CHAPTER 34
"Your groom and father are safe and sound, and have been returned to their rightful owners."
After pushing Meng Yunxi and the Rat King in front of Miss Rat, Sheng Qing immediately ran away.
She had absolutely no desire to get involved in cleaning up the mess or explaining the cause and effect; she wanted to leave it all to Meng Yunxi.
She thought she could find some peace and quiet by staying far away, but the Qin siblings came looking for her.
"What did you do in there? Why did the passageway suddenly collapse? How did they turn back into humans all of a sudden?" Qin Feiyu asked several questions in a row, seemingly without taking a breath.
"Ah, I can't explain it to you clearly. Go ask the captain." Sheng Qing remembered Meng Yunxi's instructions and went along with it to brush it off.
"If I could ask, would I be coming to you?" Qin Feiyu pouted.
"That's settled then. Knowing too much won't do you any good." Sheng Qing mimicked Meng Yunxi's tone, feigning maturity.
"Where did you learn that? It sounds so weird."
"Who else could it be?" Sheng Qing gestured with his chin toward Qin Feiyu's back.
"Captain?" Qin Feiyu looked guilty.
Sheng Qing smiled slyly.
Qin Feiyu's expression changed, and she began to frantically explain that it was still the interrogation and torture she had when the Rat King's soul was in control of Meng Yunxi's body.
In the previous secret realm, Sheng Qing fell into a deep sleep right up to the exit and was unaware of what happened next.
This time I was clear-headed and saw the whole situation clearly, but I was still completely confused.
After the giant stone statue was inlaid with red beads as eyes, it seemed to release some kind of special mysterious power.
Humans who had been transformed into cats through surgery have all returned to normal, while those who were originally in rat form remain unchanged.
The rebellion that broke out at the wedding was quelled one by one under Miss Mouse's leadership. It was a murder plotted by radical elements.
In order to promote the catification of the entire population and further divide and eliminate humanity, the Rat People decided to assassinate the Rat King, the representative of the conservative elements.
Miss Mouse's wedding was undoubtedly the best opportunity, but unfortunately it was unintentionally ruined by the outsiders from Sheng Qing.
Similar to the previous secret realm, it appears on the surface that the secret realm has been broken and the negative effects have been eliminated.
But who could induce and exacerbate the conflict between the two sides, and even have the audacity to extract that strange substance and place it in the human body?
These rats, which were once confined in laboratories, are not enough to achieve anything significant.
What secrets does the mastermind behind this have?
Sheng Qing wanted to return to the Upper City to pick out some things he liked to take back to Mengcheng, but Meng Yunxi coldly told him that he couldn't take them with him at all.
Not only objects, but even living beings cannot be taken out of this secret realm.
"So how did you bring back the system from the training ground?"
"It wasn't that they were taken back, but rather that the members of the Different Research Group traveled back and forth between the secret realm and Mengcheng multiple times, and combined their research with elemental power."
Sheng Qing listened with a sense of understanding but not quite.
In short, everything returns to dust.
"Since we can't take anything with us, are we just here to put a pair of eyes on the stone statue?"
"Don't say what you shouldn't say, and don't ask what you shouldn't ask."
Meng Yunxi spoke indifferently, without even glancing at Sheng Qing.
Did I say something wrong again?
Meng Yunxi granted everyone who returned to Mengcheng a three-day leave to recover, and also arranged extra physical examinations for the team members who participated in the modification surgery.
Apart from the two lucky siblings, the Qin siblings, none of the other eleven members of Team Zero escaped unscathed.
Of course, the worst off is Meng Yunxi, who is not only half-mouse and half-cat, but also forced to have his soul swapped with the Rat King. He can't escape the super deluxe testing package.
When Sheng Qing returned home after completing the examination, it was already afternoon. She secretly glanced next door and saw that Meng Yunxi had not yet returned.
Forget it, I'm not waiting anymore.
As soon as it got dark, Sheng Qing ran out of the city, intending to improve his proficiency in using spiritual power.
The sea of consciousness has indeed undergone a great change; the space is now as big as a basketball court.
Looking at the progress bar at the top, it shows 10%. Does this mean that the ocean space will eventually be as big as ten basketball courts?
