[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-above-destiny":3,"chapter-above-destiny-above-destiny-chapter-420":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Above the Heavenly Fate",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2226121,4117,"Chapter 420: Damn! Am I surrounded by peers?!","above-destiny-chapter-420",420,"\u003Cp>In the brief silence, everyone fell into a hush.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue smiled, Old Bao drank water, and Yu Shu was dumbfounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't know why the two of them weren't speaking. He felt like something was off, but he couldn't put his finger on it. He inexplicably felt that this dance of three was incredibly difficult to perform.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Putting aside what Bao Dacai was pondering, Ji Jue’s own feelings at this moment were exceptionally complex—the sensation of two people sitting together, yet somehow managing to assemble three pairs of peers... it was just too damn ghostly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tacit understanding between Craftsmen went without saying. Given the other party's ability, it was impossible that they hadn't investigated and explored the Abyss and Stagnation; after all, among a Craftsman's unique skills, the ones that could see the light of day were actually in the minority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Nirvana...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it, the one peer I didn't want it to be was this one!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no helping it. Everyone said Craftsmen were sinister and that the moral bottom line of Embers was too low, but those had to be categorized. After all, no matter what, the Ring of Taiyi was a recognized righteous organization, and the Craftsman Association, while capable of defecting to the Abyss at any moment, still had a reputation to maintain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But these brothers from Nirvana were truly insane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They did things that were anti-social and anti-reality, targeting the indiscriminate slaughter of the Empire and the Federation. The first thing they did every day upon waking was to put their lives on the line to carry out terrorist attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To say nothing else, just in the year or so since Ji Jue became a Chosen, he had killed a King of the Red Federation, an Imperial Prince, a Federation Minister, and two Generals, plus sent the Emperor of the Empire to the ICU for a long-term stay in a luxury suite... there was always some world-shaking wisdom to provide people with endless surprises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if \"Hard Work\" couldn't be killed, wasn't this just a bit too damn much?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, to a certain extent, Ji Jue really couldn't sever his ties with this bunch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even setting aside his relationship with Ye Xian, he was at least the direct disciple of Sage Mercury, the sole inheritor of contemporary Fluid Alchemy, plus he possessed the Non-Aggression Matrix of the ancient Mohists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a terrorist organization established by the remnants of the Mohists, the relationship between Nirvana and the Mohists was inextricably linked. No wonder that upon meeting, the internal gestures and jargon had already emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, it was no secret that Ji Jue had the Non-Aggression Matrix in his hands, and he was a hotshot Ember who had hand-crafted Heavenly Work within less than a year of registering as a Craftsman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his resume hadn't been clean enough in a certain sense, and his background hadn't been able to hold up in various ways, he likely would have had to take a trip to the Security Bureau’s absolute prison and be arranged as a key observation target.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this weren't a dream, Ji Jue would have had to ponder how to draw a line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for now...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forget it. Everyone had fallen to this extent; the pot shouldn't call the kettle black. You go out and be anti-social, I go out and scavenge for trash—each goes their own way, not hindering the current act of huddling together for warmth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mr. Ji, Old Bao is the logistics supervisor and craftsman of the camp. During the time I first arrived, he took great care of me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that the atmosphere seemed to have fallen into awkwardness, Yu Shu introduced them to each other: \"And Mr. Ji is...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A Craftsman of Heavenly Work, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Old Bao said with a smile: \"The founder of Coastal Industry, I've heard your name for a long time. I even bought your tricycles. As for within the Association, your reputation is even more thunderous.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Where, where. Just some minor matters, not worth mentioning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue offered a warm, polite smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, they still had this layer of connection. Although vigilance and suspicion were occupational diseases rooted in Craftsmen, as long as they didn't get into a disagreement and go to the entrance of Coastal Industry to write a poem of rebellion just to get themselves into Nirvana, he was fine with anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is a wheelchair previously used for injured members. In the rush, I only had time to change the dimensions.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, it doesn't matter, it has already been a huge help.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue’s smile carried a bit of sincerity. After all, having stayed in a human-stick state for so long, even if he didn't need to eat, drink, or use the bathroom, it was still quite inconvenient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This level of help doesn't count for much.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Dacai put down his water cup and suddenly invited: \"Since we can't sleep anyway, would you like to go to the factory and sit for a while? There are more tools and equipment there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, I don't think Mr. Ji wants to remain in this state for long, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inviting someone to his workshop upon the first meeting? Even if he were starving for a rare talent, there was no need to be this blatant, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue looked up at him. Bao Dacai just smiled warmly, as if the invitation he had just proposed was nothing more than a stroll.