On the other side, inside a certain laboratory,
Kong Mingan and Gu Yue entered one after the other. The door silently closed behind them, isolating them from all outside influences.
Kong Mingan reached out, his hand sinking into the spatial ripples as he fumbled around, and he concurrently asked Gu Yue a question:
"You've accessed the 'Spiritual Pivot Network', haven't you?"
Gu Yue paused for a moment, then nodded in affirmation.
She had noticed the ubiquitous, subtle mental force fluctuations of the "Spiritual Pivot Network" very early on. She had tried to track and even crack its core, but found its structure was too intricate. She could see it, but she couldn't understand it.
Subsequently, she spent a considerable amount of time, forcefully relying on her own Divine Rank methods to barely complete a deep mental camouflage, allowing herself and Qiu'er to safely access it without revealing their identities.
And she had to admit that the "Spiritual Pivot Network" possessed irreplaceable advantages in information acquisition, knowledge sharing, and even daily convenience.
Kong Mingan nodded. The silver spirit ring beside him flashed faintly, seemingly completing a search instantly. Then he spoke again:
"I've already sent the materials to you. Take a look first."
Gu Yue opened the Spiritual Pivot Network to check the information. The content was roughly divided into two parts.
The first was a more complete detailed explanation of the "Spell Cultivator" system than the version she possessed. Besides the basic methods for spirit ring extension and usage, it also included the subsequent methods for "Elementalization" and the shaping of the "Holy Guidance Soul Ring."
The second was a special technique called the "Form Transformation Art."
She quickly scanned through it, a flicker of realization passing through her eyes.
So that was it. Snow Empress and the Ice Empress did not directly transform; instead, they used the "Form Transformation Art" to convert into humans. Because of this, their strength was not weakened.
As for the "Spell Cultivator" system... Gu Yue unconsciously read the detailed description of the "anchored Elementalization state" again, and immediately frowned as she looked at Kong Mingan:
"The so-called Elementalization state... isn't that essentially transforming oneself into an Elemental Spirit Beast?"
"You can understand it that way." Kong Mingan nodded. "What's wrong?"
Gu Yue frowned even harder: "Why can humans turn into Spirit Beasts?"
"Spirit Beasts can transform into humans, so why can't humans turn into Spirit Beasts?" Kong Mingan countered.
Gu Yue was speechless, momentarily unsure how to refute him.
Kong Mingan remained silent. The aura around him circulated, and a pure, icy aura of Extreme Ice naturally permeated the air.
Gu Yue's eyes froze. However, the next moment, Kong Mingan's aura shifted again, and he reverted to the appearance of the human youth he had been moments ago.
Gu Yue stared, somewhat stunned. She was absolutely certain that the young man in front of her had briefly transformed himself into a Spirit Beast and then changed back from a Spirit Beast into a human.
The entire process was seamless and incredibly skilled. For a moment, she couldn't distinguish what exactly was happening.
Kong Mingan smiled and said: "See? The boundary between humans and Spirit Beasts is not as distinct as you imagine. As long as the method is mastered, a human can be a Spirit Beast, and a Spirit Beast can also be a human."
"If this method spreads, how will we distinguish between humans and Spirit Beasts in the future?" Gu Yue couldn't help but ask.
Kong Mingan paused slightly, then countered: "What do you consider a Spirit Beast to be?"
Gu Yue froze. She subconsciously tried to answer the question, but though she opened her mouth, she couldn't provide an accurate, precise definition.
After all, compared to humans, the types of sentient beings included under the term Spirit Beast were simply too numerous.
Seeing that Gu Yue remained silent, Kong Mingan reached his hand into the spatial ripples beside him and fumbled around. The next moment, he pulled out a trembling Soft Bones Rabbit, snow-white all over with blood-red eyes, from within the spatial ripples.
He lifted the Soft Bones Rabbit and brought it before Gu Yue, asking:
"Do you think it is a Spirit Beast?"
"Yes," Gu Yue nodded subconsciously.
"Then do you regard it as one of your kind?"
Gu Yue was startled.
She instinctively wanted to shake her head and deny it. After all, a low-level Spirit Beast like the Soft Bones Rabbit was, at most, merely food to her—and the lowest grade of food at that, something she wouldn't even bother to glance at.
Did an existence like this deserve to be called one of her kind?
But the moment this thought arose, she realized the problem within it.
Kong Mingan seemed to see through her thoughts and smiled slightly: "You think it's just food, right?"
Gu Yue remained silent, taking it as an admission.
Kong Mingan's smile didn't fade as he continued: "Then, if we replace this Soft Bones Rabbit with Di Tian, Bi Ji, or Xiong Jun? Would you regard them as your kind?"
This time, Gu Yue didn't hesitate much and nodded.
"See? Even in the eyes of you, the Beast Co-ruler, there are distinctions between Spirit Beasts," Kong Mingan said with a light chuckle, tossing the Soft Bones Rabbit back.
"Some are regarded by you as your kin, while others are seen as food or lower-level existences.
"Since that is the case, is obsessing over the distinction between Spirit Beasts and humans truly so important? Moreover, if this method is promoted, the boundary between Spirit Beasts and humans will blur, and Spirit Beasts and humans might coexist harmoniously. At that time, would there still be a need to differentiate?"
Gu Yue fell silent for a moment, then frowned as she looked at Kong Mingan: "That is sophistry!"
"Think whatever you like." Kong Mingan did not mind her rebuttal, his tone remaining calm.
"However, I can clearly tell you that I personally harbor no enmity toward the Spirit Beast race.
"I am more interested in finding a Dao that allows Spirit Beasts and humans to truly coexist, just as I mentioned earlier.
"Of course, if you cannot accept my philosophy, I will not force you. In the future, I can help you find an independent plane suitable for Spirit Beast survival and far away from human conflict, and then relocate the entire Star Dou Great Forest there. This way, the safety of the Spirit Beasts can be ensured."
Hearing this, Gu Yue's eyes flickered slightly: "You are willing to do that?"
"Since I signed the contract and promised to protect the Star Dou Great Forest, I naturally won't go back on my word and stand by while the Star Dou Great Forest perishes.
"If you wish, the contract content can be directly amended to this; it makes no difference to me."
Kong Mingan said calmly.
Gu Yue was slightly silent, the cold vigilance in her eyes dissipating somewhat.
This human seems to be a decent person?
After all, this guy seemed quite faithful to his promises; he had even considered the future arrangements for the Star Dou Great Forest. He shouldn't be trying to deceive her.
At least she didn't have to worry about him signing the contract and then failing to act, or constantly harassing her.
However, just as Gu Yue slightly relaxed and the image of the youth in front of her improved slightly in her heart, Kong Mingan patted the cold metal platform beside him, his tone casual,
"Alright, the discussion about the Spirit Beast race ends here for now. Now, take off your clothes first, and let me measure you."
Gu Yue: "..."
She took back what she had just said.
This damned human was an irredeemable scumbag! A complete and utter bastard!
A strange sense of discomfort arose, filling her heart, yet she could only suppress it bit by bit, unable to show it.
She stared intently at the youth not far in front of her, her mind racing, but ultimately...
As if afraid to face her own humiliation, she closed her eyes, and then, with a sense of resignation, reached out and began gently undoing the clothes on her body.
(End of Chapter)
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