Li Ang walked out of the operating room with a somewhat bewildered Wang Congshan, unexpectedly seeing that Laura was gone from behind the cashier, replaced by a mule wearing a white horse mask.

"Why are you here?"

Li Ang smiled slightly.

The mule stood up and laughed, "I came to the Game Square to discuss some business and just helped my sister cover her shift, letting her go shopping. You won’t mind, right?"

"No, I won’t."

Li Ang casually waved his hand.

The shop in the Game Square came with a relatively simple cashier system, which could complete self-service payment even without a cashier.

The primary role of a cashier was just to record customer appointment applications, help contact the store manager, and make the shop look more lively, not to squeeze out any surplus labor.

Besides, Laura got in through nepotism.

"Oh, by the way, let me introduce, this is my friend, who will probably join the Cold Crow Guild in the future."

Li Ang introduced Wang Congshan to the mule, and the two shook hands amicably, taking the opportunity to become friends.

’[Bush Sparrow]?’

The mule noticed Wang Congshan’s player nickname, outwardly calm but stirred inside.

Being an information dealer, the mule knew more than most lone wolves and even some organizations, having some understanding of the specific reasons behind the changes in Yin City.

’She must be Li Rising’s friend in the real world.’

The mule remained serene, kindly smiling at Wang Congshan, "I’m also a member of the Cold Crow Guild, my usual job is an information dealer and broker.

If you have any needs regarding information, feel free to tell me.

My fees are very reasonable."

"Sure, sure."

Wang Congshan nodded, having previously heard Li Ang mention the mule, not surprised by other members in the Cold Crow Guild.

"By the way,"

The mule turned to Li Ang, hesitated for a moment, and still asked, "Are you free now? I have something I want to discuss with you."

"Huh? Can’t it be discussed through the friend link?"

Li Ang raised an eyebrow, casually snapped his fingers, and created a soundproof barrier, encompassing the surroundings.

The Game Square granted the shop owners some special abilities,

such as delineating soundproof areas within the shop, drawing boundaries that customers cannot cross, among other things.

Once the barrier was set up, the outside customers could not see the scene within it.

"Speak freely,"

Li Ang nodded at the mule, not intending to hide anything from Wang Congshan.

"Here’s the thing,"

The mule hesitated, cleared his throat, and said, "I’m very interested in the Ark Project that Miss Liu is currently preparing.

I contacted her yesterday, expressing my desire to join.

I wonder if you agree."

"Hmm?"

Li Ang asked, "Isn’t this Liu Wu Dai’s project? No need to ask for my consent."

"Well, there’s still a need for it."

The mule smiled wryly and said, "If it’s just small-scale stuff, the Liu family’s face is enough to handle some of the East Asian organizations.

However, if we want to expand the Ark Project’s scale and influence, we’ll inevitably need to interact with the Global Occult Coalition and various official organizations in different regions.

Your presence significantly influences their stance on the Ark Project,

So, reasonably, any major decision should first consult your opinion."

"Is that so."

Li Ang nodded, "Alright, I agree to your joining."

His personal relationship with the mule had always been harmonious; the mule knew what benefits and drawbacks were, understood progress and constraints, and was a pretty good friend.

"Good."

The mule breathed a sigh of relief and informed Liu Wu Dai of the news through the friend link.

After notifying, the mule was still a bit hesitant,

Li Ang seeing this, casually asked, "Anything else?"

"Well, here’s the thing."

The mule cleared his throat and said, "Miss Liu preparing the Ark Project is not merely a charitable endeavor,

but aims to eventually operate the Ark Project as an independent sea base like Switzerland, absolutely neutral and unaffected.

Who controls the players controls the future,

If the Ark Project can complete its construction as planned, gathering numerous wandering players,

Then the Ark can also become a force with discourse power.

Considering this, I decided to join the Ark Project."

Li Ang nodded, he had vaguely felt before that the mule seemed to, like him, have something he absolutely couldn’t expose.

Moreover, the difficulties seemed even greater than his before.

From the mule’s perspective,

seeking shelter under a power is surely less reliable than actively participating in building one himself.

"I’m not only joining myself but also investing the information network, contacts, and resources accumulated over these years into the Ark Project."

The mule rubbed his palms and said, "I suggested Miss Liu expand the Ark Project’s business scope,

to Europe, America, South America, Africa, etc., providing refuge to those who haven’t committed major mistakes but are being unfairly treated, persecuted, and hunted."

