Next, Qingmu made many guesses about the Parasitic Consciousness, judging whether they were correct based on Zhao Pengcheng's reaction. In fact, most of these guesses were things that Professor Mei Yiqiu had analyzed with him in the past, such as some characteristics of the Parasitic Consciousness, whether the Dream Foundation was their only organization, the pathogenesis of the Gray Brain Virus, the number of people on Earth who had been invaded, and so on.
Because Zhao Pengcheng kept his mouth shut, Qingmu didn't get much direct, valuable information. However, he later recounted his meeting with Zhao Pengcheng and his conversation in the dream to Mei Yiqiu in detail, and eventually came to many valuable conclusions.
Mei Yiqiu analyzed that the Parasitic Consciousness itself has no memory, but the information revealed by Zhao Pengcheng in the conversation shows that they know who they are and have a tight organization. This indicates that they have a unique information transmission channel, and the way this information is stored is different from the traditional human memory storage. Otherwise, Qingmu would not have been unable to retrieve Zhao Pengcheng's relevant memories in this regard even under the crushing power of his Mental Power.
Professor Mei believes this is likely a form of mental electrical signal or a quantum signal-like storage method. In other words, the information is not stored in Zhao Pengcheng's brain, but rather in another location through quantum entanglement, which only Zhao Pengcheng's consciousness can receive. Because it differs from the way human memory is constructed and even the way information is encoded, it naturally cannot be reconstructed in a human dream.
Furthermore, it can be almost certainly confirmed that the Dream Foundation and its affiliated Dream Society the largest Parasitic Consciousness organization on Earth, and Ronald Cohen is the head of this organization.
On this point, Mei Yiqiu drafted a detailed report recommending that the Space Management Committee send a letter to the United States. government requesting the arrest of Ronald Cohen and other members of the Dream Society.
After listening to Qingmu's account, Mei Yiqiu came to another conclusion: the Parasitic Consciousness's choice to invade Earth and humanity may not be a coincidence.
From Zhao Pengcheng's words, Mei Yiqiu realized that this consciousness did not fully recognize the biological structure of humans. They might have come to Earth for another purpose, rather than, as Lester guessed, wandering around aimlessly to reproduce and expand their race, and bumping into Earth.
"What on Earth attracts them?" Qingmu asked.
Mei Yiqiu thought for a moment and said, "Do you remember that symbol you asked me to look up?"
Qingmu certainly remembered; according to Duwa, it was the mark of the Awakeners' Alliance.
Mei Yiqiu said, "Do you remember the South Pacific ruins and the Mirror Pyramid I told you about?"
Qingmu said, "Wasn't he missing?"
"Yes, it's gone!" Mei Yiqiu fell as she recalled the missing research vessel. "That's exactly what's strange. So many inexplicable things have happened lately—the sudden appearance and disappearance of the Mirror Pyramid, Lester's death and will, alien consciousness invasion, toxoplasmosis and the Gray Brain Virus, the Cat-Killing Order on the internet, the Internet gaining intelligence... All of this has happened and become known to us in the last year, or even if you include the destruction of Laboratory No. 19 that Madam Situ mentioned, it's only been five years. Don't you find it strange that so many things have happened in such a short time?"
Qingmu nodded. "Indeed, it's unbelievable."
"I feel as if I see God laughing," Mei Yiqiu said.
Qingmu couldn't help but look up, only to see the laboratory's snow-white ceiling.
"By the way, what do you think of that thing Zhao Pengcheng mentioned called ' Lost Ancestor,' Professor?" Qingmu asked.
Mei Yiqiu said, "According to him, this is a name derived from human culture. I think it probably belongs to a kind of 'elder' in their tribe. They possess powerful Mental Power and usually live in seclusion to cultivate, only emerging when absolutely necessary."
"Professor, isn't this... a bit too fantastical? It's not scientific at all," Qingmu said.
"There's nothing unscientific about it," Mei Yiqiu said. "When the energy of consciousness is strong enough, perhaps it won't need to live by parasitism anymore. Consciousness itself can condense into a physical form and may even store memories in some way. Ancient Chinese alchemical records mention ' Yin Spirit ' and ' Yang Spirit.' Many documents in the Daoist Canon record instances of Yang Spirit leaving the body. Generally, the Yin Spirit leaves the body while sleeping. The Yin Spirit cannot leave the body for too long; if it stays out for too long, it will weaken the body."
"It's a bit like the consciousness that exists when you're dreaming," Qingmu said.
"That's right. I suspect that what the ancients were talking about was a method of controlling lucid dreams, but the obscure descriptions led later generations to misunderstand," Mei Yiqiu said. "As for the Yang Spirit, according to records, it can leave the body for a long time, change into any shape, and walk in the world. This may be a manifestation of the spiritual consciousness becoming so powerful that it condenses into a physical form and no longer depends on the physical body for its existence."
Qingmu said, "If such beings exist, why can't we see them? Consciousnesses must have a longer lifespan than us. According to Zhao Pengcheng, they have no concept of time, and therefore no concept of lifespan, so they don't die."
Mei Yiqiu said, "Maybe they've already gone to another world. This Earth is so boring! Perhaps as a consciousness, they really can't store as many memories as we do. Without memories, there's no nostalgia. What are they doing here? Oh, right," he glanced at Qingmu, "Your brain's malfunctioning too. Incomplete memories, yet you possess powerful Mental Power. Hmm... that's interesting..."
The professor's words surprised Mei Ziqing, and her gaze towards Qingmu changed. She then covered her mouth and secretly laughed.
Qingmu shook his head helplessly at the professor's teasing. Indeed, Professor Mei was not as serious about scientific research as people imagined, nor did he scoff at metaphysics or anything that went against scientific common sense. He said that this was what Mr. Lester taught him: science requires a rigorous research attitude, but it must also have an open mind and a childlike innocence.
However, the discussion about the " Lost Ancestor " did not stop, after all, this was the only direct information that Zhao Pengcheng had given when mentioning their race. Both Qingmu and the professor suspected that their race's earliest memories and information transmission were related to the " Lost Ancestor ".
Qingmu also found some clues about the organization and communication methods of the Parasitic Consciousness. It was an unexpected discovery in Zhao Pengcheng's dream.
At the time, he was still talking to Zhao Pengcheng. Most of the time, Qingmu was the one talking, observing Zhao Pengcheng's reactions to judge whether his guess was reasonable. Zhao Pengcheng remained mostly silent, occasionally saying "I don't know" or something else.
But Qingmu noticed something: after he relaxed his mental pressure on Zhao Pengcheng, Zhao Pengcheng would often look in a certain direction, as if expecting something.
As Qingmu spoke, he observed that direction for a long time. In terms of the dream scenario, that was the side door of the operating room, leading to the changing room, where Zhao Pengcheng washed his hands and changed clothes before entering the operating area.
But Qingmu knew it wasn't that simple.
This is all a dream world created by Zhao Pengcheng himself. There couldn't possibly be any secrets hidden in the locker room, otherwise Qingmu would have discovered it long ago. Moreover, this dream scene has been locked by Qingmu's Mental Power, so the locker room will not change, and no other consciousness can break in. If anyone wants to enter Zhao Pengcheng's dream at this time, they will have to break through Qingmu's mental blockade first.