Before she could finish her sentence, Xia Lan suddenly buried her face in his chest and sobbed, "You finally came! I knew you would come to save me..."
Ling Yun awkwardly half-embraced her rounded shoulders. It was impossible for him to push the girl away at this moment, and Ling Yun wasn't that heartless. It was necessary to show appropriate care at the right time, even though it seemed a bit ambiguous... But as long as he had a clear conscience, it didn't matter. Ling Yun thought guiltily, silently making excuses for himself.
Fortunately, Xiao Rou wasn't here, otherwise it would have been another wrongful conviction. Ling Yun secretly felt relieved, while softly comforting Xia Lan. However, he felt a little strange. Judging from Xia Lan's appearance, she had only been imprisoned and shouldn't have suffered any real hardship. Given her personality, she shouldn't have acted so weakly.
Ling Yun was unaware that Xia Lan's feelings were half-true and half-false. While she was overjoyed at being imprisoned and awaiting rescue, if Li Zhongqi or any other instructor were standing there, Xia Lan would have long since reverted to her usual spirited and stern group leader. But now it was Ling Yun, and Xia Lan had indeed developed a slight affection for him. Coupled with the fact that Ling Yun had previously seen her body, the young girl couldn't help but feel a strange mix of emotions. Overwhelmed with tenderness, she threw herself into Ling Yun's arms, wishing time would stand still.
"We need to leave here quickly, Xia Lan. We might be discovered at any time," Ling Yun said gently after waiting for a while and seeing that Xia Lan was still lying in his arms without moving. Otherwise, Xia Lan might stay in his arms forever.
"Where is this place?" Xia Lan asked as she stepped out of Ling Yun's arms. She had been imprisoned when she was captured by that powerful man and was unaware of the whole process. Only now did she realize that she should look around. However, the dim space and rows of glassware made Xia Lan feel a little uneasy.
"It's the American Superpower Bureau." Ling Yun briefly recounted the whole story, omitting only his and Xiao Rou's experience in the underwater barrier, as that experience was too horrifying and unnecessary to bring up at this moment.
Nevertheless, Xia Lan couldn't help but be shocked when the topic of the US Bureau of Superpowers' bio-cloned superpowered individuals came up. "Cloned superpowered individuals? They're actually doing this research? Aren't they afraid of being exposed by the media and embarrassing the US government? Cloning people violates the UN Security Council's human rights regulations. Public opinion alone could force this research to stop."
“If we’re going to expose this, we need evidence! Aside from superhumans, ordinary people have virtually no chance of entering or leaving the Superhuman Bureau’s barrier. Besides, the Superhuman Bureau isn’t just sitting around doing nothing. We just need to deliver the message to Tang Tou and the others, and the higher-ups will naturally handle the matter,” Ling Yun said, adding, “And I just found out that they can’t clone superhumans.”
"Why?" Xia Lan asked, as she only had a superficial understanding of technology.
“I just overheard a conversation between two of the researchers in charge of the study. Their research has hit a bottleneck. The problem of cloning superhumans is a global one, and they won’t be able to clone superhumans in the short term,” Ling Yun said confidently. But he couldn’t help but think of his God’s Hand, the only supernatural ability in the world that could freely convert the genes of ordinary people and superhumans, and it was unique.
"That would be perfect." Xia Lan breathed a sigh of relief. Her heart had been in her throat. If the American Bureau of Superpowers could really replicate the genes of superpowered individuals, it would inevitably lead to war and a national catastrophe.
“But the enhanced bio-clones produced by energy are also terrifying. Although bio-clones are not as good as superhumans, they are much stronger and faster than ordinary people. If they are used in war…” Ling Yun’s face was also full of worry. These Americans’ technology is too advanced. They can invent all sorts of weird gadgets.
"There's no need to worry about that. The cost of creating bio-clones is extremely high. Even the most ordinary clones cost tens of millions of dollars, and the success rate is no more than 60%. As for forming an army, well, unless the US government wants to go bankrupt," Xia Zhen smiled, her bright eyes sparkling with thoughtfulness.
"Besides, our country is also secretly researching biochemical cloning technology. It's estimated that in a few years, we'll be able to catch up with developed countries like the United States." Xia Lan said dismissively. Her emotions were finally released, and she regained her shrewd and capable nature, which made Ling Yun not only feel relieved but also slightly disappointed.
