Everyone present was focused on the Simulated Universe.
Which made sense, of course.
Now that the thing was built, what came next was up to them to decide.
No matter how solid the foundation, the amount of Memetic Energy available was finite.
You couldn't just simulate any era you pleased on a whim.
Bai Ming didn't disturb them.
She figured she might as well pull a card first.
Having lived for over a thousand years now, and after turning off the role-playing feature, Bai Ming could sense that subtle shift.
Hard to put into words, but if she had to pick one, it felt more like her presence had grown stronger.
Hard to say if it was the extended lifespan or the power of memories at work.
But either way, another significant boost wasn't coming anytime soon.
That was a matter for another day.
Given the situation—time to pull!
It was the familiar summoning sequence, the familiar golden light.
Watching the train door open to reveal that well-known figure with white hair and crimson eyes, Bai Ming tilted her head slightly, her expression full of question marks.
The artwork clearly depicted Jingliu, but what was that dark, corrupted-looking Lightning Lord thing behind her?
And in the background of the image, those things flitting about like a swarm of insects—what were those?
Just what kind of monstrosity had she pulled?
[Lord Ravager — Jingliu]
Are you even looking at what you wrote?
Since when did Jingliu walk the Path of Destruction?
Okay, let's say it's possible. But what in the world is that dark Lightning Lord and those glaring, bizarre wings?
Playing with fire like this, aren't you afraid the Reignbow Arbiter might draw his arrow?
She was certainly afraid…
Good grief.
Bai Ming was genuinely starting to worry for her own hide now.
She'd even daydreamed about pulling a Feixiao and having some fun with the big fox.
Even getting an extra Feixiao would've been fine—a bona fide Hunt follower, unlikely to do her any real harm.
But what was this corrupted Lightning Lord supposed to be??
The Reignbow's Seven Arbiter-Generals, each to their own post.
Now suddenly there's an extra, corrupted Lightning Lord?
Would the Hunt find it unacceptable and decide to put an arrow through her?
Well, given they'd met once before, THEY might go a little easy on her.
But if she showed up like this, could the Xianzhou Alliance hold it together? Could Jing Yuan hold it together?
Better not give the old man a fright that triggers his Mara.
Seriously, what kind of twist leads to a Lightning Lord looking like that?
Looking all… Propagation-like? That's clearly not normal.
Can that thing even be… stolen?
That's just absurd.
Pondering these questions, Bai Ming wasn't in a hurry to use the Character Card.
With a lifespan over a thousand years, she could afford to waste a little time.
Bai Ming turned her attention back toward the Simulated Universe.
Both Screwllum and Herta had interfaced with it.
Looked like they wouldn't be emerging anytime soon.
As for Ruan Mei…
"Where are you planning to go next?"
"Haven't decided yet. Why? Want me to drop by your place?"
Bai Ming glanced sideways at Ruan Mei's projection.
Ruan Mei nodded in response.
"Come by if you have time. Regarding the data on Dr. Primitive, I'd like to hear your thoughts as well."
She paused briefly before adding, "So… what's your next identity going to be?"
"Ah, that. It's a bit… complex, but seems related to Propagation."
"Propagation?"
A flicker of interest appeared on Ruan Mei's face.
Ruan Mei had studied many Paths, but Propagation had numerous individuals, numerous varieties, and experimenting on them carried little risk—unlike the Path of Permanence, where poking around might invite serious trouble.
So, in Ruan Mei's eyes, Propagation was a rather convenient choice.
"May I study it?"
"Sure."
Ruan Mei's request was direct, and Bai Ming didn't refuse.
Her original body had been studied already; one more Character Card wouldn't hurt.
Ruan Mei nodded in satisfaction and sent Bai Ming a star chart coordinate.
"My current location is here. I'll be waiting for you whenever."
With that, Ruan Mei ended the call.
Naturally, Bai Ming then used the console to contact the three inside the Simulated Universe.
Herta seemed to have expected it, and since the Simulated Universe was still her darling project, Bai Ming successfully managed to temporarily 'fall out of favor,' receiving no attempt to make her stay.
