Chapter 4: Golden Crow And Black Dragon
Zhao Meng’s gaze left the microscope, his mind surging with shockwaves.
He looked again at the bean-sized Buddha’s Sarira in the crystal container; it was plain and unremarkable, not eye-catching at all. But the scene he had just seen under the microscope lingered in his mind, like a nuclear bomb exploding in his thoughts—how could he view it with a normal mind now?
Seeing Zhao Meng so shocked, the other research group leaders, including Xie Tianshu, all approached one after another with prudent and puzzled expressions to observe the Buddha’s Sarira, wanting to see what earth-shattering secret was hidden inside.
Everyone looked one after another.
The 705 laboratory fell into dead silence.
One of the older research group leaders clutched his chest and nearly fainted stiffly; fortunately, it was discovered in time, and Zhao Meng and Xie Tianshu carried him to a seat to rest.
It severely violated common sense and completely overturned cognition.
The worldview built over decades under the scientific framework collapsed in this moment.
Professor Xu had already recovered, looking at the Buddha’s Sarira under the microscope with reverent eyes, and choked out sadly: “What exactly is going on here? How can the microscopic world be like this? The microscopic world I understood was germs, cells, atoms, molecules… Why, why is there still such an… inconceivable corner in the microscopic world?”
That elderly research group leader asked weakly: “On Earth, is this the norm for the microscopic level that cannot be observed with the naked eye, or is it only this one place like this?”
If Earth’s microscopic world was so terrifying, what kind of planet were they living on?
What kind of connection existed between the microscopic world and the macroscopic world?
Director Yang found it hard to answer this question; although he had studied it for decades, his understanding of the microscopic world was still scant.
However… he did know that besides the 705 laboratory, there were four other super-cognition projects ahead: 701, 702, 703, and Each project advanced independently with very high secrecy levels. They only knew of each other’s existence.
Zhao Meng said: “The Buddha’s Sarira itself is very special; it’s a Buddhist Sect treasure. The bronze ship resting on it might be an inevitable event rather than a coincidence.”
“Buddhism teaches that one flower is one world, one leaf is one Tathagata. It’s very likely that high monks in Buddhism had long seen through the secrets on the Sarira, which is why they left those words.”
Zhao Meng’s eyes never left the Buddha’s Sarira; the more he looked, the more familiar it seemed, and a spiritual light flashed in his mind.
Right!
The fish eye on the Dao Ancestor Tai Chi Fish was similar in shape and size to this Sarira.
It was just that the Dao Ancestor Brow Bone was light cyan, while the Buddha’s Sarira was light red.
Could it really be such a coincidence?
Was the missing fish eye on the Dao Ancestor Tai Chi Fish actually the Buddha’s Sarira?
Xie Tianshu was not like these old scholars, tormented and confused; odd colors flickered in his eyes. He was from a prominent family; from childhood to adulthood, there was nothing he wanted that he couldn’t get—as long as money could buy it, it was almost within reach.
His participation in the Arctic scientific expedition this time was actually to gild his resume and add a impressive entry, making it easier to gain recognition from the cultural and scientific circles in the future.
Because of this, he was extremely unwilling to lose the competition for Second Mate to Zhao Meng.
Such a prominent family scion had an extremely high threshold; the appearance of the bronze ship and the opening of the mysterious door undoubtedly brought him great stimulation.
He said excitedly: “One Sarira is as vast and magnificent as a planet. On the bronze ship, there is clearly a massive corpse very similar to the Phoenix in mythology. The other python corpse has a horned crown on its head, absolutely no longer just a python, but transformed into the legendary flood dragon.”
“Everyone, does this mean that ancient myths are not fabricated legends? Immortality and flying to the heavens and escaping into the earth all truly existed?”
“The ancient world in myths might have been even more glorious and brilliant than in legends, but it was erased by unknown powers, forgotten, and subverted.”
“Now these traces from the mythological era that were erased have been found again! In the microscopic, in the microscopic world!”
“Mythology has never gone far! Where are the other traces of mythology?”
No one could answer; all were lost in shocked contemplation.
Xie Tianshu’s excitement did not diminish, and he continued: “I’ve heard that drinking the Phoenix’s blood can grant eternal life. If we can salvage this bronze ship to the macroscopic Earth, or if we descend into the microscopic world, does that mean we can obtain eternal life? Obtain supernatural power to rule Earth?”
Director Yang shook his head: “Actually… that’s not the Phoenix’s corpse; it should be the Golden Crow’s corpse, because it has three legs. The Golden Crow in mythology represents the sun and destruction. Drinking its blood would likely not grant eternal life but lead to annihilation instead.”
The 705 laboratory had observed this Buddha’s Sarira and bronze ship for decades, constantly pondering and researching, excavating various details; what they knew was incomparable to their brief observation.
Zhao Meng looked at Director Yang and said: “I’m very curious—is this really a prayer beads Sarira? I feel like it’s more like a planet from the macroscopic world, compressed into the microscopic.”
“Yeah, if it’s really the Buddha’s Sarira, doesn’t that mean the Buddha cultivated a planet, a world, inside his body?” After saying this, Professor Xu felt like he didn’t even recognize himself.
How had he become so mystical?
“The Buddha’s Sarira isn’t just one! It’s said that after the Buddha’s death, his disciples found Sariras in the ashes, filling eight measures and four dou.” Xie Tianshu said.
