Chapter 65: Karmic Retribution

"I understand," Qiong nodded.

"Additionally, gather all the researchers from the experimental and research zones, and have the security personnel along with the two of us protect them. Pay no mind to the personnel in the intelligence zone."

"Why?" Qiong asked, looking puzzled.

"If the intruder's objective is intelligence related to the experiments, then these research members will be in danger. The enemy might aim to capture them to work for their own side, or perhaps to destroy them by killing every last one. We must protect these people to prevent them from being captured or killed. However, the people in the intelligence zone hold no significance to the intruder, so their survival is not worth our concern."

"I see," Qiong immediately replied. "Miss Tao Lu, let's divide the work and gather the personnel together to counter that intruder."

"Of course, we will take two separate paths and regroup in ten minutes at the research zone. There are vital scientific research instruments located there, and we must not let them suffer any damage."

"I understand, I will complete the mission swiftly," Qiong nodded. "If this matter is not handled properly, Lord Noah will likely not spare us."

"He will spare you, not me," Tao Lu gave a faint smile and departed first.

A subtle, hard-to-detect smile lingered on her lips as she tightly gripped the 707 fatal laser pistol in her hand. Her eyes held an unwavering determination that nothing could withstand.

Inside the research base's research zone, nearly a hundred researchers had already gathered. Over thirty members of the security team were stationed here, meaning the vast majority of the entire research base's personnel were concentrated in this single location.

Some researchers were whispering among themselves, mostly discussing the intelligence from the central zone.

"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible!"

"Are you saying the test subjects in the central zone were all killed?"

"According to the signal just received, that is precisely the case!"

"But who could kill all those test subjects? Who possesses that kind of ability?"

"Right, that's impossible. Everyone knows how terrifying the negative emotions of the test subjects are. Just entering the central zone is enough to cause death from the overwhelming negative emotions, let alone fighting the test subjects."

"Yet facts are facts. That's what the signal indicates, and there can be no mistake."

"Yes, we installed sensor devices on the test subjects. When a test subject dies, we detect it."

"What madman would do such a thing? Even if he truly could kill the test subjects, he himself must be on the verge of death."

"Silence!" Qiong shouted at the group of researchers. "All of you, move to the interior of the research zone immediately and thoroughly seal the defense doors."

Not daring to disobey, the researchers quickly retreated to the rear.

Qiong approached Tao Lu, maintaining a respectful demeanor. After all, Tao Lu's strength surpassed his, and should trouble arise, he would have to rely on her assistance.

"Miss Tao Lu, this is the latest intelligence we just received. Adam most likely died in the central zone, likely acting as a spy, though we cannot confirm which faction he served," Qiong said slowly. "We have also detected another signal source, likewise located in the central zone. That intruder has actually killed every single test subject."

"What a madman. He's not dead yet!" Tao Lu lifted the pistol in her hand.

"He probably isn't," Qiong said, unable to be certain. "This person's strength is formidable, and based on our estimations, he belongs to the holders of the Chain of Purity."

"It must be the Chain of Purity that Xia Yan won during the competition last time. In other words, the person who instructed Xia Yan's actions last time belongs to this intruder's faction!" Tao Lu smiled.

"That's not certain either. After all, Xia Yan died last time, and his possessions might have been acquired by someone from the Freedom Zone," Qiong speculated doubtfully.

"Instead of overthinking this, we should focus on preparing for battle!" Tao Lu dismissed it indifferently. "Regardless of who is coming, we must kill them and protect the research results. Wouldn't you agree?"

"Miss Tao Lu is entirely correct!" Qiong nodded.

Back when she was still in Fuxiang City, before Tao Lu had awakened her alien bloodline, she had once received a letter from Xia Yan. The contents of that letter remained vivid in her mind, not a single word forgotten.

Yet, it felt like a curse—a perpetual irony regarding an oath never to betray.

When the day came that Xia Yan's face was completely altered, and even his voice bore no resemblance to the past, would Tao Lu attack him?

She surely would, because he was the enemy!

Such a battle was a race against time; granting the opponent a chance to act with composure was out of the question. Whoever seized the initiative might well claim victory.

If it were Tao Lu, the moment she laid eyes on the opponent, she would undoubtedly strike them with a mind-control technique, fire the laser pistol in her hand, and pierce straight through their heart.

Without exaggeration, Tao Lu would definitely do that.

At that moment, she would have no time to discern whether this person looked like Xia Yan; even if she wished to tell, it would be extremely difficult, for Emilia's abilities were virtually flawless.

Xia Yan would never raise a hand against Tao Lu. Did that also mean his end had arrived?

Having defied Emilia's will and deliberately courted death, even Emilia had abandoned him. Unlike the previous auction in the Freedom Zone, he would not be so fortunate this time.

