You, a living person, are telling me I've served in the underworld for ten years?

Chen Yang's eyes were sharp as knives as he bent down to examine, touch, and press the objects carefully.

He magnified, analyzed, and compared every minute feature.

The fragment given to me by Wang Shengxiong, which appears to have come from the highest level of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, has incredibly delicate bio-light patterns on its surface that seem to flow and change slowly on their own. It is warm to the touch and cool to the touch, and the core silver thread network is intricate and complex. The torn cross-section vaguely reveals a special biomaterial laminar flow structure similar to bones.

That sense of vitality is as if something alive is attached to it.

The black-clad man's armor, on the other hand, was much more monotonous. Its color was dull, and its texture was somewhat stiff and sticky. While the patterns were somewhat similar, they were rigid and fixed, like mass-produced items printed on an assembly line.

The exposed portion of the internal laminar flow structure appears more simplistic and crude, with the core driving component seemingly embedded with some kind of energy crystal rather than a finely intricate biological neural network. The patterns lack that fluid, breathing, luminous quality.

The biggest difference comes from an inconspicuous corner inside the armor—the mark.

Inside the fragment of Wang Shengxiong's armor is an extremely tiny but intricately structured double-helix snake shadow, with fine and smooth engravings, as if it had grown naturally.

The markings were also present inside the black-clad man's armor, but they were simplified too much, the structure was rigid, and it was more like a regular geometric brand, lacking that primitive, evil sense of vitality.

Material grade, texture activity, core composition, imprint characteristics... a difference in all aspects!
The conclusion was like a hammer blow, resounding and powerful.

They're not the same group!

Chen Yang let out a long sigh, the breath stirring the wisps of smoke drifting from the edge of the lampshade, slightly easing the tension that had gripped him for half the night. Not a friend, but most likely not an enemy either!
The force behind that group of men in black is not directly affiliated with the Heavenly Dao Alliance, and may even be in potential conflict with it.
A possibility quickly took shape in his mind, like a spark ignited in the darkness.

The enemy of my enemy... Even if we can't become true allies, in the face of the behemoth that is the Heavenly Alliance, it is worth trying to contact, or even... win over, anyone who can share even the slightest bit of the pressure!
With a firm resolve, a clear plan unfolded in my mind.

Just as he picked up the fragment of the black-clad man's armor from the table, pondering how to find clues—

hum!hum!hum!
The phone in my pocket suddenly vibrated, breaking the silence of the room. The name flashing on the screen was "Alice".

Chen Yang answered the call quickly, lowering his voice.

Alice?

"List!"

Alice's voice carried the weariness of a long journey and a slight, suppressed panting, but mostly it was filled with excitement.

"We've arrived! At Exit 7! Everyone's here, fifty-eight in total!"

"it is good."

Chen Yang's words were concise and to the point.

Send me your location, I'll be there within half an hour.

He glanced at the two distinct fragments of genetic armor on the table, then without hesitation, quickly put them back into the hidden pocket, picked up his backpack, and silently slipped into the deeper darkness of the early morning.

Airport Exit 7.

The night's chill was somewhat dispelled by the massive steel buildings, but the early morning temperature was still so cold that people shivered.

When Chen Yang rushed over, the scene before him made him pause slightly.

Alice stood at the front of the crowd, her fair cheeks flushed red by the cold wind, her blonde hair casually tied back.

Behind her stood dozens of figures, each with a unique appearance and extraordinary temperament.

There were elderly men with white hair and beards and sharp eyes like eagles, middle-aged gentlemen dressed in retro aristocratic attire, and young men and women with wild temperaments dressed in practical hunting clothes... Although they wore modern clothes and tried their best to conceal their true selves, the underlying qualities they inadvertently revealed and the subtle sense of blood ties between them could not be hidden no matter what.

The fifty-eight people all had eyes that carried the weariness of a long journey, but deeper within them lay a desperate hope and an almost imperceptible solemnity.

"List!"

Alice's eyes lit up when she saw him, and she quickly went to meet him.

"Thank you for your hard work, it's so late..."

Before she could finish speaking, Chen Yang gently waved his hand to interrupt her.

"It's good that everyone is here."

His gaze swept across the crowd, and the people's probing, scrutinizing, curious, and dependent eyes all focused on him.

"Is this the first batch?"

Chen Yang asked Alice in a low voice.

"Ah."

Alice nodded, her expression solemn.

"There are still quite a few clansmen left, scattered in several locations. It will take time to coordinate their evacuation and identity transfer. At the latest... they should arrive one after another within a week."

