Chapter 104
The vast majority of gemstones in the world can be called sapphires.
Including the pass in Jiang Xueming's hand--
At this very moment, he and Xiao Qi were sitting in a bar booth on the square terrace, discussing the Great Library while having dinner.
The card was passed from Xue Ming's hand to Liu Xing's broad palm.
Meteor picked it up and placed it under a bright light, revealing the clear white veins of the sapphire, which naturally became part of the monster in the relief painting.
The logo on the front of the Great Library is a large wolf with curly, bushy fur.
The back is engraved with a ruler and a compass, both of which are drafting tools.
In addition, there is a string of numbers -- [1773].
Meteor immediately asked, "What does 1773 mean?"
9527 patiently explained, "Humans discovered urea in 1773, and urea killed God."
Meteor was even more curious. "What does that mean?"
9527 was in a bad mood. She had planned to have a date with Jiang Xueming alone, but she didn't expect that Jiang Xueming would bring her child along.
"It means exactly what it says. The chemical industry has entered a new chapter. Urea, an organic compound, represents that humans can also create life, dispelling some of the superstitions of creationism."
Meteor understood and then asked, "Who's in charge of this place? Ming Ge said he needs a guide, sister-in-law, could you arrange one in advance?"
"It's this wolf," 9527 said, pointing to the large white wolf on the card.
Bu Liuxing: "Huh?"
Jiang Xueming: "Huh?"
9527 pursed his lips indifferently. He hadn't expected that these two brothers, who had both participated in the dragon-slaying battle, would react so strongly to the fact that a large wolf was in charge of the library.
Seventh Brother immediately asked, "Is it strange?"
Bu Liuxing immediately became excited. "Can I touch it? Will it update the Dark Souls 3 strategy guide archive with future content?"
Jiang Xueming: "Don't go crazy."
Immediately afterwards, Xue Ming inquired about the background of this librarian.
"This wolf can understand human speech? And it knows how to manage things? Most of the wild beasts we've encountered so far, whether they're calamity beasts or holy beasts, can't speak. I'm surprised you can say that the big wolf on this card can do all this."
On 9527, he added beef tongue to Xue Ming's plate; his appetite was greatly stimulated as his old injury was just healing.
She quickly swallowed her hot food and immediately began to tell her employer about the structure of the Great Archives.
"The name 'Grand Archive' is rather awkward; it's called the 1773 Arcane Library. To avoid misunderstandings among newcomers, or others mistaking '1773' for a servant's number, we simply call it the Grand Archive. Originally, it was a secret archive established by the Lapis Lazuli Guards for exchanging case information and learning about apprehending criminals. Later, it became a historical archive and was moved next to the Research Station to facilitate access to historical materials and the search for similar cases in history."
When talking about lapis lazuli, one must mention the emotional properties of pyroxene itself.
If the Redstone series can be considered an outward expression of emotion.
The corresponding elements in the Blue Stone series are contemplation, examination, planning, and recording.
The white and gold stone patterns carry a touch of luck, and Jason Megan is a very lucky person.
Lapis Lazuli is also the basis for the station to issue Lapis Lazuli Guards Guardian badges to passengers.
Jason Megan did not become Lapis Lazuli Guards simply because he believed he was not capable enough to meet the standards for apprehending criminals.
Golden luck, blue thoughts.
The combination of these two colors in Lapis Lazuli allows passengers to transform into hunters, tracking down criminals and uncovering the true culprits behind crimes against people.
"But stones and sticks alone are not enough, far from sufficient." Xiao Qi reached out to grasp Xue Ming's spirit body and impart the knowledge from the chaotic memories to her employer.
The milky white threads were tangled together.
At that moment, a series of chaotic and indescribable images flashed through Xue Ming's mind.
That was the symbiotic relationship between humans and wolves in primitive society.
Xiao Qi's voice echoed in my mind.
"Very few animals in nature can lift their heads, but wolves happen to be able to—"
"--And through domestication, it has become man's best companion. The Lapis Lazuli Guards of the Blue Stone School in the Great Archives also gained the support of the Holy Beast from this relationship."
Bu Liuxing immediately asked, "Is 3301 like that too? I saw she has wolf ears! And a wolf nose! It's very pretty!"
