Chapter 21: Multiversal System

The Gate of the Absolute

Infinite Summer suddenly appeared in the Mourning Hall, and not only was Wu Zhong surprised, the dutiful children and grandchildren present were stunned as well.

Of course, they pretended not to have noticed him come in.

So one of the filial attendees stood and extended a hand, asking, "Are you here for my old master…?"

Infinite Summer replied coolly, "No, I don't know him. I'm here for him."

He pointed at Wu Zhong.

"Come with me."

With that, he snuffed out his cigarette, opened an umbrella, and strode out of the Mourning Hall.

Wu Zhong hurriedly followed, not showing any reluctance, while the filial descendants rose to stop him.

When they saw Wu Zhong determined to leave, they escorted him to the door and even handed him a new umbrella.

Wu Zhong accepted it and thanked them, then walked side by side with Infinite Summer under the rain.

Only after they had walked a fair distance did he ask, "Xia-ge, how did you escape? And how come you're so clean?"

"Did you even bother to take a shower and change your clothes?" he added.

Infinite Summer smiled faintly. "Didn't you change too?"

Wu Zhong blinked. "I was watching the only entrance the whole time. You can teleport?"

Infinite Summer raised an eyebrow. "Why didn't you think I came in invisible?"

Wu Zhong thought for a moment and said, "Because teleporting fits better with what you told me… you couldn't fight your way out, you could leave, but you couldn't take me with you."

"Uh, did you really escape the base invisible? In the cell you swore you could walk out—if you were invisible you'd still have to pass through walls, right? Is that your absolute trait? Are you a humanoid disaster anomaly too? Why meet at a Mourning Hall? You don't know this family…"

The room fell silent for a moment. Wu Zhong realized his questions were too invasive.

After a while, Infinite Summer chuckled softly. "In the disaster world, asking people the details of their abilities is very impolite."

Wu Zhong quickly said, "I know."

Infinite Summer regarded him. "It's fine, because I know you are truly a 'new' person… a truly unfortunate sucker."

"Yeah, the upheavals I've been through in these past two days have exceeded my whole life," Wu Zhong said, pursing his lips.

Infinite Summer looked like he wanted to say more, but then stopped; whatever he'd meant earlier was apparently not the same thing. He only said, "If it weren't for me, any other person would have suspected you were a 985 plant planted near me."

Wu Zhong felt bitter inside. Yes, from Infinite Summer's perspective he did look like a plant.

Luckily the person who saved him yesterday afternoon had been Infinite Summer, so they had met before. Otherwise, anyone else who arrived during an interrogation, locked the door, and announced an escape would have triggered suspicion.

Even so, he might still have been convinced the next day to cooperate to bait someone.

But Wu Zhong couldn't ask; asking would only make him look more like a plant.

Seeing him fidget, Infinite Summer smiled. "Relax, I won't suspect you."

"Since I brought you out, I naturally trust you. There's probably no one in this world better at accepting you than I am."

Wu Zhong was astonished. That was strange. How could he be so certain? As Captain Lu guessed, was there an intelligence-type disaster artifact involved?

"Can you read minds?" Wu Zhong asked, then quickly reconsidered. If Infinite Summer could read minds, he wouldn't have misjudged Wu Zhong's trait back in the cell; he would have known immediately that Wu Zhong was a humanoid disaster.

Infinite Summer glanced at him and said, "Enough. In the disaster world, intelligence is always the top priority."

"Putting all your cards on the table is almost equivalent to handing your life over to someone."

Wu Zhong fell silent, realizing how crucial information was when dealing with disaster artifacts.

It was precisely because Infinite Summer had given him a few tips that he managed to handle the tracking big dog. Otherwise, who would think to 'bark' at a dog like that?

And with that intelligence in hand, he resolved the big dog crisis.

Likewise, he only knew to handle the Ever-Thirst Plum and the tangle because he learned about such cursed things, which later inspired his idea to break the laughing grenade.

If he had been a complete layman unfamiliar with disaster artifacts, he would have been hopelessly lost in that situation.

"Alright, I won't ask about your ability anymore."

"But what about the zombie virus? I was bitten and captured—will I turn into a corpse?"

