823: Can we still fight side by side?

Shi Sheng scratched his head twice, interrupting He Tianci's endless stream of words:

"Old He, I made a major discovery after 'contracting' an Extreme Cold Creature."

The arrogant expression on He Tianci's face vanished instantly, replaced by a serious and earnest look.

This was the most basic respect a researcher had for a new discovery:

"What did you discover?"

Shi Sheng replied straightforwardly:

"First, after contracting an Extreme Cold Creature, just as you said, the Extreme Cold Creature neutralizes our innate abilities and Qi and blood power, allowing them to go from being completely distinct to now blending perfectly, erupting with even greater power."

"Second, after contracting the first Extreme Cold Creature at the Transcendent Realm Early Stage, my Qi and blood circulation speed—that is, my explosive power and Cultivate speed—increased by approximately 30%."

"Third, after contracting the second Extreme Cold Creature, the two Extreme Cold Creatures showed signs of Fusion, and my Cultivate speed increased by another 6% on top of the original base."

"Fourth, after contracting, I can confirm that weak Extreme Cold Creatures indeed only possess weak behavioral instincts and lack self-awareness."

"But it's hard to say once they become stronger."

"Fifth, with my current martial arts strength, I can at most contract about 108 Extreme Cold Creatures at the Transcendent Realm Early Stage, or one Extreme Cold Creature at the Transcendent Realm Middle Stage."

"Once I exceed this number, or forcibly contract an Extreme Cold Creature at the Transcendent Realm Late Stage, there's a high probability I'll turn into an ice sculpture."

After Shi Sheng finished speaking, He Tianci, who had been waiting for two seconds on the other end, didn't receive any new information and couldn't help but speak up:

"Little Shi, you were too impatient."

"I haven't researched contracting multiple Extreme Cold Creatures yet, nor have I verified the safety of doing so. How could you rush to try it?"

"What if you encountered danger?"

"I know you want to help Lin Mo and want to fight side by side with Yang Dian, but this isn't the way to go about it."

After scolding Shi Sheng a little, He Tianci continued:

"However, the information you brought back is very helpful to me. I now have a direction for my subsequent research."

"The Five Elements generate and destroy each other; ice is a variant of the Water Element, but it is also an independent Dao rule. Perhaps the next research direction..."

He Tianci's voice grew quieter and quieter, until even with Shi Sheng pricking up his ears, he couldn't hear it anymore.

"Old He? Old He?"

He Tianci, jolted back to reality by Shi Sheng's calling, huffed angrily:

"I do have research ideas for the next step, but unverified research ideas represent danger."

"Before I complete the verification, don't even think about getting the next research ideas from me."

"I'm going to do research. If there are new discoveries, have Jingwei call me."

Hearing the busy signal from his wristband, a dazed Shi Sheng couldn't help but smile bitterly.

'Was I that obvious?'

While asking himself this in confusion, he saw Yao Tian beside him with her ears pricked up and couldn't help but reach out and knock on her head.

"Bang~"

The crisp mechanical knocking sound echoed far away, and Yao Tian, who was neurally bridged with her mecha, subconsciously clutched her throbbing head.

But no matter how much her head hurt, it couldn't extinguish her curiosity:

"So, Team Leader Shi, am I really a member of the same squad as General Yang?"

"And who is Lin Mo? Goddess of the Sea? Why haven't I heard you mention them?"

"I wanted to view the information on our Seventh Squad captain, but the AI warned me that my clearance wasn't high enough."

"How is our captain's confidentiality clearance even higher than General Yang's?"

Shi Sheng first looked at the Extreme Cold Creature that was still circling him like a Yunnan local who had found a campfire, then looked at Yao Tian:

"The information you can find is only the information the organization allows you to see."

"Yes, you can see Little Yang's past information, but can you find out that Little Yang was personally recruited by me, and how long he stayed in our squad?"

"You can't find that."

After being a little arrogant, Shi Sheng said with some emotion:

"As for our captain Lin Mo, of course, he isn't the Goddess of the Sea; he just happens to share the same name."

"However..." At this point, Shi Sheng curled the corners of his mouth:

"He is also a Sea God."

Yao Tian's eyes lit up; it seemed she had come into contact with some incredible information:

"Team Leader Shi, Team Leader Shi, tell me about it."

"Tell you my ass!" Shi Sheng knocked Yao Tian's head again, then closed his eyes for a moment.

A moment later, his face noticeably paler, he opened his eyes and looked at Yao Tian:

"I have left a martial arts mark in the Martial Arts Plaza within the territory map and have granted you access."

"The 'Induction Contract Rune' is still in the research phase and hasn't been officially released; it carries uncertain risks."

"If you are willing, go and comprehend it. These two Extreme Cold Creatures are for you."

"If you're not willing, forget it."

Yao Tian blinked:

"Then, Team Leader Shi, if I contract an Extreme Cold Creature, can I fight side by side with General Yang?"

Shi Sheng was stunned for a moment, then smiled:

"Want to fight side by side with him?"

Yao Tian puffed out her chest:

"Who wouldn't want to fight side by side with the General and battle on the front line of humanity's defense?"

Shi Sheng put away his smile and promised earnestly:

"If your Cultivate speed and speed of becoming stronger can catch up to his, you will definitely be able to fight side by side with him."

Yao Tian also put away her smile, becoming extremely solemn:

"Then, Team Leader Shi, leave these two Extreme Cold Creatures to me."

After saying this, she closed her eyes directly, communicated her consciousness with the territory map, and began to comprehend the martial arts mark Shi Sheng had just left in the Martial Arts Plaza.

As Yao Tian closed her eyes, Shi Sheng subconsciously cast his gaze toward the azure deep space of the Universe, his eyes becoming somewhat dazed again.

"Can we still fight side by side? ..."

...

Amidst Shi Sheng's muttering, Yang Dian, who had just left Earth and arrived at the other end of the Extreme Cold Zone, was preparing to have the Dimension Butterfly open a space channel when he felt something and looked toward the direction of Earth.

Under the intertwining of fate, his gaze traversed a distance of several light-years, passing through the entire Extreme Cold Zone, and landed on Shi Sheng, who was full of emotions in the area next to Earth's new crust.

"Fight side by side?"

"There will be a chance."

After muttering this, Yang Dian guided his hand to his brow again, summoning the Dimension Butterfly.

"Open one leading to Azurewave..."

At this point, Yang Dian paused, then changed his tone:

"Open a space channel leading to the Canglan Star system, to the location of the Little Star God."

"Open the space channel right above the Little Star God's head."

As his voice faded, the Dimension Butterfly resting on Yang Dian's fingertip flapped its wings.

Then, layers upon layers of butterflies flew out from it, scattering endless starlight in the lonely, deep blue space of the Universe.

The endless starlight converged in the starry sky, finally condensing into a huge void that appeared perfectly circular whether viewed from left, right, front, back, or any direction.

As soon as the void formed, countless Extreme Cold Creatures in the vicinity that sensed the aura of a different realm appeared around the void as if teleporting, eyeing it covetously.

They were waiting for a gluttonous feast.