Above Destiny

Chapter 752 Your name
From the first sea locust underwater transforming into steel, to the mechanical behemoths gradually metamorphosing on the barren beach, and then to the first swarm of mechanical sea locusts beginning their hunt...

It seems like a lot has happened, but in reality, it was only a few minutes.

As the first cat howled to the sky to call for its companions, the mechanical mutations of the second, third, and fourth locusts began, continuing uninterruptedly.

More importantly, Ji Jue was no longer involved in the rest of the process.

What he did was merely toppling the first domino, which triggered an unstoppable chain reaction and an ever-growing tidal wave!
In the rotten fishpond, people talked about the year of disaster, and all they could hear was a chorus of meows.

In less than a minute, hundreds of mechanical sea locusts had already split into several different teams amidst meowing sounds, eagerly frolicking on Luo Island.

The hunting is almost playful, with the cruelty and ferocity unique to felines. They are even too lazy to eat their prey, but simply enjoy their miserable appearance as they die.

I held down a terrified locust, sensing its nervousness, and released my grip, letting it flee in terror to the paws of another mechanical cat.

Even if they want to fly, their wings will be cruelly torn off, and if they run fast enough, a leg will be ripped off.

A dozen or so mechanical locusts formed a circle. In the center of the circle, a mangled locust fled in a sorry state, desperately trying to escape, until it was drained of its blood and torn to pieces.

It felt like a spring outing, without any sense of tension.

But for the spirits of creation, it was no different from a spring outing.

After the first batch of cats downloaded the mechanical locust shell from the park, the cats that didn't manage to get a number started lining up in a long queue, even meowing and urging their fellow cats working in the mandala to hurry up and not delay everyone else from slacking off.

Then, the meowing spirits of creation within the mandala also grew unhappy, and the two sides started arguing and breathing on each other...

Until it attracted the attention of a distant gaze.

Isis glanced at him indifferently, as if scrutinizing him. Instantly, there was no more breathing or commotion. The Paradise and the Mandala fell silent, and everything resumed its normal operation.

"Excuse my bluntness, sir."

The spirit of the workshop gently reminded us: "Being lenient all the time is probably not a long-term solution. Sometimes it is better to be strict and ruthless."

Ji Jue didn't say anything, but he felt that all the spirits of creation, from Paradise to Mandala, trembled in unison, as if shrinking back.

Isis did nothing to them.

Is this the aura of those in positions of power?

Just one glance was enough to make the cats tighten the screws even faster.

That's right, even the spirit of creation needs to tighten screws...

The colossal structure formed by the layers of spiritual rings within the curtain is more like a workshop than a mandala!
Each nested ring is a workshop assembly line, and each meowing, singing creature is an employee on that assembly line.

As the mandala began to operate, the factory area that rose from the curtain also began to operate at full capacity.

The mechanical locusts that now cover the mountains and fields didn't require much effort from Ji Jue at all.

It was only by dealing with the first sea locust that the other creation spirits set an example, and the subsequent mandalas began to follow suit and operate accordingly!

Once the veil is connected to Ji Jue's reborn form, it naturally becomes a part of Ji Jue himself, and his soul and blessings operate without hindrance.

This mandala, which can be tentatively called a mechanical deity mandala, since it takes non-aggression as its essence, can naturally guide the power of the non-aggression matrix, just like a monk borrowing the essence of the Dharma.

While it appears to be modeled after the structure of a mandala, its underlying framework is actually more like that of a workshop, making the current curtain resemble an entire workshop.

The creator spirits inside are now nothing more than cattle and horse apprentices at Ji Jue's beck and call!
The core theories and techniques that truly constitute and realize all of this are the secret techniques of the Nan Yun lineage that Ji Jue secretly learned, namely "Cheng Chuan Ju Xing" and Master Zhou's trump card, "Wan Yuan Hui Liu"...

Even if he only learned a fraction of each of them and understood about 20% or 30% of them, once he understood the core essence and concept, the rest were just minor details.

Moreover, Ji Jue doesn't like to adopt everything wholesale; he prefers to innovate on that foundation.

The core of Chengchuan Juxing is to simultaneously run two or more different systems of spiritual energy circuits in the same creation, so as to avoid them interfering with each other.