Wu Zhong's eyes were anxious as he pointed to his bandages.

Infinite Summer narrowed his eyes and took out an unlabeled ointment, applying it to his wounds. "You were bitten? The Happiness Zombie can spread infection."

"I told you: when you meet a zombie, think of something torturous and painful. Did you?"

Wu Zhong had been forcing himself to endure the injury; after the ointment, he felt cool and relieved and less in pain.

"I've been thinking exactly what you told me."

Infinite Summer said calmly, "Then you're fine. As long as your inner resentment outweighs your happiness, you'll be immune when bitten."

"Conversely, if someone is internally blissful and lacking resentment, facing this virus is hopeless—they will turn in a very short time. The happier they are, the faster the change!"

"You haven't changed after so long, so you won't change now."

Wu Zhong relaxed his brow—so that's what it was. This explained Infinite Summer's advice to think painful thoughts when encountering zombies.

Essentially, it forces the heart into a rage of grievance; even if bitten, the virus can't take root.

"Huh… a zombie virus that specifically kills the happy?"

"What kind of judgment mechanism is that? This is… absurdly idealistic."

Wu Zhong marveled—he hadn't expected a seemingly ordinary zombie to be so bizarre. Infection depends on the ratio of inner happiness to resentment: either immunity or intractable change.

Infinite Summer grabbed him and they dashed along a path. "That's the nature of disaster artifacts."

"They either don't trigger, or when they do it's an absolute effect."

"Often, one thought leads to heaven, the next to hell!"

"This Happiness Zombie isn't a big deal. As you saw, containment measures aren't strict; there haven't been problems in over a decade."

"Many disaster artifacts are judged subjectively—depends on personal cognition, depends on collective cultural definitions, and some even change their scope if a meeting decides so… countless varieties, bizarre beyond imagination."

"Disaster artifacts are true supernatural entities that transcend 'nature' itself. They toy with concepts, warp reality, execute absolute effects, and apply subjective judgments…"

Wu Zhong asked, "You said there haven't been problems in over a decade? Then why does Unit 985 keep zombies? Wouldn't extermination be simpler? It doesn't look like they're researching them, just keeping them."

Infinite Summer explained, "They researched them before but couldn't figure them out. They also once completely exterminated them, and they appeared elsewhere as a result."

"Some disaster artifacts can't be eradicated; they possess effects that must exist."

"If you try to kill every last zombie, the moment the final one dies, the virus will respawn randomly in uncontrollable places. So keeping them contained is safest."

Wu Zhong listened silently and felt relieved. Disaster artifacts are truly bizarre—origin unknown, mechanisms inexplicable, effects absolute, subjectively judged, and sometimes irreducible…

For the first time he systematically understood disaster artifacts: this is the core of the disaster world—the circle of people who have more or less come into contact with or possess disaster artifacts.

"Then… besides disaster artifacts, do people have cultivation systems…?"

Infinite Summer looked at him. "Huh? Okay, I know what you're asking… But the cultivation systems you imagine don't exist in our world."

"Things like cultivation or magic—unique energies, unique laws, unique techniques that you assume objectively exist and can be practiced—are essentially science."

"Just science under a different set of universal rules."

Wu Zhong nodded slightly; indeed, cultivation essentially uses objective laws.

He pressed on, "So multiversal power is that kind of scientific system, right?"

Infinite Summer shook his head in surprise. "No, no, no. In earlier days, some people did think it was an objective universal force."

"But any theory or law that attempts to summarize disaster artifact groups is ridiculous; there will always be anomalous counterexamples."

"Multiversal power isn't actually an objective natural phenomenon; it's a universal absolute trait derived from one particular disaster artifact."

"'Universal' simply means its derived range is huge—you can understand it as a disaster artifact that infected the whole universe! It created a cultivation system."

Wu Zhong was shocked—infected the entire universe?

Infinite Summer toyed with a banana but didn't eat it. "It might even have infected multiple universes…"

"Because it can borrow energies and techniques from other universes to use in ours."

"Didn't you notice? My void colonist gear is sci-fi in style, while that little Taoist's multiversal power leans toward wuxia…"

"And Lu Guangqi… that guy's flavor is fantasy."