"Didn't you say that cloning violates the UN Security Council's human rights regulations?" Ling Yun asked curiously. If Xia Lan hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't have known that the Chinese government was also researching cloning technology.
“As long as it’s technology research and not human cloning, it’s not illegal. Besides, every country makes a lot of noise about it, but how many of them are actually doing their own crazy research behind the scenes? Everyone knows that. But it’s better not to bring these things out into the open. You’re also an ability user at the Ability Headquarters, so you should know some of these secrets,” Xia Lan said, puffing out her chest proudly, looking quite like a young leader.
“Let’s leave here,” Ling Yun said. “No matter what, the Superpower Bureau kidnapped you, and we have to settle this score with them. I reckon President Tang and his team will be arriving in America soon.”
"Logically speaking, it shouldn't be the Bureau of Supernatural Abilities' doing this. No one would be foolish enough to reveal their identity if they were to do something underhanded. But we are indeed inside the Bureau of Supernatural Abilities. It's really puzzling," Xia Lan said, tilting her head in thought.
"Whether they did it or not, they must have some connection with the Superpowers Bureau. In any case, the Americans have to give us an explanation," Ling Yun said calmly.
“Let’s go. We need to get an explanation first, and then we can get out of here safely,” Xia Lan said. “Otherwise, if they find out we know their core secrets, the Supernatural Abilities Bureau might forcibly detain us all here.”
"Do you know earth-遁术 (earth-遁术 is a type of magic that allows one to escape through earth)?" Ling Yun asked. He hadn't expected the Superpower Bureau to be a huge underground base when he came. However, the Superpower Bureau had long been prepared for superpowered individuals with earth-遁术 to enter. Therefore, a high-tech barrier was placed around the entire underground base. Even if one escaped through earth-遁术 to the outer perimeter of the Superpower Bureau, it would be useless. Moreover, the exit was a disguised structure fixed to the ground.
Ling Yun wasn't unaware of this principle, but now, with the panoramic view, the routes to the Superpower Bureau base had been explored. When escaping, there was no need to risk being discovered by returning via the elevator. Instead, they could use earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a technique that allows one to move through reinforced concrete, making them much more concealed. Moreover, the Illusion Eye could ensure that the two of them wouldn't be discovered by those superpowered individuals with special abilities. Then, they could use Dr. Black's identity to leave through the exit. Exits like this were difficult to enter but easy to exit, so it shouldn't take too long.
Although Ling Yun has not yet discovered any other powerful individuals besides Joyce, and the conversation between Blake and Joyce proves that the Superpower Bureau does not currently have many powerful individuals in charge, this does not mean that there are no other powerful individuals in the Superpower Bureau. Every minute the two of them stay is an extra minute of risk.
"No." Xia Lan's expression was somewhat unpleasant. Even without Ling Yun saying it, she understood what he meant. But Xia Lan truly didn't know it. In fact, most superhumans didn't know the Five Elements Escape Technique. The Five Elements Technique was a rather high-level superhuman technique, and it was a ninja's specialty. It was normal for Xia Lan not to know it. However, what no girl hadn't expected was that one day she would become a burden to someone else. When did a dignified and capable outstanding team leader from the Superhuman Headquarters become a burden? Even if that person was Ling Yun, it still made Xia Lan feel quite uncomfortable.
"It's alright." Ling Yun's ability to read people's expressions has become quite sophisticated. He could tell what the girl was thinking just by looking at Xia Lan's face, so he quickly comforted her, saying, "We can use invisibility to go up in the elevator. I have a way to make sure you won't be discovered."
He had already guessed that Xia Lan didn't know earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a technique that allows one to escape through earth), but he still asked with a sliver of hope. After all, the more advanced the earth-遁 technique, the greater the chance of success when leading someone out of the perilous underground base. However, if Xia Lan really didn't know it, there was nothing he could do but risk returning the way he came. Fortunately, the Eye of Illusion possessed extremely powerful concealment abilities, and Ling Yun could ensure that Xia Lan wouldn't be discovered by other powerful individuals.
"I know how to become invisible." Xia Lan sighed, her expression somewhat dejected.
Ling Yun grabbed her small hand: "Come with me. The exit of the barrier requires identity verification, which is troublesome, but I have already found a substitute for you in advance."
Xia Lan was secretly pleased when he took her hand, and was about to obediently follow him.
