Chapter 65

In Song Yi’s eyes, the criminals were consumables—scratch that—pretty decent experimental subjects.

And for the criminals, going to “work” in Song Yi’s laboratory came with fairly good treatment.

It was all reform through labor, but the higher the technical content or the greater the contribution, the higher the effective work hours and such were calculated. Working in Song Yi’s laboratory was calculated by a slightly higher standard than ordinary reform-labor assembly lines, and the trip there was a rare chance to get some fresh air.

The work in the laboratory also required absolutely no technical skill. It was basically the same as an assembly line: output spiritual power, output divine sense.

When they learned that the person in charge was actually a little kid, they could not help tearing up. Wasn’t this just a little angel?

Someone even sighed, “I used to hate kids the most, but now I think kids are pretty cute too.”

It was impossible for them to take the opportunity to do anything, because Zhang Xuan and the others were responsible for escorting and supervising them, and would not give them any chance to be alone with Song Yi.

Zhang Xuan said casually, “This is for your own good too.”

The criminals: ?

Brother, did you say that wrong?

Zhang Xuan gave them a pitying look. These people knew nothing about how terrifying little brats were nowadays.

He had heard that the fraudster who had been sold and still counted money for Song Yi at the very beginning had now become her loyal underling.

As for Hunter, who had turned into the prey, if his body had not been a little sturdier and held out, he would have kicked the bucket during the process of matching wits and courage with Song Yi. He was still in prison questioning his life.

And then there was that whole gang that had been wiped out in one sweep. Before they were taken down, Song Yi had nearly swindled all their money away…

They would worry about the criminals hurting Song Yi, but at the same time, they were also a little afraid that Song Yi would do something inhumane to the criminals.

Think about it. If a criminal clung to them and begged them to uphold justice, then should they handle it impartially, or should they play favorites?

That would also be a huge headache, all right?

After reaching a collaboration with Song Yi’s laboratory, Zhang Xuan and Li Xiu’s new duties included escort and supervision. After all that circling around, they had not expected to sell out their principles after all.

At first, they were still rather confused. Had their leader finally been corrupted by money?

After finding out what Song Yi was tinkering with, they practically wanted to offer up their knees.

No wonder their leader had that attitude!

The value of some things could not be measured with money. If they were given another chance, the moment Song Yi first spoke to them, they would have shouted loudly: Big shot, please make absolutely sure to let us cling to your thigh.

Whether there was a bonus or not was not important. Mainly, they wanted to make a contribution to society.

In any case, that was how the matter was settled.

Of course, what the criminals did not know was that the device collecting their spiritual power and divine sense was not a spirit storage machine.

A spirit storage machine would erase the aura unique to them and convert it into pure spiritual power, making it convenient to mix and use.

But what Song Yi needed was precisely the unique aura. She did not let it mix freely, but instead packaged each portion separately, then supplemented it with a few stimuli so that that part of the spiritual power and divine sense would mingle and produce the momentum of a realm breakthrough.

Facts proved that Song Yi’s idea was feasible.

The Heavenly Dao was like the embodiment of countless rules. Once the conditions were met, the corresponding rules would naturally activate.

Although the “fake advancement” Song Yi created was a little strange, she had fulfilled the conditions, so the Heavenly Tribulation came.

When the corresponding rule energy was exhausted, it would no longer produce a Heavenly Tribulation for this part of the “fake advancement.”

When did the naive criminals discover that something was wrong?

At first, the weather was merely a little bad when they went out.

But none of them took it to heart.

Later, even the officers escorting them were unwilling to ride in the same vehicle as them.

At that time, joy rose in their hearts. Was this a chance to run away granted to them by heaven?

Those who had committed minor offenses definitely would not flee. But for those who had committed serious crimes, how could they not be tempted?

However, they were very cautious. Suspecting that this was some kind of trap, they did not dare act rashly. They tested things first, only to find there was no reaction at all.

Without a doubt, this would be their best chance.

But before they could carry out their prison-break plan, the accident came first. The spirit-energy car they were riding in was struck by lightning and suddenly malfunctioned. The car flipped into the river, and just then, a fierce wave happened to crash toward them…

Only after a very long time were they finally fished out.

Because the incident was too coincidental, these criminals seriously suspected that being brought out to “work” might merely be an excuse. Someone wanted to buy their lives, so they had deliberately created these coincidences. If they encountered an accident while escaping from prison, then that would be even more deserved punishment for their crimes…

Damn it. Those guys who called themselves upright gentlemen were actually the darkest of all! As expected, not a single person from the City Defense Department was any good!

They might even have hired some fate studies charlatan to curse them!

With these suspicions, those people became deeply uneasy. Naturally, every thought of breaking out of prison was dispelled. They did not dare give anyone the chance to make a move.

