Chapter 705: The Invitation
Chapter 705: The Invitation
Assistant Ling smiled and greeted Chen Chuan, then gestured towards a glass cup on the table next to them. The liquid inside the cup shimmered with the radiance of a colorful sunset, seemingly floating gently.
"This is a new drink from the Fusion Zone called 'Colored Nebula'. It's beneficial for nourishing the spirit, and I personally love it. Why don't you give it a try, Chen Manager, and give me your thoughts?"
Chen Chuan walked over, leaned his Snow Queen Saber to the side, and took a sip from the cup. With his Second Self present, he wasn't worried about any potential issues with the drink, and indeed, it seemed perfectly normal. After drinking it, he felt as if he were meditating before Master Hongfa's Lotus Throne, his spirit receiving a nourishing and satisfying sensation.
He placed the cup down, "As a beverage, it's indeed excellent."
Assistant Ling smiled, "With the advancement of technology, we can experience and enjoy more things, but at the same time, those in the lower tiers may never come across such things in their entire lives."
He continued, "But then again, how much do we know about what those in the higher tiers enjoy? When they look at us, it's probably no different from how we view the lower-tier citizens."
At this moment, he turned slightly and gestured to Chen Chuan, inviting him inside, "Chen Manager, please."
Chen Chuan glanced forward, seeing a rotating wooden corridor beneath his feet, seemingly leading upwards into the canopy. However, he knew that the scenery here was a mix of reality and illusion, and without detaching from the field, it would be challenging to discern the truth. He nodded and picked up the Snow Queen Saber, heading in that direction.
As Chen Chuan stepped forward, Assistant Ling accompanied him, walking deeper into the Aerial Garden while speaking, "The other day, you were busy with work and couldn't make it here, which was a real shame. We exchanged a few words with the students from Dome Sword Academy, and we lost too many matches. Although the teachers' performances helped us salvage a few, we had already given it our all. On the surface, it looked like a tie, but in reality, we lost."
Chen Chuan said, "From what I've heard, the students were indeed from Dome Sword Academy, but they were selected from various academies in the provinces, and each one was an elite. There's no shame in losing to them."
Assistant Ling smiled, "That's true, but I believe that if you were here, whether as a student or a teacher, Dome Sword Academy wouldn't stand a chance against you."
Chen Chuan replied, "Different identities come with different responsibilities. I can only do what's most needed at the moment."
"Of course."
Assistant Ling expressed understanding, "What you're doing now is more important than winning a temporary victory. But I believe that with your abilities, you can do much more."
By this time, the two had reached the upper end of the rotating corridor, which was about twenty meters above the ground. It was a spacious platform that could accommodate over a dozen people.
What was particularly noteworthy was that metal threads hung around the platform, resembling chandeliers suspended in the air. And aside from this platform, there were a dozen or so similar platforms nearby, though they had been obscured by the dense foliage until now.
Chen Chuan looked around but didn't notice anything special. He turned back and asked, "So, Assistant Ling, what do you want me to see? I have many things to do, so let's get to the point."
Assistant Ling smiled slightly, "In that case, I'll be straightforward. Ever since our last conversation, I've been wanting to talk to you about this, but the opportunity never seemed right. But now, it's perfect."
"Now?"
Chen Chuan asked, "What's special about now?"
Assistant Ling smiled without directly answering him, "Last time, I remember you asked me what I possess. Now, I'll show you, and perhaps you'll understand after seeing it."
With a snap of his fingers, the surroundings instantly transformed. All the colorful flowers, plants, flowing rivers, and colorful flying birds disappeared, replaced by an endless green plain.
A long white river snaked across the land, extending into the distance towards mountains that seemed to blend into the sky. Beneath the rich layers of colors, there was an indescribable sense of grandeur.
However, all of this paled in comparison to one thing. Even at a glance, one's gaze would be drawn to it. In the center of the grassland stood a tree, approximately thirty meters tall by visual estimation.
