The system is four years ahead of schedule, but Weird is still a cub.

"Crack—snap".

The crisp cracking sound, accompanied by a chewing noise similar to chewing hard candy, seemed out of place in the serious intelligence conference room.

Shen Ge leaned back lazily in his large tactical chair, casually grabbing a handful of low-level ghost energy crystals that shimmered with a faint blue light from the metal tray on the table. He tossed them into his mouth like sunflower seeds, chewing them with a crunching sound. The trash can at his feet was already overflowing with the residue that had turned into gray powder after losing its energy.

As for Li Xiang, he was standing in front of a huge holographic projection screen, solemnly operating the damaged hard drive that had been salvaged from the Amazon underground.

Although the crisis of "binge eating" has been temporarily suppressed, Shen Ge is still a bottomless pit.

Only by continuously consuming energy can one barely maintain the fragile balance between the volatile "immortal" nature within the body and the physical form.

"Although most of the data on the hard drive was damaged, with the joint efforts of myself and my colleague Xiaoqi, we were able to restore the most critical core model."

Li Xiang pushed up his glasses and pressed the Enter key on the virtual keyboard.

"This is it."

The light and shadow on the large screen quickly recombine, constructing a complex three-dimensional biological map.

However, it is not a complete organism, but rather clearly divided into three separate parts.

The first part is a huge, bizarre skeleton;

The second part is a pulsating black sphere surrounded by a dark mist of "pollution" and "mysterious energy".

The third part is a red "X" at the top.

"The bizarre triune diagram of the progenitor."

Li Xiang pointed to the three parts, his voice excited: "Just as you guessed, the New God Cult spent years planning this, but what they really wanted was not to create a new god, but to resurrect him."

"This is the bizarre, dismantled progenitor."

Li Xiang first pointed the laser pointer at the skeleton.

“The torso, or ‘container,’ possesses the characteristic of ‘immortality’ and is responsible for bearing the immense power of rules that is enough to crush the dimensions of reality.” He turned to look at Shen Ge, who was chewing on “candy,” with a complicated expression. “However, this part has already been eaten by someone as a buffet.”

Shen Ge swallowed the powder in his mouth and shrugged: "The taste is actually just so-so, and it's a bit hard on the teeth."

The atmosphere in the meeting room immediately relaxed a bit.

Li Xiang then pointed to the black sphere: "The heart, which is the 'energy source.' It has the characteristics of unlimited proliferation, assimilation, and energy provision. Although this thing escaped, without the 'container' to hold it, it is just a runaway aggregate of strange energy, just like... this nuclear reactor without its shell. Although it is dangerous, it cannot release power precisely."

"That's the key point."

Li Xiang's pen finally stopped at that red question mark.

That's where the head is located.

[Central Cerebral System/Brain]

"When we were analyzing the tech tree of the freak organization, we always had one question," Li Xiang said, his brow furrowed. "Their bio-fusion technology is too advanced, even two generations ahead of our Special Operations Department. How do they do it? With a bunch of lunatics conducting experiments in the sewers?"

"Now, the answer is obvious."

Li Xiang took a deep breath: "The higher-ups of the 'weirdo organization' must have come into contact with the 'brain' a long time ago. You could even say that the entire doctrine and technology of the New God Cult, including the so-called 'Omnesia' of that world, are the result of the subtle influence of this 'brain' behind the scenes."

“It possesses intelligence,” Shen Ge said in a deep voice.

But there was still something he couldn't understand. If the strange skeleton that Li Xiang mentioned was the Primordial Strange Bone, then what was the one inside his body?
“That’s right, they possess extremely high intelligence.” Li Xiang nodded.

“But skeletons only have instincts, hearts only have desires, only the brain has the ability to think and plan. Therefore, the brain is the key to this ‘resurrection’.”

"Then, the rest is quite simple."

Shen Ge patted the powder off her hands and stood up.

"Although that 'heart' escaped into the spatial rift, it has no brain."

Having lost its best home, the 'torso,' what it now desperately wants is a 'brain' that can command it.

"Instinct will drive it to seek out the brain."

"Therefore, as long as we closely monitor high-energy reactions around the world, especially those anomalous areas with extremely strong strange energy fluctuations or intelligent characteristics... this 'heart' will eventually come to us on its own."

"Once we find the heart, we can follow the clues and pull out the 'brain' that has been hiding in the gutter all along."