Diving into his sea of consciousness, Sheng Qing tried to touch the spring at the bottom, but was once again inexplicably sucked into that weightless deep space by some unknown force.
Her sea of consciousness seemed to be brighter than before in the dark depths of space.
Is it a hallucination?
Sheng Qing floated curiously along the glowing threads, seeing many objects hanging in mid-air that resembled her sea of consciousness, only they appeared dim and lifeless.
Unable to resist reaching out with spiritual energy to touch it, it was repelled by an extremely small but stubborn force at the very moment of contact.
A strange, soft sensation came to my mind.
Huh?
It trembled as if it were alive, and the object in front of me flashed briefly, like an old circuit that hadn't been repaired in a long time suddenly having a final burst of light.
At the same time, the wisp of spiritual energy that Sheng Qing had used to explore disappeared without a trace.
Could this thing absorb my spiritual energy and recharge itself by touching it?
Sheng Qing was startled and withdrew her probing spiritual power.
My gaze was drawn to a flash of light, like a shooting star streaking across the sky.
It is that sea of consciousness, burning as intensely as a planet, but to whom does it belong?
It looks like it's been further eroded by the surrounding black mist.
Sheng Qing was so engrossed in watching that he unconsciously floated closer to it.
It's so hot! It feels like being burned by the hottest flames.
It's so cold! It feels like I'm being assaulted by the most biting chill.
Sheng Qing snapped back to reality with a start.
One second, my mind wanted to escape, but I was entangled and bound by an unknown force.
The next second, my mind and consciousness turned to mush, with only one thought: merge with it! Merge! Merge!
Suddenly, it was like fireworks exploding, a burst of white light.
Then came an overwhelming darkness that pressed down, the world was silent, an endless void, an endless suffocation, and all five senses were lost.
I don't know how much time has passed.
Sheng Qing gradually felt a warm and gentle light, like the first rays of sunlight shining on her.
My vision gradually returned, and I saw countless threads emitting an eerie light, densely packed and constantly fluttering.
Pulled by the silk threads, Sheng Qing finally distanced herself from the sea of consciousness where ice and fire coexisted.
Like a cicada pupa being wrapped in silk threads and returned to his sea of consciousness, Sheng Qingcai realized how dangerous the situation had just been.
The spiritual energy within the sea of consciousness had long been plundered, leaving only countless dried-up cracks in sight.
The progress bar at the top acts like a loyal spectator, witnessing everything.
Sheng Qing struggled to regain his senses and returned to the real world.
When consciousness returned, I was completely exhausted and drenched in sweat.
"You're awake?" A familiar voice asked, followed by a pair of hands that supported her swaying body.
Sheng Qing forced his eyes open, and what he saw was Meng Yunxi's concerned gaze.
"Captain?" The voice was hoarse, and the eyes were full of questions. "What are you doing here?"
"Just passing by," Meng Yunxi said casually, then looked around to check the situation. "You're sweating a lot, what happened?"
You mean you were just passing by and happened to run into me, who was exploring my sea of consciousness in some secluded place on the outskirts of Mengcheng?
Sheng Qing couldn't help but complain in his mind, and then tried to move his arm to straighten up, but his body wouldn't obey him at all.
Finally, he could only manage to say, "I can't go on..." As soon as he finished speaking, his eyelids drooped again.
At first, Sheng Qing was being supported and dragged by Meng Yunxi, but for some reason, the position changed to being embraced.
You can clearly feel the gentle yet reassuring touches on your back and legs, and the pounding of your chest.
During the journey, Sheng Qing came back twice, and at those times he was lying on Meng Yunxi's back.
All I could hear was the rustling sound of their hair rubbing against each other, and the blurry, taut profiles of their faces.
I could faintly hear the two talking.
"You really think this is a treatment room?" The man's unfamiliar voice carried a hint of complaint and surprise.
"Huh, why did you bring other people with you?" The unfamiliar male voice turned to surprise and doubt.
"Take a look quickly." His tone was slightly anxious.
"It's a woman, explain yourself. Who is she and what's her relationship with you?" The gossipy voice of the stranger mingled with the click of the door lock closing.
Sheng Qing felt herself being laid flat on a stable surface, followed by a sound like some kind of instrument being turned on, and she felt her senses returning somewhat.
