Chapter 243: Chapter 245: First Rank Shadow


    [Additional update garbled, restored at 3:50, if unable to restore, open directory and long press this chapter to re-download]


    “When it reaches the Solid Shadow Stage...”


    “Hmm, you guys are thoughtful,” Qin Muye said.


    “Professor, with you saying that, I definitely don’t mind, especially since it’s not my gas money. As long as I can pick up a Shadow Stone, I’ll break even. If it’s there, I’ll treat you to a big meal,” Qing Jiao said with a cheeky grin.


    “Ahem, Professor Li, I just remembered there’s something else for me to attend to in the team, you go ahead, be busy,” Qing Jiao said with a gesture, then decisively made a quick exit.


    “It’s worth a try, especially to integrate Spirit Monster technology to further improve it during the second phase of the Solid Shadow.”


    ...


    “Professor Li, do you have a moment?” At the entrance of the archives room, Zong Si knocked on the door and gestured to inquire.


    “Professor Li, have you made any recent discoveries?” Qing Jiao, with a thick face carrying some gifts, arrived at the archives room to give Qin Muye a present, starting off with this line.


    “Go on, don’t stir the pot here. It seems your gains have been good since you’re here to give gifts,” Qing Jiao teased.


    “I like old things, which is why I study them. Take a seat, Zong Si,” Qin Muye said unhurriedly as he tucked the Divine Lamp into his coat. Any sign of panic or an immediate attempt to hide could arouse suspicion.


    “The Shadow Stage is limited in intersection, perfect for using the Magic Network data to transform the shadow.”


    “A bit, but I didn’t expect you to have a fondness for playing with antiques. That really is a surprise,” Zong Si remarked, glancing at the old oil lamp in Qin Muye’s hand, and complimented him.


    “Tsk, a low-level Shadow Stone costs a billion in the market, just one meal for Professor Li from you, Captain Qing Jiao? If you ask me, it should at least be two meals,” two men walked in, and the speaker, codenamed Ye Bai, was a captain from the local Shadow management.


    “As for the Third Stage of Shadow Transformation, that’s a critical stage with greater difficulty and very short time, needing further consideration.”


    “It would be best to determine whether the famine of that year has any direct connection with the suppression of the Dead Shadow.”


    Aladdin’s Divine Lamp had been acquired some time ago, he had snagged it, along with the Lamp God, directly from the Supplies Warehouse via the Super Space-Time Transmission Channel.


    Aladdin’s Divine Lamp, being a Divine Artifact, presented quite a challenge to integrate it.


    However, he didn’t reveal everything. Since the last time, Qin Muye had been giving information bit by bit, like squeezing toothpaste.


    Being clingy and obstinate about it was not as good as giving a gift.


    The two of them grimaced, ignoring Qing Jiao. They put things down and said, “Thank you for the guidance, Professor Li. We hope you will accept these small tokens of our appreciation.”


    He had also realized that the formation of Shadow Equipment and the types were not entirely random but evolved further based on the host’s mental and soul conditions until they became suitable for the shadow wearer.


    In the World of Shadows, no matter how long he stayed, upon returning, only 24 hours would have passed, so naturally, he couldn’t just easily complete his assigned tasks and go back; he had to solve some experimental projects first.


    The framework he used was the Shadow System, but it had already completely diverged from the original shadows.


    Upon hearing this, Qin Muye immediately refused, “Head office, you know me. I’m just trying to get by with a secure salary. If I really went to the central bureau, it wouldn’t be as harmonious as it is here in this little place. Just one wrong word might lead to losing my secure job.”


    Want whatever ability he desired... that was impossible. His power was limited; he couldn’t truly do whatever he wished; otherwise, why not just ask to be invincible?


    For them, it wasn’t about lacking money; more so, it was about lacking resources for cultivation, so they wouldn’t act like Black Hawk and others who had no experience, planning to sell Shadow Stones for money.


    The duration of the Shadow and Solid Shadow Stages varied; the shortest phase might last only a couple of months, while the longest could reach about a year.


    The Shadow Stage was already completed, so in this transitional phase, Qin Muye had to finish the research and development for the Solid Shadow Stage.


    The study of the Shadow System focused on local materials due to task requirements. That’s why Qin Muye prioritized it; otherwise, he should be researching the personal servers of Level 5 Spirit Monsters on the Magic Network, which included the unfortunate Lamp God and Divine Monster.


    Otherwise, constantly feeding them meat might inadvertently breed contempt, so he naturally went silent for a while.


    Because, from the beginning, the shadow was not extracting from Qin Muye but from the specific data he inputted.


    This ability assumed that he would then program the shadow.


    This made Qing Jiao feel quite embarrassed; he had forgotten the last time, and after all, there wasn’t anything valuable then, just a few Shadow Stones.


    This process was like an intersection of information. The shadow continually read the host’s data, akin to continuous self-learning and evolution. However, the difference was that, before returning to the Shadow Realm, the shadow wouldn’t develop self-awareness or intellect. Instead, it primarily evolved through the physical body.


    In others’ hands, the shadow was random, but with Qin Muye, holding the necessary permissions, he could further develop it, shaping it into whatever form he desired.


    It was just because of some minor issues that he hadn’t taken it out of the inventory. Previously, he had conducted corresponding experiments, mostly modifications related to the Divine Monsters, the Lamp God, and personal servers on the Magic Network.


    The head office didn’t think much of it but said, “This time, the matter of the Yin Mountain Army has caused quite a stir at the central bureau. The initial inspectors found more information, and they would like Professor Li to head north to assist in further investigations and discover the origin and cause of this division of the Yin Mountain Army.”