The next three days were like hell for Ling Chen!
He was isolated in a special ward at the Medical Center! The ward was filled with the most precise monitoring equipment and energy detectors, both inside and out! Two Xuan Niao Guard security officers at the peak of the Energy Condensation Stage stood guard outside 24 hours a day!
He was interrogated countless times, repeating every detail of what happened.
Afterward, he was taken to a special room filled with complex psychic sensing devices and energy recall matrices, where he underwent a deep psychic lie detection test conducted by the Xuan Niao Guard's Security Department, the top-tier psychic ability users.
The Soul Jade Physique's cold will acted like the strongest fortress, perfectly simulating the psychic fluctuations of an Energy Condensation Stage ability user, deeply hiding his true memories and cold calculations, leaving only carefully woven lies, simulated fear and dread, and a hint of bewilderment regarding the ability's mutation.
The psychic lie detection found no flaws.
Next was energy recall!
The security officer asked him to simulate the process of activating the Mud Swamp Domain to suppress the lava energy again, and tried to guide him to reproduce that trace of A-grade energy residue.
Ling Chen sneered inwardly! How could he truly reproduce the Soul Jade Physique's original energy?!
He fully activated the simulated Mud Swamp Domain, controlling its power and energy fluctuations to the limit of Energy Condensation Stage Lv.1, and deliberately created the illusion of energy overdrawing, disorder, and even near-collapse!
"No! I can't do it!"
Ling Chen's face was pale, his forehead covered in cold sweat, and his body trembled slightly, as if he might collapse at any moment! "That situation was a life-or-death moment, a burst of potential. I simply cannot reproduce it now!"
The energy recall could only record the energy characteristics of his simulated Energy Condensation Stage Lv.1 Mud Swamp Domain. Although there were similarities with that trace of A-grade residue, the difference in intensity and essence was huge, making direct correlation impossible.
The Security Department's investigation reached a stalemate!
They could not prove that Ling Chen deliberately implanted that trace of energy, nor could they explain the exact source of that energy. They could only temporarily accept "ability overdraw mutation" as a barely plausible explanation.
But the doubts were not dispelled!
Especially the nature of that A-grade energy residue was too bizarre: sluggish, viscous, high-density, carrying an indescribable cold will, far beyond what an ordinary Energy Condensation Stage ability user could possess!
The Security Department placed Ling Chen on the highest level monitoring list and submitted the investigation report and energy samples to the Central Special Task Force's higher authorities.
The storm temporarily subsided!
But the undercurrents were still surging!
Three days later, the door to the isolation ward opened!
Bai Zhi's small figure appeared at the doorway. Her pure sapphire eyes held a hint of fatigue, but more so, joy!
"Lin Chen Gege! Old K Captain is awake! And that strange energy has mostly dissipated under the purification of my recovery power! The threat level has dropped below C-grade! The Security Department has agreed to lift your isolation!"
Ling Chen slowly stood up, his deep black eyes calm and unmoving, a gentle smile appearing on his face!
"That's great! Thank you, Dr. Bai!"
He walked out of the isolation ward!
Sunlight streamed through the glass dome of the corridor, falling on him with a hint of warmth!
However, deep within his will, there was only a biting cold!
The crisis was temporarily averted!
But that trace of residual A-grade energy, though mostly purified, was like a seed planted, ready to sprout again at any time!
Once the source of that energy was investigated, his identity as Ling Chen would be completely exposed to Shengjing's highest security agency!
The road ahead would be even more perilous!
Accompanied by Bai Zhi, Ling Chen walked out of the isolation ward, which was filled with cold instruments and a suppressive atmosphere.
The simulated "sunlight" streamed through the towering dome of the Central Medical Center, bringing a false sense of warmth.
He wore a gentle, slightly weary smile and sincerely thanked Bai Zhi:
"Dr. Bai, you've been truly troubled these past few days. If it weren't for you..."
"No trouble, no trouble!"
Bai Zhi quickly waved her hand, her small face slightly flushed, her pure sapphire eyes filled with concern and a hint of relief.
"It's good that Lin Chen Gege is fine! Old K Captain is also recovering very well, and that strange energy residue has mostly dissipated under my recovery power. The threat level has dropped significantly, and the Security Department has finally relented."
Her small figure walked beside Ling Chen, her steps light, as if a heavy burden had been lifted.
She chattered about Old K's condition and the Security Department's subsequent monitoring arrangements, her words filled with joy for the patient's recovery and sympathy for Ling Chen's ordeal.
Ling Chen nodded slightly, maintaining a gentle smile on his face, his deep black eyes calm and unmoving, as if he truly was just an ordinary ability user who had survived a disaster and was full of gratitude to the doctor.
However, the Soul Jade Physique's cold will was operating at high speed, like the most precise radar, silently scanning everything around, assessing potential risks.
Just as they were about to exit the core area of the Medical Center, passing through a transparent skybridge connecting to an internal ecological garden—
Buzz—!!!
An extremely faint yet incredibly pure and vast energy fluctuation gently rippled out like water on a surface!
This fluctuation was like the first ray of spring sunlight breaking through winter's ice, or an ancient life tree, silent for eons, quietly sprouting new buds, carrying an indescribable vibrant vitality and the natural great power that encompasses all things!
This fluctuation was extremely restrained and natural, as if it were inherently a part of this ecological garden!
If not for the Soul Jade Physique's cold will, which possessed an almost instinctive keen insight into the essence of energy, it would have been impossible to detect!
Ling Chen's footsteps suddenly halted!
His deep black eyes instantly contracted like pinpricks!
The Soul Jade Physique's cold will boiled and trembled violently, like ice thrown into hot oil!
A strong craving originating from the essence of life and a hint of deep-seated dread erupted simultaneously!
This power! A superior physique, and possibly even... an ultimate physique!
This energy fluctuation, pure to the extreme, vast to the boundless, carrying the great power of all things reviving and endless life!
It originated from the seemingly harmless, crystal-pure loli beside him, Bai Zhi!
No! More precisely! It originated from the core deep within her body, like a sleeping spring of life!
This power was diametrically opposed to the Soul Jade Physique's cold will! However, that power, originating from the physique, seemed to come from the same source!