Chapter 110
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The appearance of the clones in the battlefield shocked not only Mars but also the entire Solar System.
According to interstellar conventions, the creation of clones was strictly forbidden.
Anyone who disregarded this would be the enemy of humankind.
However, with the risk of their own demise in front of them, Giant Pharmaceutical Company could care less about it. Without the slightest hint of restraint, they sent the clone army into the battle.
The vitality of a clone was as high as 3.0 and the latest battle techniques—each of them a killer technique—were implanted in their brains. The tables were turned the moment they participated in the battle.
Mars Revolutionary Army's charging momentum took a huge blow.
Giant Pharmaceutical Company might have temporarily escaped from elimination, but their reputation had likewise been sullied!
Even though the Solar System Coalition Government was just a puppet and their implemented laws nothing more than empty vessels, they still needed to retain this amount of respect.
Giant Pharmaceutical Company had broken the law publicly and used the clone army abundantly. It was one thing to break the laws of the Solar System and another to break the Interstellar Human Laws.
Every Interstellar Empire began to condemn them in a dignified fashion.
So what if the Solar System Coalition Government had Giant Pharmaceutical Company's back? The former wouldn't be able to protect them now. All of them declared that Giant Pharmaceutical Company had broken the interstellar conventions, a crime that they would find hard to evade. Yet, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that the implication of this would be louder in words than action.
On the contrary, the Solar System Coalition Government held a deep hatred for the Mars Revolutionary Army. They declared them as rebellions and gathered an army to suppress them in haste!
Feng Lin couldn't quite figure it out. Why would the Giant Pharmaceutical Company be so reckless? The clones were clearly something that could never be in the public's eye, yet they dared to release them so recklessly.
If that was the case, then what good would it do even if they had defeated the Mars Revolutionary Army? Giant Pharmaceutical Company wouldn't have a place in the interstellar world, becoming a rat that couldn't see the light of the day.
Perhaps, they had another force supporting them?
A fog engulfed Feng Lin's thoughts as he recalled the inverted "卍" symbol.
It was the first time he saw the symbol in the Interstellar Era, but it was not unfamiliar to him.
This was because anyone who had the slightest knowledge of history back on Ancient Earth Era would know the terror behind that symbol.
The country which was represented by that symbol had the power to bring upon an apocalyptic disaster to Earth back then.
Feng Lin hadn't even imagined that he would still see the symbol even after traveling tens of thousands of years into the future!
Coincidence? Or was it inevitable?
Feng Lin had too little information to make a judgment in such a short time, but he grew extremely cautious of Giant Pharmaceutical Company's motives.
Although the clone army was invincible on the battlefield, Feng Lin could see the hollowness in them. If a strong interstellar cultivator was to come by at this moment, they might just be able to wipe them all out.
That said, Feng Lin didn't act rashly. The formidable presence illustrated by the mysterious silhouette in the research log was something he couldn't forget.
Acting hastily before knowing the full extent of what he was dealing with would only sink him deeper into the claws of abyss.
The battle on Mars was becoming increasingly intense. Giant Pharmaceutical Company and Mars Revolutionary Army exchanged brutal blows, and Feng Lin enjoyed being the spectator on the side. The more chaotic this became, the more likely he could take advantage of a crisis for personal gain.
However, nothing ever went as simply as he imagined.
Beep, beep, beep!
His identity microchip wouldn't stop ringing, jolting Feng Lin awake in frustration. The genetic potential which had been increasing was ceased at that moment.
Feng Lin opened his eyes and couldn't help but feel annoyed. Who would be this ignorant?
One could get addicted to cultivation, and breaking their concentration right at that moment would inevitably irritate them.
What was strange about him though, was that he had severed all forms of contacts ever since he arrived at Mars. Eliminating all other stray thoughts from his mind, he concentrated solely on cultivation and ignored all distractions.
Who could have found him at this moment?
The next moment, he witnessed a man dressed in traditional Mars robes appearing before him. It was Luke.
Feng Lin's expression changed in an instant, his instincts urging him to switch off the projection.
Luke had already anticipated such a reaction though. "Don't move!" He said plainly, "Unless you wish for your secret to be revealed to Giant Pharmaceutical Company."
Feng Lin's hand froze mid-air, squinting his eyes at his intruder as he exuded a dangerous aura. "Are you threatening me?"
