Chapter 634: Full of Uncertainties

"Traces left by the irradiation of a certain controllable super-energy source"—that statement alone could reveal a lot of intelligence.

Yu Sheng blurted out, "You mean what they're working on is related to Luo's 'Fissure Generator' back then..."

"The technical route is almost exactly the same, and it's clearly already entered a more mature and controllable stage," Bai Liqing nodded. "The sample we referenced was the spacetime fissures that appeared inside the Special Operations Bureau building during the Blackstone Station incident—there's no fundamental difference in principle, so I believe Luo would be very interested in the on-site data we collected."

"Send me the files later, and I'll have her take a look," Yu Sheng said immediately. "She keeps muttering about someone stealing her stuff, and she's almost losing her mind over it."

Bai Liqing nodded, then continued, "Furthermore, we found similar traces in the 'Dark Alley'—after the spatial expansion and contraction, invisible psychic imprints remained in the alley. Although the scale differed, the key waveforms matched the data collected from the underground parking lot."

Yu Sheng: "Send that to Luo too, let her examine it."

"That's one aspect," Bai Liqing inclined her head slightly, pressing on. "After all, we'd already guessed that the Hermit Society stole certain key technologies from Luo's pioneer laboratory, so it's not surprising they can open fissures. What matters now is, if the technical department's assessment is correct, this kind of spacetime fissure based on the 'Boundary Bridge' principle... requires more than just 'control technology.'"

Yu Sheng sensed something in Bai Liqing's tone, and an uneasy premonition stirred in his heart: "You mean... the 'Angel Catalyst'?"

"A controllable super-energy source has two key parts: 'controllable' and 'energy source,'" Bai Liqing said slowly. "They stole the control technology from Luo, and in their own hands... they have an energy source."

Yu Sheng opened his mouth, and an intelligence he'd obtained long ago surfaced in his mind—

The Hermit Society possessed the corpse of a dead Dim Angel, named the 'Shadowless Bones,' slumbering in a mysterious ruin called the 'Adar Pit'...

"But they had one, and that Dim Angel was already dead, wasn't it?" Yu Sheng frowned. "A cultist we captured earlier even said the catalyst activity gathered from that thing was too low to use..."

His voice wavered as he spoke, because he realized the world never lacked variables—especially when Dim Angels and cultists were involved. Too many things were uncertain.

Not only did he think of it, even the little doll who had come along to join the fun seemed to have the same thought. Ai Lin, who had been sitting cross-legged on the dining table helping Hu Li pass plates, suddenly looked up and blurted out, "They didn't do something to wake that thing up, did they? Cultists are the best at that sort of thing..."

"I find it hard to imagine they could 'revive' a dead Dim Angel with their abilities," Bai Liqing shook her head. "But if that Dim Angel known as the 'Shadowless Bones' wasn't completely dead to begin with... that's another matter. After all, the whole thing was suspicious from the start—a Dim Angel found already dead? Too bizarre."

She paused, then continued in a cautious tone, "The Derivative Star incident deepened our understanding of Dim Angels. Now we're more inclined to believe that the angelic corpse in the Hermit Society's possession was actually in a long-term dormant state, similar to the 'latent transformation' phase of the Derivative Star. And now..."

"That thing might be regaining activity," Yu Sheng's expression quickly grew complicated. "And the Hermit Society's choice was to gleefully connect it to a pipe and use it as an energy source for the fissure generator."

Bai Liqing remained expressionless: "That's why we say some technologies shouldn't be allowed in the hands of extremist organizations—they really have no fear."

Ai Lin looked at Yu Sheng, then at Bai Liqing. Her little brain churned for a moment before she blurted out, "Does that mean we don't have to do anything, and they'll screw it up and wipe themselves out?"

At the little thing's irresponsible remark, even Hu Li, who was busy gnawing on a chicken leg, looked up: "What are you thinking? If the Dim Angel wakes up, it won't just stay put. Back then, the Derivative Star could jump from Shuji to the Thousand Peaks Spiritual Mountain in one bound."

"Oh yeah, that's true," Ai Lin scratched her hair. "Hey, Smart Fox, you're not just all about eating, huh?"

A tiny chicken bone precisely bounced off the little doll's forehead.

Yu Sheng's thoughts were even more turbulent, because he suddenly realized another clue had clicked into place—when his nephew had gotten 'lost' in the old district before, he'd overheard members of the Hermit Society talking, including cultists mentioning something about insufficient stability of the 'Gate' and needing a stronger catalyst...

He immediately recounted what he'd thought. Bai Liqing nodded slightly upon hearing it: "Correct. Based on the intelligence we have, the Hermit Society still can't fully control the 'Shadowless Bones.' Maybe because the technology they stole is flawed, or maybe because of the special nature of that angelic corpse. In short, they still need a more powerful Angel Catalyst to stabilize some device called the 'Gate'—that's probably why they recently took the risk to enter the Borderland."

