It had been five hours since Lin Xiao received access to S.A.P.I.
He had spent that time immersed in the various forums, absorbing every bit of information he could find.
His photogenic memory made it easy for him to retain everything he read.
One forum thread caught his eye: "How to Fire More Efficiently as a Fire Domain User." While it didn't directly apply to his abilities, Lin Xiao found the discussions fascinating.
Users shared techniques for controlling and directing flames, maintaining stamina during prolonged use, and even integrating their fire abilities with martial arts.
The depth and detail of the posts showed the level of expertise within the community.
Another thread discussed a superpower user in the country of Aetheria who could predict the future.
This person, according to rumors, was kept in government lockdown due to the significance and potential danger of their ability.
Lin Xiao's mind raced as he read through the comments. He had experienced a vision of the future himself, a vision of a strange invasion.
Could this person have seen the same future? Did they know more about the coming threat?
Lin Xiao then came across a forum about a new ice superpower user in Zephyria. The thread detailed how rare ice-type powers were, and how this particular user had managed to harness and refine their abilities to an extraordinary level.
The posts included discussions on the challenges of controlling such powers, the importance of training in cold environments, and the unique applications of ice abilities in combat and everyday life.
As he continued to browse, Lin Xiao realized the immense value of the information available on S.A.P.I. It was a like goldmine of knowledge that could help him understand his own abilities better and prepare for future encounters.
The more he read, the more he felt connected to the wider community of superpower users, each with their own unique challenges and stories.
While Lin Xiao was browsing with his cats also looking at the screen, suddenly the whole page refreshed and a new forum came on top.
Lin Xiao saw it was named "Red Crystal - Stay Away From Them" by the Supernatural Association.
Lin Xiao was shocked. He quickly opened the forum, curious and alarmed.
The post described the effects of the red crystals and how dangerous they were. It emphasized that people should never touch them, as the crystals could cause non-domain users to gain a domain.
The more Lin Xiao read, the more he felt like the post was subtly encouraging people to touch the crystals.
It was almost as if the warnings were designed to pique curiosity and incite action rather than deter it.
The view counter on top of the forum skyrocketed, approaching 100,000 views in a matter of minutes.
Lin Xiao's suspicion grew. The language of the post seemed off, lacking the formal tone typical of official Supernatural Association forums that he read.
As he read further, his unease deepened. It felt like the post was manipulating readers, pushing them toward the very thing it claimed to warn against.
Suddenly, the whole website refreshed again, and the post was gone. Lin Xiao's heart raced.
He speculated that the website had been hacked and that someone was trying to make more people touch the crystals.
The implications were frightening. Whoever that was behind this had significant resources and malicious intent.
Lin Xiao quickly jotted down what he remembered from the post, trying to preserve any details that might be useful. He then decided to report this to Li Jing as he might be able to get some merits for reporting.
He messaged Li Jing, detailing the strange forum post and its content.
...
...
Li Jing received Lin Xiao's message and was alarmed. She was still at the facility where Wang Lei and the other captives were kept.
As she read Lin Xiao's description of the post, her concern grew. Without wasting time, she contacted Wang Yong and informed him about the forum post.
Wang Yong replied quickly, "We know about it. I just received the news myself. It was posted by an employee at headquarters in the capital. After posting it, he jumped off the building."
Li Jing was shocked. "Why? How did this happen?"
"I don't know either," Wang Yong admitted. "They are still investigating it. But it's clear that something is very wrong. For now, keep a close eye on the crystal and the captives. Make sure none of the scientists touch the crystal. Use memory alterations if necessary to ensure they don't. We can't afford any more incidents." With that, Wang Yong hung up.
Li Jing stood there, stunned by the gravity of the situation.
An employee posting a mysterious, potentially harmful message and then committing suicide, it was baffling and deeply troubling.
Why would someone go to such lengths, knowing the post would be deleted almost immediately? What kind of influence or power could drive a person to such an extreme act?
Deciding it was best to keep this information from Lin Xiao, given that he was still a minor and had already been through a lot, Li Jing composed herself.
She knew she had to follow Wang Yong's orders precisely.
She walked over to the team of scientists and researchers working on analyzing the crystals and the captives. "Everyone, listen up," she said, her voice firm. "You are not to touch the red crystals under any circumstances. If you even think about it, I will know, and there will be severe consequences. For your own safety and the safety of everyone here, do not touch them. Understood?"
The scientists nodded, some looking fearful, others curious. Li Jing then began the task of performing subtle memory alterations on each of them, ensuring they felt a strong aversion to the red crystals.
Once that was done, she took a deep breath and contacted Lin Xiao. She sent him a brief message: "Thank you for the information about the post. We are handling it. Stay vigilant and report any further strange occurrences. Don't go on S.A.P.I for a day or so. Stay safe."