Chapter 255: The Truth About the Sacred Artifact

Chapter 255: The Truth About the Sacred Artifact

With their investigation, the entire incident's context became clear.

Seven months ago, around the fourth month of the Abyss's arrival, Chen Xuesong received an invitation from the Creator Organization.

Moreover, the Creator Organization offered him terms he couldn't refuse, leading him to agree to join.

Subsequently, the Creator Organization demanded that Chen Xuesong leak the research data of the Biological Energy Research Institute.

Unwilling to betray his country, Chen Xuesong ultimately chose suicide.

Although Xie Shi En wasn't Chen Xuesong's biological child, he had been raised by the couple and, after Chen Xuesong's death, began investigating the matter. He then took on the identity of 027 and infiltrated the Creator Organization.

This infiltration period lasted for half a year.

In other words, the 027 that Lu Heng had been in contact with was Xie Shi En from the start.

After understanding the entire context of the incident, Lu Heng asked, "Was the reason Professor Chen agreed to join the Creator Organization because of his wife?"

Xie Shi En originally didn't want to bring this up, but since it was asked, he didn't hide it, nodding in acknowledgment:

"Yes, the Creator Organization possesses a drug that controls Alzheimer's disease. One of my initial reasons for infiltrating the organization was to continue acquiring this medication."

All the essential questions had been asked, leaving only one crucial one.

"What is the sacred artifact 013 mentioned?"

This question was the core of this incident.

Xie Shi En fell into deep thought, lowering his head, his hands clasped with his thumbs intertwined.

Evidently, even he was hesitant to reveal this so-called sacred artifact.

Lu Heng noticed his hesitation and asked, "Hasn't the item been destroyed yet?"

If it had been destroyed, there was no need for secrecy; he could just say what it was.

His expression suggested the item was still intact.

Xie Shi En nodded, admitting, "Yes, the item hasn't been destroyed. In fact, I've been considering whether to destroy it."

"What is it?" Lu Heng became even more curious.

Not only Lu Heng was curious, but Su Muyu was equally intrigued.

She sat quietly beside them, observing their conversation.

She was intelligent and had also understood the entire context of the incident.

However, the most remarkable aspect of her intelligence was not interrupting, especially when men were discussing serious matters.

She also enjoyed the feeling of silently standing by.

Her role was to fill in any details Lu Heng might have missed.

Noticing Xie Shi En's hesitation, she spoke up at the right moment, "After last night's events, we're tied together. Aunt Liu will definitely need someone to care for her. If needed, I can help."

Even if Liu Lanying lived in a nursing home, someone would need to visit her regularly.

Having a girl to help with caring for Liu Lanying would be very convenient.

Xie Shi En sighed and replied, "The sacred artifact 013 mentioned is actually a very evil item, likely obtained from the Abyss. It's called a Soul Vault."

Lu Heng was a bit surprised by the term and asked, "A Lich's Soul Vault?"

Xie Shi En nodded, "Yes, but this Soul Vault hasn't been used, meaning it doesn't contain a Lich's soul."

The fact that the item was a Soul Vault completely caught Lu Heng off guard.

013 had repeatedly called it a sacred artifact, but it did have a hint of malevolence.

However, in terms of malevolence, this item wasn't very dangerous.

Lich Soul Vaults were used by Liches to preserve their lives.

This item must have come from an Abyssal world where Liches, a type of magical creature, existed.

Liches weren't natural magical creatures; they were transformed ones.

In the magical planes invaded by the Abyss, when a powerful wizard or a mighty demon lord, nearing the end of their life, couldn't find a path to godhood and wanted to continue living, they could choose to transform into Liches.

Liches were part of the undead race.

To transform into a Lich, one needed a Soul Vault to contain the caster's soul.

Simply put, a Lich was a powerful being who gave up their physical body, transferring their soul into a Soul Vault and becoming an undead existence.

Since the physical body was dead, it was challenging to define whether a Lich was alive.

