The group left the teahouse and took a skiff to the Divination Commission.
The atmosphere inside was solemn—nothing like its usual quiet, mysterious calm. Today, a taut "Path-pressure" hung in the air, as if fate itself had been put on a tightened string.
At the heart of the Matrix of Prescience, light flowed and cycled. The ancient, profound rune arrays were still there—but now they were embedded with several precision instruments in a totally different style. It was unmistakably the handiwork of Ruan Mei and Herta.
General Teng Xiao was already waiting before the array. Beside him stood the current Diviner (Taibu) and several core augurs.
When Wei Qing and the others arrived, Teng Xiao nodded. His gaze paused on Wei Qing for a brief moment—carrying a subtle, wordless question.
The Alliance valued this collaboration with two Genius Society members, but Wei Qing's own status wasn't low either. His consent mattered.
Wei Qing gave a near-imperceptible nod: No problem.
By faith and culture, the Xianzhou Alliance's reverence for the Hunt Aeon was scarcely weaker than the IPC zealots' worship of profit.
Over the past three centuries, the Alliance hadn't not tried to divine Wei Qing's future, hoping to infer the Hunt's intent.
The result was obvious: they failed.
"Preparations are complete." Ruan Mei stepped forward, her voice clear in the hall. "This divination will focus on Mr. Wei Qing's causal bonds with the various Paths."
"After our modifications, the Matrix's computing capacity and sensitivity to high-dimensional information have been enhanced."
Arms folded, Herta added, "But don't get your hopes up. Path-level information is slippery. We're only trying to capture the faint residue it leaves as it grazes the 'real' dimension."
"The results may be blurry fragments. Or the act of observation itself may disturb causality—producing completely wrong data."
"No matter." Teng Xiao replied politely. "The days ahead are long. Do your best."
Wei Qing, meanwhile, had no such diplomatic restraint. He sauntered up to the Matrix and sighed in appreciation.
"Haven't been to the Divination Commission in ages. The Matrix looks the same as ever—just with some flashy new parts bolted on."
Herta gave her habitual little scoff. "Ignorant. In a moment you'll learn these 'flashy parts' are more useful than that wooden plank you call a brain."
Ruan Mei had already moved to the primary control rail. Her slender fingers glided rapidly across the polished interface.
"Mr. Wei Qing, do you need any time to prepare?" she asked gently.
Wei Qing looked around, feeling the vast energy circulating within the Matrix. He spread his hands.
"No need. Start whenever."
"Very well." Ruan Mei nodded. "Please stand at the array's central node. Relax—no need to resist the formation's force."
"And if you feel severe discomfort," she reminded him, "speak immediately."
Wei Qing stepped into the brightest point at the center and stood still. His joking expression faded. His mouth could be reckless, but he stayed cautious of these two geniuses' methods.
"Divination computation begins."
Wumm—
The entire Matrix shuddered. Ancient runes and modern instruments flared at the same time, complex streams of light racing along prescribed tracks—forming a massive cocoon of radiance around Wei Qing.
A deep, resonant hum rolled through the chamber. Countless chains of runes spun like living things.
The embedded instruments projected azure beams—like surgical blades—trying to cut into the invisible web of causality.
Everyone in the hall held their breath, eyes fixed on the figure at the center and the light-screens where data poured down in continuous floods.
As for Wei Qing, he felt a strange "touch" pass over him—not physical, but like a probe into the essence of his existence.
Not bad, he thought. These geniuses really do have something.
Then, without warning, the Destruction power within him instinctively tightened—like a dormant beast drawing back its claws.
Meanwhile, the Hunt power—less intimately fused with him—remained like a silent deep sea, barely stirring.
Time ticked on. The data streams grew faster, and soon some symbols appeared that no one could even identify.
The Matrix's glow began to flicker. Within the steady hum, an occasional harsh, discordant screech emerged.
Herta's brows knitted tighter and tighter. She worked multiple terminals at speed, muttering nonstop.
"Interference is higher than expected… why is this data like a dead knot…?"
Ruan Mei stayed composed, but her hands clearly accelerated—trying to tease something meaningful from the chaos.
Suddenly, the main light-screen exploded into a blinding white flare!
All runes and data vanished at once, replaced by a twisting void-like scene.
Deep within that warped image, a faint golden arrow-trail flashed—an unmistakable mark of the Hunt.
But before anyone could make it out, a dark crimson force—carrying the absolute meaning of annihilation—swallowed the golden trace whole.
Next, a vivid emerald radiance—brimming with life yet laced with ominous wrongness—tried to rise…
…and was instantly crushed beneath that same dark red power.
In the haze, Wei Qing felt his consciousness being called—as if something had hooked him by the soul.
...
When he opened his eyes again, he was floating in an endless dark-red star sea.
And before him stood the Aeon of Destruction—Nanook—silent, immovable.
Those golden eyes watched him with cold indifference.
Wei Qing didn't panic. He blinked—and almost wanted to laugh.
Because he was sure it was fake.
This felt nothing like the first time he'd truly faced Nanook.
"Hm… the modeling's pretty good," he appraised internally. "The muscle definition, the golden fissures—detail's maxed. But the eyes are a bit off. The real boss's gaze is emptier. This one looks like it's trying too hard—a little overacted."
Wei Qing studied the scene with curiosity. In his original plan, if this upgraded Matrix actually exposed his nature as an Emanator of Destruction—
He would use 『The World』 to freeze time, then (with tears in his eyes) smash this machine to pieces.
As he was wondering when the "hologram" would vanish, the "Nanook" in front of him made an incredibly subtle movement.
It slowly raised one finger.
Wei Qing's relaxed expression stiffened.
Wait… this feeling…
Join here to read ahead.
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