119: Chapter 119: The Soul Can Be Split

Under Jiang Zhe's gradual guidance, even Xiao Yu herself found her own answer unbelievable.

"Brother, could it be that consciousness doesn't just exist in our minds, but is spread across every cell in our entire body?"

As soon as this conclusion was voiced, the livestream froze for a moment before the bullet chat exploded like a tidal wave.

"Holy crap, every single cell?"

"My god, this theory is way too freaking shocking, isn't it?"

"Does that mean when I lose hair, I'm losing bits of my soul?"

"Blood donation... damn. I used to hate fatty meat, but after a car accident, I received blood from a middle-aged guy and started loving it. Later I found out that guy was a butcher who loved fatty meat!!"

"..."

Such a concept clearly didn't exist in this world.

Most people believed consciousness resided only in the mind; once dead, consciousness would instantly collapse!

Inside Qingfeng Temple in the suburbs of Kyoto.

"That's impossible!" Zheng Ming frowned deeply, looking at Wang Chongyang. "Teacher, from the Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon to modern science, consciousness and spirit are always linked to the heart and brain. For Xiaoyu's brother to guide Xiao Yu to this conclusion is simply too sensational!"

"If we look at it this way, wouldn't people who have lost hands or feet have fragmented consciousness? That goes against common sense!"

Wang Chongyang's expression was solemn. "You're right. This theory is indeed shocking and unheard of. If consciousness were so dispersed, how could there be a concept of 'I', and what would 'I' even refer to?"

Celestial Master Zhang merely narrowed his eyes. Even he was startled by this conclusion.

At this moment, he could only think of consciousness being composed of the Three Souls and Seven Po, which could barely account for Jiang Zhe's claim that consciousness wasn't just in the brain.

Zhou Ming rested his right hand against his chin, pondering for a moment before speaking: "The transplant cases Xiaoyu's brother mentioned are indeed not uncommon in medicine; but I'm thinking of a more direct and persuasive case involving a 'double hand transplant'."

As he spoke, the curious gazes of the other three turned toward him, and Zhou Ming began his narration:

"About ten years ago, an international medical journal reported a classic case—a veteran who lost both hands in an accident underwent transplant surgery. The new hands came from a young painter who had died in a car crash."

"The surgery was very successful; the nerve connections and functional recovery were both excellent."

"But about six months later, this veteran, who originally had zero interest in art and even found holding a pen awkward, began to exhibit strange changes."

Zhou Ming's tone was calm, yet it made the listeners' hair stand on end:

"He began to involuntarily doodle lines on paper. At first, it was just mindless scribbling, but later the lines became clearer, and he even began to draw still-life outlines in a specific style."

"This style was later compared by art appraisal experts and found to be highly consistent with the unpublished practice works of that deceased artist."

"What's even harder to understand," Zhou Ming paused for a second and exhaled, "is that this veteran began to hate the grilled meat he used to love, and instead developed a mysterious craving for bitter fruit juices. Later, the family found out after some investigation—that painter had been a strict vegetarian in life and drank homemade fruit and vegetable juices year-round."

After he finished, the temple fell silent before Zheng Ming asked in a daze, "The habits of the transplanted hands could even carry over taste preferences?"

Wang Chongyang's eyes were filled with deep thought; he couldn't comprehend it.

Celestial Master Zhang took a deep breath. "This is somewhat baffling!"

Zhou Ming looked at Zheng Ming and nodded seriously. "In the past, medicine didn't think it was possible, but once this case appeared, it became so. In medicine, this theory is called cellular memory, or theories about the immune system and metabolism causing changes in taste..."

"In my view, these so-called medical theories are actually very crude. They are just trying to force a rational answer that everyone can accept onto these extraordinary events!"

"What makes this case special is that the transplanted hands are not core organs for maintaining life; yet they carried so much of the original owner's information."

"For example: muscle memory for painting and preferences for specific foods. I can agree with and understand the theory that muscle memory for painting can be transferred to the veteran. But what does the veteran transplanting the painter's hands have to do with taste? There's no connection at all!"

"He got the painter's hands, and as a result, it brought over the dietary habits and tastes? It's not like he got a tongue transplant—only the tongue can taste things and determine dietary habits. So this is simply incomprehensible."

"This case of mine proves even more than the cases Xiaoyu's brother mentioned—that [consciousness] doesn't just exist in the mind, but more broadly in every part of the entire body!!!" (Ps: These are all real cases, many of them)

At this moment, the room was completely silent.

The core of this case was: can someone else's hands change a transplant patient's diet?

It sounded as ridiculous as could be!

