A few minutes later.
Qingshui, under heavy protection, arrived at a new secure location.
Wang Ye, Zeng Jiucheng, and Zhuge Gong, the current head of the Wuhou Sect, were gathered around the glass enclosure of a laboratory, observing a motionless insect lying inside.
"Professor Zhuo, you're here. I didn't expect True Man Lingyu's divination to come true so quickly."
Upon seeing Qingshui, Zeng Jiucheng immediately spoke.
This sorcerer who served the imperial court was a sturdy, balding middle-aged man with a dark complexion, dressed in a black mandarin jacket.
If one ignored the string of seemingly expensive agate prayer beads in his hand, he looked no different from the migrant workers who came to the city for work.
"Master Zeng, long time no see. And young Wang and Mr. Zhuge, thank you for your hard work."
Qingshui nodded in greeting to the three sorcerers present.
Zeng Jiucheng and Zhuge Gong were both top-tier sorcerers in the country. Although Wang Ye's cultivation wasn't outstanding, the unique nature of Wind-Rear Strange Gate allowed him to play a significant role even within the inner landscape.
At this moment, the three of them looked somewhat pale.
This was the price of forcibly interpreting heavenly secrets within the inner landscape.
Although they didn't ask directly, they used indirect methods, combined with Zeng Jiucheng's Dao Yan Heavenly Secrets, to mitigate some of the backlash, but their condition was still not good.
"Professor Zhuo, I'm fine. Master Zeng probably is too. It's just Mr. Zhuge, he looked like he was fighting for his life just now."
Wang Ye said with a chuckle.
"Professor Zhuo."
The handsome middle-aged man with a small mustache bowed slightly to Qingshui.
Qingshui glanced at the current head of the Zhuge family and immediately understood what he wanted.
Zhuge Qing had also been present during the Biyou Village incident.
Because he was defeated by Wang Ye's Wind-Rear Strange Gate at the Luo Tian Grand Ceremony, he, like in the original timeline, went to Biyou Village, hoping to learn Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements, which was one of the Eight Unique Skills, just like Wind-Rear Strange Gate.
"Mr. Zhuge, there's no need to worry. I'm also keeping an eye on Zhuge Qing. The young man hasn't done anything wrong, which is good. There won't be any problems. It's just that some people at the Company wanted to escalate things regarding the inheritors of the Eight Unique Skills, but I chewed them out.
Your son, Ah Qing, is also a very talented young man. Chairman Zhao still seems to be thinking about recruiting him, but it depends on Zhuge Qing himself and the Wuhou Eight Trigrams Village's opinion."
Qingshui said to Zhuge Gong with a smile.
"Ah Qing learned an Eight Unique Skill?"
Zhuge Gong keenly caught the key point in Qingshui's words and asked in surprise.
"No, it's just that the Company thought Zhuge Qing had been exposed to it and learned Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements. Actually, even if he had learned it, it's not a big deal. But your Zhuge Qing didn't learn Divine Mechanism Hundred Refinements; instead, he seems to have made progress with your Wuhou Sect's Samadhi True Fire."
Zhuge Gong was startled.
"May I ask, Professor Zhuo, how did you know my Wuhou Sect has Samadhi True Fire?"
Qingshui smiled and said ambiguously:
"As long as someone has used it, there must be related records, right?"
Zhuge Gong saw that Qingshui was being evasive, so he didn't press further.
Within the Zhuge family, if one hadn't refined their physique, mental cultivation, and magical arts to a certain level, they couldn't know about Samadhi True Fire and its cultivation method.
It was unlikely for an outsider to know about Samadhi True Fire, but related information might have spread, as it was impossible to master Samadhi True Fire without sufficient prerequisites.
"So that's how it is. Samadhi True Fire is the supreme secret art of my Wuhou Sect. Using the three treasures of essence, qi, and spirit, it ignites one's life to burn away all inner demons and souls. This is Samadhi True Fire. Only those who master themselves and whose obsessions follow their will can comprehend Samadhi.
If Ah Qing can comprehend Samadhi True Fire, he will surely surpass me, his father, in the future and even have a chance to approach our ancestor, Zhuge Wuhou, becoming another One Apex sorcerer."
Zhuge Gong explained to Qingshui, while also pondering how to arrange Zhuge Qing's future.
After so many years, the Zhuge family had finally produced another exceptional talent who comprehended Samadhi True Fire. With the current world situation undergoing unprecedented changes in a century, could Zhuge Qing follow in the footsteps of his ancestor and enter officialdom?
