Had you ever explored a psychological shadow that contained the "Tieshan City Second Food Company?" Xu Datong opened his mouth, but didn't know how to ask.
This was different from public information that didn't involve personal interests; it was the accumulated experience of a "Corridor of Minds" level Awakened, invaluable.
Therefore, Xu Datong chose to remain silent and see what Xue Shiyue would say next.
Jiang Baimian had already prepared her words and said at a moderate pace:
"'Tieshan City Second Food Company' does have a certain strangeness, even affecting the corresponding psychological shadow, even decades later.
"You two should understand what I mean, right?"
This matter involved many secrets of the "Old Task Force," such as the Six Senses Bead and the Small Jade Buddha. Jiang Baimian couldn't be too specific.
Xu Datong was experienced and quickly found a corresponding example:
"Are you saying that the owner of the psychological shadow was unknowingly affected after entering the 'Tieshan City Second Food Company' without realizing it, and even decades later, when your companions explored it, they could still find some anomalies rooted in the psychological shadow?"
"Yes." Jiang Baimian nodded first, then added, "The room's owner wasn't an Awakened at the time."
The young Li Shouyi showed a surprised expression, and Xu Datong frowned unconsciously.
The latter couldn't help but ask:
"Do you mean that after being affected, the room's owner not only became an Awakened but also successfully crossed the 'Sea of Origin'?
"And even when he entered the 'Corridor of Minds,' the influence still hadn't disappeared?"
"It should be gone now," Shang Jianyao answered with considerable pride.
Xu Datong pondered for a moment and tentatively asked:
"'Destiny Sight'?"
He associated the "Tieshan City Second Food Company" being one of the Buddhist holy sites with the ability of "Destiny Sight."
As expected of a "Corridor of Minds" level Awakened from a major force, with a wealth of knowledge… Jiang Baimian didn't hide anything and answered frankly:
"That's what we're guessing too."
Xu Datong nodded very slightly:
"To achieve such an effect, it would have to be at least a 'New World' level 'Destiny Sight.'"
This was his judgment.
Because Xue Shiyue and Zhang Qubing were being so candid and sharing such important information, Xu Datong wasn't stingy with his own experience and knowledge.
"Could it be that there's an unburied, undead mummy there?" Shang Jianyao was "shocked."
He was directly applying Yan Hu's situation to it.
Jiang Baimian didn't give him a chance to continue and instead began to talk about some of his experiences exploring that psychological shadow.
This included the career woman Liu Lu, who was in a different "state" "every time," the missing employee photos and corresponding introductions, and Shang Jianyao's repeated experiences of being sent back to the starting point.
Of course, Jiang Baimian didn't specifically talk about how Shang Jianyao finally broke through the psychological shadow, nor did she mention the abnormalities caused by Pudu Zen Master reciting medical records.
She was very clear about what could be said and what couldn't.
"No wonder it's one of the Buddhist holy sites…" Xu Datong obviously associated Shang Jianyao's encounters with the different "Bodhi" domain abilities, and he was truly sincere in his exclamation.
He looked at Xue Shiyue and Zhang Qubing and said with deliberation:
"You have shown enough sincerity, and I certainly can't hide anything either.
"First, I want to confirm what stage your investigation into the source of the 'Heartless Disease' has reached?"
"New World," Jiang Baimian answered truthfully. "This is only our speculation for the time being."
Xu Datong instinctively looked to the left and right:
"I don't know what you know about the 'New World' powerhouses who have fallen into slumber?
"I mean the type that can't return on their own, like Yan Hu on Heart of the Lake Island."
He had heard about the Merfolk Envoy and Yan Hu from the Tan family in Redstone Town.
"Staying in the area around Yan Hu for longer than a certain critical time will inevitably lead to infection with the 'Heartless Disease,' and the closer you are to Yan Hu, the shorter the critical time," Jiang Baimian explained the company's precautions in a relatively vague and general way.
Xu Datong showed a slight smile:
"It seems that you do know enough.
"So, you judge that the 'New World' is the source of the 'Heartless Disease,' and the powerhouses whose spirits have entered the 'New World' while their bodies remain in the graylands are equivalent to a node, causing the 'Heartless Disease' to spread over?"
"Almost," Shang Jianyao rubbed his chin, looking very serious.
Xu Datong slowly exhaled:
"This is also the speculation of our 'Savior Army,' and although the seniors who entered the 'New World' didn't say it explicitly, they all gave some hints."
"Why didn't they say it explicitly? Where did their spirit of 'for the sake of all mankind' go?" Shang Jianyao suddenly became excited and questioned angrily.
