Chapter 1301: The Power of Bonds

Facing his friend, Zhou Tian was willing to explain a bit more.

"Although genetic technology allows me to control cells and stay youthful, it cannot affect one's mindset."

As he spoke, Zhou Tian's face kept changing, as if a layer of modeling clay had been applied to it—shifting from youth to young adulthood, then to middle and old age, and finally reverting back to youth.

As the chairman of the Supreme Association, he possesses the highest genetic technology.

"The longer one lives, the more one's mindset resembles that of an old man on his deathbed—a mindset detrimental to both life and scientific research."

"And I discovered that constant stimulation of the brain can keep one's mindset in an active state."

"Lan Hai, you lack even the strength to truss a chicken—why involve yourself in this? Considering our past friendship, I can let you go."

Lan Hai was moved; he knew Zhou Tian better than anyone, and Zhou Tian's demeanor meant victory was certain—their resistance was futile.

Surrender might be a good choice—it could save one's life. Thinking this, Lan Hai pointed at Lu Yang and the others and asked: "What about them? Can you let them go?"

Zhou Tian shook his head.

Lan Hai silently raised his grenade launcher.

"Attack." Zhou Tian gestured with his hand—he was like a male lion, a single roar capable of commanding countless lionesses to charge for him. Eight first-class warriors advanced step by step, striking swiftly.

"Zhou Tian, you forced me to do this!" Lan Hai aimed at Zhou Tian, preparing to fire the grenade.

One of the first-class warriors opened his mouth and emitted a silent sonic attack—this was infrasound, inaudible to humans, yet capable of affecting human bodily functions.

Lan Hai felt nauseous, retched, and collapsed to the ground, losing mobility.

Mi Xue'er is a genetic warrior; most of her body is mechanical, so she was unaffected.

Lu Yang thought feigning nausea and retching would damage his image, so he instead relied on willpower to endure the infrasound.

Mi Xue'er and She Ran faced the siege of eight first-class warriors and quickly fell into a disadvantage.

Mi Xue'er seized Lan Hai's grenade launcher and fired two shots at the observing Zhou Tian, who dodged by tilting his head—his body didn't even need to move.

The grenade exploded against the ice wall, yet not even a tiny crack appeared—the ice cellar was terrifyingly hard.

"Mi Xue'er, opposing the Supreme Association means only death!" the lead first-class warrior snarled, his eyes blood-red, built like a black bear, possessing immense strength—mechanical warriors were as fragile as paper before him.

Mi Xue'er could barely hold her ground; each clash numbed her arms, but her astonishing recovery prevented defeat.

"Did you think you had me figured out?"

Mi Xue'er created distance, drew vial after vial of potion from her waist, gripped them in her hand, and hurled them at the first-class warrior.

The vials shattered; the warrior screamed in agony, convulsed on the ground, and frightened the other first-class warriors from closing in.

"What is this?"

"An anti-genetic agent?" Zhou Tian raised an eyebrow—no wonder Mi Xue'er dared intrude here; she had actually prepared this.

With the anti-genetic agent in hand, the battle instantly turned—Mi Xue'er threw the vials, and every first-class warrior struck screamed in pain and lost mobility.

In just a few breaths, another three first-class warriors collapsed to the ground.

"Zhou Tian, surrender now!" Mi Xue'er grew stronger in battle, a faint yet palpable aura rising from her body.

Zhou Tian showed no panic—he pulled out a remote, pressed the red button, and the fire sprinklers above sprayed out an unknown liquid.

Mi Xue'er's expression changed drastically—this was also the anti-genetic agent!

She wanted to flee, but it was too late—the agent landed on her, and she felt as if she had fallen into a bucket full of sulfuric acid, suffering immensely as her strength gradually faded, the very genes that had empowered her now slowly disintegrating.

Of course, Zhou Tian still wanted to use Mi Xue'er for experiments, so he adjusted the agent's concentration to be non-lethal.

"Little sister Xue'er, how are you?" She Ran shook Mi Xue'er, hastily wiping the agent from her body with his clothes.

But the anti-genetic agent had already penetrated her body—wiping the surface was too late.

Mi Xue'er said nothing, merely writhing on the ground in painful cries.

"Go, seize them—bring them all for experiments." Zhou Tian ordered, and the remaining first-class warriors charged toward Lu Yang and the others.

"No, don't!"

