Chapter 196

The implication is that when the Insect Race arrives, Gu Feng will come to protect Ye Xi'an.

He gives the males big promises; Yi Yang just says it offhand, but he really would do it—so long as Ye Xi'an is fine, what's wrong with doing a bit of shady stuff?

"I don't think Xi'an could ever accept me," Gu Feng raised his hand to his horn, pressing his palm lightly, his tone downcast: "I'm a defective product; no female would accept me."

"But if the Insect Race invades, I will come to help you."

With Gu Feng's words, Ji Jiangci felt reassured.

Ji Jiangci and Gu Feng returned to the living room and found that everyone in the house had gathered in the kitchen.

"What are you doing?" Ji Jiangci curiously leaned in and saw what Ye Xi'an was doing.

Ye Xi'an carefully took a plant that still emitted a faint blue glow from the static space, its root's ice crystals not yet fully melted.

But having lost too much cold, it had already begun to wither a bit.

Ye Xi'an gently placed the plant on the most spacious shelf of the refrigerator's freezer compartment, right next to the cooling pipes on the inner wall.

Ye Xi'an held her breath; the others gathered beside her and the plant, eyes wide open, quietly waiting as if it were not a plant but a newborn pup.

As seconds passed, she almost perched at the refrigerator door, observing through the not‑very‑clear glass partition.

"Look, you all!"

Ye Xi'an suddenly let out a delighted low exclamation and flung the refrigerator door open.

The blue plant showed no signs of wilting; its top leaves even seemed to unfurl slightly, and the faint blue glow appeared even purer in the cold air.

It was truly growing.

That realization made Ye Xi'an's eyes instantly shine, brighter than the stars.

"It's alive! It can really grow inside a refrigerator!"

She, excited, grabbed the arm of the nearest Bao Jing, her voice trembling.

Bao Jing lowered his head, looking at the plant that remained vigorous in the low temperature, a hint of wonder flashing in his eyes.

"It seems this thing really can't do without a cold environment."

"I need to buy a freezer, an ultra—large freezer!"

Ye Xi'an almost immediately made the decision, her tone decisive.

When the freezer arrives, it will be used specifically to cultivate these miraculous plants, so she can have countless plants that boost abilities, and any surplus can be sold for money.

She believes these miraculous plants will surely fetch a good price.

Soon, a gigantic upright freezer that occupied almost half the room was delivered to the door.

Ye Xi'an commanded the robot to install and calibrate it, and eagerly transplanted all the blue plants she had brought back from the Frigid Realm into it.

The faint blue glow merged inside the freezer, resembling a miniature frigid night sky.

Lin Zhi Jing watched the plants in the freezer, a little alarmed; if Ye Xi'an could truly cultivate them on a large scale, how powerful their family could become.

"Xi'an, give them a name."

"Hmm, let's call them 'Ice Grass'."

Ye Xi'an placed her hands on her hips, satisfied as she looked at her masterpiece, casually naming the miraculous plant.

Lin Zhi Jing walked slowly closer, his gray eyes scrutinizing the scene inside the freezer, his brows slightly furrowing.

He reached out and touched the cold freezer door; even through the metal he could feel the faint chill emanating from within.

"Xi'an, this plant… we know too little about it."

His voice remained as calm as always, yet carried a barely perceptible worry.

"Cultivating it on this scale directly—could there be unknown risks?"

Unknown species, especially those that can greatly enhance abilities, often come with unpredictability.

If long‑term use leaves side effects like those of a drug, that would be terrible.

The excitement on Ye Xi'an's face faded slightly; she knew Lin Zhi Jing's concerns were justified.

"Then what do we do? We can't just hand it over to the Federation, we only have this little amount."

"Give me one."

Lin Zhi Jing looked at Ye Xi'an, his tone leaving no room for objection.

"I can conduct a comprehensive analysis of it, learn its composition and mechanism of action; if there are any side effects, I can detect them in time."

His vermilion phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, the silver‑threaded eye sockets reflecting sharp glints in the light.

"Until we fully understand it, I don't recommend any of you use it lightly again."

Yi Yang listened nearby; he had originally intended to step forward and ask for a plant to test whether it could upgrade him, but Lin Zhi Jing's stern expression scared him back, his sky‑blue eyes filled with "I'm scared."

Ye Xi'an naturally had no objection.

"Fine, take as many as you need."

Safety is always the top priority.

She carefully took a particularly vigorous Ice Grass from the freezer and handed it to Lin Zhi Jing.

The Ice Grass's faint blue glow reflected in Lin Zhi Jing's gray pupils, flickering.

He took the Ice Grass, his fingertips touching the leaf; a chilling yet power‑laden sensation seeped through his skin.

"But there's no laboratory or equipment here, so for now I have to return to the training base, though I'll be back soon."

After speaking, Lin Zhi Jing said goodbye to Ye Xi'an and drove away in the max.

Ye Xi'an stood at the complex entrance watching the rapidly disappearing max, her expression changing slightly.

Ji Jiangci thought Ye Xi'an was reluctant to let Lin Zhi Jing go, so he gently patted her shoulder, his teal pupils offering comfort.

"Don't worry, Lin Zhi Jing knows his limits."

Ye Xi'an shook her head: "I'm not worried about him."

She pinched her chin, brow furrowing: "Is my memory failing? Didn't max run out of fuel?"

When Ye Xi'an said that, Bao Jing beside her suddenly let out a "caw", muttering that Lin Zhi Jing was indeed doing it on purpose!

Lin Zhi Jing's laboratory was brightly lit, and various precise instruments surrounding the ethereal blue Ice Grass began to operate at high speed.

Complex energy fluctuation spectra continuously jumped across the Light Brain screen, and every trace element comprising the Ice Grass was analyzed one by one.

Time quietly slipped away during the focused research.

Finally, the laboratory door opened again.

Lin Zhi Jing stepped out, a hint of fatigue in their expression, but those gray eyes were unusually bright—one could even say…excited.

This emotion appearing on the usually aloof Lin Zhi Jing's face was especially rare.

Outside the door, curious soldiers leaned on the windowsill, and the smile on Lin Zhi Jing's face made them shiver in fright.

A tall, deep‑voiced soldier lowered his voice and said to the person beside him, "What was the situation the last time Doctor Lin smiled like that?"

"I remember! The last time Doctor Lin smiled like that, someone's lower body exploded in the barracks!"

Everyone instantly shivered.

"Why aren't you going to training and staying here?"

The soldier whispering heard Lin Zhi Jing's voice, his back stiffened, a chill running through him as he stood straight, turned, and with an expressionless face performed a military salute: "Doctor Lin, hello! We'll head to training right away."

Before Lin Zhi Jing could ask again, the group vanished in an instant.