Chinese Superman

"nature."

Gao Yuexi's purple eyes seemed to see through everything.

"Behind the Wang family are certain research institutions that are most deeply involved. They may not have given up and want to try to decipher the nine-fold gene lock by starting with the 'original body'. Even if they cannot develop a super gene evolution drug, they want to try with the entire clone."

"The Zheng family values ​​extraterrestrial intelligence that extraterrestrial life might bring."

"The Lu family is interested in high-level martial arts."

"As for the Ye family... who knows what those spoiled brats are up to? Perhaps they're even more dangerous. Trying to refine an elixir of immortality? What wishful thinking, haha..."

"And what about us?"

Aunt Ming looked at Gao Yuexi.

Gao Yuexi looked out the window, her voice calm and ethereal: "My goal is his 'bloodline'."

"Bloodline?!"

Aunt Ming was startled again, then seemed to realize something and blurted out, "But...but he's only three years old!"

She looked at Gao Yuexi's stunning profile, both shocked and puzzled.

Gao Yuexi's face remained calm and expressionless, as if stating a fact unrelated to herself: "I know, so naturally I have no interest in him now."

She paused, then slowly said, "If he's outstanding enough and worth waiting for, what's wrong with waiting for him for ten or twenty years?"

"Aunt Ming, the spiritual energy is reviving, the Taoist magic is manifesting, and martial arts are flourishing. It seems that the world has returned to the mythical era, and ordinary people can also hope to live long and ascend to immortality."

"What are twenty years in the grand scheme of life? What is a difference of a dozen years in age?"

The Innate Realm, besides enabling the awakening of spiritual awareness, can also extend lifespan!

After all, with a pure body and a pure mind, it's normal to live longer.

"Aunt Ming, a Lesser Innate Lifespan adds sixty years, and a Greater Innate Lifespan adds a hundred years. You must work hard to nurture your Innate Lifespan!"

Aunt Ming nodded silently, feeling both awe at Gao Yuexi's foresight and boldness and a complex mix of emotions.

She had followed Gao Yuexi for many years and knew that this seemingly ethereal young lady had a complex inner world.

These words sounded grand and dignified, but Aunt Ming vaguely understood that perhaps... this was also a way for Miss to try to break free from the shackles of fate and escape the arranged marriage with a noble family?

The so-called Martial Ancestor bloodline is nothing but an excuse.

Even if she wears a crown with nine dragons and nine phoenixes, and a robe with gold-embroidered pythons and phoenixes, enjoying the envy of the world, she can't escape the fate of being a daughter of a noble family and being used as a precious bargaining chip and link.

Indeed, even an empress, who ruled the world, could not completely control her own destiny, let alone later generations who merely wore the empress's robes.

A brief silence fell over the car.

Gao Yuexi fell silent, simply gazing out the window.

Even in the dimly lit carriage, the magnificent phoenix coronet and embroidered robes still exuded a faint shimmer of jewels, but on her, besides their nobility, they seemed to carry an indescribable air of loneliness and desolation.

"Let's go, Aunt Ming. Now that they've left, there's no point in us staying here."

Gao Yuexi softly instructed, "First, let's try the old-fashioned soup-soaked flatbread, a specialty of Shicheng. I've heard it's quite good."

"What about Wu Zu's side..." Aunt Ming asked.

"I originally thought that with the situation in full swing, I would join in the fun and take the opportunity to meet him. If he was in trouble, I could secretly lend a hand and make a good connection. But now it seems there's no need for that."

"The better the Martial Ancestor performs, the greater my bargaining power with my family. Even if the jade seal does choose a master in the future, I will not have to sacrifice myself for the sake of marriage alliance."

Gao Yuexi breathed out a warm breath onto the cold car window, her delicate fingers writing the word "freedom" on the fogged glass.

But soon, freedom vanished swiftly along with the white mist.

"Yes, Miss."

Aunt Ming responded as if she hadn't seen anything, and did her job, signaling the driver, who was blocked by the sound barrier, to start the car via walkie-talkie.

The black minivan silently drove into the traffic, as if it had never been there at all.

……

On a winding and rugged mountain path in North China.

A dilapidated tricycle, looking quite old, was slowly moving along, sputtering and billowing black smoke.

