Chapter 191: Nanook can do it, so why can't I, Ruan Mei?
[ When I discovered that even nurturing a [Planet] was so simple. ]
[ I began to feel… empty. ]
[ I understood more and more. ]
[ That I craved research into the [Essence]. ]
Ruan Mei's PV continued.
The scene behind her shifted from a farmhouse courtyard to a segment of the Space Station.
[ And recently, I've had some different thoughts. ]
[ At first, I felt fear toward its appearance— ]
In the background.
The voices of Herta and Screwllum could be heard.
[ Herta: "Ruan Mei is a hard one to deal with!" ]
[ I searched for so many people and spent so much time and energy just to get in touch with her! ]
[ Hey, Ruan Mei, can you hear me? ]
[ You have to show your face eventually, right? ]
Compared to Ruan Mei's indifferent and cold tone.
Herta's voice sounded like static, deliberately creating a sense of isolation.
And from Ruan Mei's perspective.
Whether it was Herta or Screwllum.
They both existed in the form of phantom projections.
From beginning to end, Ruan Mei kept her eyes closed.
As if all the complexity of the outside world could hardly affect her!
…
"The sound of Herta chattering in the background is killing me!"
"After watching Ruan Mei's short film, I suddenly feel like Madam Herta has quite a human touch."
"Does this scene mean that Ruan Mei actually has zero interest in Herta and the others?"
"Geniuses each have their own pursuits and ambitions. They don't gather because of friendship or recognition, but because they can obtain value from one another."
"Is it really that realistic?"
"Rest assured, everyone present—to Madam Ruan Mei, you possess no research value whatsoever."
"NO!!! I crave to be researched by Ruan Mei!"
…
At this moment.
The Space Station scenery behind Ruan Mei was filled with vibrant colors.
Images of various creatures emerged.
The smallest were single-celled organisms.
Floating behind her were blue, red, and yellow goldfish.
Large pink and blue jellyfish swam up from the bottom left.
Together, they left behind trails of brilliant light.
The colors were so vivid.
They looked like a child's spontaneous graffiti.
Yet, around Ruan Mei, they formed a subtle harmony.
[ It was born from a spectacle; it does not resist, nor does it mourn. ]
[ It is the closest thing to the emotion that arose naturally during my childhood. ]
[ [It asks me… where is the focus of the research?] ]
[ The world is full of brilliant colors, always dazzling to the eye. ]
[ But it has nothing to do with me. ]
In front of Ruan Mei.
A barrier appeared.
It seemed to block her path forward.
But Ruan Mei still did not open her eyes!
Walking as if no one else were there.
She pressed forward.
The barrier was like the surface of the sea.
Ruan Mei submerged directly beneath the surface.
Arriving at a brand-new area!
In the background.
Besides the violin, the music became heavier and more magnificent.
…
"I get it! Ruan Mei broke through all the obstacles on the path ahead and reached a completely new domain!"
"Is this what a genius is? Forget about stepping into her professional field, I can't even understand her mental journey."
"I feel like she's becoming more and more divine, what's going on…"
"She is too pure!"
"This feeling… Ruan Mei has already reached the pinnacle in her field, she's omniscient and omnipotent?"
…
Next.
Ruan Mei's words.
Stunned all the players watching even more!
It could even be described as earth-shattering!
[ I explore the mysteries of the universe; I trace answers more profound than [Humanity]. ]
[ I have nothing left to achieve, nor anything left to gain. ]
[ If life can be nurtured, reorganized, and recreated… ]
[ Then one can dissect Memory and regulate Equilibrium. ]
[ Deconstruct Idrila, and recreate Nous. ]
[ I will understand life, touch the concepts… ]
[ Perhaps I too can… ]
[ Become. ]
In the frame.
Ruan Mei held a DNA double helix structure in her hands.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
Accompanied by the magnificent and heavy music.
At this moment.
A powerful sense of epic proportions rushed over the audience!
All the players were stunned!
Shocked into silence.
The real-time bullet chat in the video even saw a two-second vacuum!
And before anyone could react.
The appearance of one last scene.
Made this short film even more mysterious and unpredictable!
In front of Ruan Mei.
A game screen appeared.
And this game… was exactly the gameplay of Honkai: Star Rail!
The content on the screen.
Was a team consisting of Stelle, Dan Heng, March 7th, and Welt.
Facing a battle against the True Sting swarm!
