Chapter 89

"First question: how many members of the Gene Alliance were inside that alien spacecraft?" Ding Huan stopped attacking Xiao Qiang and asked instead.

Xiao Qiang remained silent, and Antonio, fearing Ding Huan, was even less willing to be the first to speak up.

The woman, however, snapped sharply, "Ding Huan, even if you have some ability, you cannot act violently within the Gene Alliance."

"The Gene Alliance has made tremendous contributions to the Human Corridor Defense Line; even Shi Alliance Leader has personally gone to the front lines."

"Oh? Then why did the Houshi Alliance leader only go after the Human Corridor Defense Line collapsed?"

"And I see your few people are quite strong—why didn't you go? How many true elites from your Gene Alliance even went?"

Ding Huan chuckled.

Nian Jinqing, having seen Ding Huan effortlessly crush Xiao Qiang, now understood clearly: Ding Huan's strength was beyond what the Gene Alliance could oppose—unless Shi Changqian and his top bodyguard, Leng Qi, returned.

To survive, he had to do more.

Thinking this, Nian Jinqing spat,

"The Gene Alliance sent not a single real person—just a few worthless nobodies to fill numbers; not one true expert went.

Shi Changyi went this time only because, as Gene Alliance leader, he had no choice. Another reason—I don't know it well, but I suspect it's tied to the spacecraft.

If the Gene Alliance leader had contributed to the defense line like Zhong Chi, the first strongest, the Human Corridor Defense Line might not have fallen."

"At least our Gene Alliance sent someone! Ding Huan, you're famous—why didn't you go?" the woman cried out sharply.

Ding Huan internally scoffed: nine-level-plus gene beasts? That was clearly untenable—was he supposed to go die?

He himself hadn't gone, yet he criticized the Gene Alliance leader for not going—because the Gene Alliance was different from him; the Gene Alliance enjoyed privileges and held extremely high status.

Why did everyone treat the Gene Alliance so well? Wasn't it all to fight the ferocious beasts?

The Gene Alliance accepted these privileges without shame, yet its experts refused to guard the defense line—that was what he despised.

If he had received those same privileges, he would have gone himself.

"Although Ding Huan didn't go, several of his disciples did."

"How many people from your Gene Alliance have earned the International Star Guard rank? Three of Ding Teacher's disciples earned it—why don't you mention that?"

Nian Jinqing, fully aware, immediately retorted.

"Wait… you just said my disciples went to the Human Corridor Defense Line?"

Hearing this, Ding Huan was startled. His disciples went to the Human Corridor Defense Line? He didn't know about this.

Nian Jinqing froze—was Ding Huan truly unaware, or was he pretending?

Still, he bowed respectfully and said, "Yes. Seeing Qu Yi earned a Two-Star Star Guard rank immediately; Fang Chong and Especially Ai Xi both earned One-Star Star Guard ranks."

Ding Huan immediately frowned. At that moment, he didn't even consider why Especially Ai Xi was also his disciple.

The main issue was: when had Seeing Qu Yi gone to the Human Corridor Defense Line?

Even if Seeing Qu Yi had exceptional talent, he'd only trained for a few months—was he really going to die on the front lines with such weak power?

Ding Huan, who had originally planned to head to Kunlun Mountain, now changed his mind—he must go to the Human Corridor Defense Line.

The Human Corridor Defense Line had already collapsed—what had happened to Seeing Qu Yi? And Fang Chong—he had high hopes for him too, and didn't want him killed by ferocious beasts.

"Ding Huan, I advise you to leave the Gene Alliance now. Everything else can wait until Shi Alliance Leader returns," the woman said, though inwardly she despised him.

Not knowing his own disciples went to the defense line? Hmph, what a performance.

"Qin Xiuxin, how Ding Teacher acts is none of your business to dictate."

Nian Jinqing spoke aloud, but inwardly felt Ding Huan might truly not have known his disciples went to the defense line.

If Ding Huan went to the defense line, did he still need to accompany Ding Huan to the Kunlun Mountains? Would Ding Huan still kill him if he went to the Human Corridor Defense Line?

"Qin Xiuxin? The Qin family?" Ding Huan glanced at Qin Xiuxin, puzzled—this woman resembled Qin Yi; he wondered if they were related.

"Correct. I'm from the Beijing Qin family," Qin Xiuxin said coldly; the Qin family's influence was not insignificant.

"My father vanished after going to your Qin family—do you know anything about this?" Ding Huan stared at Qin Xiuxin.

Qin Xiuxin showed no concern. "What does my Qin family have to do with your father vanishing? Don't ask me this—I'm with the Gene Alliance.

Now, we're discussing when you'll leave this place."

Ding Baishan went to the Qin family—she knew that. She told the Qin family not to give Ding Baishan any respect, then immediately informed the Gene Alliance that Ding Baishan possessed the Seleucid gene serum.

Ding Huan understood: this woman had been spoiled rotten, never once beaten by reality.

She probably thought herself invincible after reaching Level Four Gene Cultivator.

Ding Huan casually sent a wind blade toward her—he had no patience for her nonsense.

"Puff!" A splash of blood exploded.

Qin Xiuxin, even in death, couldn't believe Ding Huan had killed her.

"Ding Teacher, the two most important items inside that spacecraft—one is stored in the Federation International Museum, the other is in Alliance Leader Qu Weimin's hands…"

Antonio, seeing Ding Huan effortlessly kill Qin Xiuxin, dared not gamble anymore.