"It's not a threat, I'm just increasing the stakes of collaboration." Luke wasn't fazed by Feng Lin's undisguised disdain. Instead, he laughed. "We have the same objectives, so shouldn't we work together?"
"Work together? What have you thought of?" Feng Lin asked slowly, not believing that Luke came with good intentions.
Feng Lin would never believe this rascal was that naïve– What a joke! One should always beware of suspicious folk bearing gifts, for they are sure to be ill-intentioned.
"Something which requires merely the slightest effort for someone like you! The clone army is a great threat to us. It'll be difficult for us to gain victory in a short amount of time; dragging this to a point of no return would be unavoidable. We must begin to execute the plan. Only if we get rid of the mastermind behind the Giant Pharmaceutical Company could we clinch victory of this battle without a fight. So we urgently need you to tell us the armed force and inner defenses of the Giant Pharmaceutical Company!" Luke requested.
"You want me to divulge Giant Pharmaceutical Company's secret?" Feng Lin narrowed his eyes.
"Feng Lin, stop playing dumb!" Luke shook his head, laughing in spite of himself as though he had already seen through it all. "Weren't you the one who leaked the information regarding those clone army? Even if you had intentionally hidden the source of the information, I could still guess that it was you! Who else has access to Giant Pharmaceutical Company core department and could possess such confidential information but you?"
Feng Lin would never admit to it in the face of Luke's attempt at sounding him out. Rather, he answered with his own question, "What a joke! What good would it do to me if I told you Giant Pharmaceutical Company's secret?"
"At the very least, Giant Pharmaceutical Company would not find out that you were the one who leaked the confidential information, right?" Luke responded with deep meaning behind his words. "Right now, only you and I, along with the Heaven above and the Earth below, know about your identity; I didn't tell anyone else.
"However, if I accidentally let slip and leaked it out, then that wouldn't be good. There must be spies from Giant Pharmaceutical Company within our ranks at Mars Revolutionary Army. If this gets to them, then I'm sure it'll put you at a perilous position. I'm afraid you might not be able to stay in Giant Pharmaceutical Company or even keep your life. Even if you are lucky enough to escape, you'd have to face the endless chase down! I have paid a great price keeping this secret for you! Actually, Feng Lin, why don't you join the Mars Revolutionary Army? Giant Pharmaceutical Company is our enemy and yours as well. We can be on the same side!"
There he goes, throwing that symbol of peace around. Feng Lin wouldn't bite; he could feel the thickly-coated threat on Luke's every word.
If he didn't agree to his demands, then Luke might just let Giant Pharmaceutical Company know that he was the one who had revealed the information. Then the consequences would be unimaginable.
Even so, Feng Lin couldn't figure it out. He had been extremely cautious and got rid of any traces. How did they track him down?
This unexpected turn of events drove him into the corner.
Feng Lin began to reflect on himself inwardly.
It seems like you really couldn't underestimate anyone!
The Mars Revolutionary Army was a great force to be reckoned with in secret, underground societies and was filled with talented individuals. They must have an interstellar hacker among them.
They were onto him the moment he was distracted.
He would have to be even more careful the next time this sort of stuff happened to ensure that he was absolutely safe.
About relying on Mars Revolutionary Army?
He must be kidding!
Feng Lin would never agree to it.
If he would either have to make friends with the wolf or the tiger, what difference would there be?
There was a chance he could retaliate and save his own life when it came to wolves.
To make friends with a tiger, one would have to be careful about being swallowed whole the moment they neared one.
The gears in Feng Lin's mind began turning in haste as an idea popped in his head. He began negotiating, "Do you really think the Giant Pharmaceutical Company would let me off if I told you the secret? The internal conflicts are ceaseless on Mars and danger lurks everywhere. I don't wish to stay here any longer either! If I told you the secret, then you must let me leave Mars and go back to Earth!"
Luke hesitated at the sound of his request but agreed with a nod. "Alright! Now, you can tell me right!"
"No!" Feng Lin shook his head. "I don't trust you guys! If I told you the secret and you don't follow through with your promise, then what chance would I have at survival when the Giant Pharmaceutical Company comes charging? I must meet with you in person and you must immediately arrange for my departure from Mars the moment I tell you the secret!"
"This…" Luke hesitated, sizing Feng Lin up with his gaze as he tried to read the latter's true intentions.
Feng Lin looked like he was being honest without a hint of oddity.
