General Xuanquan spoke plainly, insisting the process was perfectly safe and involved no strange rituals or anything of the sort.
In Lingsha's eyes, she truly did only scent the familiar aroma of the General's constant worrying over the Vidyadhara.
There wasn't a trace of malice.
Of course, there was also a lingering hint of... bashfulness.
Now, that part was quite intriguing.
Add to that the fact that she had personally gone to see the new Vidyadhara egg. From Lingsha's perspective, there was indeed nothing wrong with it; it didn't look defective in the slightest.
So, ultimately, curiosity won out.
Lingsha agreed to General Xuanquan's suggestion, deciding to try it for herself.
In passing, she also wanted to find out just who this Madam Bai Ming was.
Rumor had it she was on good terms with the Luofu. Unfortunately, Lingsha had left the Luofu early to study and conduct research on the Zhuming, so she'd never had the chance to meet her.
She actually hadn't known about this trip to the Fanghu originally.
It was only when Ardens Regia found her and brought up the events occurring here that Lingsha learned of the breathtaking miracle that had graced the Xianzhou Fanghu so shortly after the war.
To Lingsha, the news from the Fanghu truly did seem like a miracle.
The more she delved into her studies, the more she felt just how unshakable the restriction looming over the Vidyadhara race truly was.
Of course, after speaking with General Xuanquan in person, Lingsha understood that the other party hadn't managed to completely lift the restriction or grant the Vidyadhara the ability to reproduce freely.
However, such a thing likely involved the Path itself, making it nearly impossible to solve.
In any case.
Lingsha was curious: how exactly was the other party going to have her nurture a new Vidyadhara?
'Cipher' hadn't expected that when Xuanquan said she'd find someone to help, she would straight up drag Lingsha and Qingzu over to be volunteers.
According to Xuanquan's reasoning, these two were likely arranged to be here by Jing Yuan. As for what he specifically wanted to achieve, Xuanquan didn't know; she just knew that you don't let free volunteers go to waste.
Since they were headed here to learn more about Bai Ming anyway, they might as well get a first-hand experience of the whole ordeal.
"Are you sure you want to volunteer?"
'Cipher' looked at Lingsha and Qingzu before her. She knew both of them, but she hadn't expected their first meeting to happen in a place like this, under these circumstances.
Qingzu wasn't actually as curious as Lingsha.
It was just that seeing a healer as renowned as Lingsha agree to it, she figured it couldn't be anything bad, so she decided to follow along and see.
Upon arriving, Lingsha gave her greetings and then turned her gaze toward a certain tightly shut room.
From that room, two faint scents wafted out.
They weren't unpleasant scents, but rather the fragrance of new life budding.
This scent was different from the usual Vidyadhara undergoing molting rebirth. It was actually quite close to the scent she had detected on 'General Xuanquan's offspring' not long ago.
Lingsha hadn't thought much of it before.
But after seeing it with her own eyes, she realized that she had never sensed such a pure aura of budding life from any other Vidyadhara egg.
This was also why Lingsha could judge that everything Xuanquan said was true.
Beyond that, within Lingsha's perception, Ruan Mei's scent seemed like simple plum blossoms at first glance, but a careful contemplation revealed it to be a complex fragrance, meticulously blended from many different notes.
As for Madam Bai Ming, she was even stranger. Lingsha had always considered herself sensitive to smells—she could usually pick up on many unusual scents.
But with Bai Ming, it was different. It was hard to perceive a personal scent unique to her. One had to sniff very carefully to barely catch a hint of something, and even then, it was very indistinct.
If it could be said that Lingsha could usually judge what kind of person someone was based on her sense of smell during a first encounter, then Madam Bai Ming was likely the first exception she couldn't judge at all.
Combine that with what she knew of Madam Bai Ming's habits—including her tendency to move about using other people's faces...
Looking at 'Cipher' now, Lingsha only felt that she was a truly unique individual.
"Yes. I'm looking forward to what I'll experience. At the same time, as a healer, I'm quite curious as to how you actually achieve this."
'Cipher' didn't mind Lingsha's probing gaze. She shrugged and smiled.
"Then feel free to observe."