"Awooo!" A deafening roar suddenly echoed in the silent storage room, causing Ling Yun and Xia Lan, who had only taken two steps, to stop in their tracks and look in surprise toward the source of the roar.
The two-headed bison creature stood kneeling behind a huge glass vessel, its pair of green compound eyes emitting an eerie glow. It opened its blood-red maw, revealing two rows of sharp, white, serrated teeth, and a low growl came from each of its two mouths. Clearly, the roar had come from one of the terrifying creature's heads.
"Let's go!" Ling Yun said without hesitation. He hadn't expected that their whispered conversation would alert the two-headed creature, which looked like a specimen. Such a huge roar must have alerted the others in the underground base. Perhaps some powerful individuals were already rushing in this direction.
The two suddenly sped up and arrived at the door in an instant. Ling Yun suddenly felt a sense of alarm and grabbed Xia Lan's hand, quickly jumping dozens of meters to the left of the door.
Just as the two jumped away, a strong gust of wind swept over them, followed by a deafening roar as the massive, ten-meter-long figure slammed violently into the tightly closed iron gate.
Clang! The 15-meter-high, 24-centimeter-thick C40 grade reinforced concrete wall, including the iron gate, shook and then collapsed silently, turning the storage room and the hall into one.
The two-headed creature shook its head nonchalantly, as if it had just knocked over a pile of rotten cotton. Four long white breaths spewed from its four nostrils, and its massive body writhed and turned on the ground. Its emerald green compound eyes searched for any trace of Ling Yun and Xia Lan, while its six thick iron hooves relentlessly carved deep furrows into the equally hard reinforced concrete.
Suddenly, the green light in the compound eyes of the two-headed creature coalesced, and the door of the only elevator in the lobby, which had been tightly closed, opened at some point. The elevator body sank slightly, as if someone was stepping into the elevator.
The two-headed creature let out another angry roar. How dare these two little insects escape right under its nose? Although it didn't know how Ling Yun and Xia Lan managed to do it, the two-headed creature's simple and brutal mind was filled with madness. Its ten-meter-long body lunged forward, and its huge iron hooves reached the slowly closing elevator door.
It was about to forcefully open the elevator door and pull out the two little bugs to stomp them to death, but a straight beam of silver light suddenly shot out from the gap that was only the width of a fist in the elevator, hitting the two-headed creature on the forehead.
All of the two-headed creature's movements froze, and then its entire body began to rapidly disintegrate like an inflated balloon exploding.
The laboratory door opened, and Dr. Blake, disheveled, and Connie rushed to the door, their faces pale and shocked as they watched what was happening before them.
Chapter 371 Virtual Channel
After the elevator doors closed, it quickly ascended. Since Ling Yun and Xia Lan were invisible, Dr. Black and Connie didn't see them at all, and didn't even notice that the elevator was automatically ascending when no one was there. Their attention was completely drawn to the disintegration of the two-headed creature.
Inside the elevator, Ling Yun faintly heard Dr. Blake exclaim in surprise: "My God, how did this specimen come back to life?"
"What just happened? What is that two-headed creature?" Xia Lan used telekinesis to transmit information. Both of them were invisible, so communicating with their mental field was the most convenient option; speaking would only expose their location.
Ling Yun replied using telekinesis: "I don't know. Maybe it's a strange creature developed by the Superpower Bureau. However, it has a fatal weakness. If it doesn't move, it's fine, but once it moves violently, its genes will immediately collapse." The beam of silver light just now was emitted by Ling Yun. He originally just wanted to stop the two-headed monster for a moment, but he didn't expect the two-headed monster to be so vulnerable. It was only hit once, and its genes began to collapse.
No wonder the two-headed creature didn't move when we entered the storage room; it was just to maintain the stability of its genes, Ling Yun thought to himself.
Xia Lan nodded as if she understood, but she only had a superficial understanding of the deeper issues of genes. Why would vigorous exercise cause genes to break down? This explanation was difficult to explain, but Xia Lan was not interested in it, so she stopped after asking the question.
Ling Yun activated the panoramic view, carefully observing the entire underground base's reactions. Since the underwater barrier appeared, the panoramic view function had become unprecedentedly powerful, allowing him to see through any material layer within its range. Therefore, although the two were in the enclosed elevator, Ling Yun could see every move in the underground base.