Chapter 94: The Moon, Primal Qi's Source

"Fei Yu, what's wrong with you?"

"Your leg is injured, Young Man. Why don't you sit down?"

"Have you seen the person in the video before?"

Mistaking the female corpse for his senior sister, Wang Sheng was so startled that he almost jumped onto the table.

Fortunately, his broken leg kept him from moving recklessly.

"I apologize. I was just stunned by the celestial lady's beauty."

The group of big shots at the table immediately gave him knowing smiles.

Since he was mistaken—about something completely unfounded—Wang Sheng naturally couldn't bring up his senior sister. He didn't want to draw unnecessary attention from the research institute to her.

Mou Yue had already helped him straighten his wheelchair. Wang Sheng smiled apologetically, then sat down while making sure to avoid any further commotion.

Still, he couldn't help but take out his phone, open a special photo album dedicated to his senior sister, and compare an image of her wearing an ancient-style dress with the face of the female immortal corpse.

At first glance, it was easy to mistake them for each other, but upon closer inspection, they looked less and less alike.

It wasn't just their eyebrows; the shape of their lips and the contours of their ears were different as well. Even so, when their features came together, they somehow had the same transcendent aura—a strikingly similar ethereal charm.

Perhaps all immortals shared a certain resemblance in temperament.

After carefully comparing them, Wang Sheng concluded that the female corpse had nothing to do with his senior sister. He had simply been too caught up in the moment.

"Daoist Master Wang," Mou Yue asked softly. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Wang Sheng gestured for her to keep quiet. Mou Yue blinked and then silently sat back in her corner.

Thanks to the video and Professor Ma's explanation, Wang Sheng finally learned why primal qi returned: the female corpse had summoned it from the moon.

On the night of the Lantern Festival, the corpse had broken out of its sealed chamber, effortlessly broken through hundreds of meters of earth from underground, and soared into the sky. She sang to the moon, and primal qi surged from it in response, pouring into every corner of the earth.

However, Professor Ma did not answer what exactly was on the moon, how the female corpse could summon primal qi, how primal qi traveled across hundreds of thousands of kilometers from the moon to Earth, or whether it was purely gravitational attraction. Clearly intending to avoid such topics, he instead continued discussing the research findings on the immortal corpse.

One question had been answered, yet countless new ones arose. Wang Sheng smiled bitterly. For now, he could only suppress his curiosity and focus on his cultivation. If his skills reached greater heights, perhaps one day, he would find the answers himself.

Throughout the entire exchange meeting, none of the research institute's leaders mentioned a crucial detail—the female corpse's location. A Daoist elder specifically asked about it, but Professor Ma simply replied, "That information is classified. We're just a branch institute, so we don't have access to it."

The female corpse was clearly still in the hands of the Hua Republic's authorities.

The exchange meeting continued. Lost in thought and feeling a bit bored, Wang Sheng secretly messaged his senior sister about the situation to avoid worrying her.

He also told her that Jingyun had taken a plane back and was probably near Lantian by now. If Chi Wen could endure the hardships on the Zhongnan Mountains, she could stay with Jingyun and cultivate under her guidance. It would be far better than her martial siblings teaching her haphazardly.

If Chi Wen found life on the Zhongnan Mountains too harsh, she could always just return to the Wudang Mountains instead. Their little courtyard had running water and electricity, which made life much more comfortable than in a tent on a mountain peak.

His senior sister had agreed to the arrangement earlier, but around 5:00 PM, she suddenly bombarded him with a series of angry, frustrated, and irritated memes.

Wang Sheng: What happened? Did you argue with someone?

Mu Wanxuan: You got injured and even broke your leg.

Wang Sheng: You're mistaken, Senior Sister. I'm deliberately undergoing skeletal reconstruction. Do you really think I'd break my leg fighting some lowly corrupt cultivator?

She immediately replied with another wave of memes, making Wang Sheng silently feel bad for his mobile data. He paid for his senior sister's unlimited data plan monthly, while he only used the basic plan that came with his package.

Mu Wanxuan: Stay right there. I'm coming over!

Wang Sheng thought about it for a moment.

Wang Sheng: You should stay with Chi Wen, Senior Sister, and don't let her return yet. We're about to settle accounts for this incident. If she comes back now, she might become a target. If anything goes wrong, it'll be easier for us to get her out of there.

After a few seconds, a little figure appeared in the chatbox, tilting its head in thought.

Mu Wanxuan: If you put it that way, then it does make sense. Fine. As your senior sister, I will reluctantly accept your suggestion.

Wang Sheng sighed in relief. He was about to share the rare experience of seeing the thousand-year-old female corpse when he received another message.

Mu Wanxuan: Martial Aunt Jingyun has already made arrangements! Little Wen will stay on the mountain with her so she can help our junior sister clear all her meridians. Once our master returns, they'll discuss arrangements for her cultivation.

What is Martial Aunt Jingyun up to? Is she trying to secure Chi Wen as her disciple to gain more influence with our master?

As Wang Sheng pondered, his phone notified him of another message.

