Dark Star Fluctuations

After the meeting, Li Banfeng returned to his office, pondering Shen Jingye's future.

Did Shen Jingye really go to Gourd Village?

Those who went to Gourd Village had all experienced hardships that were unbearable in life. What hardships did Shen Jingye endure?

He's the head of the Dark Star Bureau; even getting into the elevator requires someone to hold the door open for him. If he dares to complain about hardship, there's a 99.9% chance he won't be able to live a normal life. Li Banfeng called Chen Changrui into his office, "What happened to the scars on Shen Jingye's face?"

"Director Li, when did you get those scars?"

"Just a couple of days ago, his face was wrapped in bandages, and he told me that his wife had squeezed a bump that had popped." "Well, I don't really know much about that..."

Li Banfeng frowned and said, "Director Shen has disappeared, and you still have the mind to play riddles with me?"

Chen Changrui carefully considered his words: "I did see Director Shen when he changed his dressing. It was a rather long incision. Based on my guess, it was probably caused by his wife."

Does this happen frequently?

Chen Changrui nodded slightly. "We talked about this before. His wife has a mental illness, and this isn't the first time she's hurt Director Shen." Li Banfeng had a general idea. "Gather all personnel and launch a city-wide search, in three shifts every day, without interruption."

Chen Changrui was stunned for a long time before lowering his voice and saying, "Director Li, if Director Shen really entered Gourd Village, we won't be able to find him in the city."

Li Qi frowned and said, "Who told you he went to Gourd Village? What did I say at the meeting? Director Shen is trapped in an unknown place while investigating the whereabouts of Gourd Village."

You must know what an "unnamed place" is, right? I don't know what it's called in your Outer State, but anyway, once you find an "unnamed place," you'll find Director Shen, and we'll start the operation immediately!

Chen Changrui quickly organized a team to go.

How do you find the unnamed place? Chen Changrui didn't know either.

Stealth Space, Dark Dimension Space, antimatter space, vector space, and asymmetric space can all be called unnamed places. In Outer State, there is no clear definition of unnamed places.

Fortunately, Chen Changrui understood Li Qi's intentions. The key task at hand was to make a big fuss.

Only by making a big fuss can we let the higher-ups know that the Dark Star Bureau is looking for Shen Jingye, not waiting for Shen Jingye. Shen Jingye may not have even entered Gourd Village. As for whether he went or not, we can only find out by going to Gourd Village.

Li Banfeng left the Dark Star Bureau, found a quiet street, took off the jade pendant from his neck, and held it tightly in his hand. A-Yi had said that as long as he put aside his immediate concerns, he could find the entrance to Gourd Village.

These were all short-term matters, and for the moment, Li Banfeng didn't feel there was anything to worry about. However, after two attempts, Li Banfeng couldn't enter Gourd Village.

What's going on? Who am I worrying about?

He tried to adjust his mindset and forget about what was happening in front of him. After trying six times, he finally saw the village road leading into the village. A cold wind blew by, carrying wisps of smoke; something terrible seemed to have happened in the village.

Li Banfeng walked quickly towards the village and saw A-Long catching fish in the river. He was holding a harpoon and looked calm and composed, as if nothing serious had happened. In the distance, there were many farmers working as usual.

A loud boom echoed, and the ground trembled slightly. Li Banfeng asked A-Long, "What happened?"

A-Long replied, "The Village Chief and his wife were fighting!" Li Banfeng was shocked. "They fought like this?"

A-Long said calmly, "They often do this. The Village Chief drives a tank and tries to kill his wife with one shot, but she goes into a tunnel and waits for an opportunity to snipe the Village Chief."

Li Banfeng sighed, "What could be so difficult between a couple that they have to resort to using a tank?"

A-Long also felt this was a lie. "Who says it isn't? Last time my wife and I got into a fight, I threw two grenades, and she fired a whole magazine of submachine guns. After that, we made up. Isn't that how couples are?"

After chatting for a while, Li Banfeng ran into A-Yun: "Has someone named Shen Jingye come to Gourd Village these past few days?"

