Ling Yun even had a feeling that Elder Yu had not truly left. Perhaps he had really taken that step and entered the ethereal Heavenly Dao. Ling Yun was still unable to comprehend the seventh layer of the yellow book barrier. He only tried it once before immediately retreating. That was not a level he could access. If he insisted on cultivating in the first layer of the barrier, Ling Yun would immediately lose himself, no matter how strong he was.
But it's too early for him to think about these things now; the issue needs to be addressed in the present.
“It is precisely because of the existence of the Skynet Barrier that our China Superpower Headquarters has developed so rapidly and has always stood at the top of the world. No superpower organization dares to underestimate us, including the Sky Eye Society, which has suffered a great loss at our hands.” Li Zhongqi looked at Ling Yun with satisfaction, his eyes revealing pride. “In fact, the four major superpower organizations all have their own trump cards. Do you know what they are?”
Ling Yun pondered. He already knew that the trump card of the Superpower Headquarters was Skynet, but what were the trump cards of the other three major organizations? He hadn't really thought about it. Xiao Rou, who had been listening quietly, suddenly said, "The trump card of the Superpower Headquarters is the Skynet Barrier, and it's a bright trump card that others can only see but cannot copy. The trump card of the Sky Eye Society is the Sky Eye, which they use to stir up trouble. The trump card of the Arbitration Institute should be related to their Holy Power, but the Arbitration Institute doesn't participate in world affairs. As for what trump cards the American Superpower Bureau has... I don't know."
“That’s right. Apart from the US Bureau of Supernatural Abilities, the other three major supernatural ability organizations have all their trump cards out in the open,” Li Zhongqi nodded. “Actually, we’ve always suspected that the US Bureau of Supernatural Abilities might have a secret base, secretly creating superhumans!”
Chapter 278 Smuggling
"Creating superhumans?!" Ling Yun and Yu Qi exclaimed in unison, exchanging bewildered glances. This news was utterly shocking; they had never heard of superhumans being created. Every superhuman was a born carrier of a genetic mutation, and only through specific methods could they become superhumans. This was the main reason why superhumans were so rare. If it weren't for the sheer size of the human population, it's questionable whether various superhuman organizations would even exist.
If genetic mutations can be altered through technology, wouldn't that mean the US Superpower Agency could have as many superpowered individuals as it wanted? Even with only the most basic level of mental energy, comparable to Yuqi's, their sheer numbers would be enough to wipe out all other superpowered organizations. Moreover, this wouldn't just be a change to the world of superpowered individuals; it would be a cataclysmic event that alters the entire world and the course of humankind.
Having the Hand of God, Ling Yun already believed it was a supernatural ability capable of altering human evolution. He never imagined the American Bureau of Superpowers had achieved such a feat, actually creating superhumans? From any perspective, this was a major undertaking, defying God.
"It's not as serious as you think." Li Zhongqi saw the astonishment in their eyes and smiled slightly. "Creating superhumans isn't that easy. The world's most advanced technology can only draw a rough sketch of the human genome. We haven't even figured out the role of genetic information science yet. How could we possibly skip that step and go straight to altering genes? Besides, we're just speculating. Perhaps the American Bureau of Superhuman Abilities has made some progress in this area, but it's definitely not at a level that can be applied. Otherwise, there would only be one organization of superhumans in this world."
Ling Yun and Xiao Rou finally calmed down, still feeling uneasy and doubtful. Even so, what the American Superpower Bureau had done was astonishing. They hadn't expected their ambitions and goals to be so grand—they actually wanted to mass-produce superhumans. A thought suddenly struck Ling Yun. He remembered his "Hand of God." Strictly speaking, the Hand of God was the only supernatural ability that could truly create superhumans. Based on his previous experience helping Yu Qi awaken her latent superhuman genes, Ling Yun had gained considerable insight into how to adjust gene fragments. He had optimized the data ratios and stored them in his brain regarding the similarities and differences between the genes of superhumans and ordinary people. After digesting this information for some time, Ling Yun had a pretty good understanding of it.
This means that, if Ling Yun so desires, and if he can maintain enough energy, he can transform an ordinary person into a superhuman at any time, and vice versa. Both theoretically and practically, data analysis suggests the optimal solution. However, even if he were to actually do this, Ling Yun still harbors immense hesitation and doubt. The reason is simple: this is challenging the very origin of evolution, defying the laws of nature. Recalling that vast, seemingly absent yet still present consciousness, Ling Yun still feels a chill run down his spine.
