Chapter 102: Star Transmission Tower

"Oh?"

Lin Qing couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, sizing up Chen Guang. "So certain?"

Chen Guang spoke slowly: "Before your gene awakening, you already unlocked all third-tier gene abilities of the Celestial Orb Sovereign bloodline, and even cultivated the original 'Zizai Body' to the instinctive level—such potential, the Star Transmission Tower will inevitably recognize you."

"How do you know I unlocked all third-tier gene abilities of the Celestial Orb Sovereign?" Lin Qing asked, puzzled.

"So you didn’t know?" Chen Guang said. "To unlock the core gene ability of any bloodline tier, you must first unlock all other abilities within that tier."

"I see..."

Lin Qing finally understood, shaking his head. "The bloodline evolution method doesn’t mention this."

"Most people, even after injecting the bloodline evolution serum and practicing the bloodline evolution method, can only unlock one or two gene abilities," Chen Guang said. "It’s not common knowledge—no mention is normal."

Lin Qing nodded in understanding.

"Fortunately, you have the 'Instant Light' ability—otherwise, even fourth-tier gene abilities wouldn’t suffice," Chen Guang murmured.

"Luck," Lin Qing admitted—he understood this too.

His movement speed of dozens of Machs far exceeded even a Patrol Envoy’s by more than a tenth.

It was only because of Instant Light that his body could momentarily transform into energy, achieving this terrifying speed—and during energy transformation, he couldn’t affect reality, only sustaining it for an instant.

Thus, it was only suitable for escape or gaining the initiative.

Lin Qing stood at the entrance to the core control room, observed carefully, confirmed everything was clear, then stepped quickly into the dim control room, glancing around to find nothing but unfamiliar equipment and instruments everywhere.

He asked, "Where’s the Star Transmission Tower?"

"Look."

Chen Guang tapped a finger against the wall; a metal panel slid slowly aside, revealing a hidden compartment.

Inside the compartment lay stacks of documents.

But no crystal tower was to be seen.

"I don’t see it?" Lin Qing frowned.

Chen Guang pointed inside the compartment. "The Star Transmission Tower is embedded within the alloy plate behind it, cast as a single unit—equally durable as the laser channel. Your Intangible Edge can’t damage this grade of alloy."

She glanced at Lin Qing. "But if you approach within about thirty centimeters, the Star Transmission Tower will sense you. After successful recognition, it will dematerialize and merge into your body."

Lin Qing asked, "If it can merge into the body, why did Dr. Chu Hui go to such lengths?"

"Father said there are powerful beings in the Urban Circle capable of forcibly scanning inside a person’s body—hiding it inside isn’t safe enough," Chen Guang said. "That’s why he devised this method to conceal the Star Transmission Tower."

Lin Qing understood.

Even if an enemy broke in and searched, found the compartment, they’d assume it was meant to hide these classified documents.

In truth, the Star Transmission Tower was hidden inside the alloy plate.

"Clever."

Lin Qing nodded slightly, then sighed. "But I still don’t know what the Star Transmission Tower actually does."

Chen Guang said: "The Star Transmission Tower’s primary functions are trial and inheritance—to cultivate and select suitable divine office candidates."

"Divine office candidates?" Lin Qing looked confused.

"If you were at the Patrol Headquarters, once you reached the level of Patrol Envoy, you’d learn these things."

Chen Guang glanced at him. "You know, the origin of combat methods stems from starry evolution paths, right?"

"A little," Lin Qing nodded.

Chen Guang said: "These evolution paths are, in essence, various 'starry divine offices.'"

She paused. "For example, my father once held the basic divine office of 'Scholar,' and after breaking genetic limits, he assumed the primal-level divine office of 'Gene Prophet'—that’s why he achieved such mastery in genetics."

"Scholar? Gene Prophet?"

Lin Qing said with interest: "Who defined these professions?"

Chen Guang shook her head. "I don’t know."

"Aren’t you the Star Transmission Tower’s intelligence?" Lin Qing glanced at her.

"My creation was solely to guide candidates along the path of divine office."

Chen Guang said: "Any Star Transmission Tower candidate can, at any time, completely erase my consciousness—equivalent to a factory reset, restoring me to initial settings and allowing a new image to be set. When Dr. Chu Hui obtained me, I was in initial state—he awakened me, named me, designed my appearance, and instructed me to call him Father."

"I see..." Lin Qing understood.

