Chapter 268: What Exactly Are We Fighting For?
The Lin Group’s base under Purple Gold Mountain has a tunnel network that extends in all directions; to the east, it leads to the islands in the Great Lake, and to the west, it passes through the river to the abandoned mines in northern Huai.
The Lin Group is divided into four tiers according to “Heaven and Earth, Black and Yellow.” For example, in this Purple Gold Mountain base, the innermost “Earth Rank” area has the entire ground laid with integrated steel plates. In the outermost layer, the ground is covered with tiles like in a bathhouse.
Xuan Chong used torque dotted lines to map all areas, not even sparing the fire ventilation pipes.
In the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the Heaven-character area is the future armament area, accessible only to the Qilin Lord.
In the Earth-character area, from zone 03 to 34, they are all exclusive areas for Dragon Power Users.
The Black-character area stores technology projects created by “Dragon Power Users,” which is highly confidential for most people.
Xuan Chong arrived at the Yellow-character area, which is where those martial dao youths are located. They perform martial dao true qi “point allocation” in the training pods.
Due to the lingering “leading troops” mindset from the Da Yao Plane, Xuan Chong was very interested in the grassroots operations of the department. He even experienced one of the training pods here that could “increase cultivation.” These training pods are undoubtedly projects developed by Xu Xi.
In the training pod, after Xuan Chong checked the difference between the internal energy produced after his “Grass Returning Pill” initiation and the internal energy left by others through point allocation, he erased his own training data.
When Xuan Chong stepped out of the pod, he gave Lu Changfeng, who was his attendant, a base amount of “twenty-five drops” of diluted Grass Returning Pill as a reward. (He used him as a control sample.)
Although diluted, it was packaged in a metal briefcase with frozen “glass test tubes” inside. (Similar to the virus briefcase in the Resident Evil movies.)
Lu Changfeng was very happy, took the high-end metal box, and respectfully saw Xuan Chong off; there were no more words between them. After adapting to the “Dragon Power User” identity, Xuan Chong already understood this “privilege” status.
…Ritual Law Iron Curtain…
High status inevitably leads to people fawning and pleading. Completely isolating the sounds from below while maintaining a caste system is not feasible. But casually interacting “regardless of status” leads to biased hearing. The ancestors summarized this as “be close to worthy ministers, stay away from petty people.”
Xuan Chong: To empathize with the lower levels, it can only be done through contact with those lower-level people who farm, use skills to work, and have a “legitimate profession”; because these people with proper careers have ninety percent of their mind on their legitimate profession. Even when fawning, they just hope their “legitimate profession” can go a bit better.
For example, farmers hope their fields are easier to cultivate, workers hope for handy tools and reasonable wages.
People engaged in legitimate professions of “farming” and “industry” make requests to those in high positions, allowing those in high ritual law positions to understand how these legitimate professions that form the foundation of the state altars operate. Those in high ritual law positions naturally need to bow humbly.
As for those good-for-nothings who don’t pursue legitimate professions, they need support on a daily basis; in the fawning process, what they seek are all sorts of “non-legitimate profession” miscellaneous matters.
For example, stock traders hope the big shots can backstop them, gang members transporting banned medicine hope for “xx decriminalization.”
If high-positioners lower themselves to mix with them, they will be led astray.
These young guys practicing martial dao to serve the current official duties have excellent equipment, but in social attributes, they are still “good-for-nothings”; unless one day they find a “righteous act” that can make a national hero bow.
Previously, Qin Tianyi treated the martial artists here with a cold attitude as if they were nothing, not because she herself is two-faced.
Now Xuan Chong is also overlooking the “good-for-nothings” from above the glass partition.
…Social Stratum…
In the glass pod, a martial dao cultivator unlocked his combat armor that looked like sci-fi mecha soldiers, and said to the person beside him: “Old Lu, that Xuan Chong from last time (Xuan Chong greeted and referred to himself) went inside for enfeoffment, don’t know how it went.”
