Golden Crow and Black Flood Dragon

Zhao Meng pulled his gaze away from the microscope, his heart churning with stormy waves.

When he looked again at the bean-sized Buddha's Sarira in the crystal container, it appeared utterly ordinary, not at all eye-catching. Yet the image he had just seen beneath the microscope lingered in his mind like a nuclear bomb exploding through his thoughts. How could he possibly view it with a normal heart now?

Seeing even Zhao Meng so horrified, the other leaders of the research team, including Xie Tianshu, stepped forward one after another with grave, puzzled expressions to examine the Buddha's Sarira, wanting to see what earth-shattering secret it concealed.

After everyone had taken a look in turn.

Laboratory 705 fell into dead silence.

One of the older research team leaders rolled his eyes and nearly fainted stiffly on the spot. Fortunately, he was discovered in time and carried to a seat by Zhao Meng and Xie Tianshu to rest.

It severely defied all common sense, completely overturning everything they knew.

The worldview they had built over decades within the framework of science came crashing down at this moment.

Professor Xu had recovered. He stared reverently at the Buddha's Sarira beneath the microscope and asked in a grief-stricken voice, "What exactly is going on? How can the microscopic world be like this? The microscopic world I understood was germs, cells, atoms, molecules... Why? Why does the microscopic world have such an... unimaginable corner?"

The elderly research team leader asked weakly, "In the microscopic realm on Earth, beyond the reach of the naked eye, is this the norm, or is only this one place like this?"

If Earth's Microscopic World was so terrifying, then what kind of planet were they living on?

And what connection was there between the Microscopic World and the macroscopic world?

Director Yang found it difficult to answer. Though he had studied it for decades, he still knew very little about the Microscopic World.

However... he did know that before Laboratory 705, there had been four other beyond-cognition projects: Project 701, Project 702, Project 703, and Project 704. Each project proceeded independently and carried an extremely high level of secrecy. They knew only of one another's existence.

Zhao Meng said, "Buddha's Sarira itself is highly unusual. It is a treasure of Buddhism. The Bronze Ship resting upon it may have been inevitable rather than accidental."

"Buddhism speaks of one flower, one world; one leaf, one Tathagata. It is very possible that some eminent Buddhist monk had long seen through the secret of the Sarira and thus left behind those words."

Zhao Meng's eyes never left Buddha's Sarira. The longer he looked, the more familiar it seemed, until a flash of inspiration struck his mind.

Right!

The fish eye on the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish was nearly identical in shape and size to this Sarira.

Only, the Dao Ancestor's brow bone was pale cyan, while Buddha's Sarira was light red.

Could it really be such a coincidence?

Could the missing fish eye of the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish be Buddha's Sarira?

Unlike these old scholars, Xie Tianshu was neither anguished nor lost. Strange light gleamed in his eyes. He came from a powerful family; ever since childhood, there had been nothing he wanted that he could not obtain. So long as money could buy it, it was almost within arm's reach.

His participation in the Arctic expedition had really been to gild himself with a layer of gold and add a pleasing entry to his résumé, making it easier for him to gain recognition in cultural and scientific circles in the future.

That was precisely why he had been so unwilling to accept losing the competition for First Mate to Zhao Meng.

Young masters from powerful families like him had exceptionally high thresholds. The appearance of the Bronze Ship and the opening of the mysterious door had undoubtedly given him an enormous thrill.

He was feverishly excited. "A Sarira is as vast and magnificent as a planet. On the Bronze Ship, there is clearly an enormous corpse much like the Phoenix of myth. The other python corpse has a horned crown growing from its head. It absolutely can no longer be considered a python—it has transformed into the Flood Dragon of legend."

"Everyone, does this mean ancient myths were not fabricated legends? That immortality, flying through the heavens and burrowing through the earth, all truly existed?"

"The ancient world of myth may have been even more glorious and brilliant than the legends say. It was merely that some unknown force erased its traces, and it was forgotten, overturned."

"Now, traces of that erased mythological age have been found again! In the microscopic realm, in the Microscopic World!"

"Myth has never truly gone away! Where are the traces of other myths?"

No one could answer. All of them pondered amid their shock.

Xie Tianshu's excitement did not diminish. He continued, "I heard that drinking Phoenix blood can grant eternal life. If we can salvage this Bronze Ship into Earth's macroscopic world, or if we descend into the microscopic realm, does that mean we can gain immortality? Gain extraordinary power to rule the Earth?"

Director Yang shook his head. "Actually... that is not a Phoenix corpse. It should be the corpse of a Golden Crow, because it has three legs. In mythology, the Golden Crow represents the sun and destruction. Drinking its blood would most likely not grant immortality. Instead, one would vanish into ashes and smoke."

Laboratory 705 had observed this Buddha's Sarira and the Bronze Ship for decades, constantly deducing, researching, and excavating every detail. What they understood was far beyond anything the others could glean from a brief observation.

Zhao Meng looked at Director Yang and said, "I'm curious. Is this really Buddha's Sarira? I feel that it is more like a planet from the macroscopic world, compressed into the microscopic realm."

"Right. If it really is Buddha's Sarira, doesn't that mean the Buddha cultivated an entire planet, an entire world, inside his body?" After Professor Xu said this, he felt as though he no longer recognized himself.

How had he become so mystical and superstitious too?

"There was more than one Buddha's Sarira! It is said that after the Buddha died, the Sariras his disciples found amid the ashes filled eight hu and four dou," Xie Tianshu said.