Master Zhou's "Confluence of All Sources" method involves using apprentices to share the burden and increasing the upper limit of the results by increasing the number of craftsmen involved in the casting process.

Ji Jue completely abandoned these two greatest advantages!

Starting from the core concepts of engineering alchemy, I have reorganized, compiled, and supplemented my own knowledge and the results I have discovered.

Finally, the framework in the current curtain was completed: the complete and complicated refining process was broken down into individual steps and handed over to countless creation spirits born from the same origin. They were refined with the same spiritual substance and matrix, under the same specifications and standards, and carried out with precision through the fixed pattern originating from the dust and haze system, passing the baton layer by layer until completion!

Just like the mass production of mechanical locusts right now...

Once Ji Jue demonstrates the process once and records it, the mechanical mandala can repeat the process on its own. Even if there are occasional exceptions or errors, as long as Ji Jue provides a solution and handling method, it can follow the same procedure next time.

It truly replaces manual operation with scripts!
As a result, there is no innovation, only imitation; no progress, only replication!

At this moment, as the mandala is in operation, the creation of non-aggression reappears.

With the concerted efforts of thousands of creative spirits, the refining process continued smoothly, just like Ji Jue's exclusive top-tier professional player, working diligently and without any slackening.

Thus, the four processes of ascension, purification, transformation, and integration circulated, and another sea locust, in a distorted process of refinement, transformed into a mechanical monster that meowed.

The Creator Spirit, having finally finished downloading in the park, chirped excitedly and plunged into a carefree hunt.

Scramble.

The spiritual essence extracted from the burning souls of the sea locusts was then used on the sea locusts themselves. This process of converting raw material into raw substance, while consuming more resources, still achieved a conversion rate of five to one. In fact, given enough time and materials, Ji Jue alone could transform countless attacking sea locusts into an army of fly kings.

It's a pity that such an astonishing achievement cannot be submitted to the association, and its use must be concealed and hidden behind a veil...

Otherwise, once the proposal is submitted to the association and the concept is formally explained, Ji Jue will likely face a barrage of criticism from his peers.

Criticize them until they are thoroughly discredited and destroyed!
Even Gustav had to be ruthless and completely expel this black sheep.

This set of ideas that de-emphasizes craftsmanship has completely deviated from the association's purpose. Whether it can be considered a path of stagnation and corruption is hard to say, but even if You Sui came, he would have to give it a thumbs up and then roll up his sleeves and beat him to death with sticks!
The righteous path is intolerable, and the demonic path is also intolerable. Leaving aside the high value of engineering alchemy, its content is truly undeniable.

Once it's revealed and things get going, it'll probably cause chaos and won't stop.

Given Ji Jue's current status, he can only enjoy it quietly behind closed doors...

Unfortunately, the threat of the sea locusts lies in their numbers. Once their numbers cease to be a threat, the level of threat begins to decline sharply, and the value of replicating and mass-producing them is not that great. After trying it out for the first time, Ji Jue stopped expending spiritual energy on replicating the sea locusts. He kept the current number, limited the individual game time, and designated a place in the underground harbor of Luo Island for the Creator Spirits to hunt and frolic.

We can play the game later.

Do the right thing first.

He focused his energy on the curtain, and then, controlling the curtain, it trembled slightly under the onslaught of swarms of locusts.

At first, it was so subtle that it was hard to detect, but gradually, it seemed as if flaws were emerging, making it difficult to continue, and even...

"...The area is starting to shrink!"

In the conference room of Pucheng, the head of the Yamen's eyes lit up. He leaned closer to the projection on the water mirror and couldn't help but gloat: "That's right, the range has begun to shrink inward, and the outer layer of fog has begun to dissipate!"

Without the observation and analysis of the etheric system, it would be almost impossible to see with the naked eye!
Under magnified observation, the outermost veil has become incredibly thin, like swirling smoke, while the inner fog seems to be boiling, constantly surging, no longer possessing the initial tranquility.

The previously suffocating atmosphere was now filled with a touch of joy.

A hint of schadenfreude crept onto those stiff expressions.

Even without being explicitly stated, everyone had already reached a consensus through unspoken understanding.

Come on, locust!

He's dying! He has no strength left!
All troops, launch an assault!

