Chapter 411 - 10: Genes and Assassination

Yeying.

The name of a well-known nightclub in the Inner City District.

Stepping inside, the rapid rhythm from the subwoofers hammered against your chest, making your heart beat a little faster.

The bassline coiled around eardrums like a python wrapped in a chainsaw. When the synthesizer shrieked through the air, the crystals of the chandelier shattered the light into a multicolored haze, a diamond dust mist that fell with a rain of champagne upon the dance floor.

The hazy atmosphere only added to the allure.

Tall figures and alluring scents acted like a drug, making every cell in one’s body thrum with excitement.

Men and women swayed to the music, their bodies moving as shrill screams occasionally pierced the air.

Intoxicating!

Wild!

Indulgent!

This was the rhythm of the place.

"Brother Wuh!"

Li Zhixuan tugged at his collar, taking a deep breath of the doctored air and grinning broadly.

"You’re really splashing out today, bringing us to a place like this!"

Yeying wasn’t cheap. Even for a regular booth and the most inexpensive drinks, a few of them would easily rack up a bill of over ten thousand Credit Points.

"Haha..." Zhu Ju laughed heartily.

"I almost died out there this time. Since I survived, of course I have to live it up."

"Otherwise, wouldn’t I be wasting heaven’s good intentions?"

He waved his hand grandly and declared:

"There’s no need to be polite, brothers! Eat and drink as much as you want. We’re drinking our fill tonight!"

"Well, in that case, we really won’t hold back," Li Zhixuan said, waving his hand.

"Bring us an order of Blood Bodhi!"

"You’ve got some nerve, ordering that," Xiaoliu, who was short, stout, and usually quiet, said with a slight shake of his head.

"A regular fruit platter would be fine!"

"No!" Zhu Ju boomed.

"Bring the Blood Bodhi! Everyone, sit!"

The so-called Blood Bodhi was a high-end, genetically modified fruit that also had the effect of enhancing one’s constitution upon consumption.

Of course,

it came with a hefty price tag.

A single serving cost as many Credit Points as an ordinary adult in the Safe City earned in a month of hard work.

"Sir."

A waitress in a revealing outfit knelt down, the dim light making her skin seem even paler and whiter.

"Your drinks and fruit platter."

"SLAP!"

Xiaozhou slapped the waitress on her shapely rear, laughing boisterously as he filled his own glass to the brim.

"Bottoms up!"

"Cheers!"

The few of them had knocked around the Commerce Association’s security department for over a decade and knew each other’s personalities inside and out.

Once the drinks arrived, they didn’t need any prompting, each downing a glass to get things started.

"Sir!"

"Why the rush to drink so fast?"

"..."

A fragrant breeze wafted over as several heavily made-up, scantily clad women sat down beside them and began pouring drinks.

"I’d forgotten! You don’t have to order the women at Yeying!"

Xiaoliu slapped his forehead, then wrapped his arm around the waist of the woman beside him, turning to plant a hard kiss on her.

"The regular hostesses are free. The high-quality ones still cost extra, and each one charges more than the last."

Li Zhixuan shook his head.

"But it’s worth the price. The owner of Yeying has shares in Celestial Sound Entertainment. As long as you have enough money, they can even get you a trending celebrity."

"That’s right," Xiaozhou said, his hands roaming all over his female companion.

"I remember the club manager used to be a popular young starlet. She was in a few hit movies."

"Are you talking about Sister Qiaoling?" one of the hostesses asked.

"Ten years ago, she was voted the number one most popular female star. The ones who ranked third and fourth that year are also here with us. They’re available to entertain guests, for the right price."

"Oh!" Xiaozhou asked.

"What about number two?"

"She wouldn’t listen, so she died."

"..."

"Xiaohong," another hostess said with a frown.

"Have you forgotten what the manager told you? Take good care of the guests and don’t talk nonsense."

"Yes." The hostess named Xiaohong’s expression stiffened, and she quickly nestled into Xiaozhou’s embrace to feed him a drink.

Zhu Ju leaned forward, speared a Blood Bodhi with his fork, and held it up to his eyes for careful observation.

The thing resembled a peeled grape. It was blood-red all over and had a sort of shimmering, translucent quality.

But in his perception, the surface of the Blood Bodhi was covered in countless moving villi, imperceptible to the naked eye.

Flesh and blood!

Only animal cells possessed such a characteristic.

This meant the Blood Bodhi was not a pure fruit, but had undergone some form of genetic modification.

He put it in his mouth and chewed. The texture was somewhat like jelly, but firmer and chewier.

The masticated Blood Bodhi traveled down his throat and into his stomach, where it broke down into countless microscopic particles to be digested by his body. Some of its genes silently tried to integrate themselves into Zhu Ju’s body, but because he himself was so powerful, these gene fragments had no effect.

However, if one was not strong enough, these particles could supplement or even enhance the consumer’s genes.

Interesting!

Zhu Ju’s eyes lit up slightly.

Using external objects to strengthen oneself was a common method, but it was rare to find something that could act on a genetic level.

At least,

in the Cultivation World, only certain Heavenly and Earthly Treasures could achieve this.

But here...

The Blood Bodhi was expensive, but it was ultimately just a fruit platter. It couldn’t possibly be a truly top-tier item.

Genetic Enhancement Potion!

Zhu Ju rested his chin in his hand, lost in thought.

Genetic-level enhancement was a completely different path from that of the Cultivation World, but there was one Method that was similar.

The Ten Thousand Spirits Body Forging Technique!

A Method created by an Ancient Immortal, it allowed one to use Refinement to absorb the bloodlines of other living beings to strengthen oneself.

However, because the great calamity had arrived too quickly, this Cultivation Technique was incomplete. Currently, it could only be used on the bloodline of the Three-Eyed Divine Race.

But if it were adjusted a little...

’If it’s feasible, I could combine the Ten Thousand Spirits Body Forging Technique with this world’s genetic enhancement technology to create an even more perfect life form.’

"Sir."

A fragrant scent drew near as a woman whispered close to his ear:

"What are you thinking about?"

"I’ve never had anything this good before. I was just lost in the moment," Zhu Ju said, snapping back to reality and wrapping an arm around her.

"Is that so?" the woman giggled.

"Is it tasty?"

"To be honest," Zhu Ju began, smacking his lips.

"It doesn’t have much flavor. It’s not that good. I’d rather have some barbecue."

"Haha..."

The men roared with laughter.

*

*

*

Night.

A few stars dotted the sky.

"Ugh..."

Stepping out of the trackless train, Zhu Ju leaned against a wall and vomited violently. Only after he had emptied the entire contents of his stomach and was left drooling did he wipe his mouth and stagger onward.

"Where is this?"

After leaving the nightclub, he had been heading back to the Lower City District alone. In his drunken stupor, he wasn’t even sure if he had missed his stop.

Before he knew it,

he had wandered into a narrow alley, his feet making splashing sounds in the filthy water underfoot. SPLASH, SPLASH.

"Wuh Ping!"

"Wuh Qing!"

"Where are you two? Can’t you see I’m drunk? I can’t even find my own damn door!"

His body swayed as he mumbled:

"Just wait until I get home! You’ll be sorry!"

Behind him,

a figure appeared, a cold sneer on their face. Their body silently melted into the darkness, reappearing within Zhu Ju’s own shadow.

"SHIING!"

A sharp dagger thrust out silently, aiming straight for his heart from behind with astonishing speed.

’Die!’

A savage grin spread across the figure’s face.

"CLICK!"

Two fingers appeared out of nowhere and, with a gentle pinch, caught the dagger between them.