Embers Ad Infinitum

Jiang Baimian felt a slight change when the three blobs of light fused into her body, but she couldn’t pinpoint the change.

Is this the Awakening experience? She habitually looked down at her hands and didn’t discover any differences.

The astral figure in the middle of the square suddenly seemed to come to life. He retreated to the edge and distanced himself from Jiang Baimian.

Jiang Baimian didn’t panic and quietly watched this scene as if she had expected this. She had just tried to use the black metal wall’s mirror effect to use Spatial Hallucination on herself.

Jiang Baimian was in no rush to return to reality because there was a high chance that she was undergoing a cochlear transplant at that very moment. This ability will interfere with the target’s perception of space, making them lose their bearings. It also seems like a certain level of severance and reconstruction can be done, creating the desired environment… Further investigation will require entry into the Sea of Origins, after the clearing of two islands…

She then tried Item Agnosia and Stimulation Disorder.

It was unknown if the mirror as a medium failed to produce effects or if Star Cluster Hall lacked substance and stimulation, but Jiang Baimian ultimately failed.

She could only make a preliminary guess from their names: Item Agnosia should also be a type of illusion that makes the target mistake the items they want. For example, they might want to fire with a gun, but they might pick up an umbrella and go pew pew pew. For example, they might treat a poisoned dagger as a delicious cream cake and lick it a few times…

Stimulation Disorder sounds like the correct reaction can’t be produced when receiving the corresponding stimulation… One will fail to close their eyes when a flashlight’s beam is aimed at them? They will fail to dodge when sensing danger?

As she constantly speculated and analyzed the situation, Jiang Baimian gradually felt exhausted.

Her figure slowly faded and disappeared from Star Cluster Hall.

…

After an unknown period of time, Jiang Baimian suddenly opened her eyes;

Mei Shou’an—who had been closely observing her—heaved a sigh of relief. He approached and asked with a smile, “How was it?”

According to his experience, things were fine as long as the experimental subject could wake up. Any side effects could be treated.

Uh, Uncle Mei is too agitated. His voice is a little loud? It doesn’t seem like it… Jiang Baimian subconsciously raised her hand and touched her ear. Unlike before, there was no metallic texture this time.

Finally, Jiang Baimian came to a realization.

The biological cochlear implant surgery was successful!

Her hearing had returned to normal!

There was a thick layer of ‘skin’ in her ears, but it wasn’t completely blocked. At a glance, there was almost nothing abnormal there.

Jiang Baimian relaxed. As she adapted to her current state, she sat up and smiled at Mei Shou’an’s question. “Pretty good. Right, I’ve Awakened.”

Mei Shou’an was stunned for a second before subconsciously asking, “It worked?”

Jiang Baimian nodded seriously.

Mei Shou’an nudged his gold-rimmed glasses, scratched the side of his head, and muttered to himself in confusion, “Could it be that adding music prior to the final segment boosts the chances of Awakening? What’s the principle behind this?”

Shang Jianyao would like your guess… Jiang Baimian criticized inwardly and probed, “Can I go now?”

Although the cochlear transplant wasn’t considered major surgery, it wasn’t under outpatient treatment. Mei Shou’an couldn’t help but praise Jiang Baimian when he saw her jump off the operating bed without suffering any obvious effects. “Your physique is indeed outstanding. The effects of your genetic modification are excellent. However, I suggest you rest and be under observation for another half an hour to prevent any accidents.”

“Alright.” Jiang Baimian moved her head, feeling a slight sense of vertigo.

Mei Shou’an then asked, “Which domain did you choose?”

“Shattered Mirror.” Jiang Baimian didn’t hide the truth, but she didn’t say what her abilities and price were.

For an Awakened, this was something that needed to be kept confidential.

Mei Shou’an fully understood this and didn’t ask further. He then said, “I’ll give you the relevant information later and try to let you enter the Sea of Origins as soon as possible.”

As he spoke, Mei Shou’an couldn’t help but add, “Make sure you aren’t as rash as your team’s Shang Jianyao.”

Is this something you can learn just because you want to? Without years of mental problems, I won’t be able to come up with his antics at all! Jiang Baimian criticized inwardly and nodded obediently. “Okay.”

After waiting for half an hour and confirming that there was nothing wrong with her, Jiang Baimian politely said to Mei Shou’an, “Uncle Mei, I should go.”

“Come back in three days for a review.” Mei Shou’an nodded slightly, and he sent Jiang Baimian to Project C-14’s entrance.

During this process, Jiang Baimian recalled the price she had paid and quickly added a message into the biological prosthetic limb auxiliary chip: “I’m returning to Room 14 on the 647th floor next.”

This way, she wouldn’t get the floor and room wrong despite being ‘directionally challenged.’

