Pretending To Be A Boss

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Leaving the Pyramid and heading to the mining area, they eventually returned to Baichuan City.

The process didn't require too much time; Zhong Xiuxiu and Shang Lu just had a few more items to purchase.

Both were quite slow to react to the changes in the world.

Unlike everyone else, they did not gaze intently at the TV towers as they traveled.

Their discussions were about everyday topics.

For instance, Shang Lu remembered that she forgot to bring the parent plant of the Jiuye Biphasic Orchid.

Tang Xian remembered he could not let Qing JiuYu find out the Jiuye Biphasic Orchid he gave was "copy and pasted," so he asked Shang Lu to forget about it.

Zhong Xiuxiu remembered she still had two monkey brains to study back in her lab.

Or the fact that transplanting St. Dunstan's Tree was very troublesome, and someone at Hua Science Academy still owed her money and other trivial matters.

Tang Xian wasn't particularly in a rush either. Watching the newlywed couple, he began to realize that perhaps tying one's life to another person and forming a contract wasn't such a bad thing.

The main thing was choosing the right person.

The two chattered for a while, visited several shops, and restocked on some goods, then both carried bags full of items.

In the end, Tang Xian found a secluded spot and led them to the mining area, returning to the lakeside cottage.

Upon arriving at the lakeside cottage, Shang Lu and Zhong Xiuxiu were quite nervous.

Both were people who usually stayed in labs and rarely went out, so naturally, they were nervous in a place where their lives were not guaranteed.

Tang Xian understood; these lab "weirdos" actually disliked substantial changes to their environment.

They had a strong capacity for accepting new things but not a strong desire to do so.

Tang Xian was preparing fish on the side, in no rush to take the couple to Baichuan City.

After adapting for a bit, Shang Lu finally said,

"Xian, are you really my big uncle?"

Tang Xian looked at Shang Lu with an expression reserved for an idiot; the man was becoming less perceptive by the look.

Seeing Tang Xian not respond, Shang Lu smiled awkwardly and continued,

"Unbelievable that the Pyramid has opened up to the ninth level, the Sanctuary Fortress is really amazing. Xian, what's in the ninth level? Does it have anything to do with us having to leave the fortress?"

He hadn't been paying much attention, his thoughts occupied by the various miscellaneous matters associated with relocating.

Now that he was idle, he began to realize that something significant had happened in the Human World.

Tang Xian said,

"This matter started a few days ago, before Li Wanye held this meeting. I took all the reserves of Soul Crystals to open the eighth and ninth levels."

Shang Lu and Zhong Xiuxiu both moved closer.

They were still interested in such big news, though the fundamental reason was that they currently had no experiments to do and could only make do with listening to these world-level "gossips."

"It's worth mentioning that the eighth level is actually different from the eighth level of the thirty-nine fortresses.

It was a friend of mine who told me later; he is currently in charge of supervising the Sanctuary Fortress.

The Stele in each fortress's level contains some information unique to that fortress.

However, most of the Stele's content is consistent.

The inconsistent part is some core technology of the Sanctuary Fortress.

Since it doesn't align with your field, there's no point in elaborating.

If this event leads to a favorable outcome, the Pyramid will no longer be a threat to us for a long time to come. Then, I'll take you both to visit the eighth, ninth, and even the tenth levels.

As for the ninth level, there's more content.

Visually, the ninth level actually looks similar to the eighth level.

I suspect that in the later levels, there might not be as significant a difference in civilization as before.

The Stele's content has updated with many beasts and some that we humans don't even know about yet.

They all start at the level of cataclysmic beasts.

Regrettably, there was no information on any of the six apocalypse-level creatures.

It also mentioned Eden again."

Tang Xian's expression was contemplative; the content of the Stele should not be mechanically inscribed.

The charm of writing is that it allows one to sense the emotions contained within it.

Since seeing those Stele half a year ago in the eighth level of the thirty-nine fortress, Tang Xian could feel a certain "Orderer's" dislike for Eden's forces.

He couldn't quite describe this aversion.

It seemed hostile as if the whole human race should go to war against Eden's forces.

Yet, amidst the apprehension, the words somehow felt like they were very familiar with each other.

The ninth level even more so.

In the ninth level's Stele, Tang Xian learned some history about Eden.

"Is the disappearance of my parents related to Eden?" Zhong Xiuxiu asked.

"Yes, that part of the memory I lack, but it should be the most crucial one." Tang Xian felt somewhat guilty.

"So it turns out, brother, you have significant ties to both forces?"

"That's right. In a way, I was born of Order, received Eden's inheritance, I consort with beasts or feed on them, but I am human."

Tang Xian found himself really... complicated in numerous ways.

Zhong Xiuxiu's thought process was quite unique, and she said,

"Biologically speaking, such cross-species inheritance is difficult to achieve.

And if Order represents mechanization, then it should not grant humans various genetic things, as those are not easy to control."

Zhong Xiuxiu was just voicing her understanding.

Tang Xian, however, suddenly trembled.

It seemed like he was hit by a vital piece of information, something he had always overlooked.