Chapter 862: Chapter 829 Consciousness and Memory

Doctor Chen is a middle-aged man in his early forties.

He left Ping’an Technology Research Base not long ago.

It wasn’t a voluntary departure; the research institute closed down, and he was left unemployed.

Having participated in significant research on supernatural events, he deeply understood the horrors hidden in this seemingly peaceful world. Thus, he decided he must plan ahead, believing that if he continued his research on supernatural phenomena, he would eventually die in some out-of-control supernatural study.

So, since he was fired, Doctor Chen took this opportunity to refuse other invitations. He also declined transfers to other research institutions and instead, moved to Dachang City with a few assistants.

He knew no person in charge, nor any Captain Level figures.

Luckily, Dr. Chen had once met Yang Jian and had a brief interaction with him.

Therefore, Doctor Chen pinned his hopes and future on Dachang City.

“Professor, I actually think we shouldn’t have come here. If we had transferred to another research institution, both our status and treatment would have been much better than here. Most importantly, Yang Jian is not enthusiastic about research on supernatural events; we certainly aren’t valued highly,”

Inside the dormitory.

Doctor Chen and two assistants gathered together for a conversation.

One assistant was grumbling discontentedly.

They were all bona fide top talents, whether in terms of diplomas, educational background, or work experience.

Yet they ended up just wasting time here.

This was an insult to them.

Doctor Chen, however, smiled and said: “It’s normal for you to think this way, but I have another idea. At least we don’t have to deal with those ghostly things all day long; we are safe. Haven’t you noticed that the public security in Dachang City is much better than in other places?”

“Yang Jian, the person in charge, is very well-known. Even the headquarters has to give him face. We were able to smoothly come to Dachang City this time because on the form under personal reasons, it mentioned planning to join Yang Jian’s company. Do you think the higher-ups would really let us go otherwise? Even if headquarters didn’t need us, they would arrange some idle positions to keep us on.”

“But that’s not a solution. We still need to think more about the future. These days, it’s not easy to find someone of Captain Level. Although other cities also have them, we don’t know them; how can we feel secure?”

“Also, don’t always be so arrogant. I know you are all highly educated research talents, but times have changed. Do you believe if you go around the office building across, you won’t find a bunch of people with qualifications like ours? Being undervalued is justified; that’s a Captain Level person; his company is so sought after by countless people.”

Doctor Chen was very patient in comforting his two assistants and students.

He was not a radical person.

Having studied research for many years, coupled with his age, his temperament was much more stable than Professor Wang Xiaoming.

“I don’t even know when Yang Jian will return to the company, it would be good if I could meet him, maybe I could still be useful,” Doctor Chen then sighed with some emotion.

It’s really not easy to meet someone at this level now.

Not to mention Yang Jian, even getting an appointment with his secretary is difficult, and one may not necessarily secure one.

“Zi Zi!”

However, at that moment, the lights in the dormitory suddenly flickered.

Following that, the surrounding light dimmed, and a scarlet light enveloped everything.

Doctor Chen and his companions immediately entered the world of the Ghost Domain.

“What happened?” an assistant immediately cried out in horror.

But the next moment, a cold voice echoed in the room: “I know you, last time at that research base you were researching with Wang Xiaoming. I am Yang Jian.”

Before the voice even finished, Yang Jian had already appeared in the room.

His appearance seemed to lower the temperature around them, an indescribable chill permeating the atmosphere.

“Yang, Mister Yang, hello,” Doctor Chen, astounded yet recovering, quickly stood up and reached out his hand.

As a researcher, he was quite familiar with the situation inside the Ghost Domain.

Therefore, facing the sudden appearance of Yang Jian, he wasn’t as panicked as expected.

Yang Jian did not reach out to shake hands, rudely refusing, indicating that strangers should stay away.

This was not deliberate, but for his own good.

For a living person to touch him in this state was not a good idea.

“No need for pleasantries, I have a question for you. How much have you researched about the consciousness of living beings?” Yang Jian directly cut to the chase as he spoke.

Doctor Chen’s spirit perked up when he heard these words, knowing that Yang Jian was testing his abilities and value.

Whether he could establish himself in Dachang City depended on this occasion.

