Chapter 144

The implication of this statement is, of course, that he will attend the party.

"Excuse me, may I bring my family members?"

Sakura hesitated for a moment, then said, "If possible, I would like to bring my sister with me."

Elysia immediately moved closer to Sakura and started talking to her.

Where is Su?

Kevin then looked at his friend beside him and asked, "You should be able to participate, right?"

"That depends on whether Doctor Ai Yue is willing to grant me leave,"

Su smiled and looked to the other side, "After all, the matter of Moon Mountain cannot be stopped without his consent."

"It's nothing, approved."

Ai Yue waved his hand and said, "I'll give you a blank leave slip later. You can fill in the dates yourself to decide how long you want to take leave."

His main reason for sending Su to the moon was actually to detect the approximate location of the Cocoon of Finality in advance, but now that the Stigmata Project is in place, things on the moon have become less important.

If Su is more attached to Earth, then it's fine for him not to go back.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly felt that everyone's eyes seemed to be focused on him.

"Everyone has expressed their opinion, so what about you, Ai Yue?"

Elysia asked proactively, "You'll come, right?"

Ai Yue paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Of course."

1

Chapter One: Unity of Spirit and Flesh.

Half a month after the end of the operation against the "The Eleventh Herrscher", at the Star of Light Experiment Base.

As always, Ai Yue and Mobius stayed in the laboratory, worrying about the experimental data in front of them.

"Even though there are already successful cases, it is still very difficult to find a stable breeding method."

Ai Yue scratched his head. "Mobius, try to recall again. Can you find any details?"

"Still reminiscing? I'm almost traumatized by it,"

Mobius rolled his eyes. "Don't you have any other tricks? You're no good either."

Ever since the "Stigmata Project" succeeded in Mobius's hands, this guy has become increasingly arrogant, especially after Ai Yue's many attempts ended in failure, Mobius's tone has become increasingly tough.

Clearly, she realized how valuable her success was, and she also understood that Ai Yue now needed to rely on her.

"I've really hit a bottleneck."

Ai Yue sighed, readily admitting his defeat. "Could it be that the Stigmata Project has different activation conditions for different people? Does that mean there's no way to summarize universal experience?"

After obtaining the sample data from Mobius, Ai Yue realized even more clearly that the Stigmata he had researched were actually quite different from the Stigmata that were born in the original story.

While both share certain similarities, Ai Yue's version of the Stigmata is more complex and powerful, as evidenced by the fact that Mobius could easily trap a Herrscher using the Stigmata Space.

However, this also made it difficult for Ai Yue to improve the Stigmata Project with his experience and knowledge. His existing knowledge reserves seemed to have completely lost their use in the current project, so now he could only rely on the system and study the situation of Mobius himself.

"I don't think so. I think it's just that there's something we haven't discovered yet."

Mobius shook his head. "After all, I didn't research according to your suggested plan. I achieved my goal through my own methods, didn't I?"

"That's the problem,"

Ai Yue repeatedly looked through the data in his hand. "Theoretically, your method is actually very difficult to succeed. If you can explain the details of when it succeeds, then we will at least have a research direction. Right now, we haven't even found a way to continue optimizing it."

"No matter what, let's just start experimenting."

Mobius touched a glass on the lab bench with her finger, and a drop of dark green, liquid-like substance immediately dripped from her fingertip. "Imagination alone certainly won't solve the problem."

As she spoke, she yawned.

"Tired? It hasn't been that long..."

Looking at Mobius's reaction, Ai Yue subconsciously glanced at the time. "Why do you seem to have less energy than before lately?"

"Who knows? Maybe it's a side effect of the Stigmata Project?"

Mobius shook his head. "Nothing happens when we're not doing experiments. Could it be that the numerous experiments we did before caused me stress?"

"It's probably not that simple, otherwise you would have reacted by now."

Ai Yue smiled, then sent the dark green substance in the container into the analytical instrument. "To be honest, this machine feels a bit inadequate. Maybe we should upgrade the equipment tomorrow."

Mobius didn't say anything. Ai Yue turned his head and glanced at her, only to find that she had actually fallen asleep to the side.