Perhaps it was because he had a strong organization backing him, Luke was confident. Without any trace of dread from the previous time when he exchanged blows with Feng Lin, he nodded in agreement. "I can meet you! Tonight at 9pm. We'll meet at Shitai City's Hell Street Flying Cars Junkyard!"
He gave an address, and Feng Lin recorded it down.
"I'm sure you know what you should do, right? Don't play any tricks, or else you wouldn't be able to bear the consequences!" With that warning, Luke's projection vanished.
Feng Lin's face fell as he switched the projection off and deleted all traces of the log.
He didn't hesitate and decided to follow through with their meet-up.
It seemed extremely dangerous for him to meet a member of the Mars Revolutionary Army and face the danger alone.
But he didn't have a choice. He must eliminate this worry, or everything he had worked so hard for would be irrevocable.
After resting for the day, Feng Lin left punctually at 8pm.
He felt an aura behind him the moment he stepped out of the Giant Pharmaceutical Company!
It was one of the people from the Giant Pharmaceutical Company!
A shiver ran down Feng Lin's spine. After all, he had already advanced into the core department of Giant Pharmaceutical Company and knew too many secrets. Even if Giant Pharmaceutical Company didn't restrict his freedom explicitly, he knew that he was being watched in the dark.
He acted oblivious as he headed toward the outskirts of Shitai City.
The presence continued lingering from a distance behind him.
When he headed into a dark alley, two men-in-black followed through but realized that it was a dead-end with Feng Lin nowhere to be seen.
"Where did he go?" The two exchanged looks of bewilderment.
"Hypnosis!" A voice rang out softly from beside them. The two men turned their heads and could only see a palm imprint floating in the air, looking gentle yet swift. It magnified rapidly in front of their eyes, covering their entire vision and imprint itself onto their foreheads.
Their souls seemed to be engulfed by darkness at that moment, as their line of vision slackened in that instant, losing their consciousness.
Feng Lin caught them when they least expected it and successfully hypnotized the two who were acting as surveillance. When they got back to Giant Pharmaceutical Company, they would only remember that it was Feng Lin's first time on Mars and that he had made use of his free time to explore Shitai City. They wouldn't remember anything else.
Watching the two men-in-black's retreating backs, Feng Lin squinted before launching his body in full swing, swiftly traversing through Shitai City in the dark and toward the meeting point.
His movements were extremely fast, leaving a split-second trace behind. A scream of seeing a ghost would echo when an occasional passerby witnessed it.
Feng Lin didn't stop and it wasn't long before he entered a dark and chaotic street.
The corner of the street led to a giant Flying Cars Junkyard. There weren't many people around here, and it was a mess with rusty flying cars and accessories piling up like a mountain.
Feng Lin felt as though he had just walked into a desolate forest. It was dark all around him without a shred of light, giving an eerie vibe to the place.
Suddenly, he halted. He wasn't sure when the four silhouettes had appeared and surrounded him, cutting off any form of escape routes possible.
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The appearance of the clones in the battlefield shocked not only Mars but also the entire Solar System.
According to interstellar conventions, the creation of clones was strictly forbidden.
Anyone who disregarded this would be the enemy of humankind.
However, with the risk of their own demise in front of them, Giant Pharmaceutical Company could care less about it. Without the slightest hint of restraint, they sent the clone army into the battle.
The vitality of a clone was as high as 3.0 and the latest battle techniques—each of them a killer technique—were implanted in their brains. The tables were turned the moment they participated in the battle.
Mars Revolutionary Army's charging momentum took a huge blow.
Giant Pharmaceutical Company might have temporarily escaped from elimination, but their reputation had likewise been sullied!
Even though the Solar System Coalition Government was just a puppet and their implemented laws nothing more than empty vessels, they still needed to retain this amount of respect.
Giant Pharmaceutical Company had broken the law publicly and used the clone army abundantly. It was one thing to break the laws of the Solar System and another to break the Interstellar Human Laws.
Every Interstellar Empire began to condemn them in a dignified fashion.
So what if the Solar System Coalition Government had Giant Pharmaceutical Company's back? The former wouldn't be able to protect them now. All of them declared that Giant Pharmaceutical Company had broken the interstellar conventions, a crime that they would find hard to evade. Yet, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that the implication of this would be louder in words than action.
