88: Chapter 8 Regression 88: Chapter 8 Regression Young Master Ya Pingning donned a prosthetic body equipped with heavy armor.

He instinctively wanted to bite his finger, then poked his face armor straight with his right hand’s finger.

“This prosthetic body has no mouth,” Ya Pingning thought to himself.

Only now did he truly feel like he had arrived in the “Wilderness.”

Around him, countless drones patrolled back and forth, scanning all traces on the ground.

He stood there, staring blankly at the new lake that had appeared before him.

“Ulster is actually dead.”

Ya Pingning found this scene somewhat surreal.

Ulster Granddog’s prosthetic body materials were military grade, more advanced than any components found in the wilderness.

His Inner Strength was also personally encapsulated by his own father.

Although Ulster himself only had proficiency from the Linguistic Realm to the Compilation Realm, ordinary Assembly Realm couldn’t breach his firewall to poison him.

With the advantages of a lightweight prosthetic body in terms of bursts, acceleration, and stealth, it was hard to imagine how that Old Dog could just die here.

However, the fact was as such, the Old Dog even called for a strike from the Heavenly Punishment System in his last moment.

Shortly after, the Secretary Officer came over, “Young Master…”

“How’s the situation?

Has sister come to a conclusion?”

Since Ya Pingning’s father, the Lord of this region, was involved in a roundup operation by the Protectors and couldn’t be spared, he sent one of his daughters along with Ya Pingning, responsible for the surrounding tax affairs, to come and investigate.

“They have found traces of disturbed soil,” the Secretary Officer said softly: “There are definitely survivors, but it’s uncertain if it’s ‘Xiang Shan’.”

Ya Pingning felt himself breathe a sigh of relief.

“He didn’t completely escape the strike range of the ‘First-Level Divine Punishment’—it seems that after fighting Ulster, his prosthetic body was severely damaged.”

“Had Ulster called for a Second-Level Heavenly Punishment with a broader range, maybe it really would have killed him.”

Even though the first few levels of the “Heavenly Punishment System” are essentially “dumping trash,” the “trash” is not infinite.

If the storage at the waste station isn’t too tight, the Protectors are willing to keep the trash for smashing places like the Green Forest Stronghold.

Very few individual Heroes are worthy of the “Heavenly Punishment” treatment.

It’s not cost-effective.

After all, space-based kinetic weapons take several minutes from “entering the atmosphere” to “hitting the ground.” Unless the Hero doesn’t pay any attention to the sky, it’s difficult to be hit.

Even if he’s truly distracted by something, the trash kinetic shells are detectable thousands of kilometers above, giving Heroes the chance to dodge.

This thing is better suited for destroying bases like the “Great Stockade.”

And space-based laser weapons are limited by atmospheric conditions, and the energy cost for firing them is astronomical.

A high or low-pressure air mass can easily cause a slight change in the atmospheric refractive index, leading to a miss.

If the first shot misses, then the enemy has a chance to deploy “Iron Dust” that counters lasers.

This is the troublesome thing about Heroes.

They have only one life, once dead, that’s it.

Whereas Protectors might fail a hundred times, miss a thousand times, and still can try again.

If every Hero cost a thousand space-based laser shots, Protectors couldn’t afford it.

“What happens next?” Ya Pingning asked the Secretary.

“According to regulations, either you or Miss Six will have to take over this matter,” pondered the Secretary Officer.

“After all, with Ulster dead, the Lord is furious.

This matter must be handled.”

Ulster Granddog was the confidant of the Lord.

They forged a master-servant bond eighty years ago, and Old Dog had served the Zhao Family ever since.

Even to the Lord, his son Ya Pingning Zhao might not be as important as Ulster, the dog.

Ya Pingning grasped the Secretary Officer’s hand: “I see this as an opportunity.

I want his brain.”

“That’s unrealistic, Young Master.

He defeated Ulster.” Regardless of his own arm crunching from the grip, the Secretary Officer calmly said, “To gather enough prosthetic bodies to defeat him…

means you’re betting your life.

‘Those prosthetics’ strictly speaking, belong to the Scientific Knight Families.

The ‘Mona Project’ is a project even the Lord has no right to intervene in.

These Scientific Knights are not easy to deal with…”

“I really want that…” Ya Pingning nearly twisted off his Secretary’s arm: “I know.

Even if I offer my own persona, those Scientific Knights won’t spare me a second glance.

But that man’s brain, it could be my biggest opportunity.

If I could get his brain…

my brother, please give me some courage.

I need you to give me a push.”

“But ‘Xiang Shan’ is a Famed Hero who can annihilate Ulster even after losing most of his strength…” said the Secretary Officer.

“According to the Scientific Knights’ guesses about the ‘Mona Project,’ I am capable of controlling it!” Ya Pingning yanked the Secretary Officer’s arm down.

He said excitedly, “The Mona Project is just an inconspicuous one among many scientific projects.

