Naming Technique of the Night

"Hmm," Uncle Li Dong nodded, "Babies can be born after ten months of gestation within an artificial womb, but you probably can't imagine that this was invented by the corporations to allow women to have the same labor force and working hours as men."

Uncle Li Dong continued, "This technology has been around for over a hundred years. Initially, female compatriots were overjoyed. However, more than a decade later, under the manipulation of the Chen Clan, the Federal Senate passed a bill to 'amend maternity leave duration'. Since then, women's maternity leave has been only seven days, and all families have had to face a new expense since.

It's a choice—you either resign and gestate your offspring yourself or you pay for the use of an artificial womb."

Qing Chen fell silent; this wasn't as good as he thought.

For him, a Time Traveler from the Outer World, this was too fantastical.

"By the way, Master," Qing Chen asked, "why didn't you tell me earlier that after meeting the requirements for Puppeteer containment, killing someone would bring about new changes?"

Uncle Li Dong lifted Qing Chen's arm and looked at his student's wrist in the light, "This time in the Outer World, you killed 13 people but didn't sacrifice their bodies? After fulfilling the first stage of containment conditions, as long as you personally kill an enemy, the Puppeteer's second stage form will unlock by 1 centimeter.

If you sacrifice the enemy's corpse, it will unlock by 10 centimeters."

Qing Chen nodded, "It seems, Master, that you've known all along and deliberately didn't tell me."

"All previous owners of the Taboo, ACE-019, the Puppeteer, ended up with dire fates—either they went mad or became possessed," Uncle Li Dong looked at Qing Chen, "So when those old fogeys gave you this thing, I was a bit angry. But later on, I thought, what if your mind isn't swayed by it? As your teacher, I should trust you."

"What's the upper limit of the number of people the Puppeteer can control?" Qing Chen asked.

"No one knows its limit," Uncle Li Dong replied.

Qing Chen was stunned; the Puppeteer really could control many people. "But Master, there's something I've always been curious about. Although the temptation can make people want to continue unlocking it, it shouldn't drive people insane, right?"

"Haven't you felt the thoughts of those controlled when you use it?" Uncle Li Dong asked, "Especially the madness, fear, remorse, and timidity of the controlled when it happens—that surge of the most intense and darkest emotions of humanity, those can erode a person's soul."

"I didn't feel that, though," Qing Chen expressed his surprise.

Uncle Li Dong was also surprised, "How could you not?"

"Master, I really didn't," Qing Chen answered earnestly.

Uncle Li Dong looked at his student curiously; he always felt that there were too many oddities about him.

First, he broke free from Lin Xiaoxiao's nightmare with a mortal body.

Then, signs of promotion appeared before his Genetic Lock was even activated.

Upon activating his Genetic Lock, his initial level was higher than any other Knight before him.

The latest oddity was now, regarding the Puppeteer—its description came from the experience of a Senior Knight who had contained and personally used it.

That Senior Knight had used it only once and then kept the Taboo locked away in Taboo Land number 002, never wanting to see it again.

But now, in Qing Chen's hands, the Puppeteer had become a true puppet, devoid of emotions, without feedback.

Qing Chen asked, "Aren't puppets just puppets, how can they have emotional fluctuations? Could it be that you're mistaken, Master?"

Uncle Li Dong reflected, "Don't talk to me in that tone for now, let me think..."

He knew when Giant DongDong came out from its lair, it actually had Taboo objects in both hands, and those old guys had sent him to take a look at Qing Chen, to let DongDong decide which Taboo to give to Qing Chen himself.

As a result, DongDong chose to give Qing Chen the Puppeteer from his right hand.

Back then, Uncle Li Dong found it somewhat strange, why choose the Puppeteer?

Now he thought, perhaps DongDong, after using his dual pupils, felt that Qing Chen would be fine even if he took the Puppeteer.

But at this moment, Uncle Li Dong thought, how great it would have been to give Qing Chen both Taboos...

The old fogeys were thinking too small!

With a talent and inheritor like this, they should have given more!

"Do all Taboos unlock a second stage?" Qing Chen inquired curiously.