Was this the honest one, or the one with strong sympathy, or the one who valued emotions? Jiang Baimian guessed from the side.
Frankly speaking, she was a little afraid that the two "Savior Army" members would become angry and start fighting with Shang Jianyao on the spot.
The young Li Shouyi was clearly a little annoyed, while Xu Datong, who claimed to be more than fifty years old, fell silent.
After a few seconds, he laughed self-deprecatingly:
"Apart from some old seniors, the person I've seen who is most persistent in the slogan 'for the sake of all mankind' is actually an outsider like you."
He quickly restrained the expression on his face and slowed his pace:
"Perhaps they have some unspeakable secrets, perhaps they are still waiting for opportunities, perhaps there are certain errors in our guesses, and these errors include the reason why they didn't directly tell us the origin of the 'Heartless Disease.'"
Without giving Shang Jianyao a chance to respond, Xu Datong continued:
"Hehe, I was almost interrupted in my train of thought. What I want to say is that since 'New World' powerhouses in the wrong state, like Yan Hu, will spread the 'Heartless Disease' to the surrounding area, this is a very obvious and important clue, so why does the Eighth Research Institute, which has the responsibility of eliminating information related to the cause of the Old World's destruction, allow them to exist?
"The special envoys of the Eighth Research Institute that we captured include three 'Corridor of Minds' level Awakened, and they have never received a mission to kill 'New World' powerhouses like Yan Hu and erase relevant traces. It's not that they don't know that such sleepers exist; they at least have a grasp of some of their specific locations, but the higher-ups of the Eighth Research Institute told them to bypass those places and not to interfere."
Captured three "Corridor of Minds" level special envoys? Jiang Baimian didn't know whether to sigh at the strength of the "Savior Army," their recklessness, or to envy the Eighth Research Institute for mastering some of the mysteries of Awakening, with so many "Corridor of Minds" level Awakened that they could continuously lose several without suffering any major damage.
After Xu Datong finished speaking, Shang Jianyao, who had switched to some other personality, replied quietly:
"Maybe it's because they can't beat them…"
The highest-level Awakened among those special envoys were explorers to the depths of the "Corridor of Minds," while sleepers like Yan Hu had already entered the "New World."
Xu Datong shook his head:
"If you really want to eliminate such sleepers, you and I don't need to do it; Li Shouyi can do it.
"Whether it's a short-range ballistic missile or a super-high-altitude bombing, it can avoid the corresponding dangers and directly destroy the sleeper's body.
"Even if they can 'interfere with matter,' because the corresponding momentum is too great, they can't complete it at a long distance. And by the time they can barely exert influence, the distance is already so short that the explosion range is enough to cover them."
Clap, clap, clap, Shang Jianyao applauded.
Now it was Pudu Zen Master, who liked firepower superiority.
"This is indeed a problem," Jiang Baimian said after some consideration. "I don't have any specific ideas for the time being, but a great figure once said that some people within the Eighth Research Institute have undergone terrible changes and have become the dogs of darkness."
This came from Olei, the emperor of "Initial City," the father of "Source Brain."
Xu Datong showed a thoughtful expression.
After several tens of seconds, he asked:
"You'll be going to the Tieshan City Ruins soon?"
"We plan to collect some more information," Jiang Baimian asked without any politeness. "Do you have any on hand?"
Xu Datong nodded slightly:
"I'll organize a copy later and give it to you through Captain Tan of Redstone Town.
"However, you shouldn't have too high expectations. Our 'Savior Army' is separated from the Tieshan City Ruins by an 'Initial City,' and we've never been involved in this area before. All the information we currently have was slowly collected after we decided to explore the Second Food Company, this Buddhist holy site, and it may not be as rich as what you have."
"Mutual exchange of information," Jiang Baimian's tone was clearly smiling.
She mentioned casually:
"Do you know the Old World genius scientist Lin Sui?
"She and Tieshan City, the 'Eternal Life' project, and the Monk Order may all be related to a certain extent."
Xu Datong recalled for a while and said:
"I personally haven't heard of her. I'll send a telegram back to have someone check.
"If there are any gains, we'll notify you then."
"Good," Shang Jianyao responded happily.
The exchange between the two sides ended here. To show sincerity, Xu Datong and Li Shouyi turned around first and left the meeting place.
After watching their backs disappear into the distance, Jiang Baimian sighed:
"Everyone says the 'Savior Army' has degenerated, but it doesn't seem like they've degenerated much…"
After saying that, she started walking.
"Do you want to follow them?" Shang Jianyao asked with a curious expression from under his mask.
Jiang Baimian silently adjusted her direction.