Chapter 254: Testing the Crystal

Hearing Bai Liqing's suddenly serious tone, the researcher in the heavy protective suit instantly tensed up. Yu Sheng could even see beads of sweat forming on the tip of the other's nose through the transparent face shield.

"As far as we can tell, that's the case," came the somewhat muffled voice of the researcher from beneath the protective suit. "But not all substances are affected. So far, we've only identified one type of rock that undergoes this strange transformation near the Mother Crystal."

Bai Liqing's face remained tense. "...So, it spreads this way? Does the assimilated 'Secondary Crystal' have this property too?"

"No need to worry for now," the researcher finally relaxed a little as he spoke. "The assimilated 'Secondary Crystal' has not shown any similar assimilative effect. At least up to now, we've only observed this phenomenon around the Mother Crystal. So it shouldn't turn into a 'chain reaction' that gradually consumes the entire world."

Bai Liqing's tense expression finally relaxed a little. Yu Sheng felt pretty accomplished—he could now even read the micro-expressions on this iron-faced, expressionless woman's face.

"So how large is the crystal's area of effect?" Yu Sheng asked casually.

The researcher hesitated when he heard Yu Sheng speak, then turned his gaze to Bai Liqing, a questioning look on his face.

"Go ahead and say it, don't look at me," Bai Liqing said. "He is Yu Sheng, and this one here is Ailin. They have the same access authority as I do regarding information on the Gloom Angel."

"Ah, yes, of course!" The researcher clearly knew some inside information. When he heard the name "Yu Sheng," his expression changed. With a burst of energy, he quickly added, "We haven't determined a very precise range yet, only roughly that it doesn't exceed twenty meters. It's a spherical area centered on the Mother Crystal."

"Well, that's not a large range," Ailin muttered. "How to put it... kind of like a 'good kid'? I mean compared to the other Gloom Angels."

After a slight nod, Bai Liqing asked again, "Anything else? What else did you discover?"

"There is some kind of resonance link between the Mother Crystal and the Secondary Crystal. We've observed that within a range of about a hundred meters, they alternately emit a low, slow oscillation. But for now, we can't determine whether this 'resonance' possesses any 'meaning'—it might just be a natural phenomenon, or it might indicate some kind of 'life activity' that we cannot understand.

"Additionally, we've observed complex crystal structure changes inside the Secondary Crystal. It rearranges its own lattice approximately every 33.3 seconds, a process we call 'reorganization.' This reorganization doesn't alter its surface physical characteristics, such as hardness, transparency, or color, but internally, it's as if every 33.3 seconds, the Secondary Crystal becomes a new entity. However, no such change occurs within the Mother Crystal itself; its structure has remained very stable.

"For now, these are our main findings. Further testing plans are still under careful evaluation. Considering the preciousness of the samples, we must avoid damaging the Mother Crystal. So no testing methods that could cause physical damage can be used lightly."

"Mm, necessary caution," Bai Liqing nodded lightly, acknowledging the other's prudence. "This is the first time in history that humans have collected the remains of a fallen angel. We need to be careful."

Yu Sheng, on the other hand, had been staring at the crystal on the platform since a moment ago. His eyes gradually grew eager. The little puppet on his shoulder was the first to notice the change in his expression. "Hey, what are you planning?"

"Ahem," Yu Sheng coughed dryly, then turned to look at the researcher. "How many 'Mother Crystals' are there in total?"

"The recovery team brought back four in total," the researcher said casually. "Is there a problem?"

"...Then can I touch this one?" Yu Sheng pointed at the platform. "But I'm afraid I might damage it, so I'm asking in advance. You guys said this sample is pretty precious."

The researcher's expression froze instantly. He turned to look at Bai Liqing—he didn't dare agree casually.

As it turned out, Bai Liqing's expression was also a bit stunned.

Yu Sheng scratched his head. "If I'm not allowed, then forget it."

Bai Liqing took a light breath. For an instant, who knows how many rounds of mental struggle she went through, before finally speaking with a straight face. "I guess you're not talking about the kind of 'just touch' an ordinary person would do, are you?"

Yu Sheng was also a bit embarrassed. "If possible, I'd also like to smear some blood on it or something."

Several researchers around them started sweating instantly. Yu Sheng even suspected that if Bai Liqing weren't present, these people would either jump on him or have a seizure.

But after a long period of weighing the pros and cons, Bai Liqing still nodded.

"Give it a try," she said with a solemn expression. "But... be careful."

"I must emphasize that this is not part of normal lab procedure," a researcher muttered quietly behind. "Just putting a hand on it is already seven or eight violations..."

