Chapter 452 51: Human Race Treasure Manual, Jingque Sword

Tianmu City.

One of the Federation Safety Cities.

Inside the council hall, the optical computer used the "vision" of the Star Patrol Flying Ship to render the events near Funeng City as a three-dimensional holographic image before a group of Martial Saints.

"Three more Holy King Beasts have appeared."

A white-haired old man spoke slowly:

"More than ten Holy King Beasts appearing in the same place at once… a situation like this hasn't occurred in several hundred years."

"Indeed!"

A sturdy man opposite him nodded in agreement:

"The last time it happened was because the aura of the 'Treasure Manual' leaked. What's the cause this time?"

Most Holy King Beasts are solitary, living in pairs at most—a male and a female.

Even after raising offspring, they would drive them out of their territory once the young reached adulthood.

And yet, the flying ship had discovered over ten Holy King Beasts gathered together, fighting each other in a mad frenzy for some unknown reason.

"What is that thing?"

Someone pointed at the holographic screen:

"It's fighting so many Holy King Beasts all by itself, and from the looks of it, it even has the upper hand."

The Star Patrol Flying Ship was equipped with the Federation's best surveillance equipment, yet it still couldn't get a clear view of the scene on the ground.

It could only vaguely "see" a blurry, incorporeal figure flickering amidst the Holy King Beasts.

"It must be an unknown Holy King Beast."

The white-haired elder stroked his beard and said:

"This Holy King Beast possesses the Innate Divine Technique of Force Field Manipulation. Its physical power is even more terrifying, surpassing all known Holy King Beasts. Perhaps…"

"It is the Venerable Level Holy King Beast that Federation researchers have theorized about. But where did it come from?"

'It can't have just popped out of a rock, can it?'

With the Federation's current capabilities, while they didn't have data on every single Holy King Beast, their information was more or less complete.

But this humanoid creature, over ten meters tall, had never appeared in any records.

"A Venerable Level Holy King Beast?"

Someone shook their head:

"That's just speculation. But…"

"In a few years, we're scheduled to go to Funeng City to adjust the genes in the cultivation pods. What do we do now?"

The hall fell silent.

The twelve Martial Saints present were all renowned figures in the Human Federation.

Some had undergone genetic modification, others were enhanced with technology. Each was a figure on par with someone like Wang Chan of Funeng City.

Furthermore, they would be accompanied by thousands of the Federation's elite soldiers, along with the latest Mecha and the most powerful Warships.

They could easily slay even a Holy King Beast!

Their purpose was to escort the Treasure Manual to the various Safe Cities, adjust the cultivation pods, and ensure the next generation of the Human Race was stronger and more intelligent, laying a solid foundation for humanity's strength.

The Federation's scientific research institute had always been conducting research on human genetics, injecting their latest findings into the Treasure Manual, which was then used to cultivate superior offspring through the Safe Cities' cultivation pods.

At the same time, they used data from each Safe City to adjust their research direction.

It could be said that the reason the Human Race was able to find its footing after the Great Catastrophe, to progress step by step from their frail physical bodies to where they were today, was all thanks to this process. The safety of the 'Treasure Manual' was, naturally, of the utmost importance.

"We'll postpone the trip to Funeng City."

The white-haired elder spoke:

"The Treasure Manual concerns the continuation of the Human Race; nothing can be allowed to happen to it. There's no rush to go to Funeng City for now."

"Understood." The sturdy man opposite him nodded:

"There is one other matter…"

"There's a researcher in Funeng City named Wuh Qing. In the last few years, she has published several high-quality papers in the Federation's scientific journals. The research institute says her work might be of great use and has asked us to bring her back if possible."

"We'll see." The white-haired elder shook his head:

"Funeng City is too dangerous right now. Although we are not afraid, there's no need to court disaster. We'll wait for the situation to stabilize."

"What do you all say?"

"Yes!"

"That makes perfect sense!"

"Agreed!"

…

Of the twelve Martial Saints in the hall, all but a few who remained silent expressed their agreement.

Underground.

Countless Rehabilitation Pods, resembling human embryos, were connected to the Safe City's power supply via complex 'umbilical cords'.

Drawing on this power, these embryos developed into new infants every day, who were then adopted and raised after they were fully formed.

And at the nexus of these countless 'umbilical cords'…

A golden 'spine' hovered in their midst. Wisps of golden light emanated from it, merging into the 'umbilical cords' and silently modifying and adjusting the genes of the newborn infants.