"But with just our strength, we can’t convince other organizations to relent and agree,

Therefore, I wanted to ask for your opinion."

After the mule’s explanation, Li Ang only then understood the situation the Ark Project faced.

The Ark Project was conceived, executed, and practiced by Liu Wu Dai,

Initially, she planned on deploying several cruise ships from the Liu family’s Longqing Sea Transport Group to cruise the world’s high seas,

specializing in providing shelter to those who technically conduct themselves with integrity but, due to their sensitive identities, are unsuitable to stay in sovereign areas.

However, as the plan progressed and research advanced,

The situation gradually became more complex.

Besides players, there’s another equally large group worldwide – the supernatural abilities users.

Supernatural abilities users aren’t players; to be precise, they’re the sacrifices organizations made trying to replicate what transcendents caused.

Organizations such as the European Heavy Industry Group and Prometheus Laboratory Company,

to quickly understand the essence of transcendental power, launched large-scale medical experiments.

They recruited homeless beggars, bankrupt individuals, or those suffering from diseases with no way out from society,

injected them with genetic elixirs and observed the effects.

Throughout this process, some died, some were unaffected by the genetic elixir,

and some gained special transcendental powers from the elixir, though not comparable to players, but embodying traces of supernatural abilities seen in literary works.

The organizations were quite satisfied and, naturally, kept recruiting volunteers and advancing medical experiments persistently.

To some extent,

these organizations succeeded significantly,

they developed relatively stable genetic elixirs, acting as strength seeds, allowing mass production of transcendents comparable to low-level players.

Quantitative change leads to qualitative change,

Among tens of thousands of experiment subjects, one or two outstanding ones rivaling mid-tier even high-tier players would inevitably emerge.

To control these hard-earned experiment subjects,

organizations applied various shackles, coercion, enticement, and appeasement.

Yet, forbidden experiments remain forbidden.

Since the death game was activated,

Organizations like the European Heavy Industry Group, Prometheus Laboratory Company have been constantly exposed for experiment subjects escaping, conscientious members defecting and publicizing experiment materials.

Discontent with the status quo, experiment subjects have orchestrated numerous mass escapes and defections,

even recruiting followers, forming groups, and openly confronting organizations.

The result naturally was manhunt and pursuit from those organizations.

Though supernatural abilities users are strong, they’re still merely manufactured transcendents.

Companies know their detailed data, can deploy stronger supernatural abilities users, even actual players to kill and capture them.

"These supernatural abilities users’ personal talents actually often aren’t inferior to players,"

The mule introduced, "If they receive player qualification or get selected by the system,

Their rate of improvement is not slower than players at all.

And their situation is indeed quite miserable.

Miss Liu and I have discussed that if we can recruit them, it could greatly enhance the security forces of the Ark plan.

Moreover, they likely also wish for someone to provide shelter for them and their families.

The only problem is that this might provoke enmity from other organizations.

For organizations, player eligibility is most critical.

High-level players receive preferential treatment,

while low-level players may be exploited somewhat, but at least receive relatively fair treatment.

However, Transcendents without player eligibility are considered company private property, requiring absolute loyalty and obedience, and are not allowed to flee or rebel."

Listening to Mule’s account, Li Ang remembered having read many news stories on this topic before.

For example, Gen-Sys Biotech Company’s Southeast Asia research base was attacked by defecting experimental subjects, staging a spiritual energy war on the streets;

Prometheus Laboratory Company’s investment in a psychiatric hospital was proven to be involved in human modification experiments, among others.

"Hmm... so you want me to step in?"

Li Ang thought for a moment and asked, "Will other organizations still give face to this?

Helping domestic players escape is one thing,

letting Transcendents leave is quite another.

Players, after all, have more means, making them difficult to catch,

whereas Transcendents are valuable company assets, costing the company investment."

"They will."

Upon hearing this, Mule sighed in relief and said, "The battle in Yin City will likely remain the benchmark for showcasing the combat power in the killing ground game for a long time to come.

Even if you don’t show up, merely voicing support through the Special Affairs Bureau in private will make those organizations dare not obstruct opposition.

We’ll handle the situation carefully so that conflicts won’t escalate."

"In that case, you all should proceed, and I’ll talk to the Special Affairs Bureau, asking them to inform the other organizations."

Li Ang nodded as this was a trivial task for him now,

and recruiting more reliable Transcendents could also ensure Liu Wu Dai’s cruise is safer, providing a place to settle down.

Looking at the now-relieved Mule, Li Ang smiled and said, "However, I have conditions."