Li Xiang nodded in agreement: "It's already underway. The global surveillance system has been targeted at all suspicious areas showing signs of strange energy activity."

……

After the intelligence revenge meeting ended and Shen Ge's condition stabilized, she returned to the living and rest area of ​​the Rong City headquarters.

He walked to the door of his dormitory and paused slightly.

He didn't knock; he just turned the handle.

The room was quiet, with a faint scent of lavender in the air.

Instead of dealing with the mountain of documents as usual, Cheng Shengnan sat quietly on the single sofa by the window, holding a cup of tea that had long since gone cold.

Hearing the door open, she immediately looked up.

Upon seeing that familiar figure walk in, Cheng Shengnan's eyes instantly reddened.

She didn't rush up to ask how dangerous the mission was, nor did she question why there were supernatural earthquakes of that magnitude in the Amazon.

As the head of logistics for the Special Operations Department, she understood the meaning of those data better than anyone else.

She simply stood up silently and walked to Shen Ge.

Even when Shen Ge is not in combat, his body surface still occasionally flashes with one or two wisps of thick black mist, a mysterious aura of immortal energy.

He instinctively wanted to take a half step back, afraid of accidentally hurting her.

But Cheng Shengnan firmly reached out and gently straightened his slightly disheveled training uniform collar before placing her warm palm on his cold and pale cheek.

That human warmth penetrated Shen Ge's body and reached his heart.

"It's alright now. We're safe." Her voice was soft, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

"Hmm." Shen Ge lowered her eyes slightly.

"It's all settled."

"Will he leave again?" Cheng Shengnan looked at the indelible gray in the depths of his pupils.

Shen Ge paused for two seconds, then gently placed his hand on hers: "Not for a while. I need to stay at headquarters for a while to recuperate."

"And..." he smiled, with a hint of composure and domineering, "Now that I have this new ability, the thing in this world that can kill me probably hasn't been born yet. Don't worry." Cheng Shengnan wasn't amused by this "arrogance." She simply rested her head gently on Shen Ge's chest, which was now as hard as alloy, listening to the slow but powerful heartbeat within.

"That's good...that's good."

……

Warm moments always seem to pass too quickly.

Half an hour later, an encrypted video call request broke the silence in the room.

This is the highest-level communication from the headquarters in Beijing.

Shen Ge connected to the video call, and on the screen appeared Long Zhenguo's dignified yet slightly tired square face. In the background, the busy scene in the command center could also be seen.

"Shen Ge".

Although Long Zhenguo's tone remained serious, it carried an undisguised respect that was more evident than before: "This battle was fought beautifully."

"You flatter me, I almost lost my life." Shen Ge sat on the sofa, reverting to his usual carefree demeanor.

Long Zhenguo was obviously used to his attitude and didn't care. He said seriously, "The International Anti-Ghost Federation just sent a report that data from ghost energy monitoring stations around the world shows that the abnormal 'resonance' waveband completely disappeared two hours ago."

"The 'apocalyptic' alert level in the core area of ​​the Amazon rainforest has been officially lifted and has been downgraded to a 'high-risk restricted area,' mainly due to the residual poison left behind when the heart escaped."

At this point, a rare smile appeared on Long Zhenguo's face: "Not only that, but the secondary pollution index triggered by the 'resonance' around the world is also plummeting. In particular, the activity of dormant strains, having lost the support of the parent organism's signal, is withering away on a large scale."

"In this Amazon operation, China really made a name for itself on the international stage. Those countries that were originally quite critical of the East China Sea Convention are now lining up to apply to share intelligence about this operation with us."

“That’s your business.” Shen Ge wasn’t interested in political maneuvering; he was more concerned with practical matters. “Director Long, that escaped ‘heart’ is a mobile nuclear bomb. You’d better tell those guys in the international arena to open their eyes wide.”

"Don't worry, he's already been listed as the world's number one wanted fugitive."

Long Zhenguo nodded, then his expression turned serious as he looked deeply at Shen Ge through the screen.

"Shen Ge, I know you paid a heavy price for this operation. After unanimous decision by headquarters, the Amazon technology and hard drive data brought back will be prioritized for your team to crack and use. Also... I'm granting you a long leave. Get some rest before that big guy shows up again."

