From Under One Person: Sincere Journey Through the Heavens

Jiang Liu clasped his fists, his expression serious. "Therefore, this operation needs a captain, and I choose myself—"

confidence!

High spirits!

Do any of you have other candidates?

"No."

Lu Jin, Hong Guniang, and the others naturally did not object.

After thinking for a while, Ru Song sighed and agreed, "Among us, Chairman Jiang is the strongest. Moreover, he built the Cultural Street from scratch in just one year. He is trustworthy."

As soon as Ru Song spoke, the others either tacitly agreed or also agreed that Jiang Liu should be the team leader.

Among them, the extraordinary individuals from the Taoist and Buddhist sects would certainly not vie for the position of captain, not because they did not want to, but because neither side wanted to be overshadowed by the other.

So the position of "captain" naturally needs to be held by a free agent or a member of a non-Buddhist or non-Taoist force, but who else would dare to propose to be the captain in front of so many Taoist and Buddhist eccentrics present?

In addition, time was of the essence, and most people were still under the effects of the poison.

Under these circumstances, Jiang Liu proposed to be the captain, so the captain's position naturally could only belong to Jiang Liu.

As for Zheng Zha...

Even if none of them realized their identities, they wouldn't admit that an unknown guy was commanding them, not to mention that Zheng Zha didn't seem like a qualified captain.

Zheng Zha breathed a sigh of relief, but he didn't see the fleeting look of disappointment in Zhang Jie's eyes.

Then, Jiang Liu assigned tasks to everyone according to their respective strengths:

Group 1.

Those extraordinary individuals who have connections with Taoism and Buddhism generally understand the concept of Qi (energy flow). Therefore, the current task for most members of this type of extraordinary individual is very simple: to go to the area ten kilometers to the north to gather intelligence, determine the direction of Qi flow at the location of the Ghost Realm, and find a way to initially enter the Ghost Realm.

This team is led by Zhuge Yu, Ru Song, and Zhang Zhiwei.

Second.

Jiang Liu then assigned a second group of people skilled in roaming, hiding, and moving lightly to investigate the distribution of roads and buildings in the ancient city of Beiguo. They were to guard against the Smiling Tiger's betrayal and find an evacuation route in advance.

Following that, Jiang Liu asked, "Finally, we also need to have someone keep an eye on Smith and Stephen Whitey, and find a way to obtain their antidote. We need to prepare for both possibilities. Zhao Xinchuan, Boss Cha, Lu Jin, Zhang Dong, and Miss Hong, are you ready to accept this task?"

Lu Jin agreed: "Easy!"

Hong Guniang said, "I'll listen to you, Chairman!"

Zhang Dong cupped his hands in respect: "We will definitely obtain the antidote!"

Zhao Xinchuan and Boss Cha exchanged a glance and said in unison, "No problem!"

Seeing this, Jiang Liu nodded and established the third group. Then he said to the rest of the group, "Finally, the rest of us, including myself, should recuperate for now and be ready to act at any time to pull the Ghost Realm back to the real world or to destroy the Ghost Realm directly."

After the group was divided into four groups, the operation immediately commenced:

Led by Zhuge Yu, Zhang Zhiwei, and Rusong, a group of extraordinary individuals from the Taoist and Buddhist sects headed north to investigate the aura of the ghost realm's actual location and determine its direction, thereby making a preliminary assessment of the ghost realm's situation.

The extraordinary individuals, led by Gao Huan, Si Chong, and Li Muxuan, went into the city to investigate the terrain and determine the specific personnel of the Smiling Tigers, both inside and outside the city.

The group led by Lu Jin and Hong Guniang was responsible for restraining Smith and Stephen Whitey, and for finding a way to cure the "forbidden fruit of God".

Finally, the remaining members, led by Jiang Liu, went on a dangerous reconnaissance mission after the members of the first group confirmed the basic situation.

