readytorunbook Chapter 1502 762: You? Worthy?
Chapter 1502 762: You? Worthy?
"Huh?"
Busstaman was stunned, looking up stiffly to gauge Ji Jue's expression, completely baffled.
It was as if one day he walked through the door with open arms, wanting to embrace his godfather's thigh, and suddenly he got slapped by his godfather, questioned: Do you like seducing people like this when you're outside?
No, big brother, do we really need to settle scores like this after the fact?
How much time has passed, why suddenly bring up old debts?
He pondered rapidly, instinctively trying to figure out Ji Jue's intention, but looking into those dark eyes, he couldn't say any words of evasion.
Now, what kind of flowery lies could be told?
If you did it, you did it.
Being too clever by half is a death wish; honesty is the best policy.
He lowered his head, knelt on the ground, and confessed, "It has nothing to do with anyone else, it was my own idea."
Silence.
In the long silence, Ji Jue said nothing, only his mouth twitched as if amused.
A cold laugh.
Busstaman felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, repeatedly bowing and pleading, "Mr. Ji, I know I was reckless and bold..."
"No, it's just a sigh."
Ji Jue waved his hand, interrupting him with a light sigh, "People often aren't self-aware, Busstaman, they don't know their own worth, don't know what they're doing, don't know what they've done..."
He glanced at the trembling family god on the ground, showing undisguised contempt:
"Are you even worthy?"
"Huh?"
Busstaman grew more confused but also relieved, finally understanding that this wasn't some settling of accounts, which only deepened his confusion.
The transformation of the family god was his life's greatest pride, the most outstanding creation and plan, a path painstakingly cleared from scratch through decades of relentless effort and perseverance.
If not for his good son suddenly poisoning him leading to his death, and Ji Jue's unexpected interception, substituting himself for the family god's path, there was at least a more than forty percent chance of success!
But now, when Ji Jue looked over, he suddenly grew anxious, "Mr. Ji, are you saying… my idea, is there something wrong with it?"
"No, I'm just skeptical."
Ji Jue coldly asked, "Is this really your idea?"
Just like the nagging professors during a thesis defense, Ji Jue rapidly fired questions: "What are the premises of your theory? What references? What's the source?
What does the Ascension Series refer to for change? What specifications and sacrificial items are used for the consciousness fusion and replacement secret rituals? From where? Who taught you?"
Busstaman controlled his trembling and answered one by one.
Fortunately, Minkler's tenure was short, and the relics of the previous Family Head hadn't been cleared out yet.
Under his guidance, they found the place where he had once researched the family god, along with a large collection of rare books in the hidden compartment behind the office.
From Heart Core to Ascension, from Ember to Vortex System.
The craftsman's manuscripts, hand-copied scriptures and sacrificial texts, backup sacrificial items, and parchment scrolls recording various complex secret rituals, even including the annuals released by the Taiyi Ring and many related field works and theses.
More so, his continuous observation, exploration, and understanding of the family god, and even the accumulations left by previous Family Heads.
It was evident that Busstaman had put in a lot of effort, and though he stumbled over his answers, every question from Ji Jue was addressed.
The ancient books and papers within did indeed answer the questions posed by Ji Jue.
All the research paths and exploratory detours were recorded inside.
Ji Jue flipped through them roughly.
The more he read, the more his brow furrowed.
He couldn't continue reading!
Too crude, way too crude!
It was as if the reference books were all correct, the question types and knowledge points well memorized, all the hard work and heart's blood put in, even an open-book exam where an excellent student could ace it with eyes closed, yet somehow you barely passed by a hair's breadth, and that's only because the examiner couldn't stand it and gave you a hand.
Too complacent!
A shallow understanding, mediocre ability, clumsy operation, and totally appalling execution... but I must admit, the direction is correct.
Especially in dealing with the family god, it was a genius-level concept!
He really did carve out a path from nothing!
Like the quirky beauty of a quack doctor treating a cold, cranking up the dosage of medicine, treating antibiotics like meals, the cold is cured, never mind how many side effects there are, just say whether it's effective!
Impressive!
But is it really so?
No, right?
Firstly, the notion that working hard will yield results in this world is itself a false premise!
If hard work were effective, You Sui wouldn't exist!
Wrong direction, no amount of effort will help.
Even in the right direction, without talent, without opportunities, without luck, effort is futile!
There are countless errors, but only one correct answer.
How did you, a mediocre bug from the Seven Cities, a brain full of petty schemes, manage to perceive such vision and luck to forcibly use a whiteboard Ascension initiated by an upper-level summoning?
Without even understanding your own self, suddenly reaching enlightenment, and proclaiming: I've got it! I've achieved it!
Isn't it too coincidental?
In the past, Ji Jue might have chalked it up to dumb luck, a blind cat catching a dead rat, but after scrutinizing the situation with Busstaman, he realized just how problematic it was.
Even the heavens choose whom to bless with fortune.
If it was a matter of Ji Jue looking down on others, even if Busstaman was unremarkable on the outside, possessing some sort of inner potential, with the possibility of being a rare talent... these notes and records wouldn't be so lacking!
How did you get into graduate school?!
What do you mean you stepped on the answer sheet and got full marks?