On the contrary, the Solar System Coalition Government held a deep hatred for the Mars Revolutionary Army. They declared them as rebellions and gathered an army to suppress them in haste!
Feng Lin couldn't quite figure it out. Why would the Giant Pharmaceutical Company be so reckless? The clones were clearly something that could never be in the public's eye, yet they dared to release them so recklessly.
If that was the case, then what good would it do even if they had defeated the Mars Revolutionary Army? Giant Pharmaceutical Company wouldn't have a place in the interstellar world, becoming a rat that couldn't see the light of the day.
Perhaps, they had another force supporting them?
A fog engulfed Feng Lin's thoughts as he recalled the inverted "卍" symbol.
It was the first time he saw the symbol in the Interstellar Era, but it was not unfamiliar to him.
This was because anyone who had the slightest knowledge of history back on Ancient Earth Era would know the terror behind that symbol.
The country which was represented by that symbol had the power to bring upon an apocalyptic disaster to Earth back then.
Feng Lin hadn't even imagined that he would still see the symbol even after traveling tens of thousands of years into the future!
Coincidence? Or was it inevitable?
Feng Lin had too little information to make a judgment in such a short time, but he grew extremely cautious of Giant Pharmaceutical Company's motives.
Although the clone army was invincible on the battlefield, Feng Lin could see the hollowness in them. If a strong interstellar cultivator was to come by at this moment, they might just be able to wipe them all out.
That said, Feng Lin didn't act rashly. The formidable presence illustrated by the mysterious silhouette in the research log was something he couldn't forget.
Acting hastily before knowing the full extent of what he was dealing with would only sink him deeper into the claws of abyss.
The battle on Mars was becoming increasingly intense. Giant Pharmaceutical Company and Mars Revolutionary Army exchanged brutal blows, and Feng Lin enjoyed being the spectator on the side. The more chaotic this became, the more likely he could take advantage of a crisis for personal gain.
However, nothing ever went as simply as he imagined.
Beep, beep, beep!
His identity microchip wouldn't stop ringing, jolting Feng Lin awake in frustration. The genetic potential which had been increasing was ceased at that moment.
Feng Lin opened his eyes and couldn't help but feel annoyed. Who would be this ignorant?
One could get addicted to cultivation, and breaking their concentration right at that moment would inevitably irritate them.
What was strange about him though, was that he had severed all forms of contacts ever since he arrived at Mars. Eliminating all other stray thoughts from his mind, he concentrated solely on cultivation and ignored all distractions.
Who could have found him at this moment?
The next moment, he witnessed a man dressed in traditional Mars robes appearing before him. It was Luke.
Feng Lin's expression changed in an instant, his instincts urging him to switch off the projection.
Luke had already anticipated such a reaction though. "Don't move!" He said plainly, "Unless you wish for your secret to be revealed to Giant Pharmaceutical Company."
Feng Lin's hand froze mid-air, squinting his eyes at his intruder as he exuded a dangerous aura. "Are you threatening me?"
"It's not a threat, I'm just increasing the stakes of collaboration." Luke wasn't fazed by Feng Lin's undisguised disdain. Instead, he laughed. "We have the same objectives, so shouldn't we work together?"
"Work together? What have you thought of?" Feng Lin asked slowly, not believing that Luke came with good intentions.
Feng Lin would never believe this rascal was that naïve– What a joke! One should always beware of suspicious folk bearing gifts, for they are sure to be ill-intentioned.
"Something which requires merely the slightest effort for someone like you! The clone army is a great threat to us. It'll be difficult for us to gain victory in a short amount of time; dragging this to a point of no return would be unavoidable. We must begin to execute the plan. Only if we get rid of the mastermind behind the Giant Pharmaceutical Company could we clinch victory of this battle without a fight. So we urgently need you to tell us the armed force and inner defenses of the Giant Pharmaceutical Company!" Luke requested.
"You want me to divulge Giant Pharmaceutical Company's secret?" Feng Lin narrowed his eyes.
"Feng Lin, stop playing dumb!" Luke shook his head, laughing in spite of himself as though he had already seen through it all. "Weren't you the one who leaked the information regarding those clone army? Even if you had intentionally hidden the source of the information, I could still guess that it was you! Who else has access to Giant Pharmaceutical Company core department and could possess such confidential information but you?"
