“What I just said.”
Dr. Forefinger reached out, pinching the blade and slowly moving it aside.
“The Empire’s method for stealing Star Energy bloodlines is indeed real, and it’s true that the Holy Hand Society would be reluctant to give up a genius like Yun Ruoxi. But they neither know such a method, nor would they stoop to use it.”
“After all, this method is slow, outdated, and can’t fully pass down the talent anyway.”
“Just ‘wouldn’t stoop to use it’?”
Lin Zhen’s pupils narrowed slightly as he asked in a sharp voice, “Doesn’t that mean they have an even more powerful method?”
“If she was taken away by the Inquisitors, then naturally, yes.”
Dr. Forefinger smiled, “But since she stepped out voluntarily, you don’t need to worry. As long as she’s not in the Inquisitors’ hands, everything can still be arranged.”
“Her identity is special—not just me, even Behemoth would step in to protect her.”
“Special identity? What’s so special about Xiaoxi’s identity?” Lin Zhen seized the rare opportunity of Dr. Forefinger’s willingness to talk, hoping to clear up some of his lingering doubts.
“What, do you really like her?”
Dr. Forefinger looked at Lin Zhen with interest.
The youth raised his eyebrows, “That’s not a funny joke.”
“Then there’s no need for me to tell you anything.”
“I do like her.” Lin Zhen changed his tune instantly.
「2333 Look at Lin’s thick skin, learn from him」
「‘Changing faces’」
「Who wouldn’t like Xiaoxi, really」
「Lin still isn’t honest enough」
「The day Xiaoxi confesses, Lin says it’s not funny, and then Blondie seizes the chance, takes away Xiaoxi, and Lin finally gets honest」
“Then I have all the more reason not to tell you.”
Dr. Forefinger’s reply made Lin Zhen’s breath hitch.
This guy clearly had no intention of answering the question—could it be Yun Ruoxi’s identity involves some hidden secret?
He clenched his fists tightly, forcing himself to calm down.
If he won’t say, then so be it—he’d find out sooner or later.
“Rather than worry about others, right now you should be more concerned with your own physical condition.” Dr. Forefinger pointed at the long blade in Lin Zhen’s hand.
“How does it feel to awaken perfectly?”
“…It feels like something is burning fiercely inside my body, power pouring out without end.” Lin Zhen pondered aloud, “I can feel the limits of my abilities being broken.”
“Naturally. Your Star Energy Index can be considered your energy reserve—no matter how high it is, you still need abilities to draw on it.”
Dr. Forefinger snapped his fingers, “Before, you could hardly synthesize Star Energy Metal—out of hundreds of attempts at Bio-Metal, you’d only succeed once. I knew your abilities had reached their limit.”
“Unless you break through to a Level Two Star Energy User, the only way is to further awaken your bloodline.”
“Give me your hand.”
Lin Zhen didn’t know what the doctor was up to, but he complied and stretched out his right hand.
Swish!
***
The next second, a sharp pain struck.
A pale yellow short needle stabbed into his arm with lightning speed.
Dr. Forefinger turned and tapped the tabletop. Instantly, a virtual projection flared to life.
Glancing over the data, he nodded in satisfaction.
“Your current bloodline awakening is nearly at 55%. Though you didn’t maintain perfect awakening like Xinglan could, you’ve broken your previous upper limit.”
“From here on, as long as you keep pushing your abilities and fight life-and-death battles, your bloodline awakening will keep rising until it hits one hundred percent.”
“Just like Mo Yuan?” Lin Zhen asked softly.
“Mm.” Dr. Forefinger nodded.
Lin Zhen pressed his lips together.
Bloodline awakening was the shackle limiting all Star Energy users.
Even if Star Energy Index was equal.
If a Star Energy user’s bloodline was awakened to 50%, their maximum output could reach half their Star Energy Index, while at 25%, it was only a quarter.
The difference in strength between the two wasn’t as simple as half.
After all, no matter how great the output, destructive power and combat strength also depended on the type of ability.
But the former would undoubtedly beat the latter.
So, for second-year War Camp trainees, the main training goal was always to boost both Star Energy Index and bloodline awakening.
Unfortunately, the latter was limited by bloodline concentration—there was a ceiling.
Unless, like Mo Yuan and Yun Ruoxi, you achieved perfect awakening, shattering that limit.
But that was unbelievably difficult. In an entire year, not a single trainee had even touched the edge of perfect awakening.
And now.
He’d become the third among over four thousand War Camp trainees.
Yet, for some reason, Lin Zhen felt no joy at all.
Because a voice in his mind kept reminding him.
This chance at perfect awakening never belonged to him—Yun Ruoxi had traded her life for it.
“I owe you… far too much.” Lin Zhen thought silently.
“Your thoughts are scattered, trapped in the chaos of perfect awakening. Go back and rest for now.”
Dr. Forefinger switched off the projection and pulled the probe needle from Lin Zhen’s arm, “Come back to the lab in a couple of days. I’ll draw up a new plan for developing your abilities.”
“I…”
Lin Zhen didn’t get up, but stared blankly at the doctor.
“Can I go see Xiaoxi?”
“What for?” Dr. Forefinger frowned, “To see her being tortured?”
“Didn’t you say—”
Lin Zhen’s voice rose sharply, anger and panic on his face.
“I said I’d keep her alive!” the man interrupted.
“But while she can avoid death, she can’t escape punishment. Even just for show, Behemoth and the others will have to put her through some punishment—and besides, they aren’t fully convinced she’s not the infiltrator.”
“So you’d better pray she keeps her mouth shut and doesn’t give up the truth under interrogation, or things will get even more complicated.”
With that, Dr. Forefinger rubbed his forehead helplessly, “I really don’t want to have to clean up after you two in that scenario.”
“Xiaoxi….”
Lin Zhen said painfully, “She won’t talk.”
Seeing the youth’s breath quicken again, Dr. Forefinger’s voice softened, comforting him:
“Don’t be too anxious. Get through this period and things will be fine. With War Camp’s biotechnology and Behemoth’s caution, I promise when she comes back she’ll be a completely whole Xinglan.”
“Really…?” Lin Zhen looked up, his face full of hope.
“Mm.”
Dr. Forefinger patted Lin Zhen’s shoulder and sent him on his way.
Only when Lin Zhen’s figure disappeared at the end of the corridor did he finish the last sentence in his heart.
“Of course, physically whole is still whole. As for her mind, I can’t promise that.”
If it turned out Yun Ruoxi really did intend to escape, then, no matter how talented she was, the Holy Hand Society might forcibly brainwash her, and Behemoth and the others would be required to take precautions against her running again.
For example, implanting a harmless temporary psychic seal in her mind, or using psychological techniques to subtly alter her worldview.
They might even resort to methods even more disgusting than that.
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