"Wrong—the item stored in the Federation International Museum has long been in Shi Changyi's hands," Nian Jinqing immediately countered.

As Ding Huan asked, "What item?" he felt an extreme sense of danger.

Without hesitation, he sidestepped swiftly.

Boom—boom—boom! Three bolts of blue lightning instantly pierced the space he'd occupied, tearing away a strip of his waistband.

Nian Jinqing lacked Ding Huan's ability—he was struck by the lightning, spat out a mouthful of blood, and collapsed, unwilling.

The wooden box in his hands scattered open, revealing the Starry Sky Blade he'd been carrying for Ding Huan.

Lightning technique? Ding Huan reached out—his hand snatched the fallen Starry Sky Blade from the ground.

Ding Huan fixed his gaze on Xiao Qiang, who had just attacked—he realized, to ask questions, he couldn't let Xiao Qiang stand there.

He now understood the blue lightning: it wasn't a technique like his Wind Blade Art, but a skill-gene.

This guy must have fused the electric eel's lightning gene—or another—yet he wielded those bolts so smoothly.

Had he not sensed something wrong and dodged in time, he'd have been critically wounded.

No matter how fast he recovers, whether he can escape from Xiao Qiang while suffering such heavy injuries is another matter.

"Xiao Qiang? You..." Antonio stared at Xiao Qiang, astonished and uncertain.

Although Xiao Qiang's cultivation level was higher than his, his status was truly not as high—he was, after all, the dean of Planet Academy, ranked second among the Top Ten Academies of Blue Star.

Xiao Qiang coldly glanced at Antonio. "Do you think that if I don't act, he won't kill us after asking his questions? Now, join forces with me—we might not lose."

Ding Huan touched the blade's back; it was his first time wielding a blade weapon.

On Changyi Continent, his weapon was not a blade, but a longsword.

After saying this, Xiao Qiang raised his hand again and slashed out a dozen blade rays—but before he could unleash his lightning arcs, he felt a chilling killing intent strike the back of his neck.

Ding Huan? How could he have appeared instantly beside his rear?

Xiao Qiang had no time to check Ding Huan's position—he twisted his body to evade.

"Puff!" Blood sprayed out; Xiao Qiang had avoided the vital spot.

Even so, half his body was drenched in blood, and one arm lay severed on the ground.

Ding Huan's Wind Riding Technique had taken effect; with the synergy of Wind Riding and spiritual sense, he appeared at Xiao Qiang's side in an instant, then struck with his blade.

If Xiao Qiang had not been injured earlier, he might have avoided this slash. His prior injuries had slowed his perception and movement by a fraction, allowing Ding Huan to sever one of his arms.

"Wait—I'll tell you everything I know!" Xiao Qiang said without hesitation, struggling to stop the blood gushing from his arm.

After suffering such heavy injuries, he knew he had absolutely no right to speak to Ding Huan.

"Good," Ding Huan said one word.

Xiao Qiang exhaled in relief—but before he could even staunch his bleeding, he saw a white flash slicing toward him again.

"You..." Xiao Qiang went mad with rage. Wasn't it agreed just now?

Unfortunately, he had no strength left to dodge Ding Huan's next strike—another burst of blood mist exploded, and Ding Huan's blade severed Xiao Qiang's head.

Antonio's face turned terrifyingly pale; before Ding Huan could ask, he forced his voice to steady.

"The thing left on Shi Changyi is strange—it looks somewhat like a fist, as if made of some material."

"But Shi Changyi claimed it was stored in the Federation International Museum under secrecy—yet the item should have been on his person. The other item is a cultivation technique, seized by the Martial Alliance."

"Second question: describe the Kunlun Ancient Ruins," Ding Huan picked up the box and placed the long blade inside.

It seemed he needed to forge a scabbard.

"Nian Jinqing certainly knows more than we do—the first to discover the Kunlun Ancient Ruins was Nian Jinqing," Antonio glanced at Nian Jinqing, killed by Xiao Qiang.

"Where is the Qi Stone of the Gene Alliance?" This was the question Ding Huan cared about most.

"Mine are right here," Antonio hurried to the side, opened his bag, and pulled out seven Qi Stones.

"What about Xiao Qiang's and this woman's?" Ding Huan asked.

"Xiao Qiang's office is next to mine—his Qi Stones must be there too. He never keeps them at his residence; he always carries them wherever he goes. I don't know about Qin Xiuxin's."

Antonio answered every question without hesitation.

Ding Huan raised his hand and sent several wind blades—Antonio's eyes flickered with grayish white; he knew Ding Huan wouldn't spare him, yet still clung to a sliver of hope. Indeed, he was killed.

Ding Huan did not go to Xiao Qiang's office—he walked to Xiao Qiang's side and tugged at the cloth cord around his waist.

Because his spiritual sense had just scanned the adjacent office and found no Qi Stones—only when it landed on Xiao Qiang did he realize the man had kept all the Qi Stones on his person.

Nearly twenty Qi Stones fell to the ground; Ding Huan counted them—nineteen in total.

Ding Huan searched Qin Xiuxin's body again and found four more Qi Stones.

This pleased Ding Huan greatly—he had collected thirty Qi Stones on this trip, and with the ones on Nian Jinqing, there were over forty now.

Too bad Nian Jinqing was killed—he had still had great utility; his death was a pity.

Regardless, I must go to the Human Corridor Defense Line—I hope Seeing Qu Yi and Fang Chong are unharmed.