Chapter 113 Ark Project

Opening his eyes again, the two of them were standing on the platform of a sealed room in the Special Affairs Bureau. The medical robotic arms around the platform automatically extended, scanning for potential injuries and detecting any memetic infections or pathogens from the script world.

"Time stopped at the moment of transmission, not like the last script mission where the flow of time synchronized with the real world..."

Li Ang glanced at the electronic clock embedded in the wall, raised an eyebrow, and pondered.

He didn't stay in the Special Affairs Bureau for too long. After chatting briefly with Wang Congshan, he left the Bureau and returned to the yacht parked in the outer sea of Yin City to check the gains from this mission.

This [Yuan Jie Huo Shi] mission rewarded a total of 1600 experience points, over three thousand game coins, and a random skill scroll.

More than three thousand game coins were just a bonus for Li Ang at this stage. The 1600 experience points, however, allowed him to level up to Lv26, with the experience bar at .

As for the random skill scroll, Li Ang, with the attitude of "hoping to get something useful," casually clicked on it.

[Skill Scroll Name: Guangyi Survival Art (Broad Survival Art)]

[Attribute: Consumable, disappears after one use]

[Type: Universal]

[Quality: Excellent]

[Effect: Survival of the Fittest. Achieve harmonious unity with the surrounding environment, adapting to the environment as much as possible without changing the life form.]

[Consumption: At least 0.1 points of Lingli (spiritual energy) per second]

[Cooldown Time: 10 minutes]

[Learning Conditions: Constitution attribute greater than or equal to 10 points, total Lingli value greater than or equal to 2000 points]

[Note: The worse the original life form's adaptability to the surrounding environment, the higher the Lingli consumption.]

[Note: Natural selection, survival of the fittest.]

[Note: Modern historians find it hard to imagine that in 2010, California, USA, was under a D4 level extreme drought warning, with only three days of rain throughout the year, reservoir water levels declining, forest fires, and agricultural production decreasing, while the local water and electricity bureau simply suggested that residents "change watering the lawn four times a week to three times" — the era of national dehydration.]

"Hmm..."

Li Ang thought for a moment and quickly made a decision, clicking on the scroll to learn the skill.

After studying it for a while, he roughly understood the mechanism of [Guangyi Survival Art].

Basically, it extended the survival time in harsh environments.

For example, a human who can only breathe with lungs can hold their breath underwater for a maximum of two minutes.

After activating the skill, they could directly breathe seawater in some unknown way, extracting oxygen from it,

Increasing the survival time to 30 minutes.

This skill also works in fatal environments such as vacuum, high pressure, low temperature, high temperature, radiation, dryness, strong magnetic fields, corrosion, and toxicity.

The harsher the environment, the higher the Lingli consumption per second.

"Having more life-saving skills is always good. After all, even the biological template that can temporarily change the body according to the external environment will have unsuitable situations.

If Ultimate Kars had this skill back then, he might have made a kingly return."

Li Ang muttered, canceling the release of Guangyi Survival Art.

This skill had no time limit, and there were no sound or light effects when maintaining it. Only the slight fluctuation of the Lingli value on the player panel proved that it was in effect.

"Biological template, swamp divine power, and now Guangyi Survival Art. Combining these three, can I withstand a nuclear explosion from a distance..."

Li Ang thought for a moment and dismissed the dangerous idea.

The skill description only said to adapt to the environment as much as possible, not to completely ignore it.

No matter how well he adapted, it was impossible to offset the ubiquitous high temperature, high pressure, light, heat, and radiation.

————

In the following period, Li Ang returned to his busy daily life.

He didn't become idle because he didn't have to go to school or tutor.

Instead, he became busier because he didn't need to pretend.

He either stayed in the automated pet breeding box, deciphering genes and debugging biological weapons;

Or he delved into the essence of the mind, improving his psychic skills;

Occasionally, when he had free time, he would seize every second to read various occult books.

"You Fu Jie Hua, Cang Nei Xian Ming, Lian Rong Gu Sui, Fan Bai Wei Qing..."

In the yacht room, Li Ang looked at the words in the book, feeling like his head was about to explode.

This book was a theoretical classic from within the Different Society, provided by Zhu Xuemin out of friendship. It had many annotations specially marked for beginners,

But... it still seemed difficult to understand. Some of the written descriptions were vague and ethereal, subjectively idealistic, close to metaphysics, and without unified practical standards.

