Chapter 2573: The Imminent Breakthrough

He Lingchuan also let out a long breath, for just now, how could his heart not have been tense?

At that moment, if he had answered incorrectly, how would he then subdue Xiao Ping, how would he deal with the heavenly demon behind the scenes—he had run through it all in his mind several times.

Fortunately, this time, half-guessing and half-betting, he actually got it right.

Their plan could thus continue.

Zhu Xiuer wondered: "Why on earth would she suspect you?"

He Lingchuan shook his head: "After all, I am not truly Hu Xin, and I have no time to understand this person's habits and mannerisms; it is inevitable that some flaw will show in my words and deeds. Xiao Ping is observant, her intuition senses something off, but she cannot quite put her finger on it, so she wants to test me."

"But after the probing just now, she should have temporarily dispelled her doubts. Master Xiao is very busy—why would she divert her attention to study me?"

Mingke Xianren then asked: "Just now, Duan He Yun went to find Xiao Ping—will he mention the matter of taking A Lian and the puppet spirits out of the city at night?"

"He will." He Lingchuan stroked his chin, "No matter how freely Duan He Yun acts, after all, he has worked in the Heavenly Palace for many years and must follow the rules here—he would not dare to act without reporting."

For Duan He Yun to accomplish this, it is not to deliberately create conflict.

"So, whether A Lian can leave Yan Xiawan will be known shortly."

……

After Hu Xin left, Xiao Ping focused all her attention on Duan He Yun.

"What?" her eyebrows nearly knotted together, "You want to take A Lian to the northern suburbs of the city—why?"

Duan He Yun then stated his position, and afterward said: "It is better to grant the reward in advance than to delay it. A Lian is too resistant to the descent of the He Lu Tian Shen; if she can be relaxed, her speed in agreeing will be greater."

"What if she still does not agree?"

"How would we know without trying?" Duan He Yun continued, "Even if she does not agree, but she has already seen the wonders of the outside world, she will surely still long for the next outing, making her more likely to be persuaded."

If a person has no desires, you cannot manipulate him. Hu Xin used a few candies and some jerky to instill in A Lian a longing for the outside world. If she were to see the bustle of the human world with her own eyes, how much resistance could remain?

Is it really alright to let A Lian go out like this? Xiao Ping pondered.

Duan He Yun understood her concern: "We regularly conduct experiments in releasing puppet spirits into the wild, and the timing is just these few days. Besides, releasing other divine incarnations and releasing A Lian—are they not the same? This time, we will give her a tracking marker; are you still afraid she will run away?"

"A mere puppet spirit—could it escape under the very eyes of the Ling Yun Palace? To say so would be to destroy our own prestige."

Xiao Ping glanced at him: "You also want to take him out, don't you?"

"What I think—does it matter?" Duan He Yun said with a stern face, "Isn't the point to get A Lian to agree as soon as possible? Children only have thirty breaths of enthusiasm. If we drag it out for days, she might suddenly lose interest in going out—what would you use to lure her, to persuade her? Beating, threats, enticement—none work, we have both tried, she is unmoved."

Xiao Ping thought: "Taking her out tonight—will it be too hasty?" but she did not say it, for she knew Duan He Yun would surely ask:

"What is the difference between tonight, tomorrow night, and the night after?"

"To be honest, there is not much difference."

Moreover, she also understood that Duan He Yun had the right to take A Lian out for the wild release experiment without needing her consent. Nominally, she is merely his assistant, Duan Da Shi.

Xiao Ping was about to speak when her heart stirred, and the words on her lips became:

"By the way, who gave you this idea?"

"Who?" Duan He Yun could not help but sneer, "Such a simple little matter—does it really need someone else to give me an idea?"

"To dote on A Lian like this—indeed, only you could do it." Xiao Ping sighed, "Fortunately, the area around Bai Song City is peaceful—pay attention to safety, and do not leave behind anyone who should be brought."

She no longer objected, and Duan He Yun also secretly breathed a sigh of relief, smiling: "It is merely a wild release—better to report to He Lu Tian Shen early; that is the proper course."

Having said that, he took out a jade slip and placed it on Xiao Ping's desk:

"This is my analysis of the possibilities for autonomous growth and cultivation of divine bodies, summarizing my research on A Lian and the other puppet spirits."

"You finally brought it out?" Xiao Ping curled the corner of her mouth. Her intuition was correct—this fellow had been privately hoarding his research results; if not for A Lian, he would still be unwilling to produce them now.

In this world, between closest kin and strangers, husband and wife—ah!

She suppressed her wandering thoughts, picked up the jade slip, and sent her divine sense into it—then she gasped, "So much?!"

No wonder it was recorded on a jade slip—if this data were taken out, it could fill several desks.

She hastily flipped through two copies, and the more she read, the more moved she became: "This, this—could it be saying..."

"Exactly!" Duan He Yun's eyebrows danced with joy, "The appearance of A Lian, her successful growth—this can likely be replicated! If we follow this line of thought downward, the problem that has troubled us for ten years will soon be overcome!"

"Think about it—when the time comes, the 'perfect divine bodies' we can produce will no longer be just a few pitiful ones!"

"If, if we succeed..." Xiao Ping's heart pounded wildly, and she instinctively grabbed the corner of the table, "Then we can mass-produce divine bodies—however many we want, we can have!"

No wonder it is Duan He Yun!

This is the heavenly pride she has admired since childhood!

"Yes, as long as materials and conditions permit, we can make as many as we wish!"

The space suddenly twisted slightly, and even the wind blowing by the pond came to a halt.

A voice sounded from somewhere: "Is this truly the case?"

The two were not surprised, for this was the voice of He Lu Tian Shen.

This space belongs entirely to it—it can do whatever it wishes, speak whenever it wishes.

Duan He Yun said resolutely: "When have I ever spoken falsely?"

Xiao Ping, He Lu Tian Shen: "..."

"When he boasts, is he ever lacking? He truly has no self-awareness."

"When have I ever spoken falsely on such a major discovery?" Duan He Yun corrected, "Over the past ten or more years, although I found the embryonic sac as a breakthrough, the constant for triggering the mutation has always been difficult to confirm!"

Xiao Ping frowned: "This breakthrough was proposed by me—have you forgotten?"

Creating divine bodies from human embryonic sacs and fragments of the Yin Shen Jun's body—this was her proposal first, the core idea being to borrow the power of creation.

Even Duan He Yun praised it, saying this suggestion was a stroke of divine inspiration.

Unfortunately, the code of creation is not so easily deciphered. For these ten or more years, they have always lacked a bit of luck, unable to glimpse that sliver of heavenly secret.

Until A Lian appeared.

"The answer we seek lies within A Lian." Duan He Yun said earnestly, "As long as she cooperates with me a little more, I will soon unlock the ultimate secret!"

(End of Chapter)