Lu Changfeng opened his face mask: “Don’t ask, he’s a Dragon Seed, no need for you to worry and pry around, lest you get yourself in trouble.”
Another person said: “Probably not, he seemed much kinder.”
Then someone said: “You don’t think that just because that person spoke to you amiably for two sentences, you can really be brothers with him, do you?”
?
The first person asked: “Fortune teller, could it be you saw something in that person’s (Xuan Chong’s) facial features?”
The one called fortune teller shut his mouth.
But unable to resist the persuasion from those around, he finally couldn’t help but say: “That person’s forehead is full, with dignity, he’s a person who keeps promises and takes things to heart; but from his philtrum to lips, it’s somewhat constricted. (Note: This indicates he often purses his lips after events, causing facial changes.) This means when he encounters unpleasant things, he won’t say it, but keep it in his heart. If it’s a gentleman being open and upright discussing friendship with him, that’s naturally good, but if harboring a petty person’s intentions, then~”
Meanwhile, Xuan Chong couldn’t help but grit his teeth and purse his lips, muttering: “Oh come on, just say outright that I’m petty-minded!”
However, as the fortune teller said, if not scheming against him, it’s just an objective comment, after all, the education he received since childhood was: “Should not proactively have bad intentions toward others.”
Xuan Chong is not a sage, occasionally has bad intentions. But if implementing “bad intentions” on the weak, he would feel shame.
…Upper Position Responsibility…
Xuan Chong opened Lu Changfeng’s body data menu bar. The entire human body projection can be zoomed in to observe the true qi distribution in various acupoints.
A projection device not belonging to this era appeared in front of Xuan Chong. This projection device is no better than 21st-century monitors. The projected pixels are very blurry. However, compared to the “panel screens” that require hundreds of acres of production plants and complex production chains, this projector is much easier to produce. This shows that the Qilin Lord also considers cost-effectiveness when exchanging items from the future.
After Lu Changfeng took the Grass Returning Pill and entered the training pod; under the stable magnetic field in the training pod, the originally erratic true qi in his body became very controllable, making it easier to penetrate the body’s “meridians.”
Meridians are not blood vessels, but “lines conducive to true qi magnetic force conduction”; true qi is not a fluid, but a force field.
The base points of these force fields can be between muscle fascia or in the bone marrow; the base points do not flow, but due to force field fluctuations nearby conducting and shifting, martial cultivators perceive a “flowing” sensation, making cultivators think it’s a channel like blood vessels.
Then true qi forms acupoints in various parts of the body, and precisely these acupoints allow them to interface with the full-body mecha armor developed by the Lin Group.
The true qi overflowing from each acupoint is controllable; in ancient times, martial cultivators could flexibly manipulate some mechanism structures based on this, producing unexpected mechanism effects, for example, the Southwest Tang Sect liked to craft such ingenious hidden weapons.
With era development to today, the armed members recruited by the current Han north and south Imperial Ancestral Temples have all been equipped with individual combat armor; and the dexterous control of individual combat armor is not through voice or artificial intelligence, but through true qi interfacing. True qi is connected to the body’s nerves, so rounding it off, these individual combat armors are neural interfaces.
In theory, the more acupoints cultivated, the better; each acupoint condensed is equivalent to one more “neural interface point.” But opening acupoints requires sufficient cultivation.
Xuan Chong learned that under Xu Xi’s current “point allocation” system, most people like Lu Changfeng have not undergone Body Fixing Technique training and can only withstand twenty to thirty years of cultivation, or else they will suffer qi deviation if exceeded.
The essence of “qi deviation” is complete loss of body control, uncontrollable metabolic rate, organ disorder, random hormone secretion, and uncontrollable emotions of joy and sorrow. It can be referenced to the reaction of “overdose of special medicine.”
