Physical mage, challenge me to a solo duel!

In the director's office of Huajing Research Institute, Kong Wenyuan stood with his arms outstretched, blocking Chu Zhaoding's path, while Ning Yuchao anxiously tried to dissuade him.

"So that's what you were planning, elevating your mind domain." Chu Zhaoding glanced at Kong Wenyuan with amusement. "You want to elevate your mind domain to mind invasion? It sounds simple, but even if he becomes a transcendent being, he doesn't have that ability."

"Kong Jing, Kong Wenyuan?" Chu Zhaoding opened the virtual world again, pulled out Kong Jing, carefully compared the two people's appearances, and couldn't help but laugh: "I really thought you were forced to resort to this tactic in order to produce research results. It turns out that this is your child. No wonder you dared to embezzle my magic crystals to pave the way for him."

Kong Wenyuan said solemnly, "Kong Jing was able to obtain the qualification to absorb the Queen of Mind Bee's magic crystal simply because he is a genius in the mental system, one in ten thousand, and can ensure that the Queen of Mind Bee's magic crystal is not wasted to the greatest extent possible. It is not because I showed favoritism."

"That sounds very high-sounding." Chu Zhaoding naturally scoffed at this statement.

"Marshal Chu, I can attest to this. Wen Yuan was indeed not acting out of selfishness. He initially wanted your subordinate who had reserved the Queen Bee Magic Crystal to absorb it, and then cooperate with us to test the effects of the Mind Domain in detail. However, I heard that your subordinate has just advanced to the intermediate level, and it will take at least five or six years to become a high-level mage. We simply do not have that many years to wait."

Ning Yuchao hurriedly said from the side:

"Wen Yuan also said that if there were a more suitable person, Kong Jing could be replaced. However, Kong Jing is indeed the strongest mental genius we could find, and as we expected, Kong Jing successfully absorbed the Mind Domain and did not waste this magic crystal."

Ning Yuanyuan had no choice but to explain, because if it was for research purposes and the magic crystal was used up, it would be understandable. But if it was accused of deliberately embezzling or bending the law for personal gain, then things would be troublesome.

"Whether it's wasteful or not is none of your business. The magic crystal isn't even yours, yet you're all so generous." Chu Zhaoding grabbed Kong Jing by the neck, lifting her into the air and swinging her around like a chick. "Then I'll say it again: I won't waste Kong Jing's human crystal. I will ensure the continuation of the thought realm. What do you think?"

"Marshal Chu! You are killing someone!" Kong Wenyuan panicked upon hearing this. He hadn't expected Chu Zhaoding's reaction to be so extreme, completely disregarding compensation and only wanting the human crystal in Kong Jing's head.

Therefore, Kong Wenyuan had no choice but to pin his hopes on the restrictions imposed on Chu Zhaoding by the Chinese.

Even a military marshal cannot so blatantly kill people for crystals.

"Murder?" Although Chu Zhaoding didn't care about Kong Wenyuan's accusations, since the topic had come up, Chu Zhaoding also laughed: "A mage can take out a magic crystal alone without dying. I remember that this was one of the results of Hua Jing's research. What, do you have so little confidence in your own research results?"

"Don't worry, I will find the best military doctor to ensure he doesn't die after the human crystal is removed."

Upon hearing this, Kong Wenyuan clenched his fists tightly.

Yes, if a mage's human crystal is carefully removed and then healed with sufficiently powerful medical magic, he will indeed not die.

Unlike brain surgery, a mage who loses their human crystal will not only lose their magic and magical power, but will also become a mentally challenged person incapable of taking care of themselves.

If that's the outcome, it would be better to just kill Kong Jing and be done with it.

Left with no other choice, Kong Wenyuan had to resort to the argument of value once again: "Marshal Chu, this one spell alone is enough to make Kong Jing invincible among high-level mages. It is far more useful for him to be alive than dead."

"Invincible?" Chu Zhaoding's smile widened again. "Have you researchers in the rear gone mad? If the Mind Domain is truly invincible, how did the Mind Queen's magic crystal end up in your hands? Did the Queen commit suicide out of boredom?"

Of course, for reasons of confidentiality, Chu Zhaoding did not reveal Wang Yi's situation. Moreover, Chu Zhaoding did not have much trust in the two people in front of him.

Kong Wenyuan's expression changed slightly. He had previously thought that the Queen Bee of Thought was killed by a superhuman, but now it seemed that this was not the case.

Kong Wenyuan had this idea simply because the magic of the Mind Domain was too powerful. After Kong Jing absorbed it, any other high-level mage who fell into his domain would be controlled instantly.

Even other high-level mental mages can only resist for a little longer at most.

This is far more powerful in terms of control than hypnosis combined with mental commands.

Hypnosis can be used to break free even from simple-minded and unintelligent magical beasts, let alone human mages with more complex minds. Hypnosis can only take effect instantly when the opponent is overwhelmingly defeated.

