The Sea of Stars.
A long time ago, a research vessel set out from an extremely remote star system, heading for the Olenji Starfield.
When it was still a quarter of the way from its destination, it encountered the unfortunate souls who had seemingly run into a Lord Ravager.
The wreckage of a merchant fleet drifted by, carrying ashes so fine they were nearly invisible—the cremated remains of the lucky ones.
Because a Lord Ravager was involved, the research vessel paused its journey to investigate this uninhabited star system, salvaging a fortunate Xianzhou native who had survived in the vacuum of space.
Afterward, it continued on its way to the Olenji Starfield.
After obtaining the necessary materials from a research lab's supply area belonging to the genius Herta, the vessel set its next destination as the Herta Space Station.
Within one of the ship's experimental chambers—a space far different from the usual cabins—the area was so vast it surpassed the size of an ordinary gymnasium.
A graceful and elegant woman stood there quietly.
Her expression was serene and detached, as if she carried within her the cold, clear sorrow of an autumn day from a classic poem.
Genius Society #81, Ruan Mei.
The woman reached out and pressed a switch in front of her.
Before Ruan Mei, a massive insect lay curled up inside a twenty-meter-tall cultivation pod.
Its body had a streamlined, arthropodal structure, its carapace covered in a chitinous layer with a blue metallic sheen, and its head bore serrated mandibles.
The giant cultivation pod split open down the middle, and the enormous insect slowly opened its crimson compound eyes.
"Hiss~"
The insect let out a mindless shriek as several pairs of transparent, membranous wings burst from its back, terrifying energy flowing through their veins.
Its aura surged, but the act of unfurling its wings seemed to require immense effort.
A dozen seconds later, as if unable to bear that terrifying power, its wings spontaneously combusted. It let out a mournful cry and crashed heavily to the ground.
"So weak..."
The woman stared at the insect's condition, walking forward thoughtfully.
Before she could touch the wailing behemoth, its body began to dissipate, completely dissolving into particles.
"Another failure."
After a moment of silence, the woman marked 'Failed' on the experimental report in her hand, titled 'Propagation 5'.
Ever since she could remember, Ruan Mei had enjoyed observing the traces of life in microorganisms, such as the rate at which slime mold consumed objects. She also took in the macroscopic world, studying the developmental process of the universe to this day—all of this was simple for her.
What she wanted to understand was the 'essence of life'!
To uncover the most fundamental and beautiful form of existence, Ruan Mei didn't have to think for long. There was one form of life whose elusiveness she had to acknowledge.
And that was the Emanators!
What is an Emanator?
Ruan Mei did not fully understand.
Scholars regarded them as proxies for the Aeons' power. So, when did it begin, and at what point, did they become closer to the Aeons than any other form of life?
Ruan Mei began to study them in depth.
Among the many Paths, were there any Emanators that were primitive, pure, and relatively easy to study?
The answer, of course, existed, but...
"The data I've gathered from past experiments is nowhere near enough to replicate the Swarm King. I can't even reproduce one percent of its power..."
Ruan Mei lowered her gaze in thought. "As expected, I first need to use the Simulated Universe to understand the beginning and end of the Swarm Disaster and collect data."
"Until I have sufficient data, there's no point in conducting any more experiments."
Ruan Mei turned and left the vast laboratory. The tassels hanging from her shawl swayed with her steps. Suddenly, the woman's elegant, dark eyebrows twitched.
"Herta, is something the matter?" Ruan Mei asked softly.
"It's one of those two brats who test the Simulated Universe. He's looking for you."
Herta's voice rang out of nowhere in Ruan Mei's ear.
Ruan Mei's steps paused for a moment. "What about?"
Caelus and Stelle. Ruan Mei was very interested in these two Simulated Universe testers, even though she had never directly interacted with them before.
But she had seen their test records in the Simulated Universe. The Aeon of Elation calling Caelus 'my friend' was very strange.
Furthermore, the two of them had somehow broken the Simulated Universe—a creation of four geniuses—twice. Normally, that should be impossible.
Even Stephen had, for the first time ever, taken an interest in the pair.
Ruan Mei had also wanted to meet Caelus and Stelle for a long time.
It was just that she'd had too many experimental projects recently and hadn't been able to find the time.
"At the place where you found the Emanator of Destruction, did you happen to pick up a little Foxian from the Xianzhou?"
A flicker of thought crossed Ruan Mei's expression: "I believe there was such an incident."
"Is her name Tingyun?"
"I didn't pay much attention, but according to the reports submitted by my entourage, that is indeed her name."
"So it really is her?"
Herta's voice sounded a bit exasperated. "Alright then, I'll send him over to you in a bit."
Ruan Mei stopped in her tracks: "?"
"Don't ask. I can't be bothered to ask him what kind of fit he's throwing. You can ask him yourself when he gets there."
After saying that, Herta hung up the communication. Ruan Mei stood there silently.
The ship is already on its way to the Herta Space Station. There's no need for him to make a special trip, is there?
Could it be that the survivor is a friend of Caelus's?
Having Caelus come aboard was fine. Ruan Mei thought for a moment, a slight smile gracing her lips: "Then I shall go prepare some pastries to welcome our guest."
...
