Chapter 324 Are you just making empty promises to me?
Sun Jiuchou laughed: "Didn't I already teach you that?"
Zhou Jue was taken aback: "You taught me? When?"
"Just when you were 'mending the sky'."
Sun Jiuchou looked at her and said slowly, "Your space is like an airtight pond. If you want it to become an ocean, you can't just rely on rain. You have to dig a channel for it to connect to other rivers and other ponds."
What you just did was the first time 'digging a canal'.
"Although it was just a sacrifice, your space has already recorded the 'coordinates' and 'attributes' of that crack."
"It has learned how to 'communicate' with an external, fragmented space."
"This is the first step in evolution, from closed to open."
"However, your actions just now were passive and dangerous."
"And the secret I'm about to tell you is how... to actively and safely seek out other 'rivers'."
She stared at Sun Jiuchou: "You mean, you want me to actively connect to other unknown spaces?"
“Yes.” Sun Jiuchou nodded.
"Go and devour them?"
“The word ‘integration’ would be more appropriate.”
Sun Jiuchou corrected him, saying, “Your space is like an operating system, while those broken, newly born, or soon-to-be-extinct worlds are like single-function software. You can selectively ‘install’ their functions into your system.”
Zhou Jue understood.
"For example, if you connect to a world that is rich in fire element but lacks laws, your space may be born after merging with it, and may even evolve into land suitable for the growth of fire-type spiritual plants."
"For example, if you connect to a fragmented space where time flows abnormally slowly, your space may acquire the regional attribute of 'time deceleration'."
With each sentence Sun Jiuchou spoke, Zhou Jue's heart beat a fraction faster.
The temptation is too great.
"What about the risks?" she asked the most crucial question.
“The risk is that you might ‘download’ a virus.” Sun Jiuchou’s smile held a hint of amusement.
“Some spatial fragments, seemingly ownerless, may actually retain the will of a powerful being. If you rashly connect to them, you may be invaded by the other party.”
“In some worlds, the laws are completely contrary to ours. Forcibly merging them may cause your spatial laws to become disordered or even collapse.”
"Just like eating, there's always the risk of eating something unclean and getting diarrhea."
Zhou Jue frowned: "What you call 'actively searching' sounds like scavenging for treasure in a garbage dump. If you find a treasure, you make money; if you find a bomb, you die."
How am I supposed to know which is treasure and which is a bomb?
“I am that ‘appraiser’,” Sun Jiuchou pointed to himself.
He activated his personal AI, and a massive star map unfolded before them.
That wasn't a cosmic star map, but a more complex and profound "spatial coordinate map" composed of countless points of light.
"In the universe, worlds are constantly being created and destroyed. These processes leave traces in the layers of space."
"Most marks will disappear quickly. But some, like the crack we just saw, will become stubborn 'scars'."
“I will give you a ‘list of safe coordinates’.” Sun Jiuchou’s finger traced across the star map: “These coordinates are ones I have selected. They are relatively stable, have low energy levels, and are suitable as potential targets for your current ‘fusion’.”
“It sounds like you really want me to do that,” Zhou Jue keenly grasped the key point.
“Of course.” Sun Jiuchou made no attempt to hide it: “Every time you successfully fuse with a space fragment, your space will evolve by one step or unlock a new function.”
"And you will receive the most direct benefit."
“For me, this is a small matter, but for you, it’s about improving your skills.”
"A win-win situation," Sun Jiuchou concluded.
Zhou Jue looked at him and remained silent for a long time.
"I feel like you're just making empty promises to me," she concluded.
"Whether it's a pie or not, you can try it yourself later." Sun Jiuchou smiled and turned off the star map: "Let's go, it's time to go back, Commander Qi and the others must be getting impatient."
...
The return to base was much faster than the journey there.
With his cultivation at the Nascent Soul stage, Zhou Jue's understanding of space has reached a new level, and simple spatial jumps are no longer difficult.
When the two set foot on Chinese soil again, they were greeted by Commander Qi's serious yet expectant face.
"You've worked hard." Commander Qi looked at the two of them.
"The last anomaly has been resolved." Sun Jiuchou handed over a detailed data report.
Commander Qi took it, but did not examine it immediately; her gaze remained fixed on Zhou Jue.
"Is everything resolved?"
"It's resolved." Zhou Jue nodded.
"Very good." Commander Qi smiled slightly. "Three hundred and twenty-seven, not one missing. From today onwards, our mission will change from 'mine clearing' to 'vigilance'."
She paused, then changed the subject.
"Based on the timeline, there are only seven days left until the next time travel."
"Xiao Jue, have we identified our target world this time? What preparations do we need to make?"
Zhou Jue glanced subconsciously at Sun Jiuchou beside him. Sun Jiuchou kept his eyes down, seemingly indifferent to the situation.
"Not yet," Zhou Jue replied, forcing a smile.
Commander Qi's smile faltered slightly.
"No?" she repeated, a hint of doubt in her voice. "Wouldn't the location have been successfully established by this time in the past?"
“My…system has encountered a problem.” Zhou Jue carefully chose his words: “It’s…upgrading.”
"Upgrade?" Commander Qi frowned immediately, realizing that something was amiss.
"Xiao Jue, tell me the truth."
"Has something happened?"
She remembered that Zhou Jue had glanced at Sun Jiuchou earlier, so she turned her gaze to Sun Jiuchou's face: "Is it related to you?"
Faced with Commander Qi's oppressive questioning, Sun Jiuchou helplessly replied, "Reporting to Commander Qi, this has nothing to do with me."
Zhou Jue sighed: "Commander, this matter... is very complicated. In short, the system is still being upgraded."
Hearing that Zhou Jue didn't want to explain, Commander Qi didn't press for details. Her fingers tapped lightly on the table, as if she was quickly weighing something.
After a long silence, she spoke again, asking the most practical question.
"If it hasn't finished upgrading in seven days, and you miss the time to travel, what impact will that have on you?"
"I don't know," Zhou Jue answered honestly.
The best outcome would be to lose one opportunity to travel through the area.
The worst possible outcome... she dared not think about it.
"No gambling."
Commander Qi's knocking stopped.
She stood up abruptly, her gaze sharp, her tone resolute: "Now, pack your things immediately!"
Zhou Jue was taken aback: "Where to?"
"Apocalyptic base!" Commander Qi said decisively.
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