Chapter 148: Cooperation and Negotiation, The Gene Progenitor

On the way back, Chen Yanyan noticed some unfamiliar faces among the survivors boarding the vehicles and curiously asked, "Did you meet them on the north bank?"

Lin Feng shook his head and briefly recounted the encounter with a human faction at the port. He also mentioned Jiang Chengcheng, a little girl, saying, "This little girl is also a psychic superpower awakener. She has potential, but she's too young. It might take seven or eight years before she can grow enough to join us."

Hearing about Jiang Chengcheng, Chen Yanyan quickly recalled the unique little girl among the crowd, with dirty clothes and an unwashed face, resembling a street urchin.

She asked Lin Feng about his plans, "Are you just going to let her go? With her potential, she might be very helpful to us in the future."

"And once the decapitation plan is successful, resisting the insect invasion will turn into a war of attrition. Human forces will need fresh blood..."

"If we don't cultivate the next generation, all resistance will only dwindle."

Lin Feng nodded, realizing that nurturing children from a young age not only provided potential but also loyalty, which was crucial for building an empire.

After pondering, Lin Feng continued, "You're right; we shouldn't let them go."

"I plan to have Han Yuxin handle it. Once she clears the remaining forces in Jin City, she'll need to establish a school specifically for combat training."

"This will give surviving children a stable environment and help them adapt to the survival rules of the apocalypse."

Chen Yanyan agreed, feeling pleased, "When we return to camp, I'll check on Jiang Chengcheng. If her parents are really gone, she'll need extra care..."

"By the way, what about those deserters who invaded the warehouse building?"

Lin Feng shrugged, "Not sure. It seems the soldiers guarding the bridge used them as bait, attracting many Red Beetles. Although the battle at the bridge wasn't intense, those guys are now all level 9 enhanced humans."

"Stronger than the hundred soldiers left at the shipyard."

"So those deserters, lacking courage and strength, serve as waste utilization."

"Let's hurry back. After synthesizing so many vehicles, I'm starving. Tonight, I need to upgrade the soldiers' equipment. There's quite a lot to do."

They gained fourteen pairs of Tier 2 orange mandibles and over 500 pairs of red Black Spinal Bug mandibles.

These could be used to issue lv10 basic Red Armor to newly awakened Tier 1 soldiers, significantly increasing their survival chances against Black Spinal Bugs in open or urban combat.

Reducing psychological stress naturally boosts morale.

...

Soon, led by the Land Cruiser battleship, the twenty vehicles returned to the university camp behind the second line in just half an hour.

Over 150 soldiers returned safely.

More than a hundred completed their awakening kills, promptly arranged into dormitories for their first awakening.

But first, they had to enjoy a protein-rich fish feast.

To ensure all attributes fully improved during awakening.

Minutes later, in the Land Cruiser battleship, Lin Feng sat at a dining table, enjoying a meal personally prepared by Chen Yanyan.

The side door opened slowly.

A long-haired woman in a white coat and black glasses appeared below, climbing into the battleship.

Chewing on a fish ball, Lin Feng observed the attractive newcomer.

Honestly, Ling Shuyan was even more stunning than in Ding Pangzi's photo.

Despite the coat covering her figure, her impressive build showed through her movements.

She was even taller than Chen Yanyan, nearly 1.8 meters, wearing heels, almost Lin Feng's height of 1.88 meters.

However, her frame was larger, more robust than southern women like Liu Ruojiao and Han Yuxin, lacking their delicacy.

She exuded a commanding presence with her stride.

A typical northern trait.

As she approached, Lin Feng's appraisal revealed:

"Human Female, lv19/19"

"HP: 150, Physique: 145, Spirit: 160"

"Superpower Awakening - Brain Domain Enhancement"

"Brain Domain Enhancement: Secondary evolution of the high-intelligence brain, doubling brain cell activity, boosting intelligence by 50%, greatly enhancing scientific research capabilities."

