The Heavens: A Qing, the Yue Girl at the beginning

Specifically, the consciousness carrier of this kind of "mechanical ascension," namely the "Knight's Bone" which is replaced by alchemical elements from the remains of the Corpse Guardian, belongs to the category of heavy fermion materials. It can exhibit non-Fermi liquid behavior near the quantum critical point and has a quantum entanglement effect controlled by Planck time.

When there is a one-to-one correspondence between the state of consciousness and the physical state, under the constraint of the "quantum no-cloning principle", all the possibilities of consciousness can be uploaded to another dynamic quantum critical system through unitary operations.

Furthermore, due to the uniqueness of the material, it is guaranteed not to be decohered by environmental damage and can maintain itself for a long time.

Alternatively, we can look at it from another perspective: consciousness, or the deep primordial spirit and alaya consciousness, is itself the information singularity in the holographic black hole corresponding to the human body. If the number, direction, and topology of the M2 and M5 membranes are adjusted, the countless information entropies scattered on the event horizon can also retain "memory" after being recombined.

In short, this is not a simple "copy," but a fully faithful transfer, although the success rate depends on the individual's mindset.

It is absolutely impossible for just anyone to be qualified to be transformed into a Seraph "Heroic Spirit". Only knights who have been rigorously selected, those with outstanding spiritual talent, firm will, and high resonance rate can ride the armor and be imprisoned after death.

Of the humans in this world, approximately one in ten thousand are affected by the erosion process, which typically takes several years.

Similarly, not all spiritual metals can carry human consciousness, especially when it is required to carry it relatively completely.

Although both are sentient beings, how can the complex layers of the human soul be confused with those of paramecia?
After extensive testing, materials with heavy fermion branches and infused with solar energy during their formation, such as Xuanjin and Xuantie, have been identified as the ideal base for constructing ultra-dense and ultra-fast "consciousness" units. Xuanjin is the main element of the "Knight's Bone".

Black iron is one thing, but black gold, which is refined from gold, requires tens of kilograms to make just one skeleton. If the quantity is large, the cost will be staggering, making it difficult to promote on a large scale.

"Taiyi guards the corpse, the three souls nourish the bones, the seven spirits protect the flesh, and the fetal spirit records the qi; this is what is called Taiyin refining the form."

Essentially, it can be seen as a special kind of corpse-dissolving method, which emphasizes dying first and then shedding the skin, like a cicada changing its bones, the body transforming and hiding in the darkness, and the spirit retrieving from the secluded palace. It is the category of "ghost immortals". Although it is the lowest level of cultivation, it is still the true result.

Rebirth is in the mind, not in the body.

However, this path is ultimately "dependent origination," rooting the self in external things. Even the most perfect "mechanical ascension" is still a profound form of self-alienation.

Though one may attain immortality, it is but a fleeting dream.

It appears to be in a state of deep stillness, but it is not true awakening.

The seven souls govern the physical senses, emotions, and desires. During the process of uploading, they are inevitably worn down and eventually become numb. The five senses, having been separated from their physical bodies, almost disappear and have nothing to rely on.

Seeing it through the "mirror of the heart," hearing it through the "waves of the soul," and touching it through the "movement of thought" ultimately creates a barrier, losing its vibrant life.

Only the three souls are preserved, but they are also enslaved by the physical form.

The channels of perception have changed, and the "world" we perceive has also changed drastically: the fragrance of flowers, the gentle breeze, the warmth of a loved one, and heart-wrenching sorrow...

These elements that constitute the texture of life all turned into cold data streams after "ascension".

"When the senses and their objects fall away, consciousness is utterly empty."

They gained "objectivity" that transcended the fragile senses of ordinary people, but they also lost the ability to embrace the entirety of the world—subjective, flawed, yet truly moving.

There is no eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, or mind; no form, sound, smell, taste, touch, or dharma. There is no realm of sight, and so forth, up to and including no realm of consciousness. There is no ignorance, nor is there the cessation of ignorance.

The global neural workspace theory once hypothesized that consciousness originates from the "global broadcasting" of information within the brain, while the integrated information theory attempts to quantify the intensity of consciousness using the mathematical metric "Φ".

However, when consciousness is detached from the specific biological matrix that produced it, where does this "workspace" lie? And how will the value of "Φ" be defined?
Has the nature of "integration" changed in an information aggregator operating on a non-biological carrier?

Zhao Qing did not know their exact answers.

Because many people have their own unique insights into this.