"In short, starry divine offices are the strongest, most potent evolution paths in the cosmos."

Chen Guang said: "On Earth, nearly all combat methods, cultivation techniques, and gene serums largely derive from the requirements or derivatives of these starry divine offices."

Lin Qing fell into thought.

No wonder—after the apocalypse ended, only decades passed before combat methods, technological artifacts, and gene technologies emerged everywhere.

He’d originally thought they came from extraterrestrial civilizations; now it seemed... mostly due to starry divine offices? "Of course, the Star Transmission Tower merely trains and hones you."

Chen Guang said: "It cannot grant you direct divine office appointment. Think of it as a vocational training institution—it increases your chance of obtaining a starry divine office by tenfold, even a hundredfold."

Lin Qing nodded slightly, grasping the tower’s importance, then asked: "Approaching thirty centimeters is enough for recognition?"

"Yes. Just extend your hand into the compartment," Chen Guang said.

Lin Qing hesitated, not rushing to recognize it. He glanced back at the control room door. "How long does recognition take? Should I close the door first?"

He remembered Chen Guang saying that after disabling the laser defense, the control room door would open—and only after the door closed again could the laser channel reactivate.

One of them had to be off at all times.

But he hadn’t found the door-closing button.

And this sliding door couldn’t be forcibly shut.

"Can’t be closed."

Chen Guang shook her head. "You forcibly breached the laser channel without Father’s bio-crystal—you can’t take control of this room. But in twenty minutes, the control room door will automatically close, and the laser channel will reactivate."

"So if I’m locked inside, I can’t open the door from within?" Lin Qing was startled.

"No."

Chen Guang said: "Without a bio-crystal, you can only manually disable the laser from outside the door—then the control room door opens automatically."

Lin Qing exhaled slightly. "Can you send a robot here? Have it stand within one meter of the door—in case it closes, it can open it for me."

Within one meter of the laser channel’s end, the laser won’t pass—robots can wait there safely.

"I know. I’ve already dispatched a mechanical guardian."

Chen Guang nodded. "Father’s recognition took about ten minutes—likely similar. I’ll shut all access routes to this core control room. Even senior Patrol Envoys must exert tremendous effort to force entry."

"Then I’m starting."

Lin Qing took a deep breath. "No one should come—if they do, I’ll just..."

If anyone approached during the twenty-minute laser shutdown, they’d be detected.

But this core control room sits at the center of the second basement level, with no obvious value—no one should come here.

Even if discovered, he was prepared.

Lin Qing stilled his thoughts, stepped forward, and extended his palm into the compartment.

An invisible ripple spread; in his vision, a palm-sized seven-tier crystal tower appeared, translucent and exquisite, with faint starlight flickering and vanishing within.

"Is this the Star Transmission Tower?"

The next instant, a torrent of starlight erupted from the tower embedded in the metal plate, engulfing him completely.

Lin Qing shut his eyes.

Chen Guang watched Lin Qing silently, a flicker of excitement in her eyes.

This was her purpose and meaning—to encounter another suitable candidate, and finally find her direction.

"Hmm?"

After a while, Chen Guang turned her head slightly toward a direction outside the core control room.

That was the 'Animal Breeding Zone'—where the bio-weapons were kept.

After taking control of the underground facility’s AI system, she could monitor all areas.

The massive animals there had originally been locked in cages; she had deliberately opened those cages to release the genetically modified beasts, preventing the bio-weapon from being seized.

These animals were creations of Dr. Chu Hui’s divine office abilities—more terrifying than mechanical guardians.

But now she noticed: the bio-weapon had been taken after all.

"It’s him?"

Yet she didn’t care about the bio-weapon’s ownership—she’d done her part, without violating Father’s orders.

The underground facility had four levels; the Animal Breeding Zone occupied nearly the entire fourth level, the largest area in the facility, with ceiling height exceeding sixty meters.

It resembled a true primeval forest, filled with colossal trees.

Now, massive cages across the zone had been opened.

Lion-tiger hybrids; mammoth-like beasts ten times larger than ancient mammoths, armored in scales; serpents thicker than water barrels, crowned with horned heads; giant eagles with golden crests on their heads...

Massive beasts and flying creatures rampaged through this artificial jungle, hunting for hidden humans.

Behind a patch of tall grass, shadowy figures crouched.

