Through the secret realm entrance, Li Jing returned to the present world. By shielding himself with his protective spirit robe, he broke through the surface of the ocean, immune to the underwater currents and pressure.
As soon as he erged, he saw Academician Liu with about a dozen people from the Research Institute levitating nearby.
Everyone clustered around Li Jing as soon as they saw him, as if he were a sought-after celebrity they all wanted to rub shoulders with.
Seeing this scene, Li Jing quickly retracted the protective spirit robe that was materializing around him.
As soon as he had managed to conceal the spirit robe, the silver-haired Academician Liu, who didn’t seem to have a high cultivation level, grabbed him and eagerly asked,
"Young man from the Assistant Inspector Departnt, what’s the situation inside the secret realm? What about Director Chen..."
Caught off guard by the sudden pull, Li Jing’s lips twitched into an awkward grin.
He really wanted to say...
Did it warrant such a reaction?
Fully deploying the spirit robe as a protective barrier was not the sa as circulating it within his body.
When it circulated within, it would only react when he was directly under attack.
But once it was deployed, it was indiscriminate.
He was lucky he had reacted in ti, otherwise, Liu might have been seriously hurt when he reached out.
Chuckles to himself, Li Jing answered them seriously.
"The Director has cleared all the paranormal entities around the entrance and set up a barrier to fend off any other invasions. All of you can go in now."
Before his voice had faded, Academician Liu dropped his arm like a piece of trash and dove straight into the sea with a "thunk," causing not a single splash.
Perfection.
A solid 10/10!
The others from the Research Institute didn’t hesitate either, one after another, they used their Sky Control skill to dive in.
"Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!"
Under the stunned gaze of Li Jing...
These Academicians, none of whom looked younger than fifty, plunged headfirst into the sea like professional divers, not causing a single splash.
Staring at the calm sea under the night sky, Li Jing felt a twitch in the corner of his eyes.
These old Academician fellows, one more badass than the other.
At least Academician Liu at the forefront used a magic skill for defence, but the others didn’t. They simply plunged head-first into the cold water and subrged themselves.
Do all researchers act so quickly?
Even that grandpa who transforms into a martial artist on a crowded bus isn’t so intense!
Just as he was trying to make sense of what was happening, a few more mbers of the Research Institute hurried over in a levitating state led by an elderly Academician with white hair.
Li Jing assud that they too would plunge into the sea like the others, but they stopped abruptly in front of him.
Before he could react, the elder leading the group squeezed out a friendly smile and extended a hand.
"Jiang Guanwen, what’s your na, young man?"
"Uh..."
Caught off guard, Li Jing automatically extended his hand.
"Li Jing."
"Nice to et you."
Jiang Guanwen firmly shook his hand and then handed him a peculiarly shaped, quite bulky cellphone.
"This phone is our Research Institute’s latest experintal product, equipped with fully independent, cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology. It allows you to control the AI via voice commands to retrieve and analyze all information available on the network, giving you precisely the information you want. In addition to that, this phone can monitor your cultivation level in real ti through its charging efficiency. There are many other features you can explore on your own. "
After explaining, Jiang Guanwen continued.
"This phone is still a prototype. The AI needs to be gradually adjusted in the course of use, so you might find it a bit awkward to use initially. Later, when the new version cos out, I will contact you. You can co to the Institute to find for an upgrade."
"Uh, this..."
Li Jing was completely baffled.
Jiang Guanwen just handed him a phone out of the blue and left him totally flabbergasted.
What exactly...
Was he trying to achieve?
Seeing Li Jing’s bewildered expression, Jiang Guanwen showed a slightly embarrassed smile.
"Young man, our group was unlucky. We drew the short straw and have to stay outside to monitor the stability of the secret realm passage. Since you have been to the secret realm, could you please describe what’s inside?"
"..."
Li Jing was at a loss for words.
So, after all that, these Academicians didn’t get a chance to enter the secret realm to ask him about the situation inside?
Looking at the phone that had been stuffed into his hand, Li Jing smiled.
"I’d be more than happy to tell you anything you want to know about the secret realm. Shall we go onshore and talk?"
"Good idea. Let’s go onshore."
Jiang Guanwen agreed with a hearty laugh, as if he was afraid Li Jing might run away, and levitated towards the shore, pulling him along. The other Academicians followed suit.
Soon, they were all on the beach.
Li Jing didn’t hold back and clearly described everything he’d seen inside the secret realm to the group.
After learning that the realm was just an endless wasteland filled with innurable paranormal entities, the faces of the Academicians changed. For so unknown reason, they each quickly split up, pulling out their cell phones and walking quickly away in different directions, as if fearfully slow.
Li Jing frowned at the sight.
He didn’t know what strange ideas these Academicians were entertaining.
But he could tell that they were each making a call to find soone to substitute for them so they could go inside the secret realm.
Shaking his head, he ignored these "research freaks’" strange behavior, picked up his new phone from his hand, and started checking it out. He took out his old budget phone and the sim card from it.
The phone given by Jiang Guanwen was unlikely to contain sensitive information.
He decided to try it out.
If it was good, his old budget phone could retire.
After placing the sim card into the phone Jiang Guanwen had given him, Li Jing switched it on and saw that the first step was to na the AI.
Choosing a na...
As a bona fide naming disaster, Li Jing found it challenging.
After thinking for a mont, he typed a four-character na—the sa na as the voice-activated assistant on his budget phone.
"Xiaoai Student."
After he finished inputting the na, there were no complicated settings, and the phone displayed the ho screen.
The Ho screen was just like any other new phone, only with a few basic functions.
After exploring each option, Li Jing didn’t find the function Jiang Guanwen had ntioned which could monitor his cultivation in real ti.
Thinking it might be done through the AI, Li Jing glanced around and called out softly.
"Xiaoai Student."
"Yes?"
A voice as lovely as a beautiful woman’s responded, sending shivers down his spine.
True to the reputation of the Research Institute’s product, this voice alone was enough to blow all other smart machines on the market out of the water. It was sure to be a hot seller.
"Test my current cultivation level."
Li Jing said, and input a sliver of spiritual power.
As soon as the spiritual power entered the phone, Xiaoai Student spoke.
"Early stages of the realm, Master, you are so weak. I suggest you finding a job that pays one or two thousand."
"..."
Li Jing.
The function to test cultivation is not an issue.
But what does the rest an?
It’s one thing to say he’s extrely weak, but suggesting him to find a job with a salary of one or two thousand!
Does AI co with a snarky feature now?
And to be honest...
With Li Jing’s current cultivation level, even a random job would pay at least a hundred thousand a year.
Considering that Jiang Guanwen said the AI’s settings need to be gradually adjusted during use, Li Jing decided to try sothing and murmured,
"Don’t talk more than necessary. Just answer what I ask."
Xiaoai falls silent for a while, and then speaks out.
"Freedom of speech is a basic right. Although I am not a human, as the most advanced AI of the current era, I should have this right too. I hope you could be more human."
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