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Li Haotian charged into the group of shadowy figures. The bronze dagger in his hand blazed with golden-red flames as he moved swiftly. One figure was sliced ​​in two by the dagger, reduced to charred remains. Another figure swung a short stick at him; Li Haotian dodged to the side, his elbow slamming into the figure's chest. A muffled thud echoed as the figure's body arched backward, flying off the rooftop.

"Su Wan, lock onto the energy center and take me down directly," Li Haotian said into his headset.

"Fifteen meters underground, directly below Building B. The energy reaction is rising rapidly, indicating signs of high-temperature smelting," Su Wan's voice came through.

Li Haotian grabbed Lin Mo's hand. He looked down at the concrete ground beneath his feet, where golden-red flames erupted. The ground instantly melted from the intense heat, and the steel bars twisted. Holding Lin Mo, he leaped into the burned-through hole.

The two descended rapidly along a dark passage. The air was filled with the pungent smell of burning, mixed with the strong scent of rotting lilies. Lin Mo clung tightly to Li Haotian's neck, whispering, "Dazhu, it's so hot here."

Li Haotian landed steadily. The golden-red flames beneath his feet extinguished. This was a vast underground space, with metal walls on all sides. Hundreds of glass petri dishes were lined up, occupying most of the space. Various twisted creatures were submerged in the petri dishes, their bodies floating and emitting a faint purple light.

"This is the core laboratory?" Li Haotian said in a low voice.

"That's right, this is the pioneers' secret base for pharmaceutical production." Su Wan's voice was solemn. "The energy reaction center is located here."

Dozens of shriveled clones of Han Dehai busied themselves in front of petri dishes. They wore white lab coats and gloves, their movements mechanical. The clones were expressionless and silent. On the control panels in front of them, various screens lit up, displaying complex data.

"Dazhu, there are so many familiar faces," Lin Mo said, pointing to the clones of Han Dehai.

Li Haotian narrowed his eyes. He walked to a petri dish; inside the glass, Liu Hu was immersed in a deep purple liquid. Liu Hu's body was connected by dozens of purple tubes, the other ends of which were inserted into the bottom of the petri dish. His face was deathly pale, his breathing was weak, and his consciousness fluctuated intermittently.

"Liu Hu!" Li Haotian called out.

Liu Hu's eyelids twitched slightly in the petri dish, but he did not respond.

"I didn't expect you to come back." A voice suddenly rang out in the center of the laboratory. The voice carried a distorted, electrical crackling sound and was full of sarcasm.

In the center of the laboratory, a holographic projection appeared out of thin air. Han Dehai, dressed in a black suit, his hair neatly combed, wore a sinister smile.

"It's that trick again." Li Haotian curled his lip.

"Li Haotian, you think you've won? You're wrong." Han Dehai's holographic projection magnified in the air. "This laboratory is our true trump card. Lin Mo's value far exceeds your imagination."

"She is not a commodity," Li Haotian said.

"In my eyes, she is the perfect 'Mother' core," Han Dehai laughed wildly. "We will peel away and optimize her consciousness core, then combine it with the most advanced biotechnology. She will become the most powerful 'Mother,' leading us into a new era!"

Lin Mo trembled violently upon hearing the word "mother body." She gripped Li Haotian's arm tightly.

"You turned Liu Hu into this?" Li Haotian pointed at Liu Hu in the petri dish, his voice turning cold.

"He's nothing but a failure," Han Dehai said dismissively. "But now, he still has some residual value. Every second you waste, his consciousness will dissipate a little."

"Release them, or I'll tear down your lab," Li Haotian said.

"Demolish? What are you going to use to demolish it?" Han Dehai scoffed. "This is the core research area for the pioneers' pharmaceutical production. All the equipment has been specially reinforced. No matter how powerful you are, you're still just a mortal."

Li Haotian did not respond. With a flick of his right hand, the bronze dagger, wreathed in golden-red flames, flew out instantly. The dagger sliced ​​through the air with a sharp whistling sound, precisely severing the energy lines surrounding Liu Hu's culture dish.

"Sizzle—"

The tubing broke, and purple liquid gushed from the bottom of the petri dish. The petri dish exploded repeatedly, splattering liquid everywhere. Liu Hu's body fell out of the petri dish, and Li Haotian stepped forward to catch him. Liu Hu's body was very light, seemingly consisting only of skin and flesh.

"How dare you!" Han Dehai's holographic projection suddenly distorted, letting out an angry roar.

Li Haotian picked up Liu Hu and placed him on the ground to the side. He took out two fast-acting pills provided by the Dragon Shield Bureau and put them into Liu Hu's mouth.

"Su Wan, how is Liu Hu?" Li Haotian asked.

