Chapter 263: The Foreign Object
Chapter 263: The Foreign Object
As Chen Chuan drew his blade once more, he abruptly paused, recalling an academy rule prohibiting students from bringing field interference objects or anomalous disturbances into public areas.
Field interference objects were primarily special biological entities and communities, and whether it was urban legends, secret rituals, or field interference, they were all categorized as anomalous disturbances.
He didn't know what this thing was. Even though the dormitory was considered a student's private space, if the interference was significant, the authorities would definitely take notice. He didn't want to lose evaluation points because of this.
So, he thought for a moment and decided not to draw his blade again. Instead, he chose to follow Teacher Zheng's moves and learn the techniques, and then later find a place to examine this object.
An hour later, a voice sounded in his ear, "The teaching simulation has ended. If you wish to extend the time, please increase your personal evaluation points."
The figure before him flickered and disappeared, and the training room returned to its previous state.
Chen Chuan felt Teacher Zheng's sword techniques were intriguing. It was a type of swordsmanship that could mobilize altered organs and breathing methods through mere practice.
This should have incorporated different force channels, and it seemed that just by practicing the sword moves, one could achieve such effects. In terms of combat practice, it was undoubtedly many times more advanced than the heavy-strike sword techniques. However, the latter was a practical combat method, while this one leaned more towards self-training.
Nevertheless, with a practice method, there must be a combat application. He was somewhat looking forward to learning from Teacher Zheng.
He exited the private training room and glanced at his Second Self. After that intense battle with Xiong Jianyi, he felt that not only had the convergence time with his Second Self increased, but its strength had also drawn closer to him.
Combat was indeed the most direct way to enhance the resonance between him and his Second Self. Since he had accepted the Support Program from the Processing Bureau, he believed such opportunities would continue to arise.
After leaving the building, he quickly tidied himself up and held the Xuejun Blade as he exited the dormitory. He made his way out of the Mystic Palace Tower and decided to take the tram directly to the desolate area where Teacher Wu had resided. It was a place where almost no one went, and with no tall buildings around, no one could see him.
He approached a collapsed building and, without hesitation, drew out the Xuejun Blade. At that moment, a strong virtualization phenomenon appeared on his body.
Holding the blade horizontally, he examined it and saw nothing unusual.
But...
He extended his other hand and placed it on the spine of the blade. Then, he pulled it, and from where there was once nothing, strands of crystalline silk threads emerged. As they appeared, they slowly dispersed and expanded to cover the entire area where he stood, and then continued to spread outward.
These threads resembled gentle silk strands and floating white mist, creating a sense of cloud-like beauty as they drifted. However, at the same time, the invasion became more intense.
He could feel that the convergence time with his Second Self was rapidly decreasing at an alarming rate, comparable to being in close proximity to those troublesome urban legends.
What was this thing?
It didn't seem like an urban legend, but it had a clear invasive effect. He was certain that without a special binding method, if this thing leaked out, ordinary people around would not survive for long.
In just a short while, these white silk mists rose upward, continuing to spread and intensify the invasion. Under such interference, the boundary token had completely lost its effectiveness.
He felt he couldn't let this continue and was pondering how to contain it when the Xuejun Blade seemed to sense his intention. It trembled slightly, and all the strands of white mist retreated back into the blade. In a short moment, they vanished entirely, and the virtualization phenomena around him also weakened.
Chen Chuan glanced at the Xuejun Blade. The red line on its spine seemed to be flowing at that moment. He surmised that this object might have merged with Xiong Jianyi's body after piercing it, and now the two seemed to have become one.
He wasn't sure what it was, but he could sense that it seemed to be a positive development for the Xuejun Blade.
He had been trying to strengthen the connection between the two, and now this feeling was undoubtedly more intimate. It was evident that the altered organs within the blade had been stimulated and grown.
He pondered for a moment. This object was clearly related to Xiong Jianyi, and the Palace Clan's eagerness to eliminate Xiong Jianyi might also be connected to this.
More likely, the Palace Clan's actions were all focused on this object. It must be of utmost importance, and if that was the case, this matter might not be over yet.
However, regardless of what it was, since it had come to him, there was no reason to return it.
He sheathed the Xuejun Blade and left.
This time, he didn't return to the Mystic Palace Tower. Having ventured out, he decided to visit the teacher recommended by Ni Xixi.
He had already checked the address, and the teacher's teaching location was in Ink Stain Mountain, one of the famous high-end residential areas in Central City. It was home to most of the city's high-ranking government officials, company executives, and cultural celebrities. The teacher's residence there indicated an extraordinary identity.
He contacted the teacher's provided communication method and spoke with someone who seemed to be a butler. He was informed that he could visit now, so he boarded the tram and headed towards Ink Stain Mountain.
At that moment, in a certain location of the Central City Processing Bureau, a young man with long hair and colored contact lenses exited a building and arrived at a plaza. He looked around, ensuring no one was nearby, and then activated the boundary token.
After a while, the other party answered, and a cold voice asked, "An Cheng, what's up?"
An Cheng said, "Have you heard?"
"The new guy passed his first collaborative mission on his first try."
"He passed? So what?"
"It's not a big deal, but the Bureau seems to value him highly. I'm just giving you a heads-up; there's one more competitor in the mix."
"Do you know his background?"
An Cheng's lips curved slightly as he sent over some publicly available information he had gathered about Chen Chuan.
The other end of the line expressed surprise: "A civilian student?"
An Cheng added, "Don't underestimate him. It's not easy to secure a spot in Central City with that identity; it's very impressive."
The voice on the other end responded, "I don't need your reminder; I wouldn't underestimate him. The Processing Bureau doesn't make mistakes in their assessments; otherwise, what are we? Moreover, in Central City, how much influence can our original status and identity hold? It's not that different from being a civilian."
An Cheng said, "That's fine. You know that the Bureau's resources may appear equal, but some opportunities are given to one person, leaving others without. And those who get more opportunities... can get even more."
"You're telling me this for a reason, right? Go ahead, what do you have in mind?"
"Here's what I'm thinking. We can share information. I believe you've been in the Processing Bureau for a while, and you must know a few people. If the opportunity arises, be proactive. Let's seize the chance first, and then we can decide how to distribute the resources between us, preventing others from taking advantage of our competition."
"Let's push him out first. What do you think?"
The other person didn't respond immediately, as if considering the proposal. After a while, they said, "Okay."
There were only so many opportunities, and if they took them, Chen Chuan would have fewer. Regardless of capability, as long as they consistently took the lead and performed well, the higher-ups would get used to relying on them. This would indirectly achieve the goal of suppressing and sidelining Chen Chuan.
An Cheng smiled; this was fair competition. If that student had the means, he could compete with them for these opportunities.
(End of Chapter)
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