Qingshui was also pondering.
It can burn inner demons and also scorch souls?
In that case, isn't this Samadhi True Fire the bane of all soul-related abilities?
If it can burn the Chuma Immortal from the Northeast, then it might also counter similar abilities like Spirit Control and Summoning.
Qingshui was indeed developing some interest in Samadhi True Fire.
However, to master oneself and control obsessions, the requirements for one's life seem very high.
He wondered if he could learn it, and if he could master it.
After all, it was the supreme inheritance of the Wuhou Sect. In the entire Zhuge Eight Trigrams Village, only Zhuge Qing had the aptitude and experience to learn it after all these years.
On the other hand, Spirit Control and Summoning could even be learned by Wang Bing, so the threshold shouldn't be high, and there's no reason he couldn't learn it.
Compared to Qingshui, Zeng Jiucheng was more interested in Samadhi True Fire.
"Samadhi True Fire? Legend has it that Zhuge Wuhou was the greatest Anomalous Human in the Anomalous Human World, and the closest person to ascending to immortality. With his own power, he changed the world's power structure for decades. Before his death, he even tried to light the Seven-Star Lamp to reverse his fate, restart the universe, and restore the Han Dynasty, to prevent the decline of the Central Plains a century later. Unfortunately, he failed, but he was still the sorcerer closest to achieving a heaven-defying change of fate.
I wonder if this Samadhi True Fire was the flame of the Seven-Star Lamp that Wuhou lit back then..."
"Precisely. However, even Samadhi True Fire could not prolong the fate of the Han Dynasty. Such heavenly destiny cannot be altered by human power. Master Zeng's Qimen art is inherited from Master Dao Yan, following the path of conforming to heaven and responding to people, influencing heavenly secrets, which is precisely opposite to my ancestor."
Zhuge Gong nodded slightly to Zeng Jiucheng.
The latter thought for a moment, then also nodded gently, not bringing up the matter.
Yao Guangxiao and Zhuge Liang were both peerless strategists of their time, but there were still differences even between the peerless.
The former helped Zhu Di seize the throne, following the general trend, while the latter, though failing to help Emperor Zhaolie unite the world, acted against the will of heaven.
As inheritors of these two historically top-tier strategists, it was quite normal for Zeng Jiucheng and Zhuge Gong to be curious about each other's methods.
Qingshui didn't pay attention to what the two strategists discussed next. Instead, he took a few more glances at the insect and started conversing with the other research personnel conducting tests.
"Have you confirmed the species?"
"Not yet. We took small samples from the specimen for testing and found gene fragments from multiple insect species, such as Echinococcus multilocularis, Spirometra mansoni, and Taenia solium. We can't yet determine what creature it was modified from."
An old professor with glasses and a brilliant hairstyle said to Qingshui.
"Do you have genetic comparison charts for these organisms?"
"Yes, Professor Zhuo, look, the fragments within are chaotic. Even that system you invented..."
The old professor remembered that others were present, so he didn't continue discussing technical details related to Regeneration Serum.
"It probably wouldn't create something so patched together. Japan's biotechnology level is very high. If it weren't for Regeneration Serum, this year's Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine would likely have gone to Yoshinori Ohsumi in Japan. His discovery of the autophagy mechanism is absolutely the top biological achievement of the 21st century.
However, in genetic technology, even Japan probably can't achieve this kind of modification. There's likely other technical support behind this. At least on our side, we speculate that Behemoth's SP Agent uses similar biological modification technology."
The old professor pushed up his glasses and said to Qingshui.
Qingshui didn't answer. Instead, he rested his chin on one hand, looking at the strangely shaped insect whose origin was unknown.
It really is rare.
An insect demon with a cultivation level even higher than Changbai Mountain Liu Kunsheng, yet it appeared like a real insect, completely harmless, quietly resting in the experimental vessel.
Without the surrounding instruments, it would be almost impossible to detect this small insect with the naked eye.
"Have you detected this insect's abilities?"
"We haven't found out yet, but based on the simulated expression of its gene combination, Artificial Intelligence speculates that this insect should be a parasite that can invade the brain. It's not fatal, but it can indirectly affect the brain's hormone regulation through Qi, thereby changing a person's personality subconsciously.
A copy of the relevant test results is here; the original has already been submitted to the highest level."
The old professor opened a file on his computer, displaying it in front of Qingshui.
Qingshui briefly scanned it, not even finishing it, just getting a general idea, when someone else came looking for him.
