Chapter 104: Chapter 104: My Intelligence Has Been Lowered, The Fated Opportunity Must Be Here, Dig It Up

"Anjin."

This was Qi Suian’s tenth day in the Mantle Sanctuary, and the power within his body had finally transitioned from Mingjin to Anjin.

Because the three Evil Dao ancient martial arts were truly domineering, Qi Suian took only half a day more to reach Anjin Perfection. Next, he just needed to unify his internal and external self.

However, this was another long and arduous process.

’A month. The time has tripled.’

’But once I reach Transformation Perfection, my dual attributes will be able to reach 3 points.’

Qi Suian felt his body’s strength rise once again.

To put it simply, with the support of his attributes, Qi Suian at Anjin Perfection could now reliably defeat the Tai Sui God, provided it didn’t use its Floating Cannons or firearms.

The Tai Sui Divine Armor Value was low, but its controller was an AI. In terms of combat techniques and experience, without involving power, even a Danjin Grandmaster from the Ancient Martial World would likely not be its match.

’This Twining Silk Power and Snapping String Power are becoming more and more mature.’

’Interesting.’

These two special powers, originating from the Soul-Devouring Fist and the Soul-Devouring Palm, were somewhat similar to passive skills.

As long as Qi Suian used his power to attack an enemy, their effects would be applied.

’A pity. They’re still too weak. I’ll have to wait until I reach Transformation Perfection to use them. Right now, they’re not just useless decorations, they’re a menace.’

Because of these two unique powers, Qi Suian would sustain internal injuries every time he cultivated his ancient martial arts.

The cultivation method was vicious, the training method ruthless, and the fighting style venomous. The power born from these three was naturally ferocious and deadly.

’I hope I’m not creating something that only turns on its own master. That would be a real problem.’

Qi Suian wasn’t expecting them to be overwhelmingly strong, but they were passive skills, after all.

Once he mastered all three evil arts, he could install his power as a module onto the Tai Sui God. Perhaps that would lead to an even stronger transformation.

’But while they’re called special powers, they’re actually a part of my own power and take up a portion of my total power reserves.’

’Three aspects from the Soul-Devouring Fist, three from the Soul-Devouring Palm, and one more from combining the evil arts—they ultimately transform the very nature of my power.’

If a normal person’s power was still just power at the end of their cultivation, then the power from these three Evil Dao ancient martial arts would, in the end, come with seven passive effects.

Since Qi Suian hadn’t reached the final stage yet, this was just a guess.

After all, he was still trying to deduce the next stage, Danjin.

He needed to figure out how to bypass what he considered a breakthrough method fit for a lunatic.

Others could break through with sheer stubbornness and willpower because they were humans from the Ancient Martial World and possessed the corresponding talent.

Qi Suian was a human from the Profound World. He shouldn’t have been able to practice ancient martial arts in the first place, let alone possess the right talent for it. So, while others could break through, he would just end up going insane.

Therefore, the best solution was to modify the method himself.

’The Mingjin, Anjin, and Huajin of Xin Yi Fist are simplified variations of Danjin. I’ll use that as a foundation, combined with the three Evil Dao ancient martial arts.’

’The prototype for Danjin basically has no issues in terms of data. Now I just need to reach Huajin to supplement the final dataset.’

Qi Suian had never walked an orthodox path; he had chosen an Evil Dao path so deviant it couldn’t be more so.

But how could one take a shortcut without paying a price? If reaching the heavens in a single step were truly so simple, everyone would be as mighty as dragons by now.

’I can just let the AI monitor the slow grind.’ Qi Suian focused his attention on the present.

With the virus bloodline implant as a connection, the AI could interfere to a certain extent through the two-way link between the Tai Sui God and Qi Suian.

As for methods like seeking enlightenment or breaking through limits? He was already practicing Evil Dao ancient martial arts. If he needed those things, wouldn’t it just become orthodox ancient martial arts?

The price for those things had already been paid with mortal danger. As long as you dared to practice and didn’t die in the process, you would naturally succeed.

It was only because Qi Suian lacked the special talent of people from the Ancient Martial World to support the Danjin and the two subsequent Power Realms. Otherwise, he wouldn’t need to modify anything at all; he could just die and come back to life, over and over again.

"How is the exploration coming along?" Qi Suian asked the AI.

[Current gains are minimal. The most valuable find is the observational data on the sun and the environment from the sanctuary’s establishment to its fall.]

[No information related to the ’Sun in a Bottle’ or special organisms has been found.]

"So, you’re saying that after all this time, we haven’t found anything of value." Qi Suian felt helpless about this.

[Correct. However, since something guided you here, it is certain that a fortuitous opportunity exists within the sanctuary. You need to be patient.]

"I’d like to, but letting this drag on isn’t a solution either."

"I’ll bet you the Mantle Sanctuary won’t be able to withstand the high temperatures to come." Qi Suian had seen the sanctuary’s observational data.

In the beginning, the rate of temperature increase wasn’t this ridiculous.

Now, the outside temperature was rising nearly one degree every four days, and this rate was still increasing.

The sun itself couldn’t calm down, so how could Qi Suian be expected to remain patient?

And now there was the unknown technology of the ’Sun in a Bottle’ to consider. Continuing like this could be fatal.

If this kept up, the Horizon Realm itself might melt. Even hiding fifty li deep in the Mantle Layer wouldn’t guarantee survival.