He suddenly felt extremely uneasy. If he really did this, maybe one or two people wouldn't matter, but if it caused a butterfly effect, then he would inevitably be erased by some entity, completely erased, and would no longer exist in any time, space, or in anyone's heart.
As he was lost in thought, Li Zhongqi suddenly said, "Perhaps you don't know, but the Skynet Barrier is actually closely related to high technology. Ling Yun has been to the core space and should know what the energy fountain in the core space is actually powered by. It is entirely powered by solar energy and cosmic rays. If we were to rely solely on the country's existing technology to provide energy, the energy required for the Skynet Barrier to operate for one month would be equivalent to the total electricity consumption of half of China's cities for nearly fifty years. The establishment of the Skynet is, in a sense, also to promote the development of science and energy."
He paused for a moment, then continued, "The reason why other superpower organizations are so wary of Skynet, and why Skyeye even went so far as to use a third of its strongest members to try and forcefully obtain the key to Skynet's barrier, is largely because Skynet is connected to our country's Skynet military satellite. This is the nation's most core and highest-tech weapon. In the most dangerous situation, Skynet's military satellite can carry out point-to-point nuclear attacks anywhere in the world, and no superpowered individual would have time to escape. Moreover, if needed, Skynet's military satellite can even forcibly monitor any country or region. This is the main reason why other countries and superpower organizations are so wary of us."
Ling Yun and Xiao Rou were once again shocked. Although they had been inside the core space and were awestruck by the enormous energy fountain, Ling Yun still hadn't expected the Skynet Barrier to be this powerful. It was essentially a super fortress with devastating weapons, capable of attacking anywhere in the world at will, and subject to 24-hour surveillance. Due to its unique barrier structure, it could absorb solar energy and cosmic rays, so there was no need to worry about energy. Based on this alone, the Superpower Headquarters was practically invincible. With the Skynet Barrier, even if the Superpower Headquarters only had one superpowered individual with the strength of a private, it could destroy all superpowered organizations in the world in an instant.
For the first time in his life, Ling Yun felt the immense power and terrifying nature of the Superpower Headquarters. He exclaimed in amazement, "Chief Li, if that's really the case, then why should we hesitate to act? We can simply unify all the superpower organizations in the world. The American Sky Eye Society is nothing to us."
Xiao Rou laughed and tapped his forehead: "I just said you were shrewd, and now you're acting childish. Do you think Skynet is like a bullet in a gun, ready to be fired whenever you want? These are all state secrets. Chief Li is telling you these things because he trusts you. Not only can you not tell anyone, but you must also do everything you can to keep it a secret. Otherwise, the Superpower Headquarters will immediately become the target of everyone's criticism."
Li Zhongqi smiled slightly but remained silent. He knew his words were somewhat exaggerated, and there was no need to tell Ling Yun. However, since he had spoken, it naturally reflected the Supernatural Abilities Headquarters' intentions. Although Ling Yun was growing rapidly and was very innocent and kind, his young age necessitated using some methods to win him over to the headquarters. Sometimes, it wasn't just about sweet talk or coercion to bind someone; responsibility and trust were also effective means of winning them over. However, he couldn't discuss this with Ling Yun and Xiao Rou. This involved politics and power struggles; a subtle hint was sufficient—neither too obvious nor too overt. Only in China could one find the right balance.
Ling Yun rarely paid attention to politics, so he was indeed a little confused when he heard this. Xiao Rou, however, was different from him. Having grown up in a harsh environment, analyzing things and interpersonal relationships was almost instinctive for her. In some ways, the world of superhumans was also a political world, and everything had the shadow of human activities. Therefore, she understood the meaning of what Li Zhongqi was saying as soon as she heard it.
Ling Yun, however, did not understand any of this and said in bewilderment, "Why do we still need to hide it? With such great power, shouldn't we be conducting a deterrent test, just like with nuclear tests?"
"Hehe, silly." Xiaorou chuckled. "For example, if you had a few neighbors around you, and you were getting along fine, but suddenly they all knew you had a secret weapon that could both eliminate them and monitor them anytime, anywhere, would they still be able to sleep soundly? They would only unite against you because you are too strong. Although you have great martial arts skills, you are not the strongest in other aspects. If they unite against you, you will have a very difficult time, but you cannot completely eliminate them, because if you do, you will also perish. Do you understand what I mean?"
"I understand." Ling Yun felt a pang of shame. "I had oversimplified things."