Yu Sheng pretended not to hear. Under the tense and conflicted gazes of everyone around—including Bai Liqing—he stepped forward and placed his hand on that Mother Crystal.

It was cold, quiet, like a calm deep pool with no bottom in sight. It made no response to Yu Sheng's touch.

The 'speaking with the dead' phenomenon did not occur—frankly, Yu Sheng felt a little disappointed at that moment.

Anka-Era was truly gone.

Then he steadied himself, took out a small knife from his pocket, and cut his hand—no break. He cut again, still no break.

The atmosphere seemed a bit awkward. Yu Sheng couldn't help but twitch his mouth. "Uh, I've been using it to cut my hand quite a bit lately. It seems to have gotten a little dull."

"That's not dull—it's got serrations!" Ailin stared wide-eyed. "Just how thick-skinned are you now?"

Yu Sheng didn't respond. He just kept cutting with the knife, spending a good while before finally making a wound. Then, while grimacing and squeezing out blood, he brought it to the Mother Crystal.

Everyone around was stunned. The impact of this scene on them even surpassed their concern for the crystal. One researcher muttered, "What a tough guy... Was he really sawing it open?"

"I guess someone who can fight Gloom Angels is different," another researcher followed up. "I was originally thinking of finding a painless blood collector..."

Yu Sheng was busy squeezing blood when he heard that. He turned his head, eyes bulging. "You had that thing and didn't say so earlier?! You just stood there watching me saw myself?!"

"Don't even think about it," Ailin poked his head. "Even a blood collector probably couldn't pierce your current skin."

As they spoke, bright red drops of blood had already fallen onto the Mother Crystal.

Everyone's eyes immediately fell on those drops of blood.

Even Yu Sheng himself grew tense as he watched his blood slowly trickle down the crystal's surface.

Then, the blood was silently absorbed by the crystal.

"Did you feel anything?" Ailin immediately asked.

"...Nothing much," Yu Sheng frowned, but then added, "But that's normal. Establishing a connection through blood often has a delayed effect, especially for things that are lifeless or have weird life forms. Remember when I smeared blood on your portrait frame? It took a long time before it worked..."

"Oh, right..." the little puppet nodded blankly, but then reacted. "Wait a minute! Who are you calling weird?"

The researchers nearby showed expressions of astonishment at the sight of the blood being absorbed. After a moment, one of them exclaimed in a low voice, "Absorbed?!"

Immediately, the area became lively. The researchers were like they'd taken stimulants. "New anomaly! It can absorb blood!" "Get the equipment! Turn on the comprehensive analyzer, hurry, hurry..." "Pull up the data! Platform data!"

Hearing the researchers' commotion, Yu Sheng was startled. Then he looked around awkwardly. "Hey, um, this isn't a property of the crystal. It's a property of mine. My blood is a bit special..."

As soon as he said that, the surroundings quieted down. Then several gazes shifted to focus on him.

Yu Sheng: "..."

It was the first time he had encountered such looks.

But he understood quickly.

"You should do something," he turned to look at Bai Liqing. "These people seem to be planning to dissect me."

Bai Liqing also felt a bit awkward. She coughed twice but said nothing, and the researchers quickly averted their gazes.

But Yu Sheng was a hundred percent sure that these people had only averted their eyes; their attention hadn't shifted at all...

Still, he didn't mind. Researchers? Strong curiosity is normal.

Then he poked the puppet on his shoulder. "You want to try too?"

Ailin looked puzzled. "Try what?"

"Your threads. Before, you used those threads to touch many things in Anka-Era's dream, so you've also established a connection with Anka-Era herself. Give it a try. See if the crystal reacts to you."

Ailin felt that Yu Sheng's whimsical way of thinking made no sense, but his suggestion to 'give it a try' was as appealing as ever.

"Alright, I'll try then," the little puppet rubbed her hands together and adjusted her sitting position on Yu Sheng's shoulder. "If it doesn't work, it's not my fault..."

As she spoke, her small face tensed seriously. Then, under Yu Sheng's expectant gaze, she reached out her right hand toward the Mother Crystal.

Thin strands of pitch-black 'spider silk' extended from her fingertips, cautiously reaching toward the crystal.

The eerie, chilling aura made the two nearest researchers involuntarily take half a step back.

Then, when the threads were still a dozen centimeters away from the crystal, Yu Sheng heard a clear hum.

The black threads seemed to hit a vibrating barrier, instantly bouncing back and breaking into pieces.

"Holy shit!"

Even Ailin herself was knocked off balance, directly falling off Yu Sheng's shoulder.