Chapter 730 - 455: The Think Tank and Dispelling Doubts

Chapter 730: Chapter 455: The Think Tank and Dispelling Doubts

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Outside the Divine Hall.

A recorder from the think tank suddenly stopped Zhou Chen, asking him to recount everything that happened after he met Carol, including every line of dialogue.

Zhou Chen naturally had to comply with an order from the organization. After gathering his thoughts, he recounted everything.

"Please wait a moment. The think tank needs to analyze this," the recorder said before stepping into the Space Magic Array and disappearing.

"The think tank is located in the Time House. Twenty-four hours in there is equivalent to one second in the outside world, which gives them more time to analyze intelligence and the overall situation."

Jiang Che glanced at Zhou Chen, whose eyes had suddenly lit up, and immediately threw cold water on his excitement. "The Time House is only activated during large-scale campaigns, and its construction method is a Star Association secret. It’s not so simple that you can build one just by mastering a time Ability, so save your breath. Besides, aren’t the Time Circles Li Xiye makes for you enough?"

"How did you know?" Zhou Chen asked, stunned.

"Every time she creates a Time Circle, it’s detected by the Golden Bamboo Star Association. I may be suspended, but I can still see a few things on my phone," Jiang Che said calmly.

Zhou Chen coughed, clearly trying to change the subject. "Well... yes... It’s good that the think tank is analyzing it. I have a feeling something’s off about this whole thing."

"Oh? What about it feels wrong?" Jiang Che asked.

"Hmm..." Zhou Chen stroked his chin, thinking for a long moment before shaking his head. "I can’t put my finger on it, but my Sixth Sense is telling me something’s not right."

"I’ll tell you what’s not right."

Jiang Che stated calmly, "As a Mind Master, Carol must be very familiar with your personality. Therefore, she never should have forcefully pulled you into the ’Song of Valotte’ without any discussion. While the probability is low, it still could have provoked your defiant side. The best course of action would have been to simply tell you the whole story from the start.

Of course, even her doing so wasn’t a huge deal. There was only a small chance you’d actually turn defiant; at most, you’d just grumble a bit. But this doesn’t align with the ’infallible’ and ’always prepared’ persona she projects.

This is a mistake a Mind Master should not make.

Either her expertise in the Spiritual Realm as a Crowned King is inferior to my knowledge as a PhD in psychology, or she has an ulterior motive. Right now, the latter seems very likely."

"This..." Zhou Chen sank into thought.

He had assumed at the time that Carol had only dared to act that way because she was confident she had his personality figured out. But now, hearing Jiang Che’s explanation, it made perfect sense. A true Mind Master shouldn’t make that kind of mistake.

"Then what is she after?"

"I don’t know. Let’s wait for the think tank’s analysis," Jiang Che said, shaking her head.

The words had barely left her mouth when a Magic Array lit up on the ground. The same recorder from before emerged, handed them a brand-new file, then turned, stepped back into the Magic Array, and vanished in a flash of light.

Jiang Che tore open the confidential file. A pure white light bloomed from the paper envelope, like an unfolding umbrella of light, enveloping them both.

The data contained in the file instantly flooded into their minds.

After a moment of thought, comprehension dawned on Zhou Chen’s face. He slapped his palm as if he’d figured something out.

"I knew something felt off! If this is what happened, then it all makes sense."

——————

[Gaia Combat Log M20-173: Godslaying Weapon lost connection after landing at the Final Holy Hall. Simultaneously, the Black Sun’s contamination index skyrocketed from Level 7 to Level 12, severely impacting all regions of Gaia. The Abyssal Legion’s overall Power received at least a threefold boost.

Five minutes after the operation began, the Black Sun’s contamination index remained stable at Level 12, with only minor fluctuations.

Thirty minutes after the operation began, the contamination index remained stable, and all contact with the Godslaying Weapon was lost.

Addendum: 2 hours later...

Addendum: 12 hours later...

Addendum...

Point of Suspicion: As a manifestation of the Abyssal Incarnation’s Authority, the Black Sun is affected by the Abyssal Incarnation in real time. When the Godslaying Weapon landed at the Final Holy Hall and the Abyssal Incarnation entered a combat state, the Black Sun should have been affected. The more intense the battle, the more drastic the contamination fluctuations should be. However, for 48 hours, the Black Sun remained stable for a prolonged period, showing only minor fluctuations.

Possibilities:

1. The Abyssal Incarnation’s Power is beyond imagination, allowing it to easily trap the Godslaying Weapon while diverting most of its Power to enhance and maintain the Black Sun’s operation.

2. The Abyssal Incarnation is no match for the Godslaying Weapon, but it activated a certain Ability that has put the Godslaying Weapon into an abnormal state. It is unable to fight effectively or self-destruct to escape the boss room. Therefore, the Abyssal Incarnation can maintain the Black Sun’s operation with ease.

3...

4...]

[Gaia Combat Log M20-174: Thirty-six minutes after the operation began, technicians observed that the Black Sun’s contamination fluctuation index was exhibiting a repetitive pattern. A review of historical records revealed that since the start of the operation, the Black Sun’s contamination fluctuation index has been in a constant loop, with each repetition lasting 2 minutes and 57 seconds.

Hypothesis: At the start of the operation, the Abyssal Incarnation used a certain Ability to cause time within the Final Holy Hall to continuously Reboot. Each Reboot completely resets all states of the personnel inside, including their memories. Otherwise, the Godslaying Weapon should have detected and adapted to the Reboot Ability and broken the cycle.

In conjunction with Combat Log "M20-173," we can confirm the following:

1. The events that occurred within the Final Holy Hall from the start of the operation to the 2-minute and 57-second mark are repeating in a continuous loop.

2. The Abyssal Incarnation is extremely cunning and had this planned from the beginning. The moment the operation started, it drastically enhanced the Black Sun. While this would cause its own main body’s Power to decline and lead to a quicker defeat, the Reboot Ability allows it to act without fear. By leveraging this loop, the Abyssal Incarnation can keep the Black Sun perpetually at Level 12 contamination, providing a long-term, stable boost to the Abyssal Legion’s Power and placing immense pressure on Gaia.