"understood."

Chen Yang pondered for a moment.

"There are too many people and too many eyes around here. I'll take you to a completely safe place first. Alice, what do you say? Do you want to go with them first, or stay and wait for the rest of the group?"

Alice did not hesitate at all.

“I’ll stay! I need to personally contact and arrange for the rest of the tribe to ensure nothing goes wrong.”

Among the clansmen behind her, an elderly man with gray hair but a vigorous spirit stepped forward, bowed slightly, and spoke in a steady and powerful voice.

“Mr. Chen, thank you for your help. We are willing to settle down with you first to avoid trouble and get away as soon as possible…”

He glanced at Alice, a meaningful look flashing in his eyes.

"Make some preparations."

"Alright."

Chen Yang nodded.

"There is no time to lose. Relax and do not resist."

No one objected. From the moment they decided to follow Alice on her journey to the East to escape the calamity, their trust was placed in her.

Chen Yang closed his eyes, his mind sinking into his sea of ​​consciousness, connecting with the entrance to the mysterious cave he had refined, hidden beneath the city lights.

An indescribable spatial fluctuation quietly spread from him, enveloping the Alice tribe members in front of him like ripples on water.

A slight feeling of weightlessness washed over me, like falling from a great height and then being gently lifted up by clouds. The next moment, the airport's steel dome, the bustling signs, and the cold marble tiles instantly distorted and vanished!
Instead, it has an indescribable freshness.

A dense, almost liquefied spiritual energy washed over me like morning mist, accompanied by the gentle murmur of flowing water and the clear, melodious chirping of birds I had never heard before. The canopies of towering trees blocked out the sun, their leaves a vibrant green, their veins shimmering with a jewel-like luster. A crystal-clear lake reflected the starry night sky, and exotic flowers and herbs exuded their fragrance all around.

This is an ancient blessed land that seems to have existed since the beginning of time, where every inch of air exudes boundless vitality and mysterious Taoist charm.

Even the Darkblood Clan, with their ancient bloodline and weathered by time, couldn't help but let out soft gasps of amazement and admiration, their eyes greedily and intoxicatedly breathing in this spiritual energy they had never imagined before.

"Welcome to my 'little world'."

A clear and gentle voice rang out.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a beautiful and ethereal figure slowly turning around by the lake.

She wore an elegant long dress, her black hair cascading down her back, her eyes clear, and she was enveloped in a hazy halo, as if she had merged with the world around her. She was none other than Li Rou, the true guardian of this place.

"Li Rou, it's me."

Chen Yang stepped forward.

"Owner."

Li Rou nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping over the crowd behind Chen Yang, her expression calm and composed.

"A new visitor? Their aura... is rather unusual."

"Yes, they are my friends, Alice's kind. They are staying here temporarily and will be cultivating here for a while."

Chen Yang explained, then remembered something, his tone becoming slightly serious.

“There is another matter to be noted. I have already sent in a group of people... They are pure Eastern martial artists, with different backgrounds and even more different paths.”

He was referring to the group of martial arts practitioners he had protected.

"Given the vast time gap and differences in their understanding, a sudden encounter could easily lead to unnecessary conflict..."

Upon hearing this, Li Rou's lips curved slightly, revealing a knowing and calm smile.

"Rest assured, Master. The spatial layers of this realm have their own mysteries. Wherever my thoughts lead, that is the law." She gently raised her slender hand and seemingly casually pointed at the void.

In an instant, everyone felt that the space had undergone some strange folding.

They seemed to be standing on both sides of an invisible corridor. Although they were all in this blessed land, they could clearly sense a vast yet gentle barrier of power standing between them and the faint martial arts aura carrying the scent of swords and blood from afar!

The barrier was invisible and intangible, yet it felt incredibly solid and absolute. It perfectly prevented any confrontation, not even sound or breath.

It's like living on opposite sides of a piece of paper, never having the chance to meet.

"Does Master still have any concerns?"

Li Rou asked softly.

Chen Yang felt reassured and shook his head with a smile.

"No, that's all. Thank you for your hard work."

He turned around and spoke to the Darkblood Clan members who were still somewhat dazed but clearly relieved.

"The spiritual energy here is abundant, so you can cultivate in peace and find a path that suits you."

If you need anything, please contact Li Rou; she will do her best to make things convenient.

The white-haired elder stepped forward again and, on behalf of his clan, solemnly bowed deeply to Chen Yang and Li Rou.

"I will never forget your kindness in saving me!"

The people behind him also bowed in unison.