Even if I offer my persona, there’s really not much hope following that route to ascend.

But if I get the brain of a Famed Hero, I can accumulate martial merit!

The endeavor that father is involved in now—come on, affirm me!”

The Secretary Officer shook his head, “Young Master, taking a comprehensive long-term view of the benefits versus the risks, the Meno Project is the most lucrative path for you.

It is my duty.

I must remind you…”

“That’s right, my dear little waste.” A drone hovered in front of Ya Pining Zhao.

A woman’s voice came from it, “Just do your own job honestly.

If everyone does their job well, the world will naturally become a better place.”

Ya Pining Zhao yelled as if he were talking to a child, “I really do want to work hard!”

“Not in that way.

To do well in the ‘Meno Project’ is the greatest contribution you can make to humanity!” the drone said, “You can go back and report the information now.

Next, I will disperse the drones to search for the trace of that ‘mountain’.”

…………………………………

“Ahhhh…”

Yuki suddenly let out a terrifying scream.

It seemed like he wanted to vomit, but his replaced digestive system didn’t initiate that response.

He was just lying on the ground, dry heaving continuously, tears and snot flowing.

“How does it feel?” Xiang Shan smiled, “How does it feel to absorb someone else’s memories for the first time?

I removed most thoughts unrelated to martial arts.

It should be acceptable, right?”

Yuki suddenly banged his head hard against the ground.

After a while, he gasped and lifted his head, “Master, every time you absorb memories, do you also feel this…

this…”

“No, not to that extent.” Xiang Shan shook his head, “I’ve gone through it more times…

perhaps the memories I originally had are dozens of times more than what I’m absorbing now.

A little memory won’t shake my spirit.

Of course, this is also what I’ve accumulated bit by bit over the years.

You can’t learn it in a short period.”

Yuki closed his eyes.

Just a moment ago, Xiang Shan had used a wireless transmission function to directly send a file of martial arts experience into his storage.

As soon as the file was downloaded, he couldn’t wait to start reading.

The segment of memory chosen by Xiang Shan belonged to Green Forest lackey Andy, about how to use a short blade to engage enemies in close combat.

The progress in cyber external martial arts for heroes is to be divided into three levels.

One is the evolution of the algorithm itself—continuously correcting the algorithm’s tendency according to experience accumulation, based on personal style and preferences.

Another is the biological brain’s imagination of “tactics,” the ability to apply the algorithm on a “tactical” level.

And the last is the degree to which the biological brain adapts to the algorithm.

The experience accumulation used to optimize the martial arts algorithm is a substitute for the “muscle memory” of natural people.

It is more precise than “muscle memory” and easier to control.

This doesn’t need to go through the biological brain.

What Xiang Shan transferred was related to the application of “martial arts” techniques.

What Yuki had just experienced were Andy’s combat scenes.

The scenes of killing with a knife.

“You have already familiarized yourself with close-quarters grappling.” Xiang Shan nodded and threw a half-meter long iron rod to Yuki, “Assuming this is a knife, and I am a human with most of my body intact.

Practice a bit, what do you think?”

Assistive lines appeared beside Xiang Shan.

Yuki nodded, then raised the iron rod, pointing it straight at Xiang Shan’s throat.

—If to quickly render a cybernetically enhanced person combat ineffective…

In Yuki’s mind, various graceful postures of long blades splitting open skulls came unbidden…

As soon as the tip of the iron rod entered the “air control circle,” Xiang Shan flicked it with his hand.

At this moment, the force applied by Xiang Shan, using the hand that Yuki held the rod with as the fulcrum, was equivalent to being on a lever that saved effort, allowing him to swat the rod away with less force.

Then, Xiang Shan executed a sliding step, dodged the iron rod, turned sideways, and with a bump, struck Yuki’s chest with his shoulder armor.

Yuki completely lost his balance and was lifted off his feet.

Before Yuki hit the ground, Xiang Shan lightly but rapidly tapped him dozens of times on the back of his neck, shoulder, and chest.

Yuki soon caught his breath and exclaimed, “Master…

it seems like you used more force…”

“No, it’s you who have gotten weaker.” Xiang Shan shrugged, “Did you realize just now?

Because your desire to attack was too strong, so when you attacked, you were too aggressive.

While preparing to swing the rod, your arm went directly behind, completely abandoning the ‘air control circle’ stance.

What followed was the footwork—you seemed to have completely forgotten the ‘Front Five and Back Five’ principle and the essentials of the sliding step.

If you had remembered the footwork, then my bump just now wouldn’t have lifted you off your feet.”

Confusion spread across Yuki’s face, then turned into sheer horror.

“Tell me, what were you thinking just now?”

Yuki lowered his head, “If I cut off the head in front of me, I win…”

Xiang Shan tapped the side of his head, “Understand?

Kid, you’ve been influenced.”