"There are no signs of injury."
Sheng Qing felt his eyelids being forcibly pried open, and two strong beams of light shone directly into his eyes, but his pupils did not change accordingly.
"That's strange, why isn't there any reaction at all?" The unfamiliar male voice was full of doubt.
"What are you going to do?" It was Meng Yunxi's voice suddenly becoming alert.
"Ouch! Let go, look carefully, I just pricked you with a needle," the strange male voice cried out in pain.
Did it pierce me? Sheng Qing's heart was in her throat, but the pain never came.
"No response either?" The unfamiliar male voice took on a meaningful tone. "How interesting."
Has it already been injected?
Oh no, am I going to end up in a vegetative state?
The only thing Sheng Qing could use was his brain.
"What are you planning to do now?" Meng Yunxi's voice was full of vigilance.
"Take off your clothes, can't you tell?" the strange male voice said matter-of-factly.
What the heck? Why are you taking off your clothes?
Sheng Qing seemed to have a sudden burst of energy before his death, full of vitality, but only in his mind.
Captain, you absolutely mustn't let him succeed!
"Ouch!" Another cry of pain came from the unfamiliar male voice.
Well done!
"Why?" came Meng Yunxi's cold voice.
"Are you the doctor or am I?" the unfamiliar male voice asked impatiently. "Either you leave and don't bother me, or I'll go out and treat you yourself?"
A moment of silence.
"It's not like we're performing an autopsy, why do we need to take off our clothes?" Meng Yunxi questioned again.
Captain, we must stick to the principles and not let him run rampant!
Sheng Qing screamed in his mind.
The sound of a door opening could be heard.
"Stop!" The voice grew increasingly cold.
"Fine, fine, I won't take it off, okay?" the strange male voice relented. "Who are you trying to fool with that sour face?"
The sound of a door closing came from behind.
Then, Sheng Qing felt herself being placed in a damp space, with the sound of water sloshing around her.
"How dare you waste my raw materials! Don't cry when you see the bill later, hmph!" The strange male voice continued to mutter.
The bill? What bill?
Sheng Qing was jolted awake, as if he were about to rise from the dead.
What if the person comes back to life only to be left with a mountain of debt? What's the difference between that and being dead?
The 10,000 gold coins that just arrived in my account haven't even been warmed up yet.
Grandma, you'd better wake up soon! Sheng Qing was practically begging to kneel down and kowtow to him.
Huh?
This thing that flowed around him like water actually had some effect; Sheng Qing felt the cracks in his sea of consciousness gradually closing and smoothing out.
The spring, which was on the verge of death, slowly regained its vitality and began to slowly seep out spiritual energy.
Come to think of it, this thing feels quite similar to the time I was locked up in the lab before.
It's an alternative way to promote the growth of spiritual energy, like a catalyst in a chemical reaction.
Sheng Qing stopped thinking nonsense and seized the opportunity to quickly recover his spiritual power, channeling it throughout his body.
Is this a blessing in disguise? Sheng Qing clearly felt that his control over spiritual power had become more proficient.
Why not try controlling the emission of the fragrance while drawing some out of the body?
Having narrowly escaped death and facing imminent massive debts, Sheng Qing decided to take a risky gamble.
With his mental energy highly focused, Sheng Qing carefully sensed the state of that trace of spiritual energy emanating from his body.
Sheng Qingyi inadvertently leaked a very small amount of spiritual energy.
The sound was burning in my ears, like the sound of boiling water.
"Goodness, what is that?" came the voice of a stranger, sounding intrigued.
"Has this never happened before?" Sheng Qing recalled Meng Yunxi's slightly furrowed brows.
It must be due to the influence of spiritual energy. Has something particularly strange happened?
"Hehe, how about I leave her with me to do some experiments?" the stranger tentatively asked. "I'll waive the bills and stuff for you."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than another cry of pain rang out. "What's wrong with you? Why do you hit me so easily?"
"It's good that you know the pain, but don't try anything you shouldn't." Meng Yunxi's voice was icy cold.
What? The bill can be waived?
Sheng Qing was overjoyed and felt a lightness in his eyelids.
When she opened her eyes, Meng Yunxi and a strange man with fox-like eyes were staring intently at her through the glass door.
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