"We'll talk about her later." Xiao Qi was secretly pleased with herself, holding Xue Ming's hand. She didn't have time to deal with Liu Xing's matter; she wanted to focus all her mental energy on the first impression of the Great Library.
The complex and intricate knowledge was inputted into Xue Ming's skull via a spiritual entity.
Xiao Qi continued.
"In the days before guns and cannons, people explored the underground world like knights, accompanied by hunting dogs and horses. Among the first pioneers to reach the Mimir/Mim Mímisbrunnr was a broadsword ranger who, with his superb martial arts and wolf companion, defeated countless monstrous beasts."
"But his dire wolf Vancleef only lived for about twenty years. It took him more than a decade to walk from the Sky Station at the Tower of London Tower all the way to the Mimir/Mim Mímisbrunnr in the North Sea— Vancleef was going to die of old age."
"The Broadsword Ranger was unwilling for the Great Wolf to die like this, so he decided to perform a ritual, using the blood of the mountain trolls left behind by the ancient Mountain Giant to break the reproductive barrier, and fathered a child with the Great Wolf Vancleef, who had been transformed into Spirit Calamity."
Meteor's eyes lit up. "Wow! Wow! Wow!"
Xiao Qi pouted. "What are you so excited about? I'm talking about having a baby, not the kind of baby you're thinking of."
The meteor peeked out, and I stopped eating.
"Tell me in detail, tell me in detail!"
Xiao Qi explained--
"--Elements are the primary and secondary components of the human body. You should have all seen the four elements: earth, fire, wind, and water."
Jiang Xueming nodded. "Radiant Stone, the fire of the Mímisbrunnr, spiritual pressure and the wind of the spirit body, as well as the two kinds of water: Blood Offering and the Universal Elixir."
Xiao Qi immediately agreed.
"Yes, blood is a very important thing. It concerns the form of countless creatures in the underground world and is one of the four elements. The calamity beasts you saw at the Mimir Hot Spring Market last time all had the blood of mountain demons on them. This blood can break the reproductive barrier, open a gate of life, and steal the essential characteristics of other creatures. For example, a Little Kitty can also breed with a lion to produce a new monster. From a genetic point of view, this is stealing the physical body of a species and giving birth to new life."
Jiang Xueming immediately understood.
"This great wolf, nearing its end of life, transformed into a monstrous beast and, apparently, fathered a new offspring with this wandering swordsman."
The romantic love stories in Bu Liuxing's mind suddenly turned terrifying.
"Just like the Eucharist," Xiao Qi continued, "Jesus asked his disciples to eat the holy bread, which is like swallowing Jesus' body, and to drink the holy wine, which is like drinking Jesus' blood. Ultimately, they will all go to heaven."
"--So for the Broadsword Ranger and Vancleef, just like the process of dragon slayers eating dragon flesh and drinking Dragon Blood, they dueled in this ritual, tearing and devouring each other, ultimately giving birth to a fused monster possessing the thoughts of both and the characteristics of both elements."
Jiang Xueming came to his senses. "The Madness Butterfly is the same. We obtain calamity from the Vita Imprint, and we also obtain the Universal Elixir. We are devouring White Lady, and White Lady is also devouring us."
Xiao Qi: "Yes."
Jiang Xueming: "And then what? How did this half-wolf, half-human creature born from the Mímisbrunnr get involved with the Lapis Lazuli Guards?"
Xiao Qi held Xue Ming's hand with both of hers, telling Xue Ming to calm down.
"The Lapis Lazuli Guards was originally an exceptional hunter, and long ago it should have been called the Lapis Lazuli Hunter, not Guardian—like the Claymore Ranger, a warrior who hunts using a Lapis Lazuli shield and by tracking wild beasts. After he fused with the dire wolf Vancleef, the new life was still named Vancleef, but this she-wolf could understand human speech, communicate with people, and possessed all of the Claymore Ranger's knowledge and memories."
"The Lapis Lazuli took the wolf-like beast as its new totem and organized the Blue Stone School and Society in the Arcane Library. Vancleef could perform Blood Ceremony with people in this society, giving them wolf-like characteristics and hearing sixteen times that of humans—the ability to distinguish scents far exceeding that of ordinary people. This is the complete form of the Lapis Lazuli Guards today. Jason has not undergone this Blood Ceremony, so he is not yet a Lapis Lazuli."