They were the mixed-blood youth from the Vitas family of the Urban Circle, his two bodyguards, and five senior Patrol Envoys.

The five senior Patrol Envoys all looked exhausted; one even had a pale face, drinking from a vial of Zhihe Serum—clearly badly wounded.

All of them hid in the grass, quietly watching the exit ahead.

Each wore a thin white powder to mask their scent.

At the exit, a colossal mammoth crouched; nearby, a serpent coiled around a tree, its color blending with the bark; above, a dragon-winged giant bird circled.

At a glance, over a dozen beasts had taken position at the exit alone.

"Dr. Chu Hui's expertise in genetics is indeed extraordinary."

The mixed-blood youth frowned slightly: "Just mixing Earth-native biology with extraterrestrial genes to create intelligence—and make them this fierce and massive? And they’re all just food?"

Even if they’re just food, they’re still powerful enough.

The senior inspectors who’ve survived this long are nearly all elites among their ranks; each of them is nearly as strong as he is, but even one-on-one, none could definitely eliminate any of these beasts here.

There’s no way around it—such a massive size difference turns human attacks into tickles.

"Follow the plan. The rest is up to you inspectors."

The mixed-blood youth scanned the five senior inspectors and said gravely: "Luo Wu has already obtained the biological weapon. If we can’t eliminate him inside the research institute, it’ll be a major problem."

He said sincerely: "I, Feiwen Vitas, swear on behalf of the Vitas family that I will never forget your help today."

His voice did not spread outward—it reached only the five senior inspectors.

The five senior inspectors showed faint smiles; though none dared speak, they all nodded slightly.

This young master of the Vitas family had a method to control voice transmission—they couldn’t do that.

Even if he’s merely someone outside the Vitas family’s core, to them he’s still a person of higher status than an inspector, with far greater connections, circles, and resources.

Helping a figure like this is an opportunity for them.

Naturally, they didn’t refuse—even abandoning their attempts to breach the genetic lab, they came to aid this Vitas young master first.

"Thank you very much," the mixed-blood youth immediately smiled.

Though to him, these so-called senior inspectors were merely commoners destined to become livestock in five years, he had no objection to using them as tools now.

But he was different—once he brought this biological weapon back, his future would shine even brighter.

Suddenly—

"Swoosh!"

A figure suddenly shot out from deep within the jungle, racing toward the narrow exit of the animal breeding zone.

It was a young, muscular man, his face pale as death, as if he’d lost too much blood—he looked weak.

It was Luo Wu from the Primitive Research Institute.

The massive mammoth was about to swing its trunk, but then noticed the man held a crimson rod emitting terrifying energy—its instinctive fear made it recoil a step sideways. The pterosaur about to dive from above also flapped its wings in panic, refusing to approach.

Each massive mutated beast shrank back due to instinctive fear; though they weren’t afraid of the human, the human held something terrifying—the very thing they saw as food.

"As expected!"

Seeing this, Luo Wu glanced at the crimson rod in his hand and rushed forward toward the exit with joy.

Just then—

"Attack!"

Figures suddenly burst from nearby bushes, all charging toward Luo Wu.

Luo Wu’s eyes changed, but facing so many opponents of comparable strength, he dared not stand his ground—he could only sprint desperately toward the animal breeding zone’s exit.

Fortunately, the massive mutated beasts dared not provoke him; instead, they turned their fury toward the others.

The five senior inspectors gritted their teeth and immediately charged toward the mutated beasts.

Meanwhile, the mixed-blood youth, accompanied by his two bodyguards, seized the moment the beasts were distracted by the senior inspectors and chased Luo Wu toward the animal breeding zone’s exit.

In an instant, Luo Wu and the mixed-blood youth with his two bodyguards—four figures—had dashed out of the animal breeding zone.

Before the senior inspectors could break free from the beasts, a colossal serpent had already coiled itself around the two-to-three-meter-high doorway, completely blocking their escape.

Each senior inspector sighed inwardly—they’d have to find another opportunity.

But…

According to the plan, they’d intended to do exactly this.

…

Five minutes later.

"Luo Wu, stop running—you won’t escape."

After chasing him to the third level, the mixed-blood youth looked at Luo Wu, who had finally stopped, and chuckled softly: "You’re already badly wounded. Even with the biological weapon, you can’t use it. Hand it over—I’ll let you live."

"Zhi Xing Nu, do you think I’d believe you?" Luo Wu’s face was pale, yet he sneered at the mixed-blood youth.