Gu Zhi Qiu was in the driver's seat; it was her first time driving a tricycle.

In the back of the truck, Xia Xinghan squeezed between several empty baskets, swaying gently with the bumpy road, basking in the sun and enjoying the scenery.

The mountain wind was cold and carried the scent of loess and withered grass.

In the distance are desolate hills with sparse vegetation, and occasionally a few patches of unmelted snow can be seen.

How much further?

Gu Zhi Qiu asked softly, her gaze sweeping over the quiet mountains and fields around her.

Xia Xinghan raised his wrist and glanced at the communication bracelet. The screen lit up faintly: "The navigation shows that we are about fifteen kilometers away from Wangjia'ao."

Gu Zhi Qiu wasn't in a hurry, and nodded slightly: "This place... is quite desolate."

"Desolation is good."

Xia Xinghan's small face remained expressionless, but his bright eyes became incredibly sharp as he scanned the mountain road ahead and the ridges on both sides.

"It's convenient to set up ambushes, and when a fight breaks out, we don't have to worry too much about hurting innocent people."

Gu Zhi Qiu remained silent, knowing that what he said was true.

Soon, she noticed that Xia Xinghan's expression darkened, and his azure eyes narrowed slightly, as if he were listening to and observing something.

"What's wrong? Something's happened!?"

Gu Zhi Qiu immediately became alert, placing one hand discreetly on the hilt of the sword at his waist, ready to activate the mysterious power of the relic at any moment.

She knew that her junior brother's perception was abnormally strong, and he would definitely have made some discoveries.

Xia Xinghan did not answer immediately.

He tilted his head slightly, his super hearing spreading out in all directions like an invisible radar wave, quickly filtering out natural sounds such as the wind, insects chirping, and swaying withered grass, and accurately capturing traces of human activity.

This includes hushed conversations, light footsteps, and a slightly accelerated heartbeat due to tension or excitement...

At the same time, his super vision, combined with his X-ray vision, was activated.

His eyes were piercing, able to penetrate mountains, rocks, grass, and trees, allowing him to see clearly the scenery for miles around and even further.

One by one, the people hidden behind boulders, lurking in pits, or disguised as withered grass and shrubs, along with the weapons and equipment they carried, were all clearly visible in his field of vision.

"We've found a 'big dish'!"

Xia Xinghan spoke slowly, his voice somewhat low.

Gu Zhi Qiu's heart skipped a beat. Following the direction of his gaze, he saw the mountain path winding and the withered grass undulating, everything looking as calm as ever.

But she had no doubt about Xia Xinghan's judgment.

Gu Zhi Qiu looked up at the sky. The winter sun was not strong, the clouds were thin, and there was still some time before noon.

As soon as it gets to noon, she advances to the Innate Realm!

How big of a "vegetable" can it be?

Gu Zhi Qiu's lips curled into a cool smile, her eyes sharp and radiating unparalleled confidence: "Small fish and shrimps are no match for your senior sister who is about to step into the Innate Realm."

Xia Xinghan withdrew his gaze, looked at Gu Zhiqi, and asked with a smile, "Fifty-four people in total, is that enough to stretch your muscles?"

"They were scattered and ambushed on both sides of the mountain road within a range of about four kilometers ahead, forming a pocket formation. Most of them were carrying standard firearms, including assault rifles, sniper rifles, rocket launchers, and personal belongings."

"Furthermore... their heartbeats and breathing rhythms are generally stronger and longer than those of ordinary people, clearly indicating that they have cultivated themselves."

"I estimate that there are at least a dozen relic hunters comparable to those encountered in the abandoned factory, and three of them are no less skilled than those who have inherited the legacy."

"Fifty-four people, all armed or carrying weapons?!"

"There are also more than ten experts at the 'Bronze Bell' and 'Broken Blade' levels, as well as three legendary masters..."

"They're all here because of you?!"

Gu Zhi Qiu gasped, her usually cool face now showing disbelief and astonishment for the first time.

She knew that Xia Xinghan's special identity might attract covetousness or trouble, but the situation before her was far from ordinary "trouble".

This is practically comparable to an S-rank mission!

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

(Nine Dragons and Nine Phoenixes Crown)