Chapter 457 56: Treasure Manual (Part 2)

High in the sky, the clouds were thick and heavy.

Two figures hovered in mid-air, observing the surroundings through images projected by a Federation satellite.

"I thought the Treasure Manual Guardians wouldn't come. To my surprise, they're here."

Xie Zhongru said,

"This is certainly unexpected."

"Mm," Wang Chan nodded.

"Be careful. Someone's after the Treasure Manual."

As the two Martial Saints of Funeng City and the heads of its two great families, they were naturally part of the operation to protect the Treasure Manual.

"There always are," Xie Zhongru said with a smile.

"But with nearly twenty Martial Saints, thousands of Federation elites, and a warship in the sky, even a Holy King Beast wouldn't stand a chance."

"No!" Wang Chan shook his head gently, a complex look in his eyes.

"This time is different."

"Oh?" Xie Zhongru raised an eyebrow and said slowly,

"Someone came to see you a few days ago?"

"Don't worry," Wang Chan said, lowering his head.

"I won't betray the Federation."

"I have no doubt about that," Xie Zhongru nodded.

"I'm just curious, what on earth did they give you to make you waver?"

They had known each other for many years, so of course, he couldn't miss the recent fluctuations in Wang Chan's emotions.

'Something's not right!'

With Wang Chan's freakishly resilient mindset, his fighting spirit wouldn't have wavered even at the end of the world.

And yet now… he was actually having second thoughts.

"A data file," Wang Chan said, narrowing his eyes.

"A file… containing data that seems utterly absurd."

Xie Zhongru raised an eyebrow and nodded slowly. He didn't ask any more questions, simply summoning his Qianjun Mecha.

'This time,' he thought, 'it seems things really are different!'

...

「Council Hall」

"Dean Yun."

Wuh Qing glanced at the Treasure Manual through a monitor as it adjusted the genetic sequences in the cultivation pods, then asked curiously,

"The Treasure Manual is the greatest treasure of the Human Race. It improves the genes of newborns, generation after generation. Why would anyone be after it?"

In the early days of the Great Catastrophe, faced with all sorts of mutated monsters, the frail Human Race had been virtually powerless to resist.

Even those with the talent to become Martial Saints were no match for the High-Level Beasts.

And yet now, not only were there countless new Martial Saints, but they were also far stronger than their predecessors.

Some Martial Saints were even capable of slaying a Holy King Beast single-handedly.

It's safe to say that without the Treasure Manual, the Human Race wouldn't be where it is today. And yet, some people want to destroy it.

"Some are Evil God Followers, and some are just plain crazy,"

Yun Xiang said.

"The Evil God wants our faith, so naturally, he doesn't want the Human Race to become strong. As for the lunatics…"

"They believe the Great Catastrophe was caused by the Treasure Manual, and that by destroying it, they can stop the world from collapsing into ruin."

"What?" Wuh Qing was dumbfounded.

"People like that actually exist?"

"Indeed," Yun Xiang sighed.

"It takes all sorts to make a world."

Yun Xiang was one of the three deans of the Federation's highest research institute, as well as the one most skilled in combat.

Among the thousands of Martial Saints in the entire Federation, his power ranked in the top three—he might even be number one.

"The genetic sequences of living beings change in proximity to the Treasure Manual. An opportunity like this is rare."

Glancing at the curious expression on Wuh Qing's face, Yun Xiang spoke slowly,

"Go back to your lab. If someone really does break in here, you won't be of any use."

"...Yes." Wuh Qing forced a smile.

"I'll take my leave then, Dean."

"Mm."

Yun Xiang nodded slowly, watching her go before retracting his gaze.

"Still no sign of Wuh Ping?"

"No."

A voice came from behind him.

"Wuh Ping's situation is highly unusual. He's showing signs of becoming a Mutated Demon Beast, and it's very likely he has already escaped."

"I see…" Yun Xiang's expression grew thoughtful.

"For one person to be able to accommodate several types of foreign genes and adapt accordingly… such a case has never been seen before. If we could study him, there would certainly be…"

BOOM!

