[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-after-the-sky-fell":3,"chapter-after-the-sky-fell-after-the-sky-fell-chapter-813":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","After the Sky Fell",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2281669,4462,"Chapter 813: Researchers","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-813",813,"\u003Cp>The immortal dao warship sped through the sky, arriving at the coordinates in no time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, snow blanketed the ground, atop a mountain range at extreme altitude, with harsh climate and thin air—even bio-monsters refused to invade, making the environment a natural sanctuary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this place was unsuitable for human survival.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet in this very location, a stretch of mountains had been forcibly flattened by some force, upon which stood several fortresses crafted from nanometal technology, alien artifacts utterly out of place in this post-apocalyptic bio-world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The evolutionists from Earth had clearly come here long ago—they even left behind a garrison.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi stepped out of the immortal dao warship, scanning the surroundings, thinking to himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stored the warship inside his Red Gold Five Elements Bracelet, then flew toward the structures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High-energy anti-air cannons were positioned on nearby peaks; should any bio-monster approach, they would activate instantly—but Li Yi’s arrival triggered none of these defenses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead, as he neared one of the fortresses, a familiar AI voice spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Yi, welcome to Earth Base 17. I am AI Xiao Mei, delighted to serve you.” The AI here was named Xiao Mei, appearing as a cute little girl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does Earth have a backup database here? How does the AI even recognize me?” Li Yi thought, then asked: “Are there any other evolutionists from Earth here besides me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Mei smiled beside him: “Base 17 operates and is maintained solely by me and the intelligent robots. No evolutionists from Earth were assigned to take over Base 17.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So there really is no one?” Li Yi shook his head slightly, feeling disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“However, twenty days ago, an Earth evolutionist crossed over to this world and is currently in Sector One Rest Area,” Xiao Mei suddenly added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi’s interest sparked immediately: “Someone crossed over just twenty days ago? Who is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He assumed the person had come to retrieve him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m sorry, but Xiao Mei is prohibited from disclosing the individual’s identity,” said the AI.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Take me to them. I need to meet them,” Li Yi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course. Please follow me,” said Xiao Mei, her AI projection guiding Li Yi toward Sector One Rest Area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Li Yi followed the AI, he observed Base 17’s condition—he noticed many intelligent machines maintaining the base’s operations and performing other tasks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are those white-clad robots doing?” he suddenly asked, pointing at certain robots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They are research robots. They are developing a specialized virus targeting the bio-monsters of Base 17. If successful, we will release it to exterminate all bio-monsters in this world,” said Xiao Mei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So that’s how it is,” Li Yi froze in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a warrior with little formal education, he had only ever thought of killing every bio-monster himself—he’d never considered using a bio-virus to solve the problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this case, technology proved more effective than individual strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Has the research succeeded?” Li Yi suddenly asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’ve developed Black Death Virus No. 1. It can kill 99.99% of Base 17’s bio-monsters, but it also affects the world’s survivors. Thus, Black Death Virus No. 1 has not been released. We are currently developing Black Death Virus No. 2,” said Xiao Mei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi glanced at the AI in surprise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t expected the virus targeting bio-monsters had already been developed—only withheld out of concern for the world’s survivors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How long will it take to develop Black Death Virus No. 2?” Li Yi asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Mei replied: “Because the bio-monsters’ genes are highly similar to those of Base 17’s humans, developing a virus that kills only bio-monsters without harming survivors is estimated to take at least three years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Three years? Are there no other solutions?” Li Yi frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three years was too long—most survivors, except perhaps Du Peng and his group, would be dead by then, rendering the virus meaningless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If Base 17’s survivors cultivate the Evolution Method to alter cellular strength or inject gene-serum to modify their genetic sequence, they can become immune to Black Death Virus No. 1,” said Xiao Mei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s good news,” Li Yi nodded slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Mei continued: “Base 17’s satellites continuously monitor the survivors’ population. Once their numbers drop below the critical threshold, Xiao Mei will release Black Death Virus No. 1 and deploy flying robots to disperse biological and plant seeds, restoring the ecosystem and transforming this world into a new Earth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No wonder you’re artificial intelligence—you’ve considered every scenario,” Li Yi praised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This AI, Xiao Mei, possessed human compassion—willing to give the survivors a chance, hence developing Virus No. 2—yet also retained AI coldness: if the survivors were beyond saving, it would unhesitatingly release Virus No. 1 and cleanse the world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The key lay in whether the survivors could endure until the new virus was