Embers Ad Infinitum

Jiang Baimian could be considered knowledgeable and experienced, yet at this moment, she still felt a chill run down her spine and nearly shivered.

She forced herself to calm down and took the document from Shang Jianyao's hand. She overlapped it with the information she had read previously and turned to hand it to Du Heng, who had walked close.

"Reading these documents on the table. They're all left behind from the Old World and are relatively well-preserved."

Du Heng—who was wearing a black robe—took the information and casually flipped through it. He then chuckled and said, "They're all trivial matters with no value. No wonder they were left in this room."

"That's right, that's right." Shang Jianyao agreed.

If Jiang Baimian hadn't already warned him with the communication system embedded in the military exoskeleton, he might've pointed out the document and flipped to the signature. He would then proudly tell Du Heng that there was a person here whose name was identical to his, and he was suspected to be the mysterious president of the Eighth Research Institute.

Du Heng only flipped through the first page of every document before shaking his head. "There's nothing to see here."

He then returned the information to Jiang Baimian.

Jiang Baimian started spouting nonsense. "It still has some value—it can help us understand the Eighth Research Institute's operating model before the Old World was destroyed. This might contain many secrets."

Du Heng was the same as he usually was. He stroked his beard nonchalantly. "Then, study it well."

In any case, he wouldn't waste his time on it.

Aren't you an antiquarian? These are all ancient documents… Jiang Baimian rejoiced as she couldn't help but criticize.

They split up again and searched the rest of the office.

Seeing that Du Heng had distanced himself from the two of them, Jiang Baimian relaxed a little and thought about what had happened. This office belongs to the original president of the Eighth Research Institute, and he signed off with the name 'Du Heng'… In other words, either the Eighth Research Institute's mysterious president is indeed Du Heng, or he encountered something like the Grand Elder of End Year City, Qin Ke, and started calling himself Du Heng. Therefore, he became a taboo in the Eighth Research Institute and was forbidden from being mentioned by New World experts.

Uh, Teacher Du Heng has the same ability that matches the special state of ignoring particular memories of Professor Qin…

It makes sense that Teacher Du Heng appeared in the Holm Fertility Center's academic lecture…

As the president of the Eighth Research Institute and the actual controller of the Northern Company, it's normal for him to listen to lectures organized by his organization and other research organizations under his personal name… Yes, the Eighth Research Institute is a confidential organization. Teacher Du Heng might not even have a position in the Northern Company, so he doesn't have any other titles…

The more Jiang Baimian thought about it, the more she felt that this Du Heng was the real deal. As for which situation it was, she was currently leaning toward the former. This was because the academic lecture at the Holm Fertility Center was held before the Old World was destroyed.

At that time, 'Du Heng' was called Du Heng.

As for the Eighth Research Institute's president, he definitely had all kinds of special traits. Perhaps he had once been surrounded and killed by Vice President, Professor Li, and the others. He had lost his body, but he didn't die completely. After that, the Awakened deep in the Mind Corridor across the Ashlands would go crazy from time to time and start calling themselves Du Heng.

Stop, I can't be infected by Hey and script out a blockbuster myself… After some thought, Jiang Baimian decided to explore the Eighth Research Institute's depths and determine what the important thing was before finding an opportunity to probe Du Heng.

With this in mind, she used the communication system embedded in the military exoskeleton to say to Shang Jianyao, "I'll create an opportunity for you later. Enter the Mind Corridor directly and repeat the solution you memorized in the dream of Room 205 to see if it's still the conference room after clearing it. If not, continue exploring and see if you can find anything.

"Yes, this is firstly to prevent Teacher Du Heng from suddenly regaining his memories and going berserk. Secondly, we have to go deeper into the Eighth Research Institute, and we might encounter something else. It's best to improve as much as possible."

Shang Jianyao had no objections and was only curious. "How will you create an opportunity?"

"That's simple." Jiang Baimian smiled. "Most of the time, telling the truth is the best solution."

She walked straight to Du Heng, who had come to the bookshelf again, and smiled. "Teacher Du Heng, I plan on finding a place to rest for half an hour before continuing."