As a staunch materialistic psychic, Li Ang had to stop and take a break after reading each paragraph,

Struggling to understand what it meant to "make Sheng Zhen Qi enter the Niwan" and what it meant to "close off the Si Qi and open the You Guan."

"Ugh, headache..."

Li Ang rubbed his forehead, finally managing to forcibly memorize the first half of the classic.

Through the annotations of modern Different Society members, he now understood why the classics of the Different Society were so metaphysical in the past—

The Different Society believed that

The vast universe, all things, originated from a starting point.

This starting point could have many names: Dao, Origin, Source, Truth, or even Singularity.

Everything originated, grew stronger, and created heaven and earth,

Humans inherited the spirituality of the "Dao" and were able to survive and possess wisdom.

If humans wanted to go further, they had to get closer to the "Dao," understand the "Dao," trace the roots, and reach the primordial state.

Just like blind men touching an elephant, mortals with limited wisdom and ability found it difficult to fully see and understand the full picture of the "Dao." Everyone's understanding of the "Dao" was different.

The Different Society acknowledged this and did not set a unified standard.

Instead, it encouraged its members and disciples to comprehend everything around them in their own way, from small to large, from themselves to heaven and earth, and then to the Great Dao, pursuing infinitely close to the original Dao within their limited lives.

(In the Different Society's general view, heaven and earth are a microcosm and product of the Dao, not the full picture of the Dao. However, even just manipulating Qi with the spirit, uniting form and spirit, grasping heaven and earth, and controlling Yin and Yang, one could possess god-like power.)

In other words, the Different Society advocated "the master leads the way, cultivation depends on the individual."

This kind of extremely obscure, subjectively idealistic text,

Was just a medium and disguise.

Practitioners needed to see through the disguise of the text to directly comprehend the metaphysical "intention" that the predecessors wanted to describe through the text.

"Well written, but not very suitable for me."

Li Ang regretfully put away the classic and turned to look at Chai Chai, who was watching a TV program on the sofa.

Li Ang sighed, "Why are you slacking off again? Have you cultivated today?"

"Today is Saturday, I can rest for a day."

Chai Chai, wearing coral fleece pajamas, guiltily moved the snacks from her lap to beside the sofa. "Besides, I'm watching the news, collecting important international information to facilitate decision-making..."

"Collecting important international information? What important information can you collect from Yin City's local station, and it's the program 'Yin City Gold Watch'?"

Li Ang flicked Chai Chai's forehead in annoyance.

Yin City, as an international metropolis with a population of twenty or thirty million, supported a large number of TV stations and TV programs, among which there were several particularly prominent ones.

First, there was "Yin City Grand Stage, come if you're sick,"

Known for bizarre talent shows and performance accidents where contestants and guests argued.

Second, there was "Yin City Gold Watch." Although this program was a news program, it focused on household matters and people's livelihood news,

And often had bizarre cases,

Such as "Boyfriend Farts Wildly, Girlfriend Screams No, Neighbors Mistake it for Domestic Violence and Call the Police"

"Crane Operator Defecates in the Air, Accidentally Hits Three People and Compensates Four Thousand Three Hundred Yuan"

"Robber Robs Store and Gets Beaten Violently, Cries on the Spot and is Comforted by the Store Owner"

"Man Digs Up Leader's Ancestral Graves Multiple Times to Win Leader's Appreciation"

"Thief Brushes Douyin on the Roof After Committing Crime, Laughs and Gets Caught"

These bizarre news stories, coupled with the host's sarcastic tone, were a perfect mealtime drama.

If there were reporters interviewing the parties involved, the program would be even more effective.

It was as if a group of normal people were seriously acting out an abnormal play,

Sometimes even Li Ang had to admire the strange ambitions of Jianghu children.

"It's just too boring."

Chai Chai protested, covering her forehead.

Some time ago, Liu Wuwei gave Chai Chai several unlimited bank cards, causing Chai Chai to fall deep into the trap of consumerism.

Limited-edition game consoles, figurines, models, and dolls that she used to drool over were all bought.

She downloaded seventeen or eighteen live streaming and short video apps, and if she saw a streamer who looked pleasing or sounded good, she would go into the live streaming room and smash a bunch of gifts.

She also made large donations to niche animation, manga production companies, and small-group CP writers to encourage them to work harder. For a while, she received enthusiastic gratitude from fellow fans who were waiting for content and became an opinion leader.