But one thing was certain: after the transformation into a Lich, the soul was still "alive," or the "consciousness" lived on.

However, transforming into a Lich wasn't just about having a Soul Vault; a special Lich transformation ritual was also required.

Based on Lu Heng's past life knowledge of Liches, this transformation came at a very high cost.

Lu Heng hadn't witnessed this ritual firsthand, but according to rumors, it demanded an incredibly high price.

The Creator Organization had obtained a Soul Vault and treated it as a sacred artifact.

Could it be that a high-ranking member of the Creator Organization wanted to transform into a Lich?

Only this explanation seemed reasonable.

Otherwise, the Creator Organization wouldn't value the Soul Vault so highly.

The power gained from transforming into a Lich was very attractive to many.

Liches were immortal and indestructible, and attacking their spiritual bodies caused them little harm.

The only way to kill a Lich was to find and destroy its Soul Vault.

However, Soul Vaults could be hidden anywhere, even in different worlds, making the search for a Lich's Soul Vault extremely challenging.

Of course, once the Soul Vault was found, destroying the Lich was easy.

This also made Liches highly protective of their Soul Vaults, never leaving them unguarded.

Lu Heng reviewed all the information about Lich Soul Vaults in his mind, he asked, "What do you plan to do now?"

Xie Shi En shook his head. "I haven't decided yet."

Lu Heng could guess his thoughts, "So, your goal is to take revenge on the Creatrix Organization?"

Xie Shi En nodded, "My teacher committed suicide because of the pressure from the Creatrix Organization. I can't just do nothing."

Lu Heng understood what he meant, "So, you think destroying one Soul Vault isn't enough to avenge this grudge."

"What else can I do? Even if I destroy one Soul Vault, the Creatrix Organization still exists. There are still 26 members ahead of me, not to mention 013. Even if I kill him, there are still 25 others. They are all guilty!" Xie Shi En's eyes were filled with determination.

Lu Heng spread his hands, "If you want to destroy the entire Creatrix Organization, the difficulty is probably too great. Since you've been infiltrating the organization for so long, you should know that they have the power to control an entire country."

Xie Shi En had been infiltrating the Creatrix Organization for half a year, and he knew much more than Lu Heng.

So, he had learned early on that the Creatrix Organization wanted to control Japan's political situation through the Soulstealer.

This was why he had designed for Lu Heng to kill Kurokawa Tomo.

Kurokawa Tomo was the key pawn in the Creatrix Organization's plan to control Japan's politics.

If Lu Heng hadn't eliminated Kurokawa Tomo, the number 029 would have belonged to him.

Kurokawa Tomo had controlled multiple Japanese politicians through the Soulstealer, and the Creatrix Organization only needed to continue expanding its influence in Japan to be on the verge of controlling the country.

Thus, the Creatrix Organization possessed the power to control a nation.

An organization of this caliber was not something one person could oppose.

Xie Shi En was well aware of this, and he nodded in acknowledgment, "I know it's difficult, but I don't want to give up."

Lu Heng was thinking about a problem.

What was the outcome of Xie Shi En's hostility towards the Creatrix Organization in his previous life?

When he recalled all the information about the Creatrix Organization, there was no mention of 027 or Xie Shi En.

According to the timeline, he and Su Muyu had joined the organization a year and a half after the Abyssal Age began.

Chen Xuesong joined the Creatrix Organization in the fourth month of the Abyssal Age and committed suicide in the fifth month.

Xie Shi En defected in the eleventh month of the Abyssal Age, and 013 was tasked with capturing him.

By the time Lu Heng joined the Creatrix Organization, 027's time should have already ended half a year ago.

If Lu Heng hadn't been involved, could Xie Shi En have escaped 013's pursuit?

Judging from their psychic battle, their strengths were quite evenly matched.

013 could seek assistance from other organization members, while Xie Shi En had to protect Liu Lanying.

In this situation, Xie Shi En's chances of success were slim.