It was Welt's turn to act; he took Wind Shear damage and collapsed immediately.
Dan Heng fell as well.
Stelle and March 7th were both in a critically wounded state.
And the swarm launched a fierce attack at that moment!
No matter how you looked at it.
There was no possibility of a comeback.
[ Ruan Mei watched this scene, yet she spoke: "Don't worry, my dear [Assistant]." ]
[ I will give you a [Reward]. ]
With a light touch on the screen.
A Simulated Universe event—[ Ruan Mei ]—was triggered.
…
"This… what does this mean!?"
"First time seeing Honkai: Star Rail gameplay in a Feathered Spirit short film!"
"She's actually watching the Astral Express crew fight the Swarm Disaster!"
"So Ruan Mei plays Honkai too."
"The current state of Swarm Disaster—"
"Eh? There's even a gameplay fail screen, LMAO…"
…
Space Station.
Master Control Zone.
The researchers were collectively dumbfounded!
Wiping cold sweat from their foreheads.
Someone spoke up: "After watching this PV, I suddenly feel that although Madam Herta always acts indifferent and impatient, she actually has quite a bit of human touch…"
"Ruan Mei really doesn't care about anything at all…"
"Waaaah, Miss Herta is the most approachable of all the geniuses."
"I feel the same way! Like when she took Miss Asta away from the Family, or when she played Aetherium Wars saying she had to give the IPC face, or this time in the PV background calling Ruan Mei to urge her to show up—these are all judgments and choices made only after forethought and consideration."
"Before, I just knew the Genius Society was amazing, but after playing Honkai, I realized just how amazing they are! This is not an existence I can even look up to!"
"Personally, I think Madam Herta is the most down-to-earth in the Genius Society, and Screwllum is actually the one with the most humanity."
"Only Screwllum still has the personality of a normal person."
Herta's Office.
After Herta and Screwllum finished watching the short film.
Both fell into a brief silence.
Even the usually informal Herta was speechless this time.
After an unknown amount of time.
Screwllum spoke: "This video details the transformation of Ruan Mei's thoughts and her mental journey. Her rationality and indifference have approached that of inorganic life. Suspicion: Ruan Mei wants to become… an Aeon."
Herta crossed her arms.
She spoke indifferently: "I already held Ruan Mei in high regard, but now I feel it wasn't high enough!"
"Screwllum, I believe Ruan Mei doesn't want to become an Aeon; rather, she has walked far enough in the field of Life that, looking back, she realizes she has the chance to become an Aeon."
"In this regard, she is truly a pure person, pursuing the essence of life."
"I think this point is very important!"
"Because, based on the current data from the Simulated Universe."
"Aeons aren't made by wanting to become one. Instead, they naturally become one in the process of purely pursuing the Path of a concept."
"If she really succeeds, I think… I will also be able to verify exactly how an Aeon is born."
Upon hearing this.
Screwllum fell into a long silence.
In the video.
Ruan Mei's madness and boldness were revealed to the world.
But to these two geniuses, they saw even deeper.
On the Honkai: Star Rail forums.
Ruan Mei's PV also caused a massive uproar!
Detailed breakdown posts regarding the video content surged directly to the forum's front page!
Below.
Were the heated comments from players.
"Who would have thought that a [ Hermit ] in the Genius Society had silently walked so far in the field of [ Life ]?"
"The music in this PV gives me a sense of magnificence and vastness. Just putting on headphones, closing my eyes, and listening to the music makes me feel like I'm in the middle of the vast universe, looking up at the stars and observing all creation."
"Watching the PV: Ruan Mei is a gentle and refined lady from a prestigious family; being a genius researcher is just a bright embellishment to her character. Also watching the PV: Ruan Mei is an ambitious genius researcher; being a refined lady is just an irrelevant embellishment to her character."
"Summary: Ruan Mei is going to become a god!"
"And not just any god! She wants to understand and transcend those Paths…"
"Holy… I'm getting chills down my spine."
"Could it be that one day, a voice will suddenly echo through the universe—[ Reignbow Arbiter, I have ascended! ]"
"If Nanook can do it, why can't I? I, Ruan Mei, shall also ascend!"
"Before, it was the Reignbow Arbiter; after ascending, it'll just be 'Little Lan, pour the water'."
"Lan: I'm speechless, fam. I just worked myself to death beating up Yaoshi, and I come home to find a heavyweight living in my house wanting to overthrow me."