A-Yun nodded. "Yes! This guy has a big ego. Judging from his demeanor, he seems to have been an official, but his rank shouldn't be higher than our Village Chief's."

On his first day there, he signed the contract and has already moved into Gourd Waist.

"The contract has been signed?"

Little Shen's situation is not quite what Li Banfeng expected.

A-Yun led Li Banfeng to Shen Jingye, Shen Jingye was drawing water from the well. He didn't notice Li Banfeng, but Li Banfeng could tell that Shen Jingye had never done this before. He was a cultivator, probably with a high level of cultivation, but he was losing his balance while drawing water and spilled quite a bit.

A-Yun said in a low voice, "Carrying water is not so bad. Didn't you see how he farms? He's so clumsy, it's unbearable to watch. That's why I said someone like him would never become the Village Chief."

This is not Shen Jingye's fault; how could the director of the Dark Star Bureau have ever farmed?

Seeing that his face was still wrapped in bandages, he was probably injured by his wife again before he left. It was probably because he suffered at his wife's hands that he was chosen by Gourd Village.

A-Yun asked Li Banfeng, "Do you want to say something to him?"

Li Banfeng shook his head and said, "Let's not talk about it, it's no use. How many days has he been staying here?"

Today is the fifth day.

With ten days left in the half-month period, whether to stay or leave is up to Shen Jingye to decide; no one can force him to do this.

"Where did Shen Jingye come from?"

A-Yun flipped through the account book. "He left a mark when he came in. He has to come out the same way he came in. I'll take you to see it next time."

Shen Jingye entered through the entrance of a restaurant on Yunsheng Road in Jiacheng District. Li Banfeng wandered around the roadside and saw Lu Family Bookstore.

Is this Boss Lu's business?

He sent Little Fatty into the wormhole, and Little Fatty had already told Li Banfeng about it.

To be honest, this can't be blamed on Boss Lu. If Li Banfeng had been followed by a stranger and the stranger had seen something he shouldn't have, Li Banfeng wouldn't have let the stranger off easily.

But Li Banfeng hadn't expected that Yu Yaoming was in Boss Lu's hands.

Shall we go inside the bookstore and take a look?

Just as Li Banfeng was about to push open the door, the projector flickered with light. "Seventh Director, there's a phone call, hehe!"

"If there's a phone, there's a phone. What are you laughing at?" Every time I went to Gourd Village, the projector was not working properly.

Li Banfeng found a quiet corner and went to answer the phone.

Inside the bookstore, Boss Lu tore up a manuscript and threw it into the wastebasket.

The sequel to "The Rusty Frost Collection" was clearly poorly written; even Boss Lu himself couldn't stand it. He looked out the window and muttered to himself, "Should I show the manuscript to him? Did Zhang Xiuling really receive any guidance from him?"

Li Banfeng was on the phone when he heard a call from Deputy Director Wang: "Director Guan asked me to inform you that a working group has been established by higher authorities to conduct a special investigation into Shen Jingye's case. Director Guan will be the group leader, and you will need to report to the group leader regularly."

Deputy Director Wang has always been subservient to Shen Jingye, but today he spoke so arrogantly.

It seems someone promised him that as long as Shen Jingye is brought down, a good position will probably be reserved for him.

Li Banfeng wasn't angry and replied calmly, "Wait a moment, I'll report the progress to Director Guan shortly." "Just be careful yourself," Deputy Director Wang, hanging up the phone.

Li Banfeng put his phone into the film compartment of the projector: "Let me give you a general overview of the script first." "No need for the script, I know the Dark Star Bureau's stuff inside and out, hehehe!"

"The task of reporting work is now assigned to you, every two hours, 24 hours a day."

The projector thought for a moment, "Two hours a day makes our work attitude seem unprofessional. Let's change it to once an hour. I really enjoy having more exchanges with Director Guan." Li Banfeng calculated the time. "Okay, but try not to make the reports exceed twenty minutes. Let's give Director Guan more time to rest."

At 3 p. m., the projector replied, "Seventh Director, Director Guan has blocked our number." Li Banfeng frowned and said, "This work attitude is not good. Change the number and keep calling."