Captain Gao Xin said: “Director Yang, why don’t you explain why the 705 laboratory came to the Arctic? And why you speculated that those two ferocious beasts were drawn by the Buddha’s Sarira?”
Thinking of that terrifying bear-like creature and the even more terrifying giant monster Nine Infants under the ship, everyone’s thoughts were instantly pulled back to the cruel reality.
The sense of crisis was even stronger than before.
It was as if a group of mortals had been drawn into a battle between gods and demons—a sense of desolation and powerlessness, feeling as insignificant as dust.
Director Yang gathered his thoughts and said: “As Second Mate Mr. Xie said, many high-level people who know of the 705 laboratory’s existence want immortality and supernatural power, constantly urging us to find a way to salvage the bronze ship to the macroscopic Earth.”
“Over the decades, we’ve studied many classics, searched for items related to the Buddha, used various scientific instruments, and tried countless methods, but the bronze ship showed no reaction.”
“Until this year, during a long-distance voyage, we accidentally discovered that the sailcloth on the bronze ship’s mast actually started to turn.”
At this point, someone couldn’t help but go observe the bronze ship under the microscope again.
Director Yang continued: “Later, after multiple tests, we found that the sailcloth on the ship changed angles with latitude. The higher the latitude, the more upright the sailcloth turned.”
“After calculations, if brought to the North Pole, that is, 90 degrees north latitude, the sailcloth on the mast would turn completely upright.”
Xie Tianshu said excitedly: “What happens after it turns completely upright? Will it raise sails and set off?”
“There’s that possibility, so we came to test it.” Director Yang said.
“Now… aren’t all the sailcloth on the ship already upright?” the person watching the microscope said.
“Because we’re already very close to the North Pole.”
Director Yang’s expression clearly became excited, and he continued: “Just last night, when the sailcloth was almost completely upright, the bronze ship shook slightly. Strange mountain-sea patterns appeared in the space around the ship hull, as if… another unfathomable world was unfolding.”
“Shatter!”
“So last night wasn’t a fire at all—it was the bronze ship shaking the Long Ji Hao? You’re concealing the truth!” One research group leader slammed the table heavily, saying angrily.
Professor Xu suddenly realized: “I get it—it was the vibration from the bronze ship last night that drew the bear-like creature and Nine Infants. What do we do now? Those two ferocious beasts are not something we can resist. Turn back directly and stay away from the North Pole? Or throw the Buddha’s Sarira into the sea and abandon this disaster?”
“No!”
Xie Tianshu’s eyes shifted uncertainly; after thinking for a moment, he said: “We’ve already been targeted. If we turn back, the Nine Infants under the ship might launch an early attack. With its power, the research vessel would instantly be dragged to the seabed, and everyone would die without a burial place.”
“As for the Buddha’s Sarira, this is a treasure of Earth’s humans; it might restart the mythological era—how can we just abandon it? Besides, the two ferocious beasts might not even be drawn by it; it’s just our guess!”
“Here’s an idea… I’ll take the risk.”
“I’ll carry the Buddha’s Sarira and leave by helicopter, taking the danger away from the research vessel.”
Zhao Meng laughed: “You’ve got a clever plan! If the danger really comes from the Buddha’s Sarira, you won’t fear the bear-like creature on the ground or Nine Infants in the sea by helicopter. If the danger isn’t from the Buddha’s Sarira, even better—you take the treasure and stay away from the danger.”
“Zhao Meng, don’t spout nonsense—I have no selfish motives; I just want everyone on the research vessel to survive.” Xie Tianshu said.
“Good! In that case, the Buddha’s Sarira is yours.” Zhao Meng said.
Xie Tianshu was slightly stunned, not understanding why Zhao Meng suddenly changed his tune.
Zhao Meng listened to the dense sound of ice and snow smashing outside like bullets hitting the ship hull, and said: “The snowstorm has arrived; helicopters definitely can’t take off. Since you, Xie Tianshu, have such a spirit of dedication, take the Buddha’s Sarira and leave the ship to draw away the danger for us. You said you couldn’t bear to let a human treasure be lost, so from now on, it’s up to you to protect it.”
Xie Tianshu heard the violent and shrill snowstorm outside, and his face darkened: “Are you crazy? In this snowstorm weather, even without the bear-like creature, going out is a death sentence. Would you dare go yourself?”
Zhao Meng gave him a mocking look, then his face turned serious: “Who said I wouldn’t dare?”
He looked at Captain Gao Xin and Director Yang, and said: “Leaders, we only have two choices now. Either throw the Buddha’s Sarira into the sea and abandon this great disaster. Or, let me take the risk. If I luckily survive, that’s best. If I die in the snowstorm, you can install a tracker on the Buddha’s Sarira in advance and find it by positioning.”
This time, Xie Tianshu didn’t argue with Zhao Meng!
Because he could tell Zhao Meng was serious.
Director Yang had studied the Buddha’s Sarira for decades; now that the bronze ship was finally showing movement, how could he be willing to just hand it over to a ferocious beast?
The Buddha’s Sarira was more important than his life.
“Then…”
Director Yang had just opened his mouth.
“Boom!”
“Rumble!”
…
Above the ship, muffled impact sounds and the destructive sounds of the ship hull shattering came first.
Immediately after, a series of explosions rang out.
The ship hull shook violently, the sounds growing louder each time.
In the 705 laboratory, everyone’s faces changed drastically.
“It really didn’t leave—it’s back!”
“Why are there explosion sounds? Who brought explosives onto the ship?”
