Chapter 4

Zhao Meng's gaze left the microscope, and a stormy sea surged in his heart.

Looking at the bean-sized Buddha's Sarira in the crystal container again, it was plain and unremarkable, not eye-catching. But the scene seen under the microscope just now lingered in his mind, like a nuclear bomb exploding in his thoughts; how could he view it with a normal heart?

Seeing Zhao Meng shocked like this, the other research group leaders, including Xie Tianshu, all looked at the Buddha's Sarira one after another with grave and doubtful expressions, wanting to see what earth-shattering secret was hidden inside.

Everyone, after watching one after another.

Laboratory 705 fell into dead silence.

One of the older research group leaders had his chest heave, almost fainting straight away; fortunately, it was discovered in time, and he was carried to a seat by Zhao Meng and Xie Tianshu to rest.

Seriously violating common sense, completely overturning cognition.

The worldview built under the scientific framework over the past few decades collapsed at this moment.

Professor Xu had already recovered, looking at the Buddha's Sarira under the microscope with awe, saying tragically: "What is going on? How is the microscopic world like this? The microscopic I understood is germs, cells, atoms, molecules... Why, why is there such... an unbelievable corner in the microscopic?"

The older research group leader asked weakly: "On Earth, in the microscopic layer that cannot be observed by the naked eye, is this the norm, or is it just this one place?"

If the microscopic world of Earth was so terrifying, then what kind of planet were they living on?

What is the connection between the microscopic world and the macroscopic world?

Director Yang found it difficult to answer this question; although he had studied for decades, his understanding of the microscopic world was still very little.

However... he did know that besides Laboratory 705, there were four other super-cognitive projects ahead: 701, 702, 703, and 704. Each project was promoted independently, and the confidentiality level was very high. They only knew of each other's existence.

Zhao Meng said: "The Buddha's Sarira itself is very special; it is a treasure of Buddhism. The bronze ship parked on it is perhaps an inevitable event, not an accident."

"Buddhism says, one flower, one world, one leaf, one Tathagata. It is very likely that there were high monks in Buddhism who had long understood the secret of the Sarira, which is why they left this saying."

Zhao Meng's eyes never left the Buddha's Sarira, and the more he looked, the more familiar it became, and a flash of inspiration appeared in his mind.

Right!

The shape and size of the fish eye on the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish were about the same as this Sarira.

It's just that the Dao Ancestor's brow bone was light cyan, while the Buddha's Sarira was light red.

It couldn't be such a coincidence, right?

Could the missing fish eye on the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish be the Buddha's Sarira?

Xie Tianshu was not as painful and confused as these old pedants, and strange colors flashed in his eyes. He was a child of a high-ranking family; he had never failed to get what he wanted since childhood, and almost everything that could be bought with money was within reach.

Participating in the Arctic research this time was actually to gild his resume, making it easier to gain recognition from the cultural and scientific circles in the future.

Precisely because of this, he was extremely unwilling to lose the First Mate position to Zhao Meng.

Such a child of a high-ranking family had a very high threshold, and the appearance of the bronze ship and the opening of the mysterious door undoubtedly brought him great stimulation.

He was excited: "A Sarira, as vast and spectacular as a planet. On the bronze ship, there is clearly a huge corpse similar to the phoenix in myths. The other python corpse has a horn crown on its head, which definitely can no longer be considered a python, but has transformed into the legendary dragon."

"Everyone, does this mean that ancient myths were not fabricated? Immortality, flying to the sky and escaping the earth, all truly existed?"

"The ancient world in myths may be more brilliant and splendid than in legends, but it was erased by unknown forces, forgotten, and overturned."

"Now these traces of the myth era that were erased have been found again! In the microscopic, in the microscopic world!"

"Myths have never gone far! Where are the traces of other myths?"

No one could answer, all thinking in shock.

Xie Tianshu's excitement did not diminish, and he added: "I heard that drinking phoenix blood can lead to immortality. If we can salvage this bronze ship to the macroscopic Earth, or if we descend into the microscopic, does it mean we will gain immortality? Gain the extraordinary power to rule Earth?"

Director Yang shook his head: "Actually... that is not a phoenix corpse, it should be a Jin Wu corpse, because it has three feet. In myths, the Jin Wu represents the sun and represents destruction. Drinking its blood will likely not lead to immortality, but rather to ashes."

Laboratory 705 had observed this Buddha's Sarira and the bronze ship for decades, constantly deliberating and researching, digging into various details; the things they understood were not comparable to what they could learn from a short observation.

Zhao Meng looked at Director Yang and said: "I am very curious, is this really a Buddha's Sarira? I feel it is more like a planet in the macroscopic world, compressed into the microscopic."

"Right, if it really is a Buddha's Sarira, doesn't it mean that the Buddha cultivated a planet, a world, in his body?" After Professor Xu said this, he felt he didn't even recognize himself.

How did he also become so mysterious?

"There is more than one Buddha's Sarira! It is said that after the Buddha died, the Sarira found by his disciples in the ashes amounted to eight *hu* and four *dou*." Xie Tianshu said.

Captain Gao Xin said: "Director Yang, you should still talk about why Laboratory 705 came to the North Pole? And why do you speculate that those two fierce beasts were attracted by the Buddha's Sarira?"