"Note: Researchers are the cornerstone of civilization's progress. In the cold universe, truth and strength are equally important."

Ling Shuyan was an advanced Tier 1 awakener with a rare brain enhancement ability.

Her intelligence far exceeded ordinary awakeners.

No wonder Ding Pangzi feared her.

Facing a woman with superior strength and smarts, it's no surprise she dominated the research institute.

Ling Shuyan reached Lin Feng, pulling out a chair and casually sitting.

Lin Feng raised his glass, offering, "Have you eaten? We can eat and talk, or wait until I'm done."

Ling Shuyan frowned slightly but quickly smiled, "Meeting Colonel Lin isn't easy. I feared you'd vanish again."

Lin Feng shrugged, "The front line is tense, with the Thirteenth Division just handed over, I oversee many tasks."

"But Director Ling, how did you find time to personally come to the dangerous front line? You should have notified me to send an escort."

Chen Yanyan poured Ling Shuyan a drink and stood behind Lin Feng, resting her hand on his shoulder.

Ling Shuyan squinted slightly, "If only I could reach you... There's no signal where you go."

"Since Colonel Lin is busy, let's get straight to the point. Saving the Federation is urgent."

She leaned back, continuing, "I'll agree to your terms, leaving some staff to assist your research, even personally performing genetic modification surgeries."

"The field hospital's equipment, plus the university labs, should suffice."

"But first, I need to personally witness the natural gene assimilation awakener you mentioned!"

She sipped her wine confidently.

Lin Feng shook his head expressionlessly, "First, Director Ling, you misunderstood. My condition is for the entire research institute to stay, especially you as the director."

"Second, your main task is researching perfect bio-modification, overcoming the current gene warrior flaws."

"Additionally, dissect and study new Tier 2 insects, especially the Hunter Warriors, our greatest threat."

"As for the natural awakener, agree to these conditions, and there won't be an issue."

"Of course, he can only participate in monitored experiments, with no life-threatening actions."

Ling Shuyan frowned deeply. She knew Lin Feng coveted the gene modification technology to create powerful warriors against the insects, consolidating his rule.

This required only a few skilled researchers, though the core symbiotes needed long-term purchase from the institute.

But Lin Feng's demand essentially signed a contract of servitude for the institute, conflicting with Ling Shuyan's plans and ambitions.

She set her glass down, gazing at the smiling man, taking a deep breath before warning:

"Impossible! Do you want to become an enemy of all?"

"Or after repelling the insects, will Colonel Lin lead thousands of gene warriors to declare rule over the Federation?"

Lin Feng laughed, "I'm not interested. Once gene modification is perfected, you can share it with all factions. I think Qin Hu, heading to the capital for its defense, needs it more!"

"Undoubtedly, its intellectual property is yours. How you use it is your prerogative."

"I only need the technology to serve my soldiers, my Tier 2 corps."

"Rest assured, my ultimate goal isn't overthrowing the already-defunct Federation."

"When they abandoned the south to defend the northern states, the fertile south became a no-man's land..."

"Jin City, for example, will be mine."

"But I have no interest in power."

"All my efforts are for the ultimate goal..."

Lin Feng's tone deepened, releasing his powerful aura:

"Killing the high-tier queen and destroying the entire swarm!"

The terrifying aura of a complete Tier 2 awakener left Ling Shuyan stunned.

She had tested Qin Hu extensively, knowing the aura of a Tier 2 awakener. Even in mid-stage, he lacked Lin Feng's oppressive presence.

Lin Feng's strength was immense, evident from her observations since arriving. His synthesis ability rivaled a logistics chief.

Especially the land-cruising battleship and accompanying vehicles, easily suppressing insect hordes. With powerful gene warriors, he'd fill the only gap in individual strength...

His ragtag force could become humanity's strongest army.

Yet his true power surprised Ling Shuyan, realizing she underestimated this young man.

Lin Feng didn't need gene modification; his strength far surpassed gene warriors. No wonder Qin Hu praised him, possibly Bluestar's strongest human awakener!