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, Ji Jue also laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He nodded, \"Alright.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Consequently, Bao Dacai’s smile became increasingly pleasant, and the wrinkles on his face seemed to smooth out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s a bit crude, I hope you don't mind.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one were to talk about crude, it was indeed crude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Dacai really wasn't being humble at all; it was severely crude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few minutes later, Yu Shu pushed the wheelchair to the factory Bao Dacai had mentioned. It really was a factory, and a factory as crude as a family workshop, at best having a few more auxiliary circuits and spiritual quality insulation commonly used in workshops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the entrance, one could still see several vehicles that had broken down and were being dismantled, waiting for repairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alright, case solved. So it was you, you old geezer, who repaired cars to look like that, right?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the factory, there were common lathes, milling machines, presses, and various other equipment, but if special requirements were needed, one would likely have to hand-craft them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides that, there was a furnace, but it could only be described as \"making do.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The conditions are crude, please forgive me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Dacai didn't care at all and laughed at himself: \"This place is ultimately different from the real world. Many materials are missing, and even if they exist, their performance and effects differ greatly from the outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, alchemy is not a popular subject. Most people naturally find it hard to imagine things they haven't heard of. Not to mention the lack of blessings, there is no foundation for existence... aside from basic physical property interference, one can only embrace the Buddha's feet in a hurry and bring out some trivial mechanical engineering.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The difference between inside and outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this world composed of illusions, no matter how real everything seems, it is ultimately different from the outside. Massive amounts of imagination and scattered thoughts overlap and entangle with one another, and in the end, the framework that supports the illusion becomes \"consensus.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sky is round and the earth is square; the vast sea is boundless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sun rises in the east and sets in the west; apples fall from trees... everything that is taken for granted is naturally projected into this piece of illusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, due to the barrier of knowledge, it is difficult for people to know about Supreme Good and Great Evil, let alone find traces of them. Without Supreme Good and Great Evil, without blessings, if they weren't awakened autonomously, Chosen who relied on the summoning of superiors wouldn't even be able to retain their abilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even this exists?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue’s gaze fell on the corner of the factory, on that row of steel limbs—arms and legs of large, medium, and small sizes, and even prosthetic bodies embedded with various tools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is thanks to Mr. Ji previously making Coastal's prosthetic designs public. Otherwise, I'm afraid the accumulation in this area would have to start all over again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Limited by the total amount of spiritual quality and the strength of consciousness, it is difficult for some people's severed limbs to regenerate. If it's too slow, or if some shadow is left behind, they might lose them forever.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at Ji Jue’s appearance, his eyes filled with undisguised curiosity and doubt: \"However, your problem seems different from all the others...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to the total amount of spiritual quality and the strength of consciousness, the speed of recovery varies, but it is always possible to recover, unlike Ji Jue, who had turned into a statue, completely petrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let alone recovery, if there were no physical property interference, he would shatter at the slightest touch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Generally speaking, in this dream, a person's image depends on self-perception and the subconscious, but even if the Wasteland entered the brain, no one would think they were a stone, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rather than an abnormality, it’s more like...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rejection?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This dream refuses to let him obtain a carrier? It’s too inconceivable; even his original body has been twisted into stone and dead matter in the delusion...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It’s as if he were cursed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But by whom?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old man’s thoughts raced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can I borrow the tools and equipment?\" Ji Jue suddenly asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That was the plan from the start. Things like prosthetic bodies are naturally easier to use when made by oneself, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Dacai smiled, having waited a long time: \"Don't be polite, feel free to use them. I also want to see the difference between my imitations and the original.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is it that among these old geezers, not a single one is worry-free?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue glanced at those eyes filled with anticipation—rather than letting Ji Jue play freely, he was probably also wanting to see exactly how much weight Ji Jue carried...