Is that really so exaggerated?

Ai Yue shook his head, but didn't wake her up. He could control the equipment in the lab by himself, and he would just call her when the results were ready.

However, at that moment, there was a knock on the laboratory door. Ai Yue went to open the door and found Aponia standing outside.

She took another two days off and is staying here.

"It's already very late."

Aponia spoke directly, "I understand the importance of the project, but you should all take a break."

"Wait a little longer. This round of experiments has already started. It would be a waste if we didn't finish it soon."

Ai Yue said in a low voice, while gesturing for Aponia to look to the side, "But this guy does seem a bit out of energy, why don't you take her to her room first?"

"I think she definitely won't agree."

Aponia glanced at Mobius. "Besides, these are symptoms of overexertion, aren't they? Are your experiments really that mentally taxing?"

"No way, they're all fully automatic..."

Ai Yue blurted out instinctively, then paused, "Overexertion? What overexertion?"

Just as Ai Yue said, the equipment in the laboratory is basically fully automated. They only need to do some work such as placing materials and checking data. As far as the Fused Warrior are concerned, this kind of experiment can actually last for three days and three nights without much of a problem.

"It's hard to describe, after all, Mobius no longer has any spiritual power; in its place is a new... um, life force?"

Aponia thought for a moment, then said, "Have you given this new thing a name?"

Ai Yue looked at Aponia with a blank expression, then suddenly realized that he might have made a very basic mistake.

The reason he discovered the Stigmata Factor in the first place was because he sensed the presence of spiritual energy within it. However, after Mobius completed the Stigmata Awakening, he could no longer detect anything related to spiritual energy in the substances extracted from her body, which was clearly abnormal.

But they actually skipped this question and went on to analyze the specific components and synthesis route of this substance?

If Aponia, a psychic, hadn't brought this up today, Ai Yue and Mobius wouldn't know when they would have been able to start thinking about this issue.

"Describe it in detail, Aponia."

Realizing that this might be the key to the problem, Ai Yue pulled Aponia into the laboratory. "What life force?"

"That's what Mobius currently possesses,"

Aponia was still somewhat bewildered, not understanding why Ai Yue was suddenly so excited about this matter. "After that battle, I could no longer sense any fluctuations of spiritual power from Mobius. Instead, I sensed something that was closely intertwined with her life."

"Closely intertwined with life..."

Ai Yue murmured to himself, "But the human body and spirit are inseparable, aren't they?"

"Even though they are inseparable, they are still two different things,"

Aponia said, "But the current Mobius is more like a complete fusion of body and spirit, resulting in some kind of... well, in her own words, evolution?"

"What evolution?"

Mobius, as if catching a key phrase, suddenly snapped to attention. "Aponia? What are you doing here?"

"Here, so you can get some rest."

Aponia glanced at Mobius, then at Ai Yue, whose expression was one of excitement, and then sighed, "But now it seems to have the opposite effect."

2

Chapter Two: The Possibility of Becoming Light

Aponia's premonition was absolutely correct.

Her phrase "a complete fusion of body and spirit" clearly awakened a long-dormant plan in Ai Yue's heart, namely the "Species Ascension Project" triggered by the "Plasma Spark Tower".

In this plan, people will be able to undergo a life leap from flesh and blood to Giant of Light through the miracle triggered by the "Plasma Spark Tower," becoming a powerful race capable of dominating the universe.

However, due to various reasons, the project has been shelved, resulting in the entire plan's progress being completely zero.

In fact, if Ai Yue were willing, he could already begin developing the "Plasma Spark Tower" right now— the Herrscher's powers are so incredibly convenient that they can replace many of the necessary technologies in the system with this cheat-like method.

But there was one problem that was the key obstacle preventing the project from starting—the lack of "light".

This light does not simply refer to the light emitted by the sun or any other star, but rather the key substance that enables flesh and blood to transform into Giant of Light. Without this substance, the Plasma Spark Tower is nothing more than a man-made energy base.

This special substance is also extremely crucial in the stories associated with it. Whether it's enabling humans to transform into Giant of Light or developing weapons and equipment that can utilize the power of Giant of Light, research into this special substance is indispensable.

