At this moment, the automatic door of the laboratory slid open silently, and a graceful figure glided in.
The newcomer was wearing a modified qipao in ink-wash tones. Elegant lines were subtly visible where the skirt split, and a light, black gauze overlay added a touch of hazy beauty.
Her hair was lightly swept up and secured with an exquisite golden plum blossom hairpin. Tassels adorned the cutout designs on her shoulders. Plum blossom elements were integrated into her gloves, bracelets, leg rings, and even the decorations on her side waist, with every detail showcasing her unique taste.
Her demeanor was gentle and serene, like a young lady from the Jiangnan region stepping out of an ancient painting. However, the depth of her eyes revealed an endless curiosity and wisdom about the operating laws of the universe.
She was Ruan Mei, the #81 member of the Genius Society, whom Lu Jingming had materialized here using the power of [Reality].
"Herta."
Ruan Mei's voice was as soft as water. She walked lightly to the side of the cultivation pod, her gaze immediately drawn to the mark on Shangguan Wei'er's brow.
"Is this the lady who needs assistance? Hmm... the structure of this injury is very interesting."
Her definition of "interesting" was fundamentally different from Herta's "kind of interesting."
The light blooming in Ruan Mei's eyes was the fervent glow of a pure researcher encountering a rare specimen, an instinctive urge to explore unknown life forms and anomalous states.
"Ruan Mei, you're here."
Herta glanced at her sideways, her tone as casual as greeting a frequent collaborator.
"I'll leave this to you. You're better at this kind of work, which requires patience and subtle control in the life domain. I've always lacked the patience for delicate operations that require needlepoint precision."
She made no secret of her attitude towards areas she wasn't interested in or found tedious, naturally handing the task over to the more specialized genius.
Ruan Mei nodded slightly, long accustomed to Herta's directness.
She extended a slender, gloved finger. Threads of pure life energy, barely visible to the naked eye, quietly entwined around her fingertip. She gently reached toward the cultivation pod wall. Instead of making direct contact, she delicately sensed the energy fluctuation and internal rules of the Destruction mark through the specialized material.
"It is indeed an atypical form of corruption."
Ruan Mei closed her eyes, concentrating on the sensation for a moment, and spoke in a soft whisper. Her tone was as if she were savoring a new dessert with complex layers.
"It's not a brute-force annihilation; it's more like a… mandatory directed distortion, forcibly guiding the orderly life force and soul structure toward a pure anti-life structure. The being who left this mark has a unique interpretation of the concept of Destruction."
"How could it not be unique?"
Herta curled her lip.
"This is the masterpiece left personally by the Phantylia. Aside from Nanook himself, there are probably very few beings in the universe whose understanding of Destruction surpasses hers."
Ruan Mei opened her eyes, looked at Herta, and proposed a request consistent with her nature as a researcher.
"Before beginning treatment, would you allow me to conduct a deeper analysis of this lady's current state? I am very interested in the mechanism of interaction between this alien energy and the indigenous life form."
Even when facing the object of rescue, Ruan Mei's innate genius for exploring the unknown still prevailed, driving her not to miss any opportunity to gain new knowledge.
"Suit yourself."
Herta waved her hand dismissively.
"This person isn't that important to me, and to that brat, she's not some irreplaceable core figure either, but..."
She slightly changed the subject. Though her tone remained flat, a hint of warning was perceptible.
"Take it easy, don't actually get her killed."
Even as she said this, Herta wasn't truly worried.
She understood Ruan Mei's capability. Unless Ruan Mei did it intentionally, given her accomplishments in the life domain, mere investigative research would absolutely not cause irreversible damage.
Herta was essentially the type who was tough-talking but soft-hearted. To sit by and watch a life perish in her own laboratory due to unnecessary research was something she would never permit.
Ruan Mei offered a slight smile and said nothing more.
Just as she understood Herta, Herta equally knew her sense of propriety.
She focused her mind, and her hands began to move gracefully in the air, as if playing an invisible and priceless ancient zither.
Countless threads of life energy, finer than hair, flowed from her fingertips. Like self-aware, agile snakes, they penetrated the cultivation pod wall and began to carefully peel away and neutralize the destructive mark, which was like a festering bone-deep parasite, with astonishing precision.