This time, it was unmistakably a dead end.

In fact, the moment this intelligence was received, numerous powerhouses were already rushing toward the location.

The one capable of arriving within five minutes was Noah, the chief director of the research base, whose power surpassed Xia Yan at his peak, let alone a Xia Yan whose combat capability was severely diminished at present.

The one arriving within fifteen minutes was Lilin, patriarch of the Wilbur family. This seven-star powerhouse who had unlocked his fourth ability possessed strength that ranked near the top even among the entire Winged Tribe. If he wished to kill Xia Yan, lifting a little finger would likely suffice.

The one who could arrive within forty minutes was named Asa, a pure-blood member of the Winged Tribe.

Yes, Asa, one of the two pure-bloods, a nine-star powerhouse whose distance from complete development might not be very far at all.

Xia Yan's death was certain. In a situation like this, not even a god could save him!

"He's here," Qiong announced, staring intently at the figure ahead—a person he actually recognized.

Impossible. This was impossible. The man's name was Morris. Why was he the mastermind behind the attack? He had actually been a deep-cover spy for years.

Yet Qiong knew there was no time left for such thoughts. He instantly stimulated his bloodline, wings sprouting from his back as he lunged toward Xia Yan's position.

Numerous security personnel who were also ability users quickly stimulated their bloodlines, unleashing their respective divine arts to assault Xia Yan.

This was an extremely lopsided battle; Xia Yan stood alone against a multitude of enemies.

Tao Lu also made her move. Her gaze was exceptionally sharp as she took a step forward. One thing was certain: she absolutely could not recognize that Morris was Xia Yan. Absolutely not!

Xia Yan did not activate his demon ability, and not even flames coated the Myriad-Change Blade. The massive amount of combat just now had exhausted him severely; he could not waste his remaining power on these lesser fry.

Tao Lu gripped the laser pistol in her hand, but she did not pull the trigger. Instead, she took a step backward. She still had not recognized Xia Yan, yet she still did not make a move.

In truth, from the very first instant, Tao Lu had not displayed a single shred of killing intent, regardless of the intruder's identity.

At that moment, Xia Yan could sense Tao Lu's strangeness. After all, she was a mental-type ability user, making her the most acute in this regard.

Why had she shown no killing intent?

Clearly, she shouldn't have recognized Xia Yan.

Could it be that she was a traitor as well?

Yet she belonged to the Winged Tribe!

Qiong, flying through the air, only felt a blur of motion rush toward him; this person's speed was dazzlingly fast. Qiong was a four-star ability user who had yet to unlock his third ability. In terms of combat prowess, he was certainly inferior to any four-star ability user from the auction incident.

Xia Yan's blade slashed down, and immediately afterward, Qiong felt an overwhelming pressure.

His defense was instantly shattered by Xia Yan.

"No... impossible," Qiong cried out in shock, looking back in disbelief. Tao Lu was still standing in the exact same spot, without moving at all. "Why... why is this happening? Tao Lu... Tao Lu, you've betrayed us!"

Qiong shrieked. The next instant, his mind was cleaved right out of his skull by a single blade strike. Qiong, one of the three leaders, could not even block Xia Yan for three seconds.

The numerous ability users all changed color, staring at the scene in utter disbelief. This man, identical in appearance to Morris, hadn't even used his ability; relying purely on physical strength, he had instantly slain Qiong, one of the commanders.

The researchers, currently taking shelter in the safe zone at the rear, could still witness the battle through the surveillance feeds. Each of their eyes held a vacant, stunned expression. What terrifying strength was this? Miss Tao Lu herself was likely no match for him.

Why... why wasn't Miss Tao Lu taking action?!

And then, the battle devolved into a massacre. However, as the one executing the massacre, Xia Yan did not emerge unscathed; all sorts of bizarre abilities were unleashed with him at the center.

There were spells inducing sleep and negative emotions, binding restraints, and various mental-type offensive abilities. Although the individual enemies were not overly formidable, their sheer numbers posed a significant threat to Xia Yan. Under the onslaught of overlapping abilities, Xia Yan's injuries worsened, leaving him in distress and heavily oppressed.

Gritting his teeth, Xia Yan maintained his speed. With every swing of his blade, another ability user fell dead. His attacks were incomparably fierce, the edge of his weapon acting like the scythe of the Grim Reaper. Absolutely no one could withstand his fatal strikes.

After nearly half of the ability users had perished, someone finally lost their nerve.

An ability user fled backward in terror, but Xia Yan caught up in a flash, cleaving his body cleanly in two with a single slash.

Following that death, the battle completely transformed into a slaughter. The survivors could no longer mount an effective offense and broke into a panicked rout, only to be hunted down and cut down one by one by Xia Yan.