No matter what kind of research one engages in, as long as they focus and immerse themselves in it, time will surely fly by.
Chen Ran was no exception.
After isolating Kallen's genes and injecting them into the Stigmata terminal, he began his research on the Schariac genes.
However, unfortunately, aside from thinking about using this gene to create the 'God-Slaying Spear,' he couldn't think of anything else. And the foundation of the God-Slaying Spear still required rich Schariac blood.
He needed a blood culture dish.
For some reason, Chen Ran suddenly thought of Kiana.
"Oh right, why not use the ready-made blood sample?"
He instinctively got up, but then felt a sharp pain at the back of his head.
"Ouch."
Nuwa looked at him with teary eyes: "Senior Chen Ran, what are you doing?"
One hand was covering her head, while the other held a cup of milk tea, clearly having come to deliver it.
"I think I should be the one asking you that."
He sighed and apologized: "I suddenly thought of something and got a bit too excited. Are you okay?"
"Wuwuwu, it feels swollen, I'm going to be disfigured, I won't look good, I won't be able to get married…"
"Stop messing around, I'm not going to perform plastic surgery."
"Alright, actually, it's nothing much."
Nuwa placed the milk tea on his desk: "I just saw you hadn't eaten anything, so I brought you some energy."
Milk tea is indeed a good thing.
It has sugar, water, and calories; it's easy to consume and packed with energy, always a must-have for researchers who forget to eat.
Chen Ran nodded: "Thanks."
After receiving the milk tea, he noticed that Nuwa didn't leave but seemed a bit shy, wanting to say something but hesitating.
"Is there something on your mind?"
"Ah, there is one thing." Nuwa paused and said softly: "Senior Chen, do you have time the night after tomorrow?"
"I have something, it's quite personal; just answer whether you're free or not." She emphasized.
"The night after tomorrow, huh."
Chen Ran instinctively thought.
The best cooling time given by the system is two days, and the cooling will be over the night after tomorrow.
And the projects he usually undertakes are typically large, long-term ones, so it wasn't unexpected.
"Sure, I should be free then."
"Great, I'll message you that day."
Nuwa smiled and reminded: "No standing me up."
After saying that, she ran off.
Chen Ran couldn't help but shake his head.
"The night after tomorrow shouldn't be anything special, right?" His mood became a bit complicated.
"Forget it, I'll go find Kiana."
Putting aside the matters here, Chen Ran sent a message to Kiana to meet in the break area.
However, when he arrived at the break area, the first person he encountered was not Kiana, but Kalpas.
…
…
Kalpas is actually easy to recognize.
The most conspicuous one in the crowd is him.
Fire Moth is not lacking in handsome men and beautiful women, but even among the handsome and beautiful, Kalpas still stands out the most.
His aura is too strong.
As long as he stands there, others automatically assume he's not to be trifled with, creating a vacuum zone of ten meters around him.
"It's going to be hard for you to fit in at Fire Moth like this."
Hua brought Kalpas a snack and said: "In Fire Moth, comrades are very important."
"As long as I take down all the enemies, the battles won't matter as much," Kalpas said matter-of-factly, but he didn't refuse the snack.
Hua shook his head: "I've seen your combat data; you are undoubtedly very strong, but just with your current self, it's a bit naive to think you can handle the enemies Fire Moth faces."
Hua felt a bit of a headache.
Kalpas had been kicked out of the first squad.
The reason was that he couldn't integrate into the squad.
Kalpas was very strong, but his ability to cause trouble was also top-notch, like a troublemaker.
After joining the first squad, he clashed with Kosma, and after being taught a lesson by Kevin, he still didn't repent; almost everyone had been taught a lesson by Kalpas.
Then, Kevin directly kicked him out.
After that, Kalpas was wanted by the second and third squads, but after three days, the members of those two squads sent him away like a plague.
So, he ended up in the fifth squad.
Kalpas was relatively well-behaved in the fifth squad, at least there were no violent conflicts.
Not because his temper had improved, but because the fifth squad was all women.
He had quite a bit of a macho attitude.
So every time he wanted to fight, he would directly go find Chen Ran, who was still number 666, and directly got on Mobius's blacklist.
And that led to the current situation.
Himeko felt that Kalpas had some issues in his heart, but because Kalpas's violent tendencies were too severe, the doctors at Fire Moth's fifth research institute all refused to serve Kalpas and help him with his psychological issues.
Thus, the task of guiding Kalpas's psychological problems fell to the honest Hua.