Tuoba Wuchou's past duality of man and tree, and his unity of the Way, and Zhan Mohe's questioning about the elixir of immortality altering consciousness, both represent cognition and reflection concerning the essence of life and the relationship between form and spirit.

The nuances and subtleties involved are difficult to describe.

It is easy to see through one's own ignorance, but difficult to help others see through theirs.

The essence of her envisioned "gas armor" and even the further "ascension of true qi" does not lie in seeking another more exquisite "form" to carry it, but in "leaving form and knowledge", with the spirit entering qi and qi encompassing the spirit, unpredictable changes, and embracing all kinds of phenomena.

The Armored Soul Fusion technique is still a step below the true Yin Scene Refinement technique. It only possesses the first half of the skill and cannot be resurrected. It lacks the ability to restore the body and revive the dead, and to rebuild a physical body.

It is precisely through “the dead soul being refined, the immortal being transformed into a human, the living being saved, and the eternal existence through countless eons” that the stubborn void is broken, the annihilation is captured, and there is neither coming nor going.

One can only "upload", while the other also has the path of "downloading". The mind can transform things, which is the same as the Great Universal Communion: in the midst of the myriad transformations and the merging of the universe, a point of spiritual light still shines brightly, remaining unmoved.

It is equivalent to the complete path of a ghost immortal. After the body is dissolved, the soul and spirit become clear and pure, able to pass through walls and appear and disappear unpredictably; when possessing another body and returning to life, one can concentrate one's Qi to achieve gentleness, silently radiating light, and even climb back to the middle or upper grade of immortality.

The Yin Yuan Yin Sha Qi, the Netherworld True Water, the Taiyin True Water, and the Longevity Qi are the suitable materials for this kind of armor. The most crucial factor is the principle of entanglement, weaving, and reflection of one's own life essence.

Having cultivated a large number of vital life forms, deeply comprehended the secrets of the soul, and compiled the entire human genome using the Yin-Yang chain of true energy, Zhao Qing successfully overcame this series of difficulties.

Now, following the traditional Nibelungen "Land of the Dead" public resurrection anchor, she has finally pioneered a new type of personal "cloud" capable of accommodating uploaded consciousness, which can operate independently.

At that time, the mass-produced True Qi-Soul Containers, under certain basic conditions, will allow people to "ascend" and transform into ghost immortals with shallow foundations, thus gaining their second life.

Aside from a certain degree of "life extension," this state of "physical disintegration and transformation, relying on qi for support" makes one virtually invincible amidst calamities. Natural disasters, calamities, war, fire, and water—what can these formless and intangible spiritual entities do? This is an excellent method for avoiding disasters.

No matter how many evils and poisons there are, none can be eradicated.

As for the great calamity and changes, the raging flames and the four directions were not hindered.

In short, it is immune to most physical damage. Even a magnitude 11 earthquake, a tsunami hundreds of meters high, or an extreme cold winter cannot harm the "ghostly" aggregate of true energy.

In the event of an impending crisis, it is an excellent choice for survival, even more reliable than shelters or nuclear-proof fortifications.

However, having only temporarily acquired the Ghost Immortal status through borrowing from an external realm, one cannot fully grasp its mysteries. One can only utilize some of its passive characteristics, resulting in low control. While not completely muddled, one is still at risk of mental blockage and mental stagnation, requiring diligent training and the assistance and guidance of illusory dreams.

If one cannot reach the innate realm of spiritual communion with the divine and the radiant moon, where the spirit and energy merge into one, the output and combat power of such a ghost immortal are far inferior to those of living people of the same level, and are even no different from ordinary ghosts and monsters in folk tales and legends.

The weaker ones among them may only be able to float around, frightening those with weak wills, creating a scene of eerie winds and flickering will-o'-the-wisps. Moving even a slightly massive object would be quite difficult, since they float in the air without any support.

However, having already acquired the title of "immortal," it is far superior to a wandering ghost. Even in its initial, clumsy stage of entering this realm and not yet fully mastering its new form, it need not worry about the blazing sun, ordinary thunderous righteous energy, or the damage from masculine blood and qi.

As long as you don't directly encounter techniques that burn the soul, such as direct sunlight or star rays, you are safe.

As one's skill deepens, one may either sever internal and external acupoints to lock one's breath, or continuously accelerate by manipulating objects, resembling a low-level flying sword attack, thus greatly increasing its power.

In the blink of an eye, one can transform into a fierce gale, hide in a babbling stream, or conceal oneself within the veins of metal and stone. The surrounding grass, trees, bamboo, and rocks can all serve as temporary "dwellings," making it an extremely terrifying means of stealth.