"Seventh Director, after contacting Director Guan so many times, our phones have become 'friends,' though not the kind of close friendship we have."

I can't ask too much of him, but getting him to remove my phone number from the blacklist shouldn't be too difficult. Once it's released, with a little disguise, I believe Director Guan wouldn't refuse to listen.

"Okay, let's do it this way!"

Over the phone, the projector can make friends with the mobile phone on the other end.

I went to Gourd Village twice, and the projector seemed to have improved a lot. At 3:30 a. m., Guan Zhengyang's phone rang.

Upon seeing the number, it was a call from a superior. Logically, Director Guan should immediately sit up in bed, adjust his mental and vocal state, and then answer the phone.

Two hours earlier, the phone showed that the leader had called, but when he answered, it was Li Qi calling instead. Guan Zhengyang didn't know if it was a phone malfunction or a problem with the communication signal.

Should I accept the offer or not? I can't take the risk.

If it really was a call from a leader, missing this one call could be a lifelong regret! Guan Zhengyang still answered the phone.

"Xiao Guan, let me tell you about the latest progress. We've made another major discovery during the search for Director Shen." It was Li Qi's voice again!

Guan Zhengyang had reached his limit!

"Director Li, do you even know what time it is? Why are you insisting on..."

"Xiao Guan, watch your attitude. You need to know the responsibilities of the work group, and you need to understand the mission you bear. From the moment you became the group leader, you must give up any thoughts of seeking comfort..."

The following morning, Guan Zhengyang announced the suspension of the working group's work. The search and rescue operation for Shen Jingye would be handled by the Dark Star Bureau, with Li Qi taking charge of the specific tasks. Guan Zhengyang couldn't tolerate the harassment; this was a secondary reason. The main reason was that his superiors wanted to resolve the issue.

Shen Jingye's disappearance has had a huge impact, and Li Qi is their best choice if they want to find Shen Jingye.

Li Qi was indeed a responsible person. He first had his secretary write a summary of recent work. The main reason for the ineffective search and rescue was the lack of overall ability of the Public Security Team. In order to further improve the professional foundation and ability of the Public Security Team, he signed a document and distributed 300 units of the Harmonizing Agent to each team member.

Three hundred units, equivalent to one Golden Essence Pill, can replace one hundred days of cultivation. The document was issued, and the pharmacy department provided one hundred units.

Li Banfeng got angry and called the head of the pharmacy department over, "What do you mean? The document has been issued, why isn't it being implemented? Do you think my words don't carry weight?"

The head of the pharmacy department, Jian Zhipeng, quickly explained, "Director Li, that's not what we meant. We have regulations that stipulate that the number of medicines distributed to the same person within a month cannot exceed one hundred units. If it exceeds this number, we need approval from higher authorities."

Waiting for approval from higher authorities? Who are you trying to fool?

Li Banfeng asked Tangyuan, and he learned that since Shen Jingye changed his work methods, the Dark Star Bureau had increased the rewards for frontline personnel. The Public Security Team's "Awl" received 500 units of Harmonizing Agent at once because of his great merit, and everyone in the bureau knew about it.

Because the man with the awl later became a traitor, this incident became a laughing stock for Shen Jingye. "You don't follow the rules with Director Shen, but you come to me to talk about the rules?"

"Director Li, the situation was special at the time..." Yan Zhipeng tried to outsmart Li Banfeng. Actually, the matter was very simple. As long as he balanced the accounts, spread the 300 units over three months, and applied in three separate applications, the matter would be over.

But he knew that Li Qi wouldn't stay in this position as director forever. He was from Pro State, and even if Shen Jingye didn't come back, someone else would definitely take the top position. He didn't want to take that risk for Li Qi.

Li Banfeng saw right through Yan Zhipeng's scheme. "Section Chief Yan, it's right to follow the rules. I'm not familiar with the rules, so I made a mistake. Don't take it to heart." Yan Zhipeng smiled, "Director Li, if there's nothing else, I'll head back to my office."

"You're busy."

