Let the true energy circulate for a while

……

The following day, at 4:30 p.m., in a small conference room at the Los Angeles Secret Service precinct.

Hongxing, the leader of Special Operations Team Four, is giving a work report to Qin Shifan.

On the big screen, Chen Ye's photo was replaced by that of an elderly man with white hair wearing a hospital gown.

The members of Special Task Force Four had an in-depth conversation with Ouyang Zhaoming, treating him not as a mental patient at all. The sun was shining brightly, and with Director Li accompanying him, the old man gradually opened up and started talking.

Ouyang Zhaoming gave the account orally, while a PhD in criminal psychology from the Secret Service would ask questions from time to time, some of which the old man answered and some he did not.

The report is about halfway done.

Qin Shifan said, "So, there really is a world similar to ours? It's not a world of mental illness or delusions; it's just a world of supernatural events that we can't explain."

The leader of Group Four, codenamed Red Star, paused the large screen and explained:

"Mr. Qin, we retrieved the hospital's records from that time. This person's name is Song Weiguo, and he is 74 years old this year. He suffered a sudden myocardial infarction. According to his family, when the ambulance arrived, the old man had not been breathing for more than 3 minutes. After the paramedics arrived, they still performed CPR on him. Unexpectedly, a medical miracle occurred, and he survived. However, he seemed to have become a different person and claimed to be Ouyang Zhaoming."

"He no longer recognized his family members, developed severe cognitive impairment, and had violent tendencies. At the time, he claimed that everything around him was his inner demon and that he wanted to eliminate it. In the end, he was tied up and sent to a mental hospital."

"After being shocked with electric shocks several times in the mental hospital and starved for two days, he became completely obedient and stopped causing trouble."

"We make a bold assumption: perhaps Song Weiguo is already dead, possessed by a soul from another world, which is what TV dramas and novels often refer to as: time travel."

Hongxing paused here, giving Old Qin some time to think.

"How is his physical condition?"

Hong Xing said, "He has several common underlying medical conditions, including high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and coronary heart disease, and did not exhibit any extraordinary fighting abilities."

Qin Shifan said in a deep voice, "Immediately find him a professional medical and nursing team, stop all psychiatric medications, and get the old man's health back on track!"

Hongxing nodded: "Okay, the meeting is over. I'll contact the nearest top-tier hospital in Los Angeles."

Qin Shifan interrupted, "Forget it, don't worry about it. I'll apply to the higher-ups to give him the medical and nursing benefits of a department-level official."

Hongxing asked, "The old man used to be a retired section chief from the agricultural research institute, and now he receives a monthly pension of over 8000 yuan. If we rashly take his father-in-law away, his children might..."

Qin Shifan said, "Contact the local government in Xincheng and ask them to communicate with Song Weiguo's children. Tell them that the motherland will take care of their father! Also, if Song Weiguo has any difficulties at home, they can raise them and we can help them! I'll have someone speak to the local government."

Hong Xing gave a thumbs up: "Teacher Qin cares deeply about the people; he is truly admirable."

"Stop flattering me, keep going!"

Hongxing pressed a button on the remote control, and the large screen in the conference room played a video of their conversation with Ouyang Zhaoming at the mental hospital.

It was secretly filmed using a wearable device, and the footage is clear. To make it easier for the leaders to see, they even added subtitles to the video on their way there, which was exceptionally thoughtful.

During the video playback, Hongxing would occasionally press the pause button to offer an explanation.

"According to Ouyang Zhaoming's description, their world also has a sun and a moon, and there are legends of Nuwa, Fuxi, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, etc..."

"However, in their world, after Qin Shi Huang unified the six kingdoms, he truly ascended to immortality! Subsequent history underwent a series of changes!"

Qin Shifan was shocked and blurted out, "The people over there can become immortals?!"

Hongxing said, "Ouyang Zhaoming said that in the past two thousand years, only the First Emperor has ascended to heaven! Later emperors also followed suit, but the result was that the people suffered and the country was destroyed. Only a small number of people are obsessed with the idea of ​​immortals; most people just live to fill their stomachs."

"More than two thousand years? That's so similar to our historical timeline, so why didn't they develop technology?"

"Because after the First Emperor ascended to heaven, the warriors of his world cultivated true qi, and their personal combat power soared, making the nobles more enthusiastic about developing their own bodies."

Qin Shifan said in a deep voice, "Developing one's own true qi and cultivating to become an immortal, over time, the resources and attention of the entire society will be biased towards martial arts cultivation, which makes sense."

"Old Qin, there's something even more amazing!" Hong Xing said solemnly.

"Ouyang Zhaoming was obsessed with the idea of ​​immortals. He had read in the classics that there was an unnamed Taoist who, while refining elixirs, produced a kind of stone powder that would explode when it came into contact with fire. According to our deduction, this was the most primitive form of gunpowder."

Qin Shifan said, "Yes, history always repeats itself."

Hongxing smiled bitterly: "That nameless Taoist priest was struck dead by heavenly lightning. According to the records, it was divine punishment! He recklessly created strange objects, angered the heavens, and became a negative example in the other world!"

"There's something even stranger. Ouyang Zhaoming said that he found a forbidden book in an ancient tomb. There was a Neo-Confucian scholar named Zhang Zaidao who was obsessed with investigating things. He used natural crystal to polish it so that it could focus light. Through repeated experiments and layering, he saw tiny insects invisible to the naked eye in the water."

Qin Shifan asked, "A microscope?"

