"Amitabha. This is good news." Yun Chen put away the golden slip resting in his palm and smiled.
Yunxi's lips curved slightly. "I am certain the resources of a secret realm can help us advance to the Out-of-Body stage."
Xun Kun relaxed a little. "Among the four of us, your cultivation speed is the fastest. You should be the first to reach mid Divine Transformation."
Yunxi admitted openly, "Recently I do feel close to a breakthrough. The serum is being refined bit by bit within me. I believe you two are not far behind."
"Amitabha. The reason we could progress so much in such a short time is thanks to the serum refined by Ran Xi. We really profited this time." Yun Chen was in excellent spirits.
Yunxi shook her head. "My serum only played a supporting role. Advancing in cultivation still depends on everyone's daily accumulation.
Besides, when we stopped the Evil Soul and Long Ya from escaping the sealing ground, the Heavenly Dao bestowed us with golden light of merit. That was the key to our rapid improvement.
Once there are no bottlenecks, the rest is spiritual energy, or demonic energy, accumulation. All of this comes from ten years of bitter battle at the sealing ground. I would not dare to take credit for it."
Hearing this, Yun Chen and Xun Kun nodded in tacit agreement. They had indeed sensed no bottlenecks during cultivation, just as Yunxi said. These gains were fought for by themselves.
At the helm of the flying boat, Han Lian naturally heard their conversation and agreed with Ran Xi's explanation. Still, it did not erase the serum's contribution. The truth was, teaming up with Ran Xi had been their good fortune.
Ten days later, the flying boat hovered above the research base deep in the desert. The four looked down in silence, then turned their gazes to Han Lian, since she had stayed here before.
"We will visit Professor Huang tonight."
That evening, in Professor Huang's private office, he was staring at the light screen, arranging the latest research data.
The base had suffered incident after incident lately, and he did not dare leave his office lightly. At his age, he still had to work late nights, which left him resentful. While reading, he muttered to himself, "Noske, that fool, actually covets immortality."
A crisp, abrupt voice sounded by his ear. "Professor Huang, you can only blame yourself. You secretly collected my DNA and ran tests. You even measured my age and just had to let Noske see your results. That is what stirred his ambition."
Professor Huang's heart pounded wildly, shooting up to one eighty. He looked up to see a familiar white figure, none other than Ms. Han Lian. Three companions in similar clothing stood beside her, studying him with curiosity.
Professor Huang sprang from his chair, face twisted with worry. "Auntie, why did you come back? Noske is searching the whole world for you. If he learns you came knocking, he will never let this chance slip. Leave, quickly."
Han Lian shot him a look. "Stop shouting. Call me Ms. Han Lian. I clearly look younger than you."
Professor Huang paced anxiously before the four. "Ms. Han Lian, this is no time to quibble. I am not trying to scare you. Take your companions and go. I have long been under Noske's surveillance.
And Captain Chen, he was taken away for destroying the research subjects."
Yunxi smiled. "Do not worry, Professor Huang. Since we dared come, we can guarantee we will leave intact. We came to tell you something."
Yun Chen and Xun Kun had already found seats. They closed their eyes and released their divine sense, probing every corner of the base. If they were going to set formations, there could not be a single mistake.
Affected by how calm the four were, Professor Huang slowly steadied himself and slumped back into his chair, deflated. "Ms. Han Lian, this began with me. If I had not collected your DNA without permission, it would not have drawn Noske's attention. He is a madman."
Han Lian sat opposite him and asked with a smile, "Are you not curious about the reason for my longevity?"
Professor Huang shook his head. "Not anymore. You are beings beyond Azure Star. With our current level of technology, we cannot reach you."
Yunxi stroked Li Li, who had poked its head out, and smiled. "At least you are self-aware."
Professor Huang sighed and went on, "Once Noske learned I had secretly collected your data, he confiscated everything about you and placed me under watch, forbidding me to leave easily.
Captain Chen lost you after being led astray by your tricks. When he returned, Noske subjected him to a full medical examination and restricted his movement.
For two years nothing happened. Then, one night in the third year, Captain Chen activated the self-destruct mechanism in the laboratory where the monsters were kept and destroyed all the specimens.
When the investigation traced it back to him, he denied everything. After that, the military took him away."
He paused and looked at Han Lian. "Were you the one who ordered him to destroy those monsters?"
Han Lian answered frankly, "Yes."
"But not long after those monsters were destroyed, a new batch arrived. The research still continues."
Han Lian frowned, then sneered softly. "And what did you discover?"
This time, Professor Huang shook his head. "Nothing at all."
Yunxi cut in, "How could there be results? Your priorities were reversed. It is a waste of time."
Professor Huang looked at Yunxi and swallowed. "You mean our research direction is wrong?"
"Yes. Moreover, we came to have you clear the place."
"What do you mean?"
Startled, Professor Huang shot to his feet again.
Han Lian waved a hand. "Exactly what it sounds like. By tomorrow, this base will disappear completely. You had better leave in advance. If you stay, you will vanish with it."
At that moment, Yun Chen opened his eyes. "Their people are coming."
Han Lian stood. "Professor Huang, pass my words to the base director, Noske. Make your own preparations to evacuate. If you refuse, bear the consequences yourself."
The instant Noske broke in with the base guards, the four figures vanished before his eyes, leaving him no time to give an order.
"Professor Huang, what is going on? How did those four get in? What did they say to you? Why did they disappear?"
Pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, Noske fixed Professor Huang with a sharp stare. He had known that watching Professor Huang would pay off. After five years, Han Lian had finally reappeared. This time, he would not let her go.
Facing the aggressive questioning, Professor Huang let out a cold laugh. "Ms. Han Lian knows you are researching the reason for her longevity, so she came specifically to warn us to stop and to withdraw from this research base."