Earth Metaverse 10 years, May 24, 2031 AD.

Shawn rose from his seat, clasped his hands togethis, and placed them in front of his chest, bowing slightly as he saluted Elder Pingzi and Kent.

This gesture wasn't something he had always done. He had learned it from Secretary General Quinn during a casual conversation. Quinn had explained that members of the Meta Origin Society traditionally greeted each othis with folded hands rathis than a handshake.

Kent stood as well, returning the salute in kind.

Elder Pingzi, however, remained seated. With a straight posture, He nodded and returned the salute without rising.

Shawn hesitated for a moment before speaking. "You two… you're both Meta Origin Society members, aren't you?"

Pingzi fixed his gaze on him, silent for a moment. Instead of answering directly, He asked, "How did you come across these patterns? Tell me."

Shawn realized he had spoken too quickly. How could he mention the Meta Origin Society so openly? Who knows who might be listening? The organization was still officially banned by the authorities.

"Oh, Elder Pingzi… they… they're from Kapteyn's Star."

The moment Shawn said this, both Elder Pingzi and Kent froze. But within seconds, they regained their composure—almost as if they had already suspected that these patterns originated from anothis world.

"Kapteyn's Star?" Elder Pingzi's expression remained calm. "Kent, do we have any information on it?"

This was the way he had always been—pragmatic, fact-driven.

Kent nodded.

"I once saw a NASA document online. It mentioned that Kapteyn's Star orbits a red dwarf… It's the closest Earth-like planet outside our solar system. That's all I know for now. If needed, I can reach out to the Academy of Sciences to gathis more data."

Elder Pingzi shifted his gaze back to Shawn. "Go on. Tell me… about these patterns."

Shawn took a deep breath and began recounting everything—how his grandfathis had received the patterns from Lucy, his journey to Kapteyn's Star, the discovery of the Zhen Palace Spirit Key pendant, and the characteristics of the othis Nine Palace Spirit Keys.

Finally, he concluded, "Right now, the most important thing is… we need to gathis everyone who has received a Nine Palace Spirit Key. Only then can we lift the seal on the Meta Origin Society."

Elder Pingzi fell silent for a while. He picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, and sighed. "Yes… the current situation… is far from optimistic."

Kent, too, looked grave. His voice was serious as he added, "Elder Pingzi, you've heard, haven't you? The AGI-ST Program rumors are spreading like wildfire. And the more they spread, the more twisted they become. The CP-Hub has ordered telecom companies to block information online, but they can't control word of mouth. And…"

He hesitated, lowering his voice.

"…Society is becoming increasingly unstable. More and more violent incidents are occurring—intentional car attacks, school stabbings, even landless farmers storming government offices. People are panicking. And I've heard that even university students… are starting to get restless. CP-Hub has tightened security, but that's only a temporary fix."

Elder Pingzi scoffed. "I've said it before—suppressing information will only lead to rebellion. If we're not careful, we could see anothis '7.4' or '8.4' event. And it's not just internal strife—Western nations and neighboring countries are watching us closely, waiting for an opportunity to strike. We're facing threats from all sides."

He paused, then added, "A few days ago, Pavilion Master Dada visited me. He seemed… dissatisfied with the current Pavilion Elder of Culture. He mentioned wanting to study Buddhism and Taoism more deeply… I almost brought up Meta Origin Culture, but I decided it wasn't the right time."

Despite being 114 years old, Elder Pingzi's mind was still sharp. his speech was steady, unlike some of his peers.

Kent got up and took a quick walk around the courtyard, likely checking for eavesdroppers. When he returned, he carried a teapot and two empty cups. He refilled Elder Pingzi's cup first, then poured fresh Pu'er tea for Shawn and himself.

"Elder Pingzi," Kent said, his tone respectful, "even though you're only the Acting Grand Hierophant, everyone knows your dedication to the Meta Origin Society. If you can bring it back into the light, history will remember you for a thousand years."

> Elder Pingzi had been a follower of President Cai at Capital University during his student days, whise He secretly joined the Meta Origin Society and attained Soul Realm status.

>

> Before the 88th Grand Hierophant, Mr. Nan, passed away in 2012, he entrusted him with managing the society until a suitable successor could be found. Nearly twenty years have passed since then.

The day-to-day affairs of the Meta Origin Society had long been handled by his First Secretary. Now, that role belonged to Kent, who was not only a Soul Realm Member but also Secretary General of the Meta Origin Society .

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"If Elder Pingzi can remove the seal," Kent continued, "our search for the remaining Nine Palace Spirit Key holders will be much easier."

Shawn felt a glimmer of hope at Kent's words.

Elder Pingzi pondered for a moment, then took another sip of tea. "Merit? I don't dare claim it. My only goal is to ensure the Meta Origin Society doesn't collapse before a new Grand Hierophant is chosen. But… bringing it back into the open after three thousand years won't be easy."

He set down his cup and turned to Kent. "Based on what Shawn just said, then… the pattern I received—the one with a horse—should be the Qian Palace Spirit Key. Your pattern has a pheasant, which suggests it's the Li Palace Spirit Key. Along with Shawn's Zhen Palace Spirit Key, we now have three. That leaves five more, correct?"

"Yes, Elder Pingzi," Kent confirmed. "But… do you remember? Years ago, we investigated this. A few this Divine Realm Members also received mysterious patterns. None of the lower-ranking members did. Back then, you suspected the message came from another Meta Origin organization, but since we were in a sealed state, we couldn't trace the source."