Wu Zhong's eyes brightened. "There are multiple universes too?"

Infinite Summer shook his head lightly at his eagerness. "Don't think too far. Whether multiverses exist hasn't been firmly proven."

"Although we’ve borrowed powers and felt people from other universes, that might just be the universal trait manifesting them. Whether those other universes are real—nobody's been there, who knows."

Wu Zhong stroked his chin. "Is multiversal power something anyone can cultivate? Can I learn it?"

Infinite Summer rolled his eyes. "I told you, it's not the cultivation system you imagine. Learn what?"

"To become a 'multiversal awakener,' either you're recruited by the Multiversal Academy and gain qualification through the 'Primal Tablet' to perceive multiversal power..."

"Or you mate with a 'Pavas'-level strong one, or both your parents are multiversal awakeners."

Wu Zhong scratched his head. "Pavas? What does that mean?"

Infinite Summer explained, "Foreign language, huh? Here it means 'angelic being.' It's the most common multiversal strong tier classification in the disaster world, ranked by angelic hierarchy—basically level four!"

"I only ascended to level three, which is 'Dominion Angel,' but rank doesn't strictly represent power."

Wu Zhong twitched at the corner of his mouth. "Why divide by angel ranks?"

Infinite Summer sneered. "Because the power to speak is with them—what can you do?"

"The original multiversal awakeners all came from a tablet. They were kept in a box, carried and placed in a palace—called the Ark…"

"So in ancient times, this group of awakeners called themselves divine messengers, i.e., angels."

"Over time, this system spread for various reasons, and many local myths' guardian gods, even some immortals, were multiversal awakeners."

"Angels looked down on other culture's awakeners and derided them as demons—evil Nephilim, hybrids born when fallen angels mated with humans."

"After a Western light-versus-dark war, many local faiths were wiped out; the surrendering gods were absorbed and sanitized into angel culture. For example, some deities from Assyria, Babylon, ancient Persia, and Jainism were integrated."

"But times changed; angels declined long ago."

"Last century, one person tamed them, renamed them the Multiversal Academy, joined the Free Alliance, opened enrollment across the disaster world—no longer strictly religious, but the threshold remains high."

"The academy still uses angelic ranks, while some other forces have other names. Some rogue factions just call them levels one, two, three, four… but none are as influential as the academy."

Wu Zhong listened, dizzy and awed. So angels really existed, originating from an ancient tablet hidden in the Ark? That sounded like the legendary tablets of commandments. Of course, his knowledge of ancient cultural history was shallow—he'd only read novels.

Wu Zhong asked, "Can I enter that school?"

Infinite Summer sneered, "Annual tuition is thirty-six million…"

"What the hell!" Wu Zhong's voice broke.

Infinite Summer added casually, "...in knives."

Wu Zhong swallowed. "Too expensive. Robbery. Although getting superpowers for that price seems reasonable."

Infinite Summer said, "That's only one basic condition. Money alone doesn't guarantee entry—they choose people. Essentially, they recruit talent for themselves."

"You either have unmatched talent, or strong connections and background, or you're a cute young boy…"

"And someone like you, an adult ordinary layman, forget it."

Wu Zhong fell silent, lips twitching. The disaster world also required connections—survival in this life truly depends on background and networks.

"...Besides the Multiversal Academy, there's also the way of mating with a level-four multiversal strong. Higher ranks might work too, but I haven't seen anyone reach level five… level four is basically the highest practical tier."

"In short, whether same-sex or opposite, once it's truly done, the other party will awaken multiversal power."

"A lot of awakeners in the disaster world are spawned from unruly Pavas who couldn't be restrained. They spread their seed worldwide…"

"These Pavas were scornfully called 'Gibring' in ancient times, meaning powerful fallen angels. Their offspring with ordinary people were called Nephilim."

"The Bible says the sons of God saw human women and took wives at will… the sons of God and human women produced renowned ancient heroes."

"So the Multiversal Academy considers taking mortal women a form of decadence, but the Bible doesn't mention taking boys, so that's considered pure."

Wu Zhong stared blankly. "Weird propagation method… so you were made like that?"