Yet, after the veteran received the painter's hands, even his tastes completely changed?

One must realize, there is absolutely no connection between hands and diet!!!

...

Gusu High School, Principal's Office.

The atmosphere here was clearly more lively!

"My god!" Principal Fu stood up abruptly. "If cells have consciousness, then with our metabolism replacing so many cells every day, aren't we dying every single day?"

Xiao Wang, beside him, was also full of shock. "If consciousness is in the entire body, then who am I? Or does 'I' always refer to the total sum of information carried within every inch of my body's cells?"

Old Wang was lost in thought, unable to figure it out no matter how hard he tried.

The biology teacher, Old Chen, said, "Actually, the Principal is right. Human cells are indeed completely replaced every few years. Then, as we age, most people's personalities change accordingly. Is it experience, knowledge, encounters, or even the environment that makes a person change from childish to mature? Or has that childish version of ourselves already died before the age of 12, and the current us is just a new 'us'?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the teachers in the office felt their scalps go numb.

Jiang Zhe was at least being gradual; you just straight up said we've all died many times?

Meanwhile, in the living room, on the sofa.

The lights were flickering slowly. Xiao Yu was dazed for a long time before sitting back down, her thoughts immersed in the idea of the soul being spread across every corner of the body.

After a long while, she shook her head. "No, that can't be right, Brother. Although the answer is a bit spooky, this shouldn't hold up, right?"

Facing Xiao Yu's question, Jiang Zhe didn't answer. Instead, he turned and walked into Xiao Yu's bedroom, took out a box of modeling clay, opened it, and took out two lumps—one white and one blue.

"Whether it holds up or not, just watch carefully."

He rolled the white clay in his palm, and within seconds, it became a roughly outlined but clearly limbed little person, which he stuck onto the table.

"Hypothesis: this little white person is your [physical body], Xiao Yu, and your soul is [inside] the little white person."

Then, using his fingertips, he gently pinched off the right arm of the little white clay person. The white figure became incomplete, and the separated arm lay on the table.

"Now, Xiao Yu, you are missing a right arm." He pointed at the little white person. "But the clay that makes up the arm is still there. However, for the remaining part of you, your nervous system will continuously send out a [missing arm] alarm—for example, Phantom Limb Pain!"

Xiao Yu held her breath, feeling a faint ache even in her right steel arm.

Phantom Limb Pain!

This example was too real!

People missing limbs do indeed feel Phantom Limb Pain.

Because the patient's brain thinks the missing part is gone, it causes that missing area to throb with pain. This ironclad evidence was undeniable!

Next, Jiang Zhe used his other hand to knead the blue clay into an identical little person in front of Xiao Yu. He also tore off the blue person's right arm and instead attached the little white person's right arm to it, kneading and blending them until the connection was seamless!

"Xiao Yu!" Jiang Zhe placed the little blue person on the table. "This right arm, which carries Xiao Yu's information, has become a part of the [little blue person]."

"Next, when the [little blue person's] own consciousness is operating, will it occasionally read the data in this little white person's hand—including past movement habits, or even residual memories and emotions?"

"Before, I didn't think it would—a transplanted hand could only bring muscle memory. But after seeing so many cases just now..." Xiao Yu couldn't help but swallow hard. "I feel like it would carry not just muscle memory, but even the original owner's memories and emotions; even though the transplanted hand has no connection to the original owner's head!"

"Exactly, it will, and very much so!" Jiang Zhe nodded slightly. "Now, don't be restricted by the so-called scientific frameworks of the outside world. Through this simple little demonstration of mine combined with real-world cases from around the globe, what have you discovered?"

"Speak the realization in your heart, no matter how inconceivable it is, no matter how much experts doubt it or try their best to explain why it's impossible—in reality, that is the truth!"

Seeing her brother's dead serious expression, Xiao Yu had to take it seriously. Finally, she exhaled a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly,

"Consciousness equals the soul, and the little white person's soul is missing the piece that was the right arm. Then, the little white person's right arm was installed onto the little blue person's right side."

"The little blue person then represents those transplant patients around the world—all those who have replaced arms, feet, or even organs... they have 100% obtained a part of the donor's [memories from within the brain and muscle movements following the organ transplant]!!"

"This directly proves one thing..."

As she spoke, Xiao Yu's pupils shrank, and her steel body began to shudder.

"What is it?" Jiang Zhe's pace of speech quickened.

"The soul..." Xiao Yu's vision blurred slightly, and her body shook uncontrollably—as if a lifelong self-perception was being shattered. After a long time, she finally summoned the courage to speak the answer: "It can absolutely be divided!"