The group followed Liu Yaowu. With the exception of Chen Pingchuan, they were all filled with a mix of curiosity and vigilance. This was their first time in such a place, so they found everything intriguing. Chen Pingchuan, however, was different. Those movies from my past life weren't for nothing. A small scene like this is hardly worth getting worked up over.

They passed through one long, quiet corridor after another. Before long, they arrived in an open area. A number of transparent cells, like strange display cases, appeared before them.

Inside were people of all kinds, each exuding a different aura.

"These people don't seem ordinary," Lilia remarked. She had immediately noticed something unusual about one of the captives in a transparent cell. He was a man in his thirties with a scruffy beard and an otherwise unremarkable appearance. But Lilia, having awakened her telekinetic abilities, instantly sensed his mental fluctuations—this was the unique frequency of a telekinetic.

Liu Yaowu's pace never faltered. Soon, the group saw Genetic Enhancers with muscles so swollen that veins bulged like coiling serpents beneath their skin. There were also Genetically Empowered Individuals whose eyes shone with an eerie light, and even a fair number of Beast Tamers who bore animalistic features.

Sensing their approach, the captives roared and lunged at the glass, making the panes hum with the force of their impacts. Only then did Liu Yaowu slowly begin to speak. "Don't be surprised. Out in the world, these people are forces to be reckoned with. However, they committed crimes and were ultimately sentenced to death. I saved their lives; the price was merely a few minor experiments."

His voice was calm with an undercurrent of coldness, a stark contrast to his previous meekness.

The group continued forward. What greeted them next were rows upon rows of giant culture tanks. Immersed inside were various peculiar experimental creatures. Some resembled octopuses but had metallic tentacles that waved slowly in the nutrient solution. Others looked like insects magnified several times over, their carapaces as hard as steel armor and their compound eyes flashing with a strange light. There were also winged fish, leopards with avian beaks, and tigers with the heads of stags, all confined within their experimental chambers.

"These creatures were hatched from special gene fragments extracted from animals. Their growth was accelerated with auxiliary serums, which is why they may feel familiar to you."

Afterward, the group saw several other interesting things in the laboratory. Even Xu Lingyin found herself engrossed; she had never truly examined this place in detail before.

After walking for several more minutes, they finally reached their destination: the conference room.

The group entered the brightly lit conference room. As soon as they took their seats, a soft blue ring of light illuminated the conference table in front of them. Then, one by one, virtual screens rose from the tabletop and hovered before each person, casting a blue glow that painted their faces.

Liu Yaowu raised his hand and waved gently. The images on the screens switched, and a video showcasing the development history of the genetic serums began to play. His voice filled the room.

"Many years ago, the genetic serum project was born to deal with increasingly complex external threats and to accelerate the growth of our Genetic Warriors."

"In the beginning, it was hailed with great expectations. The goal was to unlock the human body's potential and grant ordinary people extraordinary power to safeguard humanity's peace."

His voice was steady and powerful as it echoed through the conference room.

On the screen, researchers bustled between sophisticated instruments while vials of faintly glowing serum were sealed in an assembly-line fashion. As the footage progressed, it showed shocking scenes of the genetic serums in use. A user's muscles would rapidly bulge, bursting with power. Previously fragile bodies could easily lift several tons. Some subjects moved as fast as lightning, their speed leaving afterimages that video equipment struggled to capture.

"This was the first generation of Genetic Enhancers. Their enhancements focused on basic attributes like strength and speed. The second generation began to see changes. As for the present... well, I believe everyone here has a good idea. Looking around, I see we have all types of evolved individuals among us."

Chen Pingchuan cut straight through Liu Yaowu's eloquent presentation.

"Get to the point!"

Liu Yaowu, who had been relaxed just a moment ago, instantly turned serious. He waved his hand again. Data and charts flickered wildly across the screens before freezing on a set of alarming comparative information.

"Then I'll be brief. I've discovered a fatal problem."

He took a deep breath and continued, "While the genetic serums improve strength, they also subtly rewrite the user's genetic sequence. With each increased dose, the user's genes gradually become disordered and solidified. It's like putting on a shackle that grows ever tighter, making subsequent breakthroughs extraordinarily difficult."

"Have any of you heard of anyone breaking through to Level Nine in recent years?"

The conference room fell deathly silent as everyone's gaze fell upon the shocking data.

Liu Yaowu provided the answer himself. "No. Not a single one!"

"According to my research, many Genetic Warriors who originally had the potential to reach Level Nine became overly reliant on the serums. In the later stages, every step forward comes at a huge cost. They often get trapped at a bottleneck forever, unable to advance even an inch. For instance, this person…"

He pointed to the screen, which showed a warrior who was fit yet had a world-weary face. "He was once the most promising candidate to break through to Level Nine. But now, years later, his strength remains stagnant. He can only struggle hopelessly at the peak of Level Eight."

Chen Pingchuan's brow furrowed. He broke the silence by lightly tapping his fingers on the tabletop. "Doctor, after all this, what exactly are you trying to say?"

"There haven't been any breakthroughs recently, but surely there were some before? After all, there are quite a few Level Nine powerhouses in the Royal Family, are there not?"

This time, it was Lu Jiaojiao who spoke. The others might not know the situation in the outside world, but she did. Her former assassination organization had files on several Level Nine powerhouses from the Great Ming Royal Family—and there were quite a few of them. Lu Jiaojiao wasn't sure why, but the words had tumbled out before she could stop them.

Liu Yaowu's gaze slowly swept over their faces. His lips parted slightly. "Yes. The Royal Family has them, but the common folk do not. That is the greatest secret of all."

An icy silence fell over the room after Liu Yaowu finished speaking. No one present was a fool; the implication of his statement was crystal clear.

Chen Pingchuan scowled and stated the damning conclusion. "You mean the genetic serums are poison!"

As he spoke, Chen Pingchuan thought back on his journey. I have to admit, I've never actually used a genetic serum in my real life. Or rather, I never had the chance or the means. The opponents I faced couldn't have been defeated by the slight boost from a few vials anyway. The side-effect-free enhancements from 'Bloody Plunder' and 'I Am the Heavenly Dao' are a hundred times more powerful than any genetic serum.

Hearing Chen Pingchuan's blunt assessment, Liu Yaowu nodded grimly and drew his own conclusion. "That's right. The world praises genetic serums, but no one knows that for those who use them, Level Eight is the absolute ceiling."

He added, his voice low, "It's because the ones in power don't want those at the bottom to ever turn the tables."

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