The term "Zhi Xing Nu" instantly made the mixed-blood youth’s expression darken. "Then die."

He took a deep breath and unleashed a near-silent shriek—a piercing ultrasonic wave instantly swept over Luo Wu.

Luo Wu was about to act when his head spun, his vision went black, and he nearly fainted.

At that moment, the mixed-blood youth’s two bodyguards lunged forward together.

"Get lost!!"

Luo Wu roared in fury and swung the crimson rod in his hand.

Simultaneously, the rod’s crimson glow surged like flowing blood—as if receiving some kind of nourishment—while Luo Wu’s face grew even paler, and his black hair rapidly turned streaked with white.

…

Three minutes later.

Luo Wu staggered along the pristine white floor of the institute’s second level. His hair was now entirely white, his skin covered in wrinkles—he was frail as a dying candle.

He knew he was about to die.

The cost of using this incomplete biological weapon was the consumption of life. He’d already been severely wounded; he’d barely killed the mixed-blood youth’s two bodyguards and repelled the youth himself—he’d reached his limit.

But he refused to let this biological weapon fall into the hands of Zhi Xing Nu.

So…

He remembered the laser corridor in the institute’s core control room. If he threw it into the laser corridor, perhaps the lasers could destroy this incomplete biological weapon?

He’d used the weapon continuously along the way, smashing through several doors, and finally reached the center of the second level.

"Almost there…"

Luo Wu’s vision swam—the last of his life force had been drained, and he could no longer hold on.

Seeing the laser corridor leading to the core control room just ahead, his final resolve drove his broken body to keep stumbling forward.

When he reached the entrance of the laser corridor, he froze.

"Huh?"

Luo Wu stared blankly at the dim laser corridor, wondering if his vision had failed from excessive life-force depletion.

Why was the laser corridor, which had always been bright, now so dark?

He couldn’t believe it—he pulled a dagger from his body and hurled it into the corridor.

But with a clang, the alloy dagger landed inside—and the corridor did not attack.

How could he destroy the weapon now? "Shhh!"

A streak of cold light shot toward him, sinking deep into his back—blood sprayed.

Luo Wu stumbled and collapsed. The dark red rod slipped from his grasp.

The dark red rod began slowly shifting shape—as if awakening into a living thing.

At the same time, a golden thread shot forward like a spider’s silk, clinging to the rod and pulling it into a hand.

"Ha ha…"

With a low laugh, the mixed-blood youth stepped forward, holding the dark red rod. It rapidly transformed, soon becoming a rope coiled in his grip.

"Luo Wu, you’re truly insane—daring to use an incomplete biological weapon like this?"

The mixed-blood youth walked toward the fallen Luo Wu with a smile. "No matter. I’ll make it perfect. Thank you for feeding it. You, a mere livestock, are only fit to be its food. When I—" "Huh?"

He suddenly stopped, frowning at the dim laser corridor.

He’d seen the corridor’s power before—he couldn’t enter it himself, so he’d temporarily abandoned the idea.

But he knew: the core control room might hold the institute’s greatest secret.

Even if he didn’t believe the Star-Transmitting Tower could be hidden here, he’d still wondered—

What if? And now, the laser corridor had shut down? The mixed-blood youth ignored the dying Luo Wu and hurried to the corridor, extending a hand—a golden thread shot inside.

But this time, no laser attack followed.

"The laser corridor is shut down? Did something go wrong with the institute?"

The mixed-blood youth’s heart surged with joy—he stepped into the corridor.

The corridor was only Shiji meters long—he took a few steps and saw the core control room.

Yet—

"Huh?"

The mixed-blood youth noticed a figure inside the dim core control room, rummaging through a hidden compartment in the wall.

Though his nanomachines couldn’t connect to external signals, he recognized the person instantly—it was the junior inspector who’d been with Inspector Tang.

He’d glanced at this junior inspector’s file back then.

What was his name again?

Oh right… Lin Qing? The mixed-blood youth relaxed slightly and spoke: "Inspector Lin Qing? How did you get in?"

In the dimness, Lin Qing turned his expressionless face toward the mixed-blood youth, then showed a flicker of surprise. "Vitas young master? I don’t know what happened—I just arrived and found the laser corridor shut down, so I came in to investigate and discovered this hidden compartment."

