"I told you to get the dical pod back first, didn't I?"
"Lin Xian, co quick! I found sothing really good!" KIKI's voice was urgent.
Lin Xian frowned upon hearing this. He imdiately grabbed his black rifle and called out to Ding Junyi, "Let's go. We're heading down to the 9th floor."
Ding Junyi hesitated, still holding a stack of docunts, reluctant to part with them. But Lin Xian didn't give her a choice—he grabbed her arm and pulled her along.
They walked through the hallway, making their way to the elevator. Lin Xian pressed the button, and once the doors opened, he stepped inside with Ding Junyi, descending to the 9th floor.
This was the area Hua Xiaoling had previously taken him to, so Lin Xian still had a clear impression of its layout. This floor was vastly different from the others—it was incredibly spacious, with a ceiling height nearly three tis that of the floors above. The ceiling was covered with a reflective material resembling a sky do, displaying a real-ti projection of blue skies and white clouds.
Even the fake windows along the hallway displayed images of towering skyscrapers and lush green jungles, seemingly designed to ease stress for the foundation researchers who worked underground for long periods, preventing them from feeling too oppressed.
Lin Xian led Ding Junyi through several large office areas, following a straight corridor. Before long, they spotted Daluo waiting at the entrance to a room.
"Brother Xian."
"What's the situation?" Lin Xian asked.
He glanced at the naplate on the door—it bore the na "Hua Xiaoling." He imdiately realized this must be her office.
Daluo scratched his head. "I’m not sure. You should check it out yourself."
Lin Xian didn’t hesitate. He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The first thing that caught his eye was the vast, semi-circular room. Through the enormous panoramic windows, he could see the research plaza he and KIKI had observed before. But now, it was completely empty.
The glass containnt chambers were shattered, exposing the interiors. The ch maintenance platforms were also deserted, leaving only a few seemingly unimportant research devices scattered around.
"Captain Lin."
A voice ca from behind. Lin Xian turned around to see KIKI standing near a secret passage in the wall. Arms crossed, she looked both excited and curious. She pointed to a large, two-ter-wide explosion-proof tal vault door beside her and said, "Guess how I found this?"
Lin Xian walked over and examined it. "Is this Hua Xiaoling's safe? But... isn't it a bit too big?"
"Whatever it is, there's definitely sothing important inside."
KIKI turned toward a nearby decorative statue, activated her psychic ability, and caused the wall chanism to close again.
"See? Pretty cool, right?"
"Open it," Lin Xian ordered, his eyes flashing.
As KIKI reopened the hidden passage, Lin Xian stepped forward, placed his hand on the heavy vault door, and activated chanical Heart to scan its structure.
Monts later, his brows furrowed. "This is complicated... There’s a large space behind this door. Stay alert."
Hearing this, Daluo and Shu Qin imdiately took out their weapons, forming a defensive triangle around the entrance.
Clang!
With the sound of tal latches disengaging, the vault door slowly opened. But just as the gap widened, an electric current surged out, making their skin tingle.
"Watch out!"
Whoosh!
KIKI took over, using her psychic power to push the door open further. The group cautiously peered inside.
Inside was a dark hallway. As they watched, soft lights flickered to life along the floor, illuminating a path that stretched into the distance. At the end of the corridor, a dim red glow emanated from a room.
Without hesitation, Lin Xian stepped in, and KIKI followed closely behind.
The mont they crossed the threshold, an eerie silence enveloped them. The floor was spotless, and even their footsteps made no sound—as if the hallway was made of advanced soundproofing material.
Lin Xian and KIKI exchanged glances before focusing ahead. Within a few steps, they arrived at the crimson-lit room—and what they saw made them both freeze.
"What the hell is this?"
KIKI's voice was filled with shock.
The hidden chamber was spacious. In the center stood a circular tal platform, surrounded by diamond-shaped pillars arranged in a precise pattern, all glowing faintly red.
Suspended above the platform by a slender chanical arm was a peculiar device. It resembled a small containnt pod, about a ter tall. The cylindrical chamber at its core was filled with red liquid, though its contents remained obscured.
"It looks like a specialized containnt unit," Lin Xian speculated. "But I have no idea what’s inside."
"Who cares? Let’s take a closer look."
KIKI wrinkled her nose and, without hesitation, reached out with her psychic ability to pull the device toward her.
But just as she brought it closer, her face suddenly paled. Eyes widening, she lost control of her psychic grasp, and the device plumted toward the ground.
Lin Xian reacted instantly, lunging forward to catch it.
Bang!
A crushing force reverberated through his power suit. His spinal actuator auto-adjusted to counteract the weight, hydraulic systems groaning under the strain.
"Ugh!"
KIKI staggered backward, breathing heavily. "That was weird... My ability just went completely unstable!"
Lin Xian wiped cold sweat from his forehead, just as shaken as she was. He recognized this sensation—it was exactly like what he had felt back at Rain Town’s chemical plant when facing Ding Qing.
If not for his power armor, he wouldn't have been able to hold onto the device at all.
"Careful," he warned, staring at the red liquid inside. "This stuff might contain the sa substance that ca from the mutant parasite back then."
KIKI instinctively backed away. "So it’s so kind of anti-ability suppressant? A weapon against ability users?"
"Not exactly..." Lin Xian studied the liquid, but no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't discern what was inside.
He tried searching for an access panel or controls, but found nothing.
Taking a deep breath, he activated chanical Scan to analyze the device.
