Ling Cage: I am a spiritual master, devouring source matter to become a god.

Bai Yuekui's residence is on the mountainside.

At this moment, the door to her residence was wide open. Even under normal circumstances, her residence was rarely closed, and people from Dragonbone Village frequently came and went from her residence.

For example, Xia Dou often plays video games.

Jingyuan even wondered if there was a laboratory inside.

After Jingyuan went inside, he put the surfboard aside and then used his mental power to scan the area, discovering a cave.

The cave was hidden by a curtain.

Jingyuan lifted the curtain and went inside with Mark.

Marrow crystals grow inside the cave, emitting light that illuminates the cave.

At the end of the cave, a large metal door appeared.

When Jingyuan saw the door, he knew there was something inside.

I was wondering before, if Bai Yuekui's laboratory was inside her residence, how could it be so unguarded?

It seems that Bai Yuekui has mastered the art of concealing the truth.

Jingyuan looked around the gate when suddenly a laser scanner lit up.

The light swept across Jingyuan, emitting an alarm: "Recognition failed!"

Jing Yuan shattered the identification system with a single punch, then used his telekinesis to forcefully open the door.

"Isn't this a bit inappropriate?" Mark was a little worried; this was someone else's territory.

Jingyuan knew he was in the wrong, so he didn't say a word.

After entering the laboratory, they hadn't walked far when they saw a wall of glass jars inside.

Inside the glass jar, there were several clones of Mark. They were not complete human bodies, but had different degrees of mutation.

In addition to the humanoid Mark clone, there are several monster bodies.

These glass jars containing clones had no life support equipment, suggesting that the deceased clones were simply preserved as specimens and placed here.

Judging from the expressions and demeanor of these clones, they seem to have experienced great suffering before their deaths.

Jingyuan looked at Mark.

Mark had previously seen the true form of the humanoid bioweapon and also learned about his own origins.

But when he saw these clones, he was still deeply shocked.

Mark looked at the monster bodies. He didn't recognize them, but seeing these monsters alongside the other clones inevitably made people wonder.

"This...is also...me?"

Jingyuan nodded. He didn't recognize Mark, but he did.

These monsters are none other than Mark, who has transformed into a Devouring Beast!

Jingyuan didn't see this part of the plot either.

When he entered the laboratory, his feelings were extremely complicated. So many clones used for experiments indirectly confirmed some of his conjectures about Bai Yuekui.

The two continued exploring the laboratory and found some more information on the computer next to them.

These materials include research on the primary and cranial forms of Mana, as well as cranial clones.

After reviewing the documents, Jingyuan finally understood what had happened.

The DNA report in the data shows that the DNA of Mana's primordial and cranial cells is actually a triple-stranded structure.

All known life forms on Earth, whether animals, plants, or microorganisms, have a double-chain structure.

Is it speculated that the original form of Mana was not an Earth-based organism?

However, the DNA comparison report between the mana prototype and humans also shows many similarities.

Based on previous exploration results, the initial form of Mana has existed on Earth for at least 2.5 million years.

Given such a long period of time, it is very likely that His genes have already been integrated into the human genome.

The information also mentions a creature with four arms.

This is cranial birth, the kind of creature that was born from the brain of the Mana primordial body.

Jing Yuan originally thought he would look exactly like Mark. He never expected that he was actually a humanoid Devouring Beast with four arms.

However, upon closer reflection, Jingyuan understood.

Mark is a clone with non-human genes removed, so he naturally resembles a human.

Bai Yuekui needs to complete this part of the gene to transform Mark into a Devouring Beast.

Mark's beast-like state should resemble a skull.

As you continue reading, these materials also mention using the ability of skull regeneration to attack the Blood Vortex, but this part is not explained in detail.

Another story involves a person who died unexpectedly from a cranial birth, and a spinal worm that hatched from the soil.

The cranial spinal worm possesses unique genes, and the clones of the spinal worm and the cranial worm meet the criteria for xenografting. Theoretically, the biological functions of the cranial worm can be restored in the clones through chimerism experiments.

"Chimerism experiment?"

In the original story, Dr. Carrie proposed using the spinal cord parasite and Mark to chimera, which accidentally restored the craniogenous body.

Jing Yuan looked at the beast-like clones in the incubation chamber.

It is obvious that Bai Yuekui secretly conducted many experiments on transplanting spinal worms here.

Unfortunately, none of them succeeded.

The only one with a chance of success was Mark.

A file about clones records the experimental data for each subject.

One of the folders is labeled: Clone K04 (Mark).

Open the folder; there's a photo of Mark inside.

Judging from the background, it seems that Mark was secretly filmed while on a mission on the ground.

A note next to it reads: "K04 is a rare clone with life-source material and is planned as the next experimental target."

"Life source substance?" Jing Yuan was surprised. This was the same as Jing Nan's situation. Did it mean that to carry out the modification experiment, only clones with life source substance would be useful?

Mark looked at the sentence and fell into deep thought.

"The next experimental target? In her eyes, am I just an experimental target?" Mark muttered to himself.

Unlike Charles, Mark did not consider himself extraordinary, believing himself to be the chosen one and the savior.

Mark used to think of himself as an ordinary person, but now he can't even be considered an ordinary person anymore.

The impact on him was immense.

Jingyuan stood to the side, and he and Mark looked at the documents together.

At this moment, he was also somewhat angry.

No wonder when Jing Yuan approached Bai Yuekui to discuss cooperation, she kept insisting that Mark come over.

It turns out it was for an experiment to modify the structure.

How did you find this place?

Suddenly, Bai Yuekui's voice came from outside the door.

Chapter 211 Kill one to save the world

Mark and Jingyuan turned their heads at the same time and saw Bai Yuekui and Master Lai walking inside.

"What? Can't we come?"

"This is my private laboratory!"

"Hmph!" Jing Yuan said expressionlessly, "If I hadn't come, how would I have known your plan was to turn Mark into a Devouring Beast! And you only told Mark this in private. If we hadn't questioned Mark, were you planning to secretly lure him here for experiments?"

“I didn’t lie to him! I explained the whole story to him!”

"Have you explained it clearly?" Jing Yuan's tone was filled with anger as he said in a low voice, "Then I want to know, what did you tell him! That becoming a Devouring Beast can save the world?"

"This is a necessary measure for us to combat the Mana ecosystem!" Bai Yuekui said. "You have also seen my experimental data, and you should know that only by restoring the ability of cranial regeneration can one enter the Blood Vortex!"

Why not think of other solutions?

"There is no other way!"

"Then why not release the information publicly so everyone can work together to find a solution!"

Bai Yuekui looked at Jing Yuan, "Dealing with higher-dimensional life forms is not about dealing with Devouring Beasts. It's not a matter of having more people to solve the problem. The Devouring Beasts you killed in the past were merely low-level creatures that had fused with the genes of Earth species from higher-dimensional life forms. They are completely different from higher-dimensional life forms. Even powerful beings like the King-level are insignificant in front of higher-dimensional beings."

Only the Mana Primordial and the Skull-Born can barely be considered higher-dimensional life forms.

Only if Mark regains his craniosynostosis and enters the higher dimensions will we have a glimmer of hope.

"Then why didn't you make this public? Instead, you were planning to secretly conduct modification experiments with Mark?"

Bai Yuekui looked at Jing Yuan and remained silent for a moment. "We have made many sacrifices in our fight against the Mana ecosystem. We know very well that deciding who should be sacrificed is a difficult decision. Letting more people know about this will make it even more difficult to continue!"