If Xie Shi En had died in his previous life, and the Creatrix Organization had retrieved the Soul Vault, who would have used it?

The person who used the Soul Vault would definitely be a member of the Creatrix Organization with a number before 013.

In this life, 013 died, and Xie Shi En survived.

The course of events had changed.

After careful consideration, Lu Heng said, "Even if you want to oppose the Creatrix Organization, it won't be easy. This might be something you have to dedicate your entire life to, do you understand this?"

Xie Shi En had a calm and steady mindset, and he handled matters with composure and cool-headedness.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to protect Liu Lanying while being pursued by the Creatrix Organization.

He nodded and replied, "I understand that. However, now that I've defected from the Creatrix Organization, it will be difficult to contact them in the future."

As he said this, he looked up and stared into Lu Heng's eyes, his gaze somewhat scorching.

Lu Heng could tell what he was thinking and frowned, "You want me to infiltrate the Creatrix Organization?"

Xie Shi En knew it would be difficult, but he still said, "That's what I'm thinking, but it depends on your willingness. I won't force you, and I don't have the power to do so."

Lu Heng had also developed an irreconcilable conflict with the Creatrix Organization.

If the Creatrix Organization discovered what he had done previously, they would probably send people to hunt him down.

Therefore, breaking away from the Creatrix Organization was just a matter of time, depending on when these secrets were exposed.

In fact, Xie Shi En was holding a handle on Lu Heng.

He could easily report Lu Heng's actions to the Creatrix Organization.

Of course, this wouldn't benefit him at all, as his conflict with the Creatrix Organization was also irreconcilable.

He could only use this handle to threaten Lu Heng, depending on how ruthless he was.

If he did so, Lu Heng would definitely break ties with him, and then it would be a matter of whose methods were more ruthless.

So far, the two could be considered cooperative.

Whether it was in the Abyssal Battlefield or the main world, their collaboration had been harmonious.

After careful consideration, Lu Heng said, "I won't make any promises, and I'll always be on guard against the organization's members. Of course, if one day you gain the ability to destroy the organization, I won't mind lending a helping hand."

This was what Xie Shi En wanted. For someone with capabilities, cooperation was the best choice.

"Your words are enough. I will continue to oppose the Creatrix Organization."

Lu Heng looked around the house and said, "Let me remind you that you can't stay in this house. The clues I can find, the Creatrix Organization can definitely find as well."

Xie Shi En sighed and nodded, "I know. I originally wanted to leave some memories, but it seems that's not possible now.

"Actually, I came here today to clean up the clues, but I didn't expect you to be so fast."

Lu Heng asked, "What do you plan to do next?"

Xie Shi En had already thought about this and replied, "First, I'll find a nursing home to take care of my teacher's mother. Then, I'll change my identity and hide. We can leave a way to contact each other if necessary."

"For a Metahuman of his caliber, assuming a new identity is not a difficult task."

In this world, there were few who could capture someone of his power.

However, Liu Lanying's situation was more troublesome.

"What about your teacher's wife?" Lu Heng asked.

"You don't have to worry about her," Xie Shi En replied. "My teacher's identity is highly classified, and it will be at least five years before the classification can be lifted. According to national regulations, the teacher's wife will be taken care of by the state. They can arrange for her to assume a new identity and be placed in another nursing home."

Xie Shi En had already planned how to take care of Liu Lanying. After dealing with the identity information here, he would report to Chen Xuesong's superior.

...

027's incident was temporarily resolved.

After Lu Heng and Xie Shi En finished their conversation, Lu Heng bid farewell and left.

Both parties knew many secrets about each other, and if either fell into the hands of the Creator Organization, it would pose a threat to the other.

Nevertheless, the two decided to cooperate.

Just as Xie Shi En had proactively helped in Black Stone City, Lu Heng chose to assist him now.

However, the might of the Creator Organization far exceeded their imagination. If they truly made an enemy of this organization, no one knew what the future would hold.

Lu Heng and Su Muyu returned to Binhai, acting as if nothing had happened.

