The next day, inside the Monster Association's main base fifty kilometers outside the capital of Liyang Country.
Jiang Yan led Xie Gongming through the facility.
"This is the Monster Association's primary base; virtually all our research is conducted here." Jiang Yan gestured at everything around them.
On either side stood rows of cylindrical Tempered Glass tanks filled with green solution and the corpses of Monsters and Awakened Ones.
Tentacles sprouted from Xie Gongming's head and his eyes had become compound—irrepressible Monster traits.
He gazed at the Monster cadavers with excitement; as a researcher—especially one specializing in human neurology—these bodies were irresistible.
To him they were like water to a man who'd wandered the desert for three days.
"President, when can I start my research?" Xie Gongming's hands and brain itched for knowledge at the sight of the corpses.
Jiang Yan's lips curved slightly as he turned away. "Don't rush; the man I've assigned to show you around is already on his way."
Dong Guangjie walked over with Dark Circles under his eyes and nodded to Jiang Yan. "President."
He then looked at Xie Gongming, forcing an awkward smile across his gaunt face. "Professor Xie, I've read your papers—absolutely brilliant work."
Jiang Yan introduced Dong Guangjie. "This is our Supervisor Dong; every Monster corpse and serum you see is his handiwork."
Xie Gongming's eyes lit up; he stepped forward to shake hands. "Truly impressive for someone so young."
Watching the two talk, Jiang Yan's gaze flickered.
There were simply too many projects; Dong Guangjie alone couldn't handle them all.
Key items on the list: improving the third-generation King of the Deep Sea serum, creating Cloned Cloud-Qi Life-Forms, transplanting Blood Master Cells, manufacturing monster weaponss, and the Monster King creation plan…
Far too many tasks—if Dong Guangjie had to do everything, who knew how long it would take?
Jiang Yan spoke up. "Guangjie, get Supervisor Xie up to speed quickly so you're not stretched so thin."
"Understood, President." Dong Guangjie nodded… Two days later, in an uninhabited Forest in Anna Country.
Cai Xiu, wearing a yellow trench coat, followed Wei Gaocheng. Glancing around, he said, "Rumour claims a Level Five backs Darth Group—just the two of us?"
"Only a Level Five? Our Monster Association has those too. Once we snatch his men, if he resists, our Blood Master will handle him." Wei Gaocheng sneered.
A Level Five hiding in the sticks, surrounded by small countries whose strongest were Level Four, running a so-called crime syndicate—he looked down on such a person.
Cai Xiu fell silent, awed by the Association's might.
According to Nanwu Country's files the Monster Association's strongest was the King of the Deep Sea, yet he'd now met a second Level Five—Blood Master.
Clearly the Association's power ran deeper than it seemed.
Wei Gaocheng headed for the reported base; the three-day delay had been for intelligence gathering and for Blood Master's evolution to finish.
They trekked over an hour through the Forest before reaching the base's perimeter.
Cai Xiu spotted a Camera in a nearby tree. "Looks like they've seen us. What's the plan?"
His ears twitched; he could hear movement ahead—an incoming force.
"How else? Kill everyone irrelevant and the prize is ours." Wei Gaocheng grinned savagely.
He too heard the approaching noise.
Meanwhile, one kilometre away, inside an Underground Base…
"More fools after our heads—looks like the boss's lions get a fresh meal tonight," a Security Guard in black Body Armour joked, eyes on the Monitor Wall.
Behind him lounged a youth in a red suit, left profile veiled by golden hair, his face eerily beautiful.
Shen Yuanchun watched the screens, a twisted smile curling his lips. "Three days without meat; I'll entertain our two guests properly."
The guard wiped the grin off his face and stared back at the monitors.
Their boss, a Level Three Awakened, had grown bored and developed a taste for torture.
On-screen, guards in black armour advanced through the brush, surrounding the intruders only thirty metres away.
Dense undergrowth kept the two from spotting the Security team.
Just as Shen Yuanchun expected an easy capture, the pair on screen suddenly moved.
They burst forward at inhuman speed and slammed into the guards.
Screams erupted; within two seconds all ten guards lay dead, necks snapped.
The abrupt turn wiped the sadistic smile off Shen Yuanchun's face. On screen the dishevelled man in a suit slashed a finger across his throat at the Camera.
Shen Yuanchun shot to his feet, face dark. "Deploy every guard with heavy weapons—kill them!"
"Roger!" The guard hit the Alarm.
Bang! A thunderous crash echoed overhead.
Shen Yuanchun paled. "How did they find this place?"
He checked the monitors—the two intruders had vanished.
Outside, wings beating, Wei Gaocheng grinned at the cratered ground revealing the Corridor below. "Go!"
Beside him, Cai Xiu—now in Monsterization and invisible—leapt into the exposed Corridor.
The subterranean passage stood three metres high, two and a half wide, Alloy Walls lined with white lights every metre.
Those lamps lit the Corridor starkly.
Wee-oo! A shrill Alarm wailed.
"Hurry, intruders ahead!" A twenty-man squad in black armour and Helmets raced forward, some carrying Rocket Launchers and Heavy Machine Guns.
Yet when they reached the breached Ceiling they found no sign of the enemy.
The squad leader raised his Radio. "Control, Team Three on site, no—"
Thud! A Sharp Pain lanced through his chest before he could finish.