Chapter 136: The Bone Bead
Chapter 136: The Bone Bead
Liu Zhan's polite words were merely a habitual gesture, but upon hearing Chen Chuan's response, he maintained his composure, his face still beaming with a smile. "Chen, if you say it's possible, we won't refuse the recommendation."
Chen Chuan added, "I'd appreciate it if you keep this recommendation private and don't tell anyone about it for now."
"Ah..." Liu Zhan hesitated.
"One year should be enough," Chen Chuan stated.
Liu Zhan smiled and glanced at Director Lei, who remained silent beside him. "Chen, your request is reasonable. Rest assured, as long as I'm in this position, I can guarantee it."
Director Lei nodded in agreement. "The Secret Sect Review Bureau will also do its part."
Liu Zhan quickly echoed, "Yes, that's our promise."
"Thank you both," Chen Chuan expressed his gratitude.
After concluding their business, Chen Chuan and Director Lei exited the Foreign Affairs Bureau and returned to the latter's armored vehicle.
As the vehicle started moving, Director Lei leaned back into the soft rear seat. "He Shijie and I have set a date for our engagement at the end of the year. You must attend."
Chen Chuan smiled. "Congratulations to both of you. I'll definitely be there."
Director Lei continued, "Once Xiaoying is better, I want to thank you in person."
Chen Chuan inquired, "Director Lei, how is the child doing?"
"Still recovering. She hasn't spoken a word in two years, so her language skills have regressed, and she's become shy. Doctor Li says that with patient parents, she should be back to normal in about half a year."
"That's a relief," Chen Chuan said.
Director Lei sighed, "Indeed, a great relief."
He turned his attention to Chen Chuan. "Enough about me. Tell me, when you mentioned a year of concealment, did you mean you're confident about obtaining the Infinite Defense Certificate and entering Central City this year?"
"That's my plan," Chen Chuan confirmed.
Director Lei didn't press further on his specific methods. "As a young man like you, I hope you can make it to Central City. Undoubtedly, it has the highest technological level in the entire country, and I'm not just talking about biotechnology. I mean all aspects. If you can establish yourself there, you'll be qualified to claim that you know the true face of this world. Otherwise, you'll be limited to a small world."
He offered a reminder. "There are many obstacles on the path ahead. If you choose to move forward, they will try to hold you back and push you down. But if you retreat, you might preserve yourself, but your life will be mediocre. Only by moving forward can you have a brilliant life. Some people are born with nothing, and they don't have the right to dream. There's nothing more to say about them. Since you have this talent, you should take a chance."
Chen Chuan pondered for a moment before asking, "Director Lei, I'd like to ask you something. I hope it's not too presumptuous."
Director Lei smiled. "Ask away. If I can't answer, I won't."
"I'd like to know about the Secret Sect Rituals. What are they?"
Director Lei paused, considering the sensitivity of the topic. "This involves some confidential information, so I'll keep it brief. All rituals, regardless of their nature, utilize the anomalous substances I mentioned earlier. However, there's another term used internationally, called 'Anomaly Entanglement.' Through specific methods and rituals, these substances can be guided to move in predetermined patterns."
"Is it the same for Monster Tales?" Chen Chuan asked.
Director Lei shook his head. "Monster Tales are not that simple. They are complex and diverse, and can't be generalized under one category. Some can be utilized, while others can't. Moreover, they don't fall under the jurisdiction of our Secret Sect Review Bureau."
He continued, "We manage and review the methods summarized and applied by Secret Sects in history. Most Monster Tales cannot be categorized or induced to follow patterns, and their origins remain a subject of debate. Perhaps higher authorities have more information, but my position doesn't grant me access to it. If you're interested, you can search for answers yourself. Central City should have the resources to satisfy your curiosity."
Hearing this, Chen Chuan's desire to go to Central City intensified. His pursuit was to become stronger and break free from constraints, but he was equally fascinated by the mysteries surrounding these anomalous substances.
Director Lei drove Chen Chuan back to school, dropping him off at the Wu Yi Academy gate. Chen Chuan entered the campus, but instead of returning to his dormitory, he headed straight for Cheng Zitong's office.
Upon seeing Chen Chuan, Cheng Zitong closed the office door and asked, "Back already? How did it go?"
Chen Chuan sat down and replied, "Teacher, I obtained evaluations from both the Secret Sect Review Bureau and the Foreign Affairs Bureau. They should be able to buy me some time, so I plan to take the Infinite Defense Certificate exam next."
Cheng Zitong observed Chen Chuan for a moment before opening a drawer and handing him a letter. "This is He Xiaohang's response to your inquiry. Take it and read it first. If you've made up your mind, I'll fully support your decision. However, I suggest you wait a little longer. Once your cousin's last file is investigated, you can examine it and make a more informed choice."