"And what do I need to do?"
"Nothing special. Did General Xuanquan explain the general process to you?"
As 'Cipher' spoke, she glanced at Xuanquan, who shook her head.
So, out of a sense of responsibility, 'Cipher' gave a brief description of what would happen.
Qingzu let out a sigh of relief after hearing it. At least it wasn't the... particular process she had imagined.
Lingsha, however, furrowed her brows, finding it incredible.
The budding of new life wasn't following the most fundamental process of gestation?
Though, if one took the Path of Propagation into account, it wasn't entirely incomprehensible. After all, Propagation was just like that—its expansion was a chaotic mess.
"Then, please let me experience it for myself, Madam Bai Ming."
Lingsha took a step forward, her palm gently stroking her lower abdomen as she looked at 'Cipher' expectantly.
This one was truly a medical professional; she didn't even bother going into the room, opting to do this right in front of everyone.
Seeing this, 'Cipher' didn't waste words.
She reached out, pressing her palm against Lingsha's lower abdomen.
Perhaps because Lingsha had spent a long time on the Zhuming, her style of dress was rather airy. This close contact made the unique charm of her presence even more palpable.
But 'Cipher' was someone who had weathered great storms; she wouldn't lose her composure that easily.
The Authority of Trickery activated, and a sliver of the power of Propagation flowed through her arm and into Lingsha's body.
Soon, Lingsha felt exactly what had been described. Something was taking shape in her lower abdomen, beginning to draw nutrients and energy from her.
Compared to Xuanquan's turn, this second experiment was certainly better prepared. They wouldn't be using snacks and food to fill the void.
'Cipher' handed Lingsha a jelly-like object that gave off a fruity aroma.
"Here. A nutritional jelly specially made to supplement your needs. Eat one piece every system hour until the egg separates from your body."
"Thank you."
Lingsha took the jelly with one hand, while her other hand mimicked Xuanquan's earlier gesture. She began to feel around her stomach and quickly discovered the soft mass residing within.
"I can feel another power inside me. Is that... Propagation?"
"Yes."
Lingsha nodded, saying nothing more. She couldn't quite pin down what the other woman was thinking.
Usually, she relied on her sense of smell to make judgments, but in the face of 'Cipher', that ability was undoubtedly useless.
If only she could master this ability herself.
Lingsha wasn't the only one; General Xuanquan had naturally had similar thoughts. But they remained just thoughts—the mere fact that it utilized the power of Propagation meant it was destined to be difficult for others to grasp.
Which meant...
The expansion of the Vidyadhara race would have to depend on an outsider?
On a personal level, it was fine, but from the perspective of the race, it put them in a rather passive position.
"It's a very unique feeling. As a Vidyadhara, I've never experienced anything like it. I originally thought anything involving Propagation would be more... violent."
Lingsha smiled as she spoke of her impressions of the Path.
"I'd say it's already plenty violent."
After all, they weren't being born; they were jumping straight out of the belly.
Watching Lingsha's reaction, curiosity got the better of Qingzu, and she eventually chose to join in.
The ability of Trickery knew no failure; both women successfully nurtured a Vidyadhara egg.
Ruan Mei began to use this data to try and reverse-engineer how Propagation was playing its part in the process.
With things progressing to this point, most of what needed to be done was finished. The desired data had been collected, and the attempted lie had indeed become an ability.
The next step was to find a way to decipher that unintelligible Trickery Equation.
To that end, 'Cipher' contacted Screwllum.
On Screwllum's end, because he was only analyzing the composition of the information crystal, the difficulty was relatively lower. According to Screwllum, he should be able to produce a replica in a few days.
Furthermore, while deconstructing the crystal, Screwllum had gained new insights into the Trickery Equation.
After hearing about the situation with 'Cipher' and Ruan Mei, Screwllum was also looking forward to what information Ruan Mei might obtain.
Just as the call ended.
As 'Cipher' was thinking about heading over to help Ruan Mei with the research, the Fool's Mask she usually kept tucked away at the bottom of her storage popped out on its own.
It floated wobbly in front of 'Cipher', staring her right in the eyes.
"...What is it?"
'Cipher' looked at the mask in confusion.
