272: Chapter 273 The World Is a Cage? A Mysterious Man Declares: You Are Just an Interesting Container!

The basement went quiet for a moment.

Zhang Wei held the food in his mouth, motionless, looking back and forth between Lin Qi and Chen Shu. He couldn't put his finger on what was wrong, just that he felt uneasy.

Instructor Su Qing leaned forward, staring at Chen Shu.

"He said this world is a cage?"

"No, he said 'this' cage," Chen Shu corrected. "He used a specific demonstrative. Based on the context, he is describing this world from the perspective of an observer."

"An observer."

Lin Qi chewed on these words.

An existence that calls the world a cage, an existence that clearly wants to obtain his "Conceptual Remains," an existence that knows the underlying Laws of the System like the back of its hand.

Combining these three characteristics points to an unsettling possibility.

He is trapped in this world.

"Did he reveal his power level?" Lin Qi asked.

"He didn't say it directly, but judging by his ability to remotely control System rejection, I estimate he is at least Rank 5 or above."

Chen Shu's judgment was very restrained.

"It could be even higher. The attitude he occasionally revealed when interacting with Li Qingcang didn't look like a conversation between peers."

Zhang Wei forced the food down his throat.

"Brother Qi, what kind of background does this guy have? Rank 5 or above? Doesn't the Federation only have a few Rank 5s?"

"I know roughly who the few in the Federation are," Instructor Su Qing's voice deepened. "The Vice President of Longya Academy is one, the Hall Master of the Southern Territory's Supreme Hall is another, and there is the highest military advisor. These three have public identities and couldn't possibly do something like this."

"So this person is not on the known list."

Lin Qi took over.

"A Rank 5 or even stronger existence who isn't on the list, calling this world a cage, wanting to use my 'Conceptual Remains' to do something."

He picked up his cola and took a sip.

"Interesting."

Zhang Wei and Instructor Su Qing glanced at him simultaneously.

"Third point," Chen Shu continued. "His cooperative relationship with the Li Family was purely for exploitation. Li Qingcang thought they were partners, but in the chip records, his evaluation of Li Qingcang was just two words: 'Fool.'"

"He doesn't care about the Li Family's survival, nor does he care if the Three-Piece Set is successful."

"When I last received information from the chip, he left a note."

"What note?"

Chen Shu took a pitch-black chip the size of a fingernail from his suit pocket and placed it on the table.

"He said: 'If this time fails, it doesn't matter. Time in the cage has no meaning to me. I can wait, wait until the next anomaly appears, wait until the next container that can provide remains appears.'"

He paused.

"'However, if this container named Lin Qi is interesting enough, I might enter the field myself.'"

The basement went silent for a few seconds.

Zhang Wei broke the silence, his voice unstable.

"Brother Qi, he called you a container."

"I heard."

Lin Qi picked up the chip, twirling it between two fingers. Protective Aura flowed at his fingertips, and the information on the chip's surface was laid bare under his Martial Intent Insight.

The encryption layer was written intricately, but in his perception, these encryption methods were as transparent as glass.

The amount of information on the chip was not large. Besides what Chen Shu had just recounted, there were some technical parameters and assembly instructions for the Three-Piece Set.

But at the very bottom of the data, there was a segment of deeply encrypted code.

This code did not belong to any programming language in this world.

Lin Qi's eyes narrowed.

He recognized this kind of code.

In his previous life, in "martial arts era," the abnormal code segments that occasionally appeared in the game's underlying architecture were called "Ancient Legacy Code" by the development team. They said it was the underlying framework left by the first-generation programmers; no one could understand it, and no one dared to touch it.

Now, this kind of code had appeared on this chip.

He put the chip in his pocket.

He didn't reveal this discovery.

It wasn't that he didn't trust Instructor Su Qing and Zhang Wei, but this information was too critical. It might involve the truth about the underlying nature of this digitized world, the truth about the System, and the truth about why he had Transmigration here.

"I'll keep the chip," Lin Qi said to Chen Shu.

"Yes."

"From today on, you have three tasks."

He held up three fingers.

"First, compile a list of all remaining intelligence networks and covert resources of the Li Family for me. I will take over what can be used, and destroy what cannot."

"Second, keep the frequency and method the mysterious person uses to message you open. Do not cut it off. If he contacts you again, respond normally and synchronize all content with me."

"Third, you have worked for the Li Family for three generations. You should know the Federation's underground world better than anyone. Help me investigate one thing."

"Please speak."

"A person who died in the line of duty in the Northern Territory's forbidden zone thirty years ago, named Zheng Wujiang."

"The Federal Military's public file says he died in the line of duty after encountering a swarm of Void Beasts during a mission, but the real cause of death should have other hidden circumstances."

Instructor Su Qing's hand twitched. She had heard this name from Old Mo; he was the only friend Sword Saint Ye Qingtian had while alive, a pioneer of old-era combat techniques.

"You want to investigate how he died?" Chen Shu asked.

"No, I want to investigate whether he also encountered System rejection before he died."

Chen Shu didn't ask for the reason and nodded.

"I will investigate it as soon as possible."