It is precisely because of this lack that Ai Yue has been unable to develop any related technology. After all, no matter how powerful the system is, it still needs the most basic materials to operate. Without the most basic "1", no matter how many zeros are written afterward, it will all be nothing.

However, this is, after all, a world of Honkai Energy. It is neither a Heisei Earth where humans possess the genes of warriors from an ancient civilization, nor Showa Earth where Giant of Light once visited, nor Reiwa Earth where Giant of Light frequently pass by in groups. It is simply impossible to extract light particles directly from such a place.

Therefore, if this plan is to be completed, this most crucial substance must be created by Ai Yue himself.

Creating a completely new substance from nothing is already incredibly difficult, let alone the fact that Ai Yue needs to work with a substance possessing such powerful properties.

Even with the help of the system, countless tech trees would need to be unlocked before there is any hope.

Therefore, considering the difficulty of this project, Ai Yue had no choice but to temporarily put it aside and focus his energy on projects that could solve the human predicament.

But he never forgot his dream, and that's why Aponia's words gave him such a strong stimulus.

Ai Yue had always thought that only after he had completely controlled the Cocoon of Finality and obtained the power of the "Finality" could he create such a special substance, but Aponia's words gave him a different idea.

Creating entirely new matter from nothing is indeed difficult, but what if we change our approach and evolve humanity into a life form similar to the Giant of Light through other means?

It is not that the Giant of Light, but rather that light came into being because the Giant of Light was born.

This line of thinking may sound like a nonsensical statement, but it actually represents two completely opposite approaches.

However, the Stigmata Project, to some extent, affirmed the correctness of this idea, because if Aponia's perception was not wrong, then Mobius's current life form clearly conformed to Ai Yue's imagination.

In Ai Yue's view, the reason why races like the Giant of Light are so powerful is that their life state simultaneously conforms to the characteristics of three completely different things: "Matter," "spirit," and "energy." To put it simply, they have perfectly integrated these three things together.

In this way, even if they are severely injured, they can recover by absorbing energy. When they are too weak to even maintain their physical form, they can use the characteristics of spiritual power to attach themselves to other living beings. When they need to use their power, they can also materialize their power and thus have a substantial body that can fight.

If Ai Yue can enable humanity to achieve the same level of evolution, then even if there are still fundamental differences between him and the Giant of Light, he can still achieve the same effect.

Mobius's current form clearly indicates that he has already taken the most crucial step.

This is assuming that Aponia's perception is correct.

"The fusion of mind and body?"

After listening to Ai Yue's explanation, Mobius frowned. "This explanation does seem to fit the current situation. In other words, the matter I separated is simultaneously consuming my mental and life force?"

"That's roughly how it can be understood,"

Ai Yue then extended a hand, "To verify this claim, we'll have to see if you can make your body exhibit the characteristics of spiritual power."

"That sounds weird, and I really don't know much about mental power..."

Mobius couldn't help but show a conflicted expression. She hesitated for a moment, then placed her hand on Ai Yue's hand. "Never mind, I'll give it a try first."

"Perhaps I can guide you a little?"

Aponia spoke up, extending a hand as she did so, "Please take my hand, Mobius."

Due to Mobius's current special circumstances, Aponia can only communicate with her on a spiritual level through direct contact.

Mobius did not hesitate and grabbed Aponia's hand—after all, in the realm of mental power, she was the true expert.

The two then engaged in a mental exchange that excluded Ai Yue, leaving Ai Yue to deduce what they were saying only from Mobius's constantly changing expressions.

Hmm, I don't understand it at all.

However, after a short while, Aponia's guidance yielded results. As Mobius opened his eyes, Ai Yue felt a lightness in his hand. He looked down and found that Mobius's hand, which had been resting on his, had strangely turned into some kind of dark green mist, which was now swirling around his hand.

"That's weird. Does this mean it's a success?"

Mobius subconsciously raised her hand, and the mist surged and reformed into her palm. Then, the next second, her entire arm turned into mist. "But what you said about Aponia is not quite the same, is it?"