Redemption of a Born Demon

Chapter 178 - 171: A New Ascension, the Top 10 Contestants Pay a Visit (Part 1)

On the other side of the ocean, in a secret chamber.

Beretta’s eyes snapped open. The dazzling light within the secret chamber slowly receded and dimmed. One by one, the brains in the nutrient vats lost their glow, like light bulbs being extinguished.

’Yi Beidou... Just as expected of the Wandering Immortal’s disciple. It seems it’s already this difficult to handle him in a long-range confrontation of True Intent.’

’However, I can basically confirm one thing: Lotus’s information must be correct. This man is not the Wandering Immortal’s reincarnation or avatar. Their True Intents and paths are completely different.’

With a calm expression, Beretta removed the helmet from his head. His body trembled slightly, shaking loose all the data lines connected to him.

His face was unchanged. Despite such a violent eruption of his True Intent’s magnetic field, his body seemed completely unharmed.

Of course, an ability this incredible could not come without a price.

Beretta’s gaze fell upon the nutrient vats lining the surrounding walls.

The indicator lights on many of the vats were flashing red. The brains soaking in the nutrient solution had either changed color or were completely scorched, having lost all viability.

’One, two, three... I burned out seven brains in total? What a heavy price to pay.’

Beretta shook his head slightly.

Normally, it only cost three brains to establish a Consciousness Transfer with a target implanted with one of his custom-made chips.

But this time was different. The distance was too great, and he had to break through Yi Beidou’s magnetic shielding, which multiplied the cost.

These weren’t just any dissected human brains in the vats. They were created using his own cells and genetic fragments, allowing them to resonate with his magnetic field. The cost to cultivate them was immense.

He walked slowly out of the secret chamber and back into the research lab, where he pressed the intercom button.

"Doctor, what are your instructions?"

A short while later, the door to the research lab opened, and a researcher in a white lab coat entered.

"I have a task for you. Do it immediately. Have all our intelligence networks in Modu go dark. They are to abandon their current identities and activate the contingency plan,"

Beretta said.

Although he had tampered with Yao Lingfeng’s brain before withdrawing, with Yi Beidou’s interference, it was hard to say how effective it would be. They had to be prepared.

"Yes, I understand."

The assistant was momentarily stunned but nodded immediately.

"One more thing. What’s the status of collecting Yi Beidou’s tissue samples from Donghua?"

Beretta asked the researcher.

He had now become extremely interested in the man.

If possible, he very much wanted to study Yi Beidou’s various biological data in person.

During the Modu Street Fight, many a Saint had shed blood on the streets, and these tissue samples were incredibly rare research materials.

Although security from Donghua’s Special Security Bureau was tight, there were always loopholes to exploit. It wouldn’t be too difficult to collect some tissue samples from the Saint Experts.

"There’s no news yet. Donghua has been extremely strict with its preventative measures lately. I’m afraid it will be some time before we see any results."

"Oh, right. There is something more important. We just received a critical piece of intel. We still need to verify its authenticity, but I felt it was necessary to inform you,"

the researcher replied.

"What intel?"

Beretta asked.

"Regarding Antarctica... we have a suspected discovery of ’Earth Immortal Cells,’" the researcher said in a low voice.

Hearing this, Beretta’s pupils contracted sharply.

「Meanwhile, at Modu Hospital, inside the operating room.」

The Demon Flame around Yi Beidou subsided, the inverted Seven Stars vanished from the sky, and the terrifying Fierce Evil Qi grew calm. The people who had collapsed on the floor couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

As the tension in their nerves finally eased, they realized they were soaked in cold sweat, unable to even move a finger.

Just then, sensing that the influence of the True Intent in the operating room had receded, the door was pushed open. Several fully-armed Special Security Bureau Warriors poked their heads in, only to see the medical staff slumped on the floor.

"Mr. Yi, what happened? What’s wrong with them?"

the burly, middle-aged man in charge asked in a low voice.

"Just a minor incident. It’s been resolved."

"My apologies for frightening you all. Can the surgery continue?"

Yi Beidou asked, his gaze turning to the medical staff in the operating room.