Meteor seized on a less important point. "You said it's a she-wolf?! After it fused with the Broadsword Ranger, how come it's still female?"
"Because of the original form of life, we were all women for a period of time before we were born." Xiao Qi freed her hand and tapped Bu Liuxing's forehead, telling him to A Xing: "Male characteristics evolved during the fetal stage. Before this stage, humans were asexual, or female."
Meteor: "How amazing! I was a girl in Mommy's tummy too?!"
Jiang Xueming: "That's one way to understand it."
Xiao Qi continued—
"--This ritual comes at a price. Vancleef is a beast that has attained holiness, and also a monster possessing the three elements of humanity. When he gives blood to people, he not only imparts the wolf's innate abilities, but also makes a pact that when the Lapis Lazuli Guards dies, these high-quality three elements must be sent into Vancleef's belly, becoming a part of Vancleef, allowing it to evolve with the times."
Jiang Xueming immediately made the connection. "So, he's the big boss of the Grand Library, and also one of the two leaders of the Blue Stone School who possess Mingde's remains?"
Xiao Qi nodded. "That's right. Vancleef's Great Direwolf often changes owners. She is the matriarch of the pack and needs an alpha wolf or a mate. The other is usually a VIP at the station to match her."
Bu Liuxing finally grasped the key point. "But its stomach... isn't it only for eating meat? Sister-in-law! You just said that this big dog wanted the Lapis Lazuli Guards to offer up its corpse. It just gnaws on people's heads, what kind of spiritual essence can it possibly get?"
"That's how the Great Archive came about." Xiao Qi finally finished explaining the origin of the 1773 Arcane Library: "It eats human corpses and reads people's logs. It needs to keep reading and learning about the new era in order to survive in modern society."
"Did 3301 also perform the blood-giving ceremony with it?" Meteor asked, becoming particularly eager when inquiring about the girl he admired.
Xiao Qi shook her head. "Strictly speaking, Ms. Vancleef should be considered 3301's maternal grandmother."
Bu Liuxing was stunned for a moment, unable to react.
Jiang Xueming: "Grandma?"
Xiao Qi explained, "Vancleef very family-oriented and clan-oriented, which is in the nature of wolves. He has many human companions and hundreds of offspring—these half-wolves, half-humans have infiltrated human society through the station, and you can see them in history."
Bu Liuxing was overjoyed. "That means..."
"Speaking of seniority," Xiao Qi tossed a cherry into Meteor's mouth, urging him to sit back down, "3301 was born in the underground world. Her mother is a true-blue Lapis Lazuli Guards in the Arcane Library, and the biological daughter of Vancleef, the wolf—her father is an ordinary, Inspiration lumber merchant from the surface world."
Jiang Xueming: "That's amazing. Are there any other examples of sacred beasts coexisting with humans?"
Xiao Qi thought about it carefully, "Uh, yes, but it's very morbid."
Meteor perked up. "Tell me more!"
Xiao Qi asked in confusion, "Are you so excited because you want San San to beat you to death?"
Meteor suddenly deflated. "Then I'll just give a rough answer, a casual remark."
Xiao Qi explained to Xue Ming, "Do you know about the Minotaur?"
It is the Minotaur from ancient Greek mythology.
She was the monster born from the wife of Minos, the King of Crete, and a fire-breathing bull.
Xue Ming: "I'm not quite sure."
Meteor shouted, "It's the child of a king's wife and a bull! It's a minotaur!"
Xiao Qi scratched her neck, not quite understanding this strange and terrifying legend.
"Over a hundred years ago, heading towards Western Europe, down to the areas near Egypt, there were many people with gold and green hair who were active there. Many of them were involved in the Bull Worship Cult—a cult that was extremely terrifying to the assault team at the time."
Both Xue Ming and Liuxing had a bad feeling.
Xiao Qi continued, "The Minotaur Cult loves Dionysian culture, indulging in pleasure and revelry—and they possess a powerful magic, an irresistible sexual allure for both men and women. By performing Blood Ceremony with this monster, the Minotaur, people acquire extraordinary charm—think of the people in the assault team, risking their lives for the station, just for their wives, children, and a warm bed, just to pursue simple happiness."
Jiang Xueming: "In the end, this Minotaur cult shattered all our hopes."