He hesitated, then pulled out the documents from the compartment and offered them respectfully: "Young Master Vitas, these appear to be the institute’s classified files. I’m willing to surrender them all to you."

"Oh?"

The mixed-blood youth smiled and shook his head. "No need. I’m not interested. Take them. I’ll search the rest myself."

Lin Qing exclaimed in delight: "Thank you, Young Master Vitas!"

The mixed-blood youth nodded with a smile.

But in his heart, a killing intent stirred: "This commoner… the laser corridor shutting down is too suspicious, and he just happens to appear here? Never mind… what if he really has the Star-Transmitting Tower? Killing him will tell me."

To him, a city patrol chief outside the urban zone was no different from an ant on the roadside.

Even with only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, he could never let it slip! Killing an ant for a one-in-ten-thousand chance of winning—who wouldn’t agree? The mixed-blood youth kept smiling as he watched Lin Qing exit the core control room, beginning to gather power.

At that moment—

A pale blue light suddenly flared, and in an instant, he was horrified to find Lin Qing standing right before him!

Within those cold pupils, nothing but inhuman pale blue glowed.

Then he felt his body grow light, as if he were flying—only then did he see a headless torso gushing blood.

“How is this possible? This commoner…”

On the flying head of the mixed-blood youth, fear filled his face, and shock lingered in his eyes.

Then he lost consciousness.

In an instant, Lin Qing passed by the mixed-blood youth, then turned back with icy eyes.

Before his eyes, two prompts slowly faded away.

【Order Level decreased by 1.9 levels】

【Order Level increased by 1.9 levels】

“I didn’t do anything—yet he wanted to kill me?”

Lin Qing’s heart turned cold: “You thought I wouldn’t dare kill you? You’re just a minor figure from a metropolitan family.”

No matter how well he pretended, he couldn’t hide the shift in Order Level.

If the other wanted to kill him, he would strike first.

“As for what comes next…”

Lin Qing glanced at the mixed-blood youth’s corpse.

“The senior patrol chiefs are still in the fourth level’s animal breeding zone,” Chen Guang’s voice echoed in his mind. “You have enough time to act.”

Lin Qing said nothing. He picked up the crimson biological weapon, now unbound, dragged the mixed-blood youth’s corpse, kicked his head out of the corridor, then walked to the outside of the laser corridor.

Outside the laser corridor, Luo Wu lay on the ground, barely alive, staring blankly at the mixed-blood youth’s head rolling to his feet. He couldn’t help but look up at Lin Qing.

Lin Qing casually tossed the mixed-blood youth’s corpse before him and asked, “From the Original Research Institute?”

“Yes.” Luo Wu looked at Lin Qing with strange eyes. “Did you kill him?”

“Yes.” Lin Qing said, “I know you’re dying. Can you still be saved?”

Luo Wu fell silent, then shook his head. “Life force is spent. No saving him.”

“Good.”

Lin Qing nodded slightly. “I know he forced you to death. Can you do me a favor?”

Luo Wu smiled—a bright, radiant smile on his pale, withered face. “I understand. I, Luo Wu, killed this Zhixing slave. I couldn’t ask for better.”

“Do you have any last wishes?” Lin Qing asked.

“Saying them won’t matter—they can’t be fulfilled.” Luo Wu shook his head. “I just wanted freedom. I didn’t want to be a slave…”

“Who wants to be a slave?” Lin Qing handed him the biological weapon. “You still seem spirited. You’ve got enough strength left to stage the scene, right?”

“Enough.”

Luo Wu stared at the mixed-blood youth’s corpse, channeled his remaining mysterious energy, transformed the crimson biological weapon into a staff, then used his last strength to crush the head and neck into pulp, splattering blood everywhere, reducing the biological crystal along with it to powder.

Then he collapsed, lying still, waiting quietly for death.

Lin Qing silently exhaled.

Now, when the five senior patrol chiefs arrive, they’ll believe Luo Wu killed the mixed-blood youth—exhausting his final breath to take him down with him.

The blood inside the laser corridor will be cleaned once the corridor restarts.

Then Chen Guang can erase all surveillance records and shut down the cameras.

“I’m leaving.” Lin Qing looked at Luo Wu. “Rest now.”

“Alright.” Luo Wu smiled faintly. “I haven’t dreamed in a long time. This dream must be long—I hope it’s a good one.”

“Sweet dreams.”

Lin Qing gave him one final look, then turned and left.

(End of Chapter)