Above The Sky
Chapter 971 - 971 90 Preparing to Return to Harrison Port and the Link to the Second Path of the Dao Added for the Alliance Leader Bai Cang!

971: Chapter 90: Preparing to Return to Harrison Port and the Link to the Second Path of the Dao (Added for the Alliance Leader Bai Cang!) 971: Chapter 90: Preparing to Return to Harrison Port and the Link to the Second Path of the Dao (Added for the Alliance Leader Bai Cang!) “I’m just saying, based on the thoughts and purposes Axel has shown so far, he does not seem to have the intention to seek ‘immortality’.”

At this moment, Ian realized that, from what he had witnessed in the Imperial Capital and all of Axel’s decisions since taking power, there was no indication that he was someone pursuing eternal life.

However, everything that Yisen Gard had encountered proved that Axel indeed had some ‘purpose’ for the Body of his offspring.

When an elder has a purpose for his descendants’ bodies, the first thing that comes to mind is body-snatching, which has long been a classic villainous objective in Terra.

But now it seems Axel is not so simple.

He probably just regards the bodies of people like Yisen Gard as precious ‘research specimens’, especially since their blood, containing both royal Bloodline and parasitic Magical Beasts Bloodline, is very rare and useful for comparative experiments.

“It seems we need to pay attention to the purpose of the Spirit Wisdom Institute and Axel.

This is not just about Yisen Gard; it is a major issue concerning all of us.”

Having made up his mind, Ian’s outward expression is one of contemplation for a moment, then he raises his head.

The white-haired Lord reaches out his hand, gripping the hand of Steward Moda, a cold sensation passes through, causing the old man to start slightly, but he does not pull his hand back.

“Moda.”

Ian said: “If it were the past you, you would not be able to perceive the cold.

Your nervous system and brain no longer relay these ‘realities’, but instead immerse you in a false illusion.”

“But now, with a soul, you can perceive these ‘real and objective environmental changes’…

Which do you think truly represents the real you?”

“Moda.

Such matters have always been about personal conviction.

If you think that the original you, who suffered from depression causing brain dysfunction, was the real you, and that the self restored by an Artificial Soul is a ‘distortion’…

then I can also revert you back to your original state now.”

It is not a threat nor intimidation, Ian is merely presenting a choice.

And Steward Moda subconsciously shrank back—realizing this, he suddenly understood and nodded with a wry smile: “You are right, my Lord.

Being tangled about which one is truly me is utterly meaningless…

The one who is contemplating now is me…

overthinking anything else…”

The old man shrugged his shoulders.

Clearly, as a former noble’s steward, he knew well what ‘ineffective work’ and ‘ineffective thinking’ were.

Steward Moda’s body has not fully recovered yet, and the Artificial Soul needs stable recuperation.

Roland takes care of his father, while the others return to the Lord’s Mansion with Ian.

“Steward Moda is the ‘example’ needed for the Artificial Soul.

He will be the first in our territory to bear an Artificial Soul in a human body.

We aim to find and solve all issues within him alone,” Ian told Adalbert in the conference room.

“During this period, I need you to take extra care, observe the various symptoms that occur in Steward Moda.

If all goes well, after correcting any possible errors, we can popularize it throughout the territory.”

“Hmm.”

Adalbert responded softly, not unfamiliar with this matter, nor did he think there were any major issues with the newly developed version of the Artificial Soul based on past research findings.

He just fell into the thoughts previously held by Steward Moda: Between the body and the soul, which one is truly me?

For the Third Energy Level, the answer could be ‘everything is me’ and integrating into the Heart Light…

But for Ordinary people, having a soul might actually bring about troubles in life?

For instance, the body becomes passionate due to hormonal stimulation, while the soul remains calm or even indifferent in thought.

This dissonance inevitably brings a sense of disharmony in perception.

Steward Moda is an Ordinary person, he would not bother thinking about such tedious questions, but Adalbert is a clever person, thus these subtle philosophical issues attract and trouble him instead.

Ian could readily tell what his own researcher was thinking, he simply shook his head.

In the end, this is a matter that could be solved by adding a function…

Let the perception of the Artificial Soul lean towards gathering information that the brain cannot, such as surrounding sounds, environmental changes, the intensity of light, then compiling it into ‘instinctual perception’ or let’s say ‘instinctual intuition.

The human brain inherently has this function, unconsciously collecting surrounding information for processing, but humans are only aware of a fraction of it — why not let the soul handle these problems and enhance ‘perception’ and ‘intuition’?

In this way, once Meditation Techniques become widespread, everyone in Xia Hui Territory with an Artificial Soul might possess the ability to sense ‘the autumn breeze has not blown, but the cicada senses it first’!

Even, when reaching the High Energy Level, the mysterious Dao of ‘Truthfulness, which can predict the future’ might be attainable!

After all, at High Energy Level, the soul can perceive those so-called deeply mysterious intents to harm and targeting, that sensation of other spirits concentrating on one’s self…

It’s hard to say about predicting the future, but dodging a sniper bullet or assassination would be a breeze.

But Ian does not plan to speak out just yet to stop Adalbert from thinking.

The other party is a true genius, who knows what he might figure out on his own?

The Prophet’s job is to guide these individuals to think, not to cut off their possibilities.

“Are we going to popularize Artificial Souls so soon…?”

And Scott also sighed.

