Chapter 205: Each With Their Own Schemes
"Greetings, Director Bai!"
"Greetings, Director Bai!"
Outside the rune material manufacturing plant, two Ability Users guarding the main entrance of the critical factory greeted Bai Mo, who had come to inspect the situation.
Simply by the surging and undisguised Spirit Energy reaction, they had already recognized the identity of the approaching figure from a distance.
"Mm." Bai Mo nodded, then took out his authentication chip card and confirmed it on the other party's terminal.
"With such a palpable oppressive aura, how many people could possibly fake that?" After Bai Mo left, the two Ability Users continued chatting idly.
As a direct affiliate of the Huaxia Federation's highest-priority projects, the rune material factory's security level was on par with military equipment production bases. Everyone, whether entering or exiting, had to undergo multiple layers of security checks.
Of course, the true ultimate defense was actually the Primal Matter hidden within every rune.
To dispel any suspicions Ye Zi and the others might have about him tampering with the project, Bai Mo moved all the biochemical reactors responsible for spirit liquid production out of the experimental field and transferred them to their chosen new site, no longer interfering with that part of the process.
However, after being informed that all the reactor materials were made from death row inmates, their expressions softened considerably. While they harbored some resistance to using people as batteries, as long as it wasn't indiscriminate slaughter and only those who deserved to die were used, they could accept it.
According to the plan's conception, once the system was deployed, within the network's coverage area, only authorized individuals would be able to use offensive Spirit Energy releases. Furthermore, all kinetic impacts released by people within the area would be subject to certain restrictions, making it highly unlikely for a punch to collapse a wall again.
A network with such a function offered immense advantages for their governance as rulers. In comparison, sacrificing some individuals as raw materials was truly no big deal.
Bai Mo walked through the factory area, feigning an inspection of the rune material production. Each piece of material, etched with runes using a mixed liquid, could actually be considered a part of his body. He had a thorough grasp of the project's progress throughout the entire factory area, even down to Tianzhong City.
However, to avoid arousing suspicion from those who observed him daily, he still visited these two locations periodically. After all, he was still officially listed as the chief designer.
"Ji Xuan asked me to give you these things." After completing his routine duties, Bai Mo, back at the experimental field, was stopped by his assistant Chen Xi.
"Did he say anything else?" Bai Mo asked, taking two walnut-sized, unidentified fruits.
"He said a mysterious old man sold him this spirit material, called 'Substitute Seed'. If you eat it, a small avatar will appear, and after about a year of nurturing, it will grow as powerful as the original body and be able to use all of the original body's abilities."
"Ji Xuan knew you were interested in these things, so he secretly bought two and asked me to deliver them to you..."
"Mm, I understand." Bai Mo responded indifferently.
Given his past experience of having "dug a pit" with the Xuanhuang Fruit, his deeply suspicious nature instinctively made him feel there might be something wrong with this item. However, he said nothing in front of Chen Xi, merely dismissing her first.
"If I were to use my avatar abilities to disguise myself and relinquish control, I could achieve a similar effect, but not the part about using all of the original body's abilities."
Bai Mo had once considered packaging his avatars as potions and selling them through the Contribution Point system, but feeling it wouldn't be very meaningful, he abandoned the idea.
Because if his avatars entered the bodies of powerhouses above the Life Field Stage, they would suffer constant depletion. The stronger the host, the faster the depletion, making the control not worth the cost. Furthermore, those worth controlling were simply not susceptible to his control.
Given his official status, anything he put up for sale on the system would automatically come with various certifications. The vast majority of ordinary people would directly trust the accompanying descriptions, with no need for the "Substitute Seeds" in his hand to be subjected to gambling-style transactions on the black market due to issues of credibility.
Unconsciously, and without any evidence, he directly assumed the items in his hand were the product of some conspiracy.
Meanwhile, somewhere in Tianqing.
"With the power of this Spirit Seed Gu, I will surely rise to prominence. If my abilities hadn't awakened too late, I'd already have a seat in that lofty Seven-Person Council."
The young man gazed at the pile of "walnuts" before him, stripping off his old man's disguise as he pondered his next move.
"The Contribution Point system? No, though prices there are high, it requires real-name registration, and the spirit materials sold must undergo detailed inspections. If I'm caught, it's a dead end."
"As for Tianqing's black market, my Substitute Seeds haven't gained their trust yet. I've only managed to get a small trial consignment in. It will take some time to establish a distribution channel..."
...
"Mr. Chen, have you noticed a cultivation method that has been circulating among the populace?" His secretary, picking up the document Chen Bo had just finished signing, asked with a curious tone.
"Every day, society sees people claiming to have discovered new things. How could I possibly keep track of each one? What is it this time?"
"In Su Zhe City, a passage of text has begun to circulate. Anyone, as long as they stay in the local area and continuously chant this text silently, will have a chance to awaken abilities. If an Ability User does this, they can gradually enhance their power. Many people are now going there, drawn by its reputation, to try it."
"Is this really not a rumor?"
"It shouldn't be. I have a classmate who awakened his abilities this way two days ago."
"Does the ability remain after leaving Su Zhe City?" Chen Bo harbored some doubt, wondering if it was a mass hallucination.
"Someone tested it; the power gained is genuine."
"Why are you only telling me now?"
"Because it required some time for confirmation... You know, every day across Huaxia, all sorts of things, both true and false, emerge. If it were a minor matter or simply a rumor, there would be no need to bother you."
"Initially, many people also thought it was another scam, but there were always some idle individuals who would try it, as chanting wouldn't result in any substantial loss. Then, gradually, people among them began to awaken abilities, and the frequency of occurrences has far exceeded natural probability," the secretary continued to report.
"Have Wang Qiong take some people to investigate, and bring me back a report."
"Yes, I will notify them immediately."
It wasn't until he ascended to the highest position that Chen Bo realized just how many matters he had to handle. Especially managing a nation like Huaxia, with over a billion people, there were no shortage of major decisions to make every single day.
Moreover, in an era of such profound change, new phenomena emerged daily, further increasing the burden on administrators like them. Countless unprecedented issues demanded a proper solution.
And after all, there were many matters that, no matter how much his subordinates streamlined their handling, still had to pass his final approval, both in principle and in reason.
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