With this luck, why are you still struggling in this Mud Pond in the Seven Cities? It's like the Association's big hand descended from the sky and tied you next to the furnace to enhance the probability, even if it can increase it by a percentage point!
Under Ji Jue's cold stare, Busstaman started sweating.
Tearing his guts out, racking his brains.
Almost on the verge of tears.
"But this is indeed what I came up with, I... I also..."
No matter how much Busstaman thought, he couldn't find anything abnormal, "Mr. Ji suspects I was controlled by the Heart Core? But it shouldn't be, with the Family God's protection, the Heart Core couldn't possibly succeed."
"If the Heart Core truly wants to change, can you tell?"
Ji Jue shook his head, "Besides, does changing someone necessarily require the Heart Core?"
Isn't the biggest threat of the Heart Core precisely this concealment? Over time, subtly, just a glance, a syllable, a facial expression, can silently and unknowably change someone completely.
But what else could change a person apart from the Heart Core?
"Mr. Ji, let me say... if you ask this old ghost, he won't be able to count one, two, three, four, five." Minkler suggested, "How about we directly find a Heart Core? Open up and search directly!"
Classic father-son moment.
But facing Minkler's suggestion, Busstaman nodded repeatedly, eager to quickly have a Heart Core to help prove his innocence.
Meanwhile, within, there was also fear and unease.
The greatest achievement and most important result of his lifetime might not originate from himself... enjoying power in Xiang State for so many years, he might actually be a pawn and puppet in someone else's hands.
Then what's the meaning of his life?
A joke!
Some questions can't be thought about deeply. Once you start pondering, life becomes unlivable.
He also wanted an answer.
Anyway, he's already dead, relying on the Family God to eke out an existence, it's unclear if he's even still his original self, so there's naturally no embarrassment.
Unfortunately, the Heart Core is hard to find.
Although finding it isn't difficult, it's like how the size of the Chopra family makes finding a craftsman simple.
They're everywhere by the roadside.
But finding a reliable Heart Core and a trustworthy craftsman isn't easy.
The craftsman's professional ethics are at least guaranteed by the Association, but who can determine if your trust in the Heart Core isn't induced by this Heart Core itself?
The Heart Core loves doing this!
Before being exposed, they all pretend to be clean and pure, like from the mud yet not stained, performing in KTV without selling themselves, but after you dig deeper, who knows how extravagant they play behind the scenes!
For this, Ji Jue wasn't worried.
The Heart Core was already on its way.
.
Ten minutes later, beneath the Chopra family estate.
A secret place built by successive Family Heads, isolated by the Family God from inside and outside. After Ji Jue thoroughly checked for any possible eyes and ears, a refined young man with a cane came through the Wanxiang Engine's transmission, breaking the sky from distant Central Earth.
Yan Chang!
"Why does your body still look like this?"
Ji Jue frowned, examining his appearance, "Did Supervisor Xu not delve deep enough before? Still leaving some aftereffects?"
"Actually, it's already better, but the progress was a bit fast recently, and the body couldn't keep up, feeling a bit weak." The young man smiled slightly, "The consciousness is exerting pressure on the body, a bit out of sync, just rest for a while later and it'll be fine."
Although the body looked extremely weak, a certain strange aura lingered around the youth, distinguishing him in a crowd at a glance.
As if a substantial peace and calm, clear as crystal, perfect like a Treasure Bead.
A pair of pitch-black pupils glimmered with soft light, black as ebony, unconsciously stirring goodwill, inviting one to share worries.
Even just a passing glance, the heart unreasonably settles on: this person is trustworthy, a good person.
Even if he abruptly asks for someone's bank card password, while they might find it sudden, they'd also feel, since he asked, it'd be inappropriate not to answer.
And now the body's weakness is precisely because the soul is too powerful, inversely burdening the physical form. This warmth and calm aura naturally and involuntarily manifests.
Penetrate vanity, overcome distress.
On this path pointed by [Ignorance], Yan Chang strides forward quickly!
"Transformation?"
Ji Jue clicked his tongue in admiration, ruffling his hair, "Progress is really fast."
"All thanks to your guidance." Yan Chang smiled slightly, "The Paradise System is quite interesting. After investing into it, growth happened unnoticed."
For the Heart Core to advance, engagement with spiritual entities is indispensable.
Now, he's involved in the Fly King's breeding and Paradise System maintenance. Using his abilities to handle internal conflicts and anomalies is exhausting work, but also highly rewarding.
The Spirits of Creation are generally straightforward, lacking much human inner darkness and filth. Even when abnormalities and mutations occur, they're straightforward to handle.
The feedback he receives is pure spiritual quality and intention, never leading to overwhelming contamination.
If this wonderful situation spreads, countless Heart Cores wiggling in cesspools would envy, crying hoarse, biting handkerchiefs.
"Progress speed doesn't matter, what's important is stabilizing yourself. Rest well for a while and don't push too hard." Ji Jue comforted him a few times, then asked, "Where's your brother?"
"Still busy with Mr. Inaya and them."
Yan Chang smiled slightly, "Out early and back late, seems to be reaping quite a bit."
Thus, Ji Jue understood.
No mention of progress.
Seems Yan Chang has already left his elder brother behind... and didn't feel right to say.
After all, they're siblings, still covering for his elder brother at this point.