Chapter 912

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Main Character:

Shen Yao

"Juxian Garden, there's movement over there?" Weren't they all saying the time when spiritual energy vortexes appear is comparatively short and rapid, lasting at most half an hour? Making a prediction a week in advance is hard to find convincing.

Wei Ran's beautiful eyes shifted slightly, and she coquettishly smiled at General Manager Xin again, wanting him to reveal more inside information.

General Manager Xin was somewhat sobered by now, regretting the news he had just blurted out. Oh dear, why did I run my mouth? But the words were already spoken, and no matter what, General Manager Xin could not let these people in front of him forget the matter.

He then raised his hand and patted Wei Ran's shoulder, not noticing the fleeting disdain in Wei Ran's eyes. "What I said isn't accurate, but the movement at Juxian Garden is absolutely true."

General Manager Xin explained that the Official side has its own testing equipment and has privately conducted tests on quite a few places in Jing Shi; among them, Juxian Garden's fluctuations were the most obvious.

"We all know this thing appears at a comparatively random time, but no matter how random, there are signs. Juxian Garden was previously the Front Court's Royal Garden." This didn't need General Manager Xin to elaborate; the other people present all had some understanding. Juxian Garden is a place shaded by green trees, a good spot for summer retreat and heat relief. Quite a few Jing Shi locals and out-of-towners go there, and the accommodation and transportation around Juxian Garden are comparatively developed; a trip there doesn't take much time.

"... The leaves are greener, the flowers and grass more fragrant. These are all changes."

General Manager Xin drank another mouthful of wine with an unperturbed air, then no matter how others asked, he would not speak further.

Soon, the topic at the wine table changed to a new one. The crowd was still very tactful; moreover, no matter how much was said, these people would not really risk their lives. That kind of dangerous business is far harder than spending money. As people mixing in the Entertainment Industry, they naturally still consider their own interests more important.

Shen Yao still sat in her own seat acting as a more-or-less ornamental mascot. As the crowd at the wine table chatted more and more enthusiastically, her role became smaller and smaller.

Juxian Garden

Curving her finger and tapping in the air, Shen Yao summoned the System in her mind. 'Do you know what's going on?'

The Special Investigation Bureau indeed has instruments for detecting Spiritual Qi Revival; it's just that nine out of ten readings are inaccurate. The System has not held back in complaining and mocking Shen Yao about this matter.

'A blind cat stumbling on a dead mouse. Not just Juxian Garden — other parks and scenic areas in Jing Shi all have fluctuations.

But the Official side suspects it's the result of spiritual energy overflowing due to spiritual energy vortexes appearing in succession.

What that General Manager Xin said is only a tiny bit true,' the System curled its lip, and emphasized again that Juxian Garden is still receiving tourists; if there were even a shred of danger, how could the Official side possibly let things drift?

The Official side of this world differs little from other Modern Society officials — a patriarchal existence guarding the entire country's populace with absolute authority.

The Special Investigation Bureau also takes protecting ordinary people as its duty; inside, most are Official players. Although normally they cannot reveal much to the public, whenever they encounter any danger, they rush to the Frontline.

'Put that way, Juxian Garden is also a gimmick — most likely no spiritual energy vortex will appear.'

'Correct,' the System answered affirmatively, then earnestly persuaded the Host not to be anxious. As a System that constantly monitors the Special Investigation Bureau's every move, it would certainly get first-hand news about spiritual energy vortexes. 'Host, you wanting to become a player isn't hard at all. I'll tell you the location in advance — enter before the spiritual energy vortex disappears, and with your methods you'll definitely clear it easily and become a player!'

The System's solemn assurances gave Shen Yao a bit of a headache. Fortunately she wouldn't listen one-sidedly to the System's boasting; otherwise she'd crash sooner or later.

This wine gathering lasted until very late before breaking up. Shen Yao naturally hadn't drunk much; she had driven over and still had to go to Jinghua University to pick up the child.

"Teacher Shen, pleasant cooperation. When the crew starts shooting, we'll still have to trouble you to help guide us more."

"Director Zhou is courteous. With you behind the camera, I believe this film will be shot perfectly. I came over to learn from you as well; hope for more cooperation in the future."

"..."

Shen Yao's flattering words came one set after another. Although everyone understood they were just polite words, who doesn't like hearing something pleasant? It's far better than speaking with barbs.

The film's male and female leads each left with their investors and directors. There were other activities after the wine gathering; Shen Yao didn't know what they were up to — nothing more than seeking resources and backing.

"Teacher Shen, see you at the crew."

"See you at the crew."

Shen Yao came out the main gate, smiling and waving her hand, then drove away.

