Chapter 45: Chapter 45: The Second Consciousness in the Deity Containment Technology

"Director Chunyu, the damage assessment is complete." A staff member placed a large file in front of Chunyu Hu.

Chunyu Hu said nothing, simply taking the file and beginning to read. The further he read, the uglier his expression became.

"During that time, a copy of the data stored by Watchman Dawn was silently taken."

"Are you confident you can track this person down?" Chunyu Hu asked after he finished reading.

He knew the enemy had come prepared this time, but he hadn’t expected them to act so quickly.

"That... I’m afraid that’s impossible. We were only able to find a few traces. We can’t do any more than that." The staff member wasn’t a god; it was already impressive that they’d found any traces at all.

Chunyu Hu rubbed his temples, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins.

"I understand. Send a copy to the other directors as well." Chunyu Hu didn’t make things difficult for the man; he wasn’t that petty.

The staff member quickly left, but the deep frown on Chunyu Hu’s brow did not relax.

’Could it be that group of old geezers?’

’But haven’t they already chosen to fully embrace the Profound Virus? Logically, I should have no dealings with them.’

’This is a critical time for them; they shouldn’t be making a direct move.’ Chunyu Hu suspected those old relics from the Divine Prayer Association.

Fully embracing the Profound Virus sounded nice, but in reality, it just meant turning into a zombie.

They simply used their research findings to retain their own consciousness.

That’s why this technology was called the Divine Spirit Container Technology. The Immortal Surgery was developed from it.

Although it originated from the Divine Spirit Container Technology, this didn’t mean the Immortal Surgery was an incomplete version. Rather, it was a new technology altogether.

The Immortal Surgery had one advantage that the Divine Spirit Container Technology could not hope to match: it didn’t produce a second consciousness.

Zombies are new life forms born after a human dies. In their initial stages, they indeed lack consciousness and a sense of self, but as they grow stronger, they evolve into intelligent beings.

The Divine Spirit Container Technology developed by the old relics of the Divine Prayer Association had no way of eliminating this drawback.

The Immortal Surgery, on the other hand, left its subjects in a state between human and zombie. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Therefore, they were not truly zombies, and naturally, no second consciousness would be born.

The Watchman Morning Company had not yet figured out how a second consciousness was born, but they had a theory: it was likely caused by a massive convergence of the Profound Virus.

There was just no concrete evidence to directly prove it.

As for why they didn’t research it further, the reason was simple: there was no need.

Their Immortal Surgery didn’t involve a second consciousness, so why waste resources studying it?

The apocalypse actually had a huge impact on them. The most direct issue was, with no people, how could they monetize their resources?

Before, they had acquired vast resources by monopolizing industries in human society, leaving them much better off.

Of course, they were also doing their best to compensate for this.

For example, Chunyu Hu’s ability wasn’t spatial or temporal, but a Spirit-type ability: Corpse Swarm Dominion.

This ability allowed him to control zombies. Unfortunately, limited by his own power, he could currently control a maximum of three hundred zombies, though all of them were third-tier Mutated Zombies.

If his strength continued to increase, the number and tier of zombies he could control would also rise.

’It’s highly unlikely those old relics were behind this. It must be someone else.’ Chunyu Hu quickly ruled out the Divine Prayer Association as suspects.

This wasn’t a difficult conclusion to accept. The Watchman Morning Company couldn’t hope to match the deep-seated power of the Divine Prayer Association; their own escape from its control had been incredibly difficult.

’Without the Divine Prayer Association, the list of potential suspects becomes quite interesting.’

’For example, the person who developed energy weapons.’ Chunyu Hu knew that if there was anyone who’d want a fight to the death with him, it was this person.

’He killed my worthless son, and now he dares to sneak onto Ring Island.’

To Chunyu Hu, Chunyu Bao was indeed his son, yet not his real son. He was a clone of one of the old relics from the Divine Prayer Association.

As for affection, there had certainly been some at the beginning. But after learning the truth, Chunyu Hu’s feelings for Chunyu Bao had become complicated.

’If he really was the one who copied Watchman Dawn’s database, he should know about the Divine Prayer Association by now.’

As for the leak of the monopoly’s data? That wasn’t important to Chunyu Hu at all. Even if the other party got their hands on it, they couldn’t make use of it without the corresponding facilities and sufficient production capacity.

Besides, it contained a vast amount of highly advanced and specialized knowledge. To an ordinary person, it would be like trying to read gibberish.

The energy weapons that the person specialized in were just a tiny, forgotten corner of the database.

’I wonder if I can use him to probe the old relics of the Divine Prayer Association.’ Chunyu Hu’s plan was to kill with a borrowed knife.

What else could he do? He had no way of finding the person.

The guy had already snuck in, made his move without a sound, and stolen all his secrets.

With this level of skill, how could Chunyu Hu possibly think it was just good luck?

With such a perfect blade at his disposal, it was a win for him whether his enemy failed or the Divine Prayer Association failed.

---

’The Mandate of Heaven has broken free from the Jade Seal.’

In a hidden underground city, an old man’s eyes were blood-red. A closer look revealed that he bore a strong resemblance to Chunyu Hu, only he was a zombified, elderly version.

’Dammit! A body that has long since decayed... what right does it have to fight me for control?’

The old zombie erupted with a powerful aura, constantly tearing at his own body to weaken the other consciousness within him.

This other consciousness possessed an intellect and strength that was no less than his own, and the two were in a constant struggle.

"I am the King of Dian! I infused the Mandate of Heaven into the Dian Kingdom Jade Seal long ago! It will protect me forever!" Chunyu Hu roared in a low voice, and then everything quickly calmed down.

He had severely wounded the second consciousness, forcing it to temporarily retreat into the depths of his Spirit.

’No, I have to find a way to get the Dian Kingdom Jade Seal back. Otherwise, I might not be able to eliminate this second consciousness.’

He didn’t regret not carrying the Dian Kingdom Jade Seal with him back then. After all, at that time, he had barely managed to escape with his life.

An alien meteorite carrying the Profound Virus had slammed directly into his capital city. It was a miracle he had survived at all.

As for how he knew the truth, it was because he was one of the original infected by the Profound Virus. His second consciousness was connected to the source of the Profoundness, allowing him to hear certain whispers.

’I also have to get my hands on the Source of Profound Virus. If I recall, it ended up with my clone, didn’t it?’

"You’ve kept it for me for so many years. It’s time to return it," Chunyu Hu said in a cold voice.

If Qi Suian were here, he would be able to see that this being was a Corpse King-level zombie, and only one step away from becoming a Corpse Emperor.