Hi, Archivist here,
I'm setting up a regular schedule for my chapters starting today. This way, you'll know exactly when to check for updates. Thanks for the constant support!
Updates Schedule: 2 Chapters of HSR every M/W/F @11am GMT+08
Updates Schedule: 2 Chapters of MI every M/W/F @11am GMT+08
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Chapter 190: This child, Ruan Mei, was extraordinary from birth; she's trying to Ascend to Godhood!
Herta Space Station.
All staff members.
Right now, no one was in the mood to continue following the plot.
They gathered together, anxiously awaiting Asta's return.
Anyone who knew that an Emanator of [ Propagation ] was buried right beneath the feet of their living quarters would find it hard to keep playing a game or watching a story; even breathing became a cautious, deliberate act!
The usually bustling Main Control Zone.
Today, it looked as if a collective [ Silence ] debuff had been applied to everyone.
The researchers were terrified that speaking too loudly would attract that Star-Crusher Swarm King.
It was hard enough to fight in the game.
If it were released in reality, all of them combined probably wouldn't even make for a side dish for the Swarm King!
"In the game plot, it self-destructed 56 seconds after birth, but in reality… what if Ruan Mei's research had a breakthrough this time?"
"Miss Asta, we're counting on you…!"
"Shh, keep it down! What if you lure the Star-Crusher Swarm King here!"
"Theoretically speaking, if the Swarm King really wakes up in the segments beneath our feet, holding your breath and staying quiet won't help you evade its detection."
"That is [ Skaracabaz, Lord of the Flying Sand ], a creature that used shattered stars as a nursery for its offspring. It was once one of the nightmares of the worlds during the Swarm Disaster! Our single space station isn't even enough for it to grind its teeth on."
"At this point, we might as well just carry on as usual…"
The staff members discussed in hushed tones.
Finally.
Asta's figure appeared before everyone.
Every staff member looked at her like they were seeing a savior.
Yet, they were also terrified that Asta might bring bad news.
Under the gaze of all the researchers.
Asta spoke calmly: "Everyone, you can let down your guard and relax for a moment."
"I have just contacted Madam Herta, and Ruan Mei has also sent me the relevant information."
"Through scout robots and video surveillance…"
"The threat within the Seclusion Zone has been personally dealt with by Ruan Mei. Now, only harmless little creatures similar to [ Cheese Cakes ] remain there."
"Next, I will dispatch the Security Department to conduct further cleanup and inspections."
Hearing Asta say this.
Everyone instantly breathed a sigh of relief.
Many staff members even felt as if they had just taken a stroll past the gates of hell.
Several researchers collapsed onto the floor, looking completely drained.
Asta smiled helplessly.
This part of the plot was indeed a bit too "stimulating" for the players on the space station.
As for their impression of Ruan Mei… only one word remained now.
—Madness!
Asta checked her phone.
She said, "Everyone, let's continue watching the story together."
"The [ Crown of the Mundane and Divine ] mission has ended, and [ Ruan Mei ] has been confirmed as a limited five-star character."
"At the same time, a short film related to Ruan Mei has been unlocked."
"Perhaps we can see the reasons behind Ruan Mei's actions from this film."
The staff members nodded.
Returning to the large screen.
Asta pulled up the relevant short film.
This time, the short film related to Ruan Mei's character was very special; its title was a line of poetry.
The sound of the lute falls upon silken robes, plum blossoms emerge like dots of makeup.
"On the surface, she's a gentle and generous older sister who likes music and sweets. I almost forgot that not a single member of the Genius Society is normal."
"I even feel like Madam Herta has a bit more human touch than Ruan Mei…!"
"I feel like Ruan Mei's ambition is enormous…"
Before the video started.
The staff members were still exchanging their thoughts and sighs.
Once the images and sound appeared.
Everyone fell silent.
After this plot point.
Everyone had a deeper understanding of Ruan Mei.
It felt as if they were one step closer to understanding a genius.
But the closer they got, the more they felt the vast distance between a "genius" and an ordinary person.
And this video.
Perhaps it could better explain what kind of person Ruan Mei truly was?
The first thing that caught the eye was a lattice window in the Xianzhou style.
Through the window, one could see the distant dark green sky and plum blossoms.
Ruan Mei's voice also sounded in the background.
