Medical Center, B4 level, Advanced Medical Zone.
The air was filled with a faint mixture of disinfectant and some fresh plant scent.
Soft white light illuminated the spacious corridor, with various medical rooms and laboratories on either side.
Those who worked here were either core personnel of the Guild's medical system or valuable talents with special abilities like Bai Zhi.
Ling Chen stood in front of a door marked “Life Sign Analysis and Energy Purification Laboratory,” a hint of appropriate fatigue mixed with a desire for comfort on his face.
He gently knocked on the door.
The door quickly opened, revealing Bai Zhi's slightly surprised, pretty face.
She seemed to have just stopped working, still wearing a pristine white lab coat.
Her silver hair was simply tied back, with a few playful strands falling over her forehead, making her skin appear even fairer than snow and her eyes clearer.
"Lin Chen Gege?"
Seeing Ling Chen, concern immediately filled Bai Zhi's pure, sapphire-blue eyes.
"Why are you here? Are you still not feeling well? Come in quickly!"
She hurriedly stepped aside to let Ling Chen enter the laboratory. The interior of the laboratory was impeccably clean, and various precise medical instruments and energy detection devices operated quietly.
On the central workbench were some petri dishes and crystals emitting a soft green light.
"I'm fine, just a bit tired from training. I stopped by to see you on my way."
Ling Chen smiled, his smile carrying a hint of “forced” resilience, his gaze quickly and discreetly scanning the equipment in the laboratory.
The Soul Jade Physique's cold will silently spread out, like the most precise sensor, capturing residual energy auras and information fragments in the air.
"Are you really okay?"
Bai Zhi looked at him worriedly, her small hands unconsciously clasped together.
"I heard you guys went to support the transport team a few days ago. It must have been very dangerous, right? Were you injured?"
As she spoke, she instinctively wanted to raise her hand to release the soft light of Wan Wu Fusu (Recovery of All Things).
Ling Chen subtly shifted, seemingly naturally avoiding her scrutiny, his tone gentle.
"Just a small scratch, it healed long ago. Compared to that, how have you been recently? Is your work going smoothly?"
He skillfully changed the subject, his gaze falling on the crystals on the workbench, "These are...?"
Bai Zhi's attention was indeed diverted. She smiled a little shyly:
"They are some catalytic crystals used for high-level energy purification. I'm trying to optimize their resonance frequency, hoping to improve the purification efficiency for deep energy pollution... but progress isn't very fast."
Her tone carried the unique focus of a researcher and a hint of frustration at hitting a bottleneck.
"Energy purification..."
Ling Chen nodded thoughtfully, then asked casually.
"It seems like there's some big move in the Guild recently? I think I saw a Central Academy of Sciences exploration mission in the mission hall, going to a very dangerous place?"
Upon hearing this, Bai Zhi's face showed a hint of surprise and... an imperceptible tension?
She instinctively glanced at the laboratory door and lowered her voice slightly.
"Lin Chen Gege, you saw that mission too? That... I heard it's very dangerous and requires extremely high qualifications."
"Yeah, it doesn't look like something an ordinary squad can take on."
Ling Chen agreed, his tone carrying just the right amount of curiosity and a hint of longing.
"People from the Central Academy of Sciences are coming personally? That's a big deal. What are they researching? Energy pulses?"
Bai Zhi pursed her lips, seemingly hesitant.
But looking at Ling Chen's "pure" and inquisitive eyes, she still whispered:
"I'm not entirely sure about the specifics, I just heard a few teachers from the Medical Department mention it in passing... It seems to be more than just energy pulses."
"They say that deep within the Western Rift Zone, a very ancient, very peculiar 'life pheromone' residue has recently been detected."
"It might even... be related to some legendary 'prehistoric ruins.'"
"The Academy of Sciences attaches great importance to this, believing it might be related to... well... some fundamental mystery of life?"
Life pheromone? Prehistoric ruins? Fundamental mystery of life?
These keywords flashed through Ling Chen's mind like lightning! The Soul Jade Physique's cold will instantly operated at high speed!
So that's it! Not just energy anomalies!
The Central Academy of Sciences' goal is very likely related to that mysterious "Fourth Path of Ascension"!
Or even... directly linked to some ancient, potentially existing "Ascension Legacy"!
Lin Mo's Mechanical Ascension was based on technological deduction and modification; his own Flesh Ascension stemmed from the Soul Jade Physique's devouring instinct;
The Psychic's Spiritual Ascension relied on talent awakening... And this fourth path, could it be related to some older, more direct origin or modification of life?