“Hehe, Xiaorou is right.” Li Zhongqi said meaningfully, “This is politics. It’s not a life-or-death war. When we pursue our own development, we can’t restrict the development of others, but we also need to be vigilant to avoid the possibility that others might restrict us at any time. This applies to every individual and every organization. Repeated mutual suspicion forms a chain of suspicion. That’s why there are no permanent interests or permanent friendships between countries.”
"Uh..." Ling Yun suddenly felt a headache coming on. If he had to get involved in politics, he would rather go back to school. Ling Yun felt that he was never suited for interpersonal relationships. He wanted to live a simple life quietly and study a major he liked. But reality seemed to have pushed him into an unfathomable vortex, forcing him to learn these things, or he might be eliminated by the overwhelming tide.
"Commander Li, what should we do to save Xia Lan now?" Ling Yun steadied himself, trying to clear his mind of all distractions. After all, none of this had anything to do with reality. The most urgent task was to rescue Xia Lan immediately. Thinking of Xia Lan's terrified and beautiful face when she was abducted into the void and her cry of "Ling Yun, save me!", Ling Yun's heart tightened. Whether out of camaraderie or out of affection for his sister Xia Zhen, he had to save Xia Lan, no matter where she was.
Li Zhongqi pondered for a moment, unable to come up with a better idea, so he asked in return, "Do you have any good ideas?"
Ling Yun was rapidly calculating in his mind and had already roughly come up with a plan. Upon hearing his question, he immediately replied, "Chief Li, I think it's best to take two routes. Xiao Rou and I will first follow the trail where Xia Lan was abducted to see who kidnapped her. Since that powerful figure was injured by your attack, he probably wouldn't be carrying another superhuman across the ocean on his own. He must have left by transportation, which would give us time to pursue him. You can return to the mainland immediately and, based on the clues left by that superhuman, publicly demand Xia Lan's release from the US Superhuman Agency in the name of the Superhuman Headquarters. You can also find out their true intentions and attitude."
Li Zhongqi's eyes lit up immediately, and he patted Ling Yun on the shoulder: "Ling Yun, is this what you came up with? The plan is very good, I think it's feasible, but isn't it too dangerous for just the two of you to track that superhuman? After all, the relationship between the two of you is very important, and Xiao Rou also has the Heavenly Eye. If something happens to her, it won't be worth it. We should be more cautious. It would be best if I contacted headquarters and sent a few more instructors to assist you in the tracking. Then, I'll go with Tie Jin to find that old guy Weish and see what he's up to."
Ling Yun shook his head and said, "Chief Li, although this is a safe approach, it might be too late. You don't need to worry about us. I have a way to ensure that Xiao Rou and I won't be discovered. Besides, if we don't take any risks, we probably won't be able to catch up with Xia Lan. Now, it's better to act sooner rather than later."
"Well said, Lingyun." Li Zhongqi gazed intently at him. "That's right, let's do it your way. However, Lingyun, you must be careful. In all the years I've been in the Superpower Headquarters, I've never seen a superpowered individual as talented as you. Given time, you'll definitely achieve great things. You're right, if everything is perfect, we won't be able to accomplish anything. Perhaps this is still a good opportunity to hone your skills. Keep up the good work, young man. Best wishes to you and Xiaorou. The sooner the better. I'll head back to the mainland first."
After saying that, the deputy chief instructor was in a hurry. Without saying goodbye to Ling Yun and Xiao Rou, he turned around and strode away. Just like when he saw Tian Yuning, with each step he took, he covered a distance of hundreds of meters. In just a few breaths, Ling Yun and Xiao Rou could no longer see his back.
Several security guards from the Huangdui Hotel were just coming out of the door when they saw this scene. They were all stunned and rubbed their eyes, thinking they were seeing things. Otherwise, how could that old man with white hair have walked away so quickly?
Xiao Rou frowned and said in a low voice, "How do you plan to save Xia Lan? Apart from that sentence, we don't have any clues at all. How are we supposed to track her down? Are we just going to go to America now, find the Superpower Bureau, and ask them for her directly?"
Ling Yun narrowed his eyes and smiled calmly, "Xiao Rou, you don't believe in your boyfriend's abilities, huh?" He suddenly waved his hand in the air, and as an invisible spiritual field flashed, a golden light flashed in his eyes that was not easily noticed. In the eyes of the two, a crystal-clear, star-like pillar suddenly appeared in the air and meandered along a winding path.
"What is this?" Xiaorou asked in shock. Her mental field perception told her that this star-like passage should be the remnant of some kind of aura, just like how insects always leave their aura when they crawl across the ground.