The spine was golden, topped with a fist-sized, round piece of jade. Within the jade, a sea of stars seemed to ebb and flow, wondrously profound.

The Treasure Manual!

This object was the very foundation of the Human Race's legacy.

The legendary Genetic Treasure Manual!

*

*

*

Myriad Phenomena Celestial Attraction!

The Golden Core shattered, the Seven Spirits entered the body, and the Physical Body underwent a qualitative transformation.

The current Zhu Ju had lost his ability to perceive the outside world with his Spiritual Soul Perception. He no longer had any True Essence Magical Power within him, nor could he form Finger Techniques to draw upon the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi to cast Magic or Divine Techniques. He couldn't even wield Magical Treasures.

But,

Everything he had lost was converted into the Power of his Physical Body.

Extreme speed, terrifying strength, and an unbelievable recovery rate—every bone, every muscle, even every cell, seemed to have come alive, bursting with formidable Strength.

He slammed his hands down.

Space itself visibly distorted. The few Holy King Beasts charging toward him let out mournful cries; before they could even get close to Zhu Ju, they were brutally pressed to the ground by this invisible force field, unable to move.

Zhu Ju's eyes were cold and stern. His left hand flickered with the Five-Colored Divine Light, while his right hand erupted with the blinding Power of Destruction.

He unleashed a chain of punches, blasting apart one Holy King Beast after another.

Soon, as several auras dissipated into nothing and a few figures fled in haste, the battlefield finally fell quiet.

"Haaa…"

Zhu Ju took a deep breath and instinctively tried to open his storage pouch to collect the corpses on the field. Only then did he realize he had lost his Magical Power; he couldn't even open a simple storage pouch.

Fortunately, the Storage Ring didn't require Magical Power. Although its capacity was relatively small, it would have to suffice.

"Keep an eye out. Don't let anything else get close."

After giving the order to 'Wukong,' Zhu Ju's figure flickered, and he returned to the underground laboratory.

At this moment, the Yin Sword had stopped emitting that strange fluctuation.

Zhu Ju pondered for a moment before closing his eyes and sitting cross-legged to the side. His body's condition was extremely unstable. Although he had just slaughtered his way through the Holy King Beasts and driven them back, it had also worsened his own state.

Moreover…

With his Soul entering his body, he had lost his Spiritual Soul Perception, and his control over his Outer Body Incarnation, 'Wukong,' was also weakening.

Whether it was adjusting his body or resolving the issue with his Outer Body Incarnation, he would need a certain amount of time.

An unknown amount of time passed.

SHIING!

Zhu Ju's eyes snapped open.

"Husband."

The longsword vibrated gently, producing a voice by oscillating the air:

"You're awake."

"My dear." Zhu Ju smiled:

"Did it work?"

"I suppose so." Pei Jingque's voice was filled with emotion:

"You and I… we've both become neither human nor ghost now."

"As long as we're alive, that's all that matters." Zhu Ju shook his head:

"How do you feel?"

"It's about what you guessed, husband," Pei Jingque said:

"My Primordial Spirit has now fused with this longsword, but I cannot manifest it externally. If I do, the Great Path will wear it away."

"The Great Path is poison!"

"To the Great Path, a Primordial Spirit is like prey. Without a Physical Body to anchor it, death is certain."

Zhu Ju nodded slowly.

The records left by predecessors and the experiences of those who came after all confirmed this point.

That was why he had so resolutely abandoned the Nascent Soul Path to cultivate his Physical Body instead. Even if this new path was uncertain and had no guide, it was still better than a dead end.

"Next, I need to completely fuse my Primordial Spirit with the sword's body and become its Artifact Spirit."

Pei Jingque's voice was slow:

"This will take…"

"A very long time."

"It doesn't matter." Zhu Ju said:

"We have all the time in the world."

"Before that…" Pei Jingque's voice held a hint of laughter:

"Shouldn't you give a name to this sword that I'm now inhabiting?"

"A name?" Zhu Ju said:

"The Jingque Sword?"

"…" Pei Jingque was speechless:

"Whatever you say."

As her Primordial Spirit sank into the 'Jingque Sword,' her consciousness began to fade. She no longer had the energy to argue with Zhu Ju.

"Husband…"

"Don't let anything happen to the Sect."

"Don't worry." Zhu Ju closed his eyes, and just like Pei Jingque, he slowly drifted into a deep slumber:

"Nothing will happen to the Sect."

"I… will wait for you to return."