As early as five hundred years ago, the Eastern “true qi” system spread to Europe; but the European barbarians, eager for quick success, played with human body modification evil canon. In these decades, there have been more cases of qi deviation from medicine adjustment failures, leaving numerous werewolf and vampire legends there.
Xuan Chong became vigilant about this; currently, he has taken the “Grass Returning Pill” and gradually has cultivation close to one Jiazi.
This is the cultivation that many sect elders before the Industrial Revolution accumulated over half a lifetime. Nowadays, with technology development and scientific training, the number of martial artists with this level of true qi has increased, but they are still very few.
Xuan Chong did not know the feeling of Qi Deviation, but he was extremely vigilant toward various situations that “exceeded the limit” in a subtle way. Just like driving a car faster and faster without finding the brakes, it would be very panic-inducing.
Up to now, Xuan Chong did not dare to “speed up” (swallow Grass Returning Pill) anymore. Although his True Qi was more stable and could abruptly terminate interference with metabolism. But who knows what would happen after imbalance?
Xuan Chong: Every road needs to be taken seriously, with vigilance.
Just like in most industries, the more things to be vigilant about, the more it indicates that the industry technology has deep waters, and the more precautionary measures explored, the higher the Dao Cultivation.
…In the base corridor, deliberate footsteps approached…
Xu Xi saw Xuan Chong investigating Lu Changfeng’s battle data: “Oh, you’re here?”
Xuan Chong did not evade, using a pleading tone: “Yes, that guy, I’ve chatted with him, so please take care of him a bit.”
Xu Xi: “Don’t worry, I won’t let his body data become imbalanced. In our line of work, we emphasize the ‘Human Base’, and elements exceeding the unstable parts of the ‘base’ will all be suppressed.”
Xuan Chong had learned in the previous plane that the path of sports was not that simple, so he deliberately befriended Xu Xi, this sports student. (Xuan Chong admitted that all his making friends was deliberate, because he was socially anxious and naturally disliked contact.)
Xuan Chong asked: “Brother Xu, when you shuttle through planes, are you generally in the medical industry?” (Then showed sincerity, introducing himself) “My experience in the previous plane was in the military field.”
Xu Xi: “The planes I shuttle through may differ in nature from yours. Strictly speaking, mine are planes where ‘individual combat power is relatively strong’. Generally, in these planes, group numbers cannot make up for the gap in individual combat power. In my previous plane’s mission, I encountered ‘Spiritual Energy revival’, and when dealing with a certain A-tier super individual, I mobilized two hundred B-tier combat soldiers, and under high-density bombing from air-based armaments, only then controlled him.”
Xuan Chong: “This?”
Xuan Chong thought about it, actually the Da Yao Plane was the same. Hero lords riding large mounts in desperate battles could single-handedly take down hundreds; only if those hundreds carried Heavy Crossbows, wore heavy armor, and had War Chariots for mobility could they fight back.
“Then the war missions in this world?” Xuan Chong was somewhat worried. Currently, the entire globe was at World War I era technology, with iron armored war chariots still all riveted. And now there was this group of super technology, super physical ability Supernatural Users in this world, not to mention this world did not have things like “Killing Intent”.
Xu Xi saw Xuan Chong’s worry and frowned: “I’m also very puzzled. Both you and I have arrived in this world. What exactly will happen next?”
Xu Xi pointed below: “Now I will work hard to maintain these people’s military literacy. Ensure they can adapt to possibly occurring large-scale wars.”
Xu Xi looked at Xuan Chong: “And you, if your body base can bear it, master more advanced ‘tool systems’ as much as possible.”
Xu Xi could see the condition of the “internal force” force field on Xuan Chong. The acupoints in Xuan Chong’s body that drew out True Qi totaled eighty-five.
The same Mecha Armor, Xuan Chong had also tried, and his control on the training ground was superior to the warriors.
If Lu Changfeng could only leap like a spirit ape between buildings five meters apart; then Xuan Chong could load an energy block six times the power for him, flickering and moving at the fastest “fifty meters per second”.