【Scan complete. Acquired Unknown Device 03 (Blueprint).】
To his surprise, the scan worked imdiately, but the results were vague. The device was identified as an automated containnt vessel, requiring a password for access.
A warning ssage appeared:
【Enter Matrix Code: _________】
Lin Xian frowned.
"A password?" KIKI asked. "Can’t your chanical ability override it?"
Lin Xian dove deeper into the device’s structure, attempting to bypass the lock.
The mont he tried—
ALERT: Forceful access will cause the "Resuspension Liquid" to destabilize, destroying the contained object.
Lin Xian was baffled. "Resuspension Liquid? What the hell is that?"
"How would I know?" KIKI muttered, stepping back further. As soon as she distanced herself by a few ters, she let out a relieved sigh. "This whole place is full of creepy stuff..."
Lin Xian examined the security panel. The password required 11 digits—a frustratingly complex lock.
With a sigh, he stood up. Though he felt slightly weak, it wasn’t unbearable. The container’s shielding seed to prevent direct exposure to its contents.
"You can't crack it?" KIKI asked.
Lin Xian shook his head. "The security system is too advanced. Forcing it open could be dangerous."
"So what now?"
"Throw it away," Lin Xian replied casually.
"Throw it away?!" KIKI was stunned. "Hey, if it was hidden this well, it has to be sothing important! Why toss it?"
Lin Xian shrugged. "The entire research team evacuated but left this ‘classified secret’ behind. If it was so important, why not take it? Besides, it suppresses abilities and might be risky to open. What else would we do with it?"
"...Ugh, fine. Do whatever you want."
As Lin Xian turned to leave, his chanical Heart suddenly activated on its own.
【chanical Heart—Activating!】
【chanical Heart—Activating!】
【chanical Heart—Activating!】
A deafening engine roar echoed in his mind.
"Lin Xian!"
A deep chanical voice rang in his ears.
Lin Xian shuddered, every hair on his body standing on end. He spun around—
The containnt device was glowing red.
Lin Xian’s breath hitched. A cold sweat broke out on his back as he stared at the glowing red containnt device.
What the hell was that voice just now?
His heartbeat pounded in his ears. He quickly turned to KIKI.
"Did you hear that?" he asked, his voice slightly hoarse.
KIKI gave him a strange look. "Hear what?" She glanced around, perplexed. "I walked out and saw you just standing there like an idiot. I thought sothing happened to you."
"You didn't hear anything? A loud voice—like an engine roaring, and soone calling my na?" Lin Xian's brows furrowed deeply.
KIKI shook her head. "Nope. You sure you’re okay? You didn’t suddenly develop schizophrenia, did you?"
Lin Xian remained silent, his gaze locked onto the red-glowing containnt device on the ground.
Sothing was wrong. His chanical Heart had never activated on its own before—let alone in such an intense, uncontrollable manner.
And that voice…
It had called his na.
It wasn’t just a random hallucination. It was directed at him specifically.
The implications made his scalp tingle.
Taking a deep breath, he suppressed the lingering unease in his chest. His chanical Heart had finally cald down, no longer pulsating wildly like before.
Whatever this thing was, it wasn’t ordinary.
Making a snap decision, Lin Xian walked forward and constructed a reinforced tal container—thick, layered, and lined with shielding materials. He then carefully placed the red containnt device inside and sealed it shut.
The mont the box closed, that strange suppressive force weakened.
KIKI raised an eyebrow. "Changed your mind?"
"Yeah. We’re taking it back," Lin Xian said firmly. His tone carried an edge of uncertainty, but also determination. "I want to figure out what this thing really is."
Monts ago, he was dead set on abandoning it. But after hearing that voice, an odd intuition told him that this thing was important to him.
Even if he didn’t understand why.
KIKI didn't argue. She just shrugged and said, "Whatever you say."
At the entrance of the corridor, Shu Qin and Daluo watched as Lin Xian and KIKI erged, carrying a massive, heavily reinforced iron box.
Both of them instantly felt sothing the mont they got closer—an odd, subtle pressure that made them slightly uncomfortable.
Daluo frowned. "What the hell is that? It’s making my arms feel weak."
KIKI smirked and used her psychic ability to levitate the box. "Here, big guy. You carry it."
Daluo, thinking it’d be an easy lift, grabbed onto the box with both hands.
WHAM!
The mont he touched it, his legs buckled. His muscles tensed, and he nearly collapsed on the spot!
"Sh*t—! Why the hell is this thing so heavy?!" Daluo gritted his teeth, barely managing to keep himself upright. His arms trembled.
Lin Xian glanced at him and calmly explained, "It’s not actually that heavy. Your strength is just being suppressed."
Daluo: "..."
What the f*ck kind of explanation is that?!
Still, with a grunt, he adjusted his footing and forced himself upright, locking his core strength in place.
"Alright, let’s move. We still need to get that dical pod back."
With that, the group left the hidden chamber, moving through the massive underground research facility.
Even though most of the valuable equipnt had been evacuated, there were still plenty of scattered supplies, tools, and instrunts left behind.
Lin Xian planned to salvage anything useful along the way. His chanical Devour ability could break down a lot of these devices, converting them into raw materials or usable components.
As they walked, KIKI suddenly turned to him and asked, "Hey, you never did say—what exactly was in that thing?"
Lin Xian’s fingers tightened slightly around his rifle grip.
He didn’t know.
But whatever it was…
It had called his na.
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