Inside Lury's gene laboratory, lead researcher Melens stared at the computer screen with heavy dark circles under his eyes.
Since the "Blueprint Project" was finalized, he had barely slept in days, pushing the plan forward every single day.
Time was extremely tight—once the Rule Period ended, the acceleration from the thousandfold emergence would cease. If they failed to achieve a key technological breakthrough within the Rule Period, the opportunity would become slim afterward.
He wasn't the only one; every nation shared this awareness.
Seizing the efficiency of the thousandfold emergence and achieving multiple key technological leaps within the Rule Period was the best way to maximize the use of the rules.
[Gene Compilation Complete]
When that long-awaited prompt finally appeared on the screen, Melens suddenly bit his own tongue. The pain instantly jolted him awake.
He shouted to the other researchers: "The optimized genome has finally finished compiling! Have the test team prepare immediately and verify the feasibility of genetic modification through testing as soon as possible!"
Hearing this, the researchers all perked up.
After multiple consecutive compilation failures, their morale had wavered, and doubts had crept in about whether this path could actually work.
After all, the human genome was a massive "spaghetti code mess"—without the aid of the emergence force from the rules, it couldn't possibly be sorted out.
In fact, even now, the lab hadn't fully deciphered the entire human gene sequence. They had only selected a few key directions to pursue breakthroughs.
The successful compilation of these few key direction groups proved that their efforts hadn't been wasted, and it also proved that humans might indeed achieve some form of physical transcendence through self-gene optimization.
Melens looked at the computer screen, his mind racing.
If the tests succeeded, Lury would master a method for optimizing human genes. Even if it was only in a few directions, its value might not be inferior to Suroma's memory research field or Beixing's space exploration field.
At that point, with this technology, if they could significantly enhance and optimize the physical condition of all Lury citizens—even if their population couldn't match the larger nations—their individual superior qualities would allow them to match or even surpass the major powers on a comprehensive level.
Melens remembered a movie he had watched in peacetime, called *Super Soldier*.
The story was about a genetically modified soldier who could take on a hundred enemies, dominated the battlefield, and ultimately enabled his nation's army to defeat a stronger opponent and win the war.
A light flickered in his eyes—a mix of anticipation and madness—as a bold idea took shape in his mind:
"If all Lury citizens can undergo the Blueprint Project, allowing ordinary people who can't use Mind Power to fight on par with average Ascendants, then Lury's overall national strength will be unimaginably powerful!"
...
"Haisen, your plan failed."
In the Hall of Halls, Bruce tossed several recent reports to Dr. Haisen.
The latter caught them and glanced at each one. Every single report represented a facility that Guan Tong had destroyed.
There was no doubt about it—Guan Tong hadn't been intimidated, nor had he wanted Ai Ya's memories.
Dr. Haisen looked embarrassed. He had been quite confident in this plan. He wouldn't say it was a hundred percent guaranteed, but at least it should have bought them some time.
Who would have thought that Guan Tong simply didn't take the bait? He still attacked as usual, and even accelerated his pace.
Several reports in particular showed that some very important bases had been hit.
The most troublesome part was that an energy hub station directly connected to the New Covenant had been damaged, causing the capital's energy supply to drop directly by about twenty percent. This undoubtedly affected the experimental base's operations to the point where it would inevitably slow down the project's progress.
However, looking at the reports in his hand, he quickly identified the problem.
"I don't understand, Your Majesty. Several of these bases are secret facilities that aren't publicly disclosed at all. How did he find them?"
Bruce wasn't surprised. "There are only two possibilities. Either there's a traitor leaking information within the military, or he obtained intelligence provided by an official source from a certain nation."
Dr. Haisen frowned deeply. "A traitor in the military is unlikely. During the current Rule Period, communication is strictly prohibited. Using items to make contact would be too costly... If it's the second possibility—if a nation's official source provided him with intelligence—then that means Beixing has still intervened?"
"No." Bruce's gaze turned serious. "If it's the second point, I believe the one providing him with intelligence isn't Beixing's official sources, but Xisiya's official sources."
