Just as Yun had promised, Zeru accompanied Jin towards the sleep capsule. Strangely enough it was located in a part of the Dungeon Maker Jin had been unaware that it even existed. (Well, he did not know because it was not meant to be found.)
“This sleeping capsule compresses time and will allow you to get 12 hours of sleep within a single hour.” Zeru tried to explain it to his already non-responsive Panda Young Master, who had jumped into the capsule without hesitation after hearing the word ‘sleep’.
Zeru shook his head as he took his wooden sword out almost immediately to strike Jin. Yet even unconsciously, Jin was still fast enough to react by creating a thin icicle of white panda ice ready to fight even though his eyes were closed.
“Impressive, you not only attempted to defend yourself given your state, but also were ready to go on the offensive. It seems the high intensity mode and Kraft’s subconscious mind training are finally showing their results. You certainly made progress in creating an astral force that controls and pushes your body to the limit, even though you may not realise it, yet.” Zeru was fairly satisfied with the results as he placed his wooden sword away and assisted his master’s body in the capsule to change into the proper cultivation stance.
“Don’t you mean a backup Jin?” Kraft walked in as he poked Jin’s face repeatedly, without any sign of resistance.
“The Nineteen Lazy Astral Pandas cultivation was meant to become this way from the start. A sentient astral phantom created by his subconscious dominating his body when the main consciousness falls asleep. In this way, Master Jin can utilise it in battle in case he ever faints for any reason. For daily tasks…haha, we should do things one step at a time.” Zeru justified it to Kraft while pressing on some buttons on the sleeping capsule.
The sleeping capsule did not only accelerate time, but it also acted as a sort of massage chair where the System analysed Jin’s chi circuitry, pinpointing the weak points, created due to clotted chi areas. Afterwards the System assisted in reducing the clotted chi areas by inserting artificially produced pure chi energy via electricity. Thus the body responded by creating even more black sludge and the System purged them on a regular basis when Jin was inside the capsule.
“Oh man, the black sludge…It is even muddier than before.” Kraft shook his head upon looking at it, as if he disapproved of the production of the sludge.
“The dirtier it is, the better for the creation of the sentient astral phantom.” Zeru grinned as he observed Jin producing it an even faster rate than before.
“I guess the System is not letting go of this particular by product, too?” Kraft asked, and the System replied with an acknowledgement.
“The sludge that was collected since day he stepped into the hot spring instance was filled with impurities. It contains valuable research to create Souls. The analysis of past sludges have proven that User is capable of creating high quality souls as long as his cultivation soars. Past Users were not able to do that. Most likely reason with 87.9% certainty was the outdated cultivation manual.”
“In the end, you still treat your one and only User as a research subject. But oh well, at least Ming did leave a pretty good present for Jin and you, System.” Kraft could not argue that the System was doing it for its own survival.
“Previous User Ming was and continues to be classified as an utter disgrace to the Panda Clan for facing the Zodiacs far too soon. It resulted in the need for using the desperate ‘Time Reversal’. However in case previous User Ming’s cultivation manual turns out to be the key to eventually create the necessary high quality souls for the production, his name will be cleared.” The System replied, with a strange hint of reluctance towards the end.
“Then I am guessing you want to use the high quality souls for the purpose of replicating some certain individuals… Please tell me you don’t really consider resurrecting that bastard.” Kraft was getting annoyed all of a sudden when he was thinking out loud. Zeru felt that he was out of the loop, since his time with the System couldn’t be considered as long compared to Kraft.
“If necessary and if it will ensure the survival of the Panda Clan, the System will do so. However as always the current User will have to make the choice to decide whether the resurrection of that particular individual shall be considered vital in the long term resurrection of the Panda Clan.” The System answered.
“We both know what kind of choices you usually give. Those can barely even be called as such!” Kraft waved his hand with a disgruntled manner and looked at the sleeping Jin.
“The System will promise to give the User a real choice as it acknowledges Original System Bellator Kraft has certain grievances with that individual. The System does not wish to lose another valuable Bellator.” The System had begun to learn the technique of bargaining from Jin’s repeated haggling with it when they were interacting with the Black Market. (Oh Jin, he has no idea the monster he helped creating.)
“I shall be the judge of that, when the time comes. Zeru, I will be going off first. It’s no fun to bully the Young Master with no reaction. Luckily I know exactly, how to find him.” Kraft coolly disappeared upon commenting and true enough, Jin was already in another reality talking to Ming when Kraft entered into his subconsciousness.
“Ah Kraft, I heard you had some fun according to Jin.” Ming smiled as he poured a cup of hot drink for Kraft to savour.
“Meh, not the most fun I had in awhile, but it indeed brought some memories back.” Kraft shrugged his shoulders lightly and slowly sipped the hot drink as he listened in to the conversation between Jin and Ming.
“Ah yes, Gramps. Who is Hou Fei? He suddenly showed up and said he was a Panda Clan Remnant and began to ask me to share information with him.” Jin felt particularly curious about the Panda Clan Remnant which appeared out of nowhere.
“Oh? Hou Fei? I do remember him and he truly is a Panda Clan Remnant. He worked under me before the System turned back time. He is one of the only few people that the System allowed to retain their memories from before.” Ming replied while rubbing his stubbled chin.
“One of the few people? So there are more Panda Clan Remnants out there, which came in contact with you previously, other than Hou Fei?” Jin had no idea that some people still knew anything about Ming’s real past.
“Oh, I did not think about that. There should probably be some more. Unfortunately the System never told me who those people were, who kept their memories. However to my knowledge, there seemed to be other people who were unrelated to the System that were saved too. ” Ming’s eyes were up looking at the cabin’s ceiling as if he was thinking of the past.
“Why those people then?” Jin felt that the fewer people know about this time reversal thing, the better since it was on a whole other level compared to the dilation and compression of time, which most Dungeon Suppliers had access to. The cultivation knowledge and technology for it may not be very widely known, but at least it was already accepted by society.
“I too don’t have any idea, since the System refused to interact with me ever since the time reversal. I can only deduce that the System was not totally heartless to leave me at a lurch and left some people that I had known to turn to, in case I needed help, once I lost my contact with the System. And most, if not all of those people that retained their memories were privy of the knowledge that I had a System with me.” Ming replied.
“You told your friends about your System powers? Why?!” Jin was rather shocked since he was trying to keep it under wraps as much as possible.
“It’s too odd to wield its powers on a daily basis and not allowing them to know. They would have figure it out sooner or later. So one day I simply decided it would be for the best to confess, before the secret could create a wedge between us. I still remember how mad the System was with my selfish action. Besides, it’s also something you have to consider and face in the future. What if the System did not entirely erase the memories of everyone? Especially the enemies, the Zodiacs?” Ming questioned Jin who did not know how to answer.
“Love and peace sounds nice, sure. That would be the most ideal outcome, but not everyone will think that way. Especially power hungry people. After all, would you be willing to bow to somebody else, because of a promise given to an ancestor of somebody else? Those people have grown used to the power they wield, and your existence, will make them regard you as only someone who wants to steal their piece of the cake.” Ming explained.
“Do you believe, that they might have found or developed a technique to absorb or transfer the System away from me?” Jin started to get a little afraid.
“Only time will tell. But from my interaction with Kraft in the past few minutes I have confirmed that I am still unable to share what has actually happened before the Time Reversal. Anyway enough with this whole conspiracy talk. Instead, shall we duel? I’d like to see your abilities in action.” Ming sniggered as he spoke his last sentence with him slamming the table, breaking it into two and charging straight towards Jin with no further warning.