Chen Chuan took the letter and nodded. "Yes, Teacher. I'm determined, but I won't rush into it." He also informed Cheng Zitong about the raid on the Copper Rust Gang and handed over the bio-implant for his disposal.
Back in his dormitory, Chen Chuan immediately opened He Xiaohang's letter, which contained the response to his previous inquiry about the First Limit Boundary.
As his altered tissues continued to develop and his overall physical abilities improved, Chen Chuan felt the urge to reach the absolute limit within the first boundary. However, he realized that it might be an impossible feat.
The body's functions were interconnected, and progress in one area would inevitably affect the whole. While initial advancements might be rapid, they would gradually slow down, becoming less efficient over time.
Although he could continue pushing his limits, it might take years, or even a decade, to achieve his goal. Forcing such progress would be inefficient and unnecessary.
Chen Chuan suspected that the first, second, and even higher boundaries were not merely a linear progression but might require mutual promotion and collaboration. He wondered if he could achieve the second boundary without fully mastering the first.
Uncertain about his theory, Chen Chuan sought advice from He Xiaoxing, posing it as a theoretical discussion without revealing his desire to reach the limit.
He Xiaoxing's response confirmed Chen Chuan's suspicions. The letter praised his thirst for knowledge and explained that the first, second, and even third boundaries could be mutually supportive and considered as a whole until one reached the limit.
The letter also mentioned that few people noticed this issue, and those without talent would never seek answers. It concluded by encouraging Chen Chuan to maintain his pursuit of knowledge, emphasizing that while physical strength was essential, a relentless quest for understanding was what truly propelled one forward.
After reading the letter, Chen Chuan's mind was clear. He realized that at this stage, he need not obsess over reaching the limit. Instead, he could return to enhance his abilities after achieving a higher boundary.
When he felt he had hit a bottleneck and progress became minimal, it would be time to venture into the second boundary.
With that in mind, Chen Chuan knew he had to focus on training and wait for the right moment.
...
After his contemplation, Chen Chuan reached into his pocket and retrieved the bone bead bracelet he had obtained from Qi Sai.
As he held the item, he noticed that while it caused harm, it also had a slight stimulating effect on his altered tissues.
But the stimulation was minimal, and he wondered if it was just a unique accessory.
He examined it further, comparing it to his wrist, and realized that the number of bone beads was insufficient to wrap around Qi Sai's thick wrist.
Moreover, the rope showed signs of frequent disassembly, except for the spot where Chen Chuan had pulled it, indicating that...
Chen Chuan's heart skipped a beat as he considered the possibility.
He crushed the bead between his fingers, and a pile of powder fell onto the table. In that instant, his second self experienced a surge of fading, as if he had encountered a monster tale up close.
Chen Chuan's eyes lit up as he understood. Qi Sai must have used this item to stimulate his altered tissues instead of drugs, aiming to enhance his martial arts training.
However, the stimulation was far more intense than similar drugs, possibly causing unknown damage. By stimulating the altered tissues, Qi Sai might also be overdrawing his life force.
Considering that Qi Sai had likely reached the second boundary, he might be able to withstand it. Another possibility was that Qi Sai, having spent a long time in the wilderness, lacked access to sufficient drugs, so he used this item in emergencies.
It was also possible that the Makara people, being small and weak, couldn't provide abundant drugs like the Wu Yi, hence the alternative method.
Regardless of the truth, the item was perfect for Chen Chuan.
He turned his attention to the fading shadow of his second self, wondering how long it would last.
Just then, a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Chen Chuan put down the item, walked over, and opened the door to see Feng Xiaoqi. "Chen, I've finished counting. There are 5,350 Jianyuan coins and 537 trading vouchers in total."
Chen Chuan was surprised by the amount. Over 5,000 Jianyuan coins was no small sum, especially since even the captain of the Big Captain team only earned a little over 200 coins per month. However, considering that the money was to be divided among forty to fifty people and was earned through life-threatening missions, it wasn't as much as it seemed.
"Alright, I'll make a call. Once Ren Shixu and Wei Chang'an have finished their business, we'll set a date for everyone to come and divide the money."
"Sounds good."
As for the two gold notes from Yuan Sheng Bank, Chen Chuan had previously inquired with Cheng Zitong, who informed him that an appointment was necessary, and the wait could be up to sixty days. Regarding the implant, Cheng Zitong said he would find a suitable buyer, so Chen Chuan decided to distribute the cash he had in hand first.
Over the next three days, Ren Xiaotian and Wei Chang'an called to confirm that the vehicles, firearms, and bounties had been dealt with, and the money had been settled. The commission from the Foreign Affairs Bureau had also been transferred to Chen Chuan's account.
The next step was to distribute the money.
Chen Chuan decided to book a private room at the Dui Yi Hotel in the city center and invited all team members involved in the operation to gather for a meal and receive their rewards.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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