Chapter 170 – Key (13)
◎ The gene is not recorded in the database ◎
Click.
Tonight, the apartnt’s main door was exceptionally busy, Fang Zhixu and Zhuang Qingyan returned almost simultaneously.
“How is it, Old Fang? Is General Ye feeling better?” Lin Youyou sat up, or rather, twisted into a challenging Pilates pose on the sofa. Her yoga skirt slipped, revealing a dazzling glimpse of her slender waist.
On the opposite side, Su Cha paused in lifting dumbbells, silently turning his gaze away and grabbing a blanket to cover her.
Fang Zhixu’s throat was almost smoking dry, “Wait a mont, let
have a sip of water first.”
He took two quick steps, unceremoniously twisted open Xu Xing’s specially made children’s drink, apple-flavored with probiotics, and gulped it down without leaving a drop.
Xu Xing was stunned for two seconds, “Ahh! You nasty old man!” Damn it, he deliberately saved the good stuff to drink last!
Fang Zhixu put down the dicine box and looked at everyone with a serious expression, “General Ye fainted twice suddenly today and has been taken to the specialized hospital for awakeners for treatnt. He just woke up before I ca back.”
“What? It’s that serious?!” Lin Youyou instantly sat up straight.
Zhuang Qingyan and Song Ke, who ca out of the bathroom, also heard Fang Zhixu’s words.
“Huh, then why did you co back?” Xu Xing sneakily pulled Fang Zhixu’s braid, “Is it because the doctor is better than you, so you got kicked out~”
“It’s useless for
to stay. The injuries from the assassination have healed. General Ye fainted due to organ aging, causing compromised compensatory function. Although it hasn’t reached the point of failure, it has severely affected various vital signs.” Fang Zhixu skillfully held down Xu Xing, giving two slaps on the buttocks.
And Xu Xing, who was used to being pampered by him, had no psychological preparation for being hit and widened his eyes in surprise.
“General Ye and the others are persuading him to switch to bionic organs, which is the only solution at the mont.” Fang Zhixu casually rubbed Xu Xing’s head, muttering to himself, “If only we could reverse… no, just delay organ aging.”
Lin Youyou raised a question, “So switching to bionic organs will solidify the awakener level? But it’s okay for S-level to solidify, right?”
Annoyed and embarrassed, Xu Xing struggled, used both hands and feet, biting Fang Zhixu’s arm fiercely.
“Hiss…” Fang Zhixu let go in pain, and Xu Xing covered his buttocks, taking the opportunity to run out with a clatter. Fang Zhixu shook his head helplessly, a bright white healing light flashed, and the teeth marks disappeared, leaving a sticky circle of saliva.
Zhuang Qingyan happened to block Xu Xing’s escape route and conveniently lifted him by the back of his collar, throwing him back to Fang Zhixu.
Xu Xing: “?”
“With General Ye’s current condition, 90% of his organs must be replaced. It’s not as simple as level solidification,” Zhuang Qingyan calmly explained. “It’s equivalent to completely dismantling and destroying the magnetic field within the body. In other words, he will go from an S-level awakener… to an ordinary person.”
The spacious living room fell into silence, even the playful antics of Fang Zhixu and Xu Xing quieted down.
For soone who has never awakened, it might be fine, but for an awakener to return to an ordinary person, it is too cruel for anyone.
…
Before going to sleep, Song Ke sneaked into Zhuang Qingyan’s bedroom and poked him on the quilt.
Zhuang Qingyan seed to have anticipated her arrival, not surprised at all as he put down the light screen in his hand, “You want to ask if I can help Ye Zheng, right?”
Song Ke turned green with certainty.
Zhuang Qingyan sighed, “Old Fang is a doctor, and even he is helpless. What can I do?”
The triangular head of the chaleon drooped down, instantly turning into a sorrowful blue, exuding a sowhat dejected atmosphere.
The room fell into silence, Zhuang Qingyan used two fingers to massage Song Ke’s back, his eyelashes drooping, his eyes like an abyss that couldn’t see the light.
“It’s not entirely impossible…” he slowly elongated his voice, “There is a possibility, although it’s slim, it’s worth a try.”
Song Ke’s chubby claws held onto his pajamas, gently pulling, urging him not to beat around the bush and quickly reveal the thod.
Zhuang Qingyan didn’t rush to answer, holding her two front limbs, leaning forward a bit, his captivating peach blossom eyes curved charmingly, “I’ll think of the thod. As an exchange, what do you promise ? In the posture of a graceful poplar, I wholeheartedly seek your favor. If I have the honor of being the sole favorite in the harem, that would be even better.”
Song Ke’s two eyeballs went blank, “…”
How can soone be shaless enough to flirt with a lizard… Ugh, how outrageous!
She released a bit of awakened energy, slap, and the fragile silk pajamas instantly burst open, leaving the neckline wide open.
Zhuang Qingyan lowered his head to glance, raising an eyebrow slightly, “Can’t believe you’re in such a hurry?”
Song Ke: “…”
Song Ke disappeared on the spot.
