Chapter 172: Thunder Flame Fighting Ape Gene Chain

Listening to the audio intercepted by the Splinter Deployment Armor, Li Yu's expression gradually turned peculiar. Was Peyton intentionally provoking Card Master?

Did he want Card Master to kill him?

"Do you really not want to kill me?" Peyton finally could not hold back. He had narrowly escaped Li Yu's demonic clutches, and the embrace of death was right before his eyes, yet he was just one step away.

"Heh..." Card Master sneered. What an idiot. After failing to intentionally provoke him, the man had just laid it all out in the open.

"Why would Your Excellency have such thoughts? How could I possibly want to kill you?" he asked in feigned confusion.

Peyton shook his head in frustration. He opened his Compressed Space, took out the Thunder Flame Fighting Ape Biological Material, placed it on the dissection table, and flipped the switch.

Peyton's Gaze shifted slightly, suddenly becoming sharp. The aura he gave off felt completely different. "Fetch me the Ape-Eating Tree Solution at a concentration of 5.36323 percent, along with the Sand Gu Bug Blood Solution at 10.45245 percent."

Peyton's very first sentence made Card Master frown. "Those two solutions will trigger a lytic reaction, causing the Gene Chain to completely collapse."

"That is only if the proportions are uncontrolled," Peyton replied, shaking his head. "Precisely controlling the ratio between the two will actually enhance the stability of the Gene Chain."

"How could that be..." Card Master muttered in disbelief, though his body honestly moved to retrieve the two solutions. A faint sense of inexplicable anticipation swelled in his heart.

If this was true, then today might just be the day he struck it rich.

Ratios of this caliber were closely guarded secrets. Proportions precise to the fifth decimal place required an astronomical cost and immense time to discover through experimentation. They were never circulated in the outside world.

Various machines powered up. The delicate equipment that Card Master usually handled with extreme care now roared hysterically under Peyton's operation.

.........

Li Yu nodded in satisfaction. After stepping out of the restroom, he had completely altered his appearance. He headed down to the first floor of the Tyron Tower, found a random spot, and began browsing the Interstellar Network.

"Famous Interstellar Singer Firefly's Past as a Slave Exposed! Her Tragic Experiences Move Many to Tears!"

"Suspected New Biological Virus Appears in the Return Star Civilization, Possibly Linked to No Man's Land."

"Opto-Electric Technology Announces Successful Development of New Optical Computer! Mechanical Cyborgs May Have New Brain Organ Options."

Various news headlines flashed past Li Yu's eyes, a few of which managed to catch his attention.

The Return Star Civilization was a super-massive civilization within the interstellar space and one of the four founding members of the Civilization Alliance. They held immense authority across the galaxy.

He clicked on the report regarding the Biological Virus. A massive array of photos and videos instantly popped up, surrounding him and playing on a loop.

However, the audio was isolated so only he could hear it. Anguished wails mixed with savage roars. Within the shaky camera lens, a terrifying Zombie as massive as a mountain was flailing its thick tentacles.

"...A rare Biological Virus has broken out on Xinho Star in the Teuton System of the Return Star Civilization. It is reported that this Biological Virus recently appeared in No Man's Land."

Li Yu watched a few videos, becoming increasingly certain of his guess. That was clearly the T-virus Variant.

'How did it end up in the Return Star Civilization... And its Evolution speed is way too fast,' Li Yu pondered. The footage already showed a tentacled Zombie the size of a mountain.

Only large-scale weapons of mass destruction could even manage to damage it.

Not long after, he found his answer—

The Return Star Civilization had raised objections to the Star Glory Empire's newly drafted "New Interstellar Trade Agreement," sparking joint protests from numerous civilizations within the Interstellar Alliance.

Since the Return Star Civilization was singing a different tune, the Star Glory Empire naturally retaliated without any politeness.

Li Yu did not pay it much mind, though he was slightly surprised. He wondered just how much destructive power the T-Virus could unleash in this universe.

The Evolution of the T-virus had clearly undergone artificial intervention by the Star Glory Empire, meaning the empire likely possessed the means to contain it.

After instructing Claptrap to keep an eye on the situation, Li Yu stopped paying attention to the news.

Time passed swiftly. Interstellar Travelers continuously came and went through the Tyron Tower. Li Yu purchased a few more metric tons of Star Sand. His Sand Worm, having entered its growth phase, devoured Star Sand at a staggering rate.

The batch he previously had Mangu purchase was already consumed entirely, so Li Yu figured he might as well bring some back while he was out.

"Master, targets spotted..." Claptrap's voice snapped Li Yu out of his web surfing. He raised his head and locked onto Boiling Blood and his group amidst the crowd.

Their appearance was simple and unadorned. Just like last time, they were draped in black robes to conceal the distinctive features of their Armor.

Given the sheer variety of Interstellar Races, which came in all sorts of bizarre shapes and sizes, an outfit like this would never attract unwanted attention.

They moved with clear purpose, heading straight for the seventy-fifth floor. Li Yu's eyes narrowed slightly. Were they going to find Peyton?

