The ruins on the outskirts of Hulu Port have now become a heavily fortified military no-go zone. Every ten steps, there’s a guard, each armed with a rifle. The dark green uniforms form a curved defensive line, their feet planted firmly on this ominous land, not shifting even a little.
The military has gone to great lengths to deploy personnel. What they fear most isn’t vengeful spirits or ghosts seeking retribution, but the ordinary citizens who disregard police warnings and insist on coming here to see the spectacle.
Only by keeping everyone firmly stationed, each holding a rifle, can they deter the curious. During the most chaotic times, they not only have to focus on defending against enemies but also need to manage the internal order. It’s exhausting, to say the least.
Military helicopters hover overhead, dropping a batch of officers into the ruins below. They carry equipment and instruments, stumbling along as they begin investigating the scene.
The pilot looks down over the area, surveying several miles of land. He spots large, dark, gouged-out trenches and can’t help but gasp, “It looks like claw marks… Could there be a monster here, like the giant snake at Jing Du Port?”
“No, it looks more like the marks left by an axe or a cleaver,” says the person sitting in the back, holding a camera and taking detailed shots. “Now this is a real problem. What do you think could have made these marks?”
After a moment of silence, the cabin is filled with an eerie stillness. Both men suddenly feel a cold chill rise from their feet to the top of their heads, sending a shiver down their spines.
Some things are too unsettling to dwell on. Once you start analyzing them, no one’s worldview can handle it. The investigators standing on the ruined road realize that their accumulated knowledge is no longer of any use.
The measuring tape stretches from one end to the other. The data collector records the measurements, his face growing darker with each note: “Mark 012, length 8.6 meters, depth 3 meters. And this isn’t even the longest or deepest one. This is bad!”
“The tape’s too short. Get the infrared distance meter!” someone shouts. “Split up the technical team and head to the ‘central area.’ A team found two car dash cams—one’s really messed up and needs repairing!”
“Mark 013, length 11 meters, depth 4 meters… why do the marks get longer and the force stronger?” He pauses, muttering, “What? Someone recorded a mark close to 40 meters? Damn, I barely recognize ‘meters’ as a unit anymore.”
The precise data only deepens the investigation team’s sense of dread. The experts around the marks argue heatedly, attempting to explain the anomaly through various angles—earthquakes, lightning, cracks—but every scientific explanation seems utterly insufficient.
“Earthquake? Did you feed your books to the dog?” an old professor yells, pointing his finger, “In my seventy years of life, I’ve never seen an earthquake that leaves such neat, defined marks! And lightning? Have you ever seen the aftermath of lightning?”
The thirty-year-olds: …
“How many times do I have to say this? Don’t try to force an explanation when it doesn’t make sense! When did we ever have to force our studies into nonsense?” the old professor shouts in frustration. “Don’t even talk to me about public safety. The place’s already been chopped up like this—what public safety? Instead of trying to ‘calm the people,’ it’s better to just admit we can’t explain it!”
“But Professor Zou, Hulu Port’s already chaotic enough…” Without a scientific explanation, a supernatural one could trigger widespread panic.
Professor Zou’s face crumples in worry: “This is beyond explanation. No large creature on Earth could leave these claw marks. I’d rather say it’s high-tech from aliens!”
“That’s too absurd…”
“If it’s a large creature, is it still alive? Where would it have gone? If it could leave marks like this, it must be huge, and if it moved, someone would have noticed!”
“If it’s dead, then where’s the body?”
Silence stretches, and the question remains unsolved. Then, a young man puts down the photo and data in his hands, speaking slowly: “Besides supernatural phenomena, there’s only alien technology left. And I lean towards the latter.”
But that’s not really what he’s thinking… He’s saying one thing but thinking something else.
Wearing white gloves, he gently touches the deep marks, calmly saying: “Have you noticed that if we magnify a high-pressure water jet several times, and imagine this road as a stone slab, the marks left by a water jet on the stone are very similar to the ones here, aren’t they?”
Moments later, a crowd gathers around him.
“I’ve seen the work of bead merchants. Under the wash of water, even the hardest stone surfaces become unusually smooth. Just like this—it’s clearly a cleaving mark, but because of the water, the edges and surfaces look incredibly neat.”
“Waterjet work is the same. It uses the softest thing to create the strongest force, saving a lot of follow-up work…”
The softest thing, the strongest force. This concept might make sense to people—it’s like using softness to overcome hardness. If they follow this thought, maybe something will come to light.
“Not bad, ‘little baby.’” Professor Zou looks pleased. “What’s your name?”
“Qi Xinli.”
“Where did you graduate from? What’s your major?”
“Buddhist Academy, majoring in Sutra studies.”
“…”
After choking on his own words, Professor Zou watches Qi Xinli squat next to the deep marks, his expression unreadable.
A high-pressure water jet can indeed leave similar marks, but not with the same neatness and power as these deep ones. Everyone sees through it but says nothing, letting him talk his nonsense. Some truths are more serious than he imagines.
Then, abandoning traditional scientific views—
“The softest, the strongest… what else could there be besides water and air?”