Infinite Summer quickly waved his hand. "Stop! Not me!"

"My parents were both awakeners, so I became one naturally."

Wu Zhong was crestfallen. "So you're a 'second-generation awakener'? Born with awakener blood?"

Infinite Summer laughed. "Bloodline? Not really."

"'Both parents are awakeners' as a condition is literal."

"If your parents are alive and become awakeners, then even if you're on the other side of the world, you'll suddenly awaken—you don't need to be reborn."

Wu Zhong's eyes widened. "What? That's all it takes?"

Then his expression dimmed. "But I don't have parents… and that makes it more complicated. You'd have to make two people awaken first."

Infinite Summer shook his head with a small smile. "They don't have to be your biological parents."

"I awakened because I adopted a married awakener couple as my parents."

Wu Zhong stumbled and nearly slipped in the rain. "Wait? Adoptive parents work?"

Infinite Summer clarified, "To be precise, adoptive parents registered officially. As long as officials recognize it and legally register the couple as your parents, the awakening mechanism triggers."

"A considerable number of awakeners came about this way."

"Some awakener couples recruit elites into their family registry, amassing many registered children, forming a little circle—a 'wakener family'."

Wu Zhong wiped his face and murmured, "So that's the nature of disaster artifacts?"

"This is what you meant by collective cultural definition—subjective judgment."

"Infinite Summer looked instructable. 'You're getting to the essence, but it's not absolute.'"

"Some traits aren't purely subjective—some are nailed down."

"You must remember one thing: with disaster artifacts anything is possible. There's nothing they can't be."

"In theory, no single rule can encompass all disaster artifacts. Their so-called natures are just empirical talk—don't take them as gospel. Everything must be verified by fact."

Wu Zhong asked, "So there really aren't rules? Then what can you trust?"

Infinite Summer said coldly, "Facts…"

"No—sometimes even facts can't be fully trusted; what you see, what you remember, what you understand may not be the truth."

"In short, there's no systematic method to fully understand disaster artifacts. The safest way is to try with your life."

Wu Zhong pondered. "Can my trait be changed by altering society's perception of doors?"

Infinite Summer said, "I said you must try to know for sure."

"And do you think you're the only one who's thought of changing people's perceptions? Do you think changing public cognition is easy?"

"The disaster world isn't unified; there are countless forces, complicated and contentious."

"Many humanoid disaster anomalies try to change human perception to strengthen themselves; some even turn themselves into public enemies."

"In short, it's something nations guard against tightly. Don't even think about it."

Wu Zhong bitterly said, "Then my ability is useless; I might as well become a multiversal awakener."

"Xia-ge, can you make me have multiversal power?"

Infinite Summer said calmly, "Multiversal power is the most adaptable; almost everyone in the disaster world has it—it's basically a baseline ability."

"And there are just three awakening methods. Money can do anything in theory; with enough money most things can be solved. If money can't, then it's not enough money."

Wu Zhong took out the phone the woman had given him. "The phone is borrowed. If I log into Huashengbao there should be a few hundred thousand, but it's probably frozen."

"Xia-ge, can you help me?"

Infinite Summer glanced at the phone, reached out, snatched it, crushed it in his hand, and tossed the pieces into the dark woods—never to be found again.

Then he said lightly, "I won't help you. Why would I if I didn't save you?"

"The simplest way is like me: find a pair of parents to adopt you. But try not to do that hastily; this is a long-term plan. I'll think of ways."

Wu Zhong's heart surged. "Thanks, Xia-ge. Training multiversal power must cost a lot too, right? You're a mercenary; I can follow you to do mercenary work and pay you back."

In the wind and rain, Infinite Summer pondered. "Being a mercenary is fine, but remember: don't tell anyone about your absolute trait."

"Even to my comrades, I'd say you were a 'ghostly sacrifice' I stole from Unit 985."

"As for Unit 985, they certainly know your trait, but they'll keep quiet publicly."

"From now on, tell outsiders you were infected with the "ghostly mark," attracting Night Wandering Deity assassination—consider it a negative effect. That qualifies you as a disaster person and meets the minimum registration for becoming a freelance mercenary."

…