Chapter 857: The Genesis of the Heaven’s Kingdom Plan

Swish……

The moment Professor Bai’s words faded, all the gentlemen present felt an inexplicable prickling sensation, as if their hair had suddenly stood on end.

Could this have something to do with that genius researcher from the Research Institute?

The one rumored to be so brilliant that he uncovered a devastating truth—and then chose to end his life?

How could that be?

Qinggang’s Heaven’s Kingdom Plan was devised in response to the relentless outbreaks of mental pollution, each incident marked by horrifying casualties and severe disruption to society’s structure. It was Professor Bai’s idea, approved by several key figures, and gradually perfected in close collaboration with the researchers of the Qinggang Special Pollution Cleanup Department.

Qinggang has always taken pride in the Heaven’s Kingdom Plan, as it is entirely their own creation.

Moreover, the plan does effectively counter mental pollution and the incursions by Ability Users—but that was always its sole purpose, designed from the start to oppose mental contamination and hostile intrusions.

Yet now, facing the terror lurking in the Abyss, the catastrophe triggered by the First Researcher, and the ultimate manifestation before them, everything seems utterly powerless.

Qinggang finds itself completely at a loss.

They have no idea how to deal with it.

Limited by their current perspectives and understanding of mental mutations, even the Mental Overlord represents the pinnacle of Qinggang’s capabilities…

At present, Doll has reached the fifth stage solely due to the efforts of Single Soldier, not because Qinggang possessed the ability to propel her to such a level.

This very fact has left Qinggang bewildered and even fearful.

Yet now Professor Bai claims that the plan had actually been equipped with a second phase all along?

……

……

“One thing is indisputable,”

Professor Bai stated gravely to the room full of skeptical faces, “The Heaven’s Kingdom Plan is inherently Qinggang’s.”

“It is the culmination of my idea, the courage of all those who dared to give it their approval, the hard work of everyone in the Qinggang Special Pollution Cleanup Department, and even the stroke of luck that brought us an Ability User as pure as Doll. Every single element has made the plan what it is today.”

“But that is exactly my point,”

“A plan is complete only when every aspect—from the initial concept to its refinement, overcoming obstacles, and finally successful execution—is in place.”

“In fact, the original idea for our Heaven’s Kingdom Plan came from Mr. Lin Mo of the Moon Eclipse Research Institute,”

“It was merely articulated through my words.”

……

After a pause, he sighed softly and continued, “I had no intention of hiding this information, I only learned it recently myself.”

“Earlier, at Single Soldier’s request, we investigated the Unique Consciousness and the method to break the ultimate—Nothingness. To that end, we requested relevant materials from the Moon Eclipse Research Institute. Director Xue Jia provided everything we asked for, even more. Most notably, we got the true mental legacy left by that genius researcher, as well as the truth from back then.”

……

At the mention of “Mr. Lin Mo, the genius researcher from the Moon Eclipse Research Institute,” a distinct hue of reverence and sorrow appeared on his face.

It was the admiration for a genius, and a deep regret for his fate.

“There are countless people around the world who mourn the death of that genius researcher,”

“Many believe that had he survived and grown internally stronger, his achievements might have far exceeded what he accomplished.”

Professor Bai lowered his gaze and sighed quietly, “I was one of those people.”

“It wasn’t until Director Xue Jia told me the details of those years that I finally understood; his suicide…”

After a brief silence, he continued, “was something that had been destined long ago.”

……

……

In the meeting room, as the gentlemen exchanged looks of skepticism and anticipation, Professor Bai slowly went on:

“He was simply too brilliant.”

“He proposed the Seven Steps Theory, providing the initial analysis and classification of mental mutations, which later guided further research. According to Director Xue Jia, this sensitive and clever man actually discovered much more than that.”

“Among his findings was none other than the truth of this world.”

“At a time when the First Researcher deliberately concealed certain matters, he uncovered the truth from scattered clues.”

“Director Xue Jia mentioned that back then, the pressure on him was immense.”

“That pressure partly stemmed from the First Researcher himself.”

“Although the First Researcher and his cohorts had vanished, the Research Institute continued to be under their watchful eyes.”

“There were certain things they preferred future generations never to learn. They believed the Institute’s role was solely to help stabilize the world, so their spies and mysterious surveillance infiltrated every corner, controlling everything.”

“The disappearance of the First Researcher, combined with Professor Wang Jingyun’s orchestration of the Escaped Lab incident, plunged the newly relocated Research Institute in Central City into panic and chaos. It was at that moment that Director Xue Jia assumed the role of Director.”

“Yet under the tight surveillance of the First Researcher and the pervasive uncertainty, his authority was extremely limited.”

“Ironically, it was during that time that the genius researcher made a groundbreaking discovery.”

“The First Researcher intensified his spying and even obstructed him, further exacerbating his anxiety.”

……

At this point, Professor Bai let out a deep sigh, his tone heavy with reminiscence.

He recalled the tough times for that genius, saying, “But what had a more profound impact on him was his research.”

“Unlike the First Researcher, who had accumulated experience and methods to avoid unknown dangers,”

“he relied solely on the data at hand and the situation as it stood.”

“As his research deepened and he drew closer to the truth, it inevitably attracted…”

After a brief pause, his voice dropped to a cautious whisper, as if fearful of drawing unwanted attention:

“the initial probe.”

……

“Initial?”

All eyes widened in shock, struggling to grasp his meaning.

“Exactly—it is ‘Initial.’”

Professor Bai murmured, “You can think of it as a sort of invisible connection.”

“The more you understand ‘Initial’ on a mental level, the closer you get to it—and the more you become subject to its influence. The psychological pressure is unimaginable for ordinary people, and simply unbearable.”