Feng Lin would never admit to it in the face of Luke's attempt at sounding him out. Rather, he answered with his own question, "What a joke! What good would it do to me if I told you Giant Pharmaceutical Company's secret?"
"At the very least, Giant Pharmaceutical Company would not find out that you were the one who leaked the confidential information, right?" Luke responded with deep meaning behind his words. "Right now, only you and I, along with the Heaven above and the Earth below, know about your identity; I didn't tell anyone else.
"However, if I accidentally let slip and leaked it out, then that wouldn't be good. There must be spies from Giant Pharmaceutical Company within our ranks at Mars Revolutionary Army. If this gets to them, then I'm sure it'll put you at a perilous position. I'm afraid you might not be able to stay in Giant Pharmaceutical Company or even keep your life. Even if you are lucky enough to escape, you'd have to face the endless chase down! I have paid a great price keeping this secret for you! Actually, Feng Lin, why don't you join the Mars Revolutionary Army? Giant Pharmaceutical Company is our enemy and yours as well. We can be on the same side!"
There he goes, throwing that symbol of peace around. Feng Lin wouldn't bite; he could feel the thickly-coated threat on Luke's every word.
If he didn't agree to his demands, then Luke might just let Giant Pharmaceutical Company know that he was the one who had revealed the information. Then the consequences would be unimaginable.
Even so, Feng Lin couldn't figure it out. He had been extremely cautious and got rid of any traces. How did they track him down?
This unexpected turn of events drove him into the corner.
Feng Lin began to reflect on himself inwardly.
It seems like you really couldn't underestimate anyone!
The Mars Revolutionary Army was a great force to be reckoned with in secret, underground societies and was filled with talented individuals. They must have an interstellar hacker among them.
They were onto him the moment he was distracted.
He would have to be even more careful the next time this sort of stuff happened to ensure that he was absolutely safe.
About relying on Mars Revolutionary Army?
He must be kidding!
Feng Lin would never agree to it.
If he would either have to make friends with the wolf or the tiger, what difference would there be?
There was a chance he could retaliate and save his own life when it came to wolves.
To make friends with a tiger, one would have to be careful about being swallowed whole the moment they neared one.
The gears in Feng Lin's mind began turning in haste as an idea popped in his head. He began negotiating, "Do you really think the Giant Pharmaceutical Company would let me off if I told you the secret? The internal conflicts are ceaseless on Mars and danger lurks everywhere. I don't wish to stay here any longer either! If I told you the secret, then you must let me leave Mars and go back to Earth!"
Luke hesitated at the sound of his request but agreed with a nod. "Alright! Now, you can tell me right!"
"No!" Feng Lin shook his head. "I don't trust you guys! If I told you the secret and you don't follow through with your promise, then what chance would I have at survival when the Giant Pharmaceutical Company comes charging? I must meet with you in person and you must immediately arrange for my departure from Mars the moment I tell you the secret!"
"This…" Luke hesitated, sizing Feng Lin up with his gaze as he tried to read the latter's true intentions.
Feng Lin looked like he was being honest without a hint of oddity.
Perhaps it was because he had a strong organization backing him, Luke was confident. Without any trace of dread from the previous time when he exchanged blows with Feng Lin, he nodded in agreement. "I can meet you! Tonight at 9pm. We'll meet at Shitai City's Hell Street Flying Cars Junkyard!"
He gave an address, and Feng Lin recorded it down.
"I'm sure you know what you should do, right? Don't play any tricks, or else you wouldn't be able to bear the consequences!" With that warning, Luke's projection vanished.
Feng Lin's face fell as he switched the projection off and deleted all traces of the log.
He didn't hesitate and decided to follow through with their meet-up.
It seemed extremely dangerous for him to meet a member of the Mars Revolutionary Army and face the danger alone.
But he didn't have a choice. He must eliminate this worry, or everything he had worked so hard for would be irrevocable.
After resting for the day, Feng Lin left punctually at 8pm.
He felt an aura behind him the moment he stepped out of the Giant Pharmaceutical Company!
It was one of the people from the Giant Pharmaceutical Company!
A shiver ran down Feng Lin's spine. After all, he had already advanced into the core department of Giant Pharmaceutical Company and knew too many secrets. Even if Giant Pharmaceutical Company didn't restrict his freedom explicitly, he knew that he was being watched in the dark.
He acted oblivious as he headed toward the outskirts of Shitai City.