At least in his previous life... he had never heard of it!
Bai Zhi watched Ling Chen fall into "contemplation."
She thought he was shocked by these profound concepts and quickly explained:
"These are all just the teachers' guesses, they might not be accurate."
"That place is really dangerous, the energy field is extremely unstable, and there are many unknown mutated creatures. Lin Chen Gege, you absolutely must not be curious about that mission!"
Her concern was sincere.
Ling Chen came back to his senses, a gentle smile on his face, and reassured her:
"Don't worry, I know my limits. A mission of that level is not for our Ash Squad."
He paused, his tone carrying a hint of appropriate self-deprecation and despondency.
"For us right now... just doing our job well and slowly regaining our strength is already very difficult."
He successfully portrayed the image of a young captain who was "willing but unable" and "down-to-earth."
Seeing his "despondent" look, Bai Zhi's heart immediately swelled with sympathy and a desire to help him.
She hesitated for a moment, as if having made a decision, and took out a small vial emitting a faint milky white glow from the adjacent constant temperature cabinet.
"Lin Chen Gege, this is for you."
She handed the vial to Ling Chen, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"This is a 'Life Essence Concentrate' that I recently refined using the Wan Wu Fusu (Recovery of All Things) ability combined with some rare medicinal herbs. It has a very good effect on restoring physical strength and healing hidden injuries.
You train hard and always rush to the front, this... should help you."
Ling Chen looked at the vial, and the Soul Jade Physique instinctively sensed the extremely pure and vast life energy contained within! This was countless times more precious than ordinary healing potions!
Clearly, it was a treasure carefully prepared by Bai Zhi.
His face showed an expression of "flattered" and "grateful," and he quickly declined:
"This is too precious! Bai Zhi, keep it for yourself, or use it in more important places..."
"It's okay!"
Bai Zhi insisted on putting the vial into his hand, her eyes sincere.
"You need it more than I do. Seeing you and the Ash Squad get better makes me very happy."
"And... making this is also a form of cultivation for me."
Ling Chen "hesitated" for a moment, then finally "gratefully" accepted it: "Thank you, Bai Zhi.
I'll remember this kindness." He carefully put away the vial, as if it were some priceless treasure.
However, in the depths of the Soul Jade Physique's cold will, it was calmly analyzing this vial:
The energy purity is extremely high, containing a trace of the Qingdi Longevity Body's inherent characteristics.
After absorption, it can slightly enhance cell activity and has a miraculous effect on concealing one's aura and simulating injury recovery.
After chatting for a few more minutes, Ling Chen guided the conversation, subtly obtaining some fragmented information about the Medical Department's recent resource allocation (vaguely pointing to logistical support for the exploration team) and the movements of several teachers responsible for energy research. Then, Ling Chen appropriately showed his consideration of "not disturbing her work" and took his leave.
Leaving the Medical Center and walking through the passage back to the Panshi District, the warmth and gratitude on Ling Chen's face instantly vanished, replaced by a cold calm.
"Life pheromone... prehistoric ruins..."
He murmured, his eyes glinting with calculation,
"The Central Academy of Sciences' goal is indeed not simple. Lin Mo... how much do you know about this path?"
The information Bai Zhi provided, though vague, was extremely crucial, raising his level of importance for the 【B-41】 mission by another notch.
He must find a way to participate in this mission!
And that Life Essence Concentrate... Ling Chen's fingertips caressed the cool test tube.
Perhaps, at a critical moment, it could be used to stage a "desperate comeback" to further gain trust?
Or... as some kind of bait?
He returned to his residence and did not immediately use the vial, but carefully put it away.
This was an important strategic resource that could not be wasted.
Subsequently, he once again threw himself into intense training and data research, maintaining the image of a "hardworking young captain eager to revive his squad" to the outside world.
In secret, he remotely monitored the situation in Jiu'an City through some extremely hidden, one-way information receiving devices left by Zhuang Han within Jiu'an City (transmitting simple information through specific frequency energy fluctuations).
Zhuang Han did not disappoint him.
The mad dog's fangs remained sharp, and the attacks continued, with panic intensifying.
The Boulder Fortress was under increasing pressure.
Even sporadic news about "terrifying mutated creature groups appearing in Jiu'an City" began to circulate among a small circle of hunters and intelligence dealers.
The wind was getting stronger and stronger.