Inside the laboratory.
Lin Tuo held the cracked transcendent artifact in his hand, emotions swirling in his heart.
According to the information provided by the Evolution Sand Table, this object seemed to be some sort of strange relic born naturally from the washing of the "Spirit Tide." Its principle was unknown.
If he had to draw an analogy, it was like a monster spontaneously nurtured by heaven and earth—but without life, only a dead object.
Tracing it back to the root, its birth was also related to his own Ether collection.
As for its ability, it was similar to the legends: it could indeed affect the minds of living beings. But the restrictions were numerous.
Whether in terms of range, number of targets, or the duration of hypnosis—it all had severe limits.
Given its effect, it had obviously become the Mad Emperor's tool of rule.
With just a little imagination, it was easy to see how he could have used this relic to manipulate members of the council, thus forcibly pushing certain decrees.
That could explain why he squandered resources building Annihilation Bombs, yet his rule was never truly shaken.
And it also explained why those researchers were willing to conspire to destroy the world.
But what caught Lin Tuo's attention even more was the "negative effect" of the Seal.
"Will inflict mental damage on the bearer… amplify emotions… descend into madness…"
Mulling over these lines, Lin Tuo felt a chill.
He had always found the Mad Emperor's behavior puzzling.
Yes, in the real history of Earth, there had been many deranged rulers whose actions defied logic.
But a man who singlehandedly overthrew the Great Chi Dynasty—no matter how mad he was—should still have had some attachment to his empire.
Yet he had destroyed it so decisively, with terrifying obsession.
Now it seemed clear that the Seal had played no small role.
"If I'm right, the Mad Emperor must have used it frequently to maintain control in the early years of his reign… After all, stabilizing a brand-new dynasty was no easy task…But in doing so, his spirit was gradually corrupted by the Seal's negative effects. His inner emotions amplified… growing more and more paranoid…Until it all ended in tragedy."
"In fact, while he was hypnotizing others, he may have long since hypnotized himself—without ever realizing it."
Understanding this, Lin Tuo sighed inwardly, his curiosity toward the Seal cooling.
If before, he had thought of taking it for daily use—
Now, knowing its backlash, that thought faded.
"Hmph. With its current damage, it couldn't be used more than once or twice anyway…"
The Evolution Sand Table's analysis said the artifact was badly broken, nearly useless.
"Still… it's not entirely worthless. At least before it shatters completely, I can make it help me with one thing. Using it just once shouldn't pollute my mind. That much I can endure."
Lin Tuo rubbed the Seal, his gaze brightening.
He hadn't forgotten that his real purpose in entering the Sand Table was to understand the situation, then decide what to do next. Tempering his body was only a side benefit.
These past days of observation had given him much to think about—especially how to handle the Sand Table itself.
Letting it recover slowly would take who knew how long. And Lin Tuo was no longer satisfied with Sandbox No. 1's mere 300,000 square kilometers.
It sounded vast, but for a civilization, it was far too small.
What he couldn't bear to lose—were the lives here.
Yes. Watching them, Lin Tuo had been pleasantly surprised: these people possessed tremendous potential for growth, though they themselves were unaware of it.
Especially the Evolutionaries.
Just thirty years ago, they—or their parents—had been ordinary humans with normal gene sequences.
But in just a few decades, the beings of this land had begun to develop extraordinary abilities.
Basic, simple, yes—but extraordinary nonetheless.
And crucially—they had no "Breath-Nourishing Method." These abilities had evolved naturally. They were a precious new species.
Like chance seedlings born in a laboratory petri dish—exceptionally rare, having survived brutal selection from their malformed peers.
Lin Tuo strongly suspected this was tied to the strange "radiation" of the Annihilation Bombs—and perhaps to Ether itself, just like the Seal.
Both the Seal and these Evolutionaries were unique products of Sandbox No. 1's history.
If the Sand Table was reset—would Evolutionaries ever arise again?
Uncertain.
So Lin Tuo had been pondering how to preserve these people while reshaping their environment.
From a pragmatic angle, giving Evolutionaries better conditions could expand their numbers, perhaps spawning even more intriguing abilities he could use.
From an emotional angle, they were human beings, flesh and blood like him, tied to him by countless threads. He needed to treat them with care.
That was why, even when encircled by the three great factions, he had never chosen to kill them.
They were Evolutionaries—the elite of this wasteland.
Too valuable to lose.
Thus, he had been considering schemes to keep them alive. Yet always, there remained unsolved details.