The presence continued lingering from a distance behind him.
When he headed into a dark alley, two men-in-black followed through but realized that it was a dead-end with Feng Lin nowhere to be seen.
"Where did he go?" The two exchanged looks of bewilderment.
"Hypnosis!" A voice rang out softly from beside them. The two men turned their heads and could only see a palm imprint floating in the air, looking gentle yet swift. It magnified rapidly in front of their eyes, covering their entire vision and imprint itself onto their foreheads.
Their souls seemed to be engulfed by darkness at that moment, as their line of vision slackened in that instant, losing their consciousness.
Feng Lin caught them when they least expected it and successfully hypnotized the two who were acting as surveillance. When they got back to Giant Pharmaceutical Company, they would only remember that it was Feng Lin's first time on Mars and that he had made use of his free time to explore Shitai City. They wouldn't remember anything else.
Watching the two men-in-black's retreating backs, Feng Lin squinted before launching his body in full swing, swiftly traversing through Shitai City in the dark and toward the meeting point.
His movements were extremely fast, leaving a split-second trace behind. A scream of seeing a ghost would echo when an occasional passerby witnessed it.
Feng Lin didn't stop and it wasn't long before he entered a dark and chaotic street.
The corner of the street led to a giant Flying Cars Junkyard. There weren't many people around here, and it was a mess with rusty flying cars and accessories piling up like a mountain.
Feng Lin felt as though he had just walked into a desolate forest. It was dark all around him without a shred of light, giving an eerie vibe to the place.
Suddenly, he halted. He wasn't sure when the four silhouettes had appeared and surrounded him, cutting off any form of escape routes possible.
The appearance of the clones in the battlefield shocked not only Mars but also the entire Solar System. According to interstellar conventions, the creation of clones was strictly forbidden. Anyone who disregarded this would be the enemy of humankind. However, with the risk of their own demise in front of them, Giant Pharmaceutical Company could care less about it. Without the slightest hint of restraint, they sent the clone army into the battle. The vitality of a clone was as high as 3.0 and the latest battle techniqueseach of them a killer techniquewere implanted in their brains. The tables were turned the moment they participated in the battle. Mars Revolutionary Army's charging momentum took a huge blow. Giant Pharmaceutical Company might have temporarily escaped from elimination, but their reputation had likewise been sullied! Even though the Solar System Coalition Government was just a puppet and their implemented laws nothing more than empty vessels, they still needed to retain this amount of respect. Giant Pharmaceutical Company had broken the law publicly and used the clone army abundantly. It was one thing to break the laws of the Solar System and another to break the Interstellar Human Laws. Every Interstellar Empire began to condemn them in a dignified fashion. So what if the Solar System Coalition Government had Giant Pharmaceutical Company's back? The former wouldn't be able to protect them now. All of them declared that Giant Pharmaceutical Company had broken the interstellar conventions, a crime that they would find hard to evade. Yet, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that the implication of this would be louder in words than action. On the contrary, the Solar System Coalition Government held a deep hatred for the Mars Revolutionary Army. They declared them as rebellions and gathered an army to suppress them in haste! Feng Lin couldn't quite figure it out. Why would the Giant Pharmaceutical Company be so reckless? The clones were clearly something that could never be in the public's eye, yet they dared to release them so recklessly. If that was the case, then what good would it do even if they had defeated the Mars Revolutionary Army? Giant Pharmaceutical Company wouldn't have a place in the interstellar world, becoming a rat that couldn't see the light of the day. Perhaps, they had another force supporting them? A fog engulfed Feng Lin's thoughts as he recalled the inverted "" symbol. It was the first time he saw the symbol in the Interstellar Era, but it was not unfamiliar to him. This was because anyone who had the slightest knowledge of history back on Ancient Earth Era would know the terror behind that symbol. The country which was represented by that symbol had the power to bring upon an apocalyptic disaster to Earth back then. Feng Lin hadn't even imagined that he would still see the symbol even after traveling tens of thousands of years into the future! Coincidence? Or was it inevitable? Feng Lin had too little information to make a judgment in such a short time, but he grew extremely cautious of Giant Pharmaceutical Company's motives. Although the clone army was invincible on the battlefield, Feng Lin could see the hollowness in them. If a strong interstellar cultivator was