Having been attacked by Phantylia, even if Tingyun was lucky enough to survive, her injuries were likely extremely severe.
Although Ruan Mei was a genius in the field of life sciences—the absolute best doctor in the galaxy, bar none—
the matter concerned... Tingyun's life and death. Caelus was still worried and felt it was best to go in person.
He obviously couldn't travel through the galaxy on his own, and the Astral Express had no domain anchor in Ruan Mei's star system, so his only choice was to ask the almighty Dora-Herta!
"Tsk, what a troublesome guy."
Herta was quite annoyed.
She, Herta, had become renowned throughout the universe for her wisdom and talent since the last Amber Era. And now, what did Caelus treat her as?
It was always others who were her tools; she, Herta, had never been a tool for someone else!
That is, until Caelus took out the Water God Orb he'd received from a gacha pull. Herta's attitude did a complete 180.
If you were talking about a Curio, especially one containing power from outside the Imaginary Tree, then it was fine to treat her as a tool. After all, this body was just a puppet anyway.
Her real self used these puppets as tools too, so use it as you please!
In exchange for lending Herta the Water God Orb for research, Herta had to send Caelus to Ruan Mei's vessel and figure out how to fuse the orb into the Key of Domination, Xuanyuan Sword: Ruoshui.
—Li Sushang didn't need the weapon right now. Even if she needed to fight, she could make do with other weapons for the time being. Upgrading Ruoshui came first.
Herta took one look and agreed without hesitation.
Upgrading a weapon was a piece of cake for her!
Besides, that sword-shaped Curio named Ruoshui was also very special. Herta discovered that the sword's core was a shattered imaginary singularity—a pure singularity with no dimensional information whatsoever!
Although it was small, ridiculously so, its research value was undeniable.
Herta and Caelus reached a win-win agreement. Caelus won twice!
With new and interesting Curios to study, Herta was even more anxious than Caelus. She just wanted to send him away quickly so he wouldn't disturb her research.
Thus, Caelus was tossed by Herta's teleporter to a laboratory near Ruan Mei's route to the space station. Then, he took an express shuttle, accelerated laterally, and intercepted her ship mid-journey.
Caelus boarded Ruan Mei's research vessel without a hitch.
"There aren't many people on this ship."
Following a small receptionist robot through the vessel, Caelus observed the internal environment and the people.
The number of researchers on board was only about a fifth of what a normal research vessel of this size would have.
Herta had mentioned before that Ruan Mei was the solitary type among the geniuses. She rarely associated with others, living like a hermit.
Inside a certain room, Ruan Mei stood by a round table, upon which sat exquisite pastries.
A silver fork pierced a piece of pastry. Ruan Mei, her expression placid, brought it to her lips. As her pearly teeth bit down, the soft, sticky texture infused with floral fragrance made the corners of her mouth lift.
Click.
The sound of a door opening. Ruan Mei put down her silver fork and raised her elegant head to look at the approaching figure.
At the same time, Ruan Mei's figure came into Caelus's view.
A dark cyan cheongsam enveloped her flawless skin, the slit of the dress parting and closing like clouds revealing the moon.
Her black hair was tied up in a flowing cloud bun, adorned with a hairpin like a jeweled branch. Her snow-white shoulders were slightly exposed, and a red jade at her collar held down an ornate necklace, resembling a red plum blossom resting on snow.
So beautiful, so perfect, so captivating!
Even Caelus couldn't help but be momentarily stunned.
In the instant Caelus was dazed, Ruan Mei had already reached out toward his face. Her movement seemed gentle and slow, yet it left almost no time to react.
Her hand brushed against his neck and jaw, the silk glove feeling slightly cool to the touch.
Ruan Mei's slender eyebrows arched slightly as she let out a soft laugh: "You... are just as interesting as I thought."
"Hello. I hope I didn't frighten you."
"It's a professional habit of mine. Through touch, I open my perception, allowing the details of life to flow into my mind. It helps me understand your biological structure."
"This is the foundation of deconstruction and reshaping. Don't be nervous. You are very healthy... no, very beautiful. I'm quite fond of you."
Besides the Simulated Universe tests, Caelus and Stelle themselves were also of great interest to Ruan Mei.
Manifesting as two people, two bodies, in the macroscopic world, yet being a single person in the microscopic quantum realm—this was a form of life Ruan Mei had never even conceived of!
This woman is a true master!
If it were Stelle here, she'd be toyed with effortlessly by Ruan Mei, like Tom being played with by a little white cat.
But for Caelus, if Ruan Mei had no sense of propriety, he could act as if he didn't either.
"It's alright."
Her eyes widened slightly, and the smile on Ruan Mei's face froze—not because of Caelus's words, but because of his actions.
Already at extremely close range, Caelus leaned forward, pressing his lips to the pastry crumbs beside Ruan Mei's mouth. He used his tongue to lick away all the crumbs from her fair cheek and red lips, gathering them into his own mouth.
"You had some pastry on the corner of your mouth. I cleaned it up for you."
Caelus gave a polite smile, seemingly not thinking his previous action was the least bit out of line.
________________________________________
If you want more chapters, please consider supporting my page on Patreon. with 50 advanced chapters available on Patreon
patreon.com/Leanzin