Zhuang Qingyan’s eyebrows and eyes relaxed, his expression eased, and he laughed out loud, glimpses of the proud and spirited youth could be vaguely seen through layers of ti.
“Give
the terminal.”
A small bee terminal flew out into the air, and after a mont, Zhuang Qingyan connected to the video call.
The projection flickered twice, revealing a person in a white lab coat who looked hurried – it was Dr. Ning Rong.
“Dr. Ning, how’s your recent research going?” Zhuang Qingyan casually greeted.
“It’s you? How co you have ti…” Dr. Ning mumbled vaguely, not stopping his footsteps. The background seed to be a laboratory corridor. Suddenly, he rembered sothing and excitedly said, “I found the critical value! Mutations caused by DNA breakage under high-dose radiation are not inevitable, as long as…”
Dr. Ning eloquently introduced his preliminary results, and Zhuang Qingyan occasionally responded with a few words.
“I have a new research topic here. Are you interested?”
“What topic?”
“Cell division lineage research, mainly focused on organ regeneration. I can provide you with relevant research materials, on the condition that I must personally participate and lead the project. The list with the highest confidentiality clearance can only include you and .”
Dr. Ning Rong’s footsteps halted, his gaze blank. “Say that again, are you sure it’s ‘cell division lineage research for organ regeneration’?”
“Sure.” Zhuang Qingyan’s expression remained unchanged. “Co to Qianzhan City Laboratory tomorrow, and we can discuss it in person.”
On the other side of the communication, Dr. Ning Rong was shocked to the point of being speechless, only the surging flas burned fiercely in his heart.
Cell division and organ regeneration are both secrets related to the ‘Fire Seed.’
Has this guy been possessed? Just a few days ago, he was shouting, “What does benefiting all mankind have to do with ?” And now he suddenly changed his mind?
*
Early the next day.
Qianzhan City.
The hole in the ceiling was patched up, and the refurbished lab was lined with a variety of sophisticated and complex instrunts.
Zhuang Qingyan lowered his head to adjust the data, Song Ke’s tail wrapped around the horizontal bar of the ecological cultivation box, hanging upside down, swaying leisurely.
Ning Rong, who ca in wearing a hat and mask, was startled, then surprised: “Lizard genes?”
He stared at Song Ke for two seconds, his eyes getting brighter and bursting into enthusiastic research questions, “How much is the emotional value after fusion? Have you asured the awakened energy? Can the abilities be used normally?”
He even approached and reached out to pinch Song Ke for observation: “I suggest doing a spectroscopic analysis first…”
Song Ke’s slender tongue flickered and a dark blue sword stopped at Ning Rong’s nose.
Ning Rong’s footsteps halted, realizing that this experintal subject was not soone he could provoke, and he dryly said, “Well… kid, you do it.”
Zhuang Qingyan calmly pressed the hovering spiritual weapon, lightly smiling, “Dr. Ning, don’t be handsy, my partner has a temper.”
Song Ke cooperatively raised her back, turning her entire body into a bright red, emitting a threatening aura.
Ning Rong: “…” Strange taste.
“No need to draw blood,” Zhuang Qingyan didn’t waste words, “Ti is limited, these are the gene results from last ti, let’s reverse the radiation directly.”
Ning Rong changed his clothes for disinfection, took a glance at the running screen, and the spectroter showed four genes: Hook Snake, Wildcat, Brown Bear, and Chaleon. The complex DNA chains interwove, with chaleon clearly dominating, crazily devouring nearby cells, posing extrely high risks.
“The chaleon activity is too high. For safety, adjust the radiation values to 22.025% – 26.745%,” Zhuang Qingyan said without a sound, giving him a glance. It seems Ning Rong’s research has indeed progressed, now precise to three decimal places.
The two entered the partitioned room, attached the sensors, and Song Ke flicked his tail towards Zhuang Qingyan’s lower leg, aning clearly: get out.
The reverse radiation is not a good thing. Now it’s set to over 20%. Although her unique physique is not significantly affected, it would be challenging for an ordinary S-level to endure. Zhuang Qingyan himself had a “feeble body”, and excessive radiation would undoubtedly be harmful to him. There was no need to accompany her.
Seeing her firm attitude, Zhuang Qingyan removed the communicator and placed it around the neck of the small chaleon. “Alright, I’ll wait outside. Call
if there’s any issue. If you can’t speak, knock three tis, and I’ll co in.”
Before leaving, Zhuang Qingyan paused for a mont, adjusted the protective glass, and switched to an invisible mode. “After turning back, rember to wear clothes.”
Song Ke: “?” Of course, she would wear clothes!
Low-intensity reverse radiation filled the entire isolation room, and each ti the wavelength changed, Zhuang Qingyan would remind Song Ke.
“Excluding the four known wavelengths, nearly 5% fluctuation range, I don’t know what will co out this ti,” Ning Rong remarked while staring at the instrunt. “It’s better to have a stable outco.”
Opening the blind box was a matter of luck.
Zhuang Qingyan didn’t speak. Genetic engineering, especially genetic fusion, was impossible without using animals for experintation. The DNA composition inside Song Ke was complex, and perhaps… none of them were a good match.