[If you are dissatisfied with the low returns, you could use all the items, structures, and equipment in the Mantle Sanctuary as fuel...]

"Let’s do that!" Qi Suian agreed without a moment’s hesitation.

’Otherwise, if there’s really nothing here, wouldn’t this be a total loss?’

’Even a mosquito’s leg is still meat. If I really find nothing, using the entire sanctuary as fuel will at least help me recoup some of the cost.’

[Yes. As you command.]

[However, search efficiency will decrease. You should be mentally prepared for this.]

Seeing this, Qi Suian said, "It has to be done anyway. Just record everything and then toss it into the Melting Furnace. How much of a delay could it cause?"

There would certainly be a slowdown. After all, small things add up.

With Qi Suian’s order, the AI naturally began to carry it out.

[Have you considered that your intelligence may have been lowered? Normally, your greed would not manifest in this manner.]

The AI suddenly offered a reminder.

Hearing this, Qi Suian scratched his head. "Now that you mention it, it does feel like my IQ dropped. My greed usually doesn’t work like this."

"Doesn’t that mean the opportunity is nearby, but our previous search method would have missed it, so something deliberately dumbed me down?"

[Correct. So, shall we conduct a more detailed search?]

"Go ahead."

"But speaking of which, where is the area we’re searching now?" Qi Suian asked.

[It appears to be a public square. According to records, it was formerly an altar built by the upper class. Before it was completed, the upper class was overthrown, and it was converted into a square.]

"Following my previous order, what would your next action have been?" Qi Suian followed the line of logic.

[Tear up all the floor panels and throw them into the Melting Furnace.]

"That’s it. I suspect the opportunity is underneath."

"You know it too. A modern society building something like an altar... all that mystical mumbo-jumbo definitely means something’s up."

Qi Suian felt that as long as he obtained the opportunity, these ten days would not have been wasted.

Without hesitation, the AI began to act, dismantling the entire square and tossing it all into the Melting Furnace.

But the square was not small, and dismantling it completely in a short time was no easy task.

Especially since it all had to be thrown into the Melting Furnace as fuel, which would cause another delay.

-----------------

"Success! With the Juggernaut, not only can we take all the survivors to the Extreme North State, but we can also rescue more survivors along the way." A smile spread across Qin Sheng’s face.

The Juggernaut was a gigantic modified vehicle, made possible only thanks to the ’friendly sponsorship’ of the surrounding Ancient Martial Families. Otherwise, he never would have been able to gather the materials.

"But what about fuel...?" Xue Pingjun asked with concern.

Qin Sheng thought for a moment. Solar power alone was indeed not enough.

"I previously obtained a concentrated nuclear power source. Installing that should be enough."

"Instead of worrying about that, we should be thinking about the food supply," Qin Sheng said softly.

More people meant food would be consumed much faster.

As for hunting? That was even more unreliable.

Desolate Beasts were inedible.

"Otherwise, Chairman Qin, you should go on ahead!" Xue Pingjun said, gritting his teeth.

"Absolutely not. If I leave, none of you will survive." Qin Sheng refused without hesitation.

"Leave this to me. I’ll figure something out."

Qin Sheng couldn’t help but think of his special identity as a Law Enforcer. Because of this status, he had always received preferential treatment in the doomsday game.

[Mandatory Mission: Danjin]

[Reward: High-Efficiency Solar Liquefaction Device]

[Time Limit: Three Days]

[Failure: Obliteration]

Qin Sheng’s expression flickered as the mandatory mission suddenly appeared before him.

This was a perfect case of "ask and you shall receive."

It seemed his status as a Law Enforcer was truly special in this doomsday game, even if the price of failure was death.

But reaching Danjin in three days? As long as he didn’t deliberately make things difficult for himself, his chance of success was basically ninety percent.

"I’m going into seclusion for two days to break through to Danjin," Qin Sheng announced, abruptly changing the subject.

Although Xue Pingjun found it strange, he didn’t press for details.

After all, Qin Sheng was the backbone of their mutual aid society.

The stronger his Ancient Martial Realm, the more their society would benefit.

"Alright, leave the society’s affairs to me. Just focus on your breakthrough." After saying that, Xue Pingjun added, "Oh, right. A girl came looking for you just now. She asked for you by name."

As he said this, Xue Pingjun’s expression turned strange.

"Her name is Xu Siyuan, and she says she’s your fiancée."

Hearing this, an embarrassed look appeared on Qin Sheng’s face.

"You know I have seven masters... well, without my knowledge, they arranged seven marriage contracts for me..."

Hearing this, Xue Pingjun nodded. "So she’s the real deal, then."

"She’s not an imposter. She is indeed my fiancée, but we don’t really pay attention to that stuff nowadays." Qin Sheng was single-mindedly focused on helping his compatriots survive; he had little time for romantic affairs.

"As long as she’s real. Since she came all this way to find you, we can’t just turn her away. If you trust me, I’ll arrange for her accommodations," Xue Pingjun offered.

Qin Sheng’s focus was crucial to the entire mutual aid society’s future; he couldn’t afford to have trouble brewing in his own backyard over such a small matter.

"Then I’ll have to trouble you. I’m going into seclusion now." Qin Sheng was so embarrassed he wanted the ground to swallow him whole. With that, he made a flustered exit.