Three days after the Anna Country incident, inside the Monster Association's research institute in Liyang Country.
Lei Xiangchen followed behind Jiang Yan.
"Well done this time. Your talent may be lacking, but you're smarter than most." Jiang Yan reached the end of the lab, where a black case waited.
Hearing this, Lei Xiangchen bowed respectfully. "Thank you for the praise, President. It's my honor to serve the Association!"
Jiang Yan's lips curled slightly. He flipped the case open, revealing the soul crystal inside. "I don't care whether you're loyal or pretending—what matters is you completed my mission. You're a sharp blade in my hand, and I'm never stingy with such tools."
Lei Xiangchen stared at the soul crystal, breathing fast. Even after turning into a Monster, his talent was only average; reaching Level Three might take a year. Progress required effort, and the fruit of that effort now lay before him.
Jiang Yan lifted the crystal and offered it with a smile. "Take it. You've earned it."
"Yes!" Lei Xiangchen accepted the soul crystal, excitement on his face. Its power had been proven on Wei Gaocheng's team; every Monster coveted it.
"Find a quiet place to absorb it." Jiang Yan waved him away.
"Understood." Eyes shining, Lei Xiangchen left with the crystal.
Besides Lei Xiangchen, Wei Gaocheng's trio had also slain a Fifth-Level Awakener; the corpse had been brought back.
Han Qi and Li Yong were badly injured and still in the infirmary.
With so many Monsters around, utility types were common. Combined with the Flesh Bodhisattva's body-crafting, a new body could be grown, missing parts grafted on, and Monster abilities used; even being cut in half meant only a week or two of rest before full recovery.
After Lei Xiangchen left, Jiang Yan turned to Xie Gongming, who had stood silently behind. "Speak. What breakthrough did you lot cook up while I was away?"
"President, please follow me." Xie Gongming led him toward the sub-basement.
Moments later they reached the Third Underground Level, entirely remodeled for Monster research.
"Let me out—I'll kill you all!"
"Please, stop the experiments—I'll be your dog!"
"You dare capture me? Do you know who I am? Release me!"
As Jiang Yan and Xie Gongming stepped out, a cacophony of voices struck them.
Alloy cages lined both walls, packed with Monsters. Thick chains skewered their shoulder blades; the chains and cages were electrified, punishing any attempt to struggle or escape.
Researchers in white coats stood before the cages, taking notes.
Jiang Yan was used to the noise; Xie Gongming guided him to the last cage.
"What's this?" Jiang Yan narrowed his eyes at the creature inside.
In the cage, a naked blonde woman crouched, huge white bird wings sprouting from her back.
Sensing visitors, she lifted her head. Her eyes were pure gold, no pupil or white discernible.
Standing, wings spread and golden gaze fixed, she radiated pride.
Xie Gongming beamed, pointing at the Angel-like woman. "President, you recall the mishap with Lü Zhengxing's experiment some time ago?"
"After the accident we found eleven reactive flesh-clumps in the tissue Lü left behind. Users of these clumps gain power without the grotesque looks of ordinary Monsters—they appear downright heroic."
Xie Gongming rattled on, growing more excited, even envious of these handsome Monsters.
Jiang Yan listened with interest. He knew the experiment had gone wrong, but a mere beauty boost wouldn't warrant his presence.
After more chatter Xie Gongming reached the point: "Subjects created from these clumps start only about twice as strong as normal people."
"But by devouring flesh they grow stronger—no known limit yet. This woman rose from Level One to Level Two in a single day and is now stuck at the Level Two-to-Three bottleneck."
"That fast? No side effects?" Jiang Yan was genuinely surprised.
Besides soul crystals, no method let Monsters advance so quickly without repercussions.
Now the lab had produced something that required only flesh for rapid power-ups—its significance rivaled the first creation of the Tyrant potion.
Xie Gongming shook his head. "None observed so far. I've prepared a second live Trial for your arrival, plus a third-dose test. Everything is ready, awaiting your order."
Interest flashed across Jiang Yan's face. He waved. "Begin."
"Understood!" Xie Gongming turned and nodded to an assistant behind him.
The assistant jogged off; moments later a middle-aged man in white hurried in with an insulated box.
Behind him two Bodyguards pushed a cart 1.5 m high, 3 m long, 2 m wide, heaped with glistening flesh. One sniff told Jiang Yan what it was.
The man in white saluted. "President, Supervisor Xie, Test Subject Yu Shuanghua reporting!"
Xie Gongming opened the box, revealing a fist-sized, still-pulsing lump of flesh.
"Eat it." He looked at Yu Shuanghua and gave the order.
"Yes!" Yu Shuanghua eagerly lifted the flesh; securing this chance had been tough.
"They say this flesh surpasses even the Tyrant potion—my time to change fate has come!" he thought.
Under Jiang Yan's gaze he placed the flesh in his mouth.
Chomp! Instead of blood, a faint, peculiar aroma filled his senses.
The moment it touched his tongue his body began changing on its own.
He finished it in a few bites; searing heat surged through him.
"This feeling—this feeling!!" Crimson veins popped across his face; he grinned wildly.
His shoulder bulged; a mass of flesh erupted, forming a second head before their eyes.
More flesh poured out, shaping into a human form. Moments later the mass slumped off, leaving a second Yu Shuanghua standing beside the original.
This duplicate's left arm twisted, morphing into a huge flesh hammer, while his right split into a mouth bristling with fangs.