Mu Wanxuan: It seems Martial Aunt Jingyun wants to take our junior sister as her disciple since only women can practice her lineage's cultivation technique. I wonder if Master will approve.

Thinking about it, Wang Sheng found the idea unexpectedly reasonable.

Their junior sister's aptitude was naturally a bit lacking. It wasn't something that could be corrected through effort alone.

When it came to the cultivation of the Dao, methods, wealth, companions, and location were external factors. Aptitude, talent, comprehension, insight, and perseverance were the primary internal factors.

If one wished to succeed in cultivation and follow the proper path, it went without saying that perseverance was an essential quality. Possessing two of the remaining three made one a promising talent, while having all made them a prodigy.

Since Chi Wen didn't have any of the three, she could only rely on external factors.

Perhaps Martial Aunt Jingyun has a way to make our junior sister stronger...

"Little Wang, who are you chatting with?"

Wang Sheng instinctively put away his phone and looked up, finding Ma Zibin walking toward him.

Despite having been speaking for over two hours, the professor was still full of energy, and his eyes were still brimming with excitement. It was clear that their discussion with the Daoist elders had greatly benefited the scientists, especially those who were studying the female corpse.

Holding a thermos cup with worn-off paint, Ma Zibin leaned against the table with a grin. As he took a sip of water, he winked at Wang Sheng.

"Let's have a meal together later, then we'll get you something good. Anyway, is Captain Chi Ling really your mistress?"

"I suppose."

"What do you mean, 'suppose'? Doesn't your master want to win Captain Chi Ling back?" Ma Zibin frowned. "My wife has been the captain's best friend for decades, and she nags me about this all the time.

"Before the resurgence of primal qi, my wife used to curse your master as an irresponsible deadbeat Daoist priest. Now, she keeps hoping your master will take the captain along to cultivate immortality. While he's at it, he could get her some alchemy pills for skin whitening and skincare."

Wang Sheng couldn't help but chuckle. When Ma Zibin was being casual, he was actually quite humorous.

The others in the conference room had already started leaving.

The high-ranking official who seemed to be in charge called, "Old Ma, accompany the Daoist masters for a meal! You should eat with us as well, Daoist Master Wang."

Although Ma Zibin was only an associate professor, he evidently had considerable influence within the research institute.

Using the qi observation method that his master had taught him, Wang Sheng saw Ma Zibin's ocean of scholarly aura gather and then diffuse from his smooth, bald head, illuminating a clear path toward scientific cultivation.

Just kidding.

They ate in the research institute's cafeteria, which was naturally far superior to a regular school cafeteria. It offered well-balanced nutrition, exquisite flavors, and, above all else, free meals.

During the meal, the Daoist elders and the scholars continued their discussion. The Daoist elders revealed Daoist mental cultivation methods and ideas passed down by their ancestors, while Ma Zibin and his peers discussed how modern science could analyze the relationship between primal qi and the human body.

Gradually, a group of 'young' people in white lab coats gathered around them, each taking notes in a notebook or on a phone.

"Everyone's pretty serious about this," Wang Sheng said with a smile.

With their efforts, perhaps in a dozen or twenty years, the Hua Republic would develop immortal cultivation through scientific methods...

He and Mou Yue comfortably enjoyed their meal in a corner. The table was filled with both meat and vegetable dishes, and two young researchers under Ma Zibin's lead helped serve them.

Mou Yue chuckled. "The impact of primal qi's resurgence on the world will far exceed the Industrial Revolution in some ways. After all, since the Industrial Revolution, science has been focusing on external pursuits, such as improving medical care and increasing material abundance. It has never been able to extend the fundamental limits of human lifespan."

A young researcher beside them added, "Exactly. Many research projects are now focusing on this. According to genome analysis, the human lifespan limit is around 115 to 130 years, with individual variations. However, the resurgence of primal qi seems to be changing that limit. Once the Daoist elders finish their meal, we'll collect any traces they leave behind for genetic testing. That should help us verify a series of theories."

Wang Sheng was both amused and speechless. "Can't you just ask the elders to donate blood?"

"What if they mind?" The researcher lowered his voice. "We can't go against policy guidelines. We mustn't offend those esteemed, righteous Daoist elders just for research."

At that moment, a Daoist elder in the crowd vigorously said, "Draw blood? No problem! Take a few vials!"

The researcher blinked. Wang Sheng chuckled lightly and then continued eating and drinking.

After the meal, they moved on to a tour. White-haired Daoist elders in Daoist robes walking through futuristic hallways was quite an amusing contrast.

Wang Sheng and Mou Yue followed the group as they toured half of the research institute. After some time, Ma Zibin fell back from the front of the group and playfully winked at Wang Sheng.

Mou Yue immediately nudged Wang Sheng to follow him.

Ma Zibin stopped in front of a door and gestured for them to enter. "This is my lab. Come, have a seat."

Ma Zibin couldn't help but worry that Wang Sheng might not be interested in his lab. Hence, as if coaxing a child, he added in a deliberately mysterious tone, "I got you a sword from one of my colleagues.

Tsk, tsk.

"

Wang Sheng's eyes lit up like titanium alloy beams.

A sword?