The Creator Organization wouldn't let things go so easily; they would undoubtedly send another liaison.

Every day, Lu Heng practiced swordsmanship in the training ground at Wuliqiao Stadium. During his cultivation, his mastery of the Sonic Boom Sword grew more proficient, and he could now control the timing of its sonic blasts.

As he cultivated, Lu Heng also waited for the Creator Organization's liaison.

With 013 dead, a new liaison would surely appear.

The only uncertainty was whether the new liaison's number would be before or after 013.

One thing was certain: the liaison's number wouldn't be after 027.

In the Creator Organization, the serial number often indicated authority, the power level, with lower numbers having more access to the organization's core.

Lu Heng's number was 028, so the liaison's number couldn't be lower than his.

...

During his breaks from sword practice, Lu Heng reviewed the events of the 027 incident, contemplating if there were any loopholes.

This incident had resulted in the deaths of 013 and Derek Wolfe.

The previous organization members he had killed could be explained away, but this time, it was a forced kill. If the Creator Organization found out, he would undoubtedly be held accountable.

To escape unscathed, he had to ensure the organization didn't learn that he had killed 013.

As Lu Heng pondered these matters, the Creator Organization's liaison hadn't appeared yet, but Jian Qing called first.

The next day, Lu Heng went to the Ironblood Investigation Bureau in Binhai as per Jian Qing's instructions.

Meeting her, Lu Heng asked in confusion, "Why are you handling Ironblood cases now? Have you been transferred to work with them?"

Jian Qing shook her head. "No, this case has detected energy reactions above level 30, which is considered extremely dangerous. The war zone sent me to oversee the investigation."

Metahumans left residual energy after using their Source Energy. Humans had developed technology to detect these energy remnants, allowing them to estimate the approximate energy level.

Level 30 was an extremely dangerous level, especially at this point in time.

With Lu Heng's current strength, he could wipe out an entire military company if he went all out.

Of course, this was assuming there were no Metahumans of the same level within that company.

This was just a way to gauge the danger level of a Metahuman.

The ability to wipe out an entire company was a highly dangerous signal in any country.

In such a situation, it was normal for the war zone to send someone to oversee the investigation.

"Then why did you call me?" Lu Heng feigned ignorance.

"Because you went to the capital, and there aren't many Metahumans above level 30 there." Jian Qing stared intently at Lu Heng's eyes, trying to discern something.

"So, you're investigating me now?" Lu Heng joked.

"Don't worry," Jian Qing explained. "The case isn't serious in nature, but we can't ignore energy levels above 30. We must at least determine who this person is."

As they spoke, they arrived at the Ironblood Investigation Bureau's headquarters in Binhai and went straight to the office area.

The Ironblood investigators working on the case greeted Jian Qing as "Captain Jian."

Jian Qing walked directly into Chen Lianian's office, propped herself on the desk with one hand, and said, "Bring out the Capital Benevolent Nursing Home's file."

Chen Lianian pulled out a file from his desk and slid it towards her. Then, looking at Lu Heng, he smiled and said, "We just want to understand the situation. Don't be resistant."

Lu Heng's identity had changed.

In this era, strength equated to power.

In the past, truth lay only within the range of cannons.

Now, power rested solely on the edge of the sword.

Moreover, Lu Heng had two First-Class Merit medals, far beyond the qualifications of an Ironblood inspector like Chen Lianian.

Jian Qing opened the file, spreading the photos, materials, and reports across the desk, and asked, "What are your thoughts on this case?"

The file contained the case materials from the Capital Benevolent Nursing Home.

The photos primarily depicted the two corpses—one of 013 and the other of Derek Wolfe.

Lu Heng sat down and began to carefully examine the case materials, not rushing to ask questions.

Asking too many questions at this stage could easily reveal flaws.

Among the case materials, Lu Heng was most concerned about 013's transformation report.

As that body had shown abnormalities, not investigating it thoroughly could leave a potential threat.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end