It was a leader.
At this moment, this person, dressed in a Zhongshan suit, accompanied by Yue Qian and another unknown top-tier internal expert, found Qingshui.
"Professor Zhuo."
This calm-faced old man shook Qingshui's hand.
"Mr. Zhao, I didn't expect it to be you."
Qingshui nodded slightly to the old man.
"Because I'm the fastest one who could get to you, and I'm just relaying a message from above."
The old man nodded to Qingshui, getting straight to the point:
"The matter has been investigated. The mastermind is a right-wing force in Japan. There might be covert instructions from other forces behind them. The higher-ups want to know your stance."
What stance could I possibly have? I've been subjected to such a sneak attack, what stance could I possibly have left?
"Of course, we must prioritize the overall situation..."
Qingshui looked at the other's expression, changed his tone, and continued:
"It's just that I was so startled this time, the technical plans I had prepared in my mind seem to have been scared right out of me."
"The technology you're referring to is..."
"Cold Nuclear Fusion is out. So, equipping our tens of thousands of small fishing boats with nuclear power definitely won't be a problem, right? A miniaturized reactor, combined with the new nanomaterials I've just started to figure out, should be able to build large spaceplanes. Perhaps 'Interstellar Spaceship' is more appropriate. And things like Large Space Observatories, the South Heaven Gate Project, Heavenly Court Heavy Industry, Lunar Bases, and so on..."
Old Zhao's expression froze.
"Professor Zhuo, are you sure all these technologies you mentioned are real?"
"Then I ask you, is Regeneration Serum real? Is Ultra-precision Electron Lithography real? Are Nanobots and High-precision Chips real? Oh, and Artificial Intelligence and the Cold Nuclear Fusion I just developed..."
"Professor Zhuo."
A hand pressed down on Qingshui's shoulder.
"Your stance, I believe I understand it now. Regardless, the motherland will not mistreat anyone who has made great contributions. You and countless researchers have given us enough confidence. This time, we will do our best to give you a reasonable and satisfactory answer. The answer, in fact, will come tomorrow."
Old Zhao smiled.
Tomorrow?
Today is September 30th, so tomorrow would be...
"Tomorrow there will be a temporary military parade. You will be invited to watch from the main city gate, and new announcements will be made."
"Oh? Can you reveal anything?"
"Have you read about World War II history?" Chairman Zhao asked with a knowing smile.
The technologies Qingshui introduced had already greatly enhanced East University's capabilities. This was also a perfect opportunity to make some moves, change the status quo, and inform the world that times had changed!
The next day, news of Cold Nuclear Fusion, which had leaked the previous night, was officially announced in the morning, stunning the entire world. The news of a temporary military parade also surprised many people and factions. Those who knew the inside story were either furious, excited, or... terrified!
Immediately after the parade ended, dragons soared from the sea and eagles ascended to the sky. The higher-ups issued the highest level of combat readiness orders and also announced that they would exercise an international right – a right stipulated in an announcement signed seventy years ago in Potsdam, Brandenburg. They would station troops in Japan and investigate war criminals. That announcement remained valid to this day; it simply hadn't been enforced for the past seventy years.
The world was in an uproar. Some felt excited, believing their country had finally shown its strength, while certain public intellectuals posted on social media platforms, only to have their posts swiftly blocked and deleted by regulatory authorities. Following that, friendly uncles in hats would knock on their doors, inviting them to a certain place for tea.
Meanwhile, news of the attempted assassination of the super scientist Qingshui by Japan, though unofficial, began circulating, propelled by those with ulterior motives. And the bombshells weren't over yet.
On October 2nd, at 5 PM, the "most undisputed Nobel Prize" was announced.
When the Nobel Prize live stream aired, Qingshui was eating dinner. Due to the incident two days prior, his security had been significantly enhanced, and a thorough clean-up operation was underway. During this period, even his meals were specially prepared by custom chefs. Fortunately, the culinary team was highly skilled; it was said to be led by a chef who had participated in state banquets, proficient in various cuisines, and the food tasted excellent.
Among the awards, the science categories were presented first, followed by humanities, and finally the Peace Prize. Within the science categories, the Physics Prize was announced first, then the Chemistry Prize, and finally the Physiology or Medicine Prize.
Without any suspense, Qingshui won both the Physics Prize and the Physiology or Medicine Prize. The latter award was for the Regeneration Serum, which was understandable. However, the Physics Prize was surprisingly not for the Cold Nuclear Fusion technology.
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