In the afternoon, Li Banfeng called Yan Zhipeng up again, "A colleague reported that the Harmonizing Agent provided by the bureau is ineffective." Yan Zhipeng was shocked. "How could it be ineffective...?"

"I was about to ask you about this too. Was it caused by your improper storage?" This wasn't just Li Banfeng making things up.

Harmonizing Agent are sold in various Black Market in Yuezhou, but the source of these Harmonizing Agent remains undetermined.

Li Banfeng had Tang Changfa investigate. Tang Changfa could find all kinds of goods on the Black Market, including magical artifacts, Spiritual Object, and elixirs. However, Tang Changfa couldn't find the sources for Harmonizing Agent and Guiding Agent.

The sellers of Harmonizing Agent and Guiding Agent on the Black Market are remarkably consistent, and their prices are generally uniform. Are these merchants' potions unrelated to the Dark Star Bureau?

Li Banfeng plans to organize a special inspection campaign to conduct an in-depth investigation into the storage of the Harmonizing Agent.

Yan Zhipeng protested, "Director Li, the medicines we distribute are all prepared on-site, and each dose has the signature of the person who prepared it. If there are any quality problems with the medicines, it's a problem with the raw materials, not with our storage work!"

"Wait a minute!" Li Banfeng was taken aback. "What do you mean by 'preparation'?"

According to Shen Jingye, the medicines were allocated by the parent company, so how did they become formulations here? Yan Zhipeng hesitated, wondering whether he should tell Li Banfeng this.

But then I thought, I can't stay silent either; I can't take the blame for this.

"The Harmonizing Agent is not easy to store and transport. At the beginning of each year, the bureau will submit a plan to the higher authorities based on the usage of the previous year and the work of this year. The higher authorities will allocate a certain amount of raw materials to us according to the plan, and we will formulate and use them according to the actual situation."

Little Shen, your work attitude is seriously problematic. You dare to lie to me?

Li Banfeng asked, "Is there a problem with your raw material storage?" "We have specific procedures in place, and we've even assigned dedicated personnel..."

Li Banfeng nodded and said, "So I believe our work will definitely stand the test." The document was issued, and the investigation began immediately the next day.

Yan Zhipeng dared not hide anything and revealed all the raw materials and formula to Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng thought the formula would clearly describe each drug, but he underestimated the level of secrecy.

In reality, the prescription only lists the code and dosage for each drug, without specifying its name or properties. The pharmacy department takes the prescription and strictly follows the procedures to mix the solid powder into a liquid. As for the actual pharmacological effects, the pharmacy department has no idea.

It doesn't matter if the pharmacy department doesn't know; Li Banfeng has a way of finding out.

Analyzing the components of a single vial of medicine is extremely difficult. However, analyzing the components of a dozen or so raw materials is much easier.

Li Banfeng took a bag of all kinds of medicines, claiming it was for testing, and gave it to his Wife so she could analyze it.

In terms of pure efficacy, the Harmonizing Agent is inferior to a superior elixir like the Golden Essence Pill, but it can be mass-produced, which is a huge advantage over elixirs. More importantly, besides the Harmonizing Agent, there is another, even more important, medicine.

Li Qi issued an order: the rectification of the problem must be carried out in a comprehensive manner, and the Guiding Agent must also be investigated!

The Guiding Agent is Entry Medicine Powder for Dark Energy User. Tangyuan took the Guiding Agent and became a Scholar. Later, he took the Literary Cultivation Powder in Pro State and evolved into a Literary Cultivator.

Although there were some twists and turns, the layers of Tangyuan were preserved and its combat power was strengthened, which proves that there is a certain degree of connection between the Guiding Agent and the Peddler's medicine powder.

There are many formulations for the Guiding Agent, and the medicine is also very complex. Li Banfeng didn't mind the trouble, so he kept samples of all the medicines, along with the formulations, and gave them to his Wife for testing. They checked day and night for three consecutive days. Yan Zhipeng couldn't take the strain anymore, admitted his mistake to Li Banfeng, and sent out 300 units of the Harmonizing Agent.

After checking the pharmacy department, we then checked the archives department. The risks and hidden dangers in archives management should not be underestimated!

