Kapteyn's Star Metaverse year 110, 26th January.
Shawn's room was bathed in a soft, dim glow. The curtains swayed gently, letting in a whisper of the cool night air.
Lying on his bed, he ran his fingers over the Zhen Palace Spirit Key, its cold, mysterious texture sending a slight shiver through him. A mix of anticipation and nervousness stirred in his heart. Taking a deep breath, he pressed the Spirit Key to his right temple, closed his eyes, and let the familiar pull take over.
In an instant, his consciousness was transported to the Monolithic Palace on Kapteyn's Star.
The Monolithic Palace—officially known as the Meta Origin Palace—stood atop the highest peak of Meta Origin Mountain. According to Secretary General Quinn, there was a similar Meta Origin Palace on Earth, not far from Sunzen City.
Shawn had already decided—when he arrived in Sunzen for school, he would make time to visit it.
He was escorted to a meeting room, where several familiar faces awaited him. Seated at the long table were Mr. King, Secretary General Quinn, and General Sandy, whom he had met before, as well as Grand Sage Jay, whom he had only seen once via video. Alongside them were six or seven others—strangers to him.
"Shawn, congratulations! You did an excellent job!" Mr. King's hearty voice rang out from the head of the table.
Standing at the entrance, Shawn greeted them with a polite nod. "Hello, Grandpa King. Hello, grandpas, uncles, and aunts. What a coincidence—I was just talking about you when Uncle Quinn reached out to me."
Quinn chuckled. "Oh? And what exactly were you saying about us?" His tone was lighthearted, laced with curiosity.
Shawn's smile faded slightly as his expression turned serious. "It's about the same thing I mentioned before—the pendant my classmate wears. It looks exactly like the Gen Palace Spirit Key and Xun Palace Spirit Key that Meta Origin members York and Jordan have. The more I think about it, the stranger it seems."
"Haha… Now that's a real coincidence." Quinn motioned for Shawn to take a seat beside him. "We actually called you here today for that very reason. But first, let me introduce you to everyone."
One by one, Quinn introduced the attendees—leading experts in various scientific fields.
After a brief pause, his tone grew noticeably lower. "Shawn, we've analyzed your findings extensively. According to our experts, what you described would be impossible. Not only can a Spirit Key never be issued twice, but it also cannot be duplicated."
"Yes, we all find this highly unusual," an elderly scientist with a gray beard added, his gaze filled with curiosity. "Each Spirit Key is bound to an encrypted Soul Energy Spectrogram. In theory, every Spirit Key is entirely unique."
"But their pendants did activate during the exam," Shawn frowned, deep in thought. "And they claimed they were wearing Spirit Key medals."
For a moment, the room fell silent. Then, a woman wearing glasses spoke up. "That is indeed extremely abnormal. The bond between a Spirit Key and its first owner is established through a deeply integrated biological matching process. Essentially, the Spirit Key Spectrogram becomes embedded within the owner's genetic framework, forming a unique spiritual signature—one that cannot be replicated. Unless…" She hesitated. "Unless the original owner of the Spirit Key has passed away, and their Soul Energy has been transferred to the next life of a Soul Kin."
Mr. King leaned forward, resting his arms on the table. "Which brings me to another matter, Shawn…" He locked eyes with him. "It has been confirmed—you and Ms. Lucy are Soul Kin."
Shawn's eyes widened slightly. "I thought so! No wonder my birthday and Grandma Lucy's memorial day fall on the same date." Even though he had suspected it, hearing the confirmation still left him momentarily stunned.
"This aligns with the Law of Soul Energy Conservation, a principle confirmed through quantum mechanics," a young scholar sitting next to Shawn remarked. "Simply put, it proves that the soul is immortal."
Shawn didn't fully grasp the scientific intricacies, but he sensed this wasn't the primary issue at hand. Redirecting the conversation, he brought the focus back to the Spirit Key anomaly.
"There's something else I didn't mention before…" He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "During the exams, my Zhen Palace Spirit Key kept malfunctioning. But after the exams, it started working perfectly again."
