi looked at his companions, “We’ve finally reached this day. Everyone has successfully advanced, and the enhancements in our abilities are truly astonishing. From now on, every one of us needs to allocate at least four hours a day for training. I plan to reach the third stage before the end of next year. I hope you won’t keep me waiting for too long.”
Zhuang Yao smiled, “You’re starting to look more and more like a leader.”
Cheng Tianbi glanced at him, “You’re smarter than me, but I’m better at leading. However, I’m not really a leader.”
“The entire city of Beijing knows you’re our leader. Don’t you realize that? Even though we’ve never been as formal as other mutant organizations, we are indeed a team, and you are the leader of this team, even if we’re just six people. We’ve established our reputation step by step in this city, and now, with everyone advancing, we’ve solidified our position. You’re no longer just a special forces soldier from Unit 9. You’re the only Wind Force Evolver in the world, leading this team to save all of humanity. Countless eyes are on you. You must have this self-awareness.”
Cheng Tianbi furrowed his brow, “Why are you suddenly saying all this?”
“Because I’ve noticed that you lack this self-awareness. You haven’t garnered the adoration of the masses like Yao Qianjiang or Wu Yu. So, you’ve never placed yourself in the right position. You and Cong Xia, the two of you together, are our most significant force. I don’t want to hear you say ‘I’m not a leader’ anymore. It sounds like you’re fearing the pressure attached to that title. This way of thinking makes me uneasy too.”
Cheng Tianbi’s deep gaze locked onto Zhuang Yao, “Listen carefully, I’m Cheng Tianbi, and I’m not afraid of anything.”
Zhuang Yao’s lips curved into a smile, “That’s good. As long as you’re not afraid, none of us will be afraid.”
Cheng Tianbi spoke solemnly, “Starting from today, we give it our all to become stronger.”
After advancing collectively, they finally began to fully prepare for their journey to Qinghai. Everyone assumed their roles, enhancing their individual or team combat capabilities in their own ways. Each member entered a frenzied state, with Zhuang Yao madly developing weapons, Cong Xia fervently crafting energy armor, and others zealously improving their combat skills. Every improvement meant a greater chance of survival.
As the Qinghai trip drew nearer, their initial fear gradually began to dissipate. Perhaps they had accepted their fate, or perhaps they had experienced too much life and death, and had become numb to it all. All they could do now was give their best effort and leave the rest to fate.
Qinghai, the epicenter of the earthquakes, the birthplace of the puppet jades. How many secrets, how many death traps, how many formidable creatures awaited them there? They only needed to set foot in that place to have it all revealed!
*****
Translator’s note: So exciting! They’re very close to Qinghai! Sorry, guys, I haven’t been able to update the schedule chapters because I felt so drained, and all I’ve been doing is sleep. Actually, I have translated a chapter of this novel a day ago but…because I was so groggy, it was too late when I realized it was chapter 190 and not 180!!!!
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