“How is Chen Huaian doing?”
“Not very well.” Xiang Xiaoyuan looked gravely at Luo Haisheng. At this moment, Luo Haisheng’s body was also placed in a nutrient pod, relying on his strong self-healing ability, half of his body had already regrown.
“What do you mean by not very well? Didn’t his legs grow back?” Luo Haisheng pointed at the nutrient pod where Chen Huaian’s leg, sprouting dark red buds, was visible. Although other parts of his body were still charred black, there was at least some hope to see.
“I think you might not want these legs to grow back.” Xiang Xiaoyuan showed Luo Haisheng a detection report.
Luo Haisheng’s eyes widened in shock as he read the report — all the newly grown muscle tissues were demonized cancer cells.
The problem arose then.
Once Chen Huaian’s entire body regrew.
Would he still be Chen Huaian or just a mass of demonized cancer cells?
“There is a tree-like high-density spiritual energy cluster within Chen Huaian’s body. This spiritual energy is different from the one we currently encounter. It displays characteristics of lightning and cannot be extracted by us.”
Xiang Xiaoyuan took out another detection report and continued, “The thunderous spiritual energy cluster has preserved the last brain cells of Chen Huaian. They are fighting against the demonized cancer cells, but due to their violent nature, they are constantly depleting these enhanced ‘thunder cells.’ On the other hand, the demonized cancer cells multiply too rapidly. According to sample simulation tests, there are two possible outcomes: either both sides suffer, causing Chen Huaian’s brain to explode, or the demonized cancer cells win and completely take over Chen Huaian’s body.”
“No, we absolutely can’t let the Demon Dragon devour Chen Huaian.” Luo Haisheng’s face darkened, “Is there any way to suppress the growth of the Demon Dragon? Could we move Chen Huaian out of the nutrient pod?”
“Indeed, that would suppress the Demon Dragon’s growth, but Chen Huaian’s ‘thunder cells’ would also die off.” Xiang Xiaoyuan sighed.
“Really, is there no other way…”
Luo Haisheng stared at the unrecognizable young man in the nutrient pod, clenching his fists tightly.
Chen Huaian saved him, saved the Demon-Slaying Division, saved the Heavenly Abode District, and could even be said to have saved all of Province C. Yet now, as a hero, he lay cold in the nutrient pod, his body being continuously eroded by demonized cancer cells.
“We promised to save him, but it feels like we were just talking nonsense back then,” Xiang Xiaoyuan lowered her head, her eyes filled with bitterness and self-reproach.
“No, there is still one more option.”
Xiang Xiaoyuan raised her gaze, looking at Luo Haisheng in astonishment.
“Use my living cancer cells.” Luo Haisheng grabbed the edge of the nutrient pod, the scorched metal shell deforming under his palm, “My ability is cellular assimilation. My cancer cells compared to the Demon Dragon lack dragon aura, so they do not become demonized and have no autonomous consciousness.
As the main entity, I can still imbue them with core will, such as treating the demonized cancer cells as enemies, turning them into targeted drug-like entities, while they also possess powerful proliferation capabilities.”
Xiang Xiaoyuan’s pupils constricted, hesitating, “But how can you guarantee that these cancer cells won’t inherit your will and replace Chen Huaian’s main consciousness?”
Luo Haisheng sat up, tearing open his patient gown, and grinned, “Isn’t that simple? Put me in the biological pod, use a neural bridge to detach consciousness — let my cells act as reinforcements to fight inside Chen Huaian’s body, thus eliminating the proliferation advantage of the demonized cancer cells!”
“But our current technology isn’t advanced enough to properly preserve the separated consciousness.”
“I know.”
“You’ll die.”
“I know.”
Xiang Xiaoyuan looked at Luo Haisheng with a complex expression.
Given Chen Huaian’s current strength and potential, his value for survival was obviously greater than Luo Haisheng’s. She knew that this proposal would likely be accepted wherever it was placed, except for Luo Haisheng’s friends who wouldn’t accept it.
