In the cold white room, the hibernation pod rested silently in the center like an enormous metal cocoon.
The surrounding temperature was precisely maintained at a critical threshold, reducing biological activity to an absolute minimum.
For Zhang Qi, however, this hibernation was no ordinary sleep.
His physiological functions had indeed been frozen. His blood had stopped flowing, his heart no longer beat, and the electrical signals in his brain had all but fallen silent.
Yet a deeper, more abstract consciousness had gained unprecedented freedom once his five senses were completely shut off.
It was a peculiar experience, like the "primordial spirit leaving the body" described in Daoist texts.
He was no longer trapped by the shackles of his flesh. The clamor of his senses had been stripped away, and the world appeared before him as pure energy.
Such a state was exceedingly rare in low-magic worlds.
After all, without a special energy such as primordial one qi to serve as a medium, it was difficult for a primordial spirit to remain this active after leaving the body.
In high-magic worlds, meanwhile, the powerful energies permeating the surroundings would cause enormous interference, making it difficult to perceive these things in such a state.
The sensation was truly wondrous. There was no direction, no boundary, only pure existence.
Unfortunately, this state was as far as he could go—
The sense of nothingness around him abruptly collapsed.
His five senses regained their functions in an instant.
First came the cold, then light so piercing it made his eyes ache.
"Hello, Dr. Zhang Qi. Welcome to the future."
A gentle female voice sounded beside his ear.
Zhang Qi's eyelids trembled a few times before slowly opening.
As his vision sharpened, he saw a young face.
She was smiling, but her eyes sparkled with curiosity