[ Greetings, Mother. I hope this letter finds you well. ]
[ These plum blossoms bloom and wither; occasionally, I catch the scent of loneliness in their fragrance. ]
[ I think back to my childhood with you. ]
[ Researching in the middle of nowhere. ]
As the camera pushed in.
Ruan Mei's gentle voice, Pingtan melodies, and ambient sounds filled the ears.
Listening closely, one could hear the gurgling of flowing water and the chirping of birds.
Up to this point.
The art style was completely normal.
Anyone who didn't know better would think they were watching the autobiographical record of some wealthy young lady.
Recording an elegant and leisurely life.
If they hadn't seen the previous plot!
The staff members would have believed it.
But at this moment, they knew very well.
This,
Was just one corner of Ruan Mei's life.
A trivial moment of leisure.
This genius!
Was definitely not the type to settle for stability and enjoy a quiet life!
Sure enough.
As the slides in the file progressed.
The scene shifted to a snowy mountain.
The ambient sound changed, cutting into the sound of cold wind and blowing snow, and a layer of quiet, mysterious sonata music covered the Pingtan melody.
[ A warm cabin. ]
[ Infinitely jubilant species, life. ]
[ The life back then is unforgettable to me. ]
[ I understood the vastness of the universe all too early… ]
On one of the glaciers.
A frozen monster suddenly opened its eyes.
Its body resembled a giant octopus.
Its body was covered with eyes, one after another.
As the eyes opened.
The ice on the surface began to crack rapidly.
A little girl being held by the hand showed a look of shock.
This was Ruan Mei as a child!
At this moment, no one was sighing about how cute young Ruan Mei was or how big the difference was compared to her current self…
Because from the background sounds.
This was clearly a disaster.
People wearing transparent spherical helmets were fleeing in all directions.
Shouting, [ Quick! Get out of here! ]
[ It's waking up!! ]
However.
In stark contrast to the panicked people.
Little Ruan Mei not only didn't leave, but she also stood curiously in front of the monster, staring at it and observing it closely.
There was no trepidation, no panic, no helplessness; there was only the joy of seeing pure, magnificent, and vigorous life.
Paired with Ruan Mei's intellectual and cool voice in the background.
This scene appeared exceptionally wondrous!
[ Birth, growth, decay… ]
[ Lamenting the process of life. ]
[ Is the origin of my thinking. ]
[ I began to know. ]
[ That I crave something pure ]
The screen shifted.
Returning to the garden.
That creature, as terrifying as an Old God, had already become a puzzle piece in the research data.
Seeing this.
The staff members were all stunned: "So Ruan Mei was this special since she was a child?"
"Facing a monster, it's not fear, but curiosity?"
"Is this the perspective of a genius?"
"She's literally facing an Old God, oh my god!"
"More than just facing it—didn't you see in that shot? The Old God on that planet was treated as research material by Ruan Mei!"
"Has she already discarded low-level human emotions?"
"When gazing at life, Ruan Mei doesn't look at the outward beauty or characteristics; the chemical formulas that compose life float directly into her mind."
However.
The next segment that followed made everyone's jaws drop even further!
Inside a laboratory.
Ruan Mei was gazing out the window.
Accompanied by her records.
[ Attachment… concerns the insular cortex that manages anxiety and pain. ]
[ And the nucleus accumbens that creates desire. ]
[ The laws of emotion are pathetically easy to dismantle. ]
[ When children receive random rewards. ]
[ They become even more… well-behaved. ]
The view outside the window revealed the full picture.
It was a colorful planet.
What surrounded the planet was not an asteroid belt.
But a colorful ribbon.
At that moment.
A pair of eyes and a mouth suddenly appeared on the planet.
It stretched out a small hand and waved at Ruan Mei.
[ ( ^_^ )/ Hi~ ]
The staff members of the space station were collectively dumbfounded.
And the players watching this video.
Were all shocked as well!
…
"???"
"Where is this planet? I want to go play there!"
"Don't let the fact that this planet looks so cute in the video fool you! This is a sentient planet!"
"It looks a bit like IX the Nihility."
"…Typical of you."
"Cultivating life, animating planets—in many worlds, these are forbidden domains!"
"The key is that Ruan Mei has always felt these things are perfectly natural…"
"Except for showing a hint of curiosity when she first saw the monster, her subsequent emotions have been so stable it's frightening."
"Ruan Mei is trying to ascend to godhood!"