Under the blessing of a series of black technology from the Imperial Ancestral Temple, the energy source of single-soldier mecha could continue to stack upward. “Internal force” was just one tool.
Xuan Chong’s overall six times attributes, let alone combat skills, even the force of swinging fists compared to Lu Changfeng was like an adult versus a three-year-old child.
Xuan Chong could even rely on his derived torque to predict the ground and building environment in advance, completing terrain adaptation beyond imagination.
Facing Xu Xi’s persuasion, Xuan Chong consulted on the construction of the “body auxiliary perception module” movement system.
For Xu Xi, the “Body Fixing Technique system” was an old thing developed for over three hundred years, so he explained it to Xuan Chong point by point.
…Across the vast ocean…
In the granite underground base in the North, Xie Ming established his underground military base here. Xie Ming was preparing a “medal” system that could accommodate Supernatural Users, as well as an abnormal containment system.
Compared to Xuan Chong’s side, where Xian Han had a mature “patrilineal” system to constrain Supernatural Users, Xie Ming and his teammates had it much more troublesome.
In the base, Xie Ming was facing an Ancestral Spirit Power awakener who violated the prohibition; his ability was to temporarily bring together nuclei of non-metal elements like carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen, manifesting metallic properties.
The actual effect was Turn Stone into Gold, and whatever he touched would turn into a “metal block”.
Containment records stated: This conteneree was codenamed “Metal Man”, who awakened in the Bethlehem Era 1905; after entering a big city, he felt omnipotent and thus destroyed one of the buildings, causing over a hundred deaths.
In the containment prison, Xie Ming now looked at this arrested person: “The covenant we set, you violated first.”
“Metal Man” wanted to rebel, but was horrified to find himself solidified in a piece of space. Afterward, he could only hear the cold verdict against him.
After the verdict, Xie Ming, under the pretext of “embedding into the grand plan”, implanted a atonement mechanical device into him.
In a structure sixty meters wide, like a nuclear missile silo, a massive fine steel mecha leaned inside like a docked Warship. The iron armor rear cabin behind it opened, mechanical octopus tentacles bound “Metal Man”, fixing him in the cockpit position.
As the heavy coffin-like mechanical structure imprisoned this errant Supernatural User, the lights representing eyes on the pitch-black face of the “Titan Mecha” lit up.
Under Xie Ming’s command, there were already three such atonement Titans, which served as a deterrent to others joining the organization.
Green looked at this thing and sighed: “Squad leader, these things in our base can sweep across North America, right! The local guard team’s armaments are just some iron armored vehicles and Gatlings.”
Xie Ming’s hand rested on the yellow-painted fence, looking at the Titan Mecha in the granite pit, responding without turning his head: “Don’t get complacent, the exam question hasn’t appeared yet! We still don’t know how this world will ultimately unfold.”
Green: “Precisely because it hasn’t started, expanding influence and growing rapidly now is the right thing.”
Xie Ming pointed at the Titan Mecha: “The more exposed, the more potential adversaries! You don’t think this world has no ‘hydrogen bomb missiles’, do you.”
Xie Ming: “Once Supernatural Users from different camps clash, they will find that crushing opponents helps elevate their own super abilities!”
Green looked at Xie Ming’s gaze and suddenly felt a sense of crisis.
Xie Ming: “Don’t worry, you and I are from the same camp. If I eliminate your ability, it will only return to the planet and reborn in ‘Ancestor Spirit’ mode. It only works on Supernatural Users not from the unified camp. And in this world now, our camp is not the strongest.”
Green: “Have you been to this world?”
Xie Ming nodded: “Yes, I’ve been here before. Last time with another person, according to this world’s plotline it was a hundred years ago. He might be in this class now too. (Xie Ming silently recited Xu Xi’s name in his heart)”
Green: “Then? What are camps.”
Xie Ming: “If surface humans consider themselves a cluster in their culture, then that’s a camp. So no matter what, we don’t see ourselves as individuals.”