to come by at this moment, they might just be able to wipe them all out. That said, Feng Lin didn't act rashly. The formidable presence illustrated by the mysterious silhouette in the research log was something he couldn't forget. Acting hastily before knowing the full extent of what he was dealing with would only sink him deeper into the claws of abyss. The battle on Mars was becoming increasingly intense. Giant Pharmaceutical Company and Mars Revolutionary Army exchanged brutal blows, and Feng Lin enjoyed being the spectator on the side. The more chaotic this became, the more likely he could take advantage of a crisis for personal gain. However, nothing ever went as simply as he imagined. Beep, beep, beep! His identity microchip wouldn't stop ringing, jolting Feng Lin awake in frustration. The genetic potential which had been increasing was ceased at that moment. Feng Lin opened his eyes and couldn't help but feel annoyed. Who would be this ignorant? One could get addicted to cultivation, and breaking their concentration right at that moment would inevitably irritate them. What was strange about him though, was that he had severed all forms of contacts ever since he arrived at Mars. Eliminating all other stray thoughts from his mind, he concentrated solely on cultivation and ignored all distractions. Who could have found him at this moment? The next moment, he witnessed a man dressed in traditional Mars robes appearing before him. It was Luke. Feng Lin's expression changed in an instant, his instincts urging him to switch off the projection. Luke had already anticipated such a reaction though. "Don't move!" He said plainly, "Unless you wish for your secret to be revealed to Giant Pharmaceutical Company." Feng Lin's hand froze mid-air, squinting his eyes at his intruder as he exuded a dangerous aura. "Are you threatening me?" "It's not a threat, I'm just increasing the stakes of collaboration." Luke wasn't fazed by Feng Lin's undisguised disdain. Instead, he laughed. "We have the same objectives, so shouldn't we work together?" "Work together? What have you thought of?" Feng Lin asked slowly, not believing that Luke came with good intentions. Feng Lin would never believe this rascal was that nave What a joke! One should always beware of suspicious folk bearing gifts, for they are sure to be ill-intentioned. "Something which requires merely the slightest effort for someone like you! The clone army is a great threat to us. It'll be difficult for us to gain victory in a short amount of time; dragging this to a point of no return would be unavoidable. We must begin to execute the plan. Only if we get rid of the mastermind behind the Giant Pharmaceutical Company could we clinch victory of this battle without a fight. So we urgently need you to tell us the armed force and inner defenses of the Giant Pharmaceutical Company!" Luke requested. "You want me to divulge Giant Pharmaceutical Company's secret?" Feng Lin narrowed his eyes. "Feng Lin, stop playing dumb!" Luke shook his head, laughing in spite of himself as though he had already seen through it all. "Weren't you the one who leaked the information regarding those clone army? Even if you had intentionally hidden the source of the information, I could still guess that it was you! Who else has access to Giant Pharmaceutical Company core department and could possess such confidential information but you?" Feng Lin would never admit to it in the face of Luke's attempt at sounding him out. Rather, he answered with his own question, "What a joke! What good would it do to me if I told you Giant Pharmaceutical Company's secret?" "At the very least, Giant Pharmaceutical Company would not find out that you were the one who leaked the confidential information, right?" Luke responded with deep meaning behind his words. "Right now, only you and I, along with the Heaven above and the Earth below, know about your identity; I didn't tell anyone else. "However, if I accidentally let slip and leaked it out, then that wouldn't be good. There must be spies from Giant Pharmaceutical Company within our ranks at Mars Revolutionary Army. If this gets to them, then I'm sure it'll put you at a perilous position. I'm afraid you might not be able to stay in Giant Pharmaceutical Company or even keep your life. Even if you are lucky enough to escape, you'd have to face the endless chase down! I have paid a great price keeping this secret for you! Actually, Feng Lin, why don't you join the Mars Revolutionary Army? Giant Pharmaceutical Company is our enemy and yours as well. We can be on the same side!" There he goes, throwing that symbol of peace around. Feng Lin wouldn't bite; he could feel the thickly-coated threat on Luke's every word. If he didn't agree to his demands, then Luke might just let Giant Pharmaceutical Company know that he was the one who had revealed the information. Then the consequences would be unimaginable. Even so, Feng Lin couldn't figure it out. He had been extremely cautious and got rid of any traces. How did they track him down? This unexpected turn of events drove him into the corner. Feng Lin began to reflect on himself inwardly. It seems like you really couldn't