…
“Consciousness. The consciousness of intelligent beings.”
In the most luxurious suite of the hotel, Ji Si sits with Si Nuocheng’s new top-tier tablet, holding an electronic pen, jotting down notes. Beside him, three heads huddle together, all waiting for the police to come knocking—Si Nuocheng, Jiang Qining, and… Laki.
Yeah, the mixed-race handsome guy’s real name is too long, and only Si Nuocheng can remember it. Since Jiang Qining kept asking him for his Chinese name but failed, he just calls him “Laki.” This led to another fight.
“Call me ‘Vladimir’! Or at least just ‘Vla’!”
“Pah! My foreign internet goddess is named ‘Fla,’ you can’t even be a ‘Vla’!”
The chaos ends with Jiang Qining’s defeat. Ji Si laughs and shakes his head, impressed by Si Nuocheng’s memory: “How do you remember his name after hearing it just once?”
Si Nuocheng replies: “I have a bunch of partners from Ula, their names range from 16 to 109 characters long. After hearing them so many times, you get used to it.”
Ji Si: …
No wonder Laki said there were many psychics in Qinding City but no major incidents. If everyone’s name was that long, unless there was a deep grudge, who would be patient enough to curse anyone?
As for Vladimir… what was that again?
Forget it. No need to remember. Ji Si decides to stick with calling him “Laki” without guilt.
With his pen, Ji Si sketches waves and an iceberg on the left side of the tablet, then draws a circle on the right side. His drawing skills are pretty good; even without color, a few simple strokes capture the essence.
“The sea represents unknown powers—think of it as nature, the universe, or divinity—while the iceberg represents human consciousness.” Ji Si draws diagonal lines on the iceberg. “Human consciousness is the key to unlocking superpowers. The more submerged in the sea it is, the stronger the abilities it can awaken.”
“The part of the iceberg above the water is called ‘talent’; the part below the water is called ‘potential.’”
Sharp writing fills the spaces above and below the iceberg, blending a gentle and elegant style with a cutting edge. Ji Si continues, “But often, the part submerged in the water is called ‘subconscious,’ the untapped power of the human mind.”
“Just like the brain, which has only been 5% explored, leaving the remaining 95% as potential subconscious.”
Ji Si blacks out the right circle, leaving only a narrow white gap. “You’ve been focusing on the 5% of talent, but forgotten about the 95% of potential. Even if you develop that 5% to the extreme, the universe will still remain a mystery to you.”
Science and metaphysics should never be completely separate. Just as the 5% and 95% must combine to achieve true knowledge and power.
“Consciousness is the softest and most formless thing. It’s a power rooted in the soul of human beings. It can transform into whatever you need it to be, protect you based on your emotions, or destroy threats.”
“Ghosts are like that.”
“They are shapeless spirits, a conglomerate of consciousness. Hunting with consciousness is their instinct.”
“However, most ghosts have never fully developed the submerged part of the iceberg. What they can usually do is weave illusions and attack the weakest points of human psychology. What you encountered was an exception, but that doesn’t mean there’s only one.”
Si Nuocheng says, “Since there’s more than one, that means we could encounter them again. So, before that happens… should we develop our consciousness?”
“Subconscious?” He feels like he’s starting to understand.
Compared to the tip of the iceberg above the water, the submerged part is deeper and larger. If it’s left to waste in the sea, what a pity!
Ji Si nods, “Yes, develop the part of you that connects you to nature, the universe, and divinity. That will be your self-defense ability. And to develop consciousness, the most important things are not only your understanding but also your character.”
“How do we develop it?”
“Dreams.” Ji Si cuts to the point. “Dreams themselves are layers of multidimensional spaces. By staying conscious while you dream, you can train your subconscious and unlock superpowers.”
Jiang Qining gives a deadpan look: “I’m done for. When I sleep, I’m even more dead than a pig.”
Everyone: …
Ji Si smiles politely: “When you dream, the more you fear something, the more likely it is to appear. But when you firmly wish for it to disappear, it will inevitably vanish.”
“You can experience the freedom of flying, or the weightlessness of falling. Everything that’s impossible in reality can be achieved in a dream.”
“Want it to rain? It will rain. Want it to be windy? The wind will blow. Remember the feeling of controlling these natural phenomena in your dreams, and bring that ability into your subconscious.”
Si Nuocheng remains silent, suddenly recalling Ji Si’s words: “The wind comes, the rain comes.”
If dreams are a place where anything goes for humans, what is reality for Ji Si? People must live in dreams to call the wind and summon the rain, but Ji Si already seems to control reality with his words.
So who exactly is he?
A god?
“Treat your body as the most solid vessel, and your consciousness as the most柔软 force. Let the body and consciousness unite. This is called ‘awakening.’”
And awakening is the most suitable path for humans.
On Earth, spiritual energy will fade, magical power will dissipate, and the heavenly path will collapse, but the soul will forever retain the “true self.” It is the spirit of the vessel, the soul of a human, and even if the sea dries up and the mountains crumble, it will still remain intact.
Magic and cultivation are no longer suitable for Earth on “Doomsday.” What humanity must do is regain its own strength.