As for the issue of battery life, in addition to self-charging during the circulation of true qi and gathering of divine intent, it can also be replenished by many external objects. If there is a suitable cultivation method, it can also be replenished by connecting to a low-voltage power source.

Yes, any 5V charging cable will do.

In general, the ghost immortals born from the large-scale and easy "corpse disintegration" method based on this principle are essentially equivalent to Zhao Qing's relatives, and their effect is similar to that of the Tianliang Ancestral Mountain Immortal Medicine for the derived Wood Gall Tai Sui.

That is, by some means, the ability to achieve the Nine Realms of Immortality was realized ahead of schedule.

This allows her to gradually verify the path to breaking through.

"I've saved you a hundred sets of materials. Just follow the blueprints for the initial stage," Zhao Qing thought slightly, a wisp of innate true energy flowing from his fingertips, sometimes solidifying like a diamond, reflecting all things; sometimes dispersing like morning mist, filling the universe. "You need to see results within three days!"

"Three days?!"

Professor Franco nearly jumped up, his bloodshot eyes wide open, his disheveled hair trembling slightly with excitement.

He instinctively wanted to argue, to explain the absurdity of it all—even the most basic modifications to the neural connection system of such mobile armor would take months from blueprints to actual installation, let alone such an unheard-of concept that uses "qi" as its base material.

"Three days! One hundred parts! Do you think this is a cast standard part? This is... this is a creation that subverts the laws of mechanics!"

After a moment of disorientation, Franco gulped down a large mouthful of wine, gritted his teeth, and said, "No solid entity! No definite boundaries! I can't even do the most basic stress analysis! How am I supposed to design a structure? How am I supposed to ensure stable output?" "How... how the hell am I supposed to make it move?!"

"The resonance has been adjusted. You'll experience it for yourself once you put it on."

Zhao Qing didn't explain further, but simply flicked out that wisp of dark blue true energy, which circled around and quickly attached itself to Franco's back, slowly seeping into the depths of his spine:

"Learn to utilize this newfound sense..."

"...It seems like there's nothing special about it?"

Franco hesitantly reached behind him, but found nothing of substance. However, he didn't notice that the weariness and dejection on his face caused by alcohol and staying up all night melted away in an instant, and his energy began to fully recover.

"When trying on the Seraph armor, people will faint. This is a necessary process for the reconnection of neural circuits. The same applies to the 'Gaseous Armor'."

"Form arises from nothingness, dwells in existence, and disperses into emptiness."

Zhao Qing said calmly, "Call the people over first. From mechanics to experts in the nervous system, from doctors to handymen, prepare adrenaline and placental protein, set the measurement scale of the instrument matrix... Remember, now, you are both the researcher and the test subject!"

Then, she kicked the power switch on the ground.

The small steam cannon suddenly roared, and blue-purple electric sparks flashed and pointed into the distance, as countless motors began to rumble.

"Understood." Franco growled hoarsely, then turned on the megaphone and shouted, "All departments, prepare! Don't stand there! Get moving! New project, double the pay!"

In an instant, the entire Eagle's Nest seemed like a giant steel beast whose spine had been pierced by an electric current, suddenly convulsing and awakening from its dying silence.

Above the dim dome, the remaining lighting system burst forth with blinding white light as if overloaded, illuminating every corner of dust and mess.

After a brief silence, the sounds of hurried, chaotic footsteps, the clanging of metal tools, the vibrations of mechanical doors opening, and shouts mixed with surprise and excitement came from all directions.

Technicians in white coats, artisans covered in oil stains, and even some clerks carrying record boards poured out from the corners they had been hiding in and from the workshops that were not yet completely destroyed.

Like worker ants driven by an invisible whip, they rushed toward the bright area of ​​the central sanctuary.

……

Meanwhile, outside the Eagle's Nest, on the ground in Florence.

The sun was shining brightly, and the weather was unbelievably good, as if the smoke and blood of yesterday had never been seen in this holy city.

Even unidentified white birds hopped among the brand-new guillotines, emitting clear and cheerful chirps.

However, under Shi Yiguang's supervision, new pyres were erected in prominent high places in St. Peter's Square, in front of the Lateran Church of St. John, and even beside the ruins of the Temple of Vesta.

The wood they used included precious oak and ebony salvaged from the smashed noble boxes and the sealed treasury of the court, but now it was only used as fuel for burning.

The olive branch of surrender has not yet withered, but the flames of judgment have already risen, wantonly devouring those opportunists who once thought themselves clever, those powerful figures who thrived in the old era, and those "remnants of the previous dynasty" who tried to gain a place in the new order through wealth and flattery, emitting a stench of burning.