Theoretically, no one but Aha themselves would do something like this. But the question was, why would the Aeon bother showing up in front of her? Didn't THEY have THEIR own business to attend to?
She didn't expect the mask's first words to be so hard to swallow:
"Do you want to be Aha?"
"What are you babbling about... Why would I want to become you??"
"Aha~! But you've already got the underlying code of Elation. How about I step down as the Aeon of Elation and you take the seat?"
Aha let out a sneer, circling 'Cipher' once. It was hard to tell if THEY were being sarcastic or sincere. Either way, it sounded pretty annoying.
Aha was also marveling at the situation.
The Aha in the Simulated Universe had, for some inexplicable reason, evolved again over the past two days. Aha looked closely and realized it was once again because of this Bai Ming person.
This fellow had pulled out a string of Trickery Equations from god-knows-where. When Aha took a good look, THEY nearly died laughing.
These equations were practically peeling back THEIR own undergarments.
Even though the expression was different, Aha knew at a glance.
This was the Path of Elation!
It had simply been transformed from a universal rule into an equation that was easier for humans to understand. And, due to the constraints of the medium, it wasn't a complete interpretation of the Path.
But even so.
Aha found it hard to keep a straight face. Because THEY also recognized where Bai Ming's current face came from.
Wasn't that one of the data-beings simulated by the father of Nous for the purpose of patricide?
And while those data-beings did have their own Path inclinations and truly stepped onto their respective Paths after becoming living beings... the problem was, isn't the gap between your Path calculation equations and theirs a bit too massive?
It was a larger gap than that between a regular Pathstrider and an Emanator.
This time it's Elation; what's it going to be next time?
The key was that this person had no self-awareness regarding what she was doing. She was still hell-bent on finding ways to analyze the equation, record it, and even share it with others.
Aha got anxious the moment THEY saw this.
Listen, buddy.
I love a good joke, but don't play it this abstractly.
If you keep this up, that two-faced "more water for the flour, more flour for the water" guy is going to come back and elbow-drop you again.
And your analysis is going so slowly that you won't be able to block it at all.
If he elbows you eight hundred years into the future again, who is Aha supposed to find to make up for the missing fun in this crucial cosmic plotline?
How about I just give you my position? Then, when HooH shows up in person, you can deal with it yourself. And Aha's entertainment will be guaranteed.
So this time, Aha didn't even bother acting. They just popped out using that Fool's Mask.
"You're in such a hurry to peel back Aha's undergarments. The Arbitrator is going to come and elbow you again, and then who's going to fill the gap in Aha's entertainment?"
'Cipher' didn't pay attention to Aha's first or last sentence; it was the middle bit that gave her a fright:
"Equilibrium is coming to elbow me again?? Why?"
"You tell me why."
The mask's expression shifted into a "speechless" emoji, eyes pointing toward 'Cipher's' body. The meaning was self-evident.
"Is that equation in my body really the essence of Elation??"
"The real deal, brother. If you can understand it, you'll be Aha from now on! I'll be you."
"..."
On one hand, 'Cipher' felt the things the system gave her this time were truly ridiculous; on the other, she realized just how difficult this project actually was.
Considering that in the original plot, the research of several geniuses could only barely touch the edges of an Aeon, she figured that they probably wouldn't be able to research anything significant in a short time.
In that case, the Arbitrator shouldn't be knocking on her door to elbow her anytime soon.
Aha guessed what 'Cipher' was thinking, so THEY said with a grin:
"You probably think you don't have to worry for now, but actually, look~"
The mask made a spitting motion, coughing up an image. Inside was an Arbitrator wandering around some strange place.
"Damn, the Arbitrator is already on the way?! Did you help me stop them?"
"Aha~! That's why you should become an Aeon. That way, you won't be afraid of getting elbowed. If that two-faced guy dares to elbow you then, you can just elbow him right back! We don't have to take that crap!"
Aha circled 'Cipher's' body, even attempting to tempt her into becoming the Aeon of Elation.
To be fair, 'Cipher's' heart did flutter for a tiny moment.
--+--
T/N: If you want advance chapters, you can find it at [email protected]/AspenTL