Thinking of the terrifying bear-like creature and the even more terrifying giant monster Nine Infants at the bottom of the ship, everyone's thoughts were instantly pulled back to the cruel reality.

The sense of crisis was even stronger than before.

It was simply like a group of mortals caught in a struggle between gods and demons, a sense of decadence and powerlessness where one felt as small as dust.

Director Yang organized his thoughts and said: "Just as Second Mate Mr. Xie said, quite a few high-level officials who know of the existence of Laboratory 705 want immortality and extraordinary power, and have been urging us to find a way to salvage the bronze ship to the macroscopic Earth."

"For decades, we have studied many classics, searched for items related to the Buddha, used various scientific instruments, and tried countless methods, but the bronze ship has had no reaction."

"Until this year, during a long-distance journey, we accidentally discovered that the canvas on the bronze ship's mast had actually rotated."

Speaking of this, some people couldn't help but go back to observe the bronze ship under the microscope.

Director Yang continued: "Later, after many tests, we found that the canvas on the ship changed its angle with the change of latitude. The higher the latitude, the more upright the canvas turned."

"After calculation, if it is brought to the North Pole, that is, 90 degrees north latitude, the canvas on the mast will turn completely upright."

Xie Tianshu said excitedly: "What happens after it turns completely upright? Does it set sail?"

"There is this possibility, which is why we came to test it." Director Yang said.

"Now... aren't all the canvases on the ship upright?" The person watching the microscope said.

"Because, we are already very, very close to the North Pole."

Director Yang's expression clearly became excited, and he added: "Just last night, when the canvas was almost completely upright, the bronze ship shook slightly. In the space around the ship's hull, some strange mountain and sea patterns appeared, as if... another mysterious world was unfolding."

"Boom!"

"So it wasn't a fire at all last night; the bronze ship shook the *Long Ji*? You were hiding the truth!" A research group leader slapped the table heavily and said angrily.

Professor Xu suddenly realized: "I understand, it was the fluctuation of the bronze ship last night that attracted the bear-like creature and Nine Infants. What should we do now? We can't resist those two fierce beasts at all. Should we turn back and stay away from the North Pole? Or throw the Buddha's Sarira into the sea and abandon this disaster?"

"No!"

Xie Tianshu's eyes shifted, and after thinking for a moment, he said: "We have already been targeted. Once we turn back, the Nine Infants at the bottom of the ship might launch an attack in advance. With its strength, the research vessel will be instantly dragged into the seabed, and everyone will die without a burial place."

"As for the Buddha's Sarira, this is a treasure of our Earth's humans. Perhaps it can restart the myth era; how can we say abandon it? Besides, the two fierce beasts may not have been attracted by it; it's just our speculation!"

"How about this... I'll take this risk."

"I will carry the Buddha's Sarira, take a helicopter, and leave, taking the danger away from the research vessel."

Zhao Meng laughed: "You have a good plan! If the danger really originates from the Buddha's Sarira, you take the helicopter and are not afraid of the bear-like creature on the ground or the Nine Infants in the sea. If the danger doesn't originate from the Buddha's Sarira, that's even better; you take the treasure and stay away from the danger."

"Zhao Meng, stop slandering me; I have no selfish motives, I just want the team members on the research vessel to survive." Xie Tianshu said.

"Good! Since that's the case, the Buddha's Sarira will be handed to you." Zhao Meng said.

Xie Tianshu was slightly startled, not understanding why Zhao Meng suddenly changed his mind.

Zhao Meng listened to the dense sound of ice and snow hitting the ship's hull outside and said: "The blizzard has arrived, and the helicopter definitely cannot take off. Since you, Xie Tianshu, have a spirit of dedication, then leave the ship with the Buddha's Sarira and help us lure the danger away. You aren't reluctant to lose the human treasure, so from now on, it's up to you to guard it."

Xie Tianshu heard the violent and shrill wind and snow outside, his face sank: "Are you crazy? In such blizzard weather, even without the bear-like creature, going out is a dead end. Do you dare to go out yourself?"

Zhao Meng cast a mocking look, then his face straightened: "Who said I don't dare?"

He looked at Captain Gao Xin and Director Yang and said: "Two leaders, we only have two choices now. Either throw the Buddha's Sarira into the sea and abandon this great disaster. Or, I will take the risk. If I am lucky enough to survive, that is naturally the best. If I die in the blizzard, you can install a locator on the Buddha's Sarira in advance and use the locator to search for it."

This time, Xie Tianshu didn't argue with Zhao Meng!

Because he could see that Zhao Meng was serious.

Director Yang had studied the Buddha's Sarira for decades, and now that the bronze ship had finally shown fluctuations, how could he be willing to hand it over to a fierce beast just like that?

The Buddha's Sarira was more important than his life.

"Then..."

Director Yang had just opened his mouth.

"Boom!"

"Rum-rum!"

Above the ship, there was a muffled collision sound and the sound of the ship's hull being destroyed.

Immediately after, a series of explosions rang out.

The ship's hull shook violently, the sound becoming more deafening each time.

In Laboratory 705, everyone's faces changed drastically.

"It really hasn't left; it's here again!"

"Why is there an explosion? Who brought explosives onto the ship?"

(End of chapter)