Chapter Fifty-One

Subduing the two clans was merely the beginning; we still have a long way to go before achieving true peace. Right now, the researchers inside the tech sphere are racing against time to study and absorb the advanced technology and knowledge of this world. Meanwhile, backed by abundant resources, our military forces are continuously expanding, and our overall strength is booming at an astonishing speed.

The residents in the city are full of trust in me. Under such circumstances, Shen Yi knows he can no longer remain complacent. With subordinates who are all formidable warriors skilled in battle, it would be difficult to command respect if his own abilities were mediocre. Therefore, Shen Yi resolutely embarked on a path of self-improvement.

In the city's research district, a scene of bustling activity unfolded. Inside the secret laboratory of the tech sphere, lights flickered and various precision instruments hummed as they operated. Shen Yi rushed in impetuously, bursting open the laboratory doors like a cannonball with a loud bang, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Listen up, researchers! Hurry up and bring out all those heaven-defying, earth-shattering black technologies you've been hoarding. I want to become stronger right now, immediately, this second, without a moment's delay!"

The researchers, who had been engrossed in their experiments, startled visibly at the sudden roar, almost dropping the instruments in their hands. The chief researcher pushed up his thick, beer-bottle-bottom glasses. He slowly turned around, retrieved a syringe emitting an eerie blue glow from a metal box that flickered with faint light, and the liquid inside the syringe rippled gently as if it possessed a life of its own, exuding a mysterious aura.

"This is the latest genetic enhancement serum developed by our team through day-and-night efforts," the chief researcher cleared his throat and said with a serious expression. "Once injected, your physical fitness will soar beyond the heavens, surpassing the limits of humanity. However, the process might be a bit... intensely refreshing, so you should mentally prepare yourself."

Shen Yi's eyes widened like copper bells, and without even glancing at the syringe, he waved his hand dismissively and said, "Cut the crap and stop dawdling, just stick it in! What kind of person do you take Shen Yi for? Would I be afraid of a little suffering?"

The chief researcher shrugged helplessly and carefully inserted the needle of the syringe into Shen Yi's arm. As the genetic enhancement serum slowly flowed into his body, Shen Yi's expression instantly froze, as if he had been struck by a paralysis spell. Immediately afterward, his body began to tremble uncontrollably, as though ten thousand ants were frantically gnawing at his blood vessels, or tens of thousands of steel needles were simultaneously piercing every inch of his skin. His bones even began to produce a clicking sound, resembling ancient gears grinding laborously as if his entire body were being disassembled and reassembled from scratch.

Shen Yi's facial features twisted in agony, and his gritting, grimacing expression made him look like a ferocious beast. Even so, he stubbornly endured the excruciating pain, straining his voice to roar, "Is that it? This feels way too comfortable! This sensation is just like an itch being scratched, bring on more—another ten vials would be no problem at all!" His voice echoed through the laboratory, vibrating the surrounding instruments until they hummed in resonance.

Just as the enhancement serum entered his system, a strange tingling sensation instantly spread from the injection site to his entire body, like countless microscopic electrical currents rampaging within him. Immediately following that, an unbearable wave of intense pain washed over him like a surging tide, making every cell in his body feel as though it were being roasted over an open fire.

His muscles began to contract and expand wildly, as if an invisible pair of giant hands were kneading them without restraint. The originally balanced muscle lines rapidly bulged, becoming sharp and angular, brimming with an explosive sense of power. Blood vessels stood out and throbbed beneath his skin like thick earthworms, and his blood surged and roared through his veins like molten lava, delivering a surging torrent of energy to every corner of his body.

His skeletal structure underwent continuous reshaping amidst cracking sounds, with density and strength increasing drastically. His bone marrow also underwent a marvelous transformation; newborn blood cells were manufactured continuously like well-trained soldiers, vastly enhancing all bodily functions.

His brain was also drawn into this revolution. Connections between neurons flashed and strengthened like dense lightning, rendering his thoughts exceptionally clear and agile. Various kinds of knowledge and information sped through his mind, causing his memory and learning capacity to multiply exponentially.

Simultaneously, his five senses underwent a frenzied evolution. His vision sharpened like a high-precision telescope, allowing him to clearly perceive minute details thousands of meters away; his hearing became acute enough to capture the slightest vibrations in the air; his sense of smell could distinguish tens of thousands of different odors; his sense of taste became extremely refined, able to detect the tiniest compositional changes in food; and his sense of touch could perceive the exact pressure of a gentle breeze brushing against his skin.

This cascade of changes made Shen Yi feel as though he had been thoroughly reborn, transforming into an entirely new and incomparably powerful entity.

Inside the futuristic human race base, Shen Yi had just finished the enhancement injection, his entire body radiating intense heat as power surged wildly within him like a rushing tide. Eager to test this newly empowered physique, he immediately sought out his expressionless subordinate, Long Yi, to engage in a hearty and vigorous sparring match.

In the spacious holographic combat training room, energy light strips flowed along the surrounding walls while high-tech simulation equipment emitted a soft hum. Long Yi stood quietly in the center of the arena, his metallic prosthetic body reflecting a cold sheen under the lights, his gaze as deep and still as a frozen pool, devoid of the slightest ripple.

