Genius Society Outpost.
Ruan Mei gently waved her hand over the Soul Gem in her palm. A drop of blood flew from her fingertip, yet there was no wound on the pad of her finger.
Plop.
The blood fell onto the Soul Gem. A soft glow radiated from the gemstone, and its colorless form transformed into a brilliant emerald green, exquisitely beautiful.
Ruan Mei clenched it in her hand and immediately sensed that her Path energy was indeed being amplified by the gem.
However, unlike the Herta Magic Wand, this gem did not generate self-awareness.
What was going on?
Ruan Mei turned a questioning gaze toward Herta.
Herta did not conceal anything. She explained that the Herta Magic Wand under her control was the original prototype. After undergoing a certain degree of modification, it had developed self-awareness.
She then added that the current Soul Gem project was, in fact, still a semi-finished product.
Next, she would further refine the project.
For example, she could add phase shifting or instantaneous spatial wardrobe-switching transformation abilities to the Soul Gem, and stabilize the dyeing of the host's soul color into the gem so that it could develop self-awareness.
Upon hearing this, understanding dawned across Ruan Mei's exquisite face.
"So it is the difference between a mass-production unit and a prototype. But that is fine... As long as it is confirmed that the Soul Gem has the potential to become a companion artifact, that is enough. I will attempt to induce its transformation next."
As her words fell, Ruan Mei waved her hand again. More of her own DNA and genetic information made contact with the emerald Soul Gem.
In Ruan Mei's view, genes were a carrier of the soul—at least partially so.
Now that she was using her genes to contaminate the Soul Gem, could this not also be considered a form of soul infusion?
Countless invisible genetic strands settled upon the Soul Gem. Its color grew increasingly vivid, as though some wondrous transformation was truly taking place within.
Seizing this moment, Ruan Mei slowly removed the white pearl necklace from around her neck. She crushed it into a mass of pearl powder and forcibly restructured its form, transforming it into a miniature life-creation instrument.
This technique could awaken inanimate objects into life. In her secluded residence, whether refrigerators or household appliances, all had been awakened by her, becoming living helpers in daily life.
Of course, this was merely a temporary, modified miniature life-creation device. In her homeland, she possessed a colossal version capable of transforming an entire planet's ecosystem—or even the planet itself—into a self-aware living world.
In short, Ruan Mei placed the Soul Gem into the life-creation instrument. With a light tap of her foot, she commanded the Genius Society outpost beneath her to cooperate, linking it to an energy circuit capable of drawing endless power from the black hole.
Thus, the life-creation instrument began operating at high speed. The emerald Soul Gem shone ever more intensely, until it underwent a qualitative transformation—awakening into life and gaining self-awareness.
"I am... the Ruan Mei Magic Wand! Ruan Mom! And Herta Mom! I am your child together!!"
Inside the life-creation instrument, which gradually slowed to a halt after completing its function, the emerald Soul Gem changed form. It transformed into a plum-blossom-shaped green magic wand symbolizing life, calling out affectionately to Ruan Mei and Herta.
At the side, Herta's eyes widened upon hearing the verdant, glowing Ruan Mei Magic Wand speak.
As expected of the super genius in life research Herman mentioned...
To create self-awareness in a Soul Gem in such a short time—and it even calls her Mom.
But... why is this wand calling me Herta Mom as well?!
I just turned eighteen. I'm still an unmarried maiden.
Wait... no. If a wand calls its creator Mom upon birth, then why didn't the Herta Magic Wand call her Herta Mom?!
The Herta raised her head and looked at the Herta Magic Wand, her eyes full of suspicion.
The Herta Magic Wand noticed her gaze and immediately declared, "The greatest and most handsome magic wand in the universe would never call anyone Mom."
Naturally, the Herta Magic Wand had no intention of telling Herta its little secret—that it had called "Herman" Mom shortly after its birth, not realizing The Herta already knew.
"Who wants you to call me Mom anyway? I already have a wand calling me Mom." The Herta snorted lightly.
The Herta Magic Wand grew indignant. After circling in the air once, it turned to the newly awakened Ruan Mei Magic Wand.
"How can you be so spineless? Herta already sold you off, and you're still calling her Mom."
"But I can sense it. Herta Mom created my body, and Ruan Mom awakened my self-awareness. They are the ones who created my existence."
After saying this, the Ruan Mei Magic Wand paused before continuing, "But since Herta already sold me, as you said, that makes her my biological mom."
The Herta Magic Wand replied eagerly, "Yes, yes, exactly."
Hearing the conversation between the two wands, The Herta's head filled with question marks.
???
At that moment, Ruan Mei opened her eyes and gazed at the Ruan Mei Magic Wand. "I can feel that you are entirely different from the lifeforms I have created before. When I look at you, I feel a connection of mind and spirit."
The Ruan Mei Magic Wand said proudly, "Of course. I am the Ruan Mei Magic Wand whose consciousness was personally awakened by Ruan Mom. In future battles, Ruan Mom, you may use me freely."
Ruan Mei did not respond verbally. She simply reached out and grasped the wand itself, closing her eyes to sense carefully. Immediately, that connection became clearer.
No—it was no longer merely a mental connection.
It was an extension of her soul.
This meant that everything Herta had previously said was correct. The Soul Gem could become a companion artifact that extended a genius' soul and will. Through this, she could now begin research into biological souls...
Thinking this, Ruan Mei gently stroked the gem embedded in the wand, responding to its expectations.
She then lifted her head and said to Herta, "This exchange of techniques has been greatly beneficial to me."
Herta replied, "The same for me."
Ruan Mei continued, "I hope you will soon succeed in creating the Herta Sequence—Herta Puppet—and form the Herta Array. In that way, through the puppets, you will achieve iteration of thought and intelligence."
Herta's head once again filled with question marks.
???
What is Ruan Mei talking about?
I'm creating Herta Puppets to solve production issues for the Soul Gem factory and handle biological trivialities. How did that turn into a Herta Puppet Array and intelligence iteration...
Ruan Mei did not explain further in response to Herta's confusion. Instead, she picked up the miniature life-creation instrument from the table, rubbed her hands together, and restored it to its original form—a snow-white pearl necklace—before placing it back around her neck.
In her heart, she thought silently:
Herta intends to stack the Herta Array—the Tower of Wisdom—approaching infinitely close to the equations of Nous' calculations.
Such behavior closely resembled that of Emperor Rupert II in the past.
—In those years, Rupert II modeled his methods after Nous' mode of thought, creating vast clusters of inorganic bionic neurons.
From microscopic particle fluctuations to macroscopic large-scale matter annihilation, the Emperor's Scepters were distributed across every star region of the empire, faithfully executing commands of observation, calculation, and intervention.
He attempted to use this method to uncover the truth of the universe, even the secrets of the Aeons, and ultimately crown himself.
Yet in the end, he failed.
—Now, could the newly born Herta succeed where the Emperor had failed?