After informing them, she finally chose to leave.
--+--
The flames of the Phase Flame materialized above a barren planet.
Below, a starship rested on a plain.
Around the ship, visible life was spreading outward from it as the center.
It looked like Ruan Mei had casually scattered some cleverly designed life-seeds across the planet again.
Bai Ming landed directly at the ship's airlock.
Facial recognition unlocked the hatch.
Inside, she found Ruan Mei recording some data.
And in front of Ruan Mei, visible through the laboratory glass, inside a large nutrient tank, a pink-haired girl lay curled motionless in the nutrient fluid, eyes closed.
"You're here. Take a look. This is her data. All reactions and metrics match Dr. Primitive's projections. Any suggestions for adjustments?"
Barely through the door, before she could even offer a greeting, Ruan Mei shoved a data slate into Bai Ming's hands.
On it were extremely detailed physical parameters for the young girl.
Bai Ming gave it a cursory glance.
Her first impression was: superhuman. Literally.
Even without any subsequent training or development, based purely on her innate physical capabilities, tearing apart mechs with her bare hands would be child's play.
Her cognitive potential probably wasn't low either.
"This data can't be right… Dr. Primitive shouldn't have provided such high baseline specs. You modified them later?"
"Of course. I want a genius, not what Dr. Primitive calls a 'superhuman.'"
A genius had to be born, not made.
You couldn't train a genius through later nurturing.
"Physically, there's still room for optimization, but for your plan, it's unnecessary. However, if you want to develop her mind, I can help. Using the power of Remembrance."
In this world, Memetic Energy was closely linked to the spirit.
Having obtained her talent directly from Fuli, Bai Ming understood this keenly.
She felt she could genuinely achieve a degree of elevation in mental potential.
After sharing her thoughts with Ruan Mei, she noticed Ruan Mei's gaze had taken on a distinctly strange quality.
"Better not. With your method, the fledgling consciousness this child just formed would likely shatter again. We can revisit it later."
Ruan Mei ultimately declined Bai Ming's proposal.
However, Bai Ming's perspectives on Memory did provide Ruan Mei with some inspiration.
Her previous research had somewhat neglected this factor.
The two conversed at length on the topic.
Ruan Mei also took the opportunity to give Bai Ming another thorough examination.
Only when Ruan Mei was satisfied did she reluctantly bring up another matter—namely, the new identity.
As for Bai Ming…
Though she talked about fearing an arrow from the Hunt, by now, her courage had been thoroughly tempered.
Worst case, she could just shout for Noa to save her.
Begging an Aeon for help wasn't shameful.
Others might wish they had the chance.
So, Bai Ming took Ruan Mei to a different location.
On another planet, she chose to transform.
In an instant, the light of Nexus receded into her body.
A woman with white hair and crimson eyes appeared before Ruan Mei.
Wasn't this the identity used once before?
Just as Ruan Mei was about to voice her confusion, the pitch-black, glowing Lightning Lord erupted from the ground!
The wings on its back, identical to an insect swarm, made Ruan Mei's pupils contract.
She recognized what this was.
And precisely because she recognized it, she was taken aback.
The summon of the Luofu's general, a treasure bestowed by the Hunt, the Lightning Lord.
This thing was practically bound to the Xianzhou. How had it become… this?
And why was Jingliu, a traitor to the Xianzhou, the one wielding a Lightning Lord in this state?
Ruan Mei wasn't the only one with these questions.
The Aeon of the Hunt, Lan, also sensed the oddity.
To an Aeon, it wasn't particularly conspicuous, but the seven treasures he had bestowed had suddenly become eight.
The new one had a bizarre appearance, as if the Hunt was mixed with Destruction and Propagation.
Thankfully it wasn't blended with Abundance power, or Lan might have shot an arrow without a second glance.
For now, Lan deigned to look.
And then THEY recognized who was responsible.
The Creator of Noa.
THEY had some impression of her.
Two out of three were here.
Since this Lightning Lord didn't seem to be seized by force, THEY wouldn't need to give her a warning flick with THEIR bow.
--+--