Outside, the sky had already darkened. Because of the street lamps' existence it was still bright. The low-key sedan quickly merged into the passing traffic, accompanied by a *beep* sound, heading north.

The navigation was on, giving advance warnings at every point. During the trip Shen Yao also contacted Shen Xi once, learning this child was still in the laboratory and hadn't eaten, so she simply urged her to finish the work in hand quickly.

"There's enough time. Don't drive yourself too hard." Perhaps this is a genius girl's persistence — absolutely not leaving until she gets the result she wants.

"Mom, soon. Just a few more runs to finish." Once I get the data, my experiment only has wrap-up work left.

Shen Xi's voice came from the other end of the phone, same as her persona — clear, cool, calm, and rational.

"Alright, I still have over half an hour on this end. You watch the time."

"No problem."

Then the phone was hung up. Shen Yao was helpless, thinking this child doesn't know who she takes after. I'm not someone who forgets sleep and meals for work either.

As for Shen Xi's father... heh! That person looks proper and serious, but in reality is more skilled at exploiting loopholes and taking shortcuts than anyone Shen Yao knows.

Shen Yao had to admit Shen Xi isn't very like that ex-boyfriend of hers either. This child is like a straight green bamboo sprouting from the ground — whatever she does, she's earnest yet not rigid. Given time, she'll surely make her own name in the scientific world.

On the other side, Jinghua University Laboratory

Shen Xi hung up the phone with Shen Yao and devoted herself wholeheartedly to the experimental data before her.

When she came to school today she had already seen her supervisor. Master and disciple discussed the topic, and the final conclusion was that Shen Xi's approach was correct. As long as the last few sets of experimental data match the conjecture, the topic will officially wrap up.

As her supervisor's closing-door disciple, Shen Xi's talent is beyond doubt. She is even busier than the others in the same group. Topics that take others a very long time, in her hands yield results in mere days.

This time too. Looking at the numbers on the instrument, Shen Xi swiftly took out her notebook and recorded them carefully. After triple-checking there were no problems, she didn't forget to put the laboratory items back in order.

*Thump thump thump*

The tightly closed laboratory door was knocked. Shen Xi turned her head to look back — it turned out to be the Senior Sister from the neighboring group.

"Junior Sister Shen, go back to the office together?" Students have their own desks; only unlike undergraduates who focus on study, they now pay more attention to hands-on ability.

Shen Xi is an exception among them. She started doing experiments alongside her supervisor right after entering university — outstanding even in Jinghua University where geniuses abound.

"Senior Sister Wang Ying, wait a moment." Shen Xi replied, then finished the bit of work in hand, picked up her belongings, locked the laboratory, and the two walked along the corridor back to the office.

Don't look at it being a holiday — there are quite a few people in the office. Many Senior Sisters and Senior Brothers didn't go home to rest but stayed to busy themselves with their own research tasks.

When Wang Ying and Shen Xi entered, they happened to hear a Senior Brother talking about his hometown.

Shen Xi remembered this Senior Brother's surname was Ma. His hometown was also very special — a mountain village surrounded by mountain forests. Being able to walk out of it was thanks to Senior Brother Ma's own striving.

"Two Junior Sisters, come over quickly." Senior Brother Ma was tall and big, just looked somewhat thin and weak. It's said that when he was young his family was too poor to eat good things, leading to poor physical nutrition. Even after staying at Jinghua University for so many years, he still hasn't put on much flesh.

"Brother Ma, hurry up and tell us — is that thing true or false?"

"Of course it's real. I saw the news — they said the Official side arranged for Special Police to enforce a blockade. If it were fake, how could there be such a scene?"

"Not necessarily. Special Police blockades aren't unheard of. Our Jing Shi has had many, and they all ended anticlimactically, with no danger at all."

"..."

There were many students in the Office. Soon they were talking one after another, making the whole Office seem overly crowded.

Taking advantage of the discussion, Shen Xi and Wang Ying had already returned to their respective seats. Shen Xi even opened her Laptop and casually entered the completed assignment data, then organized it.

Wang Ying:...

"Junior Sister works this hard — no wonder Academician Qian likes her. Who wouldn't like her!"

Wang Ying sighed at how fate treats people differently. There's always a greater genius above a genius. Back in high school she was smug, thinking she'd amount to something. Only after smoothly getting into Jinghua University did she realize the gap between talent and talent isn't just a little bit.

Wang Ying had long since lain flat, just waiting to graduate with her Master's and go work outside. This wasn't that she didn't want to walk the research path, but she saw herself clearly and thoroughly. Compared to those true geniuses, her level was completely insufficient to support her getting results.