There were too many files and documents to handle personally, so Li Banfeng the task to Tangyuan. Tangyuan naturally understood Li Qi's intentions and made backups of all the documents that Li Qi was interested in.

One document in particular caught Tangyuan's attention, and she reported it to Li Qi. "Seventh Master, this document is very special. Please take a look at it when you have time."

Tangyuan had taken a risk to bring this document, Li Banfeng naturally had to treat it seriously. The document was titled "Investigation Report on the Periodic Fluctuations of Black Dwarf Star." Black Dwarf Star?

Li Banfeng encountered the concept of Black Dwarf Star during his university years. Black dwarfs are the lowest energy state that small and medium-mass stars evolve into at the end. According to Li Banfeng, they are the products of stars after their energy is completely exhausted.

It takes an extremely long time for a star to become Black Dwarf Star, a time longer than the age of the universe. In other words, Black Dwarf Star are only a theoretical construct, and there should be no Black Dwarf Star in the current universe.

Even if Black Dwarf Star exist, they are very difficult for humans to observe because Black Dwarf Star are extremely cold and emit almost no energy. What is the Dark Star Bureau researching this for? Isn't this what astronomical institutions are supposed to be doing?

Dark Star Bureau, Dark Star Bureau... Yes!

This is the Dark Star Bureau; Li Banfeng had almost forgotten the name! Black Dwarf Star are difficult to observe, so aren't they just dark stars?

Researching dark stars is the Dark Star Bureau's main business!

Li Banfeng opened the document and read it carefully. Because it was a special report, much of the content lacked an introduction or conclusion, so Li Banfeng didn't quite understand it. However, the conclusions were clear. The report contained three very important research findings, two of which Li Banfeng basically understood.

The first finding is that Black Dwarf Star do not radiate energy much as initially thought; they produce bursts of energy and matter at regular intervals. Some of this energy and matter falls to Earth and causes biological mutations.

Matter and energy?

Is it highly reactive dark matter and Dark Energy?

Could the origin of dark power be Black Dwarf Star?

The second finding is that, according to survey data from multiple countries, the eruption cycle of Black Dwarf Star is between twenty and thirty years, and after each eruption, some traces are left in the Earth's rock layers, soil, and buildings.

The third finding is that within one to two years of the Black Dwarf Star's eruption, the Inner State will launch a foreign war. This is harder to understand; what is the connection between the Inner State's foreign war and the Black Dwarf Star's eruption?

Li Banfeng rubbed his forehead, thinking quietly for a long time, before the Chuunibyou came in to report, "Director Li, Goncharova's lawyer is here and wants to see his client." "What?" Li Banfeng didn't turn around for a moment.

"Goncharova, a high-ranking member of the Birch Hermit Association. She has performed meritorious service, so the matter is still under investigation, and she's still being held here with us." "Lafsha's woman?" Li Banfeng nodded; he remembered her. "Let the lawyer see her, and follow the proper procedures."

Chuunibyou turned to leave, Li Banfeng suddenly called out, "Wait!" He remembered something important.

Why did Goncharova join the monastery?

Chuunibyou remembers it very clearly. "It was because of a war, a war that took place in the Land of Slumber."

According to Goncharova's confession, during her childhood, a war broke out in the Land of Slumber of Lafusha Country, an invasion by the Dark God Chernobog. That war began twenty-two years ago.

Going back another twenty years or so, we came to the Second Pro War.

I ran into Ling Miaosheng a few days ago, and he said that the Inner Amikan Country is going to war. The eruption cycle of Black Dwarf Star is between twenty and thirty years.

Has the Black Dwarf Star recently erupted again?

Is this why the Inner State is attacking the Inner Amikan Country?

Is the information about Amikan Country accurate? Is the battlefield definitely in Inner Amican?

Lately, people from Inner State have been quite restless in Pro State. Ge Jun Junma almost stole the Ink Fragrance Shop, Luo Lijun planned to attack the Soda Kiln, and the fake Carriage Driver was just one step away from occupying Yellow Earth Bridge.