Boom!

Card Master's door was forcefully blasted open. Boiling Blood led his group straight inside without encountering any resistance. Card Master was standing next to Peyton with bloodshot eyes, his gaze entirely filled with fanaticism.

"Who is he?!" Boiling Blood demanded coldly. As the first client to visit after Card Master opened his doors, Peyton inevitably fell under suspicion.

No one answered. Peyton kept his head down, wholly focused on modulating the Gene Chain. In moments like this, he would never let outside factors disturb him.

Seeing no response, Boiling Blood's expression turned ugly. Nobus let out a loud shout and smashed his fist into the thick glass of the Laboratory.

Crack!

Spiderweb-like fractures spread outward from Nobus's fist, rapidly covering the entire glass wall.

Inside the Laboratory, Peyton furrowed his brows slightly. His movements suddenly sped up by a fraction. Accompanied by a loud crash, the glass wall completely shattered.

Right at that exact moment, Peyton placed the test tube in his hand into the sealing machine.

"Thank goodness no bacteria got in..." Card Master breathed a sigh of relief. His eyes then abruptly turned vicious. He snapped his head around and enunciated every single word, "Who the hell let you in here?!"

"Who is he!" Boiling Blood demanded once more.

"A client," Card Master replied coldly.

"A client?" Boiling Blood scrutinized Peyton. "We are taking him with us."

"I'd like to see you try!" Card Master's attitude toward Peyton had completely shifted. He had witnessed the entire process of Peyton modulating the Gene Chain just moments ago.

This was no random passerby; this was undeniably a true master. Moreover, Peyton had shown no signs of hoarding his knowledge, answering every single question Card Master had.

Just now, he had completely grasped how to craft the Thunder Flame Fighting Ape Gene Chain. Although he still needed a few trial runs, it was exceptionally precious experience.

Masters of such noble character were a rare sight these days. Card Master had utterly submitted to him in admiration.

With a wave of his hand, the entire room rumbled continuously as the sounds of mechanical transformation echoed from all directions.

In the very next second, twenty mounted Turrets hung upside down from the ceiling, while ten hovering gun batteries rose from the ground. A dark energy array of floating modules wove together to form a pitch-black Shield.

Countless high-tech Weapons simultaneously took aim at Boiling Blood and his crew. Energy charged at terrifying speeds, putting a battle on the verge of breaking out.

The weaponry he had held back when facing Li Yu last time was now fully deployed to protect Peyton!

Boiling Blood and his group instantly went on high alert. Their Armor's Defensive Devices activated to form barriers while their Combat Systems blared nonstop with High-Energy Alerts!

"Do you want to start a war?"

Boiling Blood could not fathom why Card Master was so agitated. He had only been testing the waters just now and had no genuine intention of actually taking Peyton away.

Gelo was definitely a B-Class Lifeform, and Kansa had no reason to take the risk of modulating a B-grade Gene Chain here. While instinct made him suspicious of Peyton, the man's actual likelihood of being involved was low.

Unfortunately, he did not know the name of this specific Gene Chain. If he did, he would not be thinking this way, because the Thunder Flame Fighting Ape Biological Material had been personally delivered by him!

Peyton's Gaze lit up slightly once more. He patted Card Master's shoulder and spoke calmly, "There is no need for this. If they wish to take me away, let them."

Hearing this, Boiling Blood's heart skipped a beat. He stared at Peyton with suspicion. Why was he being so cooperative?

After pondering for a moment, he ordered, "Harry, go collect his Gene Sample and run a comparison."

"Yes..." A man with a sour expression stepped out from behind Boiling Blood. Trembling under the aim of numerous gun barrels, he walked toward Peyton, preparing to conduct various genetic extractions.

Peyton's Gaze grew brighter and brighter. He parted his lips slightly, seemingly about to say something.

However... his body suddenly stiffened. He felt as though his jaw had been clamped shut by something, rendering him entirely unable to speak.

Right at that moment, another Mercenary behind Boiling Blood suddenly spoke up. "Captain, we've discovered Gelo's trail in North District Fifteen, and Kansa is with him!"

"What?!" Boiling Blood's pupils contracted. Without another word, he immediately turned and marched out, leading his entire group away.

Suddenly abandoned, Harry stood frozen in place. He looked around in bewilderment. Met with Card Master's menacing glare, he offered a hollow chuckle, lacking the courage to continue collecting the genetic traits.

Peyton's body remained completely rigid, controlled by the Splinter Deployment Armor. Li Yu's voice echoed faintly in his ear. "You weren't thinking about exposing my identity just now, were you?"

Peyton felt the restriction on his jaw vanish. He shook his head. Without showing the slightest hint of anger or disappointment, he sighed. "No, I purely wanted to provoke him earlier."

"I just had the feeling that he might be able to kill me."

Hearing Peyton talking to himself, Card Master felt a bit confused. Nevertheless, he respectfully retrieved the Thunder Flame Fighting Ape Gene Chain from the sealing machine and handed it over to Peyton.