General reserve team, get to it!

They wished they could rush in and add fuel to the fire, so that they could ask for more money and rewards when they received a rescue request.

Amidst the eager anticipation of many eyes, the locusts, like a tidal wave, had devoured all the dead fish floating on the nearby sea surface, repeatedly soaring into the air and swooping down towards the curtain.

The curtain trembled more and more violently.

This time, finally a large number of sea locusts broke free from the other side of the fog and flew out!

Among the many locusts lost in the tributaries, each locust was tattered and burned, falling crookedly onto the sea surface, unable to flap its wings again.

Soon, tiny sparks reignited on their bodies, and they were burned to a crisp in the seawater!
The purplish-gray flames that stretched and rose above the sea were like a persistent infection; once you were hooked, you could never get rid of them.

After a long time, until the locusts that had been contaminated with the flames were completely reduced to ashes and no new firewood could be found, the flames were finally extinguished in the ocean.

Everyone who saw it felt a chill run down their spine: they were just craftsmen, who knows what kind of heinous weapon this was, it was too outrageous!
Just as the locusts were swarming and shrouded in layers of veils, the flashes of flame and the thunder of lightning finally erupted! In the hazy mist, it seemed as if a natural disaster was raging.

The purple lightning flashed and bursts of flame erupted, the terrifying light that rose continuously pierced the night sky, flickering incessantly.

Under the thin mist, one can see large numbers of sea locusts rapidly turning to ashes or struggling in terror as they flee in all directions.

The veil of truth has been lifted.

Such a spectacular scene, while making everyone's hearts pound, also brought a sense of relief—the most terrifying thing is always the unknown; shrouded in mist, no one knew what had happened.

Seeing such terrifying destructive power, everyone actually had a better idea of ​​what to expect.

Entropy systems are nothing special.

The more exaggerated the destructive power, the more outrageous the consumption. Even for artillery positions, the amount of shells and supplies consumed after such a long period of continuous full-force fire is astronomical.

The Lou family is really willing to spend money, and Ji Jue is really daring to spend!
A quick mental calculation shows that if this terrifying rate of consumption had continued from the beginning, the amount of spiritual energy evaporated by now would be enough to buy most of Luo Island…

This kind of playing style is completely geared towards financial ruin; even if you win, you will suffer heavy losses.

"They're still too young after all." The old woman from Macheng sighed softly, seemingly with a hint of schadenfreude.

They get easily angered and suffer for the sake of saving face.

The price of being unconventional and not integrating into the seven cities—isn't this the price we're paying?

"Shh, don't make a sound!"

Garisto squinted, carefully examining the scene in the water mirror, his expression gradually becoming serious: "The locust tide, is it receding?"

Before the words were finished, a crimson light, as bright as a giant pillar, rose from the mist!

Like a torrent of countless blood flames, reaching to the heavens and the earth, within the blood flames was a blurry yet magnificent figure, wielding a sword, radiating a tangible, violent power and sharp killing intent.

It roared as if it were bursting forth with waves, shattering countless sea locusts that had swarmed onto Luo Island, and causing the sea locusts that filled the sea and sky to scatter instantly.

It was boiling over, and chaos was brewing.

After suffering heavy losses, and now, under the intimidation of that terrifying aura, the scattered locusts actually showed signs of retreating.

What truly turned the tide was a fleet of ships that sped out of the fog. Hundreds of cargo ships of all sizes gathered together, laden with the carcasses of rotting flesh and fish, and rushed at full speed toward the endless sea.

Thus, the large, scattered swarm of locusts, lured by the scent of food, split up, dragging along another group of locusts caught in the chaos, and chased after the fleet.

After the locusts left on Luo Island could no longer smell food, they scattered under the pressure of thunder and fire.

Suddenly, the swarms of locusts that had previously covered the sky retreated.

Unfortunately……

It's nothing more than drinking poison to quench thirst.

At this moment, a trace of pity appeared in all the gazes cast toward this place.

Is this a case of "what's the use of trying"?
Sea locusts are indeed brainless; they can be easily lured away with a little coaxing. But the key is that they are brainless. These beasts don't know how to be flexible; they are purely stubborn, with only eating and finding food on their minds.

