Chapter 288: Brother, It

The instant annihilation of the "Director" and his blood relatives was like a silent thunderclap, not only erasing the immediate threat but also etching into Xia Wan the most direct, most chilling understanding of Qin Feng's power. It was not mere killing, but a rule-based judgment akin to a god wielding the Book of Life and Death—cold, efficient, unquestionable.

She gathered her thoughts and followed Qin Feng into the forcibly breached secret laboratory.

The interior space of the laboratory was far larger than it appeared from outside, as if half a floor had been hollowed out. Cold metallic sheen dominated the palette; countless precise instruments emitted low, humming vibrations, and the air reeked of disinfectant, nutrient fluid, and an indescribable, sweetly metallic odor of biological tissue.

Rows of cylindrical transparent growth chambers stood in neat alignment, like icy tombstones. Most chambers were empty, but a few still held submerged "creatures" of varied, even grotesque forms. Some retained a rough human shape but with bizarre mutations—scaled skin, protruding bone spines; others had completely transcended humanity, resembling monstrous amalgamations of forcibly spliced genes, twitching and floating aimlessly in pale green nutrient fluid.

These were all failures of the Godmaking Project—or rather, sacrifices of the Shadow Council's flawed biotechnology.

Deep within the lab, several white-coated staff members who had been operating instruments had already collapsed to the floor, paralyzed by the sudden silence outside and the overwhelming aura of terror, trembling uncontrollably, lacking even the courage to flee.

Qin Feng's gaze swept over the growth chambers and the staff; his expression remained utterly still. To him, they were merely trash and insignificant ants needing clearance.

His attention settled on a massive, centrally located sealed workstation, its energy signature the strongest in the room. The workstation connected to multiple screens displaying complex genetic sequences and physiological monitoring curves. Behind it stood a separate silver metal case, protected by multiple energy barriers.

Inside that case likely resided the core data of the Godmaking Project, and possibly some original technical samples leaked from Pandora.

"Clear them out," Qin Feng told Xia Wan, his tone flat, as if instructing her to tidy a room.

Xia Wan understood: this was another test of her control over power, and a continuation of real combat.

She looked at the suffering experimental subjects trapped in the chambers, a flicker of pity crossing her eyes—but it was swiftly replaced by resolve. Their existence was itself an extension of error and pain; ending them might be a release.

She closed her eyes again, attempting to channel the vast bloodline power within. Unlike before, when she used song to disrupt energy fields, this time she needed a more "destructive" form of guidance.

She recalled the formless yet utterly dominant force Qin Feng had wielded when erasing the test subjects… She could not imitate that rule-level application, but she could try guiding her own power to generate a high-frequency vibration targeting the essence of life itself… Vibration Technique!

She raised her hands, palms facing each other; bloodline power accelerated through her arms, and an invisible ripple began spreading outward from her center.

At first, the ripple was faint, causing only subtle ripples in the surrounding air.

But as her focus sharpened, the invisible ripple surged violently!

Hum—!

A low, piercing hum instantly filled the entire laboratory!

The collapsed staff members, the moment the hum sounded, rolled their eyes back, foamed at the mouth, and collapsed into unconsciousness—their neural systems utterly shattered.

And even more astonishing were the growth chambers!

The reinforced special-glass walls, under this peculiar bloodline-powered vibration, began cracking with dense, spiderweb-like fissures; the nutrient fluid inside boiled violently and evaporated.

The sleeping or twitching failed subjects, subjected to this vibration targeting the essence of life, saw their tissues begin disintegrating and dissolving at the most microscopic level! Not a single cry escaped them—they were reduced within seconds to pools of murky organic sludge, settling at the broken chamber bottoms.

The entire cleanup was silent, swift, and chillingly efficient.

When Xia Wan slowly lowered her hands and ceased her power output, the laboratory was in ruins—but all living things had been eradicated.

She breathed lightly, beads of sweat glistening on her temples. Clearing so many targets at once had drained her spirit significantly. But feeling the bloodline power still abundant within her—and even slightly more subdued after this use—her eyes glowed with accomplishment.

She had done it!

She had completed the "cleanup" task entrusted to her, relying solely on her own power!

Qin Feng stood nearby, observing her performance in full.

"Control has improved. Range is acceptable. Precision is lacking," he offered his objective assessment, his tone still flat. "The essence of power lies in mastery, not release. Remember this feeling."

"Yes, Master!" Xia Wan replied respectfully, committing every word of Qin Feng's guidance to memory.

Qin Feng said no more. He walked to the central workstation. A whisper of Rule Force rendered the sturdy energy barriers and physical locks meaningless—they dissolved instantly. He retrieved the silver metal case and the hard drive storing all core data.

The primary objective of this mission had been achieved.

"Let's go."

Qin Feng turned and walked out.

Xia Wan cast one final glance at the laboratory, a biological Purgatory, suppressed her complex emotions, and hurried after him.

They retraced their path without obstruction. Other ordinary staff in the building remained unaware that a conflict beyond their comprehension—deciding their very lives—had just occurred on the top floor.

Outside, the black modified sedan still waited quietly by the side entrance.

They entered the car. It started smoothly, merging into traffic as if they had merely completed an ordinary business visit.

Inside the car, silence reigned.

Xia Wan watched the rapid-flowing streets of Luocheng outside the window—neon lights flickering, crowds surging—starkly contrasting the cold brutality of the laboratory. She felt as if what she had just experienced was a surreal dream.

But the tangible increase in power within her, and the clear memories in her mind, told her it was real.

She stole a glance at Qin Feng beside her, eyes closed, resting.

Today, she had witnessed her Master coldly erase enemies like a god; she had personally experienced the exhilaration of wielding her own power to complete a task. She had seen the fear and destruction power brought—and also the control and possibility it offered.

Her inner confusion seemed further dispelled by this trial by combat.

Suddenly, she felt that following such a powerful being—to learn, to grow, to face unknown challenges—might… not be a bad thing.

At least, he had shown her a path—a possible way—to break free from fate and seize control of her own life through her own strength.

The car moved through the night of the city.

Xia Wan leaned back gently against the seat, gazing out the window, whispering softly in a voice only she could hear, carrying a faint, barely perceptible dependence and relief even she had not fully recognized:

"Brother, it's good to have you."

The words were light, dissolving quickly into the car's silence.

Qin Feng, eyes closed, seemed to twitch his eyelashes—barely, imperceptibly.

Then, he returned to stillness.

As if he had heard nothing at all.