Nothing but Self-Deception
In the central region of the Azure Nether Ocean, within the Third Research Institute of the Sea Race, the Sea Race Psychic Energy Application Research Base.
It was already past midnight, but most of the research buildings inside the institute were still lit up.
For Sea Race live on the seabed year-round, the time to rest is not determined by the sound of a clock.
Instead, they look at the lights-out time or whether their current tasks have been completed in stages.
Otherwise, you can't just abandon an experiment you're halfway through and go to sleep, can you?
Then the person in charge of your project will put you to eternal sleep.
Such people, who waste time and resources, will not be dismissed from their positions in highly confidential Laboratories.
However, they might be expelled from the biology program.
Therefore, almost everyone in the research institute works overtime, and many people are frequent all-nighters.
At this moment, Cheng Yimu and her senior sister, who are located in front of an outer laboratory building, are among the many regulars who stay up all night.
She stood in a section of sandy seabed that had been cordoned off, with the surrounding laboratory buildings some distance away from her.
This is not exclusion or a lack of attention; projects that are able to enter the three major research institutes of the Sea Race are all important projects that have been approved by His Majesty.
As long as research progress is made, resources will not be lacking.
Therefore, the research building where Cheng Yimu is located is on the periphery and relatively independent, which is to make room for the sandy area where she is now standing.
That was an experimental sandy area used for breeding improved varieties of seagrass.
The seaweed forests that the Sea Race currently use to cover their breeding sites and research institutes are one of the achievements of their project team.
She walked on the sand, observing and recording the nighttime conditions of the experimental plants.
On one side, she chatted with her senior sister who was preparing for the next round of fertilization.
Why are there so many more people staying up all night tonight?
Cheng Yimu lowered the measuring tape with one hand and gently straightened the seaweed leaf with the other.
She was measuring the plant's height while asking a question.
"It's not even the end of the year yet, and they've already started offering reading materials?"
Not far behind her, in a seaweed forest outside the experimental area, the seaweed leaves rippled strangely.
Outside the sandy area, a senior student picked up a flexible biofilm and was injecting fertilizer into it with a syringe.
While busy, he replied, "Hey, didn't the experimental data arrive overnight? Of course I couldn't sit still, so I processed it right away."
"Huh? Which project team is it? They need the experimental data at this time."
Cheng Yimu was stunned for a moment, then decided to ask.
So that my younger siblings won't have to choose that subject in the future.
You asked why we added "also".
Because she would first tell them not to choose their own major.
As her thoughts wandered, her senior sister's voice came through the seaweed seedlings once again.
"It seems to be the Water-Gathering Formation improvement project team from the North District's array formation area."
She paused, then lowered her voice, "I heard that quite a few researchers died because of that data."
"Holy shit!"
Cheng Yimu was shocked by the shocking news that followed, and immediately covered her mouth after realizing what had happened.
She no longer cared about measuring the plant's height; she dashed over to her senior sister, squatted down, and asked in a low voice.
"What's going on? Collecting data led to a murder case?"
"Wasn't your trip to the Moonfall Continent quite smooth?"
The senior colleague continued working, but her voice dropped even lower as she answered.
"I heard that they were worried about the high probability of randomness in a single data collection, so they wanted to collect data again, and that's why they went to the front line on the south bank of the Kaiyang Continent."
"The data was just transmitted back in the first half of the night, and we were all ready to say we were withdrawing."
"As you know, the situation in the Kaiyang Continent isn't good."
"Shortly afterward, everyone lost contact, and when we checked their biometrics, they were already dead."
At this point, the senior sister sighed, Cheng Yimu also felt a pang of regret.
What outsiders don't know is that these internal researchers actually have some understanding of the various project teams.
Those who get in and are then sent out to collect data are basically the elite of the elite.
I'm not referring to ability, but rather academic level.
A number of people died; that's a huge loss.
They continued to talk in hushed tones about which project teams still had personnel seconded overseas.
A flash of scarlet appeared briefly in the distant, dense seagrass forest.
Cheng Yimu keenly sensed the situation in the seaweed forest and suddenly turned around to look into the distance.
There was nothing in the seagrass forest.
"What's wrong?"
Her senior sister was puzzled, but she also put down her work and turned her head to look at the seaweed forest.
"It's nothing, it's nothing, it must be my imagination."
"Hurry up and finish measuring the plant height, then go back and get some rest. You're even hallucinating from staying up all night."
"Okay!"
Cheng Yimu also felt that after staying up all night for three consecutive days, it was time to get a good night's sleep.
The seaweed forest was gently disturbed again the instant she turned her head, before returning to calm.
Having obtained the information they sought, the lurking hunter turned and headed towards the northern section of the research base.
Cheng Yimu stood up and jumped around to warm up her legs, which were feeling a bit numb from squatting.
She picked up the measuring tape and the Recording Device again, and continued speaking.
"It seems the command of that battle is in trouble."
Indeed, the Second Prince Yuan Yuan is currently receiving treatment at the Imperial Medical Academy in the Dragon Palace.
He also felt that he was facing a great disaster.
He was nearing the final clan trial, but his body was completely damaged and unusable.
As long as the soul of Dragon Spirit Species remains intact, it can rebuild its cultivation even after abandoning its old physical body.
However, no matter how fast the reconstruction is done, it still takes time.
Furthermore, not just any body can accommodate the soul of Spirit Race; he would need to create a new body.
After a while, he naturally became unable to attend on time.
Originally, the purpose of provoking war on the south bank of the Kaiyang Continent was to increase the leverage during the final public vote to elect the Crown Prince.
As a result, Yin City was not captured, and the trial will also be missed.
Trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead—that's a perfect example.
"No, we can't just do nothing."
He won over almost all the officials, but then he was prevented from making the final push?
What kind of nonsense is this!
The Yuan Yuan soul resided in a temporary container radiating pure Psychic Energy.
The container was placed on a golden platform that could gather Psychic Energy.
Although the soul was slightly dimmed due to its injury, it was still as exquisitely crafted as dark crystal.
The dragon's horns, head, scales, and four claws are clearly visible.
His fully transformed dragon soul is a symbol of his status as a member of the Dragon Spirit Species Royal Family.
As long as he is alive, he has the right to participate in the competition for the throne.
"Someone come here!"
The clear dragon's roar was transmitted through the soul, summoning the attendants guarding outside the palace gates.
"Your Highness."
The attendant respectfully stepped in, then knelt before the golden platform holding the vessel, his gaze lowered, not daring to look directly at the dragon's might.
"Go and summon the Princess Consort."
"Yes."
Yuan Yuan dismissed the servant without saying anything more.
This isn't his territory; the more he says, the more mistakes he'll make.
The immediate priority is to contact his subordinates and have them contact the Second Research Institute.
While creating a temporary body might trigger an rejection reaction, the current situation doesn't allow us to afford that risk.
He knew better than anyone that this defeat had already cost him the support of the Third Research Institute.
The First Research Institute had been collaborating with his "good younger brother" Yuanli for a long time.
Originally, he planned to send a large number of Human Race to the Second Research Institute, which was in dire need of experimental subjects, after occupying Yin City.
But now the plan has fallen through.
He needs to do something before Yuanli is won over to the Second Research Institute.
In the midst of his brainstorming session, Yuan Yuan instinctively overlooked something, something he didn't want to remember.
The First and Second Research Institutes were established a long time ago, and the two have collaborated extensively.
Having won over the First Research Institute, how could they not have connections with the Second Research Institute?
He's just fooling himself.