Moreover, a sorcerer under hypnosis can only mechanically obey commands, either running or rushing, behaving rigidly and reacting slowly.

However, the mind domain is different. Except for preventing the controlled person from committing suicide, all other instructions will be obeyed, and not in a mechanical or rigid way.

For example, in terms of combat, the controlled person can still skillfully use their magic and fighting skills, and can fully utilize their combat experience and strength. They may even become stronger and more frenzied than usual because they are decisive enough not to feel pain.

It's almost like a smart puppet with thinking abilities, devoid of emotions, wholeheartedly carrying out instructions.

Aside from resisting orders that would inevitably lead to certain death, they can be said to be able to take whatever they want.

However, according to Chu Zhaoding, the Queen Bee was clearly killed by a mage of the same level, which Kong Wenyuan found hard to believe.

Is there anyone at the same level who can resist the control of the mind?

Or was the Queen Bee actually ambushed and died before she could expand her mind domain?

Chu Zhaoding ignored the shocked Kong Wenyuan and picked up Kong Jing to leave.

Seeing that Chu Zhaoding was determined to take Kong Jing away, Kong Wenyuan had no choice but to turn to the dean for help.

Ning Yuchao then spoke up, "Marshal Chu, do you intend to compensate that subordinate with Kong Jing's human crystal?"

"So what if it is?" Chu Zhaoding stopped and looked to see what else the two of them had to say.

In his haste, Kong Wenyuan blurted out, "Marshal Chu, Kong Jing is already a high-level mage with a domain of thought, and his value is immense. Your subordinates are only mid-level mages; how can you sacrifice a greater value to compensate for a lesser one!"

"Value? Since you're talking about value, then I'll talk to you about value. My subordinate..." Chu Zhaoding paused here. He wanted to say that the first-class merit of the Candlelight Army and the first-class merit of the military were much more valuable than Kong Jing, who had been eating at the research institute since childhood.

However, Chu Zhaoding reconsidered. He realized that saying it that way would easily expose Wang Yi's extraordinary nature, so he held back and changed his approach: "You are of high rank, I am of extraordinary level. Who is more valuable?"

Kong Wenyuan was speechless.

"You're a deputy director of a research institute, and I'm a military marshal. Who's more valuable?" Chu Zhaoding took a step closer.

Sweat beaded on Kong Wenyuan's forehead as he forced a defense: "But your subordinate..."

Snapped!

Chu Zhaoding slapped Kong Wenyuan, sending him flying into the air and crashing into the office wall before slowly sliding to the ground, spitting out half a mouthful of blood-stained white teeth.

Chu Zhaoding blew on his hand: "This human crystal is the one I want. Any problems?"

The scene fell silent for a moment; no one expected Chu Zhaoding to make a move.

After a few breaths, Ning Yuchao sighed. He really hadn't expected the military to be so tough. One wrong step led to another, but Kong Wenyuan was, after all, someone he had personally trained and could be considered his personal disciple. In the end, he couldn't bear to stand idly by.

The only thing that can restrain this marshal now is the greater good of the nation.

"Marshal Chu, illegally mining human crystals for absorption is strictly prohibited by the state, and the military should not set this precedent. Marshal Chu, if you are not satisfied with the compensation plan, Huajing can be increased. There is no need to go to such lengths. Do not damage the military's reputation because of a momentary impulse. We must ultimately prioritize the overall situation."

Ning Yuchao was deeply moved and almost begged.

"Prioritizing the overall situation? What a great prioritization of the overall situation!" Chu Zhaoding sneered when he heard this phrase for the second time: "When others tell me 'prioritizing the overall situation,' I know that I am definitely not part of their so-called 'overall situation.'"

"Dean Ning, I'll spare you this slap out of consideration for your decades of hard work and dedication to Huajing and the country."

"When you can't win an argument with reason, you start talking about values; when you can't win an argument about values, you start talking about the big picture."

"Alright, since you insist on talking about the big picture, then I'll explain the big picture to you properly."

Chu Zhaoding turned around, holding the unconscious Kong Jing, and stared intently at Ning Yuchao:

"Is this some kind of peaceful era? The two worlds are increasingly merging, more and more passages between the two worlds are opening, sacred beasts are starting to plot against China, the number of mages is increasing every year, and the number of mages who break the law and cause trouble is also increasing, and people are dying all the time."

"The reason you are able to have a stable environment and live a life of petty scheming in the rear is entirely due to the military guarding the passage between the two worlds and the border, keeping the enemy at bay. Every magic crystal you consume is made up of the blood and flesh of the soldiers at the front."

"What is the big picture?"

"In short, the military is in charge, and so is my subordinate!"

"You are not worthy!"

"Now is the time for you to sacrifice for the greater good."

Chu Zhaoding expressionlessly stuffed Kong Jing back into the virtual world: "I'm taking Kong Jing away. Whether she lives or dies is none of your business. If you're not satisfied, feel free to report it. I look forward to being held accountable by the higher-ups."