The entire process was like a subtle and magnificent micro-art performance, filled with an indescribable sense of rhythm.
More than performing a medical rescue, Ruan Mei was completing a micro-sculpture of life, or deconstructing an unusually complex life equation regarding existence and termination.
During the process, Ruan Mei occasionally paused, murmuring softly, both analyzing and expressing a touch of awe for the unknown:
"The life forms of this world, especially these individuals called Soul Masters, have a highly unique and intimate coupling depth and method between their life energy and soul..."
"The Soul Power system... an evolutionary path that tends to internally excavate the potential of one's bloodline? It reaches the same end as Pathstriders or those who accept technological modification, but the path seems more... original and quite unique."
"Hmm, the way this Destruction mark is entangled with the core of the Soul Power, especially the so-called Martial Soul Origin... the conflict and adaptation contained within are worth detailed documentation."
These whispers fully demonstrated her characteristics as a member of the Genius Society.
No matter the unfamiliar environment or the abnormal unknown she faced, she could quickly immerse herself, finding the underlying patterns and mysteries worthy of deep investigation.
The treatment lasted for a considerable time.
When Ruan Mei finally completely purged the last trace of stubborn destructive aura from Shangguan Wei'er's soul origin, she let out a soft breath.
Because Lu Jingming had consumed a large amount of Reality Power when materializing Acheron, Ruan Mei was not at her peak strength level when summoned. This intricate operation was a significant drain on her as well.
By now, the terrifying mark on Shangguan Wei'er's brow had completely vanished. Her face was serene, her breathing even, as if she had merely fallen into a deep sleep.
"It's done."
Ruan Mei retracted the invisible life threads, her tone retaining its usual gentleness and calmness.
"Good efficiency."
Herta glanced at the rapidly normalizing life sign data on the adjacent instrument, offering her assessment.
"It seems the effort I spent persuading that brat to summon you was quite worthwhile. Otherwise, given his... well, subconscious wariness toward you, you wouldn't have had the chance to come to this interesting world."
"Wary of me, yet seemingly more trusting of you. That is indeed a little frustrating."
Ruan Mei slightly furrowed her beautiful brows, gently tapping her lower lip with her index finger, showing a hint of confusion.
Compared to a companion like Herta, who was eccentric but whose behavioral patterns were relatively predictable, Ruan Mei was keenly aware that her own way of thinking and research interests could sometimes be more unsettling. Not being fully trusted was expected.
But Lu Jingming was different. He was shrouded in too many unknowns that Ruan Mei desired to explore. Therefore, she was seriously contemplating how to build a more harmonious and deeper relationship with this young Summoner.
"Don't worry."
Herta carelessly fiddled with another experimental instrument.
"The fact that he ultimately agreed to summon you is, in itself, a form of initial trust. Aren't you quite adept at using that gentle and harmless facade to interact with people? Moreover, from my observation, your intellectual yet mysterious type is likely on his preference list."
She was intimately familiar with Lu Jingming's personality and preferences.
Ruan Mei's furrowed brows slowly relaxed.
Indeed, she was adept at communication; she usually just abhorred meaningless social interaction.
But if the target was Lu Jingming, she was willing to invest sufficient patience and skill.
However, there was something more immediately appealing to her.
"Herta."
Ruan Mei's gaze turned toward the huge data screen in the center of the laboratory, her eyes glittering with the light of knowledge.
"Regarding more data about this world, particularly detailed research data on Martial Souls, Soul Rings, and Soul Beasts, these unique life forms—is my current access level sufficient to view it?"
To a genius dedicated to exploring the origin, evolution, and mysteries of life, the Douluo Continent, a world possessing such a peculiar power system and biology, was nothing short of a newly discovered secret realm containing endless treasures.
After all, in her original world, she had already researched the vast majority of life in the universe, which led her to ultimately set her sights on the Aeons.
In this alien world, all life, to her, was unknown and interesting. Even if the urge wasn't as strong as her craving for the Aeons, it was enough to command her attention.
Especially Lu Jingming himself, he was even more captivating than the Aeons, given the exceptional nature of his power to materialize the illusory into reality.
Lu Jingming materializing her here was, in a sense, tantamount to opening a door to an unprecedented field of research for her.
Herta raised an eyebrow, unsurprised by Ruan Mei's rapid immersion.