…Back to the waves…
As a reserve officer of the East Ocean Fleet, Liu Haoxing’s vacation approval from the Naval Headquarters soon expired. Xuan Chong had to return to school to handle procedures.
In the Lin Group base, Xuan Chong reaped abundant rewards, and now the pre-ordered eight containers also arrived at Hang Fu along with the train.
After reporting to Marshal Liu Kehua, the marshal looked at the seal hanging from Xuan Chong’s waist, and his expression became somewhat softer.
In Xian Han, after a Supernatural User’s “Dragon Seed” awakening, the faction choice between Dragon Group or Lin Group is very important!
Everyone’s enshrined Imperial Ancestral Temples are together, and their relationship is similar to clans in ancient times.
After the Great Han passed through five reincarnations, over so many years, all clans avoided disasters and sought attachments, making it long impossible for the Liu surname to accurately trace bloodline origins.
Moreover, even if one traces back to Liu Bang through gene sequencing, so what? The Liu surname, spanning two thousand years, is longer than the history of most ethnic groups in the world.
For example, in the west side Tu Nation, there are also people there claiming to bear the Liu surname.
Because when the Tu Nation was founded, Liu Bang had already been born for eight hundred years. Thus, who can guarantee that the Tu Clan side has no Liu Clan? The Central Plains’ farming productivity results in a larger population than the grasslands, and the population is a net outflow to the grasslands.
But at present, if the Tu Clan side wants to claim relations with Xian Han, Xian Han would not have any officials to acknowledge it.
Because in Xian Han, it’s not only about whether you are “seed”; it also depends on whether you have continuously maintained sacrifices to “Heaven and Earth, State Altars, ancestors”.
Any great clan is a great clan because generations have enshrined incense and fire.
From a purely interest-based analysis: “sacrifices unbroken” means that on this land, the family has deeply rooted operations of connections in various domains during the inheritance process.
Similar to in the twenty-first century when marrying, emphasis is placed on whether the other party’s parents are civil servants, doctors, or PhDs, representing the ability to leverage local connections and resources; that’s just a few generations, but in Xian Han it’s dozens of generations.
So if sacrifices are broken, it means the resources controlled on this land are severed. No matter how awesome your ancestors were, what’s the use of having seed if you inherit none—it’s just becoming a vagrant.
Liu Bei weaving straw sandals was not as a vagrant; he just earned little money—he enjoyed clan education, which is local resources.
In this plane, sacrifices are also linked to superpowers. Xuan Chong already knows that the birth of superpowers comes from a certain link between human consciousness and the planet’s internal consciousness.
Xian Han Imperial Ancestral Temple researchers, based on literature analysis, in this plane, in early civilization, those great priests stumbled upon completing communication between “man and Heaven and Earth”, becoming the first generation of Supernatural Users. If an awakened Supernatural User certifies the Imperial Ancestral Temple underfoot, then after the soul returns to Heaven and Earth, this “superpower” link will in the future be granted through the temple’s sacrifices to people covered by the Imperial Ancestral Temple locally.
Returning to the present, the general is clearly looking at Xuan Chong based on his attitude toward the younger generation.
The key reason is that Xuan Chong enshrined his family’s “spirit tablet” into the Imperial Ancestral Temple system in South Capital.
It’s not that the northern Imperial Ancestral Temples cannot be used; in Xian Han, Yandu’s Imperial Ancestral Temple is the total Imperial Ancestral Temple; even the spirit tablet systems of “Tiger Group”, “Phoenix Group”, and “Black Tortoise” all connect to Yandu’s Imperial Ancestral Temple. But the temple priests of other Imperial Ancestral Temples can intercept the Dragon Power tribute.
The amount intercepted locally is roughly thirty to forty percent. And the Lin Group, being in Jiangnan with prosperous Imperial Aura, is the most exaggerated, able to intercept seventy percent.