"Long Yi, we definitely need a good spar today for me to test out this new body! Don't hold back," Shen Yi said, rubbing his hands together in eager anticipation.

Long Yi gave a slight nod without extra words, and the energy blade on his mechanical prosthesis instantly popped out with a buzzing sound of electrical current, blue light flickering in the air.

Shen Yi darted forward like an arrow released from a bow, moving so fast that he left a trail of blurred afterimages in his wake. Unflustered, Long Yi sidestepped smoothly, easily evading Shen Yi's fierce charge. Shen Yi lunged into empty air, his momentum carrying him forward a few paces as he almost crashed headfirst into the wall.

"Hey, Long Yi, you dodge pretty fast!" Shen Yi stabilized his footing, turned around, and flashed a grin.

Without replying, Long Yi manipulated the energy blade on his prosthesis to thrust forward swiftly, his movements clean and lethal. Shen Yi hastily leaped backward, the energy blade grazing the tip of his nose and kicking up a scorching gust of air.

"Good grief, you almost punched a hole right through me!" Breaking out in a cold sweat, Shen Yi finally reined in a fraction of his arrogance.

Taking a deep breath, Shen Yi mobilized the enhanced power within him, causing his muscles to bulge instantly while the blood vessels beneath his skin throbbed like blue earthworms. He charged at Long Yi once more, moving faster and striking harder this time. Long Yi brandished the energy blade to engage Shen Yi in close-quarters combat, their strikes and collisions sending off dazzling sparks.

"Bang, bang, bang!" Every impact produced a deafening roar, causing the entire training room to tremble in response.

Spotting an opening, Shen Yi raised his leg and kicked straight at Long Yi. Refusing to dodge, Long Yi took the kick squarely with his arm, and with a crisp snap, several cracks appeared on his mechanical limb.

"Oops, I broke your arm, my bad!" Though apologizing verbally, Shen Yi wore an excited smile on his face.

Remaining completely expressionless, Long Yi instantly completed the charge cycle for the energy cannon on his other arm, firing a thick laser beam directly toward Shen Yi. Appalled, Shen Yi threw himself into a sideways roll, the laser beam skimming past his body to blast into the wall, leaving behind a smoking crater.

"Long Yi, are you trying to assassinate your boss?" Shen Yi complained as he scrambled up in a disheveled state.

Unmoved, Long Yi pressed his attack. Although his movements lacked emotional fluctuation, they were extraordinarily precise, with every single strike carrying formidable lethality.

Gradually adapting to his enhanced physique, Shen Yi began to parry Long Yi's onslaught with agility. He deftly evaded the energy blades and cannons while actively searching for an opportunity to counterattack.

Suddenly, spotting a gap in Long Yi's assault, Shen Yi lunged forward, locked his arms tightly around Long Yi's torso, and heaved with all his might. To everyone's surprise, Long Yi's bulky frame was actually tossed aside, slamming heavily into the energy shield and triggering a harsh warning klaxon as the barrier flickered repeatedly.

"Phew, finally got you down!" Shen Yi panted heavily.

Slowly rising from the floor with his mechanical prosthesis clicking, Long Yi seemed entirely unaffected by the damage he had sustained.

"Again!" Long Yi uttered coldly, charging at Shen Yi once more.

Chuckling wryly, Shen Yi clenched his fists and braced himself for Long Yi's next wave of attacks. The intense sparring match continued to unfold within the training room, and through this battle, Shen Yi progressively achieved a state of seamless harmony with his newly enhanced body.

However, an hour later.

"Stop, don't hit me anymore!" Shen Yi lay bruised and battered on the ground, presenting a utterly wretched sight. His ribs were completely fractured, and dual streams of nosebleeds gushed out unstoppably like a pair of small red creeks.

Calmly retracting the right foot that had been aimed at delivering a fatal blow to Shen Yi's head, Long Yi maintained a cold and indifferent gaze, devoid of the slightest ripple.

Lying on the floor without even wanting to twitch a pinky finger, Shen Yi felt a deep wave of regret: Why bother learning martial arts? Wasn't it great just being a mastermind behind the scenes? He just had to go and show off, and now look at him—beaten up this badly.

"Ding!" The system, which had remained dormant for a long time, suddenly chimed!

"Due to the host being utterly useless and still managing to court mortal danger despite possessing so many conveniences, the summoning window has been specially unlocked. Please check it, host; if you encounter mortal danger again, you're on your own!"

Several beams of healing light shone upon Shen Yi like angelic radiance. In less than two minutes, as if infused with new life, Shen Yi pushed himself up from the ground. Eagerly opening the system panel, he reached out and tapped the "Summon!" button on the interface.

Countless planets appeared on the screen, varying in shape and size, big and small. Beneath each planet lay a line of fine print, as though recounting their respective mysterious tales.

Only two of these planets were illuminated, while the rest remained shrouded in thick fog, requiring different conditions to unlock.

As for those two illuminated planets, one of them caused a profound shock to ripple through his heart, accompanied by an overwhelming surge of familiarity.