Chapter 831: A Demonstration of New Abilities

“These are the few minor abilities I wanted to show you.”

Lu Xin casually pushed aside Mizang, who was clinging to him and wailing, and gave it a brief comforting pat.

He couldn’t understand why it was so worked up—its appearance had already developed to a point where even his own abilities couldn’t completely save it.

However, after some minor adjustments, it certainly looked better than before.

It seemed that his future retirement career options had just gained another possibility.

The title of ‘Doctor Lu’ does have a nice ring to it…

Meanwhile, in the office, the other researchers watched the changes in Mizang with initial surprise, but on closer thought, they were soon shaken by the tremendous power hidden behind this seemingly simple transformation.

Their expressions of astonishment and novelty gradually turned serious.

Only Chen Jing reacted differently, suddenly looking a bit guilty.

“Crap, I once dressed it in a pink suit just so others wouldn’t notice…”

“And now… everyone can see it…”

“…”

“…”

Amid the startled gazes of everyone, Lu Xin finished his demonstration and turned to Professor Bai and the others, explaining seriously:

“I can restore an object of modest size that’s been barely damaged, and do so quickly without affecting other things.”

He pointed to the hairpin on the Doll and continued, “It can reappear just as if it passed through a door to a place where mental power prevails.”

“It can also, to a certain extent, alleviate the mental pollution suffered by a living being.”

“…”

Having said that, he looked intently at Professor Bai and the others, as if waiting for their feedback.

These abilities were all ones he had used when combating the First Researcher.

But at that time, his heart was full of rage.

He had only relied on instinct to deploy these abilities, without much thought.

On the way back, taking several days to sort things out and truly feel the nuances of these abilities, he came to a conclusion.

In truth, they were just minor abilities.

Restoring the hairpin only required imagination.

Lu Xin had long been able to conjure a hairpin in his mind, fooling everyone present without a hitch.

But after this investigation, he found that his power of imagination had seemingly made a breakthrough.

After the hairpin was snapped, he indeed used his ‘imagination’ to restore it…

And crucially, the hairpin restored through imagination had truly been repaired in every respect.

When his imaginative power reached its peak, it seemed to have altered some rules of the world.

As for changing location, that was actually the power of Black Particles.

During the confrontation at the Old Research Institute Site, Lu Xin crushed the Tyrant Legion under the First Researcher, acquiring more Black Particles. These particles did not merge with the ones in his body, but existed as subsidiaries around him.

Moreover, because of his overwhelming anger at the time, the Black Particles also underwent certain changes.

For instance, they used to be completely inseparable from his body, but now, whether as subsidiaries or when momentarily activated to the extreme, they can break through restrictions to be used more effectively.

Although they still cannot be used to pollute others, they can influence areas at a distance.

And as long as the Black Particles can reach a location, Lu Xin can go there as well.

What seemed like merely a change in position over a short distance was in fact his body vanishing and being reconstructed.

As for Mizang, it was affected by pollution.

Just like when Lu Xin had rescued Sissi, which had been entirely devoured, from the body of the Abyss Worm.

To Anbo and the others at that time, it was almost a resurrection.

But in reality, they were two entirely different matters.

Sissi’s essence was that of a runaway Mental Monster. Being swallowed by the Abyss Worm meant being completely polluted; Lu Xin merely found Sissi within the Abyss Worm’s body and stripped away its contamination.

That was the reason he couldn’t save Dr. Wang, Dr. Zhang, or Master Li back then.

Because they were truly dead, not just polluted.

And Mizang’s bizarre appearance wasn’t because it had always looked like this.

Although Lu Xin hadn’t delved into its past, his current perspective made it clear.

It had been severely polluted by a certain special kind of mental power, yet had received partial treatment, ending in a strange equilibrium. It was still alive, but its life had descended into chaos, which is why it looked the way it did.

Thus, by easing the effect of its inherent mental power on it, he managed to achieve a sort of subtle cosmetic improvement.

But Lu Xin couldn’t help it too much—for if he did, it might cease to be what it is.

…

…

After candidly explaining his new ability, Lu Xin looked at Professor Bai and the others with hopeful anticipation.

These new abilities were more like instincts.

Lu Xin could perform them with ease, just like firing up a computer to play Tetris—he could even switch pages to avoid being seen by the bosses.

But if you asked him what the principle behind Tetris was…

…Good luck figuring that out!

Even if pressed for an answer, all he could say was that it seemed to be achieved by the resonance between the Unique Consciousness in his brain and his mental power—a mystery he knew nothing more about. That was also why he needed to have a check-up and consult with Professor Bai and the others.

After all, the pressure on his shoulders had grown. There was so much to do.

He needed to complete the development and training of his abilities and then go… to stop the First Researcher’s insane plans.

…

…

Yet even as Lu Xin looked hopefully at them, Professor Bai and the others appeared visibly bewildered.