Besides Jiang Liu, this group consisted of the nine members of the Central Continent Team...

# Chapter 328 Formal Self-Introduction

"I have a guess about your exact identities—you are from outer space."

After the other three groups in the council hall had taken action, Jiang Liu looked at the nine reincarnators and said, “Let me formally introduce myself. My name is Jiang Liu, I am Seventeen, the young master of the Caixi Troupe, the president and founder of the Confucian Association, and a person who takes immortality as his cultivation goal and reform as his practical means.”

"Zheng Zha, a person who just wants to live." Zheng Zha thought for a moment and then introduced himself.

"Zhan Lan, it's unclear what the future holds. Perhaps she'll write a novel called 'Infinite Terror' in the future," Zhan Lan said.

"Zero, sniper, I will not point my gun at my teammates for personal gain." Zero took the Gauss sniper rifle off his back, stared at Jiang Liu for a moment, and then made his promise.

"My name is Zhang Jie."

Zhang Jie took out a cigarette from his pocket, lit it, took a deep drag, and a faint sadness appeared in his eyes. "I don't have any dreams. I'm probably just getting by."

"Qi Tengyi, I'm very knowledgeable about antiques!" Qi Tengyi tried his best to demonstrate his value.

"Lu Renjia, a college student, I...I can...I know a little bit of everything. If there's anything I can do to help, just let me know! I...I will definitely do my best to accomplish it!"

Lu Renjia was very nervous, fearing that he would be abandoned because he was worthless.

"Chu Xuan, and my creation, Arno."

Chu Xuan stated succinctly, "I am currently considered a researcher on this team."

"Creating humans?"

Jiang Liu looked at Arno with great interest.

"Our world has cloning technology, which replicates cells based on their genes..."

Chu Xuan explained the general concept of "cloning" to Jiang Liu, "But creating a human is a more complex and advanced technology than cloning. It can add a thought imprint and adjust genes to make the created person completely loyal to oneself."

"Really? Science and technology really are a double-edged sword."

Jiang lamented, "If this technology were made public, it could raise a whole host of ethical issues."

Then, his gaze fell on the last handsome "boy": "And you? Sister from the future, what's your name?"

"Is he a man?" Zheng Zha reminded him.

"Who told you I'm a man?"

The moment the "young man" opened his mouth, his gender was revealed. After glancing at Zheng Zha, he looked directly at Jiang Liu and said in a low voice, "Zhao Yingkong, assassin. If you want, I can help you kill that smiling tiger. Without a leader, his subordinates will surely act independently."

"The suggestion is good, but I refuse." Jiang Liu smiled slightly, glanced at everyone, and sighed, "The 'masters' behind you really don't know how to choose people. Each of you has quite a few flaws in your personality. Add to that your abilities and skills, and it's not an exaggeration to say that you're 'misfits'."

Zheng Zha was speechless.

Chu Xuan remained expressionless.

Zhao Yingkong squinted, about to speak, when Jiang Liu said with a half-smile, "But then again, misshapen melons and cracked dates are generally much sweeter than normal pears and dates."

"...You're really funny."

As a modern person, Zhao Yingkong suddenly felt a sense of defeat that she couldn't even compare to a teenager from the Republican era in terms of mental state.

"Oh."

With a light laugh, Jiang Liu got down to business, saying, "While the first group is exploring the atmospheric conditions ten kilometers to the north, you all need to improve your combat capabilities."

"You're going to teach us your martial arts?"

Zheng Zha was overjoyed, but then doubted, "But is it enough time? Cultivation takes time, right? You only have eleven days at most."

“Cultivating Qi does require aptitude, but fortunately, you all have it.”

Jiang Liu could sense that everyone in the Central Continent Team had the aptitude for Qi Refining.

Regarding the origins of the Infinite Flow genre, Jiang Liu's understanding of its power system is limited, consisting of only three words: gene lock.