Compared to Si Nuocheng’s clarity, Laki and Jiang Qining’s minds are still struggling to keep up. The former needs to carefully chew on every sentence, while the latter looks completely clueless, not understanding a word.
“So, our primary task is to dream?”
“If I can’t sleep… oh no, what if I sleep but don’t dream? Should I go get some sleeping pills? Wait, they don’t sell those at the pharmacy!”
Everyone: …
Si Nuocheng ponders for a moment, then says, “I have an idea. I’m going to take a nap and try it. If you don’t have anything to do, head back to your rooms.”
He ushers them out of the room. Once he hears the door to the adjacent room close, he locks his own door and turns to Ji Si. The figure in white by the floor-to-ceiling window smiles at him, as if urging him to ask.
“Ji Si, who are you to us?”
Ji Si smiles, “I’m your guide—”
“The High Priest.”
…
One of the dash cams is still usable, while the other was split in half by the off-road vehicle. It looks like it could be pieced back together, but when someone touches it, it shatters into pieces.
The off-road vehicle is similar. It may appear only split in two, but its body is riddled with fine cracks. Any significant touch would likely turn it into debris.
Strangely, aside from some bloodstains on the seat of the first car, there are no human bodies or remains around the vehicles. Instead, the ground is marked with puncture-like traces.
The investigation team applies a layer of glowing white fluid around the two cars. Soon, fluorescent blue traces begin to appear on the fluid. Scattered footprints and handprints form a strange… circle?
What is this?
In the center of the circle, there are clearly three pairs of footprints, meaning three people were crouching in the circle at the time of the incident. The question is, what’s the purpose of a circle in such a dangerous place? What can hiding in a circle possibly achieve?
Even stranger, the terrifying cleaving marks all landed outside the circle. Why?
The thought is chilling!
“It’s three people, we’ve found their identities,” someone says, handing out the documents and pointing to the footprints in the fluid. “They entered the city recently and are confirmed witnesses. They walked down the road.”
“We found them based on the information,” another person says, his mouth twitching. “Uh, they’re currently staying at the hotel…”
What the hell?
They’ve just encountered something so terrifying, and they didn’t go to the police for help? Why are they staying in a hotel? This is the strangest situation he’s ever seen!
The investigation team falls into an eerie silence. After a moment, the captain orders: “Before noon, I want them all here, neat and tidy, not one missing!”
“Understood!”
Little did they know, their speed in apprehending suspects was no match for the speed of rich people swiping their cards. Before the order could be passed down, a few people, unable to sleep in the daytime, ended up wandering into a less crowded shopping mall.
The weapon storage in Zhongzhou is strict, but they’re lenient with some blunt tools. Si Nuocheng and Ji Si wander into the knife shop, picking up one blade after another.
Seeing this, Ji Si asks, “What do you need knives for? For self-defense, they’re not very useful.”
“It’s not for self-defense.” Si Nuocheng picks up steel knives weighing 50 or 60 pounds, lightly running his fingers along the blade. “I just want to get familiar with how they feel in my hands.”
“Hmm?”
“I told you, I have an idea.” Si Nuocheng grins, his eyes sparkling with an untamable wildness. “Since we can tap into the subconscious, I can turn it into my own weapons factory.”
He sets down the knife, his thoughts dangerously wild. “Line the barrels and gun ports, build a fortress for new tech weapons. Solid as a rock, unstoppable. Whoever dares to come, I’ll blast them to pieces and feed them to the dogs.”
Ji Si: …
“So, you’re going to raise a pack of dogs in your subconscious?” Ji Si asks.
Si Nuocheng: …
Meanwhile, the more serious Laki heads to the mall’s private library, intending to look for books on the supernatural. The more playful Jiang Qining, after finishing in the restroom, doesn’t go back to his companions but instead enters a boutique with a traditional Eastern style.
Standing by the window, he eyes the outfit worn by the mannequin.
A mixture of intricate Western court patterns and the elegance of Eastern attire, it forms a men’s white robe embroidered with gold and silver threads. On the tall mannequin, it almost looks like Ji Si is standing in front of him…
Although it seems not quite as good as Ji Si wearing it, still—wow! It’s the exact same white robe!
Same model!
Jiang Qining’s fanboy gaze lights up!
“Hello, sir, how can I assist you? Oh, this piece?” The sales assistant smiles. “This was custom-made by the designer after watching the video of the Qingdong monster. There’s only one, so…”
“Wrap it up.” Jiang Qining pulls out his card. “This white robe, the matching shoes, socks, and hat. Pack it all up.”
“Ah, of course! Right away!”
“Oh, by the way.” Jiang Qining turns around, winking. “Is there anywhere nearby that sells staffs? Or do you have any wigs and wooden staffs that match this robe?”
“Money’s not a problem.”
“I’ll find it for you!”
※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※※
PS:
Ji Si: I’ve been waiting for the police to come, but in the end, the streets are full of low-tier High Priests wearing white robes and holding staffs.
Si Nuocheng: This is fashion. Their loss for not inviting you to the Victoria’s Secret show.
Ji Si: …