Luo Haisheng slammed his fist on the hospital bed, snorting coldly, “I should have died at the feet of the Corpse King, becoming a hero. Instead, this kid stole my spotlight. I’m really not happy about it!”
He stared at Xiang Xiaoyuan again, grinning mischievously, “Xiaoyuan, I don’t want to live with guilt. Just imagine, if I could swap places with that kid, he’d definitely worship me like a father in the future. Haha! Having such a powerful foster son, it would be damn satisfying!”
Xiang Xiaoyuan was amused by Wuzzy Beard’s words.
But as she laughed, tears rolled down her cheeks. She wiped her eyes with her hand, averting her gaze, “Please say less, it really tarnishes your image as a division chief.”
“That kid said the same thing, hahaha.”
…
Luo Haisheng’s proposal was quickly approved.
He calmly lay flat in the biological pod, with a neural bridge connector beside him, connected to both him and Chen Huaian in another biological pod.
“Director Luo, the surgery is about to begin. Do you have any final requests?” Xiang Xiaorong’s eyes reddened slightly, her voice choked, she saluted Luo Haisheng.
“Give me a cigarette… damn, I’ve been smoking this for decades, I won’t get to smoke anymore, so I better finish it quickly.”
Xiang Xiaoyuan silently lit the cigarette that Wuzzy Beard liked the most for him.
“By the way, give this to that kid.” Luo Haisheng took a deep drag on the cigarette, pulled out a badge, and handed it to Xiang Xiaoyuan, “I always hoped that kid would join my team. I made badges for everyone, even the girl with three zeros… but, there’s no chance for that now, so make it a keepsake for him.”
“Don’t look so glum!” Luo Haisheng smiled, “Let’s start quickly, don’t let that kid lie there anymore, his butt must be cold!”
Xiang Xiaoyuan nodded, closing the lid of the biological pod.
The operating room door closed, cutting off the outside world’s view.
The red warning lights flickered on.
…
…
“Captain Zhao, the commotion caused by your province C is quite significant. We lent you the Soul-Chasing Compass. Now that this matter is settled, it’s time to return it to us.”
In a lounge of the Demon-Slaying Division in Province C.
Zhao Ying sat opposite a group of people, the atmosphere tense.
“The Soul-Chasing Compass is broken.” Zhao Ying pursed her lips, “Such an existence as the Corpse King Emperor Jiang can shatter a compass like it’s nothing. We couldn’t help it, but we will provide the necessary compensation.”
“Good, Captain Zhao is straightforward. Then give us the remaining items left by Emperor Jiang.”
Zhao Ying frowned slightly.
She knew that the Lin Family was here to cause trouble. The Soul-Chasing Compass, though precious, wasn’t unique and could be artificially created, so there was no need for such a fuss. But she hadn’t expected them to ask for Emperor Jiang’s relics right away.
But they came to the wrong place.
Zhao Ying spread her hands, “It’s unfortunate, we also want Emperor Jiang’s relics, but his tomb and coffin were destroyed in a thunderstorm, leaving only ashes and melted gold. Are you interested in those? We can give them to you.”
“If you don’t want to give them, just say so.”
A middle-aged man in martial attire standing next to the old man sneered, “Always coming up with lame excuses. The relics of such an existence aren’t that easy to destroy, are they?”
“Bu’er, don’t be rude!”
The old man dismissed the middle-aged man, but there was no reproach in his tone. His bright eyes focused on Zhao Ying, “Since the relics are gone, give us Chen Huaian instead. We’re very interested in the body of this Resurrector… if that’s not possible, give us his Companion Spirit Item.”
Zhao Ying’s eyes narrowed, her anger flaring up.
“Who’s calling me a corpse?”
Just then.
A lazy voice sounded behind everyone.
They turned around to see a young man leaning against the door of the conference hall. He was tall and slender, dressed in a patient gown, with sharp eyes that flickered with electric arcs.
“Old man, it’s not easy for you to live so long.” Chen Huaian stared at the elderly figure in the center of the sofa, sneering, “Cursing me as a corpse? Do you want to die now?”
…