"Xisiya's official sources?!"
Dr. Haisen was shocked, unable to understand the logic behind this.
"Yelanka of Xisiya has shown hostility toward us ever since the last time she publicly refused to accept Suroma's national reparations. And she once stayed at Beixing's academy for a few months—at that time, Guan Tong was working as a temporary teacher there.
Afterward, when she returned to her country, her brother was assassinated, most likely by Guan Tong. Even her ability to secure the position of Administrator was backed by Guan Tong's protection. To say these two don't have a deep relationship is completely impossible."
Bruce explained unhurriedly, clearly having long been closely and deeply monitoring the relevant intelligence about Yelanka, Guan Tong, and others.
Upon hearing this, Dr. Haisen suddenly understood. "I see! So that means... is Yelanka a mind-controlled puppet installed by Guan Tong?"
Bruce shook his head. "That's unlikely. I think they probably have a deep cooperative relationship."
"No wonder Guan Tong, as a Beixing native, has dared to repeatedly violate Beixing's official foreign principles and cause trouble everywhere. So this is his backup plan." Dr. Haisen finally understood many things.
"Even if he is expelled by Beixing, he can completely rely on his relationship with Yelanka to settle in Xisiya!"
"A top-tier Ascendant like him can settle anywhere." Bruce said flatly. "Expelling him would only be Beixing's loss. I don't think Beixing's official leadership is that stupid."
"So... Your Majesty, what should we do now?"
"You continue your research. Don't worry about anything else. As for this flea that keeps causing trouble everywhere, I'll make sure he can't jump anymore sooner or later."
...
That evening, after returning to his shelter, Guan Tong received a mental call from Shi Jingyi.
She told him about how the Countermeasures Research Office had sent someone to find her during the day.
After hearing this, Guan Tong's expression darkened.
"They wanted you to contact me? And Dragon Soul threatened you?"
Shi Jingyi: "It wasn't really a threat, just them wanting to handle things according to regulations. But after I explicitly refused, the Countermeasures Research Office didn't pursue any consequences against me."
"..."
"Xiao Tong, you're frowning right now, aren't you? Don't be like that."
Though Shi Jingyi couldn't see Guan Tong, she seemed to know from the conversation alone that his expression had soured, and she spoke to comfort him.
Guan Tong: "Jingyi, I know you're strong. But Adam was strong too. Some people will stop at nothing to get what they want—we have to stay vigilant at all times."
Shi Jingyi: "Some people are referring to...? Xiao Tong, do you have some information?"
Guan Tong: "Silver Fox mentioned it to me privately. It was subtle, but the gist was that there might be someone in Beixing who wants to cooperate with Bruce in exchange for a young body... Whoever it is, to achieve that goal, meeting Bruce's conditions would likely mean acting against us."
Bruce paused for a moment, then said, "I understand. I'll be more careful. By the way, what Dragon Soul said to you doesn't count as a threat, so don't overreact."
Guan Tong: "I know. What about you, Jingyi? Do you have any objections to my actions in Suroma?"
Shi Jingyi: "No. Do what you want to do. Just don't put yourself in danger."
After they ended the call, Guan Tong fell into silent thought.
He knew that what Dragon Soul said didn't qualify as a threat—it was just rigid protocol. But Dragon Soul's style of conduct was exactly the same as that military background, the Countermeasures Research Office's head, Gao Liangwei.
If... no, whoever it is, if they threaten the people I care about, I'll have to preemptively...
"Meow!"
Coal Ball's cry interrupted Guan Tong's thoughts. He was startled to realize that Shadow had appeared before him at some point, his right hand already transformed into a Shadow Blade.
That overflowing killing intent made Guan Tong aware that his emotions had been fluctuating rather strongly.
He quickly restrained himself. He realized it had been a long time since he'd been this worked up—yet now, just the fact that Shi Jingyi had been called in for a talk by the Countermeasures Research Office had stirred up such a strong emotional reaction within him.
"Looks like after this Rule Period ends, I'll have to do something to strike the mountain and shake the tiger..."