Domestic Zone: You already have a system, why join a chat group?

Chapter 80 True Qi Transformation into Liquid, System Upgrade

Undeterred, Russell searched around again, but instead of finding weapons, he found records of the temple's development.

No wonder Ye Qingmei only took a Barrett rifle with her when she left the temple.

It turns out that the armory was basically emptied, and the Tsar Bomba that Russell had been longing for had disappeared hundreds of years ago.

According to records, the temple maintained its military power primarily by relying on a multi-functional manufacturing and repair platform that was still partially operational, namely an advanced 3D printer and repair workshop.

However, the stock of materials available for printing is running low, and what's left is only enough to make one pistol at most.

Fortunately, according to the old man, the information about this knowledge in the database was not destroyed, otherwise Russell's trip to the temple would have been a complete waste.

"That's the truth. Young explorers, are you willing to become new messengers of the temple, to travel the world on behalf of the temple, and to restore its glory?" The old man continued his instigation.

There was nothing that could be done about it. Ever since Ye Qingmei defected, the temple had sent messengers one after another to hunt her down. It was like the Calabash Brothers trying to save their grandfather; they all fell into Wu Zhu's hands.

This has directly resulted in the temple now being left with only him, an artificial intelligence that has no practical function.

To maintain the temple's power to oversee the human world, it is necessary to recruit new temple messengers to monitor the progress of civilization and eliminate dangerous variables.

Russell shook his head solemnly and said to the old man, "I am not interested in temple messengers or anything like that. I will only protect my temple."

The old man thought for a moment and nodded: "That works too."

"?"

It's a trap, definitely a trap!

Following the old man's directions, Russell arrived at a place that resembled a laboratory.

The surrounding walls are made of smooth, silvery-white metal, covered with a dense array of interfaces and indicator lights, most of which are now dim and unlit.

In the center of the room was a complex, semi-embedded circular control panel, with several holographic projection interfaces that continuously streamed pale blue data above it.

The temple has been rebuilt several times, and most of its infrastructure has been worn out and rendered ineffective, but this place has never lost its function.

This is the database, the core of the temple's AI, and a treasure trove that gathers all the knowledge of the temple.

As long as this place remains untouched, human civilization will one day rise again.

Deep within the database lie numerous petri dishes, each containing memory chips preserved using special methods.

According to the old man, these chips contain digitized memories of some of humanity before the outbreak of nuclear war.

The original plan was that when only one temple messenger remained in the temple, these temple messengers would take some of the chips out of the temple. After these babies with memories were born, the temple messengers would then take them back to the temple to stabilize its operation.

This plan sounds perfect and can minimize the dangerous period during which the temple loses its ability to monitor civilizations due to a power vacuum.

However, plans can't keep up with changes. On that day, the first generation machine, which was later named Wuzhu, brought back a remarkable woman named Ye Qingmei.

After backing up all the data in the database to the chat group, Russell asked, "Where are the cultivation techniques created by the temple?"

"The term 'cultivation techniques' is just what people call them. Their real name is actually 'Genetic Optimization and Energy Manipulation Lineages Under Specific Environmental Induction'," the old man said calmly. Immediately afterward, a screen resembling a system panel appeared in front of Russell's eyes.

On the screen, more than a hundred folders lay there quietly.

Russell was familiar with the names of three of the folders: "Four-Looking Sword Technique", "Heavenly Dao Heart Method", and "Overbearing True Qi".

"These techniques are not universally applicable; they are customized solutions for specific individuals. If you wish to evolve to a higher level, the temple can tailor a technique that is most suitable for your physique," the old man said, seeing that Russell seemed interested in these techniques.

As he finished speaking, a hydraulically sealed door next to the database, seemingly integrated with the wall, slowly slid open to one side, revealing a small space filled with soft, pale blue light. Inside was a device resembling a human hibernation pod from a science fiction film, with sleek lines and various sensor interfaces.

"Your Excellency only needs to lie down inside, and the temple will generate a data map of Your Excellency's body and an energy flow model, and then simulate the most suitable energy flow route for you."

"..." Russell was speechless for a moment. Was the map of Yan really that short?

They really don't play games with you at all.

"Do you still have any questions?" the old man asked impatiently.

"I doubt your mother." Russell slapped the computer case and muttered, "Absorb."

In less than a second, all the processors in the database disappeared, and the lights in the core area of ​​the temple suddenly went out, leaving only a few emergency red warning lights that flickered weakly a few times before going out completely.

Russell looked at the large processor that took up one card slot in his backpack and felt more and more that he probably wouldn't need it. He thought he could sell it to Han Li as a favor and see if he could get a drop of the Heavenly Creation Dew in return.

Taking out a flashlight from his spatial storage, Russell continued to wander around the temple a few more times, eventually finding the spaceship parked in its underground bay, and began packing it up with practiced ease.

After doing all that, Russell leisurely found a room and sat down.

During this time, he wasn't just focused on traveling; he also honed the royal true energy within Emperor Qing's body that he had accumulated over twenty years.

Warm internal energy surged from the dantian, spiraling upwards to the space between the eyebrows, and all the meridians and internal organs in the body appeared in the mind.

Without thinking twice, Russell took out another True Essence Pill and swallowed it in one gulp.

The blood that had been flowing slowly suddenly increased in speed, his skin turned visibly red, and the temperature in the room rose.

It was as if flames were burning fiercely within him, simmering his blood, roasting his muscles and bones, and forging his internal organs.

Gradually, Russell's breathing became extremely long, with several breaths between each inhale and exhale.

His blood became increasingly viscous, and an indescribably hot flame instantly spread from his chest to his entire body.

Russell endured the excruciating pain, guiding the scalding hot energy within his body to circulate throughout his entire being. His blood seemed to have transformed into scalding lead and mercury, rushing wildly through his veins as if to melt his flesh and blood.

The pain instantly reached its peak.

His five senses are beyond those of ordinary people, and his perception of pain is far greater than that of ordinary people. Even though he had expected the sudden burst of pain, he was still momentarily stunned.

"call!"

Russell exhaled a breath of hot air, and at the same time, his throat moved, and a protective pill that had been pressed under his tongue fell into his stomach.

With a thud, like a boulder falling into a deep well, a cool sensation instantly overwhelmed the burning heat, allowing Russell to regain some of his sanity.

Before long, he felt as if he were being inflated, his whole body swelling up, and his true energy began to gather from the bottom up towards his brain.

It was as if a dusty mirror had been wiped clean, or as if murky water had become crystal clear.

The burning sensation gradually subsided, replaced by an unprecedented clarity.

A wisp of internal energy lingered on the bridge of his nose, between his eyebrows.

With a bang.

As his inner energy exploded, Russell felt as if a thunderbolt had struck his heart, shaking his very spirit.

Once out of his control, thick sweat was squeezed out from every pore of his body, carrying the scalding heat and the rusty smell unique to blood, instantly filling the entire room.

With this exhalation, it was as if the shackles that had been pressing down on him for a long time were being removed, and Russell slowly stood up.

He didn't open his eyes, but everything around him transformed into a picture that took shape in his mind.

In professional terms, this state is called "external scenery reflected internally," or "the mind's eye."

Bertrand Russell

[Life Level: Blue → Green]

[System Update Announcement: Update countdown 11:59:59]

[Note: During the update, basic functions will work normally, but advanced functions such as lottery and cross-world travel will be temporarily frozen.]

Is the fact that this broken system can still update because my life level has evolved?

Before Russell could figure out what had happened, a message from Han Li came through the chat group—

Han Li: "I have reached the Core Formation stage."