Peyton's hand uncontrollably reached out to grasp the Gene Chain before his legs moved to carry him outside. Card Master's expression flickered hesitantly, but in the end, he respectfully escorted Peyton out.

For a brief second just now, he had even felt the urge to force Peyton to stay. He had a strong premonition that this man was capable of modulating far more than just B-grade Gene Chains.

Judging by the profound familiarity and ease with which Peyton operated, he might even be able to modulate A-Class Gene Chains. What an unimaginable treasure that would be.

An A-Class Gene Chain... Card Master did not even dare to dream of it. It was a pity... he acutely understood that the power standing behind a figure like this was not something he could afford to provoke.

And that Crazy Person... who on earth was he? To actually be capable of commanding such an incredible figure to serve him.

"Thanks."

On the first floor of the Tyron Tower, Li Yu casually slung his arm around Peyton's shoulders. The Thunder Flame Fighting Ape Gene Chain slipped seamlessly into his possession as the two men walked out of the Tyron Tower side by side.

"Sigh..." Peyton let out a long breath, seeming considerably more despondent once again.

"Don't look so miserable. You still have plenty of wonderful times ahead of you," Li Yu teased happily.

.........

Troll Star. Fierce winds howled beneath a dark red sky, sending fist-sized rocks tumbling across the ground.

A multitude of massive Trolls had gathered around the Judgment Platform constructed from giant boulders. Some had blue skin, while others had red skin.

Only a scattered few possessed intertwined red and blue skin. These individuals all held exalted status, and almost no one dared to approach them.

At this moment, all the Trolls were raising their heads. With eyes brimming with fury, they glared at the Judgment Platform and unleashed wrathful roars.

"Kill him!"

"Traitor!"

A Troll knelt upon the platform. His body was tightly bound by heavy iron chains, his hands restrained behind his back, and his messy hair draped over his forehead.

"Silence!"

A mottled stone chair floated over. The Troll seated upon it no longer looked young, yet his majestic visage instantly rendered the other Trolls as silent as a winter cicada.

"Ever since The Emperor descended upon Troll Star, to show our utmost respect, the Troll clan abolished the position of Chieftain. The Elder Council now handles all affairs on Troll Star..."

He rambled on with a long string of empty pleasantries. Even though some Trolls grew impatient, they had no choice but to listen in silence.

"...Sinner Tu Rui, you purchased the juvenile hearts of our own kin, resulting in the tragic deaths of two innocent Troll children. Do you plead guilty?!"

The elderly Troll bellowed, his voice echoing across the entire venue.

"I..." Tu Rui lifted his head. His hair clung to his forehead, but through the gaps in the strands, he could clearly see the Trolls who were glaring at him with pure hatred.

He could understand their anger. He knew perfectly well that what he had done was an ultimate betrayal to their kind.

Trolls already had difficulty reproducing, meaning their population was inherently small. Coupled with the fact that the Star Glory Empire forcefully drafted a portion of them every year, the Troll population had been steadily declining year after year.

Because of him, two Troll children had been butchered by poachers. That was a colossal sin.

However, understanding their rage did not mean he felt regret. If he could do it all over again, he would still make the exact same choice.

"I plead guilty..." Tu Rui's voice was completely flat. He was long prepared to face death, except...

"Where is my son..."

"Son of a sinner!"

"Kill him!"

"Kill him!"

The surrounding Trolls erupted into a cacophony of shouts. Most of them had never received any systematic education; in fact, right before the Star Glory Empire's arrival, the Trolls had only just begun to develop tribal structures.

And the Star Glory Empire certainly did not want them to be educated either. How could they be controlled if they grew smart?

The elderly Troll frowned slightly and continued, "His son is but a child and knew nothing of this. He is temporarily deemed innocent and shall be adopted by me."

This verdict somewhat exceeded the expectations of the other Trolls. They looked at each other in dismay, their voices abruptly weakening.

"Haha..." Tu Rui burst into loud laughter, staring at the Grand Elder with mocking sarcasm.

"Commence the Execution!" the Grand Elder roared furiously. The mottled stone chair then slowly floated away from the area.

A Troll carrying a mechanical Broadsword on his back stepped forward. His physique was extremely robust, boasting ferocious, bulging muscles. He raised the Broadsword and paraded around the platform, forcefully pounding his own chest, which immediately drew waves of wild cheers.

When the Troll caught sight of the Grand Elder's grim expression, his movements instantly stiffened. He sheepishly scurried over to stand behind Tu Rui. The mechanical Broadsword reflected a metallic gleam as he moved with clean, resolute precision.

"Hyaaah!"

Slash! The blade fell mercilessly. Tu Rui's severed head rolled across the Judgment Platform with a thud, his eyes glaring wide in fury as his final thought scattered with the wind.

'I'm sorry, I couldn't wait long enough to take care of our son after all... Li Yu, I hope you... you absolutely must come, I beg of you...'

The Trolls below the platform erupted into triumphant cheers. There was only a single Troll with a complex expression—a mixture of sorrow and joy—who tightly gripped the Smart Terminal resting in his robes.