completed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, Li Yi believed releasing Virus No. 1 was inevitable, since Xiao Mei’s criterion wasn’t total human extinction, but population falling below a critical threshold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What that threshold was depended entirely on Xiao Mei’s assessment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now, no matter what, survivors would endure—because Li Yi had already taught the Evolution Method. At least those who trained diligently could escape the purge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then civilization could return to this world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After learning the base’s situation, Li Yi felt reassured—at least there was now a viable plan to exterminate the endless bio-monsters. The future was not hopeless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, under Xiao Mei’s guidance, Li Yi arrived at Sector One Rest Area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To his surprise, the rest area was not empty—it held dozens of people. A quick glance revealed at least forty or fifty, all dressed identically, with nearly identical builds and faces, like clones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You said there was no one here,” Li Yi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He is not an Earth evolutionist—he is a native of Base 17, working here in research,” said Xiao Mei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Researching the virus?” Li Yi asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. He is the subject.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Mei smiled: “Developing the Black Death Virus requires genetic samples from local humans. He is our most exceptional specimen—extremely cooperative.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, the dozens in the rest area turned their heads simultaneously, fixing their gazes on Li Yi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You didn’t need to clone so many people,” Li Yi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He is not a clone. He is one person—a unique anomaly with ultra-rapid cellular regeneration. He has split himself into multiple bodies, learned the Evolution Method, and reached the Spiritual Tribulation realm in a short time. His individual power is too great for Base 17 to expel, so he is permitted to remain here,” Xiao Mei said, still smiling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If it’s out of control, just say it’s out of control. Has the AI learned to hide its own mistakes?” Li Yi said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, the AI had taught the Evolution Method to study its connection with the Black Death Virus—but lost control, resulting in this unmanageable subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reaching the Spiritual Tribulation realm was an astonishing feat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Base 17, he was invincible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Li Yi couldn’t understand why this subject’s cultivation speed was so terrifying—given the base’s recent establishment, time couldn’t have been long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A native of Base 17, rising from nothing to Spiritual Tribulation realm—this was no different from cheating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Mei’s smile vanished as Li Yi exposed her oversight, replaced by a pained expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Yi had no time to care for the AI’s feelings—he walked toward the research subject, wary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps sensing Li Yi’s strength,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>something unexpected happened: Li Yi watched as two identical figures approached each other, their bodies glowing brilliantly—cosmic energy erupting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, the two figures merged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yi himself froze, witnessing the fusion with his own eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Spiritual Tribulation cultivators could reshape their bodies beyond normal flesh, he had never seen two bodies merge like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After merging, the two became one again—appearance and build unchanged, only their aura altered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With more cells and greater cosmic energy, the new individual’s power had increased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this was far from over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others began merging too—two into one, four into one. The number rapidly decreased, yet a powerful aura blossomed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Clone technique?” Li Yi watched curiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. This is Bio-Splitting Technique.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Mei leaned in again: “I named it. Through ultra-rapid cellular regeneration, he continuously splits into new selves, connected by soul-link, sharing identical thoughts and behavior. But as his numbers increase, his cultivation speed multiplies. Forty-five individuals mean he cultivates at forty-five times the normal rate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn, that’s cheating!” Li Yi was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You could do this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Split yourself, let your clones cultivate, then merge back and double your power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was insane.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If this guy went into immortal cultivation, what would happen?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the man continued merging, his body density increased, his internal energy strengthened—now exceeding the Spiritual Tribulation realm’s limit, his power doubling repeatedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of monster had Xiao Mei created in this world?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, the man remained rational. Though immensely powerful, he did not act recklessly—he even smiled at Li Yi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Earth-crossing visitor, hello. I am Li Ruhai, a researcher at this base. Pleased to meet you,” Li Ruhai grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, through Xiao Mei, he had learned much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello. I am Li Yi,” Li Yi nodded slightly in greeting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1516,"2026-06-20T01:27:08.613Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f64826f3a63364cafbf19dba21c7b04a237f8481f0e071d0329e04fd9b38588f","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-814","after-the-sky-fell-chapter-812",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fafter-the-sky-fell-cover.jpg"]