"Advanced access to the database has been granted. Feel free to browse, with only one request."
She pointed to the tidy laboratory.
"Don't leave my place looking like it was looted by the Antimatter Legion."
With that, she ignored Ruan Mei and turned to immerse herself in another one of her experimental projects, as if everything that had just happened was merely a small interlude.
Ruan Mei, meanwhile, slowly walked to the large data screen, tapped her finger lightly, and brought up the massive amount of data on Douluo Continent life forms that Sea Abyss City had collected and organized.
She devoured the information ravenously, and an unconsciously satisfied and anticipatory smile curled up the corners of her mouth.
For her, this unexpected journey to an alien world had already unveiled its most captivating prelude—a magnificent research feast had just begun.
The declaration issued by the Sun Moon Empire, which forcibly laid the blame for the destruction of Mingdu—a blood feud—upon Shrek Academy and the three empires, was like throwing a spark into a cauldron of boiling oil. It instantly ignited the long-simmering tensions and panic across the continent.
An atmosphere of war, reeking of suffocating iron rust, permeated every inch of the air.
Within the territories of the original three Douluo Continent nations, a repressive mood of anxiety mixed with helplessness spread from the top down.
The high-level officials of the Star Luo Empire, Heaven Soul Empire, and Dou Spirit Empire were not without thoughts of a pre-emptive strike, attacking while the Sun Moon Empire's new capital was unstable and its internal integration was incomplete.
However, this tempting notion was quickly crushed by cruel reality.
First, there was the moral passivity.
The Sun Moon Empire had successfully portrayed itself as the tragic victim. If the three nations attacked first, they would solidify their guilt as aggressors. This would not only thoroughly infuriate the Sun Moon Empire's populace, who already shared a common hatred, but also place them in an extremely unfavorable position in terms of public opinion.
Second, and more crucially, was the military concern.
The foundation of the Sun Moon Empire's vast Soul Engineer Corps remained intact, and its border defenses were still rock-solid.
Even more heart-stopping was the existence of the two Monarchs of Destruction and the remaining Antimatter Legion, which hung over their heads like the Sword of Damocles.
A reckless attack, risking a deadlock or a counter-attack from the enemy's high-end forces, would have unimaginable consequences.
Therefore, the three empires ultimately adopted the most conservative, and most helpless, strategy: comprehensive preparation for war and passive defense.
The monarchs of each country issued the highest level of mobilization orders. Along the borders, fortresses were reinforced, Soul Guidance barriers were activated, and endless streams of provisions, weaponry, and rare metals were transported to the front lines.
Young Soul Masters were conscripted, undergoing rigorous pre-war training. The air was thick with the scent of sweat, steel, and unease.
In the cities, discussions about the war became the sole topic of conversation in all teahouses and taverns. Prices began to fluctuate, especially for strategic materials, which skyrocketed. A panic that foreshadowed an impending storm quietly spread among the common people.
All they could do was make their border defenses as solid as possible, and then, with anxious hearts, wait for the storm to arrive from the direction of the Sun Moon Empire.
In stark contrast to the anxiety and panic of the three empires was the near-fanatical, orderly preparation for war within the Sun Moon Empire.
With his iron fist and the moral justification of avenging the empire's shame, the new Emperor Xu Tianran quickly quelled any internal turmoil that might have arisen from the destruction of Mingdu and the change of imperial authority.
The empire's war machine started operating with unprecedented efficiency.
The newly rebuilt New Mingdu, serving as the new political and military center, ran day and night.
Vast resources were preferentially channeled into the military sector. Soul Guidance device factories were brightly lit overnight, and assembly lines churned out the latest models of standardized Soul Guidance cannons and personal Soul Guidance devices.
Youth from all regions eagerly enlisted under the banner of passionate vengeance propaganda. New recruit training camps were overflowing. The spy networks lurking within the three empires were fully activated, continuously sending back intelligence on the opponent's troop deployments and material allocations.
Xu Tianran and his strategists clearly understood the principle of 'sharpening the tool doesn't hinder the cutting.'
They were not in a hurry to immediately march eastward. Instead, they utilized this precious time to thoroughly consolidate internal affairs, integrate their forces, and transform the grief and anger of the empire, triggered by the destruction of Mingdu, into even purer war potential.