Mei Shou’an watched Jiang Baimian leave as he stood at the door and thought about today’s experimental process, hoping to conclude a beneficial experience from it. He had always been like this—deep in thought regardless of the time and occasion.

He was a research fanatic.

As he recalled, Mei Shou’an suddenly saw Jiang Baimian walk back.

“What’s wrong?” he asked in concern as an elder.

Jiang Baimian’s eyes seemed a little blank, but she quickly returned to normal. She opened her mouth and waved her hand. “Ah… Uncle Mei, I have another question for you.”

“What is it?” Mei Shou’an asked.

Jiang Baimian’s eyes darted around slightly. “One can participate in the experiments with Project C-14 simply via application, right? It can be done by any employee at any rank, and it can also be done by foreigners?”

“Of course.” Mei Shou’an smiled. “We’ve always been most worried about not having enough volunteers.”

“Oh…” Jiang Baimian pointed in a direction. “I’ll be leaving then.”

“Why are you going there?” Mei Shou’an looked confused.

Jiang Baimian laughed. “I was just casually pointing.”

She then walked in the opposite direction.

…

647th floor.

Shang Jianyao and the others entered the training room after waiting for some time, only to realize that their team leader wasn’t coming. They then began their training for the day.

At the end of the training, Shang Jianyao finished the water in his cup, wiped his sweat, and went back to the office.

He saw Jiang Baimian walking toward him after taking a few steps.

“You’re late!” Shang Jianyao pointed out.

Jiang Baimian replied disdainfully, “I applied for leave. I went for a biological cochlear implant surgery today.”

Shang Jianyao’s eyes lit up, and he lowered his voice as if he were whispering. “Are. The. Effects. Good?”

“Very good!” Jiang Baimian gritted her teeth.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Shang Jianyao applauded.

Jiang Baimian looked at the steam rising from his body and couldn’t be bothered to continue snapping at him. She nodded and said, “Continue training.”

She then passed Shang Jianyao.

Shang Jianyao didn’t say anything. He kept walking forward and returned to his office to get a cup of warm water.

Soon, the morning training ended. Bai Chen and the others took a shower and entered Room 14.

“Team Leader isn’t here yet…” Long Yuehong glanced over and was confused.

Shang Jianyao replied honestly, “I bumped into her in the corridor a while ago.”

“Maybe she went to deliver a report,” guessed Bai Chen.

Just as she said that, Jiang Baimian appeared at the door.

Jiang Baimian looked at the three people in the room, wiped her forehead, and smiled. “All of you sure are disciplined when it comes to training.”

“Team Leader, you went to submit a report?” Long Yuehong asked curiously.

Jiang Baimian walked back into the room, and her smile became even more obvious. “I underwent a biological cochlear implant surgery and an Awakening experiment as well.”

“And you’ve Awakened?” Shang Jianyao immediately grasped the crux of the matter.

Jiang Baimian nodded reservedly. “That’s right.”

“What are the abilities and price?” Shang Jianyao didn’t treat himself as an outsider at all.

Jiang Baimian turned her head to look at the door. “We’ll talk about it when we head out next time.”

She didn’t want to hide her abilities and price from her team members. Only then could they produce effective teamwork and reduce the negative effects. However, it wasn’t suitable to tell them now.

Bai Chen quietly listened and said, “Then, I’ll apply for a biological prosthetic limb transplant and genetic modification surgery today.”

“Alright.” Jiang Baimian nodded.

She had previously said that she didn’t know which would come first—tomorrow or an accident—because she wasn’t sure if she could definitely wake up from the Awakening experiment. Once she became a vegetable, Bai Chen needed to reconsider whether she would stay in the Old Task Force. If she didn’t, there was no need to take the risk of genetic modification.

The accident didn’t happen.

Upon hearing their conversation, Long Yuehong opened his mouth but didn’t make a sound.

Jiang Baimian glanced at him and smiled. “There’s no rush. Think about it for a few more days. You can decide after Little White’s surgery results are out.”

Without waiting for Long Yuehong’s response, she asked, “Someone on your floor was infected with the Heartless disease again?”

“I bumped into him.” Long Yuehong exhaled.

“I wonder if it was man-made or natural…” Jiang Baimian clearly recalled the matter regarding the Life Ritual parish.

After discussing this for a while, she flipped her wrist to look at the time and smiled. “We’ll talk in the afternoon. Let’s eat first—my treat. Let’s celebrate!”

With that said, she led the way out of Room 14 and turned to the other side.

Upon seeing this, Long Yuehong asked, “Team Leader, are we trying out the food at canteens in the other zones?”

Jiang Baimian tersely acknowledged his words and seriously thought for a moment.

“Forget it.” She shook her head and turned around. At the same time, she urged Shang Jianyao, “Hey, take point. You’ll be in charge of serving the dishes later.”