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Regarding this, Ji Jue understood, but didn't care at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alright then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since you’ve said so... then I really won't be polite!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He directly raised his remaining arm and knocked on the equipment nearby. Soon, in the dead silence, one piece of equipment after another seemed to be endowed with life; indicator lights lit up, and they began to operate on their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After directing Yu Shu to feed the materials for him, a harsh friction sound came from the lathe. One after another, amidst flying sparks, a large number of parts piled up on the table in just a few minutes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Ji Jue’s command, Yu Shu sweated profusely as he assembled them. Even though he had undergone advanced training on the assembly line, his speed was still limited. Fortunately, there were no complex cables, and the structure was relatively simple. Soon, a crude and strange mechanical arm appeared on the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then... Yu Shu was eliminated by the thing he had assembled himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crude mechanical arm replaced Yu Shu’s work and was put back into production. Then, it produced a second mechanical arm, more exquisite and complex, with five fingers that differed from those of an ordinary person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, with the two arms working in coordination, they began to modify the structure of the lathe and milling machine in turn... they were so many versions behind, so don't waste time with such crude family workshop stuff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within a short half-hour, having completed the iteration of production tools relying on the two mechanical arms, Ji Jue finally poured his energy into the most critical work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, an alloy-structured spine appeared on the table. Controlled by the mechanical arms, it clung to Ji Jue’s back. After fixing it with the structure, the mechanical arms were transplanted onto Ji Jue’s hands, as if they were born as one. Conveniently controlled, they added various complex structures to his body—buffers, protection, engines, motors...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even, in turn, cut his own current form without a care, trimming the feet to fit the shoes to match the replaced limbs. In the end, except for his head, his whole body was completely covered in steel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Click—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pitch-black steel body slowly stood up amidst the sharp sound of friction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the dumbfounded Yu Shu, what stood there was an out-and-out mechanical monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning steel into a body, injecting mercury to turn it into blood, using his own consciousness and soul as the core, and using the flow of spiritual quality as the power source...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was simply as if he had turned his soul into a furnace and his own body into material, modifying and adding or subtracting at will, yet it was all perfectly natural.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, with the flow of mercury, the iron luster gradually faded, replaced by a texture like flesh and blood, with no more abnormal aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like a monster putting on a mask, hiding once again in the sea of people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was already becoming hard to tell what the difference was, which made it even more hair-raising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How is it?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue raised his steel hand, made a slight fist, and felt the sparks and tactile sensation rubbed out by his fingertips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Worthy of Fluid Alchemy, the art of ten thousand changes, the echo of purification.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A glimmer of light appeared in Bao Dacai’s eyes, and he sighed softly: \"Thank you for the lesson. Even an old man as dull as me has gained much.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue smiled, as if generous: \"Just some trivial details, consider it the reward for renting the tools.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More than just renting tools, this appearance...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Shu wiped his sweat, looked around, and stopped mid-sentence: It’s simply a case of the dove occupying the magpie’s nest!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just a few hours, one mechanical arm after another had extended from the brand-new structure. The scene in the large factory was already completely different. Amidst the welding light and flying sparks, another brand-new piece of equipment had been assembled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had completely changed into another place according to Ji Jue’s habits and preferences.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the workers came to work at dawn, they would probably suspect they had gone to the wrong place, right?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it had to be said, it seemed...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A lot more advanced?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue turned back and looked at the old man: \"However, I’ve taken the liberty of doing so much, Old Bao won't be angry, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"A mere trifle, not worth mentioning.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bao Dacai didn't care at all and waved his hand: \"Ultimately, you are the creator of Coastal. This skill is truly breathtaking. If I had known, I would have spent more time on engineering back then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, logistics and production were originally just picking the best among the worst, being forced to do it. Since Mr. Ji has come, I can naturally be a bit more relaxed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He handed over his position and function without a care, not even having the slightest thought of wanting to compete... No, perhaps from the beginning, he didn't care about these things at all?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...This is the 'Wedge-Puller'?