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for Advance Chapter
After setting the "ascetic" schedule for me—and gaining everyone's consent (including mine)—Ruan Mei finally got to the main point of the meeting. She summoned the pale blue holographic screen again, displaying more complex charts and data streams.
"Next, I want to share the latest progress on 'Path Assimilation' and some... conclusions that may overturn our previous understanding." Ruan Mei's tone returned to her cool, objective academic self. "First, the most important discovery—the Path-switching ability obtained through 'deep energy interaction' with the Trailblazer is not permanent. It cannot even be called 'obtaining' in the true sense; it is more accurately a temporary state of 'assimilation'."
She explained: "Based on continuous observation and data analysis of multiple samples (including ourselves), the trigger for this ability seems to be the absorption of a large amount of 'life factors' or 'gene fragments' containing special Stellaron energy information from the Trailblazer during the interaction. When these exogenous factors accumulate to a specific threshold in the body, they temporarily unlock or interfere with the individual's original Path restrictions, allowing them to briefly call upon or switch to the power of other Paths."
"However," Ruan Mei's tone shifted as she pointed to a set of comparative data, "this state is unsustainable. Through the individual's normal metabolic processes, these 'life factors' are gradually broken down and excreted. Once their concentration falls below that threshold, the temporary Path-switching ability disappears."
She looked at Herta, giving a flat example: "Like Madam Herta; during her 'test' a while ago, related 'genetic marker' fluctuations were detected, but recent data shows these markers have faded and disappeared. She has not truly solidified this ability."
"Therefore," Ruan Mei summarized, "this ability cannot be copied indefinitely, nor can it exist permanently in the affected body. To maintain this ability, theoretically... one can only do so through continuous 'interaction' with the Trailblazer to replenish and maintain the concentration of 'life factors'."
Hearing words like "temporary" and "disappearing with metabolism," Jingliu's face—which had been quiet—changed drastically! Her crimson eyes, which had just regained their luster, were instantly filled with fear and unease! She instinctively hugged her arms, her body trembling slightly, as if recalling those dark days of endless Mara-struck erosion and teetering on the edge of madness.
Would the curse she finally escaped descend once more?!
Seeing her like this, my heart tightened. Ignoring my wheelchair, I drove it to her side, reached out with one still-capable hand, and gently took hold of her cold, trembling shoulder. I comforted her softly: "Jingliu, it's okay... Don't be afraid, I'm here. No matter what happens, I will always be by your side."
My proximity and words seemed to calm her slightly. She looked at me; the fear hadn't completely vanished, but that extreme coldness and despair had softened considerably.
Ruan Mei also noticed Jingliu's reaction and continued her explanation, her voice softening: "However, no one needs to panic. The maintenance time for this ability is closely related to the individual's absorption efficiency and metabolic rate; there are significant individual differences."
She looked at Himeko and Herta: "For example, for ordinary humans (relatively speaking) like Ms. Himeko and Madam Herta, although their bodies are precise, their energy absorption and conversion efficiency are lower than long-life species, and their metabolic rate is faster. Even if they gain enough 'life factors' to trigger the ability, the state might only last a few weeks or less before fading. Thus, without high-frequency 'interaction' or precise monitoring, it is indeed difficult to observe it stably."
Then, she turned to Lingsha and Jingliu: "In contrast, long-life species like Ms. Lingsha and Ms. Jingliu have bodies with a higher capacity for energy. More importantly, your metabolic rate is extremely slow. This means once the Trailblazer's 'life factors' are absorbed, they remain in your bodies for a very long time, with a decay rate far lower than humans. Therefore, theoretically, you can maintain this 'assimilated' state for a much longer time, and might even be able to stabilize it through subsequent training."
Hearing this, Jingliu's tense body relaxed significantly, and her gaze toward me held a trace of peace and... dependence?
Ruan Mei then looked at March 7th: "As for March 7th... her constitution is special. Although her physical characteristics are close to humans, previous test data shows her metabolic rate is unusually slow, even approaching some long-life species. This might be why she could maintain the Path-switching ability earlier and for longer. The specific situation... requires further research."
Finally, Ruan Mei made a key correction: "Combined with all the above data, it can be basically confirmed that 'pregnancy' is not a necessary means to activate or maintain this ability. The activation of my own ability was more like the concentration of 'life factors' absorbed during the first unprotected 'interaction' after stopping contraception just happening to reach the threshold; it has little to do with the implantation of the zygote itself."
She paused and dropped a truly "heavyweight" conclusion, a rare smile appearing on her face: "However, although the mother's ability is temporary, research data strongly indicates that the Trailblazer's offspring—because they directly inherit part of his genetic material and Stellaron energy imprints—will stably and permanently inherit this special ability to switch Paths during cell division and growth!"
She looked at Lingsha and stated firmly: "Therefore, Ms. Lingsha, the reproduction problem of the Vidyadhara should be effectively solved through bearing offspring with the Trailblazer. Your next generation will naturally possess the power of propagation and inheritance."
Ruan Mei's explanation carried an enormous amount of information, like giant stones thrown into a calm lake, stirring up layers of ripples in the living room and thoroughly answering the many doubts in everyone's hearts. So the ability was temporary, rooted in the absorption and metabolism of my "life factors"; different constitutions had vastly different maintenance times; and... my offspring would inherit this power permanently!
This wasn't just a major breakthrough in Path research; it brought real hope to Lingsha and the Vidyadhara and completely put Jingliu's mind at ease. For a moment, the living room was filled with the lightness of relief and an indescribable joy. Everyone began chatting excitedly, discussing the significance of the discovery and imagining future possibilities.
Watching this scene, I was also filled with excitement. Although my motives... um... might not have been so pure—being more focused on my intimacy with my beautiful wives—the result was good! Our "efforts" were effective! That was enough!
I drove my wheelchair to the side of Ruan Mei and Big Herta. I knew that while Ruan Mei did most of the talking, given their relationship and Herta's wisdom, this research success must have involved Big Herta's contribution as well.
I reached out with my arms—which still had some strength—and gently hugged them both, one on each side. Ruan Mei didn't seem to expect a sudden hug; her body stiffened slightly but soon relaxed, letting me hold her. Big Herta was visibly stunned for a moment before she seemed to understand. She didn't push me away, just gave me an awkward look and quickly looked aside. A faint, nearly undetectable curve appeared at the corner of her mouth, as if saying: "Hmph, I guess you have a little conscience, knowing how great this genius is."
I smiled, let go of Herta, and focused on Ruan Mei. My hand gently, with infinite tenderness, touched her clearly protruding belly, feeling the warmth there and the pulse of life.
"That's great..." I whispered. "It seems our little one will be an amazing existence in the future."
A rare, truly gentle smile appeared on Ruan Mei's face as she nodded, her eyes filled with a motherly glow.