After a long pause, it was Professor Chen Liqing who finally managed a trembling voice: “How… how did you accomplish that?”

“?”

Facing a crowd of wide-eyed, almost cutesy researchers, Lu Xin’s gaze turned oddly mischievous: “You’re asking me?”

Dr. Mo, standing nearby, blankly remarked, “Who else but you could have such a power?”

Lu Xin looked even more innocent: “It seems like you’re the true experts in mental research, isn’t it?”

“…”

The atmosphere gradually turned silent.

Exchanging glaring looks, a hint of awkwardness filled the air.

In that tense atmosphere, more and more people instinctively turned their eyes to Professor Bai.

After all, he was the head of Qinggang.

When no one could explain the situation, wasn’t it his turn to speak up?

“The challenge has arrived…”

Professor Bai himself felt a bit awkward.

Especially after witnessing Lu Xin’s display of abilities—the look in his eyes almost popped out of his head.

But after a brief moment of settling down, he regained his serious, inscrutable expression and quickly began thinking, nodding slowly in a manner full of confidence.

“I need to ask you a few questions first…”

He looked seriously at Lu Xin and began slowly, “First… “

Lu Xin nodded quickly and asked, “What is it?”

“One.”

While contemplating internally, Professor Bai continued coolly, “Have you already reached the Sixth Stage?”

“Ugh…”

At his words, everyone simultaneously drew a sharp breath.

The Sixth Stage?

Wasn’t that the level rumored to enable real creation?

Just one step shy of the pinnacle in the Seven Stages?

Some even secretly grabbed their thighs, feeling it was almost unreal.

“I…”

Lu Xin’s face then showed a trace of confusion before he shook his head lightly and said, “I don’t know either.”

After a pause, he lowered his voice and explained, “A long time ago, I had no idea where my abilities came from or how to use them. But this time, I’ve discovered my origins, and finally I have some kind of identity.”

“My ability—or rather, my level—is pretty ordinary.”

“Basically, I should be on a level similar to the Ultimate, maybe just a bit higher.”

“…”

“?”

Suddenly, the meeting room erupted in chaos.

Eyes widened as everyone stared at Lu Xin.

Some were so nervous they even took off their glass helmets, wanting a clear look at his eyes.

Seriously, does that even sound human?

What does it mean by being similar to the Ultimate, just a little higher?

And then calling that ordinary?

Don’t you misunderstand what ‘ordinary’ means?

“Yes, it truly is the best way to describe it.”

Facing the terrified stares, Lu Xin carefully reconsidered his earlier words and nodded once more.

That description was indeed accurate.

After this investigation, he had come to understand some of the past events.

He also realized the hints his mom had given him earlier.

The Ultimate originally stemmed from the Primordial, and at the very least, the Black Particles in his body also originated from the Primordial.

In that sense, his natural level was essentially on par with the Ultimate.

Moreover, since Black Particles were the final remnants stripped from the Primordial, they were even a bit higher in level compared to other Ultimate elements.

But firstly, Black Particles only pollute what’s locked within one’s body, and secondly, they lack the inherent nature of pollution. So when it comes to the threat posed to the world, the Ultimate still far surpasses him.

They’re capable of all sorts of transformations and have the power to control countless minds.

And what about him?

Perhaps he only has a slight edge in one-on-one duels or during moments of loss of control.

So, in short, if I had to sum it all up…

I can do nothing but destroy the world…

…

…

“But…”

In the stifling atmosphere, with everyone’s hearts pounding, Professor Bai was the first to recover:

“Your performance earlier almost reached… real creation?”

“…”

“Not exactly.”

Lu Xin shook his head and said, “What I can do now is merely influence reality.”

“There’s something called Unique Consciousness right now in my brain. It resonated with my mental power to birth this ability to affect reality. But at least to me, influencing reality is still very different from real creation. In terms of the stages, it’s like I’ve walked past the Fifth Stage but have yet to enter the Sixth.”

“I’ve only dipped a foot in—at most, half a foot—into the Sixth Stage.”

“…”

Although what Lu Xin said sounded absurd, the discussion naturally took a thoughtful turn.

One researcher then asked in a deep tone, “Then why haven’t you fully stepped into it?”

“Was it because you hit a bottleneck?”

“…”

“Bottleneck?”

Lu Xin shook his head, “There shouldn’t be any.”

At this, everyone was dumbfounded, “Then why haven’t you taken the leap?”

“Because…”

Lu Xin suddenly realized there was no answer to that question. After a moment’s thought, he looked at the researcher who had asked:

“Why didn’t you go work at the Moon Eclipse Research Institute?”

“…”

“Well…”

The researcher was taken aback and, dejected, said, “I’ve had several applications rejected.”

Seeing him so upset, Lu Xin felt too reluctant to be harsh.

He consoled, “It’s alright. I’m not quite the same—you want to go but they don’t want you, whereas me…”

After a pause, he slowly added, “I hesitate because…”

“I’m worried about destroying the world!”