Now, Luo Island has been marked as a food-rich area by the large number of locusts that have visited it. Once they disperse, they will spread this message everywhere through their pheromones.

Soon, it will attract more of the same kind.

Now, fueled by the harmful winds, countless swarms of locusts, large and small, have sprung up all over the endless sea, so much so that even the large monsters can't finish eating them all.

Once the news spreads and it gathers into a new wave, the scale will only be more exaggerated than it is now!
With each increase in the number of sea locusts, the severity of the problem increases several times over. Once it reaches an extreme level of disaster, it may even devour all the rocks on Luo Island!

At this moment, even the instigator who had been secretly spying couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.

They're just courting death!
"You bastard, what are you up to now!"

Inside the workshop, Lou Feng's first words to Lou Feng were a barrage of questions: "You're fishing again, aren't you!"

"What fishing nonsense? I don't understand what you're saying!"

Ji Jue's eyes instantly became clear and innocent, brimming with childlike brilliance. "I just wanted to protect Luo Island. Is that wrong? These are all expedient measures. I had no other choice!"

Lou Feng then stopped talking.

Once this thing starts barking, it can't stop. The louder it barks, the deeper it bites, the bigger the den it creates, and the more ruthless it is when it finally pulls in the net.

He was so skilled and adept that Lou Feng couldn't understand where this ridiculous habit of baiting the spot to fish came from!
Everyone is doing well in the mortal world, can't we just be human?
You've really screwed over the dam!

But think of it the other way around: no matter what, as long as you're not the one being fished.

If you can still manage to split your food into two portions, then going fishing might not be a bad idea!

He gave a final reminder: "Anyway, the spiritual energy reserves are limited. If you run out, we'll have to source more from Haizhou, which is so far away. Take it easy."

"Are you crazy? Where would we get any more spiritual energy reserves?"

Ji Jue was shocked and asked, "Wasn't it almost completely burned down today? You should quickly send a letter requesting help, bring over tens of thousands of tons of spiritual crystals, and it would be best to call a few more people!"

"..."

Lou Feng looked around blankly, glanced at the spiritual energy reserves that were already overflowing and in dire need of being used up, and gave a weak laugh in a state of utter speechlessness.

Okay, okay, this is how you play, right?
He turned around, struggling to suppress the urge to smirk, his expression tense, forcing a serious and solemn look: "I'll go send the message right away."

"ASAP!"

Ji Jue gave his final instructions: "We've reached the end of our rope, we must hurry!"

In the stillness of the night, news circulated and spread throughout Luo Island in an endless stream. Ji Jue's plea for help had already reached Haizhou and the Central Plains... Unfortunately, with the raging storm, distant water could not quench immediate thirst. It was likely that even if some assistance was provided, it would be merely a drop in the ocean, and there was little hope left.

After a busy period of work, Ji Jue sat in his office and once again felt the surge of impulses emanating from the demonic incarnation.

Unnatural fire, rising violently!
From the afternoon when the locusts gathered until now, the flames of rage and fury have intensified, operating spontaneously and almost uncontrollably.

They caught a whiff of the enemy and spotted the trail of their mortal foe.

I sensed... an irreconcilable hatred gradually emerging from afar!
In the deathly silence, Ji Jue picked up his teacup and lowered his eyes.

The gaze seemed to penetrate the earth's crust and land in the deepest ley lines beneath Luo Island.

I saw that faint, almost imperceptible shadow, spreading from afar along the earth's veins, silently spreading across the entire Luo Island, secretly taking root.

Unhurried, neither arrogant nor impatient, they even carefully avoided all detection and perception, so cautious.

Even knowing that their invasion was so insidious, and relying on the momentum and pressure of the locust infestation as a cover, it was completely undetectable.

—The Tower's tyrant has invaded!

As a result, Ji Jue's lips could no longer be restrained from turning upwards.

Hold back!

You must hold back!

You mustn't laugh now, absolutely not!
There was no anger or gloom, only the ecstatic joy of seeing such a talented person fall from the sky.

Yes, how could I forget? The bond between us is so deep...

Important people, people I don't want to forget, people I absolutely cannot forget.

Oh, so you were there too!

“Isis…”

"Ok?"

Ji Jue closed his eyes and laughed silently.

"I have everything I need now."

(End of this chapter)