Shen Xi quickly finished processing her data, lowered her head to glance at the time on her Wristwatch, raised her hand and closed the Laptop.

"Senior Sister Wang Ying?"

"Nothing, nothing." Wang Ying shook her head, then raised her hand and pointed at the Ma Senior Brother who was speaking. "Listen for a bit?"

What Ma Senior Brother spoke of was the Spiritual Energy Vortex incident. It happened in a mountain village in their Home. At the time, the distance from his position was only a Hundred Meters.

As a firsthand experiencer, Ma Senior Brother could be said to have a real talent for storytelling. Even though none of the crowd had seen it with their own eyes, after hearing Ma Senior Brother's account, they felt as if they were there themselves — that kind of fear, dread, despair, and the feeling of surviving a disaster could all be experienced.

"Then... how did it end? Could it really be like what others online say — as long as someone clears the Instance, it disappears?"

Although the Official side hasn't explicitly issued a red-header document, the terms and discussions about Spiritual Qi Revival, Spiritual Energy Vortex, and Instance have long been public online. Everyone knows what's going on, so they don't avoid the taboo when speaking.

"That's right. Although we were stopped and not let in, we could still vaguely see the situation." Ma Senior Brother's family poverty was all in his youth. As this person tested out and could Make Money, the family's life got better and better. "I just remember that village was emptied by more than half. By the time the Police all left, the villagers had also been relocated."

Although this matter was already several months ago, when Ma Senior Brother mentioned it being emptied by more than half, he still couldn't help trembling all over. It was that state of the living not seeing people and the dead not seeing corpses. Except for those who came out later, the others who were swept in were like they'd been erased with an Eraser — not a trace remained.

The speaking voices in the Office suddenly vanished, then swept in again.

Shen Xi listened and seemed thoughtful. She knew more than what was online, because of the existence of Shen Yao and Huo Xunqi. Therefore she understood the Wei Xian of Spiritual Energy Vortex and the consequences of being swept into an Instance.

With more people, Ma Senior Brother wasn't as scared as when he spoke before. He raised his hand and wiped the Sweat Drops on his forehead. He smiled bitterly, saying that returning to school early had the reason of being frightened. After all, Jing Shi is a Metropolis, and Jinghua University is a top-tier research university. In other words, if something really happened here, someone would definitely come save them.

Shen Xi lowered her head again to check the time on her Wristwatch, silently calculating in her heart.

She stood up, gathered her things, and planned to Go Out.

Unexpectedly at this moment, fog suddenly rose outside. The bright Outside became blurry. The originally quiet Trees actually began to sway.

Shen Xi was rather special. Perhaps she inherited Shen Yao's high Mental Power. She discovered the problem at the first moment. She bypassed the front desks and came to the Window Side to look a few times. Then she hurriedly turned her head and told the Senior Sisters and Senior Brothers in the Office to leave.

"Junior Sister Shen, we still have Experiments to watch. We can't leave at all."

"Something happened outside. It might be Spiritual Qi Revival." Shen Xi pointed at the several pots of green vines by the Window. They were visibly trembling slightly.

Spiritual Qi Revival?!

This is no joke. Spiritual Qi Revival will inevitably be accompanied by Spiritual Energy Vortices, and Spiritual Energy Vortices bring Instances. People swept into an Instance have a nine-deaths-one-life chance!

"You're not joking, right? Those Leafs trembling — it's definitely because of Wind blowing."

"Senior Brother, our Office didn't open the Window."

"..."

Shen Xi continued seriously. "Go quickly. On the way, call the people in the Experimental Building. And call the teachers at the Management Office." Leave before the Spiritual Energy Vortex appears — this is their only way to avoid being swept in.

As for staying in the Original Place, waiting for the Spiritual Energy Vortex to disappear — very difficult.

Because the Spiritual Energy Vortex isn't a vortex, but a spatial Barrier covered with cracks. It's just that because they change position from time to time, they're called Spiritual Energy Vortices.

In truth, every time a Spiritual Energy Vortex appears, it precisely finds the Crowd within range. Unless they run out of the corresponding encirclement, what awaits them is entering an Instance.

The crowd aren't Stupid People. Moreover they're top students. Under Shen Xi's reminder, they immediately Reacted to the problem.

They couldn't care about the data and Experiments they had to wait for. While running out Seizing Time, those making calls made calls, those notifying others notified others. Aside from the initial panic, there were no superfluous movements.

Shen Xi also hugged her Notebook and ran out. On the way she didn't forget to Pull Wang Ying, who almost fell. Their Office was on the Third Floor. Along the Stairs all the way down, they finally had to stop at the Doorway, staring at the Door Outside like Cloud Mist, looking at each other in dismay.