Chapter 31

It seemed something was wrong. The leader, who looked like a fierce demon, lowered his head to look at the armor on his body. In his memory, the black aura had already been shattered by him, but in the moment he looked down, the fierce man saw a black spot on his protective armor, which looked so glaring.

At the same time, the fist mark on the man's neck, which was obscured by the potion, seemed to be trying to break free from the blur. The vague pattern hidden behind the potion seemed to sense the threat and challenge, and burst forth with the power it contained. It was like a fierce beast in the Beast Mountain Range that had been sleeping for a long time, quietly awakening to resist the attack of the black aura.

However, before the power contained in the pattern could become clear, it became blurred again. Before it could burst forth with its due power, it was quickly enveloped by a black aura and dimmed.

The leader of the Short Sword Guild saw out of the corner of his eye that his subordinates were falling one after another, none able to resist the attack of the black aura. The black spot on his armor slowly spread, like ink dropped in water, about to turn the entire armor, and himself, black.

Wasn't it shattered? How could it still be like this? What made him even more incredulous was that the fist mark on his neck had no effect on the black aura at all!

The leader of the Short Sword Guild felt his whole body burning, as if a fire was burning in his chest. His breathing became extremely difficult, and he collapsed on the ground. Looking at the other members of the Short Sword Guild around him, he found that everyone, including himself, was like... like... the people who died in the plague that broke out in Moonlight City a few years ago, struggling painfully, with black spots appearing on their hands, faces, and bodies, spreading rapidly. Everyone was dazed, drooling from the corners of their mouths, and desperately grabbing their necks, trying to breathe but unable to do so.

Even though the leader of the Short Sword Guild's body was much stronger than the others, this strength only allowed him to live a few seconds longer and suffer a few seconds more. As he was about to die, he vaguely heard the person in the black robe say something. The voice was low and indistinct, with a bit of hoarseness and magnetism, leaving a lasting impression. But he didn't hear clearly what was said, and then his consciousness was enveloped by darkness, losing all feeling. Death arrived, taking away his life and his final pain.

====

After the prayer ended, it was already dusk. Jiang Junming was arranged to rest at the Care Church, preparing to set out early the next morning to the Church Academy in Dusk City.

Regarding the strange experiences of the day, Jiang Junming had many questions he wanted to ask the AI. As the sky grew darker, he lay on the bed and began to "sleep."

Soon, as Jiang Junming drifted between sleep and wakefulness, he entered the six-sided rectangular space of the AI.

As soon as he entered the rectangular space of the AI, Jiang Junming realized that the familiar six-sided rectangular space was slightly larger than before, though not obviously so. Having rested here for many years, Jiang Junming could clearly feel the change. The six screens were clearer, which Jiang Junming thought might be due to higher resolution. He wondered what had caused the change.

As if knowing what Jiang Junming was thinking, the mechanical voice of the AI sounded: "Because your mental power has increased, the space has expanded, and the selectable abilities have been enhanced."

Hmm? It didn't call me "receptor"? Jiang Junming immediately realized that the AI had also changed, but what did it mean by "selectable abilities have been enhanced"? He asked, "Why do you seem different from before?"

At this moment, the AI seemed less mechanical and more emotional, something Jiang Junming's memory of machines and computers did not have.

"It seems... there were some other components in the energy substances absorbed today, besides pure energy..." The AI hesitated, as if trying to find the right way to describe the change.

The voice became more human-like and vivid. Jiang Junming thought to himself that he preferred this kind of AI, more like interacting with a human rather than a cold machine, even though the previous AI could already communicate with him like a "person." He wondered if the AI would develop its own emotions after absorbing them.

"It seems to be able to generate and influence emotions..." The AI paused and continued.

It really has emotions now, Jiang Junming curiously asked, "What kind of substance is it?"

"The mental power is not yet sufficient to analyze and deconstruct it, so the receptor's question cannot be answered." The AI's response became cold and mechanical again. If it hadn't said it absorbed some substances that could change and influence emotions, Jiang Junming would have thought he was hallucinating.

Before Jiang Junming could ask anything else, the AI continued, "Begin enhancing the selectable abilities."

Jiang Junming thought the AI was going to have him continue learning the skills on the skill tree. He had already finished the basic anatomy, and today he should learn the basic pharmacology on another leaf.

However, to Jiang Junming's surprise, the leaves did not change. Instead, a holographic projection appeared on the wall opposite him. Jiang Junming was startled to find that the holographic projection was of himself, with the same eyebrows, face, and figure.

Below the holographic projection, a progress bar appeared. The light flickered, starting from the beginning and continuously lighting up. The progress bar had markings below it, giving a strong sense of three-dimensionality, like an enlarged, slender measuring cylinder. Jiang Junming could still see the initial markings, which were 1, 2, 3...

But the light flickered so quickly that Jiang Junming's eyes couldn't keep up. In an instant, the entire progress bar dimmed, and he didn't see the largest marking, not knowing what it meant.

The AI said, "Because energy has been obtained, the receptor can perform self-regulation."

Jiang Junming was taken aback. Self-regulation? What is that?

"What is self-regulation?" Jiang Junming asked, feeling both excited and uneasy.

"Self-regulation is using the knowledge learned to optimize one's body." The AI said, and then the holographic projection in front of Jiang Junming began to rotate. Layers of light turned into points and disappeared, no longer reflecting Jiang Junming's image like a mirror, but decomposing it, like a cadaver in an anatomy class.

Although it was similar, there was a clear difference. The image in front of Jiang Junming was not a flat surface but a semi-transparent three-dimensional structure. The skin, fat, fascia, muscles, and bones were clearly visible to Jiang Junming, with distinct layers, like a highly advanced Hollywood movie where a person appears in the dark, their body enveloped in a faint light, three-dimensional and layered, looking so real that Jiang Junming felt as if he himself had become that way.

What is this supposed to do? Jiang Junming couldn't understand or figure out what the AI meant.

******

Xiaolong requests your collection, recommendation, and support. Thank you to the book friends "Naughty Watermelon" and "Jonesw" for your support.

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