The immortal is beside me

Chapter 32: Huake Institute of Extraordinary Studies
The Chinese Academy of Sciences' Transcendental Research Institute, abbreviated as the Transcendental Research Institute, is the nation's largest research center for the Transcendental System. It has thirty-six research departments covering a wide range of disciplines, including gongfa, talismanology, and alchemy.

Since its establishment in the late 20th century, the Institute has adhered to the "Three New" principles of "new ideas, new requirements, and new designs," combining traditional cultivation models with modern scientific systems. It has established a unique application model and talent training system for the extraordinary, actively promoting the transformation of China's extraordinary field towards modernization and intelligence.

[Currently, the Super Research Institute has established a theoretical framework centered on spiritual energy, cracked the operating principles of 107 techniques, and based on this, has developed a number of applied achievements, including spirit-breaking bullets, artificial spirit gathering devices, and cave-heaven communication technology, with a 72% conversion rate.]

In the future, the Institute of Supernatural will further strengthen its cooperation with sister institutions such as the Environmental Sanitation Bureau, Tianji Academy, and Kunlun Academy, continue to deepen the construction and reform of key disciplines, and strive unremittingly to build a new era of supernatural system.

"… Um, didn't I say I was here to do historical research? Isn't this style a bit off?"

In the office, Qin Jiajia put down the introduction page in her hand and asked carefully.

After the Yiyuan Power Plant incident, Zhou Qing's investigation was handed over to a higher level of leadership. Common sense would have assigned Qin Jiajia to perform other duties.

But considering that the Peach Blossom Spring forces have not been eliminated yet and she has had direct contact with its members, there is a risk of being involved if she continues to stay in the bureau. So during the Peach Blossom Spring investigation, Li Yulan made an exception and temporarily transferred her to the Super Research Institute, which is also a supernatural unit, to complete her rookie training here and maintain contact with Zhou Qing.

Qin Jiajia had no objection to this decision. She had witnessed the clash of cultivators firsthand, and the memory of that scene still left her with a lingering fear. Even if Zhou Qingliu's true fire could keep her safe, she would still have to wait a while.

However, before coming to the Institute of Supernatural Studies, she was told that she would continue her research on supernatural history here, but the introduction to the institute just handed to her had nothing to do with history at all.

"Social sciences are also sciences. And, in a transcendental context, history is not just the kind of history you learn in school."

A man in a white coat sitting next to her replied, "You should know that all the existing major sects have their own history, but under normal circumstances, it is not made public."

"Because those historical materials are not just descriptions of historical events, they also include their interactions with the mundane world, as well as the cultivation methods and corresponding inheritances that appeared in history - this is our true research area."

The tone was calm yet powerful. Qin Jiajia echoed quietly, feeling that her doubts had been answered.

When she was working at the Environmental Sanitation Bureau, she had heard the name of the Super Research Institute many times.

Although nominally it is only engaged in scientific research, its actual power and influence are terrifyingly great. With a single order, it can even mobilize half a city's resources to serve its research.

Initially, she hadn't quite understood the source of this authority. But after learning about the specific research content of the Transcendental Research Institute, she felt that its status was not exaggerated at all.

If China's supernatural system is compared to a tree, the Environmental Sanitation Bureau is the leaves that are exposed to provide shelter from wind and rain, and the Supernatural Research Institute is the roots of the tree, the true foundation and stabilizer.

Even so, her current status is just a seconded staff member after all. She will probably stay in the Institute of Super Research for a few months at most. She can't expect to be exposed to any core research. She will just do whatever she can.

"So what should I do next?" she asked the man in the white coat.

Judging from the name tags on his chest, the man in the white coat was a first-level researcher in the institute, and also her temporary superior during her secondment.

However, compared to the Environmental Sanitation Bureau, the management of the Super Research Institute is obviously flatter and the atmosphere is more relaxed. When she talks to her boss, it is more like classmates of different grades than superiors.

"That's really a problem."

The man in the white coat turned around and clicked on the list on the computer desktop: "There are a few projects in the institute now, but they have all been underway for a while. As a newcomer joining in mid-semester, you might not be able to adapt to them. Got it!"

He suddenly seemed to grasp something and turned to Qin Jiajia. "We happen to be working on a project with the Environmental Sanitation Bureau. The previous researcher was hospitalized in an accident during a field investigation, so the remaining minor work has been put on hold. Since you're from the Environmental Sanitation Bureau, why don't you take a look at this project and see if you're familiar with it?"

"What project?" Qin Jiajia had a strange premonition for no reason after hearing the description.

"We investigated the ruins of the Jie clan in Baiyun Mountain. The report said that an ancient cultivator named Zhou Fan was involved. Do you know anything about this?"

"." Qin Jiajia felt her cheek twitching slightly.

Ever since she entered the supernatural realm, she has always had a strange feeling, as if the shadow of that man is everywhere she goes. Either he is looking for trouble, or trouble is looking for him. She almost doubts whether the entire world of immortal cultivation revolves around him.