It is conceivable that those who can be pulled into the infinite space by the main god are more likely to unlock their genetic locks than ordinary people, and the path of Qi cultivation points directly to the essence of the transformation of matter and energy... there may be some connection between them.

"Once you master Qi, even the simplest way of using it—that is, to enhance your physical body—can greatly improve your physical attributes, making you far superior to ordinary people in terms of speed, strength, and defense."

After Jiang Liu finished explaining the benefits of Qi cultivation to Zheng Zha and the others, he looked at Zheng Zha and said, "Your problem is actually quite serious. There's a ball of energy similar to Qi in your lower dantian, and a ball of dark energy in your mind, with completely opposite attributes—"

Aren't you afraid of your body exploding and dying someday?

Or is it that the "master" behind you is using you as an experiment to see if a "fusion of Eastern and Western" spiritual practices can be achieved?

Zheng Zha was a little embarrassed. After all, he had chosen the path of "combining Chinese and Western elements" himself, so he couldn't blame anyone else. Besides, he said, "Is it really as serious as you say? I've seen some protagonists in novels who cultivate internal energy and have mutated bloodlines from Western vampire viscounts... uh, vampires are immortal creatures... the combination of the two is very powerful!"

"idiot!"

Zhao Yingkong spoke with a hint of sarcasm.

"The wisdom of mortals."

Chu Xuan also retorted sarcastically.

Zhan Lan, Zhang Jie, Ling Dian, and the others exchanged bewildered glances, unsure of what to say. Zhang Jie, in particular, with his special status, knew perfectly well that Zheng Zha's enhancement was a trap and had even subtly warned him, but Zheng Zha had clearly not heeded his advice at the time…

As for the two newcomers, Qi Tengyi and Lu Renjia, they didn't dare to speak up, especially Lu Renjia, who thought Zheng Zha's words made a lot of sense!

"Can you tell that the energy in his mind originates from a Western cultivation system?" Chu Xuan wanted to learn about the Western cultivation system in this "horror movie" world.

"Perhaps you really come from another world, but by observing your appearance and way of doing things, you are largely in line with the Chinese culture. In the Eastern cultivation system, there is never any energy similar to essence or vitality that is poured into the mind."

Upon hearing Jiang Liu's words, Zheng Zha and the others gasped in surprise, astonished by Jiang Liu's keen observation and unique analytical methods.

Chu Xuan, however, was also inspired. He nodded and said, "Culture? That's an angle I've never considered before. Perhaps it will come in handy in the future..."

In this world, what are the differences between Western and Eastern cultivation systems?

"The Eastern Qi cultivation system focuses on cultivating Qi through the circulation of Qi throughout the body, thereby tempering one's life force, unleashing various abilities, and enhancing physical functions, with a particular emphasis on endurance."

Everyone in the Zhongzhou team has already witnessed their endurance.

"Western practitioners, who call themselves alchemists and magicians, focus on building magic circuits and alchemical arrays within their bodies. Because they do not cultivate the five internal organs, their explosive power is not weak, but their ability to enhance bodily functions is far weaker than that of the Qi cultivation system."

Upon realizing the differences between Eastern and Western cultivation systems, Zheng Zha's face showed an unnatural embarrassment. Although he had enhanced his intermediate-level qigong, he had no idea how to maintain its circulation; he could only use this internal energy to enhance strength, speed, and the like...

So he only enhanced his qigong, but didn't understand qigong cultivation at all?

# Chapter 329 The experiment begins!

"Now let me take a look at the root of your problem."

Jiang Liu placed his hand on Zheng Zha's head, signaling him to relax. Using a sliver of spiritual light to sense the magnetic fluctuations throughout Zheng Zha's body, he confirmed that the essence of his internal energy and vampire energy was Qi, only different from the "Qi Refining" in Under One Person.

Instead of directly refining Qi, they first transformed Qi into internal force and vampire energy for cultivation.

Advantages: Once mastered, it is easier to cultivate.