"Not everyone can do it," Uncle Li Dong shook his head, "I've been thinking, it might be based on the level of the Transcendent's abilities before their passing. Only those above B-Class could produce Taboo objects, with A-Class Taboo possessing a second-tier unlock status, and S-Class possibly a third-tier."

Taboo objects are different from Transcendents, with only three levels.

Curious, Qing Chen asked, "Master, have you ever seen an S-Class Taboo?"

"Maybe we're about to see one," Uncle Li Dong said with a laugh.

Qing Chen looked at his master, realizing that the other party might already have an S-Class Taboo in his possession!

"Wait," Qing Chen suddenly asked, "Master, I just remembered a very, very important matter. After being promoted to Knight, can I still have children?"

"Of course you can!" Uncle Li Dong said, taken aback, "…But with your 'keep away' personality, do you even need to consider this matter?"

"Master, don't attack me personally," Qing Chen raised an eyebrow, "I've heard that those who are injected with the Genetic Potion become infertile. What's the difference between them and Knights? Why don't Knights have problems after changing their genes?"

"That's a totally different path," Uncle Li Dong said, laughing and crying at the same time, "The path of a Knight's promotion is about making our own genes more perfect on the basis of humanity, approaching that of a God."

"What about the Genetic Potion?" Qing Chen asked.

"Genetic Potions are from corporate labs, attaching genes extracted from non-human sources to humans," Uncle Li Dong said, "In a way, calling them Half Orcs is not wrong; humans and Half Orcs naturally can't have offspring."

All of a sudden, Qing Chen felt that Genetic Warriors seemed much less impressive in his master's eyes…

Uncle Li Dong explained, "Transcendents have always looked down on Genetic Warriors. Even if their combat power may not be as good, it's a natural hierarchy of disdain. Of course, don't undervalue some Genetic Warriors, many are simply looking for a way out, they don't have a choice."

"Then why don't certain Genetic Potions from the Tribunal have any effect?" Qing Chen asked, puzzled.

"You know quite a lot; it seems you've been interacting with Time Travelers," Uncle Li Dong glanced at him, "The Tribunal is special because the genes they extract come from Gods."

This statement shocked Qing Chen, "Are there really Gods in this world? And why would Gods agree to their genetic samples being collected?"

"Maybe they have a good relationship with Gods," sighed Uncle Li Dong, "I don't know the specifics, the Tribunal has always been mysterious, and there's very little information recorded about them."

"By the way, Master, I have a question," Qing Chen looked at Uncle Li Dong, "Is it possible for a Knight to become an Awakener?"

"Of course not," Uncle Li Dong said, "No Cultivator can become an Awakener."

"Why?"

"Because Awakeners are those who, under extreme conditions, unleash their potential through emotions. Cultivation is about using inherited methods to release a person's potential," Uncle Li Dong explained, "Since the potential has been released, naturally there can be no Awakening."

"Then I have another question," Qing Chen considered, "Normally, the first promotion for a Knight corresponds to F-Class, and the seventh to S-Class. Since I started as E-Class, does that mean on my seventh promotion I would surpass S-Class?"

"No," Uncle Li Dong shook his head, "The promotion from B-Class to A-Class is a threshold, and A-Class to S-Class is another. The letter difference may seem minor, but for Cultivators themselves it's a steep path, with extraordinary significance. Beyond S-Class lies true Godhood, perhaps with a single thought capable of overturning seas and rivers.

Maybe after you've faced a complete eight life-or-death situations, you might have a chance to transcend that threshold, but before that, don't get your hopes up. There might be quantitative changes, but no qualitative transformation."

With that said, Uncle Li Dong suddenly furrowed his brows.

According to this theory, Qing Chen would reach S-Class after completing six life-or-death situations. What kind of change could occur upon completing the seventh?

No one in the Knight Organization had ever experienced such a thing!

But does this mean that even though Qing Chen has embarked on the path of a Knight, his potential has not yet been fully unleashed?
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…

*Cough* *cough*, about that last chapter, no wonder the subscription number was higher than the others…

I have now seen through your true nature…

For those who are considering unsubscribing, how about a complete subscription, eh? I've been so diligent, and this book is so good-looking!