Now, the Seal offered inspiration.
"Perhaps… if I make good use of its last bit of power, I can solve this problem."
Just then, his expression shifted.
Switching perspectives, he realized that outside this mountain, toward the continent's interior—
The three major factions were closing in, following the very path he had cleared, drawing near the laboratory.
"Tsk. Like shadows that never leave…"
He sighed softly, helpless.
"Ah! Someone's coming!"
At the gate, Huaxi, who had been keeping watch out of boredom, spotted the approaching figures and shouted.
Lin Tuo pocketed the Seal and walked straight toward the gate.
Passing through the long tunnel, he emerged from the crack in the towering metal doors. Snow whirled on the bitter wind.
On the platform outside, Huaxi clutched her rifle nervously, but upon seeing him, she exhaled in relief.
"Look! There they are!"
She raised her small arm and pointed.
Lin Tuo looked—and saw, crossing the snow-covered valleys, countless silhouettes flooding the mountain ridges.
South, Central, North—the elites of all three factions had arrived together.
Along with them came not only the Evolutionary troops, but countless firearms, even cannons.
Yes—cannons!
In the dim light, Lin Tuo saw soldiers laboriously pushing mortars into position on the peaks, adjusting angles to target his lonely mountain.
Others carried weapons resembling RPGs.
All scavenged from the ruins of the West Continental arms bases—the Empire's largest weapons research and production hub.
There was never a shortage of arms here.
Now, as the leaders of the Burning Flame Company, Grey Mountain Group, and Doomsday Floaters realized their quarry had beaten them to the Seal—
Even knowing he possessed some kind of teleportation, all they could do was unite, raising their weapons together.
"There! He's shown himself! He must have already gone inside!"
On the Burning Flame Company's side, the effeminate CEO stared hard at the lone peak, fear and dread in his eyes.
The thought of the Seal's terrifying powers made his heart sink further.
"Even if it's an ability, it has limits. He can't keep teleporting forever. He won't escape this time."
The matronly boss of the Doomsday Floaters, clad in black and crimson robes, spoke grimly—but as much to reassure herself as anyone else.
To the north, the Grey Mountain Group's gray-haired leader watched the peak, face like stone.
"Adjust the barrels. Prepare to bombard the mountain."
…
On the lonely peak.
As the countless soldiers aimed rifles and cannons at them, Huaxi's voice trembled:
"Let's run! Teleport us away!"
But Lin Tuo only shook his head.
Huaxi froze, a chill running through her small body.
"What—you can't teleport? Your ability can't be used again?"
Panic rose in her voice. She grabbed at his sleeve:
"Then let's hide inside the lab! They won't break the mountain wall quickly!"
But Lin Tuo stood still.
"No need. We'll stay right here."
His expression was calm, lips even curved in a faint smile.
Huaxi stared at him, bewildered.
But in these days she had grown used to his strength and mystery. Hearing him, she actually calmed a little—though she moved closer, pale-faced.
Then she thought of something, her eyes widening.
"Ah—you mean to use the Seal's power?"
"The Seal will be used. But not wasted on this."
Lin Tuo winked at her, then faced the countless guns, tilting his head back to the dark sky. His voice was soft:
"I have a simpler method."
And in that instant, the light faded from his eyes—his consciousness returning to his true body.
…
In the study of the Lishan Martial Hall.
Reclining in his rattan chair, Lin Tuo slowly opened his eyes.
Unhurriedly, he raised a hand and picked up something long placed on the desk.
A bowl. A flawless, crystal-clear bowl.
He had bought it days ago while shopping in Yang City—a simple trinket from a gift shop.
The clerk had said it was called a "Glazed Chalice," symbol of the purest heart.
Now, holding it, Lin Tuo rose, glanced at the West Continental mountain by the sea inside the Sand Table, and smiled faintly.
"This will do."
He gently lowered the translucent bowl over the mountain inside the Sand Table.
…
In the snow-capped mountains.
As thousands of barrels fired at the lone peak—
The sky suddenly convulsed, clouds boiling!
A massive, crystal-clear "Glazed Chalice" descended from beyond the heavens, piercing the world's sky, and slammed down—enclosing the peak within.
The next moment—
Shells and rockets exploded against its flawless surface, unable to stir a ripple.
Instead, they lit the heavens, a magnificent fireworks display above the wasteland.
On the peak.
Huaxi, dumbstruck, felt her trembling hand pressed down gently. Beside her, Lin Tuo's calm voice:
"See? This is enough."
(End of Chapter)