"Why?" Du Heng asked with a smile.

Jiang Baimian explained sincerely, "We're about to enter the Eighth Research Institute's depths. I think Shang Jianyao has already grasped the solution to the academic discussion in the dream. He might as well take the opportunity to complete this matter and see if he can gain something from the dream."

"There are important secrets hidden in the Eighth Research Institute's depths, and it's very likely to be filled with danger. I don't want to let go of an opportunity to raise his strength before the exploration."

She was telling the truth and wasn't lying at all; she just didn't mention that the person they were guarding against was the person in front of her.

Du Heng nodded and joked, "I understand. It's never too late."

He then asked, "Why don't you rest here?"

Because I'm afraid that you would be bored and flip through the documents in the room… Jiang Baimian had already come up with a reason. "This is the office of the Eighth Research Institute's president. He's very mysterious, and anything that involves him is taboo. I'm afraid that something will happen if we stay too long."

"What's there to be afraid of with me around?" Du Heng didn't mind at all.

You are precisely the person we are afraid of… Jiang Baimian didn't give Shang Jianyao a chance to speak. "Just to be safe."

Du Heng was insouciant. "That works too."

After searching the office, they continued forward. Before long, a closed silver-white metal door appeared in front of them.

"Let's rest here," Jiang Baimian immediately said.

"Alright." Du Heng found a seat against the wall and sat cross-legged. He held the book he had brought out of the president's office to pass the time.

Jiang Baimian secretly glanced at the book and relied on the military exoskeleton's auxiliary function to accurately capture the title: Notes on the Three Metaphysical Classics.

Ashlandic ancient philosophy… Jiang Baimian retracted her gaze and took on the responsibility of being vigilant.

Shang Jianyao sat down cross-legged like Du Heng and pinched his temples that were blocked by his visor before entering the Mind Corridor.

Outside Room 205, he spent some time rehearsing to ensure that he could completely repeat the solution Jiang Baimian had provided.

Afraid of forgetting, he started spouting the explanation the moment he entered the room and saw those figures appear on the chair.

After he finished speaking and there was a short silence, those people erupted into enthusiastic applause. "A very outstanding train of thought."

"It's very groundbreaking."

"…"

With such praise, the brown door to the meeting room creaked open.

Seeing this, Shang Jianyao couldn't care less and immediately walked out.

There was no longer a conference room outside but a dimly lit corridor. There were no rooms on either side.

"Progress!" Shang Jianyao praised happily.

At least he didn't have to listen to academic exchanges anymore!

The next second, he spread open his arms and muttered to himself: "I feel like I'm home… It's right ahead!"

He then stroked his chin. "Is this the feeling of being close to the door to the New World? My New World door is right in front? I searched high and low for it, only to find it so easily? Isn't this too sudden and coincidental?"

Shang Jianyao didn't delay and walked along the dim corridor.

This place was clearly different from Pangu Biology's underground building, but he still walked faster and faster as if he could return to his home with his eyes closed.

After an unknown period of time, Shang Jianyao stopped.

A pair of double-paned doors appeared at the end of the corridor. It was dark black, heavy, and ethereal.

Two completely different and contradictory auras were gathered on it.

…

"I found the New World door. It's in Dawn's dream." After returning to reality, Shang Jianyao used the communication system embedded in the military exoskeleton to tell Jiang Baimian about his encounter.

Jiang Baimian was first surprised before feeling that it was only right.

Room 205 had been moved in front of Shang Jianyao for a long time, so it wasn't surprising that the door to the New World was hidden there.

Jiang Baimian even suspected that if Shang Jianyao didn't choose 205 and took the risk of contracting the Heartless disease to enter 503, he would similarly find the door to the New World that belonged to him.

Sigh… She sighed silently and then said to Shang Jianyao, "Don't be anxious. We'll decide whether to push open the door when we reach the depths of the Eighth Research Institute."

"Alright." Shang Jianyao had no objections. He knew very well that if he entered the New World now, he would have to be carried into the Eighth Research Institute's depths.