He had done his best to restrain his influence, but ordinary people were simply too fragile in his presence.

Lei Chenfeng let out a deep breath. He had a Cultivation base, after all, and coupled with his naturally calm and unflappable disposition, he was the first to compose himself. He stood up and walked back to the operating table.

As a Brain Realm expert, he already understood what had just occurred.

Consciousness Transfer. Spirit Descent. Borrowing a Body to Manifest Divinity. It had all happened from some unknown, immense distance, and it had forcefully broken through Mr. Yi’s Ability Barrier.

’The Pioneer Group’s power is truly unfathomable.’

’Who was that person who just descended?’

Even with his long years of research in this field, witnessing what had just happened made him feel as if he had seen a True God.

Only someone who had delved deep into this field could understand just how incredible it was to accomplish something like that.

He forced himself to focus and carefully examined Yao Lingfeng’s exposed brain on the operating table. As he did, his expression shifted slightly.

"His brain appears to have sustained some damage. While it’s not life-threatening, I can’t predict if there will be lingering side effects after the surgery. It’s quite possible his thoughts and memories will be affected."

A bitter smile appeared on Lei Chenfeng’s face.

"Just focus on removing the chip. We’ll deal with everything else after the surgery is over."

Yi Beidou, however, didn’t seem disappointed.

It couldn’t be helped. The enemy had broken through his True Intent shield, forcibly activated the chip, and even performed a remote consciousness descent. Under such circumstances, keeping Yao Lingfeng’s brain perfectly intact was an incredibly difficult task.

All they could do now was their best and leave the rest to fate.

The Pioneer Group had existed for so long and had even withstood joint suppression from multiple nations. They were clearly not an enemy to be taken lightly.

’This time, I underestimated them.’

’Even with my perfected Demon Body, I’m still not invincible.’

"Alright, the surgery will continue... Let’s get a new medical team in here."

Lei Chenfeng took a deep breath. He glanced at the medical staff, who still hadn’t recovered, and sighed with a hint of resignation.

This would also give him a chance to rest for a moment.

"There’s no rush. He won’t die anytime soon," Yi Beidou said with a nod.

A Saintly Body possessed immense Life Force. It was tough and durable enough to withstand all sorts of abuse.

The medical staff, as if a great weight had been lifted from their shoulders, scrambled out of the operating room.

"If anything like this ever happens again, I’m not coming, no matter what they say. That was terrifying. Our lives depended on his every whim."

"They say serving a king is like living with a tiger. Today, I finally understand what that means. Sister He, give me a hand. My legs feel like jelly; I can barely stand."

"And what about the man on the operating table? How did he suddenly act like he was possessed by a demon? Even Brain Realm technology can’t do something like that, can it?"

"..."

The nurses couldn’t help but whisper to one another as they entered the locker room.

They would likely never forget the events of this day for as long as they lived.

The remainder of the surgery proceeded without incident. Nearly three hours later, Lei Chenfeng carefully used his forceps to place a chip onto a surgical tray. Only after he had closed Yao Lingfeng’s skull did he finally let out a long sigh of relief.

As he relaxed, his entire body felt weak, yet his mind was filled with a sense of clarity.

His expression flickered. He felt as if he had just touched the threshold of the Realm of Mighty Spirit.

He had persevered and completed a highly difficult surgery under the influence of Yi Beidou’s True Intent, pushing past his own limits.

Blessing and disaster are two sides of the same coin. This ordeal, though seemingly perilous, was actually a great opportunity for him.

He had withstood the trial in the presence of a demon and, in doing so, had drawn closer to the Great Dao.

For Modu and the entire Martial Hero Conference, this incident was nothing more than an insignificant interlude. No related information was leaked, and confidentiality protocols were strictly enforced.

The Hundred Heroes Martial Arts Discussion was still underway, and with each passing round of competition, the excitement continued to mount.

Finally, under the watchful eyes of the public and amidst the clamor of the masses, the first competitor of the Martial Hero Conference to break through the Life and Death Mysterious Gate and reach the Saint Realm had appeared.