Connected to the quantum computer.

  The Heaven Chip's data processing speed immediately increased dramatically. The parsing progress visibly began to climb.

  "Still two hours."

  "Then just wait here for two hours. The external cable is a bit short. I'll go get you a chair. Just browse the net to pass the time."

  "Okay."

  Afterward...

  Ke Xiao brought a chair, and Xia Li used the Heavenly Dao Network to search for information about the past.

  Mainly about the Source Chip leak incident.

  The Clans, Sects, and Democratic Government all expressed support for the matter. Only the Corporate Alliance called his sister a thief, a disloyal and unrighteous traitor.

  As for his sister Xia Shu's final fate, the Heavenly Dao Network didn't go into detail—it only said she was discovered and captured by the corporation, then subjected to inhumane treatment.

  Reading this historical record, Xia Li's heart bled. His mind was filled with images of his sister's smile.

  "The Corporate Alliance..."

  "Someday, I will completely destroy you!"

  His sister had been killed, and he himself had been captured to mine. This was what the Corporate Alliance had done.

  Whenever any technology emerged, their first thought was never to spread it widely for the benefit of the people. It was always how to monopolize and exploit it for profit.

  Human society needed merchants, needed commerce, needed companies and enterprises in different fields to drive civilization forward.

  But it didn't need the Corporate Alliance.

  Two hours later...

  Data processing complete. The Heaven Chip directly reconstructed what Xia Li had seen and recorded with Quantum Eyes into reality.

  A 3D photograph that could be zoomed in and out, rotated to different angles—everything except movement was crystal clear in detail.

  "Sis Ke, the data's ready. Come take a look."

  "Coming!"

  Hearing Xia Li, Ke Xiao immediately came to his side. Xia Li also sent her a copy of the data.

  After examining it together, they quickly discovered the secret within the cryogenic storage.

  A woman frozen in a cryogenic pod, surrounded by Company security personnel in an almost complete circle. Various instruments near the pod were still operating, though it was unclear what they were doing.

  The woman's features bore obvious "archaic characteristics."

  Modern humans, after so many years of evolution, had some differences in appearance compared to the past—such as nose bridge height and facial bone structure.

  Though Xia Li was from five hundred years ago, he didn't look much different from modern people. But this woman's differences were immediately apparent.

  "Sis Ke, what do you think?"

  Xia Li couldn't make sense of it.

  "That should be an ancient cultivator from the Spirit Era. Her body contains vast knowledge about Spirit Era cultivation. If she's still alive... she'd be a key to unlocking the Spirit Era."

  "But why would she be in a cryogenic pod?"

  "She was probably discovered by people centuries ago. After research proved fruitless, they put her in cryogenic storage to preserve her."

  "So we report this now?"

  "I'll handle the report. What happens next is beyond our involvement. So, do you want to hide the fact that you've opened your Dirac Sea?"

  "No need."

  Xia Li had just checked online. Cases of developing divine thought at the Qi Refining stage, of the divine soul awakening eyes, were extremely rare but not unheard of.

  Plus, when he went for Heaven-path Foundation Establishment later, he definitely couldn't hide it anyway.

  Unless he chose to hide by not competing for anything, not touching anything.

  That would certainly keep him hidden, but then what?

  He'd just fall behind step by step until he became ordinary.

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  "Alright."

  Ke Xiao nodded and began drafting a simple mission report.

  Half an hour later.

  Both Ke Xiao and Xia Li received replies from the organization.

  The organization's reply to Xia Li was:

  *Xia Li, mission completed excellently. Given your outstanding performance, you are promoted directly from F-rank to D-rank personnel.*

  *You receive 200 contribution points, one Genesis Serum, and one special reward. Please select from the reward repository on the internal network.*

  The reply was simple. Everything he deserved was there, plus an extra reward—probably because of his talent.

  "What did yours say?"

  After reading her own reply, Ke Xiao asked about Xia Li's.

  "Points, serum, and a bonus."

  "Anyone else would have to choose between points and serum. But you get both, plus extra. The world of geniuses really is different."

  Ke Xiao was genuinely a bit jealous. This treatment was clearly special attention for Xia Li.

  "I contributed to the organization. I even burned out my brain for the organization. Isn't this what I deserve?"

  "Yes, yes, it's what you deserve. I'm going to rest. Someone will deliver your rewards after you select them. Just wait here."

  "Okay."

  Xia Li nodded. Ke Xiao yawned and went to her room to rest. Xia Li eagerly connected to the Hidden Wing internal network.

  On the internal network, he could see the Genesis Serum and could select one for free.

  Without hesitation, Xia Li naturally chose the Hidden Wing formulation.

  As for the extra reward, after browsing for a long time, Xia Li chose an expansion device for his Spirit Core.

  A Pseudo-Core.

  As the name suggested, it was a high-energy matter aggregate crafted using special techniques to imitate a Golden Core. It could be embedded in the hollow center of a Spirit Core to immediately gain some of the power of the Golden Core stage.

  Of course, it would become useless at the Golden Core stage, since a real Golden Core would occupy the Spirit Core's central space.

  But for Xia Li, who wasn't even at Foundation Establishment yet, it could definitely be used for quite a while.

  Reward selected, confirmed!

  A notification popped up in his mental holographic screen—delivery in one to three days. Rush delivery was available for extra spirit stones.

  Xia Li wasn't in a hurry. Three days was fine.

  For the next three days, Xia Li stayed in the underground chamber playing holographic games. The new era's games were quite interesting—"immersive" didn't even begin to describe them.

  If you were willing to spend spirit stones, you could even buy an immersion pod to truly enter the game world. But Xia Li wouldn't let himself become addicted to games.

  On the evening of the third day, the organization's people finally delivered the goods—right on schedule.

  In the underground chamber.

  In front of the modification pod, Ke Xiao held the Pseudo-Core, examining it curiously.

  "Xia Li, I'd say you actually lost out. With your talent, reaching Golden Core will be easy. Why not get yourself a flying sword instead? How long can you even use this Pseudo-Core?"

  Ke Xiao examined the small, exquisitely crafted Pseudo-Core. This thing was meant for rich kids who not only lacked cultivation talent but were too lazy to even cultivate.

  Who in their right mind would use this?

  For the same price, you could buy so many good things.

  "It's useful to me, and that's enough."

  "Then when you reach Golden Core, can you sell this to me cheap?"

  "When that happens, I'll just give it to you."

  "Great! Then I wish you cultivation progress like a rocket. Lie down—I'm going to install it."