They were stripped of their ceremonial robes, leaving them only in grey robes of atonement, with wooden plaques listing their crimes hanging around their necks. Their bodies were contorted under the iron chains as they desperately pleaded for forgiveness, their voices drowned out by the crackling sound of splintering wood.

The flickering firelight illuminated countless numb, fearful, or secretly pleased faces in the square.

Your surrender does not equal my acceptance.

A flexible shift in stance cannot conceal the sins ingrained in the soul, nor can it wash away the bloodstains solidified deep in memory.

She and Zhao Qing didn't care about the feelings of the weak criminals at all.

Crossing the river and then burning the bridge? Escalating the conflict? Public criticism? Fear and rebellion? Can any of these actions really harm the two of them in the slightest?

Among those wailing in the firelight were members of prominent families such as Borgia, Medici, and Orsini.

They were once the core components of a vast system, a behemoth of tens of thousands of members woven together by bloodlines and marriage alliances. Within this system, the vast majority of people were regarded from birth as tools for maintaining family honor and as assets that could appreciate in value.

These people are caught up in an endless internal struggle, where a person's value is strictly quantified under the cold creed of "survival of the fittest".

Once deemed worthless, they face ruthless "elimination." Their fate ranges from marginalization and "scrap" to being "recycled" and "sold" like redundant assets to generate profit.

The promotion channels within a family are so fiercely competitive for those on the collateral branches that it's like dancing on a knife's edge. Many people are constantly crushing and trampling on each other in this endless competition, and they never have the chance to experience genuine, unselfish joy.

The entire system is permeated with the social norms, and all actions are driven by utilitarianism.

Upon closer examination, many people are also victims, alienated and devoured by this greedy machine.

Therefore, trials are also tiered.

Those whose hands were not directly stained with the blood of innocent people and whose crimes were less serious only had words tattooed on their faces as a warning and to distinguish them, and still had a chance to repent.

For those who have committed heinous crimes—launching unjust wars, massacring civilians, taking pleasure in torture, and implementing policies of enslavement—the methods of reckoning are even more ruthless.

In addition to the classic beheading and burning at the stake, other punishments originating from the East, such as dismemberment by chariot and boiling in a cauldron, are also reproduced here.

“Those who are related to three generations of their families shall be tattooed, have their noses cut off, have their left and right hands cut off, be flogged to death, have their heads displayed, and have their bones and flesh pickled in the market. Those who slander and curse shall have their tongues cut off first.”

In order to promote traditional culture, the Five Punishments were also brought out.

This is the law that Shi Yiguang is most familiar with, originating from her era.

As for castration, it was not adopted because it was specifically used to punish lewd crimes and had nothing to do with serious political or economic crimes in this area.

Returning our gaze to this brutal execution scene, one can't help but think of Florence's own superficiality and extravagance.

First-time visitors may be misled by the city’s magnificent cathedral, exquisite sculptures, advanced mechanical industry, meticulously manicured lawns in the squares, and the seemingly naturally formed garden landscapes in the aristocratic villa district, thinking that Florence’s true nature is lush and vibrant.

But in reality, those carefully nurtured "oases" used for decoration only serve to highlight the extreme spiritual poverty and repression of this land. Theological shackles, strict hierarchy, and naked utilitarianism have long since eroded the soil of most people's hearts, leaving it barren.

Therefore, it is necessary to completely purify and destroy it.

This is the last large-scale, physical negation of the existence of the "form" of the old world. Wealth, status, and power—these once incredibly solid social structures—will, like bodies gradually carbonized in fire, ultimately turn to ashes and nothingness in the face of a more absolute force.

The underground is a transcendent exploration of the "form of the individual".

On the ground, there is a brutal deconstruction of the "form of society".

They naturally create a unique artistic conception.

Taken together, they depict a kind of cause and effect that connects life and death.

……

"What did you see?" Zhao Qing appeared beside Shi Yiguang without her noticing, patted her on the shoulder, and suddenly asked.

“I saw the tide crashing on the shore, the ‘color lotus’ of the dyeing industry rising and falling repeatedly, and light and flames soaking into blood.”

"now what?"

In another world, an ancient yet brand-new mask of withered wood is applied to the face, releasing the reshaped laws of heaven and earth.

"...The melting snow forged an unparalleled sword, inscribed with the chapters of the fallen heavens, surpassing all others, its form unseen, its name unknown." (End of Chapter)