"Go."

The black figure exited silently, the secret door closed, and only the three of them remained in the basement.

Zhang Wei hadn't interrupted, but his mind hadn't been idle.

"Brother Qi, do you suspect that Zheng Wujiang was in the same situation as you? A Blank Slate?"

"It's possible."

"The Scavenger said that in the Northern Territory, Zheng Wujiang didn't rely on the System, but used 'Force' to fight Void Beasts. This description is too similar to my fighting style."

"If he was also a Blank Slate, he would be judged as an anomaly by the System and would encounter rejection."

"Thirty years ago, there was no self-preservation method like 'My Body is the World'."

Zhang Wei's voice lowered: "So he was actually killed by the System?"

Lin Qi didn't answer.

The silence itself was enough.

Instructor Su Qing spoke: "The path you have been taking, pure martial arts, not relying on the System—Zheng Wujiang walked it and failed. Teacher Ye also walked it and reached the end."

"One died, one is near death."

"Are you not afraid?"

Lin Qi turned to look at her.

"Afraid?"

"Yes, afraid," Instructor Su Qing stared at him. "You experienced rejection once at the Xiao Family's entrance, and blocked another time at the exhibition center. What about next time? You know the consumption of your 'My Body is the World' yourself. Willpower cannot be overdrafted infinitely. If that mysterious person really enters the field himself..."

"Are you worried about me?"

Instructor Su Qing's words paused.

"I am worried about my investment. I have pinned all my hopes on you. If you die, my curse will never be lifted, and Teacher Ye will be finished too."

Lin Qi smiled, very briefly.

"Rest assured."

He stood up and threw the cola bottle into the trash bag.

"My foundation in practicing martial arts is much deeper than Zheng Wujiang's. The path he couldn't traverse doesn't mean I can't either."

"What lies at the end of this path, I know better than anyone."

He looked at Instructor Su Qing.

"Because I have already reached it once."

Instructor Su Qing didn't ask further.

She could feel the certainty in Lin Qi's words, as if he were stating a fact.

"Fine."

Instructor Su Qing stood up.

"I still have to keep an eye on the Academy. The Vice President has been conducting comprehensive checks recently. It's hard to handle if they watch too closely."

"Wait a moment."

Lin Qi took something out of his pocket and tossed it to her.

Instructor Su Qing caught it. It was the Sword Intent seed gifted by Sword Saint Ye Qingtian. Silver light points rose and fell in her palm, containing complex insights into the Dao of the Sword.

"This is Teacher Ye's Sword Intent! You..."

"It's not of much use to me. Keep it."

"You are not a Sword Cultivator, but the Shadow Dancer path emphasizes close combat. Sword Saint Ye Qingtian's techniques for using spatial Laws have reference value for improving your speed and evasion."

Instructor Su Qing gripped the Sword Intent seed, bowing her head to look at the silver light in her palm, silent for a long time.

"...I thank you on behalf of Teacher Ye."

"Don't thank me. This is business. If you become stronger, it benefits me, and it will be easier to lift your curse when the time comes."

The corners of Instructor Su Qing's mouth moved, very slightly.

"Business is business."

She put away the seed, turned, and left.

Zhang Wei watched her leave, and after confirming the secret door was closed, he let out a long sigh.

"Brother Qi."

"Hmm."

"Why didn't you tell Instructor Su Qing about that discovery in the chip just now?"

Lin Qi glanced at him.

"You noticed?"

"I've been with you for so long. When you say nothing, it usually means you've encountered something truly major."

Zhang Wei rubbed his chin. "When you looked at the bottom-layer data of that chip, your eyes blinked, and then you put the thing away."

"You are smarter than I imagined."

"Heh heh."

"So just continue being your CFO. Knowing too much about some things is not a good thing."

The laughter stopped abruptly.

"...Alright."

He sensibly didn't ask again and began to clear the mess on the table.

Lin Qi sat back down and closed his eyes.

That code.

The underlying code of "martial arts era" appeared in a chip in this world.

The most direct inference: there is some underlying connection between this world and that game.

Being even bolder, could this world itself be a "game" in some sense?

And who is that mysterious person who claims to be trapped in a cage?

A player? An NPC? Or the creator?

He took a deep breath.

These questions are too big, and there isn't enough information to make a judgment right now.

But one thing is certain.

He needs to get stronger faster.

Tongshen Realm.

The seventh and final hurdle of the seven martial arts Realms.

Skin Refining, Flesh Refining, Tendon Refining, Bone Refining, Blood Changing, Organ Refining, Tongshen.

He is currently stuck at the Perfection of the Organ Refining Realm, just one step away from Tongshen.

But this step is harder than all the previous steps combined.

Tongshen: using the Physical Body to communicate with the Laws of heaven and earth, completely integrating oneself into the rules of the world's operation.

But he is a Blank Slate, an anomaly rejected by the world.

How can he integrate into a System that is trying to erase him?

Unless.

He does not integrate into the Laws of this world, but replaces them with his own Laws.

"My Body is the World."

Lin Qi opened his eyes.

This might be the answer.