Yu Sheng became interested: "Then what about the 'bait' we discussed earlier..."

"The message has already been released," Bai Liqing's lips curled up slightly—a pixel-level micro-expression that didn't escape Yu Sheng's eyes. "It will spread quickly among the major factions. The core version is this: the impact from the collapse of the Boundary Bridge briefly pierced the barrier of the Borderland, and some debris escaped the Special Operations Bureau's control. The bureau's recovery team is now urgently collecting those dangerous psychic substances, but some have already fallen into the hands of black market dealers..."

Yu Sheng leaned forward: "Do you think they'll take the bait?"

"Definitely. Those cultists are like cockroaches in the shadows—even a small lure will make them swarm forward, especially since they're desperate for a powerful Angel Catalyst," Bai Liqing's voice carried a hint of pleasure (probably from the three coffee capsules she'd downed with warm water). "The Borderland is a special place. Information flows everywhere, and the Hermit Society may have already caught wind of it."

"Luo should be able to help with this aspect as well," Yu Sheng said thoughtfully. "She's on the Gray Dwarf Star in the Dark Meteor Sector now. That place has all kinds of shady characters, and she herself has plenty of underground information channels. It's perfect for spreading this kind of intelligence—and it can cross-reference with the news from the Borderland to increase the credibility of the whole thing."

Then he seriously discussed the procedure of this bait operation with Bai Liqing, adjusting the details of the plan based on the Hermit Society's recent movements, trying to ensure everything went flawlessly.

Once that topic was wrapped up, Hu Li was about eighty percent full, and Yu Sheng finally found the opportunity to mention another matter.

"I actually came for something else today," he cleared his throat and glanced at the little doll beside him. "It's related to Ai Lin... and to the Borderland."

Ai Lin happily ran to the center of the table, puffed out her chest, and looked up at Bai Liqing: "I grew taller in my dream! With so many long legs!"

Bai Liqing: "...?"

"Who can understand that out of context? And that's not why we came today," Yu Sheng reached out and dragged the little thing back, then explained to Bai Liqing, "Actually, it's like this—Ai Lin had a 'dream,' and I suspect the things she 'dreamed' about might be related to the memories of the Omen Goddess and the original Ai Lin. Moreover, the Borderland appeared in her dream..."

Yu Sheng described the scenes from the little doll's dream, but he omitted the part about the 'dark tower falling onto the soul wilderness' and only mentioned Ai Lin seeing the Boundary Bridge 'piercing' the Borderland in the dream.

This time, the change in Bai Liqing's expression was finally obvious enough for even Hu Li to notice.

Yu Sheng knew right then that coming to this bureau director to ask for information was indeed the right move.

"I want to know what that first part of her dream corresponds to," he said with a curious and serious expression. "Ai Lin said she was a 'special individual' personally crafted by an Ancient Spirit. Later, she recalled more dream details—she mentioned the Lost Home, the Captain, and also someone teaching her many things. I want to understand... what all of that corresponds to."

Bai Liqing didn't answer immediately. Instead, she stared at the little doll with an unusual expression for a long time. The normally expressionless female director's face gradually... grew quite animated.

Yu Sheng felt it was the first time he'd seen her face change so dramatically.

After a long while, he finally heard Bai Liqing murmur a few names: "Falling Star Lady... Star Thrower..."

Yu Sheng blinked: "What do those mean?"

"Titles of the Ancient Spirits—there are many similar ones, given by the intelligent races of the universe based on their understanding and the 'miracles' the Ancient Spirits left behind," Bai Liqing said slowly, her increasingly complex gaze still fixed on the little doll standing proudly on the table. "I knew Ai Lin's origins were special, but I didn't expect them to be this special. Moreover, I didn't expect..."

"Didn't expect what?" Ai Lin's eyes sparkled. "Didn't expect I'm this awesome?"

Bai Liqing's mouth twitched visibly. She had exhausted her entire year's worth of facial expression reserves today.

"In short, you mean that the Mother of Dolls personally shaped your vessel and essence?"

Ai Lin nodded vigorously: "Mm!"

"And the creator 'Captain' personally endowed you with 'potential'?"

Ai Lin beamed: "Mm mm!!"

"Falling Star Lady taught you how to fight?"

Ai Lin's face was practically tilted to the sky: "Mm mm mm! Hitting people's knees works great!"

"And Star Thrower taught you how to communicate with others..."

Ai Lin almost flew into the air with pride: "Right, right!"

Bai Liqing fell silent. She leaned back across the table and exchanged a look with Yu Sheng.

The expression in both their eyes said the same thing—

So the Ancient Spirits worked together, and in the end, they made *this*?