"I understand a little bit."

"That's great. I'll send you the current investigation materials. Take a look at them first. If you're interested in Zhou Fan's case, contact the project leader there."

The office door suddenly burst open, and a female researcher, also in a white coat, rushed in, her eyes darting around like a hungry tiger. "Here comes the work!" she said as she entered, "We need help! Is there anyone available?"

"Cheng Xiaomeng, you're going to be the director soon, can't you be a little more cautious?"

The man in the white coat stared at the person who came in, holding his forehead with his hand and sighing helplessly, "There is someone, but she is a new recruit who has just been seconded. I was just planning to assign her the job that Zhou Fan from Baiyun Mountain did."

"Forget about that Zhou Fan! This project is a major one!"

The female researcher named Cheng Xiaomeng turned to Qin Jiajia and said, "That's her, right? It doesn't matter if she's new. This project doesn't involve too many technical aspects. Just a little historical background will be enough. Do you have time now to come to the meeting directly?"

"Uh," Qin Jiajia blinked and whispered, "Actually, I'm more interested in Zhou Fan's affairs."

Cheng Xiaomeng was stunned for a moment, then turned to the man in the white coat and asked, "Teacher, are you just making promises again? Are you trying to trick the newbie into doing odd jobs again?"

"I don't have any." The white coat said, "As a new employee, I need to familiarize myself with the procedures. This kind of small job is perfect for me."

"You can't assign her a side project!" Cheng Xiaomeng raised her voice. "It's just the research of an unknown casual cultivator, and it's already been investigated by the people from the Environmental Sanitation Bureau. If you assign her to do it again, what else can she do besides doing odd jobs?"

"Well," Qin Jiajia tried to interrupt, "he might not be just some nameless casual cultivator."

"Oh, no matter how famous it is, it's nothing compared to my project." Cheng Xiaomeng grabbed her with one hand and said, "Come and listen first, and you'll know after you listen."

So Qin Jiajia was taken to the institute's comprehensive laboratory in a daze, and listened to a brief introduction to the situation with several other senior researchers. Then she changed into protective clothing and walked into the room marked "Restoration Studio".

As the name suggests, the room is dedicated to the restoration of unearthed cultural relics. It maintains a sterile environment with a constant temperature and humidity year-round. Considering the scope of the Transcendental Research Institute's work, a dedicated Transcendental Workspace has been established. This area is equipped with special spiritual energy regulation equipment, capable of adjusting the spiritual energy concentration from ten times that of the outside world to a 99% spiritual-free environment.

At this time, the room was already filled with dozens of cultural relics, ranging from paintings and scrolls to bottles and jars, each of a different type. Judging from the mud stains that had not yet dried on them, they must have been unearthed not long ago.

"This is a cultural relic we just brought from Guanzhong. We took a lot of effort to get it from the Cultural Relics Bureau."

"According to the Cultural Relics Bureau, they were unearthed at the center of the Eighteen Tombs of Guanzhong, and the surrounding structures were built at the same level as imperial mausoleums. Experts at the institute believe they may contain clues to communication between the Li Tang royal family and the immortal cultivation world of the time."

"And more importantly."

The voice deepened. "Something related to 'Yuan Tiangang' was discovered among this batch of cultural relics. If we find any valuable historical materials, it might be considered for the joint award. We must pay close attention to this."

The words were so powerful that the researchers around him started to talk to each other in a whisper. The scene shocked Qin Jiajia so much that she couldn't help but look serious.

Although emotionally she still prefers "Zhou Fan", rationally she has to admit that the weight of this project is indeed not on the same level.

Tang. Just this one word is enough to give these ancient objects a golden appearance.

The rise and fall of the mortal world is closely related to the changes in the world of immortal cultivation, and the dynasty called Tang is the pride of 5,000 years of history. From an extraordinary perspective, the power behind it must be an unimaginable behemoth.

As for the "Yuan Tiangang" they mentioned, although she didn't know his background, she still remembered that he was a famous sorcerer in the Tang Dynasty, and his name appeared in the "Old Book of Tang" and many official histories.

If such a person is related to the extraordinary, then he is undoubtedly a figure who has a significant impact on the ordinary world. In comparison, "Zhou Fan", who has never appeared in ordinary history books, does seem slightly inferior in research value.

Since this is the case, we can only make the best of it, obey the organization's arrangements, investigate the current Tang Dynasty cultural relics first, and then go back to learn about "Zhou Fan" after we are done.

She gathered her thoughts and scanned the room, her eyes finally stopping in front of a water tank filled with protective fluid.

An ancient painting was soaked in the water tank. In the painting, there was a silhouette of a person standing under the moon. He was wearing a red and white robe and had his long hair tied up. Under the painter's rendering, the figure looked particularly otherworldly, as if he was about to fly away.

Qin Jiajia stared at the painting, and as she looked, her gaze gradually became fixed.

Why does the person in this painting look a bit like Zhou Qing?
(End of this chapter)