"Mmm... you mischievous fox, everyone transforms without taking me along."
Ah Qing, who was drifting into sleep while digesting Spiritual Particles, mumbled as she lay side-ways on the bed. Ansheng glanced at her and, with an expression of helplessness, remarked:
"Well... what can Huhu do? Huhu feels utterly hopeless about this too, you know? You actually grew up to not look like me!"
Judging from that black fungus that suddenly appeared in the wardrobe of unknown origin.
Ah Qing's evolution had a clear path lined with some mysterious factors mixed within.
If one wishes to uncover the secrets of Ah Qing's evolution, it can only be achieved by examining the underlying genetic code, which involves the core data layer of the Life Blueprint. However, Blue Star's technology currently lacks the capability to conduct such tests.
The only entity that might have this power would be the original form of the Triangular Hammer, the egg-shaped King of the Universe.
Though the First Epoch and Second Epoch have already receded from the stage of history, their impact on future generations is profound, albeit not obvious in the past.
Until... the arrival of the revival of Spiritual Particles, which gradually awakened those dormant elements under the catalysis of Spiritual Particles.
"Bang, bang, bang—"
As Ansheng was lost in thought about the changes in Ah Qing's body, a knocking sound came from the window. Ansheng glanced towards the broken bridge aluminum window frame and saw Unos floating vividly outside.
"Why did you come over here?"
Seeing the visitor, Ansheng idly gestured for Unos to open the window and come in.
Under the manipulation of an invisible telekinesis, the latch on the floor-to-ceiling window opened, disassembling the whole window into pieces, and Unos entered the room on the thirteenth floor from outside.
"I detected a fluctuation of will..."
Unos carried her shoes while stepping on the wooden floor of the room. She raised her hand to reassemble the limiters and window panels that had been disassembled, reinstalling them on the window frame.
"I thought there was an emergency, so I specifically came to check what happened."
Unos glanced around the room, finding no traces of battle, just Master Fuli and his family, and she already had some guesses in mind so she responded:
Unos came to Xia Country with no tasks or conferences to attend, purely because Li Wenkang invited her to assist in exploring aspects of [Self Will].
While originally enjoying a vacation barbecue upstairs, suddenly, a wave of will exploded from within the building.
Though not intense in strength, it covered the entire neighborhood. Although it lasted just a moment, something responded to that will in an instant.
That thing was extremely tiny, like dust, but moved at such high speed that it was nearly unobservable.
Following its senses, Unos tracked the entity, leading her to the thirteenth floor.
"That viscous mass... is it fungus?"
Eventually, Unos's gaze fixed on the black hair tie on the ground at the foot of the bed, and she asked Master Fuli.
"Yes!"
Ansheng squatted on the bed, nodding slightly, and said to Unos, "What did you just perceive?"
"A cluster of dust drifted into the room." Unos looked at Master Fuli and spoke, recounting her perception of the spread and response of the will, and, curiously asked:
"May I ask if Master is conducting any ancient gene modifications on your family?"
"Don't think too highly of me," Ansheng joked in reply, "I'm not equipped with such advanced surgical skills. It's purely Ah Qing's exceptional innate talent..."
Though knowing Unos is a trustworthy octopus, Ansheng didn't want to continue discussing matters concerning Ah Qing with her.
With Unos's scientific prowess, in a minute, she might suggest hundreds of crazy ideas.
Unos, focused on exploration and power, leaves the outcomes of experiments to chance.
"Have you heard about the Naga Country thing?" Ansheng asked Unos.
"Yes, but I don't care much for it, as wealthy tycoons contest for the right of speech and distribution..." Unos nodded to Master Fuli and said, "However, I heard your conversation in the hallway; my other body is now on a flight heading back home."
Unos, while speaking, gestured a thumbs-up to Master Fuli.
Master Fuli's words are reliable, so upon learning about the trap in Naga Country, Unos immediately skipped afternoon tea, took a taxi directly to a military airport, and flew on the fastest aircraft out.
"I don't know if Old Li told you about the Immortals, but I'm beginning to suspect that the ruins have a connection to them..."
"Could you keep an eye out for me, and once I finish handling what's on my plate, I'll take time to visit." Ansheng suggested.
"Immortals..."
Unos appeared to be in deep thought and said, "So, the information Old Li said he would share with my individual is actually about this?"
"He didn't tell me that; we only discussed the increasing area of Blue Star and the intent theory proposed by Master Fuli..."
In the past five years, the frequency of earthquakes on Blue Star has visibly increased, and after measurement by the international geological organization, a conclusion was reached that land area is expanding.
But actually, the surface area isn't increasing out of nowhere. The actual landmass of Blue Star was always larger than the observable area.
Due to crustal movements compressing tectonic layers into the Earth's interior, they're now emerging back as the crust expands.
The frequent large earthquakes on Blue Star are attributed to crustal relocalization, sending ancient ruins back to their original positions.
"I discussed with Li Wenkang, and in the end, we came to a very similar conclusion."
"The process of Spiritual Particles' revival is accelerating, notably exceeding previous average speeds explosively..." Unos said to Master Fuli, sharing the first conclusion of their meeting about this.
Regarding the study of will, Unos has yet to find any leads, as Master Fuli only provided Li Wenkang with conclusions, leaving the deduction process to their own devices.
"The acceleration of Spiritual Particle revival?" Ansheng was taken aback, looking at Unos with a face filled with disbelief and couldn't immediately respond.
The matter Unos mentioned undoubtedly stems from extensive research and evidence, not based on mere conjecture nor a statistical whimsy.
When she says it's accelerating, the throttle's clearly floored.
"Indeed, very strangely, particularly in the recent two years, but I can't provide evidence. It can only be proven from the declining purchase price of Spirit Beasts..." Unos continued, "Spirit Beasts... are not as rare as they once were."
"Traitor?"
Ah Qing, groggily waking, with puzzled eyes looked at Unos and the little fox, asking:
"Li... Li Mengxi? Huh, who did you just call a traitor?"
Unos turned to Ah Qing and then glanced at Master Fuli and said:
"Not traitor; rare, very rare. Momo said the roast leg of lamb is about done, asked me to check why you haven't returned after leaving so long..."
Ah Qing, an outsider to this inner circle, didn't ignite a strong desire in Unos to communicate extensively, to avoid Li Wenkang charging her with leaking Security Bureau secrets and detaining her for unpaid labor.
Though others might not resort to such tactics, Li Wenkang is unpredictable, as he also graduated from the Longevity Club in a sense.
His shamelessness rivaling that of a local rich landlord.
"?"
Ansheng wore a baffled expression, looking at the Unos-turned-Li Mengxi with an odd look and remarked, "Your name seems pretty cute..."
"?"
Ah Qing, listening to the little fox, suddenly became aware of a small issue.
Li Mengxi...
Seems not very familiar with the little fox, yet she has no real impression of her, while associates at the School of Animal Science...