Chapter 519

Mage Adam

It was likely that this was exactly what the True Spirits most wanted to see.

From the Cataclysm Zone, the mages had gathered countless pieces of intelligence about the Third Epoch. Among them, the most crucial discovery concerned the current condition of the Super-Void Lifeforms.

At first, the mages had assumed those beings were in hibernation—waiting for a civilization strong enough to withstand the Destructive Cataclysm to emerge, so that they could then devour it and once again seek transcendence.

But now, it appeared that the truth was very different—those entities were injured, grievously so.

With this revelation, the mages’ entire strategy for dealing with Super-Void Lifeforms had to change—from passive observation to active contact.

The first and most vital step was to study the very essence of their energy, and to determine how it could be transformed into a usable form.

This research could be entrusted perfectly to the Immortals. The matter concerned their own survival, and they would undoubtedly devote themselves to it with every fiber of their being.

Adam, considerate as always, offered a final reminder:

“The flow of time in the Virtual World is not the same as in the real one. Once you abandon your physical energy and upload your souls, you will have to endure that accelerated time directly. On the surface, it will seem as though you have gained more time—but in reality, you will simply reach death faster.”

Wanxiang indicated that she was fully aware of all the possible consequences. The Mage World had not been her only choice—she was a ninth-level being, surrounded by hundreds of thousands of high-ranking Immortals. She had once believed that, in the vastness of the Void, there would always be somewhere to go. But she had quickly learned how wrong she was—and why Primordial had entrusted her to the mages. Without the protection of Primordial’s power, they could not withstand the natural repulsion of the Void itself.

The Void was boundless, yes—but only the mages possessed the power to save the Immortal civilization.

Adam said no more.

“In that case, we can begin this project very soon.”

———

Adam and Wanxiang diverted to the Personal Chip Research Institute.

With the explosive growth of the Virtual World industry—and the staggering profits it generated—the institute’s size and prestige had risen to the very summit of the Mage World. Every researcher here was an elite; any one of them could walk out at any moment and be offered the highest treatment from any number of competing powers.

Unlike the top-secret Atomic Energy Research Institute or the Exploration Robot Institute, this place was relatively open. Around it had sprung up a massive high-tech industrial district, filled with industries orbiting the Virtual World. Countless eyes were locked onto the institute, waiting for any sign of new developments.

Even a mere scrap from its table was enough to make people fabulously rich.

Because Adam, as the institute’s director, had established a strict policy of hiring only purely technical personnel, the place—despite its unprecedented importance—remained understated and low-profile.

But today, that quietness vanished.

The institute flared with power as high-ranking mages sealed off a million kilometers around it, forbidding all outsiders to enter. Legions of high-grade magical robots took up guard positions, their metallic eyes glowing coldly. Any mage foolish enough to step into the restricted zone would be struck down by thunderous force.

This level of lockdown was not to welcome Adam—he would never indulge in such theatrics. Rather, it was to ensure the safe transport of the Heavenly Dao.

Though the Heavenly Dao appeared perfectly docile in both the Immortal Realm’s Da Luo Heaven ruins and the Origin Space, its assimilative ability was terrifying. A common mage who so much as looked upon it unprepared would lose control; even a high-level mage might, upon contact, begin to involuntarily transform toward the Third Epoch lifeform structure.

While mages across the industrial park whispered in confusion, Adam and Wanxiang arrived at the outer perimeter.

The mages recognized Adam instantly. Everyone here knew that he was the true director of the Personal Chip Research Institute—and that he was the very embodiment of the Virtual World revolution itself.

News of his arrival spread at once. Those who had missed the first great “Virtual World feast” had no intention of missing the next one.

Adam ignored them entirely.

He handed Wanxiang the Heaven-Turning Seal, now dulled and dust-covered like a mere rock.

Wanxiang needed to use the Vientiane Sphere to temporarily contain the Heavenly Dao, while the Heaven-Turning Seal’s function was to invert the Dao’s instinctive “radiation.” Of course, the Seal would later have to be returned to the mages.

Once preparations were complete, the transport began.

Using his authority as a Guardian of the World of Honor, Adam transformed the million-kilometer area into a black abyss. Thousands of World Guardians teleported to their designated coordinates, divine chains of Origin coiling in their hands. Slowly, carefully, they drew the Heavenly Dao up from the deepest layer of the Inner World.

As it crossed the abyssal horizon, all kinds of extraordinary phenomena erupted.

Wanxiang, without hesitation, merged herself into her immortal artifact, wrapping the Heavenly Dao within it. The Heaven-Turning Seal blazed to life, pressing gently atop the sphere.

Adam, as the array’s core, inscribed countless runes, maintaining the Dao in a deep slumber.

All the magical robots opened their power cores, releasing radiant multi-colored energy that formed an enormous barrier to block all external observation. Then, the great gates of the Personal Chip Research Institute opened wide, revealing the heart of the complex—the chamber housing the Origin Server and Core Engine.

Every high-ranking mage of the institute mobilized to stabilize the server. Adam and Wanxiang, working in perfect synchrony, guided the Heavenly Dao into the chamber.

A contingent of Night Watchers was already waiting there, led by Aisha and Wendy. The two had no time for greetings; they immediately began constructing new layers of seals.

There were ten layers in total.

Only when both the Night Watchers and Adam agreed that the Heavenly Dao’s threat level had sufficiently declined could any of them be lifted.

———

“The Free Faction suffered massive losses in the Cataclysm Zone campaign. They’re desperate for new income sources to stabilize their ranks. What you’re doing here is drawing enormous attention. The True Spirits will block any prying eyes for you, and with your current status, the Free Super Dimensional Mages wouldn’t dare make a direct move… but be careful of economic traps.”

Five days later, Wendy said this in all seriousness—but her next sentence betrayed her amusement.

“Those are Laura Sovereign’s exact words. She knows you won’t fall for it.”

Adam nodded; he had already anticipated as much.

The fact that none of the great financial conglomerates had yet approached him only meant they were still negotiating how much to offer.

But that was a minor issue.

Even Adam himself no longer knew exactly how wealthy he was.

“Wanxiang has requested that the Third Holy Tower assist in freezing the Immortals’ physical energy—so that they may begin their Semi-Permanent Upload.”

Adam turned to Aisha as he said this.