Chapter 223 - 221: The Real Infinite Protagonist Project

Chapter 223: Chapter 221: The Real Infinite Protagonist Project

"A shortcut?"

Inside the underground base, Glitch King looked at Fang Can, not understanding what he was thinking.

"That’s right. Even if there are no issues with this Infinite Protagonist Project, the cultivation speed of ordinary people is just too slow."

Fang Can said seriously, "No matter how fast they cultivate, can any of these people break through to the Heaven-Ascending Road within three years? I just find their cultivation speed pathetic."

"Compared to me reaching the First Turn in three months, you’d get a much better return on your investment by backing me instead of continuing this Infinite Protagonist Project."

’Who can possibly compare to a monster like you?’ Glitch King was speechless.

He couldn’t believe Fang Can was actually comparing his own cultivation speed to this group’s. On that front, he could only concede defeat.

"I recall your project is based on the concept of the Six Desires Demonic Separation Chapter from *Silent Slaughter*, isn’t it?" Fang Can said, looking at the clones behind the glass window.

"I’ve read that book too. But don’t forget what level of power Zuo Qingcang had already reached when he practiced that Cultivation Technique. How can these clones, who are starting from scratch, possibly compare?"

"So, what are you suggesting?" Glitch King pressed, sensing that Fang Can was about to say something truly shocking.

Fang Can smiled calmly. "Have you ever heard of ’mind-break’?"

"’Mind-break’? Like psychosis?" Glitch King asked, confused.

"It’s a mental illness unique to these mind-based Martial Artists. If they suffer too great a blow, they might have a cultivation deviation and die."

As he spoke, Fang Can raised his right hand and held up two fingers. "I’ve personally witnessed two cases of this ’mind-break’."

"What does this have to do with the shortcut you mentioned?"

"Patience. Let me explain," Fang Can said unhurriedly. "The two mind-broken Martial Artists I saw had one fundamental difference: their Realm."

"A Martial Artist in the Transcendent Body Realm, whose body and spirit have not yet fully integrated, will only fall into a frenzy after a mind-break. They’ll then suffer a cultivation deviation, and their power will gradually recede until it vanishes completely."

"But the Heaven-Ascending Road is different. Your consciousness and body are completely unified. Your body is an external manifestation of your spirit."

Fang Can slowly clenched his fist. As a Martial Artist who had officially stepped into the First Turn, he was of course clear about the source of this power. Flesh and blood were merely vessels for the spirit.

"I once saw Xiang Longtao, a First Turn cultivator, fall into a mind-break. But because his body and consciousness were completely unified, the shattering of his Dao Heart actually caused his physical appearance and constitution to change as well."

"Afterward, I consulted the ancient texts of Jiejian Mountain. After a mind-break, even a Martial Artist’s ’light of the soul’ can be completely twisted."

Fang Can smiled and shook his head. "Do you know what this means?"

"Wh-what?" Glitch King’s heart hammered in his chest.

"If we were to capture a Martial Artist on the Heaven-Ascending Road, simulate the mind-break process to completely erase their consciousness, and then implant the memories of a protagonist from one of those novels... what do you think would happen?"

"It’s highly likely that their appearance and physique would completely merge with the self from their new memories."

"Then, their Heart Image and light of the soul would also warp to match the abilities from those memories."

Seeing Glitch King’s pupils drastically contract, Fang Can gently patted his shoulder and said:

"I recall that Xiang Yinchen, the one I just defeated, is a Second Turn, right?"

"Fang Can!" Glitch King took a deep breath, stared at the young man before him, and said, "You’re a fucking genius!"

"Keep up the good work. Compared to implanting memories in these clones, it’s better to just modify existing Martial Artists."

"Those Martial Artists have trained since they were children, practicing through the dead of winter and the height of summer. They toiled for decades to enter the Heaven-Ascending Road Realm. They are already the protagonists of their own stories."

"Surely, using these Martial Artists as vessels for our protagonists would result in extraordinary power."

Listening to Fang Can’s explanation, Glitch King was practically throbbing with excitement.

Although there were no successful cases to prove it yet, in theory, there was a huge margin for feasibility.

Glitch King’s eyes flashed with excitement as he looked at the head steeping inside the Blood Crystal he was holding.

He had a ready-made Second Turn on hand. The only way to know if it would work was to just try it.

Sensing the man’s urgent desire to experiment, Fang Can smiled faintly. "I won’t disturb your work any longer. Keep it up."

A hurricane of wind kicked up as Fang Can enveloped himself in an AT field and flew out of the base.

The underground base was built right next to Z City, so it wasn’t far. Flying at full speed, Fang Can crossed the entire city and returned to the downtown area in just a few dozen seconds.

From his high vantage point, Fang Can observed that Z City was currently undergoing post-disaster reconstruction. Numerous buildings were under construction, and a large portion of the population was migrating to other cities, clearly spooked by recent events.

Fang Can also spotted many operating gyms, where large groups of people were practicing the previously released "Myriad Aspects Fist" move by move.

It had been a month since Glitch King released this fist technique, long after Carnival Day, and a small group of exceptionally talented citizens had already achieved noticeable results.

Seeing their strengthened and conditioned bodies started a nationwide cultivation craze, causing a boom in business for gyms and martial arts dojos.

Some gyms, seeing a business opportunity, began hiring Martial Artists who could guide qi into the body to act as instructors. They advertised with slogans promising that success was attainable through hard work.

As Fang Can silently observed, a familiar face came into view.

’...Aunt?’ Fang Can’s body came to a sudden halt. He stared at one of his relatives, who was out and about, dressed in expensive clothes and carrying shopping bags of all sizes.

As far as Fang Can knew, this aunt of his wasn’t the type to spend lavishly; in fact, she was relatively frugal. He hadn’t heard about her suddenly coming into wealth. ’Is this because of me?’

’Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Mom and Dad in a long time either,’ Fang Can murmured to himself, planning to find some time to meet with them soon.

He wasn’t close with these relatives and didn’t know them well, so Fang Can didn’t go down to greet her. After watching for a few moments, he flew off again.

He flew all the way back to his front door, used his force field to simulate a fingerprint and unlock it, and walked inside.

Just as he entered the living room, he saw Liu Qingmeng sitting on the sofa. She was wearing a light blue lace dress, and her waist-length, silken blue hair shimmered with a pearlescent luster. Under the lights, her translucent skin was as white as jade.

Seeing Fang Can return, a flash of joy crossed her eyes, which were the color of a blue-violet aurora. She gently patted the spot beside her and ordered, "Fang Can, come here and watch a movie with me."

"Alright, Elder Xiaoliu." Fang Can readily agreed. After cultivating for so long, he knew he couldn’t forget to rest.

He walked over and sat down gently beside the young woman. "But I get to choose the movie."

"That’s fine, but from now on, call me Qing Meng. All this ’Elder’ this and ’Elder’ that is making me sound old."

The girl said, a little displeased, "From now on, just save the ’Elder’ title for that old woman from Jiejian Mountain."