Chapter 97

Chapter 97

“Is this the ‘Transcendence Serum’ that achieved great success on that escaped test subject?”

At the N-277 Research Facility in the Chenxing Empire.

Just days after the meeting to strongly promote the Transcendence Project, this underground research facility welcomed several distinguished guests.

Those behind them represented the royal family, cabinet, and parliament – these three forces united unprecedentedly, symbolizing the will of the entire upper echelon of the Chenxing Empire.

Dr. Wells, the person in charge of the Transcendence Project, accompanied them.

The sudden arrival of this team both surprised and delighted Alvin, the facility’s director.

Given his position, he wasn’t qualified to participate in high-level meetings. In his view, it was clear that Leiyin’s terrifying achievements had thoroughly shaken those big shots behind the research institute. The long-neglected “Transcendence Project” was finally about to take off.

“That’s right, this is it! This is just Transcendence Serum No. 1. As a product of the Transcendence Project, it can elevate an ordinary person’s potential in various aspects to the limit in a short time, comparable to the results of over ten years of normal martial arts training. If used by a practitioner who already has a foundation in martial arts, it can have an even greater effect...”

Gazing at the deep purple test tube twisting with crystalline brilliance under the light, Alvin’s eyes softened incredibly.

The facility director added with a tone of regret. “Unfortunately, the only successful test subject escaped during an accidental power outage at the research institute. Due to the power failure, the institute’s surveillance didn’t manage to record his incredible performance – but the traces he left behind are the best evidence. I’m sure you’ve all witnessed it. To say it was like a king of beasts running out of the forest would be an understatement – it was more like a humanoid fierce beast. That’s the terrifying power of the Transcendence Serum!”

At this point, the others’ expressions changed slightly, seeming quite apprehensive.

Although many present hadn’t been at the scene, they couldn’t help but feel a deep, indescribable chill from the core of their being when they saw the photos and videos of the blood and flesh quagmire filled with fresh blood and shredded flesh that were later handed to them.

This was also one of the important reasons why the empire’s upper echelons were willing to place their hopes on the Transcendence Project.

They were thus sent as supervisors for this project, to monitor the experimental progress, judge its prospects, and help the project team apply for necessary resources from the higher-ups when needed.

Barring any unexpected issues, if the “Transcendence Serum” proved successful, it would soon be used on those in the empire’s upper echelons as well. It would allow them to gain powerful bodies and longevity without having to go through arduous martial arts training.

Especially for the older members of the upper echelons, martial arts cultivation methods were too difficult. The Transcendence Project was undoubtedly a shortcut.

Given this, it wasn’t excessive for these people to attach such importance to it.

Knowing that these supervisors were key figures in obtaining research resources from the “sugar daddies,” Alvin enthusiastically praised every aspect of the Transcendence Serum. Combining it with the commotion caused by Leiyin, he fervently incited.

“...Although we’ve paid the price with injuries and deaths of many excellent members, the prospects demonstrated by the Transcendence Serum on Test Subject R are undoubtedly full of surprises. Everything we’ve invested so far has been worth it!”

“Is that so?” someone from the team of supervisors calmly questioned. “But from what I see, the current Transcendence Serum is far from achieving the expected effects, or rather, there seem to be significant problems. Up until now, besides the one previous success, we haven’t seen a second successful experiment...”

As he spoke, the person casually pointed forward, “That’s where you’re conducting your current experiment, right?”

At this moment, everyone was in a special conference room in the underground research facility. The direction the speaker pointed to was a transparent wall, similar to one-way glass, allowing those in the conference room a clear view of everything in the adjacent laboratory.

She had tried similar attempts before, not only failing but almost being pushed to the margins of power as a naive little girl. The little power she had gained over the years had nearly been lost.

This made her realize even more that despite having a status and title unattainable in the eyes of commoners, she had no say in this matter, let alone the power to single-handedly oppose the empire’s upper echelons. Much of the power she now possessed was built on her status, on the emperor’s favor.

Fina sat back down, becoming a quiet mascot.

“Test Subject R’s physical constitution was enhanced more than five-fold from its original basis. His speed, explosive power, and other metrics all saw terrifying improvements. According to a complex algorithm, the Transcendence Serum develops human potential by at least 200%. Even if others can’t achieve results like Test Subject R, it can at least triple physical constitution, and even has life-extending effects...”

While observing the experiment next door, Alvin rattled off a series of complex data, introducing the effects of the Transcendence Serum in great detail.

His tone was excited. “Once the Transcendence Project achieves great success, every ordinary person will have the opportunity to break through human limits, and human lifespan will be extended to at least 150 years. Our Chenxing Empire will leave everyone far behind in the biological field, ushering in a new era of change!”

Perhaps every researcher has this special skill of vying for funding and resources. Alvin painted a grand picture for the group before him with a highly provocative tone. He declared solemnly. “The future is in our hands, and human wisdom is always the most powerful. We can completely rely on our own intelligence to break through the shackles of innate talent, rather than pinning our hopes on supernatural beings!”

He clearly understood the mindset of the empire’s upper echelons.

The existence of the Lord of the Heavenly Capital, which was beyond the norm, had brought a strong threat to the empire’s upper echelons, making them full of vigilance and wariness, and also giving them an unprecedented desire for the success of the Transcendence Project.

Sure enough, someone immediately nodded in approval. “Well said, we humans are the most powerful. It’s ridiculous how the Holy Federation pins their faith on the vague Sun God. And the ostentatious Yao Country, with their so-called martial arts cultivation methods, is full of Eastern foolish ideas. In today’s era, the power of science is the strongest and most suitable for us.”

The return of the Lord of the Heavenly Capital and the spread of martial arts had caused an impact on the entire world that had yet to subside. Some marveled and rejoiced, pursuing supernatural powers and viewing them as the hope of a new era. Others were suspicious and wary, seeing them as wolves and tigers.

The upper echelons of the Chenxing Empire basically held the second view.

Especially the fact that the Lord of the Heavenly Capital was from Yao Country undoubtedly made them more wary of the martial arts cultivation methods flowing from his hands.

In fact, many countries suspected that Yao Country had likely already made secret contact with the elusive Lord of the Heavenly Capital, obtaining higher-level cultivation methods or other unknown benefits from him. They just lacked evidence.

This made the Chenxing Empire, which had always been at odds with Yao Country, even more urgent. Following the same path of martial arts cultivation, they would only fall behind Yao Country, which had the guidance and help of the Lord of the Heavenly Capital. To overtake them, their only option was to blaze a new trail with the Transcendence Project.

Moreover—

They never hesitated to make the worst assumptions about Yao Country. “Yao Country is so actively promoting martial arts, who could believe there’s no conspiracy? Perhaps that Lord of the Heavenly Capital has left some backdoor in the martial arts cultivation method. When the time comes, all martial arts practitioners might be under his control. If he has reached some agreement with Yao Country, doesn’t that mean... in the future, all martial arts practitioners... would be under Yao Country’s control?”

Alvin was saying exactly what he wanted to say. Dr. Wells nodded frequently as he listened, his voice becoming excited.

As long as the Transcendence Project achieved great success, they would let everyone know that in the face of human wisdom, in the face of technological brilliance, so-called supernatural beings were nothing more than people with stronger powers... and they could artificially create supernatural beings!

“Therefore, the birth of the Transcendence Project was never for personal gain, but for the entire empire, for all of humanity!”

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