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue took a seemingly ordinary wooden stake from the display shelf next to the factory. It was the size of a palm, yet felt light as a feather in his hand, and he could feel the spiritual quality flowing within it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked back at the old man. The old man nodded indifferently, having no intention of stopping him from researching. So Ji Jue was not polite either; he probed with his spiritual quality and then performed a dissociation technique...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, as if by CT scan, the internal spiritual structure appeared in his perception, clear and distinct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having broken away from blessings and Supreme Good, relying purely on simple spiritual interaction and structure, he had actually created such a complex thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was actually able to knock an angel down to the mortal world, causing it to temporarily lose its divine power...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So that's it, is it 'healing'?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue perceived the effect of the alchemical creation in his hand and sighed in realization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this illusion, everything was transformed by consciousness and spiritual quality, and the effect of the wedge, compared to a weapon, was more like a therapeutic drug.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had only one effect: to provide strong stimulation through an electric-like spiritual shock, exciting the 'instinct' acting on the spiritual body, almost like a knee-jerk reflex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was like a ladle of cold water splashed in the face amidst drowsiness, forcing the spiritual body to 'wake up.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Return to its original form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this immortal dream, limbs would regenerate, flesh would restore; ultimately, the instinct engraved in the soul would make one subconsciously want to return to their original appearance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If used by an ordinary person, it could at most serve to accelerate recovery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And during this process, all structures inconsistent with or unrelated to one's self-instinct and subconscious would be removed and erased... including the modifications and blessings performed on the angels!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unfortunately, the blessings of the Holy God have already been engraved into the soul through the Realm of Ultimate Bliss. Under massive strong stimulation, it has become completely deep-rooted. All I can trigger is the conflict between two instincts, causing chaos, but it is ultimately difficult to sustain.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good idea.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue sighed softly, staring at the wedge-puller in his hand, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ultimately, time was too short; he hadn't expected there to be such a tricky method.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this were the line of thought...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His heart suddenly stirred, inspiration touched, but just as he was thinking carefully, outside the factory, increasingly loud shouts and roars rose up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed like a crowd was gathering, angrily accusing something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone listen to me—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the dim dawn light, someone shouted loudly, \"That woman Wen Wen has gone completely crazy! Think carefully, everyone, think about it. Since she came to the camp, what has she actually done!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from going against the grain, there have been no results at all. She is completely inciting everyone to go to their deaths. The number of people lost is increasing, the siege and pursuit by the angels are becoming tighter and more severe... to the point now where we can barely even survive!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this continues, is there any future to speak of?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Things have reached the point where we must change. Are we going to let this maniac continue to lead us?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More voices filled with righteous indignation roared: \"Get out!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Make her get out!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Step down!!!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are you crazy, Lu!\" a hoarse voice bellowed: \"What the hell are you saying! If it weren't for Commander Wen, would you even be alive today!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But immediately after, a mocking voice rang out: \"What perks did she give you that you're licking her boots like this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'm just speaking the truth, damn it!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're allowed to talk, but others aren't? Oh, don't tell me you're going to start a fight?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You motherf...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amidst the ear-piercing shouts, conflicts and insults continued incessantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clamor reached the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tsk!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Jue's expression gradually darkened; his rare train of thought had been interrupted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, fortunately, he already had a complete idea, so he wouldn't lose his inspiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's just that...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's really lively.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He dropped the wooden stake in his hand and looked up at the outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the dust-covered glass, the faces flushed with anger and the gathered crowd were like a powder keg about to explode.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Infighting.\u003C\u002Fp>",3285,"2026-06-17T22:21:53.433Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","a93b9e8e5d52510dd5fdb62d3f48aa038d23567d354088b7e39700acd1305c57","above-destiny-chapter-421","above-destiny-chapter-419",461,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fabove-the-heavenly-fate-cover.jpg"]