Light Fortress
Chapter 103 - 95 Business (Two in One)

Chapter 103: Chapter 95 Business (Two in One)

"November 20th was overcast, and having passed the second layer trial of the deep water area, the third layer wasn’t much of a challenge either. Although there were twists and turns since arriving at Da Du, things overall had been smooth. I hope everything is going well on your end too,"

In his days at Da Du, Gu Shen found few joys on which to anchor his spirit.

Half of them were on this journal.

But who writes a journal seriously?

Perhaps it was because he knew that someone like Chu Ling existed, that Gu Shen had abandoned the habit of recording important matters in the deep sea. Who knew if the stuff he wrote online could be seen?

Reflecting on the half-month since joining the Judgement Institute, Gu Shen felt more than once the urge to flip off some irresponsible teacher. Yet that great figure, who bore the title of the East Province Grand Judge, had adopted him only to neglect him completely, merely tossing him an Extraordinary Connection from the deep sea and then disappearing without a trace.

Was there such an unreliable teacher?

Senior Sister Luo and Brother Zhong were both out on missions, and Nan Jin was nowhere to be found. Mr. Shu’s lineage was indeed united, but after integration they dispersed, all too busy, hurrying in every direction, without a hint of news.

The awakening, development, and mining of Extraordinary Power all had to depend on himself.

Fortunately, the phrase ’self-reliance’ had long been deeply engraved in Gu Shen’s genetics. It had been so at the orphanage, and it had been the same leaving Wulaoshan for Da Teng. No one helped, nobody cared, no one bothered. It sounded liberating, but in reality, he always had to consider the worst-case scenario, for no one would cover for him; he could only rely on himself.

It seemed as if it felt his master’s mood.

A strand of Chi Huo suddenly burst out from his brow, transforming into a tiny person, tugging at one of Gu Shen’s fingers, wining and cringing cautiously.

Gu Shen couldn’t help but laugh.

Was it trying to cheer him up?

"This little guy’s growth rate... is really fast."

After swallowing Qu Shui’s Extraordinary Essence, Chi Huo began its first transformation.

In the world of the Transcendents, everyone had to follow some basic laws... like how Essence is conserved and how possessed Essence cannot be absorbed by others.

But he seemed to be an exception.

The Spiritual Attribute of Chi Huo, unlike the ordinary Spiritual series, was something Gu Shen had felt at the moment he captured that lady’s forehead strand.

He had achieved what hadn’t been done even at the Deep Sea Tenth Layer.

This little flame must still have many unexplored peculiarities.

There was also another matter worth noting.

Qu Shui’s Extraordinary Essence should have returned to the void after her death, yet he had absorbed it, showing not the slightest sign of rejection. This trait, contrary to basic laws, was the real reason Gu Shen decided to hide the capabilities of Chi Huo... The auditing teams and the Judgement Institute, if they knew he could absorb others’ Essence through immersion, would likely change their attitudes drastically toward him.

"It’s alright, relax," Gu Shen soothed the little flame, saying, "I am doing very well now... better than ever before."

Awakening to Transcendence was a leap in life’s level.

Spirit, body, both had a sensation of ’evolving’.

"Except for one tiny, unresolved issue," Gu Shen murmured softly.

That issue, naturally, referred to the Changjiu Foundation.

After arriving at Da Du, Gu Shen began contemplating a question. If he had not awakened Chi Huo, what exactly had attracted Mr. Shu to decidedly bring him into the Judgement Institute?

It all started with that light rail encounter with A-009.

The ensuing question was... what were the considerations of the people at the Changjiu Foundation so tightly planning the arson case when back then he was just an ordinary person? Was that assassination a coincidence?

Or was it... inevitable?

Gu Shen preferred to believe the latter.

"There might be clues on Shi Li,"

He fell into contemplation. Judging from Cui Zhongcheng’s intelligence, this forceful leader of the Sincere Heart South Hall group five, had a strength about the level of the fourth to fifth layers of the deep sea, clearly stronger than himself.

If the first three layers were like a baby learning to walk,

from the fourth layer onward it was a qualitative change... even with the Truth Ruler, he wouldn’t be able to take down this guy, let alone since the Sincere Heart South Hall was under the jurisdiction of the councilor "Chen San."

Gu Shen had considered the possibility of ’Mental Hypnosis’; although currently weak, he had worked out quite comprehensively the spiritual traits of Chi Huo. If he could immerse into the opponent’s spirit without their guard up, there was a chance of success... But, sadly, the brains of Changjiu Foundation believers were all implanted with self-destruct programs.

The moment the spirit lost control, it would automatically detonate.

"With my Chi Huo being so special... is there a possibility to clear it before the program activates?" A bold idea emerged in Gu Shen’s mind, akin to pulling out a fine thread; this so-called self-destruct program was nothing but a lurking Spiritual Imprint after all.

"In any case, I need to seize the first opportunity to try and make contact with Shi Li."

Indeed, upon learning that the Changjiu Foundation implanted self-destruct programs in their pawns, Gu Shen’s heart wasn’t so disheartened.

The secretive measures of the Changjiu Foundation, ironically, became the only hopeful countermeasure he had.

No matter how strong Shi Li was... Gu Shen was not prepared to heed Cui Zhongcheng’s advice and let this already exposed dangerous individual live.