“It’s the aura of that powerful figure when he left. As long as he doesn’t shield his mental energy field, I can find him.” Ling Yun said calmly, grabbing Xiao Rou’s arm. “Let’s go. Judging from the direction of this aura, it seems to have indeed left Hong Kong and headed west.”
"Which way do we go?" Xiao Rou was pulled by him and followed him involuntarily.
"Smuggling!"
Chapter 279 Snake Head
It has to be said that Zhang Yunfeng, the leader of the underground forces, has a lot of influence. Even in Hong Kong, he can mobilize a lot of connections and resources. Ling Yun just made a simple phone call to him and told him about it. An hour later, Zhang Yunfeng had found Ling Yun a boat to smuggle him to the west coast of the United States, and it was about to set off. If it traveled at full speed, it would take about thirty hours to reach a deserted coastline in the western United States.
What surprised Ling Yun even more was that Zhang Yunfeng acted with lightning speed, managing to obtain temporary green cards for the two of them in a very short time. Once they were in the United States, they could live like normal people without worrying about being questioned by the US police for being undocumented.
Since all the formalities were in place, Lingyun and Xiaorou could have boarded the plane and flown directly from Hong Kong to the United States. However, time was of the essence, and the earliest flight was at night, so there simply wasn't enough time. Moreover, the flight route was completely opposite to the direction of the aura left behind by that nameless powerhouse, and Lingyun couldn't very well have the plane change course.
If the time drags on, the traces left behind by the other party may gradually dissipate, making it impossible to track their whereabouts. Moreover, judging from the direction of the traces, the other party clearly left by sea by boat, which is normal. Even the most powerful superhuman would face various inconveniences if they kidnapped someone. The most basic and fastest way is to go by sea. They may have already prepared transportation. There is currently no precedent for a superhuman to cross most of the Pacific Ocean on their own, or someone may be able to do it, but in the case of kidnapping someone, this becomes almost impossible.
Because of Zhang Yunfeng's personal instructions, the smuggler in charge of this operation treated Ling Yun and Xiao Rou with great warmth and care. He knew all too well the power of Zhang Yunfeng, this underworld boss, who was someone absolutely not to be offended. If anything went wrong, not only would he lose his own life, but his entire family would likely be in grave danger.
The snakehead was a thin, shrewd man in his forties from Guangzhou, surnamed Yu. He had long, narrow, triangular eyes, and his skin was tanned dark from years at sea. His sunken features conveyed both the shrewdness of a southerner and a hint of cruelty. At first glance, it was clear that he was an executioner with blood on his hands.
In fact, human traffickers have intricate connections with the underworld. Many traffickers are even directly members of the underground forces responsible for human smuggling, making a living solely from it. Every year, a considerable number of people want to seek their fortune in developed countries, and those who cannot obtain visas and passports, yet are desperate to get rich, provide human traffickers with a lucrative opportunity. Although various countries and governments have spared no effort in cracking down on human smuggling for their own interests, the results have been minimal over the years. Despite the extreme danger of this profession, people continue to flock to it.
Old Yu has been engaged in the dangerous business of smuggling for over a decade and knows the dangers involved all too well. Encountering interception by armed warships from both countries is secondary; the main danger comes from the sea. Due to the lack of any protection, the smuggling boats are extremely dangerous. To avoid being tracked by official warships, smuggling boats often travel through complex, unpredictable, and treacherous waters. They may encounter hurricanes and tsunamis, and sometimes the waters are full of hidden reefs. If they accidentally collide with one, they can only wait for the boat to be destroyed and their people to capsize. Almost all smugglers perish at sea, and only a very few lucky ones may survive.
The worst thing is encountering pirates. Being robbed of everything is secondary; there's a 99% chance that you'll be slaughtered by the pirates first, and then your ship will sink and you'll have to escape.
Despite repeated warnings from smugglers about the potential dangers of the smuggling process and their inability to guarantee the migrants' safety, some still clung to a gambler's mentality, hoping for a lucky break. After all, not every attempt would be so unlucky; there were precedents of people successfully escaping to developed countries to strike it rich. Therefore, the smugglers became less inclined to repeat themselves. Besides, what did the migrants' lives or deaths have to do with them? Driven by profit, some smugglers even began extorting more money from migrants later in the smuggling process, threatening to throw them into the sea to feed sharks if they didn't pay. Raping women during the smuggling process and beating or killing disobedient migrants were commonplace; every smuggler's hands were stained with blood and crime.