And those who were hiding secrets and had refused to speak no matter what during trial suspected that they were going to be silenced. After being sent back, they spilled their secrets like beans from a bamboo tube. If they died, they were dragging someone down with them.

Or else they frantically demanded that the police increase protection. “I’ve already told you everything I know! You have to protect me!”

No one had expected the experiment to have this kind of side effect. That was really… wonderful.

Following these clues, the police actually caught quite a few wanted criminals. Without a doubt, Zhang Xuan, Li Xiu, and the others rendered meritorious service again. Cloud City Police Bureau’s performance this year was truly fierce.

Li Xiu looked at the commendation list and could not help feeling like he was floating. So rendering meritorious service was this simple.

Zhang Xuan slapped him awake. Wake up. Life isn’t easy. It all depends on mooching off a kid.

Looking at those panic-stricken criminals, Zhang Xuan could not help feeling a little sympathetic. “Don’t be scared. Eat when you should eat, sleep when you should sleep. You won’t die.”

Being detested by the Heavenly Dao only made you a little unlucky, that was all.

They also could not possibly let these criminals die in accidents. They were sustainable labor, after all.

Moreover, these guys themselves were thick-skinned and tough. They were not that easy to kill.

“You know what’s going on?” someone asked, grabbing Zhang Xuan’s hand.

“Uh, didn’t you agree to participate in the experiment? This is just a tiny little experimental aftereffect. It’s fine. It’ll get better after a while.”

The criminals: !

Only then did they understand that the one who had tricked them was no one else, but Song Yi, the one they had called a little angel.

Pies would not fall from the sky. A “job” with treatment this good and no technical requirements was, of course, hiding a deep pit.

Someone reacted and immediately said, “We’re going to file a complaint! Criminals have human rights too! This is concealing experimental aftereffects!”

Zhang Xuan gave them a strange look. “Didn’t you all sign an agreement before going? The aftereffects were already written clearly inside, and when you asked me, I didn’t hide anything from you either. How is that disrespecting human rights?”

They hurriedly dug out the thing they had signed when they first met Song Yi.

Looking at the densely packed text inside, they remembered. At the time, there had been too much content, and the little kids led by Song Yi had been especially kind to them, making them fail to carefully study the specific clauses. They had only paid attention to the most important issue of treatment.

After all, what bad intentions could little kids have?

Every inch of little kids was covered in bad intentions!

“Sure enough, I hate kids the most!” The person who had changed his tune not long ago changed it back again. What kind of little cuties were these? They were all devils!

The criminals were so furious they wished they could flip the table, and they were heartbroken. “There’s something wrong with this school’s education! If this goes on, the future of the cultivation world is too worrying.”

Those who did not know their identities might think this was a critic worried about the nation and the people.

Sigh. This could not be blamed on Song Yi either. When had Song Yi ever known how to do such fancy tricks before? She had learned it all from this world. This world’s rules and regulations were sometimes very troublesome, but sometimes they were also quite useful.

Without changing his expression, Zhang Xuan reminded them, “Wait a little longer. Once more people participate in the experiment, you won’t be this unlucky.”

Several people’s eyes lit up. As long as there was a way to solve it, that was good.

Although “sharing a prison cell together” was one of the strongest bonds, hardship should be shared too.

In the prison and detention center, Song Yi’s laboratory was rumored to be the most comfortable and worry-free reform-labor location. It was the sort where not going would absolutely be a loss. There were far too many people applying to go to Song Yi’s side.

Zhang Tao looked at this phenomenon without saying a word, only telling a few of his diehard followers that they absolutely could not go.

It was not as if he did not know Song Yi. If it were truly something good, she would probably have notified him long ago. But there was no news at all. Instead, all sorts of strange hearsay were flying around everywhere. That could only mean one thing: something was wrong.

Later, after the people who had been tricked learned the truth, they naturally threw themselves into the embrace of tricking even more people without the slightest hesitation.

Thanks to their publicity, they brought Song Yi an endless stream of fresh leeks.

Song Yi conducted the research while rapidly taking notes. Fortunately, her control over spiritual power was powerful and precise. Only by directly multitasking could she barely keep up.

Teacher Yuan’s original intention had been to let Song Yi give it a try. Once the project expanded, she would definitely have to work on it with other people. This was a major project!

As a result, one day when he came to the laboratory to take a look, good heavens, the project was progressing by leaps and bounds, but aside from experimental consumables, not a single additional person had appeared. This fellow practically wished she could split herself into several pieces to use.

“Student Song Yi, I heard you’ve often been returning to the dormitory very late recently?”

Song Yi guiltily scratched her cheek.

That was not all. She was even preparing to skip basic classes. The various subject teachers had already been frantically testing the limits of their patience, which was why they had sent Teacher Yuan out.