Such a major event as the widespread adoption of Artificial Souls naturally can’t be kept from a deputy, Scott knew about this long ago; he now wonders whether it is desire or worry he feels: “With this, when the Spirit Machine Cores and the temporary Underworld become utilitarian, those warriors guarding the territory and the elderly who naturally pass away would also be preserved there, won’t they?”

“Although it’s a good thing, what about the Legacy?

Can the spirits of the deceased still control their properties?

How are their voting rights calculated?

Can they interfere with the outside world?”

“There are still too many issues.”

Scott’s thoughts were very comprehensive and practical — as one of the de facto administrators of Xia Hui Territory, he contemplated various ethical and rule-based problems.

“Then establish new laws.

Managed and drafted by us, laws where I hold complete interpretive power.

Ian glanced at Scott, then gestured towards Adalbert standing aside: “The Guying Assembly will draft these new laws, I am the Lord who grants power to the laws, and you, Scott, you will be the actual administrator of them—remember, you are my deputy and my first leader after I have gone.

“Sometimes, you don’t need to ‘ask questions’; you need to think about how you’re going to solve problems, then turn them into rules.”

To say that Scott is obviously the best choice for the practical leader of Xia Hui Territory is incorrect.

But within Ian’s core leadership team…

Adalbert has high intelligence but lacks political acumen, Green Tide has decent combat prowess but average intellect, Farl is short on experience and is old, and Roland is also a young and inexperienced.

All things considered, Scott is the only reasonable person!

As for talent…

Ian has always believed in one thing: give anyone enough experience and let them accumulate confidence and experience, then at the very least they can become an excellent person.

The top talents require innate ability, but an excellent manager needs more cultivation.

And Scott possesses this qualification.

“Are you afraid?

Suddenly having so much power?”

Sitting in the chair, Ian looked at Scott with a smile that was not quite a smile: “In the future, our territory, including you, everyone will be implanted with an Artificial Soul, everyone will gain this power—this will bring a completely new future, different ethics, brand new rules, and social concepts…

Are you fearful of such management difficulties?”

The deputy of the Iron Folk was stunned for a moment, then resolutely shook his head: “No.”

“My lord, I aspire for it.”

He bowed seriously to Ian, saying from the bottom of his heart: “What you want to bring to us is a world where ordinary people also possess power, where even someone like Steward Moda can be saved from brain death—how could I fear?

I am immensely eager for it!”

“I even hope my parents could come to Xia Hui Territory and have them implanted with this brand new invention… Ian, my lord.”

He looked up, staring directly into Ian’s eyes, no doubt in Scott’s amber eyes: “The world you want to see, I want to see just the same.”

Ian was silent for a while.

Although he knew Scott would not be afraid, he didn’t expect the other to agree so wholeheartedly, almost fanatically, with his decision.

But it’s not the frenzy of a true zealot; clearly, after his own reflections and years of observation, Scott affirmed that Ian is indeed the person he wants to follow.

Such trust…

could be said to be a form of faith.

“Hmm.”

He could only hum softly in the end: “I know.”

“That’s why I allowed you to follow me.

Otherwise, I would rather proceed alone.”

Regarding the Artificial Soul, everyone has their own opinion.

Old Farl’s opinion is very straightforward: “My lord, look at my age…”

The ideas of the young and the old are completely different.

If it is said Adalbert and Scott, and even Roland, are the sentimental young who contemplate consequences.

Then for Farl, who has already reached his declining years, there is only one thought in his mind.

——Hurry up, get on with it!

I might die tomorrow in my sleep, you talk about social side effects, I don’t care about what societal risks, just let me use it first!

“Once the situation with Steward Moda stabilizes, you can be the second ‘experimental subject’.”

Of course, Ian would not refuse the request of this experienced old bureaucrat, whose wisdom is truly invaluable for their group of young, but inexperienced in actual management, ruling body.

It could be said, if not for Farl, Ian would still be worrying with Scott about how to complete the population census of the entire Mountain People, where would they find the time to research so many technologies?

Without Farl’s request, he is the first in the sequence.

As for the last one, Green Tide…

Green Tide has no thoughts.

“Good thing!”

This is the forthright and optimistic comment made by the Swordsman after Ian stared at Green Tide for more than ten seconds, finally realizing he should say something: “All good things!”

This statement fully reflects Green Tide’s indifference to fate’s challenge, his bravery in facing the future wave, his fearlessness in facing unknown things, and his unshakeable determination to directly confront unprecedented ethical dilemmas and technological changes, emphasizing Green Tide’s courageous, optimistic, and substantial contributions toward building the Xia Hui Territory…

“You write three extra papers after work.”

As a reward, Ian gave him the most direct award: “Also, before the end of next week, submit to me a 1,500-word reflection on ‘On the New Agricultural Planting Policy and National Agricultural Security Research’.”

Green Tide could no longer smile, but the meeting room was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

The construction, development, and technological advancement of the Xia Hui Territory are gradually coming to an end.

Basically, all matters have been resolved, the rest is just a matter of time.

Even if there are any research tasks, Ian could assign them to Adalbert.

So, now with nothing urgent, Ian begins preparing for his long-planned return to his hometown at Harrison Port and the South Ridge Great Maze.

However, before that, he still has one thing to do.

That is the power brought by the Heart Light Body ‘Guiding Star’.

That is, regarding the link [Spirit Disaster Path].