After a moment of thought, Doctor Chen organized his words and said slowly: “Mister Yang, the main direction of researching human consciousness should be how to ensure that the consciousness of living persons isn’t eroded by supernatural influences. This subject has been pursued for a long time and has never been interrupted. I have also had the privilege of discussing it with Wang Xiaoming and Professor Wang, and we have reached some conclusions.”

“What were the results?” Yang Jian pressed.

Doctor Chen said: “The results are quite bad. Human consciousness is simply unable to stop the influence and erosion of supernatural forces. Ordinary people are too fragile and easily succumb to supernatural disturbances, resulting in death, madness, mental breakdown, and so forth.”

“Is that so?” Yang Jian was slightly disappointed.

Doctor Chen quickly added: “But we have also derived a terrifying conclusion from the files of Old Qin at the headquarters.”

“Oh, what conclusion?” Yang Jian’s interest was piqued, especially since he mentioned Old Qin.

It appears Doctor Chen knows quite a few secrets.

Doctor Chen continued: “I have only researched that special file, so I’m not certain about the correctness of this conclusion, but it’s quite startling. If human consciousness can’t defend against supernatural erosion, then why not simply let ghosts possess human thinking?”

“If a ghost possesses human thoughts, then is it the ghost manipulators controlling the ghost, or is the ghost controlling the human?”

Yang Jian’s eyes flickered.

This was indeed a terrifying conclusion.

“What did the research find?”

“It depends.”

Doctor Chen lowered his voice: “Mister Yang, you must know about the notion of ‘ghosts crashing’. I heard Professor Wang mention it recently. A ghost crash occurs in the process of supernatural opposing supernatural forces, causing mutual conflicts, forcing the ghost into a state of activity suspension.”

“If the ‘crashed’ ghost possesses human consciousness, then it’s humans controlling the ghost; inversely, if the ghost hasn’t crashed, or the crash isn’t thorough, then the ghost will erode human consciousness, resulting in the ghost controlling the human, and ultimately leading to death when the ghost revives.”

“But no one can guarantee that a ghost has definitely ‘crashed’, and even if artificial supernatural conflicts are created, it’s just a temporary suspension of the ghost’s actions, which might last a day, a year, or even ten years… or perhaps not as long as imagined, maybe just a few hours, or minutes.”

Upon hearing this, Yang Jian pondered for a moment and nodded: “Your conclusion makes a lot of sense.”

Perhaps, this is why powerful ghost manipulators eventually meet their demise.

The fundamental reason is that their ghosts have not crashed thoroughly enough.

Even if you transform into a different being and completely control the ghost, once the ghost recovers from its crashed state, you are doomed.

This is like a ghost manipulator possessing a lifespan, where the duration of the ghost’s crash determines the length of your life.

“So, after a ghost crashes and then possesses human consciousness, can it truly control a ghost? Then how do you answer the question: what exactly is human consciousness?” Yang Jian asked again.

Doctor Chen smiled, “What human consciousness? It’s just a stream of memories, plus a body that can be controlled at will. Information from the body feeds back to the brain, the brain processes it, and then forms memories; that’s what consciousness is.”

“So, consciousness is memory. If your memory can be preserved and remains undisturbed, then your consciousness exists, and vice versa.”

After pondering for a long while, Yang Jian asked the last question: “If my memory disappeared and then a same set of memories were rewritten into me, did I die or am I still alive?”

Doctor Chen was stunned.

He immediately understood what Yang Jian was really asking.

This question, when deeply contemplated, could have many different viewpoints.

“Of course, it counts as still being alive.” Doctor Chen answered earnestly.

“Good, I understand.” Yang Jian nodded, and then turned to leave: “I know what to do now, thank you for today. From now on, work as a consultant for my company. My secretary will discuss your salary with you, and it will be satisfactory.”

With that, he had already vanished from the room.

Soon, the red light faded away.

Everything returned to how it was moments ago.

Doctor Chen was not nervous, instead, both assistants looked nearly faint, covered in cold sweat.

In the presence of Yang Jian, they felt an inexplicable pressure.

It was the feeling one has in the face of death, or when facing a fierce ghost.

After all, they both knew that Yang Jian was someone who controlled as many as three ghosts, and if he lost control, it would be an unsolvable supernatural event.