"It should be a rough version; that Neo-Confucian scholar was also struck dead by lightning."

"Both incidents, just as the technology was beginning to emerge, were struck by lightning?" Qin Shifan frowned. "That's too much of a coincidence."

Hongxing said, "Elder Qin, could there be some unknown entity deliberately restricting the technological development of that world?"

"The possibility is extremely high," Qin Shifan said in a deep voice.

"That being may want that world to remain forever on the track of 'true qi cultivation,' but what its purpose is remains to be seen. What is certain is that it is this invisible restriction that has caused them to completely deviate from the path of technology and single-mindedly pursue martial arts cultivation for two thousand years."

Qin Shifan waved his hand: "Go on, tell me about the appearance of true energy after Qin Shi Huang ascended to heaven."

Hongxing tapped the screen, which displayed a hastily prepared PowerPoint presentation. It showed historical timelines with the names of many unfamiliar dynasties. Upon closer inspection, it was incomplete, with some dates dating back to a distant past.

"This is a compilation of information we gathered from Ouyang Zhaoming's casual conversations. It's not complete, and he wasn't a historian from that world; he only knew some of the famous ones."

"After the King of Qin ascended to the throne, Prince Fusu succeeded him!"

Hongxing pressed a button on the remote control—

The environment on the screen is the activity area of ​​a mental hospital, under a large banyan tree in the outdoor activity area.

The white-haired old man was spitting as he spoke, his face full of excitement, like a storyteller from the martial arts world.

"Child! When the First Emperor ascended to heaven, purple clouds pierced the sun for three thousand miles, and dark light descended upon the summit of Mount Li. Golden dragons coiled around pillars, celestial music filled the sky, and the First Emperor rose on clouds, with the dragon's head holding the corner of his robe. His ministers prostrated themselves on the ground, and the people cried out in astonishment, shaking the wilderness. They saw him riding a dragon into the nine heavens, and the scene lingered for three days."

The white-haired old man slammed his hand on the stone bench, spitting half a foot away, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"After the First Emperor ascended to heaven, his son Fusu succeeded to the throne according to his will, and changed the era name to 'First Year of the Immortal Emperor'!"

Director Li, who was standing nearby, opened a bottle of Coke for the old man. The old man took a few sips, was in a great mood, and continued:

"But in the second year of the Shixian era, Chancellor Li Si colluded with Zhao Gao, plotting to forge an imperial edict to kill Meng Yi and Zhao Que, and seize military power. On the eve of the palace coup, a thunderbolt suddenly struck over Xianyang, nine bolts of lightning striking the main hall of the Chancellor's residence. Li Si died on the spot, his body charred black. More than thirty of his core associates were also struck by lightning, none of them escaping. People at the time called it divine punishment!"

In the video, three special agents listened with great interest, feeling that this was much more impressive than their history classes in school.

Director Li asked with a smile, "Sect Leader, where is Zhao Gao?"

"Zhao Gao? Historical records say that Zhao Gao fled overnight and died of illness on the way. Some people say that Zhao Gao did not die, but found the elixir of immortality and has been living ever since."

One of the special agents asked, "If that's the case, then Qin Shi Huang is protecting his descendants from heaven, and anyone who rebels will be struck down by lightning. Wouldn't that make the Qin Dynasty invincible?"

The white-haired old man sighed: "No, the Qin Dynasty will soon perish."

"How so?"

"After Fusu ascended the throne, he became obsessed with the art of ascension to immortality, dismissed virtuous and capable officials, recruited many alchemists, and built the Tongtian Terrace, a hundred feet high, outside Xianyang City. He refined elixirs and made talismans, spending money extravagantly and neglecting state affairs. Four years later, he died suddenly at the Tongtian Terrace."

"After Fusu's death, the world fell into chaos, with feudal lords dividing and uniting. In history, only Qin Shi Huang became an immortal, and there was no one else like him."

Director Li asked, "Are there Liu Bang and Xiang Yu?"

The white-haired old man instantly perked up and exclaimed loudly, "Xiang Yu is truly a divine being!"

"On the banks of the Wujiang River, Xiang Yu was surrounded by the Han army. In a desperate battle with his back to the river, he burned his boats and led his soldiers to fight their way through a bloody path!"

The group was shocked. Over there, Xiang Yu hadn't committed suicide? He had actually broken through the encirclement?

The white-haired old man seemed to greatly admire Xiang Yu, his tone was excited:

"The Overlord's True Qi was created by Xiang Yu. At that time, Xiang Yu pierced through eight hundred armored men with a single spear thrust, and the blood stained the Wujiang River. In the end, the Han Dynasty and the Chu Dynasty divided the river and ruled separately! Peace lasted for less than ten years before chaos broke out again, with wars raging among the various states. Finally, he was replaced by a man named Sima Yan!"

The white-haired old man, who was excited just a moment ago, suddenly became gloomy and sighed, "The world is constantly divided and united, and the martial arts world is full of fighting and killing. Peace will not last for more than a few hundred years before chaos ensues. When chaos comes, someone will come to govern. It's a never-ending cycle, and it's all so pointless. This is why I'm so focused on seeking immortality."

Ouyang Zhaoming downed his Coke in one gulp and reached for the second bottle, which was the Coke meant for the special agents.

Director Li quickly grabbed the old man's hand and said sternly, "Master, drink less cola. You need to control your blood sugar."

In the conference room, Qin Shifan instructed, "Play back this video clip again."