Its root system protruded from the ground, spreading out like a spider web, intertwining closely with the earth. Its trunk was thick and tall, standing like a giant, as if capable of supporting the entire sky.
The tree's canopy resembled a massive green cloud, hovering over the trunk. Within, countless twisted and rotating branches could be seen, intricate and complex. Where they curled and gathered, countless light orbs shimmered like morning stars.
The tree was surrounded by a layer of milky white mist, which drifted outwards, enveloping most of the lush green trunk.
Assistant Ling turned around, his voice filled with restrained enthusiasm, "Let me introduce you to this tree, named 'True Form Tree'. It's native to the Fusion Zone, but even there, it's very difficult to find. It's not that it's scarce to the point of being untraceable, but it has a symbiotic relationship with other organisms, often never reaching true maturity."
Chen Chuan stood before a remarkable tree, its presence captivating. He pondered the words of Ling, the assistant, who revealed that the tree had been growing for over three decades, predating Ling's arrival in Jinbei Province's Central City. This suggested an intriguing origin, especially considering Ling's mention of a team with considerable power.
"Assistant Ling, is this your secret weapon? It's impressive and unique, but how does it achieve what you've described?" Chen Chuan inquired.
With a smile, Ling replied, "You haven't seen its true nature, so it's understandable that you can't grasp it yet... But, like this..."
Ling made a gesture, and the surroundings transformed once more.
Chen Chuan found himself and Ling standing directly on the tree's horizontally protruding trunk, the mist left behind. He could now clearly see intricate details.
As he looked up, his gaze intensified.
From a distance, the tree's branches and leaves had seemed to sparkle like morning stars, but upon closer inspection, they were not mere lights—they were human brains, hundreds of them, encased in a white fibrous substance resembling crystal. In the luminous mist, they reflected a myriad of tiny lights.
Disturbingly, these brains seemed to squirm slightly, as if still alive.
"Supervisor Chen, don't be surprised," Ling smiled. "They are indeed not dead, or rather, their original consciousnesses remain. They've temporarily abandoned their physical bodies and housed their consciousnesses here."
Chen Chuan's eyes narrowed, "Setting aside the reason for this, how did you acquire so many brains, Assistant Ling?"
Ling glanced at him, seemingly surprised by his concern for such details, but patiently explained, "Some were purchased. You know, the brains of combatants are valuable experimental resources.
Some were donated by those who signed agreements before their deaths, and some came from less talented students. We didn't want them to walk a path with no end in sight, so we gave them a second chance at life here."
Chen Chuan thought of the dueling arenas at the academy, where casualties were not uncommon. Looking up, he said, "I imagine many of these brains once belonged to students of Wu Yi Academy."
Ling didn't shy away from the truth, "Yes, but we didn't abandon them. We placed them here, making them part of us. Here, they can continue pursuing their dreams."
"Dreams?"
"Yes, dreams."
Ling's emotion rose as he continued, "Do you know that once the True Form Tree matures, it can create a field-consciousness space, an internal world almost identical to the external one. Those who enter can act and grow within it.
The limitations of reality bind us, but imagine in this simulated environment, where all necessary resources are infinitely provided, and talents can be supplemented through various conditions. In theory, everyone can cultivate and reach the third limit, or even higher. Here, every combatant can fulfill their dreams."
Chen Chuan's gaze remained fixed on Ling as he said, "But it's all an illusion."
"Yes, for now, it's an illusion," Ling acknowledged.
Turning to Chen Chuan, Ling offered a mysterious smile. "But it doesn't have to stay that way. It just requires certain conditions, and that's where we come in."
He extended his hand in invitation, "Supervisor Chen, you don't need to bear any moral burden. We're engaged in a noble endeavor. Imagine if we succeed and everyone benefits. Then, what are these sacrifices compared to that?"
"Supervisor Chen, if you're willing to join us, we can make it happen together. We can change the world," he urged.
Chen Chuan stood there, Snow Queen Saber in hand, his gaze calm, ignoring Ling's outstretched hand. "I'm sorry, but I refuse."
(End of Chapter)
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