They probably won't attack Pro State, right? There should be signs before a major battle.

a8

At the Virtue Source Village, on Virtue Praise Cliff, an elderly man in his seventies, leaning on a cane, said, "Virtue Thought are the foundation of virtue. Without virtue in one's thoughts, how can one perform virtuous deeds?"

Standing opposite him was an old woman who disagreed with the old man's view. "Virtue is the foundation of morality. If one does not act virtuously, even if one has a thousand or ten thousand thoughts in one's mind, how can one be considered a virtuous person?"

The two elderly people seemed to be engaged in a debate, their words flowing smoothly and politely. An outsider watching might have assumed they were quite affectionate. After half an hour of arguing, the old man, unable to persuade the old woman, sighed and said, "You've lived a wasted life; you're still stubborn and unyielding!"

The old woman sneered, "Turning black into white, yet still trying to make trouble."

The old man's face darkened. "The Peddler chose me to manage Virtue Praise Cliff, why are you dissatisfied?"

The old woman raised her eyes: "The Peddler is not Virtue Praise Cliff's people, so what right does he have to interfere in Virtue Praise Cliff's internal affairs?" "Since we have come to this point, there is no need to say more," the old man ordered, "Listen to my command, kill this traitor!" Behind the old man, more than a hundred Dexiu rushed towards the old woman.

It was no easy feat to get Dexiu to charge forward, which shows that the old man was highly respected at Virtue Praise Cliff.

Leading the charge was a young man, holding a short knife and shouting, "Slay the traitors! Show no mercy!" The old woman smiled, remaining calm, and used the De Xiu technique, "Great Virtue Carries All Things."

The young man was completely unprepared; he felt as if half a mountain had crushed him, and he immediately collapsed to the ground, unable to get up. The old woman shouted, "Kill all the immoral scoundrels and restore the prestige of the Daoist sect!"

Hundreds of people rushed up behind her, and these people were not all Dexiu.

A man picked up a tile and beheaded the young man, then led his men in a fight against the old man's men. By the time the Peddler arrived, the battle was over, leaving only corpses scattered on the ground, the snow stained crimson.

The Peddler stuck a Pellet Drum onto his cart and frowned, saying, "If this keeps up, the Dexiu will be wiped out!" A man beside the Peddler sighed, "I think they need a leader."

The Peddler scanned the corpses and turned over the body of an old man. "This is the leader I found for them." The old man had died in battle, and most of his men, Dexiu, had been killed or wounded.

The man picked up a piece of tile from the ground. "I didn't expect anyone in Pro State would dare to provoke you."

Moreover, there was a young man here who died in a very strange way; his head was severed by this tile. This is clearly not the fighting style of a De Xiu. This is the fighting style of a Wu Xiu; very few Wu Xiu practitioners would come to Virtue Praise Cliff.

The Peddler knew the situation was serious; the war had spread beyond the boundaries of Virtue Praise Cliff.

The man examined the other corpses. "Judging from the condition of the bodies, the people who participated in the battle were all quite strong, but many of them were not De Xiu. There's no reason for these people to fight for Virtue Praise Cliff; this place shouldn't have such a strong attraction."

I suspect someone else is trying to use this war to create chaos, and I even suspect this clandestine force comes from outside Pro State."The Peddler nodded. "So I wanted to find someone to come and quell this chaos, but Li Qi just won't come."

The man laughed and said, "My friend has a deep aversion to De Xiu, just like back in Sea Eat Ridge."

The Peddler looked at the man. "I can't stay here forever, so I'm leaving this to you. What you need to do is end this war as soon as possible and bring order back to Virtue Praise Cliff. Do you understand what I mean?"

The man thought for a moment, "I don't really understand how to maintain order. Can you put it more directly?" The Peddler explained, "To put it simply, those who listen to advice stay, and those who don't are killed."

The man shook his head: "The concept of 'listening to advice' is still a bit vague. Could you explain it more clearly?" "How can it be more clearly?"

"Just tell me directly, how much do you need to keep? Seventy percent, or half?" PS: It seems this friend prefers to solve problems using quantitative methods.

Lord of Pro has achieved two stars of glory. Thank you all for your support and love!