Captain Gao Xin said, "Director Yang, you should explain why Laboratory 705 came to the Arctic. And why did you conclude that those two vicious beasts were drawn here by Buddha's Sarira?"

At the thought of that terrifying Bear-like creature and the even more terrifying giant monster Nine-Infant beneath the ship, everyone's thoughts were instantly dragged back to cruel reality.

Their sense of crisis became even stronger than before.

It was like a group of mortals swept into a struggle between Gods and Devils, leaving them with the dejection and helplessness of being as tiny as dust.

Director Yang gathered his thoughts and said, "As Second Mate Xie said, quite a few higher-ups who know of Laboratory 705's existence want immortality and extraordinary power. They have constantly pressured us to find a way to salvage the Bronze Ship into Earth's macroscopic world."

"For decades, we studied countless ancient texts, searched for every object related to the Buddha, used all kinds of scientific instruments, and tried innumerable methods, but the Bronze Ship showed no reaction whatsoever."

"Until this year, during one long-distance journey, we accidentally discovered that the sailcloth on the Bronze Ship's mast had actually turned."

At this point, someone could not resist examining the Bronze Ship beneath the microscope again.

Director Yang continued, "Later, after repeated tests, we discovered that the angle of the ship's sailcloth changed with latitude. The higher the latitude, the straighter the sailcloth turned."

"According to our calculations, if we brought it to the North Pole, at ninety degrees north latitude, the sailcloth on the mast would turn completely straight."

Xie Tianshu said excitedly, "What happens once it turns fully straight? Will it raise its sails and set off?"

"That is possible. That is why we came to test it," Director Yang said.

"Now... aren't all the sailcloths on the ship straight already?" the person looking through the microscope said.

"Because we are already very, very close to the North Pole."

Director Yang's expression visibly grew excited as he continued, "Just last night, when the sailcloth was almost completely straight, the Bronze Ship began to sway slightly. Strange patterns of mountains and seas appeared in the space around its hull, as though... another unfathomable world was unfolding."

Bang!

"So last night was not a fire at all. The Bronze Ship shook the Dragon Extreme? You were hiding the truth!" A research team leader slammed the table and spoke angrily.

Professor Xu suddenly understood. "I see now. The fluctuation from the Bronze Ship last night drew the Bear-like creature and Nine-Infant here. What do we do now? Those two vicious beasts are not something we can fight. Should we turn back immediately and stay away from the North Pole? Or throw Buddha's Sarira into the sea and abandon this calamity?"

"No!"

Xie Tianshu's eyes flickered uncertainly. After thinking for a moment, he said, "We've already been targeted. If we turn back, Nine-Infant beneath the ship may launch an attack ahead of time. With its power, the Research Vessel will be dragged into the depths in an instant, and everyone will die without even a burial place."

"As for Buddha's Sarira, it is a treasure of humanity on Earth. It might even be able to restart the mythological age. How can we simply abandon it? Besides, the two vicious beasts may not have been drawn here by it. That is only our speculation!"

"How about this... I'll take the risk."

"I'll carry Buddha's Sarira and leave by helicopter, drawing the danger away from the Research Vessel."

Zhao Meng laughed. "You really have a fine plan! If the danger truly comes from Buddha's Sarira, then taking a helicopter means you need not fear the Bear-like creature on land or Nine-Infant in the sea. And if the danger does not come from Buddha's Sarira, even better—you take the treasure and escape the danger as well."

"Zhao Meng, stop slandering me! I have no selfish motives. I only want the crew of the Research Vessel to survive," Xie Tianshu said.

"Fine! Since that's the case, Buddha's Sarira will be entrusted to you," Zhao Meng said.

Xie Tianshu froze slightly, unable to understand why Zhao Meng had suddenly changed his tune.

Listening to the dense barrage of ice and snow pelting the hull outside like bullets, Zhao Meng said, "The blizzard is here. The helicopter definitely cannot take off. Since you, Xie Tianshu, possess such a spirit of sacrifice, then take Buddha's Sarira and leave the ship. Help us lure the danger away. Aren't you unwilling to let humanity's treasure be lost? Then from here on, it will be up to you to protect it."

Hearing the savage, shrieking wind and snow outside, Xie Tianshu's face darkened. "Are you insane? In a blizzard like this, even without the Bear-like creature, going outside is a dead end. Would you dare go out yourself?"

Zhao Meng cast him a mocking glance, then his expression turned solemn. "Who said I wouldn't?"

He looked at Captain Gao Xin and Director Yang. "Leaders, we have only two choices now. Either throw Buddha's Sarira into the sea and abandon this great calamity, or let me take the risk. If I survive by some stroke of luck, that is naturally for the best. If I die in the blizzard, you can install a locator on Buddha's Sarira beforehand and use the signal to find it."

This time, Xie Tianshu did not argue with Zhao Meng!

Because he could see that Zhao Meng was serious.

Director Yang had studied Buddha's Sarira for decades. Now that the Bronze Ship had finally shown signs of movement, how could he willingly hand it over to a vicious beast?

Buddha's Sarira was more important to him than his own life.

"Then..."

Director Yang had only just opened his mouth.

Boom!

Rumble!

From above the ship came first a dull impact, followed by the sound of the hull shattering like dry wood.

Then came a series of explosions.

The hull shook violently, each sound more deafening than the last.

Inside Laboratory 705, everyone's faces changed drastically.

"It really didn't leave. It's back!"

"Why are there explosions? Who brought explosives aboard the ship?"