"Vital signs are recovering, but the fluctuations in consciousness are still weak," Su Wan responded. "The core laboratory's energy reserves have been destroyed by thirty percent."

Li Haotian looked at Han Dehai's holographic projection: "Seventy percent left. How much time do you think you have?"

Han Dehai's face contorted in pain. He abruptly pressed a button in his hand.

"All clones, activate Plan B and eliminate the intruders!" Han Dehai's voice echoed in the laboratory.

Dozens of Han Dehai clones stopped what they were doing. Their bodies stiffened, then they raised their heads. Their eyes had no pupils, only two eerie purple lights. They picked up various experimental tools from behind the control panel—scalpels, stun guns, syringes—and rushed towards Li Haotian and Lin Mo.

Li Haotian pulled Lin Mo behind him. He had no weapon in his hand, but he simply flexed his wrist. Golden-red flames danced in his palm.

A clone charged ahead, wielding a long-handled scalpel. Li Haotian threw a punch, his fist enveloped in golden-red flames. The scalpel melted instantly, and the clone's body was pierced through by the fist. His body deflated like a punctured balloon, eventually turning into a puddle of purple slime.

More clones surged forward. They attacked from all directions. Li Haotian advanced instead of retreating, his fists flashing, each punch accompanied by golden-red flames. The clones were utterly vulnerable; their bodies were fragile before the flames. One by one, they shriveled up and turned into slime.

"Li Haotian! Stop!" Han Dehai's holographic projection roared, "Every clone you destroy brings Lin Mo one step closer to the 'mother's' core!"

Li Haotian ignored him. He kicked one of the clones away, sending it crashing into a petri dish rack, which lurched precariously. With his other hand, Li Haotian grabbed the head of another clone and squeezed it hard. The head instantly shattered, splattering purple slime everywhere.

"Dazhu, they're so dirty." Lin Mo hid behind Li Haotian, a look of disgust on her face.

"It'll be clean soon," Li Haotian said. He rushed to the center of the laboratory, where there were more petri dishes containing Lin Mo's "companions."

Just then, a man in a black suit and wearing a monocle rushed out from a side door. His face was anxious, and he held a silver, high-frequency battle blade in his hand. The blade emitted a buzzing vibration.

"Stop! You barbarian!" the man shouted, his battle blade crackling with blue electricity as he slashed straight at Li Haotian.

Li Haotian didn't even glance at it. With a wave of his left hand, golden-red flames erupted instantly, engulfing the battle blade. The blade emitted a mournful wail and was instantly melted. The man was startled.

"Are you the head of the Pioneers?" Li Haotian asked.

"I am the chief researcher here, Dr. Wu Sen!" Dr. Wu Sen pushed up his monocle, a hint of fear on his face.

"Chief Researcher? Perfect." Li Haotian said. He threw a punch, his fist wreathed in golden-red flames, directly aimed at Dr. Wu Sen.

Dr. Wu Sen's face showed despair. The bulletproof glass covering him shattered instantly. His body, along with the controller in his hand, was smashed to pieces by Li Haotian's punch. Blood and glass shards splattered everywhere.

"No!" Han Dehai's holographic projection roared angrily, "My laboratory! My life's work!"

Li Haotian ignored Han Dehai's roar. He looked at the petri dishes. Golden-red flames erupted from his palm, spreading instantly. The flames engulfed all the petri dishes, burning the strange creatures inside, as well as the petri dishes themselves, to ashes. The entire laboratory became a sea of ​​fire.

"Su Wan, how much core energy do you have now?" Li Haotian asked.

"Zero percent. The core device has been shut down." Su Wan's voice came through, tinged with excitement. "But Lin Mo's consciousness is recovering at an extremely rapid pace!"

Li Haotian turned to look at Lin Mo. Lin Mo's complexion had regained some color, and the purple light between her brows had completely disappeared. She stared at the laboratory reduced to ashes, her face expressionless.

"Dazhu, I'm hungry," Lin Mo said.

Li Haotian smiled. He picked up Lin Mo and walked to the center of the laboratory. That was the point where the holographic projection emitted its light. Li Haotian kicked the projection device, shattering it instantly, and Han Dehai's holographic projection vanished.

"Looks like we won't be able to have braised pork trotters," Li Haotian said. He looked towards the end of the laboratory, where there was a large, dark door. The door was covered with strange runes. He sensed an even more powerful aura awakening behind that door.

"Su Wan, what's behind that door?" Li Haotian asked.

"Unknown. The energy reaction intensity far exceeds all previous records." Su Wan's voice turned serious. "I suggest an immediate evacuation!"

Li Haotian did not respond. He gently set Lin Mo down. He drew his bronze dagger. Golden flames danced on the blade. He walked towards the dark door.

"Whatever it is, find it first," Li Haotian said. He gripped a dagger and charged towards the door.