underestimate anyone! The Mars Revolutionary Army was a great force to be reckoned with in secret, underground societies and was filled with talented individuals. They must have an interstellar hacker among them. They were onto him the moment he was distracted. He would have to be even more careful the next time this sort of stuff happened to ensure that he was absolutely safe. About relying on Mars Revolutionary Army? He must be kidding! Feng Lin would never agree to it. If he would either have to make friends with the wolf or the tiger, what difference would there be? There was a chance he could retaliate and save his own life when it came to wolves. To make friends with a tiger, one would have to be careful about being swallowed whole the moment they neared one. The gears in Feng Lin's mind began turning in haste as an idea popped in his head. He began negotiating, "Do you really think the Giant Pharmaceutical Company would let me off if I told you the secret? The internal conflicts are ceaseless on Mars and danger lurks everywhere. I don't wish to stay here any longer either! If I told you the secret, then you must let me leave Mars and go back to Earth!" Luke hesitated at the sound of his request but agreed with a nod. "Alright! Now, you can tell me right!" "No!" Feng Lin shook his head. "I don't trust you guys! If I told you the secret and you don't follow through with your promise, then what chance would I have at survival when the Giant Pharmaceutical Company comes charging? I must meet with you in person and you must immediately arrange for my departure from Mars the moment I tell you the secret!" "This" Luke hesitated, sizing Feng Lin up with his gaze as he tried to read the latter's true intentions. Feng Lin looked like he was being honest without a hint of oddity. Perhaps it was because he had a strong organization backing him, Luke was confident. Without any trace of dread from the previous time when he exchanged blows with Feng Lin, he nodded in agreement. "I can meet you! Tonight at 9pm. We'll meet at Shitai City's Hell Street Flying Cars Junkyard!" He gave an address, and Feng Lin recorded it down. "I'm sure you know what you should do, right? Don't play any tricks, or else you wouldn't be able to bear the consequences!" With that warning, Luke's projection vanished. Feng Lin's face fell as he switched the projection off and deleted all traces of the log. He didn't hesitate and decided to follow through with their meet-up. It seemed extremely dangerous for him to meet a member of the Mars Revolutionary Army and face the danger alone. But he didn't have a choice. He must eliminate this worry, or everything he had worked so hard for would be irrevocable. After resting for the day, Feng Lin left punctually at 8pm. He felt an aura behind him the moment he stepped out of the Giant Pharmaceutical Company! It was one of the people from the Giant Pharmaceutical Company! A shiver ran down Feng Lin's spine. After all, he had already advanced into the core department of Giant Pharmaceutical Company and knew too many secrets. Even if Giant Pharmaceutical Company didn't restrict his freedom explicitly, he knew that he was being watched in the dark. He acted oblivious as he headed toward the outskirts of Shitai City. The presence continued lingering from a distance behind him. When he headed into a dark alley, two men-in-black followed through but realized that it was a dead-end with Feng Lin nowhere to be seen. "Where did he go?" The two exchanged looks of bewilderment. "Hypnosis!" A voice rang out softly from beside them. The two men turned their heads and could only see a palm imprint floating in the air, looking gentle yet swift. It magnified rapidly in front of their eyes, covering their entire vision and imprint itself onto their foreheads. Their souls seemed to be engulfed by darkness at that moment, as their line of vision slackened in that instant, losing their consciousness. Feng Lin caught them when they least expected it and successfully hypnotized the two who were acting as surveillance. When they got back to Giant Pharmaceutical Company, they would only remember that it was Feng Lin's first time on Mars and that he had made use of his free time to explore Shitai City. They wouldn't remember anything else. Watching the two men-in-black's retreating backs, Feng Lin squinted before launching his body in full swing, swiftly traversing through Shitai City in the dark and toward the meeting point. His movements were extremely fast, leaving a split-second trace behind. A scream of seeing a ghost would echo when an occasional passerby witnessed it. Feng Lin didn't stop and it wasn't long before he entered a dark and chaotic street. The corner of the street led to a giant Flying Cars Junkyard. There weren't many people around here, and it was a mess with rusty flying cars and accessories piling up like a mountain. Feng Lin felt as though he had just walked into a desolate forest. It was dark all around him without a shred of light, giving an eerie vibe to the place. Suddenly, he halted. He wasn't sure when the four silhouettes had appeared and surrounded him, cutting off any form of escape routes possible.