"What conditions?"

"I can help the protected Transcendents stabilize the gene sequences in their bodies.

Prevent adverse effects after halting the intake of genetic elixirs."

Li Ang said, "At the same time, they must undergo mandatory medical exams periodically

and donate some blood for me to conduct pharmaceutical research.

Lastly, I will use psychic abilities for detection to prevent spies with ulterior motives from infiltrating."

The Hive has never stopped collecting new gene sequences,

and these defecting Transcendents will be a pretty good source.

"No problem."

Upon hearing this, Mule nodded, "That’s only expected.

Compared to players, artificial Transcendents are ultimately too unstable.

More tests can reduce the probability of sudden loss of control.

I’m sure they and their families can agree to that."

Getting a verbal promise from Li Ang is crucial for both Mule, Liu Wu Dai, and the Ark plan.

Favor is favor, business is business.

To maintain a friendly relationship in the long term, it has to be mutually beneficial, balancing efforts and gains.

After discussing the details, Mule visibly relaxed,

Li Ang casually lifted the soundproof barrier, and they exchanged a few words, agreeing to team up for the next scenario mission.

After a while, Laura returned from shopping, and Mule stayed to look after the shop with her,

while Li Ang and Wang Congshan logged out from Game Square, returning to the real world.

"Why does it feel like,"

Wang Congshan smacked her lips, "everyone, including your friends, behaves a bit oddly towards you."

"You mean, overly cautious, right?"

Li Ang shrugged somewhat helplessly, "I don’t want it this way either.

But that war indeed changed many things.

The stronger the power and the higher the status,

the more significant the shifts in relationships."

Whether in the real world or the killing ground game, he had very few friends,

and if friendships remain unchanged, it would be ideal.

At this moment, the various facilities and equipment of the experimental center have been fully adjusted, and Bai Haozheng and Scholar Zhu, among others, have come to greet—the Heterodox Academy even sent a few representatives to witness the scene of epic equipment binding.

Li Ang released spiritual energy, enveloping Wang Congshan in multiple layers of shielding for mind and body protection,

and made all the necessary preparations,

then Wang Congshan, under everyone’s watchful eyes, took a deep breath with some nervousness, walked onto the round platform, and took out the [Remnant Spark of The Traveling Mage].

The detailed description of the item flashed before her eyes, accompanied by the cold, mechanical voice of the system.

[Item Detected: Remnant Spark of The Traveling Mage]

[Bind?]

Wang Congshan’s consciousness confirmed,

only to hear a long humming sound, as the lightning-like spark began violently trembling, levitating from her palm, and without warning, shot swiftly, merging into her heart.

Wang Congshan instinctively stepped back, her eyes flickering with bizarre images.

The Hundred-Arm Giant uplifting mountains;

The massive Mechanical Statue bathing in the sea of ten thousand tons, slowly ascending the shore;

The fierce dragon beast lurking in the depths of a cave filled with gold coins;

The hooded Mage emitting vast energy waves, moving mountains and filling seas like a deity;

Hundreds and thousands of scenes flashed rapidly before her eyes,

coupled with a sense of unprecedented tranquility and peace at times,

while at other times felt trapped in hopeless despair with no light in sight.

In a trance,

she seemed to see some enormous, nightmare-like shadow eclipsing the skies and devouring everything,

but her brain’s self-protection mechanism forced her to forget these images.

As if an eternity had passed, or perhaps just a second,

Wang Congshan blinked and regained clarity,

all the instruments surrounding the circular platform activated one by one,

either casting healing beams to mend the body,

or emitting calming, rational energy waves.

"So does this mean... it was a successful fusion?"

Wang Congshan glanced at the appearing Li Ang hesitantly raising her arm.

From her palm, wisps of silky faint light emerged,

all the light naturally converged, gradually coalescing into a rectangular card shape.

The card was about the size of a palm,

its back patterned with a dark green base, a brown oval in the center, with five light spots—white, blue, black, red, and green—hovering inside the oval.

The card’s front was immaculate, seemingly possessing an allure that absorbed and distorted the various lights emitted by the surrounding instruments.

"Is this a tangible card?"

Li Ang watched as Wang Congshan pinched the corner of the card, slightly frowning.

Transforming energy into tangible matter,

it appears the Traveling Mage’s ability is much more miraculous than he had imagined.

(A new instance concept is completed.

Might participate in an event on Qidian in a few days, releasing a bonus Chapter for all subscription readers to see.)