Reaching into his pocket, Shawn pulled out his Zhen Palace Spirit Key medal, holding it up for the experts to examine.
A heavy silence fell over the room as the scientists exchanged puzzled glances, their expressions deep in thought.
Suddenly, General Sandy stood up, breaking the silence with his commanding voice. "I suspect our Soul Energy backend system has been hacked." His words carried the unmistakable weight of a soldier—direct and resolute.
"I've considered that possibility as well," the elderly expert with the white beard replied. "But our system is built with the most advanced technology available, and it's still classified. As far as I know, there's nothing on Kapteyn's Star capable of interfering with the Spirit Key network. Earth is a hundred years behind us in technological development—such an advancement shouldn't exist there, either."
"Then… could it be linked to the AGI-ST Program?" Grand Sage Jay, seated beside Mr. King, spoke slowly, his voice laced with caution. "We still don't know who's truly behind that project. And beyond that… we've long suspected that its ultimate goal extends beyond Kapteyn's Star and Earth." His tone grew more urgent as he finished.
"Even if some external force possesses more advanced technology, our first priority is to look inward for vulnerabilities," the young expert beside Shawn added. His voice was measured but serious. "Unless… a Spirit Key holder has willingly provided both their Spirit Key Spectrogram and their Soul Energy genetic signature to an outside entity."
Shawn's expression tightened. "That reminds me of something…" He turned to the young expert. "York and Jordan—the two members I mentioned earlier. At the discussion meeting that day, everyone else was actively engaged, but those two… they were different. They barely spoke. It felt like they didn't belong."
Mr. King leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. "That's a crucial detail," he said gravely. "This might be where we need to start."
Then, shifting gears, he addressed the room. "Ladies and gentlemen, we'll adjourn here for today. The situation is complex, and I ask you all to reflect on it carefully. As the saying goes, 'the higher the virtue, the greater the challenge.' For the sake of Kapteyn's Star, Earth, and all of humanity, we must continue to push our technological boundaries—to advance, but also to safeguard against the threats that come with progress. Thank you all for your dedication."
He rose to his feet and gave a solemn salute. One by one, the experts stood and made their way out.
As the room emptied, General Sandy approached Shawn. "Shawn, while the recipients of the eight Spirit Keys have been identified, the emergence of these so-called Gen Palace and Xun Palace Spirit Keys—ones we cannot verify as genuine—is deeply concerning. When you report to the Earth Meta Origin Society, I recommend delaying the unsealing process until we have more clarity on this matter."
"I agree," Mr. King affirmed, his voice steady. "Acting hastily could lead to even greater complications. We need patience."
Shawn nodded. "Understood. I'll inform them."
As they spoke, Quinn placed a hand on Shawn's shoulder. "By the way, I heard the Earth Meta Origin Society recently held nominations for the Grand Hierophant . . Has a decision been made yet?"
"I haven't received any updates," Shawn admitted. "Since I'm not an official member, I'm not in the loop on those details. But I expect news soon. It's really just a choice between Ranzi and Kent—they're both strong candidates."
"Yes," General Sandy mused. "Ranzi is a direct descendant of the Meta Hierophant. Though he didn't receive a Spirit Key this time, if he's elected Grand Hierophant , he'll be responsible for overseeing the Central Palace Spirit Key's allocation."
There was something in Sandy's tone—an unspoken weight regarding the Central Palace Spirit Key. It was clear that no suitable candidate had been found yet. But whatever coordination was needed, he chose not to elaborate, and Shawn didn't press further.
After a few more exchanges, the remaining individuals dispersed.
Shawn sat up in bed, gazing out the window as if searching for answers. Outside, a crescent moon hung in the night sky, veiled in shifting clouds. The soft glow fought to pierce through the mist, casting an aura of mystery over the landscape.
The mystery of the Spirit Keys is like that moon—hidden behind layers of uncertainty. We can't see the truth yet… but when the clouds finally pass…
"At least," he murmured, "there will be a sliver of light."
Buzz—
The vibration of an incoming message interrupted his thoughts. He glanced at his phone and saw a text from Jolie:
"Tomorrow morning, 8:00. The Source of Tao Wetland Park."