But after spending all the money, there was only emptiness left.

Soon Chai Chai returned to her state of just eating and waiting to die — at most, she was more refined than before.

Seeming to notice Li Ang's disappointed gaze, Chai Chai timidly and boldly picked up the air conditioner remote control and silently raised the temperature in the room, wrapping herself in a blanket.

Li Ang was confused. "What are you doing?"

"Warming up, sweating a bit,"

Chai Chai buried herself in the blanket and said, "Genius is equal to 99% perspiration plus 1% talent. If I sweat more, I'll be a genius."

"..."

Li Ang's eyes twitched. Just as he was about to give Chai Chai a good scolding, he received a friend message from Liu Wuwei.

Liu Wuwei: Are you there? The first batch of transcendents for the Ark Project is about to arrive. Should I get the Longqing to move?

Li Ang: Yes, you can.

Longqing was the name of this yacht.

Some time ago, Liu Wuwei mentioned the progress of the Ark Project to Li Ang.

In the first phase, it was estimated that one to two hundred players and transcendents with sensitive identities, and their families, would join the Ark Project and receive protection.

These players and transcendents

Usually had some strength, but definitely not to the extent of the first or second echelon.

They were considered traitors, criminals, prey, or high-value targets by large organizations.

They couldn't survive outside on their own, so they sought protection from Liu Wuwei.

Liu Wuwei's family's Longqing Shipping Group was a Fortune 500-level giant multinational corporation with deep foundations and a network of interests across continents before the start of the Killing Game.

They had some influence over African warlords, North Russian oligarchs, American congressmen, etc.

In addition, Liu Wuwei herself maintained a good relationship with the Special Affairs Bureau. With her as the intermediary, some disputes could be resolved.

Of course, a very important point of the entire Ark Project was the existence of Li Ang.

Before, in the [Yokoki] bar, the mercenaries' chat and bragging about top-level transcendents somehow spread out.

The classification criteria for the first echelon and the Calamity-level transcendents above the first echelon

Had gained widespread recognition in small circles and large organizations.

And Li Ang, as one of the few existences symbolizing top-level force,

Had become an important strategic factor that other large organizations had to consider.

Liu Wuwei merely borrowed his name and greatly accelerated the progress of the Ark Project. The resistance from all sides suddenly became much smaller.

Woo—

The Longqing yacht let out a loud whistle and sailed towards the depths of the high seas.

Li Ang put on the dragon head, put on a white coat, and boarded the deck.

Soon, he saw two large white ships belonging to the Longqing Shipping Group sailing from the horizon ahead.

The two ships slowly approached.

Li Ang activated the Ladder Cloud Ascent, stepping on invisible steps, rising into the air, and walking to one of the ships. He greeted Liu Wuwei, who was standing on the deck.

"75 players, 102 power users, and 455 family members. This is everyone's information."

Liu Wuwei handed over a thick stack of paper documents.

Li Ang took the documents, glanced at them casually, and asked casually, "Where's Mule?"

"He hasn't come yet. He said he wants to continue preparing the second phase of the Ark Project."

Liu Wuwei took a deep breath.

Preparing the Ark Project and protecting helpless transcendents

Would cause a lot of trouble,

But it also had huge potential benefits.

As the executor of the plan, Liu Wuwei naturally wouldn't learn from the European Heavy Industry Group and engage in a multi-person council to decentralize power.

Only three people had the final say in the entire plan:

Her, Mule, and Li Ang.

The three of them contributed their own strength, took what they needed, and benefited each other.

"Time really flies."

Liu Wuwei held the railing with both hands and sighed softly, which was rare for her.

Li Ang looked up from the paper documents, glanced at her, and then at the other ship not far away.

On that ship, hundreds of transcendents and their families were looking at the two of them through the glass windows of various cabins.

Their gazes were quite complicated,

Grateful, respectful, apprehensive, fearful...

Li Ang tilted his head and understood what Liu Wuwei meant by "time flies."

The two of them were still players who met in the Solitary Cold Temple,

But now they had the power to decide the life and death of thousands of people with a single word and had become the "scenery on the top of the mountain" in the eyes of others.

"I wonder if there are people among them pointing at us and saying, 'I can take his place.'"

Li Ang smiled and closed the documents.

With a thought, vast, wave-like Ling energy surged out, silently screening the ship not far away, roughly checking the thoughts of the passengers to confirm that there were no traitors.

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