Chapter 1818 - 467: Dual Paths of Sword Forging, Voices of Qi Ming

Chapter 1818: Chapter 467: Dual Paths of Sword Forging, Voices of Qi Ming

Huixin’s downfall was like Frost’s cold wave, sweeping through New Star Valley.

Especially within the research department, morale took a heavy hit.

The leader who led them to explore the mysteries of Life’s Evolution ultimately was consumed by the power she sought, leaving all researchers confused and self-doubting.

Lie Zhua, after mourning, demonstrated the responsibility expected of a leader.

He did not use this opportunity to suppress the research department; instead, he proactively stabilized the remnants of the Starfire Plan, which was teetering due to the loss of its core.

He understood that Huixin’s path might have been radical, but the direction of exploring the essence of life had already proven to be crucial for the race’s future; it couldn’t be abandoned due to fear.

Later, with Tu Hu’s support, and after rigorous selection and evaluation, a young scholar named Jingsi was brought to the forefront.

She was once one of Huixin’s assistants but had a completely different personality from her mentor.

Jingsi is calm and cautious, even somewhat conservative.

However, her thirst for knowledge is equal to Huixin’s, with a greater focus on the completeness of theories.

Witnessing Huixin’s loss of control firsthand made her hold a reverence for power.

What Jingsi took over was a nearly dissolved, pessimistic mess, along with Tu Hu’s advice:

"Remember Huixin’s lesson, we must go further, but cannot fall midway."

Jingsi did not immediately restart the radical gene research.

Her first action was leading the research team to work tirelessly through the night, organizing and then sealing Huixin’s experimental data on "Shadow Beast" and related high-risk gene chimeras, listing them as forbidden.

Yet, this material was not deleted; the significance of preserving it lies in warning future generations, preventing them from repeating the same mistakes.

Then she turned her attention back to the vast knowledge base of the Dream Weaving Clan.

This time, she avoided dangerous fields involving directly rewriting the blueprint of Life, focusing on an ancient system known by the Dream Weaving Clan as the "Spiritual Blood Refining Method."

This method does not require gene modification, instead emphasizing the guidance of life to actively refine the ubiquitous energy in the environment, nurturing flesh gradually.

It’s a gentle evolution from within outward, requiring resonance with Heaven and Earth Energy, rather than coercive plunder and alteration.

Under Jingsi’s promotion, the Starfire Plan was renamed "Path of Enlightenment," and the research direction completely shifted to the organization and verification of the Blood Refining Technique and its adaptation and optimization for the Downspirit Clan.

This path is far more challenging and slow compared to Huixin’s gene modification.

Initial progress was almost imperceptible.

Researchers must first feel and guide the ethereal "Spiritual Energy," exploring energy pathways suitable for the structure of the Downspirit Clan’s bodies.

Failure became the norm; often, they couldn’t even get started.

Some radical faction commanders under Lie Zhua frequently ridiculed this, believing it to be a waste of resources.

But Jingsi withstood the pressure.

With Tu Hu’s unwavering support and Lie Zhua’s trust, she led the team prudently, mapping the first energy cycle diagram suitable for the Downspirit Clan, and created the "Spirit Guiding Breathing Technique" and "Body Forging Form."

Tribe members who consistently cultivated, although unable to gain immediate Transcendent power, generally felt more energetic, their recovery from injuries improved slightly, and their perception of energy became more acute.

Some talented individuals even managed to condense weak energy radiance on their surface, though not sufficient for combat, symbolizing the feasibility of this path.

Jingsi’s success transformed the Internal Pursuit Path from sudden mutation to the accumulation of progress over time.

Meanwhile, Lie Zhua’s Thunder Armor Plan continued vigorously.

Based on first-generation combat feedback for optimization, the Thunder Armor Type II began systematic installation, enhancing joint flexibility and attempting to load small arm-mounted Energy Shield generators.

The military strength in New Star Valley, equipped with Exoskeleton Armor, grew increasingly formidable.

Civilization’s development during this period presented a dual structure.

On one side was the external technological force represented by Lie Zhua, constructing a steel torrent, evolving rapidly.

On the other was the subtle internal evolution path led by Jingsi, slow but with solid foundations.

Huixin’s tragedy was like an alarm, leading New Star Valley to abandon reckless shortcuts in pursuit of power, climbing instead in a more stable posture.

Tu Hu often stood at the city’s high point, observing the two paths that were distinctly different yet complementary, silently drinking.

In his eyes, the Downspirit Civilization was tempered into greater resilience through adversity.

In the long journey of Civilization, avoiding mistakes is very difficult.

The important thing is to learn from the mistakes and adjust the course.

The serenity of New Star Valley did not come from thin air, etched into the race’s Bloodline, alongside the thirst for knowledge, is the unquenchable legacy of Blood Sea vengeance.

"Return to Star Valley, blood debt repaid!"

This has become an obsession in the Downspirit Bloodline of every generation, encouraging them to keep growing.

In the years to come, to support the ever-growing resource consumption and to reclaim their homeland, war, like the shadow of Civilization, always accompanies.

War also rapidly iterated the war strength of the Downspirit Clan.

During this period, to seize a canyon rich in "Soft Silver" veins, New Star Valley engaged in a prolonged and brutal seesaw battle with the subterranean race "Earth Drying Clan."

Earth Drying Clan, relying on their familiarity with the terrain, caused significant losses to Lie Zhua’s Thunder Armor troops in narrow underground spaces.

Targeted research immediately commenced.