“It was under such circumstances that Mr. Lin Mo, the genius, finally broke down mentally.”

“He jumped from a hundred-story building, leaving behind only three prophecies and his final piece of advice.”

……

The atmosphere in the meeting room grew inexplicably oppressive.

Professor Bai was speaking of someone who had long been dead.

Yet even now, these revelations weighed heavily on everyone’s hearts.

The initial impact on his psyche and his subsequent breakdown evoked an indescribable horror.

It was as if, by discussing ‘Initial,’ it had already set its sights on each one of them.

……

……

As the mood in the Office grew subdued, Professor Bai paused to take a sip of water.

Then he continued, “Many of you already know the events that followed.”

“Director Xue Jia handled his affairs afterward, and it was then that he truly understood the extent of his research…”

“One might say that Director Xue Jia, in terms of professional expertise, was indeed not on the same level as Mr. Lin Mo or Professor Wang Jingyun.”

“Yet he had his own strengths.”

“He was smart enough to recognize the undercurrents within the Moon Eclipse Research Institute and made the right decision immediately.”

“At that time, having just assumed the directorship, he had little power to contend with the lurking dangers.”

“So, he decided without delay not to conceal all of Lin Mo’s findings completely, as that might have aroused the suspicions of the First Researcher. Instead, he quickly hid the most critical parts and altered his suicide note.”

“He made the world believe that the genius researcher had succumbed to unbearable pressure and committed suicide.”

“Yet what they didn’t know was that before taking his own life, he had already been under unimaginable strain—and he had left us an answer.”

“In doing so, he protected his most precious research findings.”

“It took him over a decade, using various overt and covert methods, to rebrand the Red Moon Research Institute as the Moon Eclipse Research Institute. He systematically purged the First Researcher’s spies and surveillance from within and trained a trustworthy new team. Not long ago, he even used near-mad methods to obliterate the First Researcher’s trump card…”

“Only then did the situation finally ease up a bit.”

Professor Bai exhaled a small sigh of relief, “And it was only then that Lin Mo’s research was finally brought to light.”

“This is what we have in our hands today.”

……

……

When the men in the meeting room, who had been utterly spellbound, finally focused their eyes on the file before them, Professor Bai lightly pinched his eyebrow and smiled bitterly, “Of course, that wasn’t all. Back then, he gathered all of us interns at the Research Institute, those who had shown promising results, planning for each of us to eventually move to High-wall City.”

“At the time, we didn’t quite understand his plan.”

“We even wondered if our own progress had threatened his position as Director, and that’s why he sent us away…”

“Now, we finally understand his true plan.”

“As the only person who had understood Lin Mo’s research from the very beginning, he started planning long ago.”

“Even during our training sessions, he would discreetly reveal bits of valuable information.”

“It was the only way he could guide us without alerting the First Researcher, yet still ensure that every plan took years to prepare.”

“All he could do was to scatter bits of guidance, allowing us to slowly think for ourselves and approach the truth.”

“Using the most intricate methods, he laid out a grand design spanning over twenty years…”

“I suppose you could say he succeeded…”

“Thus was the original idea behind Qinggang’s Heaven’s Kingdom Plan conceived…”

……

……

The room fell silent; every mind drifted in thought.

Could Lin Mo, who had uncovered the truth under the shadow of the First Researcher and that initial influence before his mental collapse, truly be the one?

And what of that sly old fox who safeguarded Lin Mo’s research for over twenty years?

Everyone had a mountain of words trapped inside, yet none knew how to begin.

They could only sigh in wonder…

…Who said researchers don’t know how to maneuver?

…Just look at how masterfully he played the game!

……

“So then…”

After a long pause, Mr. Su hesitantly and carefully asked,

“What exactly is the secret they left behind?”

……

“Swish!”

At that sound, everyone’s ears perked up instantly.

“It isn’t a secret,”

Professor Bai, meeting their expectant gazes with a slight smile, paused before saying, “It’s not a riddle with an answer. What he left was a line of thought—a concept derived from the truth of that incident.”

“It’s something that points us toward a viable operational direction.”

……

“But if you want to understand it a little faster…”

He paused thoughtfully, “I suppose I could simplify it for you.”

“Hurry up…”

Mr. Su grew excited, clenching his fists as if ready to pummel him for haste.

“It’s actually quite simple,”

Professor Bai sighed, “Often the more complicated a matter, the simpler the answer.”

Mr. Su could barely contain his urge to pounce.

Then, at that moment, Professor Bai finally revealed, “Do you know the difference between a Pollution Source and a Mental Monster?”

Everyone was momentarily stunned, “Even a fool would know that, right?”

A Pollution Source lacks consciousness, while a Mental Monster possesses it—in simple terms, a Mental Monster is merely a Pollution Source that has gained awareness.

“Exactly,”

Professor Bai continued, “The underlying logic behind everything, including the original and the proposed solutions, begins there.”

Taking a deep breath, he explained, “‘Initial’ is an enormous Pollution Source that defies eradication—a force that could appear at any time, driven by instinct, watching over the real world and contaminating everyone…”

“By nature, ‘Initial’ lacks consciousness.”

“Yet it is so vast—so colossal that it transcends human understanding, almost reaching a level of civilization…”

“And the First Researcher’s strategy was to instill consciousness into this Pollution Source.”

“Thus, ‘Initial’ became the greatest Mental Monster.”

“And there is only one word to accurately describe this unprecedented Mental Monster:”

“God!”

His voice remained steady, yet as he reached this part, it felt as if every heart in the room began to beat like a drum:

“So in a way, the actions of the First Researcher were not entirely wrong.”

“Once they could implant a controllable consciousness into ‘Initial’, they could indeed claim: we have subdued a god!”