Before he could finish his sentence, a deafening blast abruptly resounded from outside, causing the expressions of everyone present to change.

"Who goes there?!"

"Protect the Treasure Manual!"

*

*

*

"We're getting through so easily!"

Dozens of figures burst from the building, roaring as they charged toward the Council Hall. One of them sneered,

"I don't know why, but with at least three other factions helping us, we'll definitely be able to destroy the Treasure Manual this time!"

"Kill!"

He surged forward, his head becoming covered in a membrane of light as his limbs rapidly transformed into various mechanical structures.

A cyborg!

And one built with the Federation's most advanced technology, no less.

His body was composed of the hardest alloys, able to withstand a high-explosive round without a scratch.

The energy core in his chest held power comparable to dozens of hydrogen bombs, an unimaginable amount of energy.

The dozens of people accompanying him were all experts at the Grand Martial Master Level.

Salvation Hall!

This was the name of their organization—a terrorist group whose self-proclaimed mission was to save the world.

Of course, they didn't see themselves that way.

BOOM!

Countless artillery shells rained down from the sky, landing among the crowd. The explosions were accompanied by high-intensity electromagnetic waves.

BZZZT...

As sparks flew, more than a dozen figures collapsed to the ground.

"Stop!"

"Stop them!"

"..."

Hundreds of Federation Imperial Guards appeared on the scene. A storm of raw Electromagnetic Power and distorted Gravity instantly blasted the charging group away.

As hand-picked elites augmented by the Federation's latest equipment, the Imperial Guard were not to be trifled with.

SWISH!

SWISH! SWISH!

Over a hundred figures appeared on the scene.

Though they had human forms, their eyes were strange and their auras ferocious. They were clearly not human.

Pseudo-Humans!

This was a special type of Exotic Beast. Possessing intelligence on par with humans, they could disguise themselves to live within human society, feeding on human brains. These beasts were not only intelligent but also quite powerful.

"How did they get so close?"

A tall figure strode out of the Council Hall, his brow deeply furrowed as he watched the Pseudo-Humans swarm forward.

"Didn't the Safe City perform blood screenings?"

Pseudo-Humans only resemble people on the outside; the difference can be found through blood and genetic tests.

Everyone living near the Council Hall should have already been screened.

'Unless…'

'There's a mole!'

As the thought crossed his mind, dozens more figures appeared nearby, silent and swift as lightning.

Powerful and distinctive Divine Soul Telekinesis wove into a net, suppressing the electromagnetic storm on the field.

"Evil God Followers!"

With a furious roar, eight small mechas materialized around the Council Hall, roaring as they attacked the invaders.

Though small in size, these mechas were a cut above even the Xie Family's Qianjun Mecha in terms of power.

Piloted by a Grand Martial Master, they even possessed the strength to crush an ordinary Martial Saint.

BOOM!

A blinding ball of light erupted from the core of Funeng City. The beam shot straight into the sky, piercing the sea of clouds and revealing the brilliant starry expanse beyond.

A Source Energy Bomb!

A weapon of mass destruction with power far exceeding that of a hydrogen bomb.

When its power is dispersed, it can easily annihilate a city; when compressed, even a Martial Saint is powerless to resist it.

Even the Imperial Guard and the Treasure Manual Guardians, who possessed the Federation's most powerful assets, were sent flying by the blast.

"They're insane!"

Yun Xiang shot to his feet, his expression grave as he looked outside.

"How did that thing get in here?"

Before the words were even out of his mouth, waves of powerful auras flooded his senses.

Martial Saints!

And not just one.

There were a full ten of them, and none were ordinary. They were all top-tier experts in the world today.

"Attack!"

"Seize the Treasure Manual, and the God will bestow his blessing and lead us to the Divine Domain!"

"We must destroy the Treasure Manual, no matter the cost! It brought doom upon this world, and it must be destroyed!"

"The Treasure Manual is mine! An infinity of bloodlines…"

"Kill!"

The roars began.

The cries of battle shook the heavens.