After another change in the wavelength, Song Ke’s clear voice sounded from the communicator, “Zhuang Qingyan.”
Zhuang Qingyan quickly pressed pause, “I’m here.”
Song Ke chuckled, “I’ve turned back!”
Ignoring the instrunt results, Zhuang Qingyan took big steps forward, his voice laced with a smile, “I’m coming in. Are you dressed?”
“I, am, dressed!”
The door was pushed open, and Song Ke, wearing a white T-shirt and shorts, swung her legs while sitting on the experintal table, looking displeased at him, “I’m not you. I would definitely wear—”
Zhuang Qingyan strode over and tightly hugged her.
Song Ke instantly fell silent, pressed against his chest, listening to his thumping heartbeat. Her ears turned redder and redder.
The two hugged for a while, and Zhuang Qingyan checked her limbs, “Is there any discomfort? Or do you feel anything unusual?”
Song Ke thought for a mont and shook her head seriously, “No.”
Hand in hand, the two ca out, and Ning Rong stared at the instrunt with a solemn expression, “Co over and take a look.”
Following his gaze, Zhuang Qingyan lowered his head.
Curious, Song Ke squeezed her head in, although she couldn’t understand it, she wanted to feel involved.
“The data analysis is almost complete. This ti, there is probably only one manifesting gene, and its stability is very good. It should be fine for one or two months,” Zhuang Qingyan reported as detailed information gradually erged.
Ning Rong stared at a few lines of data, unable to hide his surprise, “What? Second activation?”
Second activation refers to the reappearance of genes with dominant traits, such as the Hook Snake or Wild Cat. However, they had already eliminated the first batch of four, so such a mistake was impossible.
Even Zhuang Qingyan couldn’t help but be astonished. Could it be that, apart from those four, Song Ke had previously shown symptoms of gene fusion?
“No,” Song Ke honestly replied. She had been perfectly normal from childhood to now.
Ding! The spectroter stopped running, displaying the result: “This gene is not recorded in the database.”
Ning Rong was dumbfounded. This gene spectroter covered the entire Alliance’s biological lineage. What did it an not being in the database?
Zhuang Qingyan couldn’t help but frown. All successfully fused genes would be recorded unless… it was the failed part, which could be anything and more difficult to judge.
“Song Ke, are you sure you’re not feeling any discomfort?” Zhuang Qingyan’s brow furrowed.
“I’m fine,” Song Ke nodded.
Still worried, Zhuang Qingyan conducted various physical examinations, and this ti, there was a new discovery.
Ning Rong pointed at the resonance ter in shock, “Awakened energy stable at 14,000.”
Seeing Song Ke’s confusion, Ning Rong sighed deeply, “Congratulations, second awakening… no, according to your awakener circle’s terms, you’ve upgraded to S8.”
S8’s awakened energy ranged from 13,000 to 15,000. Song Ke’s previous level was 12,000, and now it was stable at 14,000, a clear improvent in strength.
S7 was already explosive. Once the news of Song Ke’s promotion to S8 was announced, it would undoubtedly stir up a storm in the Alliance.
…
“When would the research you ntioned start?” Ning Rong asked in a low voice after leaving the laboratory.
“The sooner, the better,” Zhuang Qingyan replied in a hushed tone. The situation with Ye Zheng was urgent. Before coming here, Zhuang Qingyan had asked Ye Zii about his situation. As long as Ye Zheng agreed, the surgery could take place as early as a week later. “Song Ke and I will go to the Trial Court first, and then we’ll find you later.”
Ning Rong acknowledged with a sound, keeping up with the two awakened individuals, panting as he spoke, “I’ve arranged the confidentiality permissions you ntioned. I’ve screened all the assistants. When the research process is dismantled, no one will notice…”
The three figures gradually moved away.
A miniature drone hovered in the sky and then returned to a skywalk several kiloters away, where two figures stood.
One of them glanced at the real-ti surveillance and looked puzzled. “Who is this person? Why is Ning Rong getting so close to him?”
The two Central Court agents had been tracking Ning Rong for a long ti, monitoring him closely since he arrived at the Northern Base. Ning Rong, a forr core mber of the “Eternal Life Project” and from the Qinglan Research Institute, was suspected by the Central Court of concealing important research data, deliberately leaving the project, and wanting to establish his own foothold to take over the experintal results.
However, Ning Rong was a thorough scientific researcher who usually kept a low profile. He rarely interacted with people, and with awakener guards around the laboratory periter, it was challenging to infiltrate. They had followed him for several months, but they were at an impasse until recently when Ning Rong ca to Qianzhan City twice, raising suspicions.
The other person skillfully exported the recent photos and videos, organizing them into periodic reporting docunts.
“Do your job; it’s not our business to use our brains. Send these to surveillance,” the agent said.
Among the countless images, there was an inconspicuous side profile photo of a young man.
Young Zhuang Qingyan was wearing a white robe, donning gold-rimd glasses, and had an elegant and handso face. Despite being dressed as a researcher like Ning Rong, his temperant was completely different from Ning Rong, who had heavy dark circles under his eyes.
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