Hearing Lin Feng's bold speculation, Ling Yi was initially taken aback but nodded after a moment. However, seeing Lin Feng's expectant expression, she sighed and said, "It's a double-edged sword, much like your humans' gene warrior program. You know mass-producing gene warriors is a recipe for disaster, yet you continue down this path..."
"Yet compared to your insect-human hybrids, which are unnatural, at least their fourth-stage Hunter Kings haven't been born. Humanity still has a chance to overtake."
"The saurian dragons you mentioned existed for 240 million years, dominating Bluestar for 160 million years. Over such a long time, even fourth-stage Dragon Kings would have eventually perished..."
Lin Feng understood Ling Yi's concern about catalyzing the dragon race possibly causing greater trouble. However, the dinosaurs had been extinct for 65 million years, reduced to fossils, so he pressed further: "What's there to worry about? We might even fuse human and dragon genes to create dragon-human warriors, seizing the dragons' path to advancement!"
Ling Yi turned to look at the man behind her, squinting slightly: "You're quick to react..."
"But don't forget, as I mentioned, no fourth-stage life dies easily. Time erodes all immortal bodies but can't erase the will of cosmic life..."
"Their legendary and precious lives will always pass to the next generation. Or, through continuous evolution and mutation, their race will replenish its gene pool, spawning new cosmic life."
"The dragon race, existing for so long, likely had multiple fourth-stage beings, possibly fifth or sixth-stage!"
"Such a powerful cosmic race couldn't be wiped out by a mere asteroid impact. Higher cosmic life might even possess the godlike power to alter planetary environments."
Lin Feng paused, considering a possibility: "So, 65 million years ago, the dragon race faced a crisis and migrated, or faced a situation like your insects..."
Ling Yi nodded: "Most likely the former. If it were the latter, do you think this solar system would still exist? Those eternal deities in the cosmos feed on eternity..."
"Not everyone has the luck of the insects, chosen as apostles and servants to wage wars."
Lin Feng smirked: "First time hearing enslavement put so nicely."
"Becoming war machines, the insects are soulless shells, not much different from extinction."
Ling Yi chuckled, gazing at the sun. Sunshine bathed her face and white dress, the breeze revealing her graceful figure like a mythical saint. Her eyes glinted with sunlight:
"The universe feeds on the weak; weakness is original sin."
"At least the insect genes still exist, not erased by time."
"This invasion of the solar system might be our best chance to break free!" Ling Yi's tone was resolute. She turned to look at the man behind her:
"If you haven't realized your intent in two weeks, unable to kill the high-tier queen, I'll reverse-engineer a third-stage dragon for you."
"But after you defeat it, the solar system might become more lively."
"When a third-stage dragon is born, its bloodline genes will activate, receiving ancient ancestors' intent. If cosmic life still exists among the dragons..."
"The exiled dragons won't forsake the chance to return to their home planet."
"Then, humans, squeezed between competing races, will find survival increasingly bleak..."
Ling Yi's reflections left Lin Feng in silence.
By now, the insect convoy had reached the outskirts of Wu City. Lin Feng stood as the distant second line defenses came into view:
"Signal's back. We'll stop here."
"Let me think about how to fabricate your identity."
Ling Yi raised a pale hand, halting the Red Beetles, and said lightly:
"Say I'm a human survivor you rescued from Jia City, and my awakened superpower is mind control... to control low-tier insects."
Lin Feng recalled a peerless beauty comparable to Ling Yi, the celebrity Jiang Yun'er...
Her awakened ability was similar, a form of mind control.
But Jiang Yun'er couldn't match Ling Yi's depth, akin to a low-tier insect queen.
Deciding on the plan, Lin Feng nodded:
"Alright, let's go with that!"
"But first, we need to establish some ground rules..."
Ling Yi turned to the distant defenses and scattered human soldiers, waiting for his terms.
Lin Feng raised three fingers:
"Once in the Thirteenth Division, do not harm any soldiers unless they attack first. Don't manipulate or play games like in Jia City."
"Second, your identity must remain secret. You know this better than I do. I don't want to manage a massive cover-up."
"Lastly, regarding the gene warrior program you promised to help complete, the issue isn't fusion rates but handling the mental impact of insect genes on human subjects."
"I don't want them becoming deranged after several battles. A group of lunatics would cause greater harm."
"With your intent abilities, you should understand this better than human scholars..."
