Chapter 36: The Power of Choice

Chapter 36: The Power of Choice

"I didn't say anything; these are all your own words."

As expected of Chu Xuan, he understood everything! He grasped the situation instantly. A mere hint was enough to set him in motion.

"I only want to make two points. First: do you think Jiang Ju is the only one producing results right now? It’s just that Jiang Ju is the most naive, or perhaps the most trusting of us—though one could also say she is the smartest."

"The amount of honor, status, and preferential treatment Jiang Ju has received is something everyone else is watching closely."

This was not just an issue for Jiang Ju; it was a concern for every new talent in this new era.

"Second: it is all for the greater good, for the sake of Great Xia. What is a little hardship for them? We are, after all, a centralized state. When the authorities issue a directive, what can those below do? It is nothing more than a matter of determination!"

Hearing Xiong Yan’s blunt and undisguised words, Chu Xuan realized that this was not merely about the treatment of one individual, nor just the future development of the first generation of geniuses—it was a test of the waters!

"I understand. Give me three days."

Xiong Yan nodded, took a sip of tea, and changed the subject. "Tonight is the time when the Void Realms descend again. I expect several new realms will be born. This is the benefit of our previous success in establishing effective governance and thoroughly conquering a Void Realm."

The number of Void Realms was not fixed; it was constantly growing. But how, and why? That depended on the efforts of those who sensed the call of the Void. Every time a realm was conquered, several more of similar scale would manifest. And these newly born realms would certainly have cultural backgrounds rooted in Great Xia.

Taking the lead now meant that the gap between them and the rest of the world would snowball, expanding at a visible rate until others could never hope to catch up. Unless one chose to close the country off again, this was the inevitable trend.

Therefore, Xiong Yan was not at all worried about the future of the Research Institute. It was the place where all the nation's awakened talents were gathered—it was the true future of Great Xia.

"Are you not entering a new Void Realm this time?"

"No. These new realms are only the size of a town; the gains for me would be very limited."

"Don't forget, in six days, the town will transition from void to reality. When that happens, I can take the opportunity to manifest my cultivation level from within the town into the real world. Then, I can convert that cultivation entirely into essence and longevity."

For the current Xiong Yan, this was the most practical and useful path. He was tired of rushing to restore his health, living day after day like a frail old man, afraid to engage in strenuous exercise, afraid to eat anything with too much oil or salt. What kind of life was that?

"So, I won't be entering a new realm this time. I'll let everyone else have the freedom to act. Constantly holding them back isn't the right way to go."

They were all top-tier talents in their past lives, elite figures on the global stage. If they were to be ruined in this life simply because they were pampered and hadn't faced enough hardship, that would be a true tragedy.

"Besides, I am self-aware. In terms of martial prowess, I am no match for Peng Bing. In terms of knowledge of Taoism and traditional culture, I am no match for Daoist Changkong. In terms of the path of the heart, I am no match for Lin Er, and in terms of wisdom, I am no match for you..."

"So, what I want to do now is provide opportunities, cultivate them, and ensure they all reach their full potential. That is what matters most."

"Otherwise, if we rely too heavily on the future I know, something is bound to go wrong. The butterfly effect is inevitable, and the future I know is extremely limited."

"That is why I must train them, allowing them to exert their true abilities early on and become genuine masters, rather than spoiled second-generation heirs squandering their talent and resources."

"What I can do is effectively utilize my experience from the past life to establish a research institute that is fair, just, and transparent, with clear paths for advancement."

"What I can do is provide a harmonious and equitable environment for all extraordinary talents, ensuring they don't resort to desperate, irreversible actions or simply pack up and leave due to petty grievances."

If law-abiding, honest superhumans lived worse than wealthy elites who made their fortunes through gray, unethical means, would that be right?

After a moment of thought, Xiong Yan reminded Chu Xuan, "Great Xia can at most provide superhumans with some invisible benefits; we cannot grant them overt privileges. Doing so would shake the foundations of the state and unsettle the hearts of the people."

"However, certain foreign countries are openly granting special privileges—licenses to kill, access to harems, and endless indulgence."

In times of great power competition, talent is always highly valued. Those in power must show humility when facing great minds, even if they have to feign it. Ultimately, it came down to the power of choice.

At this, Xiong Yan changed his tone. "Of course, superhumans must not break the law. If they commit a crime, they will be judged exactly like any ordinary citizen. On that point, I will not protect them."

...

Time soon arrived at night, and everyone gathered once more.

Xiong Yan tapped the bell to start the meeting.

"A month has passed in reality, and ten months have passed in the Void Realms. If you add the month you spent in the Void Realms a month ago, that makes a full twelve months. If you add the seven days between the appearance of the 'Daytime Star' and the first descent of the Void Realms, that is three hundred and sixty-seven days."

A year!

"I haven't seen Keke in a year!" Lou Cheng thought to himself.

"I haven't seen my wife in a year!" At that moment, Guan Ming recalled his future wife, Mu Xiaoxiao, who was still in her third year of high school.

"So, it’s been a year since I last spoke to her. It seems I didn't love her as much as I thought." Huang Zixing thought of the girlfriend he had broken up with upon graduation. Then, reflecting on the new knowledge he had learned and the progress he had made in his cultivation over the past year, he suddenly felt that a girlfriend was not so appealing after all—research was much more captivating!

"In the past year, I have seen your hard work. So, to reward everyone, I have written five new papers under the pseudonym 'Anonymous': one on Qi and blood, one on Qi cultivation, one on mental cultivation, one on miscellaneous theories, and one on general theory."

"Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!"

"In the real world, I have to study hard, read papers, study reviews, conduct experiments, and write papers."

"In the Void Realms, I still have to study hard, read papers, write reviews, conduct experiments, and produce results."

"On top of that, I have to throw myself into cultivation, practice diligently, and from time to time, write down my reflections or even produce small papers."

"Today is the eve of our departure for the new Void Realms, and I never expected that even at this moment, even in this place, even when we are here to be motivated, we still cannot escape papers! Papers! Papers!"

Jiang Ju, who had always been full of fighting spirit, couldn't help but tear at her hair in frustration.

"Speaking as a neutral party, we really have learned a lot this past year. But at a time like this, handing us more papers... Director, this is a bit inappropriate," Lu Zhou added from the perspective of a bystander.

"As a bystander, to be fair, we really have made great progress this year," Guan Ming added, with a clear conscience.