Chapter 42: Bloodline

Lin Xue supported Lin Yuehua as they walked over.

"What should we do now?" Lin Xue's voice trembled as she clung tightly to her mother's arm.

The Profound Heaven Building suddenly shook violently, walls cracking like spiderwebs, ceiling light fixtures swaying and emitting a grating screech that set teeth on edge.

Purple arcs of electricity surged in through the broken windows, instantly burning a row of instruments to charcoal.

"Evacuate quickly, this damned place is going to collapse!" Zhang Tian Gang strode toward the emergency exit, shouting without looking back.

The group sprinted down the narrow passage to the underground parking lot, each step accompanied by a growing roar overhead and increasingly violent ground tremors.

Zhang Tian Gang pulled out an ordinary car key and pressed the button.

The unassuming van in the corner suddenly unfolded its body, revealing hidden heavy armor and various high-tech weapon installations.

"All aboard!"

The van let out a low growl and shot out of the underground garage.

Hardly had the vehicle pulled out when the Profound Heaven Building collapsed with a roar, turning into rubble as dust and smoke blotted out the sky.

"Where are we going?" Lin Xue watched the scenery outside the window rush backward, her heart in turmoil.

"To the Doomsday Fortress I prepared twenty years ago—it'll blow your minds." Zhang Tian Gang stared ahead, his hands flying over the steering wheel as the van darted left and right through narrow alleys, dodging the purple energy entities racing through the city.

He was practically possessed by the spirit of the Akina Mountain racing god.

The van finally came to a stop before a rust‑streaked factory building in a deserted industrial zone on the outskirts.

Zhang Tian Gang stepped out of the van and pressed his palm against an ordinary wall.

The wall glowed with an eerie blue light, the floor slowly split open, revealing a downward passage.

"Come on, don't just stand there—welcome to my private domain."

The gate behind them slowly sealed shut, cutting off all outside noise and danger.

Everyone boarded the high‑speed elevator and descended several hundred meters.

The instant the elevator doors opened, the sight before them left everyone dumbfounded.

Before them lay a vast underground base—a high‑tech control room, an advanced medical bay, a spacious training field, and comfortable living quarters, all beyond ordinary imagination.

"This is the place I secretly built twenty years ago to resist the invasion of extraterrestrial spirits." As Zhang Tian Gang moved about, he activated the power systems of each zone; the once‑dark base lit up section by section, equipment humming to life.

"You old thing, you kept this from me again!" Lin Yuehua looked around, shaking her head helplessly. "I had no idea about something this big—I'm getting older and older."

"Ha, you weren't any better—back then you secretly researched shady stuff with Lin Zhen behind my back. Consider us even." Zhang Tian Gang retorted bluntly.

Zhang Jun stood beside the medical pod, hands clenched, palms sweating. Inside, Zhang Yuyao lay still, receiving treatment.

"Is my mother okay?" Zhang Jun asked softly.

"Don't worry, she just needs to rest a while." Zhang Tian Gang patted his shoulder. "Come with me—there are things you need to know."

In the base's central conference room, Zhang Tian Gang activated the holographic projection system.

On the massive 3D map, countless purple light points flickered, far exceeding any previous monitoring results.

"Although the main body of the extraterrestrial spirits is temporarily sealed off in another dimension, their residual power has taken root on Earth. These light points indicate they are seeking new hosts, preparing for a second invasion."

"With so many… who can possibly stand against them?" Lin Xue stared at the sea of purple dots on the map, her spirits sinking.

"That's why I need the two of you." Zhang Tian Gang's gaze fell on Zhang Jun and Lin Xue. "The true secret of the Yin‑Yang Bloodline and the Ice Soul Bloodline is about to be revealed."

Zhang Tian Gang pulled up a long‑buried video clip. In it, a young Lin Zhen and Zhang Tian Gang gathered around a glowing stone tablet, studying it.

"Twenty‑five years ago, Lin Zhen and I discovered this tablet in an ancient cave deep in the Yunnan mountains. It records an astonishing secret: extraterrestrial spirits visited Earth thousands of years ago and left behind 'seeds' that seeped into the human genome. However, certain special bloodlines are innately able to resist these seeds—and even to counteract them."

"The Yin‑Yang Bloodline and the Ice Soul Bloodline are the two strongest, and they are the only ones capable of perfect fusion."

Zhang Jun frowned in thought. "Should we try a full‑body fusion then? Haven't we already killed the Spirit Lord?"

"What you took down were only spirit warriors; the true Spirit Lord is far stronger than you can imagine." Zhang Tian Gang's expression turned grave. "But it's time for you to attempt a power fusion."

Zhang Tian Gang led the two to the base's central energy chamber—a huge circular space whose floor was etched with intricate energy‑guiding patterns that glowed mysteriously.

"Step into the center and try to merge your powers."

Zhang Jun and Lin Xue walked to the center of the array, stood facing each other, palms opposite.

Yin‑Yang power and Ice Soul power began to flow, attracting and repelling each other, yet never truly merging.

"What's going on? This feels weird." Zhang Jun increased his power output.

Suddenly the two forces ran wild and exploded! Gold, black, and blue light intertwined chaotically, forming a massive energy vortex that shook the entire base like a magnitude‑ten earthquake.

"Oh no! The energy backfired!" Zhang Tian Gang's face paled as he rushed toward the energy chamber, only to be blocked by a powerful barrier.

At the vortex's core, Zhang Jun clutched Lin Xue tightly, both grimacing in pain.

Just then, the base walls suddenly glowed with strange light, countless ancient runes appearing and resonating with the patterns on Zhang Jun's and Lin Xue's arms!

The tremors gradually subsided, and the energy vortex dissipated.

"Brother, I think I've figured something out." Lin Xue murmured, staring at the markings on her arm that had become clearer.

"What do you mean?" Zhang Jun asked.

"Are our bloodlines destined to be together?"

"What… what is this?" Lin Yuehua walked to the wall, reached out to touch the glowing runes, her eyes wide with shock.

"Ancient script… I can actually recognize some of it." She murmured, "This is a… heavenly book! A record of the 'Heaven‑Man Project'."

"The Heaven‑Man Project?"

Lin Yuehua continued to decipher the ancient characters: "This is an ultimate seal that can completely sever the link between extraterrestrial spirits and Earth. But… it requires a sacrifice."

"What must be sacrificed?" Zhang Jun asked urgently.

"The strongest of each side." Lin Yuehua's voice trembled. "The strongest human bloodline and the strongest extraterrestrial spirit… must perish together."

No sooner had she spoken than the runes on the wall linked together, shooting out a blinding beam that formed a holographic image.

In the image, a young man and woman stood upon a massive altar.

The man, stark black and white, the woman surrounded by icy blue— their faces bore an astonishing resemblance to Zhang Jun and Lin Xue!

"What... what is going on?" Zhang Jun exclaimed.

The image continued to play, ancient "Zhang Jun" and "Lin Xue" were performing some mysterious ritual, and heaven-shaking, earth-shattering energy burst forth between heaven and earth.

At the final moment, the two infused their souls into two ancient, simple jade pendants.

Zhang Jun instinctively touched the jade pendant hanging on his chest; that pendant seemed to be slightly warm.

"Old Zhang, what... what on earth is going on?"

"Have you guessed the ending?"