Ling Yi nodded, cautioning:
"But doing so will sever their shortcut to third-stage insect insight, allowing queens' Hunter Warriors to gain an advantage..."
"Intent plays a critical role in third-stage battles, as you might have experienced."
"In high-tier combat, even a tenth of a second's hesitation is fatal!"
Lin Feng frowned. Mastering intent was crucial, but if it meant unavoidable risks...
He would rather refuse.
Especially for his Tier 2 corps, whom he considered his personal troops, he couldn't accept such risks.
After deliberation, Lin Feng affirmed:
"Forget it."
"I assume these industrially produced gene hybrids bring many other dangers? Currently, there's mental collapse, rational breakdown, and physical degradation risks..."
"Time is still on our side. By the time Hunter Warriors hatch into the third stage, I'll be a third-stage powerhouse with intent, unafraid."
Ling Yi reconsidered, agreeing.
The priority was advancing Lin Feng to the third stage; the rest were concerns for years, even decades ahead.
Seeing Lin Feng engage his subordinates, Ling Yi added:
"If you care so much for humans..."
"What about experimental materials?"
"Besides biomass consumption, human bodies are also essential materials."
Lin Feng set down his phone:
"Don't worry, humans aren't like insects. We retain individual free will, but not everyone is good."
"Everyone is responsible for their actions. In Jin City, many criminals are sentenced to death."
Ling Yi's lips curled. She understood this well.
Her survivor experiment in Jia City revealed humanity's flexible moral boundaries.
Insects also had unruly defects, production anomalies, but defect rates stayed below 5%, lest execution falter...
Threatening internal stability.
Queens regularly used intent to inspect and optimize insect structure.
Likewise, humanity needed this.
...
Soon, a battleship appeared in the distance, traversing the barren land effortlessly.
Forewarned in Lin Feng's call, Chen Yanyan arrived alone.
At just past 7:30 a.m., it wasn't yet time for the fleet's deployment.
The Land Cruiser Battleship stopped before Lin Feng and Ling Yi.
Through the cockpit glass, Chen Yanyan spotted the woman beside Lin Feng and the 49 insect eggs.
As the battleship opened its rear cargo hold, Lin Feng had Ling Yi command the subterranean Red Beetles to move the Tier 2 eggs while explaining the situation to Chen Yanyan.
Ling Yi's origins couldn't be hidden from Chen Yanyan. When Lin Feng was away, she needed to monitor Ling Yi and the camp to prevent trouble.
However, Lin Feng omitted details on intent, domains, and the entity.
He only mentioned awakening the insect queen's sealed memories and forming an alliance with Jia City's queen, deploying the Ling Yi avatar to aid humanity against other queens.
Chen Yanyan stood frozen, taking a long time to digest Lin Feng's shocking news.
She initially thought the beautiful woman was just a survivor Lin Feng fancied, but her true origins were far deeper.
She wasn't a human awakener but similar to a parasitic host, a high-tier queen avatar!
During the return, Chen Yanyan occasionally glanced at the queen avatar sitting beside Lin Feng.
While Lin Feng introduced Ling Yi, Chen Yanyan, lost in self-doubt, hadn't examined the female avatar closely.
Seeing her now was startling!
This biotechnologically synthesized insect humanoid had a perfectly proportioned face and body.
Her flawless skin was like white jade, incredibly beautiful.
Almost inhumanly so.
More like a mythical goddess or angel.
Yet beneath the angelic exterior lay a devilish heart.
As the queen avatar, Chen Yanyan didn't fear Ling Yi seducing Lin Feng. Vigilance was impossible to relax.
Besides, Lin Feng wasn't an inexperienced youth. Beautiful women couldn't lure him like a living third-stage being.
He'd prefer facing the queen's main body.
Ling Yi, introduced by Lin Feng, understood this human woman was Lin Feng's close companion and the battleship's commander.
The second-in-command against Haicheng's queen!
During the Jia City battle, she led the fleet, bombarding Ling Yi's insect army and invading the city, forcing Ling Yi to deploy the precious Tier 2 Tiger Bug squad.
Which gave Lin Feng the opportunity.
Now meeting formally, Ling Yi, with high mental attributes, sensed the woman's strong hostility and wariness.
She had become a threat.
Feigning innocence, Ling Yi cooed:
"Sister is Mr. Lin's girlfriend? Please take care of me; I'm new to the human world."