Not just in strength, but potential!

After deep consideration, Ling Shuyan asked:

"Are you confident in killing a high-tier queen?"

Lin Feng nodded solemnly. All his efforts aimed to reach the third stage swiftly, especially after learning the enemy's true terror and might...

Staring at her, Lin Feng promised:

"Give me two hundred gene warriors to distract the underground Tier 2 insects, and I can infiltrate the queen's nest and kill the Tier 3 queen!"

Ling Shuyan's lips curled, "I want its corpse."

Lin Feng shrugged:

"Of course, any insect corpses go to your institute first. I need you to provide the latest insect intelligence."

"Director Ling, rest assured, I doubt any force resolves the insect issue faster than me!"

Ling Shuyan licked her lips, exhaling softly:

"Alright, I'll stay. In Jin City."

Lin Feng set down his chopsticks, snapping his fingers:

"Call Shen Jie and Zhang Liying."

Ling Shuyan paused:

"You didn't mention two?"

Lin Feng raised his glass, unconcerned:

"Is that probability low?"

Ling Shuyan's lips twitched:

"From our lab tests, maybe one in a hundred million awakeners is lucky enough."

"Every thousand live experiments might only increase the base fusion rate by 0.01%. What do you think?"

Before Shen Jie and Zhang Liying arrived, Lin Feng, curious about superpower awakening patterns, asked:

"If awakening superpowers relates to daily habits, could cultivating the next generation influence their eventual awakening?"

Ling Shuyan's pupils constricted, considering the possibility:

"You want to use the natural awakener as an example for adolescents to have innate gene assimilation abilities?"

"But they'd need to adapt to insect genes, equivalent to injecting small amounts of insect serum, which is risky."

"However..."

She adjusted her glasses, pondering the feasibility.

Hearing her plan, Lin Feng felt she was a mad scientist from a sci-fi thriller, a femme fatale willing to do anything for research.

He interrupted:

"Whoa, whoa! Where are you going with this?"

"Gene warriors are a temporary measure. If I can repel the underground insects, I don't want my men as hybrids."

"Remember, benefits and risks coexist!"

"Gene warriors easily fall into madness, risking internal chaos, inflating management costs, even crippling the force, a poison!"

"I mean cultivating early to reduce physical enhancement awakenings, increasing psychic awakenings."

"Like your brain evolution awakening."

Ling Shuyan's expression changed, staring at him:

"How did you..."

"Report!" A lively voice interrupted Ling Shuyan's inquiry as Shen Jie and Zhang Liying approached the table.

Seeing the long-sought natural gene assimilators, Ling Shuyan stood, forgetting her previous question, her hands trembling with excitement.

Shen Jie and Zhang Liying's appearances...

As Qin Hu described, showed distinct insect exoskeleton traits, even Shen Jie's elbows had Black Spinal Bug-like bone blades.

Sensing the stranger's predatory gaze, Shen Jie guardedly shielded Zhang Liying.

Lin Feng introduced:

"This is Ling Shuyan, director of Jin City's bio-research institute, leader of the bio-modification program, the mother of gene warriors..."

"She'll work with you to uncover gene assimilation secrets, helping humanity defeat Hunter Warriors."

He turned to Ling Shuyan:

"This is Shen Jie and his girlfriend, Zhang Liying."

"Need verification?"

"By the way, they're both Tier 2 awakeners now, especially Captain Shen Jie, recently mid-Tier 2, second only to me."

"I'm afraid their assimilated forms might scare you."

Ling Shuyan detected Lin Feng's warning, suppressing her excitement, shaking her head:

"No need, only I have the symbiote technology, each with a tracker."

"They're naturally pure. Beautiful... like art."

She approached Shen Jie and Zhang Liying, smiling:

"You may not realize this meeting's importance. Trust me, you're a divine gift to humanity, a perfect pair..."

"You'll be the progenitors for all future gene warriors!"

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