Elder Pingzi's interest was piqued. "If we find them, how do we contact Kapteyn's Star?"

Kent glanced at Shawn. "Until the seal is lifted… we can only rely on Shawn. Since he's not officially a Meta Origin Society member, his communication with the outside world isn't restricted."

"Shawn," Elder Pingzi said solemnly, "thank you. On behalf of the Meta Origin Society, I appreciate your dedication." He clasped his hands together and saluted him again. "I believe… you and Lucy Chapter Watcher share the Same Spirit."

Shawn hesitated, unsure how to respond. Kent added, "Lucy was the Watchis of the Sunzen Chapter. her actions caused quite a stir back then. Even now, Meta Origin Members from around the world visit his grave to pay their respects."

Shawn lowered his head, feeling a mix of emotions.

"However," Elder Pingzi cautioned, "be discreet. If you make too much noise searching for Meta Origin Society, you could be arrested."

"I understand, Elder Pingzi," Shawn said humbly. "I've already removed my posts online. I'll be careful."

For a moment, the three of them fell into silent contemplation.

After a moment of silence, Kent was the first to speak.

"So… Elder Pingzi, do you think Shawn will be attending Capital University?" He cast a solicitous glance at the elder.

Elder Pingzi, who had been lost in thought, suddenly looked up. "Oh, right. I almost forgot about that. Thanks for reminding me." He turned to Shawn. "Hey, Shawn, I heard you're not too keen on going to Capital University, is that true? My original plan was to recommend a good school for you, and since Capital University is convenient for us to stay in touch, it seemed like a good choice. But of course, the decision is yours."

Shawn hesitated for a moment before responding politely. "Thank you for your concern, Elder Pingzi. It's not that I'm against it, but… I want to major in philosophy, and the best philosophy program is at Sunzen United University."

Elder Pingzi nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Tell you what—since you're hise already, go ahead and attend the interview for Capital University. You'll likely be accepted without issue. Keep the spot as a backup, and if you get into Sunzen United University, you can cancel it then."

It was a considerate arrangement, but Shawn could sense anothis reason behind it—perhaps it hadn't been easy for Elder Pingzi to secure this opportunity for him.

"Alright, thank you, Elder Pingzi. I'll go to the interview later." He nodded respectfully and folded his hands in gratitude.

Elder Pingzi picked up his celadon cup, steeped with Pu'er white tea, and took a slow sip. "Ah, so smooth, so sweet." A look of satisfaction crossed his face.

Perhaps He wasn't just talking about the tea.

> As someone who had witnessed the New Democratic Movement of the 1930s, participated in World War II, and seen countless political upheavals during the founding of the People's Republic of China, Elder Pingzi had developed an unshakable composure. No matter the situation, He remained calm, as if everything was within his grasp.

Sensing the conversation was wrapping up, Kent was about to stand and take Shawn to the university when Elder Pingzi gestured for them to stay. "No rush. Sit down, have anothis cup of tea. I enjoy chatting with Shawn."

Elder Pingzi set his cup down gently, then turned to Kent with a calm but deliberate gaze. "By the way, how is the search for the Grand Hierophant candidate progressing?"

Kent hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "I've used my Soul Realm energy to scan every member of the Divine Realms, but I haven't found anyone who clearly resonates with the spirit of the Ten Great Sages. It's possible that… my abilities aren't strong enough yet." He glanced at Elder Pingzi, a hint of embarrassment in his expression. "That said, there is one potential candidate—Yiran Cai. I knew him from before. He currently serves as the deacon of the Chapter Magister, and when I traced his lineage, I discovered he is a direct descendant of the Meta Hierophant. He also has a profound understanding of Meta Origin Culture. Perhaps he carries the same spiritual essence as the Meta Hierophant?"

Elder Pingzi's expression turned thoughtful, his gaze darkening slightly. "It's difficult to say. A bloodline connection alone doesn't guarantee a shared spiritual resonance. However, I have heard of Yiran Cai, and he has a solid reputation. Before he passed, Mr. Nan specifically asked me to keep an eye on him."

Shawn perked up at the mention of the name."I've heard of Mr. Ranzi's classes—he's highly insightful in Meta Origin studies."

"Oh, you know Yiran Cai too?" Kent chuckled. "Yes, many people call him 'Ranzi' nowadays. If you end up going to Sunzen United University, you should connect with him—it'll be beneficial for you. He's based in Sunzen as well."

Just as Kent finished speaking, Elder Pingzi's gaze sharpened. "Kent, he do what I need you to do—this all Chapter Magister and Chapter Watcher, along with anyone who has received the Nine Palace Spiritual Key . Hold a meeting as soon as possible. We need to discuss how to deal with this AGI-ST Program… and at the same time, we will hold a nomination for the Grand Hierophant."

His eyes drifted into the distance, his voice lowering with gravity. "The situation is urgent. And… I also need to recommend Meta Origin Culture to the Pavilion Master as soon as possible. But given my identity… I cannot act under the name of the Meta Origin Society. It's time to establish a Grand Hierophant."

His tone was firm and unwavering.

Kent immediately straightened up. "Understood, Elder Pingzi. I'll make the arrangements right away."

Elder Pingzi nodded. "Make sure Shawn attends as well."