Chen Yanyan frowned, fists tightening, forcing a stiff smile, nodding mechanically:
"Of course, Miss Ling Yi, please adhere to the rules, or face the consequences."
"I believe Lin Feng made that clear."
Ling Yi pouted, no longer seeking trouble.
Thus, the group returned to the university camp, each with their own thoughts.
Arriving, Lin Feng retrieved a hooded cloak, tossing it to Ling Yi:
"Wear this. Your current appearance will cause unnecessary trouble."
Ling Yi's lips curled. Using biotechnological intent, she easily analyzed human cellular structures, freely altering her appearance.
She adjusted facial muscles and skin tone.
Her perfect curves became a slender, egg-shaped face, her skin gained freckles, and fine lines appeared at the corners of her eyes.
From angel to ordinary beauty.
Her score dropped from perfect to above 95.
Though no longer stunning, she still surpassed Chen Yanyan.
Lin Feng noted this, unsure if it was intentional, as she could have appeared more ordinary.
In seconds, the reduced beauty spun and playfully asked:
"How about now? Do I still need the cloak?"
Lin Feng shrugged:
"No, but new rule: don't impersonate anyone here, or I'll increase my mental strength."
Ling Yi snorted, watching Chen Yanyan bring over socks, shoes, and clothes:
"Try these on, see if they fit."
Taking the footwear, Ling Yi donned them expertly, taking steps to adjust.
Holding Chen Yanyan's hand, she widened her eyes:
"Thank you, sister."
"Are these clothes for me?"
Chen Yanyan coughed:
"Take them. You're about my height; you can alternate."
Ling Yi accepted the clothes, holding them to her.
Lin Feng regretted bringing her:
"Don't change shape for every outfit. Awakeners will notice."
"If exposed, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Ling Yi stuck out her tongue, then took the clothes to the mirror, changing from her sole dress.
Ignoring Lin Feng's presence.
Chen Yanyan frowned; she lacked human habits or shame:
"She won't stay on the battleship; there's no spare bed."
Lin Feng shook his head:
"You can sleep on the couch or outside; I'll assign a vehicle."
Dressed in human clothes, Ling Yi looked normal. Her dress was a random store grab, her only garment.
Now she observed herself in the mirror. Hearing Lin Feng's options, she nodded:
"Anywhere is fine, but I must stay with you 24/7."
Under Chen Yanyan's scrutiny, Lin Feng replied:
"I won't return to Jia City; your main body is safe. You need to stay here, optimizing gene warriors, not following me. Aren't you afraid of other queens?"
Ling Yi pondered, sighed:
"Alright, but your vehicle space is small, no place for a biological hive. An empty building will do; I can handle it in days."
"But the hive's cost and gene warrior fusion will be your responsibility."
Lin Feng nodded, gesturing to the fishy square:
"Lake Tai fish should suffice. Use the adjacent medical school for the lab."
With plans for Ling Yi set, the pre-deployment assembly prepared twenty lv19 winged vehicles and 400 soldiers to combat Haicheng's insect expansion!
Lin Feng introduced Ling Yi as a new technical team member, tasked with studying new Tier 2 insect species.
Details and rules were left to Li Ran to manage.
After a brief introduction, Ling Yi officially joined the team.
Before deployment, she found Lin Feng, about to disembark, gazing toward Haicheng:
"Beware the queen's ambush. Pulse Scorpions and Tank Fire Bugs won't threaten your fleet, but Hunter Warriors can silently disrupt, slowing you."
"Combined with Pulse Scorpions and Tank Fire Bugs, they can destroy vehicles."
"Past success was due to your underground havoc, killing dozens of Tier 2 insects. With unstable Hunter Warrior synthesis, Haicheng's 76th avoided confrontation."
"Now three or four days have passed..."
"And it's been hatching new Tier 2 insects."
"Be cautious."
Lin Feng nodded at Chen Yanyan.
In opposing Haicheng's queen, Ling Yi and he shared absolute interests.
After warning, Ling Yi told Lin Feng:
"North of the river, a queen allied with Haicheng's 76th to split Lake Tai..."
"If you have spare soldiers, weaken it first!"
Recalling yesterday's Chang City experience, Lin Feng brightened:
"It's only early Tier 3..."
"Not too strong."
"Could it be our target?"
"Just as planned!"
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