After quickly and efficiently settling the first group of Darkblood Clan members and confirming that Li Rou's spatial barrier operated without any hindrance, Chen Yang decisively withdrew. With a slight shift of his thoughts, spatial ripples enveloped him once more, and the fairyland-like scene before him instantly vanished. The familiar yet cold city night wind once again lashed against his face, and he was now standing in a shadowy corner a short distance from Exit 7 of the airport.

"call……"

Alice watched him appear silently, let out a long sigh of relief, and finally loosened her tightly clenched hands, which were slightly damp with sweat.

"Everything...everything is settled in?"

She couldn't help but ask.

"Yes, everything is fine. Li Rou will take care of them."

Chen Yang nodded.

"You should go back and rest early too. There's a lot to do later, so conserve your energy."

He safely escorted Alice back to her secluded apartment building.

Outside the car window, the streetlights were lonely in the early morning.

"Wait patiently. If anything changes, contact me immediately."

"I see."

Alice stood outside the car, her golden hair brushing against her delicate eyebrows in the night breeze, her face appearing clear yet dreamlike in the moonlight.

"Chen, thank you so much."

"It's just about helping each other out."

Chen Yang waved his hand, and the vehicle silently glided into the night.

As I drove back to the hotel, the elevator doors opened and I was about to enter the corridor when I almost bumped into Jiang He, who was coming out of the room opposite.

"Senior brother?"

Chen Yang was somewhat surprised; Jiang He's appearance at his door at this time was clearly not a coincidence.

"I was just looking for you."

Jiang He's expression was solemn, and his words were concise and to the point.

"Let's go inside and talk."

Chen Yang quickly opened the door, and the two slipped inside. The heavy door blocked out the light in the corridor, leaving only the faint glow of the desk lamp.

Chen Yang took out the two fragments of gene armor directly from the hidden compartment and placed them under the light.

"Genetic armor?"

Jiang He's eyes instantly sharpened like a hawk's.

"Why are there two sets?"

He leaned closer to examine it, his fingers also sensing the strange tactile sensation of the material.

"And...it's completely different!"

"Ah."

Chen Yang nodded, pointing to the two fragments.

"This small area is warm and radiant with spiritual light. Its structure is extremely complex and biological, originating from the core of the Heavenly Dao Alliance behind Wang Shengxiong."

He then pointed to the large area where the man in black was.

"Rough, rigid, and with obvious engraving marks."

The stuff those people used to hunt Alice down months ago, it's not the same kind as Wang Shengxiong's!

He clearly explained to Jiang He the differences he had discovered that night in terms of material properties, texture activity, core structure, and even subtle imprints, as well as his own observations and analytical conclusions.

Jiang He listened intently, his fingertips repeatedly tracing the two vastly different fragments, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

"Not on the same route?"

This conclusion also surprised him.

"That's right! Moreover, judging from the equipment level, the force behind the men in black is far inferior to the core technology of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, at least in terms of the research and development of this genetic equipment."

Chen Yang spoke with certainty, his gaze intense.

"Senior brother, this is an opportunity!"

Jiang He was no ordinary person; he instantly understood Chen Yang's intention, and his eyes flashed with a sharp light.

"The enemy of my enemy?!"

"Exactly!"

Chen Yang pushed the fragments of the man in black's armor forward.

"Without finding any survivors of the men in black, these fragments of equipment are the only clue!"

Since this group is also researching and applying genetic equipment, and has clashed with the Heavenly Dao Alliance, it's highly likely they are also in competition with or even hostile to the Heavenly Dao Alliance!

He said it decisively.

"I plan to give it a try and see if I can make contact with them! Even if we can't form a real alliance, just getting some information will give us another possible breakthrough in getting past the Heavenly Dao Alliance, which is such a tough nut to crack!"

Jiang He remained silent for a few seconds, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the table, making an extremely faint tapping sound.

He quickly weighed the pros and cons and risks.

Finally, he nodded sharply, his deep voice carrying a sense of determination.

"It's worth a try! Even if it means facing certain death, it's better than crashing headlong into the Heavenly Alliance, this seemingly endless wall! The enemy of my enemy, even if it's just a temporary distraction, is still an asset to us!"

He looked at Chen Yang.

How do you plan to get started?

"Start with the equipment and trace the investigation backwards!"

Chen Yang picked up the fragments of the man in black's armor.

"The structure, texture, and markings of this fragment are unique 'fingerprints.' I need intelligence support and more precise analysis from the bureau to see if it can be matched with any previously unexplored anomalies in underground research institutions or the flow of special raw materials traded on the black market..." (End of Chapter)