When she focused on doing one thing, she would put everything else behind it, including eating. Recently, if Li Wenwen and the others had not come over to feed her at regular times, she would have started taking Fasting Pills again.

“Student Song Yi, I know the work you’re doing right now is very meaningful, but whether it’s eating, attending class, or resting, they are all things the current you needs.”

Song Yi asked in return, “But Teacher, don’t you think this research is much more important than those things?”

“Of course, that can’t be denied. But I remember you once asked me if cultivation was important. It’s actually all the same. Whether cultivation or research, both are more important than those ordinary things. But a person cannot only cultivate, or only do research. Life will lose its balance.”

Song Yi pressed her lips into a straight line.

Teacher Yuan reached out and patted her head. “If you were an adult of several decades or several centuries old, then I wouldn’t say this to you. You would have already enjoyed everything you should have enjoyed. But you’re still little. It would be too miserable if you became someone ruled by ‘value.’”

Those words struck Song Yi right in the heart.

Song Yi looked at the laboratory, then looked outside, her heart struggling intensely.

“If you want the project to progress faster, why not invite other people to join your laboratory?” Teacher Yuan asked again. “Are you worried they’ll steal your results?”

Song Yi shook her head and said honestly, “I forgot.”

Cultivation in the Old Era placed more emphasis on cultivating oneself. Cultivation was a very individual matter. There was no such thing as a team creating a cultivation method together. At most, after the cultivation method was produced, one would exchange a few moves with someone to test its power.

But New Era experiments were often related to external objects. They involved many things and emphasized turning external objects to one’s own use. All sorts of spirit artifacts were messy and complicated, and everyone working together was the most normal thing.

Just like how Song Yi had previously encountered students from other schools recruiting her and inviting her to join the black soil research work.

Unfortunately, Song Yi was an old antique. When she threw herself fully into something like this, she was still used to being alone and had never thought about finding other people to help.

If Li Wenwen and the others came over, Song Yi would not mind. But there were quite a few things here that were still a little too complicated for them.

Teacher Yuan: …

Forgetting such an important matter was somehow acceptable?

He handed a list to Song Yi. “These people will be interested in your research and are very likely willing to participate. You can go contact them.”

Song Yi muttered softly, “There’s no problem letting them join, but can they keep up with my pace?”

She was still habitually more trusting of her own abilities.

Her tone was too arrogant, so Teacher Yuan gave her a knuckle to the head in annoyance. “Little kid, you’re very impressive, but don’t underestimate other people.”

Song Yi looked at Teacher Yuan with sparkling eyes and said, “Teacher, I didn’t hear clearly just now. Say it again?”

Although Teacher Yuan found it a little strange, he still repeated, “You’re very impressive…”

After saying it, he felt that something was not quite right. Song Yi was making him praise her in a roundabout way.

Thinking carefully, he really did seem to rarely praise Song Yi outright, because the kid was already rather inflated. If he praised her any more, she might soar straight to the heavens.

Song Yi usually had an expression that said, “I don’t care what other people think at all,” but in reality, sure enough, she still cared about evaluation and praise, didn’t she?

Teacher Yuan did not know whether to laugh or cry. He considered praising Song Yi more in the future.

Unexpectedly, Song Yi said smugly, “I recorded it all. Later, I’ll let Wenwen and Lin Ze listen to it. They actually said I’m number one on the ranking of students who give teachers the biggest headaches. That ranking isn’t reasonable at all.”

Forget it. Teacher Yuan silently withdrew the thought he had just had. Sure enough, this child still had to be watched closely from time to time.

Song Yi’s laboratory soon became lively.

Teacher Yuan was still very good to her. The list he had screened for her was all researchers in the direction of Heavenly Tribulation, so connecting with them would be a little simpler.

But unexpectedly, communication barriers still appeared.

Because everyone could not quite understand Song Yi’s report.

“Song Yi, how much is the small amount in this ‘add a small amount of divine sense’?”

“A small amount means the amount that happens to wrap around the spiritual power and make its aura more like source energy. Only when it is identified as source energy is there a chance of attracting a Heavenly Tribulation.”

“Then what about this ‘mix an appropriate amount of Heavenly Tribulation energy into it’? How much is the appropriate amount?”

“Feel it. It’s the amount that can stimulate the spiritual power mass, like it can make the spiritual power mass just happen to boil and explode.”

Song Yi patiently explained it to them, but the result of the explanation was that they became even more confused.

The two sides stared at one another. Song Yi innocently blinked.

Clearly, Song Yi’s experiments were not the same thing as a normal person’s experiments.

“Go by feel” and “idealism” were her special characteristics. She might not necessarily know the principles and such, but she had always aligned herself with the results.

Scientific, standardized experimental and reporting methods… Sorry, little Song Yi had not learned that part yet.

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