Xiao Qi also frowned, looking at it with a disapproving expression. "It's terrifying, horrifying. The Minotaur's talent is releasing unique pheromones, far more sophisticated than simple aphrodisiacs, capable of unconsciously generating love hormones—quickly causing people to change their minds."
Meteor: "I will kill that minotaur!"
Xiao Qi continued, "That evil and terrifying sect is gone, wiped out by the Bull Hunter Alliance organized by the Lapis Lazuli Guards —only a small group still hunts the blood of the Minotaur, and if caught, they face the death penalty."
Jiang Xueming asked seriously, "When you mentioned the minotaur's blood earlier, were you thinking about something else?"
Xiao Qi hurriedly replied, "No, no, no, no, no!"
After the matter was settled, Xue Ming released Seventh Brother's hand, severing their mental link.
He roughly understood what the Great Archives was. The guide he needed was 3301; he could have this half-wolf girl chat with her "Grandma Wolf," and the book list needed for the London trip could be compiled.
Based on Xue Ming's design sketches, the construction team's engineers created construction drawings for a four-meter-high filing cabinet. Conquering JoeStar, a space of nearly a thousand square meters, would not be a quick task.
After Jiang Xueming finished eating, she took Seventh Brother's hand again.
"Let's go home! We'll come back during the Lunar New Year! Let's go to the main library with Teacher San San so that A Xing can meet his parents?"
Xiao Qi grasped Xue Ming's hand, overjoyed. "Okay."
But Bu Liuxing felt something was off--
--Why are these two acting like their own parents, arranging the blind date and meeting the parents all by themselves?
But it's so good to be able to go home safely for the New Year.
A Xing didn't think too much and kept rushing towards the elevator entrance of the Council of Five Kings.
He was running so fast and fast that he accidentally left behind a passenger ID card.
Jiang Xueming held it in his hand and looked at it with Xiao Qi.
[Bu Liuxing]
[Age: 19 years old]
[Job Description: Nine Realms Station Employee/Passenger]
[Employee details: Mr. Bu Liuxing grew up in the Southern District of Hung Hom.]
His family was very simple; he was raised by a single mother and had no father to discipline him from a young age, making him a lively and active child.
When Bu Liuxing turned nineteen, he stole two banknotes and recognized the shape of a train ticket from them, demonstrating his extraordinary Inspiration.
He was a brilliant but mischievous genius who successfully completed his investigation mission.
What gives me, the boss, a headache is that no matter how powerful the Universal Elixir in the world is, it can't cure Bu Liuxing's ADHD. He will touch and rub almost anything new and interesting that he sees.
--Luckily, his mother is rich; I reckon she must have lost a lot of money at the Gundam toy store.
In the chaotic environment of the underworld, he possesses relatively strong combat skills, capable of tearing apart most of the Spirit Calamity monsters in the wilderness with his bare hands. However, when using weapons and tools to deal with natural phenomena or larger creatures, he becomes powerless.
I can sense that Mr. Bu Liuxing is a very warm-hearted person. Even when faced with indifferent or apathetic people or things, like ordinary people passing by sighing, he will still go up to them, ask them about the ins and outs of the matter, and try to help them—he is a kind-hearted person who cannot bear to see any sad, tearful, or distressing things.
This specifically refers to people who disregard human life and make money through unethical means. If you find this passenger certificate, let me warn you upfront: run! You're in big trouble. I hope you stay healthy!
After a rigorous evaluation, we finally decided to hire this handsome young man.
He underwent two transformations, and his growth rate as a ternary form was astonishing, as if he were forever in a restless and ever-changing adolescence.
Mr. Bu Liuxing has the contact information for two VIPs and is being looked after by a rather outrageous older brother—don't try to deceive him; these people are all seasoned veterans of the underworld.
To this day, Mr. Bu Liuxing continues to travel at the Nine Realms Station.
[Hello, if you see this ID, please treat this passenger kindly, even though they might make thousands of copies and hand them out to everyone they see.]
[He seemed overly enthusiastic, and even after becoming a passenger, he couldn't shake off his impulsive nature. Aside from sleeping, he rarely quieted down, which was incredibly unsettling.]
[But I must remind you, Mr. Bu Liuxing is a very easy person to get along with. As long as you know a little about the latest and hottest anime and manga memes, you can chat with him. If you tell him your birthday or zodiac sign, you might even receive a gift.]