Mi Xue'er's lingering will heard Zhou Tian's command and whispered softly.

She had grown up in cold laboratories since childhood; the only warmth she ever knew came from her doctor grandfather, now dead. Having finally found companions, how could she let them fall into danger?

But the anti-genetic agent had stripped her of her power—she could not even stand now.

In her blurred, hazy vision, her companions were seized one after another, and she watched, her heart burning with anxiety.

"Stand up—I must stand up to save them!"

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Suddenly, a strong, powerful heartbeat echoed from the ice cellar—the heartbeat was slow, yet its resonance formed!

"What happened!" Zhou Tian, who had always felt victory was certain, could no longer sit still—Mi Xue'er had encountered an unforeseen situation.

Mi Xue'er slowly rose—not by crawling, but as if pulled up by invisible strings like a marionette.

Golden hair flowed like waves, her eyes scarlet and bloody, the air twisted, extreme cold ice mist drifting—colder than the ice cellar itself.

"No one shall harm my friends!"

Mi Xue'er growled lowly—the first-class warriors involuntarily loosened their grip, dropped to their knees, and submitted to her.

Their genetic modification technology entirely originated from research on Mi Xue'er.

Not a single word is wrong, not a single character is missing—read carefully!

If the frozen corpses in the ice cellar are Mi Xue'er's origin, then their origin is Mi Xue'er.

This is the majestic pressure of a higher lifeform upon a lower one—cannot be defied; defiance means death!

"Has the genes evolved?" Zhou Tian rejoiced—Mi Xue'er's condition perfectly matched the theory of genetic evolution.

"The bloodline has awakened." Lu Yang observed Mi Xue'er's change—originally a long process, but under the dual pressure of the anti-genetic agent and the need to save others, it was greatly shortened.

Lu Yang thought the Supreme Association was ridiculous—claiming to believe in human strength, yet using Mi Xue'er as their primary test subject.

Mi Xue'er's strength comes entirely from her impure bloodline, mixed with ancient demon blood.

It seems Mi Xue'er's body contains two kinds of ancient demon blood, which strikes Lu Yang as strange.

"Are you okay?" Lu Yang pulled Lan Hai and Ran Rou up; they had not undergone genetic modification, so they were unaffected by Mi Xue'er.

Facing the first-class warriors crawling on the ground, Mi Xue'er chose to ignore them and walked straight toward Zhoutian.

Zhoutian hurled a high-concentration anti-gene agent, hoping to subdue Mi Xue'er with it, but before the agent could reach her, it froze into ice crystals, shattering on the ground.

"What?!"

The changes in Mi Xue'er completely overturned his understanding—this could be called a superpower!

This isn't scientific!

Mi Xue'er raised her hand and slapped Zhoutian into the ice wall with one palm, blood streaming freely.

Just as Mi Xue'er was about to kill Zhoutian outright, she suddenly staggered, her consciousness drifting away, floating toward the depths of the ice cellar, as if something there was calling to her.

Is this her source of power?

The depths of the ice cellar were pitch black; during the earlier battle, she couldn't see what was frozen here, but now Mi Xue'er finally knew what was sealed within.

It was a snow-white rabbit, no different from the pet rabbits seen in the market.

"The Jade Rabbit from ancient times," Lu Yang whispered.

Mi Xue'er's consciousness involuntarily entered the rabbit's corpse.

Upon entry, countless thoughts flooded her mind—darkness, cold, extreme negative emotions overwhelming her consciousness.

What... what is this?

Mi Xue'er felt herself merging with the rabbit, but the rabbit's negative emotions were also eroding her.

During this process, the Jade Rabbit's corpse slowly opened its blood-red eyes—just a remnant of its former aura was enough to crush Zhoutian's ribs and pierce his lungs.

No, I cannot let this erosion continue—just a wisp of its power killed Zhoutian; my companions must also be in grave danger. Once I am overtaken by negative emotions, my companions will surely die.

Mi Xue'er's benevolent consciousness and negative emotions clashed, locked in struggle.

Mi Xue'er looked toward Lu Yang and the others, believing she was in battle, and that her companions must also be suffering; she trusted their bond's strength could see them through this crisis.

Then she saw that Lu Yang and the others were completely unaffected by her.

Mi Xue'er: "?"

Negative emotions instantly seized Mi Xue'er's consciousness.

(End of chapter)