"By the way, headquarters will cover all the expenses incurred in this operation, as well as the research losses incurred by your branch. This... is also our sincere apology for the previous 'misunderstanding'!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Ge's lips finally curled into a genuine smile.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony. Director Long, you said it yourself, so don't regret it later."

As the communication hangs up.

Outside the window, the night view of Fuzhou is still dazzling.

Under the neon lights, the streets are bustling with traffic. Ordinary people are still busy making a living for tomorrow, completely unaware that just a few hours ago, this planet almost became a breeding ground for the resurgence of ancient "gods".

The global alert has been lifted.

……

……

Compared to the humid, muddy Amazon rainforest that constantly exudes the smell of decay, or the oppressive, suffocating atmosphere of the Dajing headquarters, Rongshi at night is simply paradise on earth.

Today, the Fuzhou branch has been built into an impenetrable fortress, maintaining a rare level of prosperity and order even amidst the current global turmoil.

Neon lights flickered on both sides of the street, and the food street exuded an enticing aroma of smoke, seemingly unaffected by the near-apocalyptic crisis thousands of kilometers away.

With special approval from headquarters, and confirmation from Li Xiang's medical team that Shen Ge's body had passed the most dangerous "rejection outbreak period," and only needed rest and continuous energy replenishment, Shen Ge was finally able to move around freely.

The first thing to do upon returning to Rongcheng was naturally—

"Hot! Hot! Tripe can only be cooked for seven seconds, Lao Wang, your chopsticks turned it into a dishcloth!"

Inside a private room at the Rong City headquarters, a rich, spicy aroma of butter wafted out as Lin Yin shouted.

There's nothing a hot pot meal can't solve; if there is, then add two more plates of specially made, magical duck intestines.

In the center of the huge round table, a specially made, extra-large, extra-spicy hot pot was bubbling away.

Those sitting around the table were all familiar faces.

Cheng Shengnan, still dressed in a smart business suit, had long since shed his usual stern demeanor; Lin Yin, stuffing vegetables into her mouth while shouting that it was too hot; Wang Han, who was responsible for serving the dishes with a silly grin; and Yu Tiexiong and Yun'er, who had narrowly escaped death in this Amazon operation and were now engrossed in eating.

Almost all the "team leaders" of the Rongshi Special Affairs Department were present, along with important officials from the department such as Deng Yuqi and Liu Jiayi.

Of course, the most eye-catching person was Shen Ge, who was sitting in the main seat.

Or rather, it was the… private “special tutoring” in front of him.

While others were enjoying hot pot with beef and mutton, Shen Ge had a specially made alloy bowl in front of him that was directly connected to the branch's eerie energy supply pipeline. It wasn't filled with chili oil, but with a highly concentrated liquid that emitted an eerie glow.

In addition, there were plates of purified low-level ghost energy crystals that looked like crystal candies next to him.

"Crack."

As Shen Ge picked up a piece of strange energy crystal and tossed it into his mouth, chewing it with a crunch, he also casually scooped up a slice of premium fatty beef from the red soup pot, dipped it in the dry dipping sauce, and put it in his mouth.

This bizarre combination of "mysterious energy" and "spicy hot pot" is truly unique.

"Tsk tsk tsk, Captain Shen, your style is getting more and more inhuman."

Lin Yin took a big gulp of chilled plum juice and, looking at Shen Ge's bottomless appetite, couldn't help but tease him, "You used to just eat a lot, but now you're eating batteries."

Yu Tiexiong, who was engrossed in dealing with a large bone, was taken aback by what he heard. He looked up and stared intently at Shen Ge's arm with his large, bell-like eyes, actually revealing a thoughtful expression.

"...Really?" Yu Tiexiong asked in a muffled voice, "If we encounter another high-risk mission, can Captain Shen shed some of his blood to use as medicine?"

"Snapped!"

A piece of tripe flew precisely into Yu Tiexiong's mouth.

Yoona, sitting next to him, rolled her eyes and put down her chopsticks: "Shut up, you idiot. Captain Shen's current psychic energy erosion could melt you on the spot. Bloodletting? If you dare to drink it, he'll dare to send you to be a specimen."

Everyone burst into laughter, and the private room was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

[System monitoring: Energy intake is stable...]

[Current system integrity: 87.1%...87.2%...]

The system notification in my mind would pop up every now and then, and although the increase was extremely slow, it was very stable.

This is the passive evolution that resulted from absorbing the "Progenitor's Bizarre Body". (End of Chapter)