Strictly speaking, Hua also had very serious psychological issues; he was reclusive and lacked goals. Himeko thought the two might be able to heal each other.
As it turned out, she wasn't wrong.
Kalpas and Hua actually got along quite well because he regarded Hua as a little brother.
"That's simple; I just need to become stronger."
Kalpas paused and said: "That guy named Chen Ran ambushed me first; one day I will take him down."
"Hey, hey, hey, don't be so violent, okay?"
Chen Ran, who was standing behind, sighed, but then saw Kalpas suddenly leap up and directly attack his face.
"You'll be directly expelled from Fire Moth for this, you violent maniac."
Chen Ran didn't respond but waited for Kalpas to attack.
He believed Kalpas wasn't completely brainless.
Sometimes, the binding of rules is stronger than the clash of power.
Sure enough, just as Kalpas was about to hit Chen Ran, he abruptly stopped.
"Why aren't you fighting back?"
"If I fight back, it'll turn into a mutual beating, and I'll get punished; the cost is too high."
Chen Ran shrugged, his eyes turning to Hua: "It must be quite stressful to get along with him."
Hua's mouth twitched with a hint of helplessness: "Actually, it's not bad; Kalpas's temper is quite good. At least now, he's been eager to help with some equipment moving tasks in the fifth squad."
"I just think it's inappropriate for frail girls to move heavy objects."
"Oh, quite the macho attitude."
Chen Ran looked at Kalpas oddly and teased: "Or are you interested in someone and trying to show off?"
Then, he noticed a change in Kalpas's expression.
At that moment, Kalpas wasn't wearing his mask, making him a straightforward young man. Chen Ran couldn't help but look at Hua.
Hua whispered: "Kalpas has been eyeing the captain during training."
Chen Ran: "Got it, likes the mature type."
"Little boys are all like this…"
Kalpas, who was listening, let out a heavy snort.
He really wanted to rip out Chen Ran's tongue, but this was the Fire Moth break area.
Chen Ran, feeling a bit mischievous, deliberately spoke in a voice loud enough for Kalpas to hear: "Do you think he was kicked out by Kevin and the other squad members on purpose?"
Hua, being an honest person, actually thought about it seriously.
"From the outcome, Kalpas won."
"Hey, cousin, Hua, what are you two doing?"
Kiana arrived.
However, in Fire Moth, her name should actually be Sirin.
Seeing Kalpas, Kiana couldn't help but say: "This irritable big brother, you're here too."
Kalpas snorted: "I don't argue with children."
Chen Ran was a bit curious: "You two seem to have a good relationship?"
"Who has a good relationship with him?" Kiana made a face at Kalpas and then complained to Chen Ran: "Cousin, you don't know how excessive this guy is. Ever since he came, Captain Himeko has made us challenge him; as long as we win, we can skip training, and he doesn't let up at all, almost injuring me."
"I'm doing this for your own good; enemies won't go easy on you."
Kalpas said indifferently.
"Mind your own business, whatever." After making a face, Kiana directly hid behind Chen Ran and asked him: "By the way, what do you need me for?"
Chen Ran smiled and said: "I need your cooperation for an experiment; is it okay to draw some blood?"
He waved goodbye to Hua, who also waved back to indicate farewell.
She looked at Kalpas, a hint of helplessness flashing across her face.
If only Kalpas's temper weren't so irritable, that would be great.
Chen Ran did not immediately take Kiana to the First Research Institute; instead, he first invited her to dinner.
"How is it? Are you adapting to the training now?"
"It's okay, I guess. Although it's just as tough every day, I can manage," Kiana said directly while sitting across from Chen Ran. "But the number of battles is fewer than I expected."
"That's a good thing. Don't overthink it."
Chen Ran smiled and said, "As long as you can adapt, that's enough."
Kiana looked at him suspiciously. "What do you need my blood for?"
"It's for the Schariac gene."
Chen Ran did not hide it and said, "I obtained the genetic data of Schariac. This gene has a strong ability to manipulate Honkai Energy. I don't know if you heard at Saint Freya, but your mother, Cecilia, could use the Holy Blood Liberation to reverse the corruption of those affected by Honkai Energy."
"Similarly, weapons made from Schariac blood will be the most effective divine weapons against the Herrscher."
"However, I don't have enough of the genetic chain yet; I need at least some blood as a basic culture medium."
Chen Ran did not conceal his purpose from Kiana.
Kiana responded with an "oh" and nodded, "Alright then."
She wouldn't refuse such a request.
It was just a bit of blood, and besides, Chen Ran wasn't conducting inhumane research.
After hesitating for a moment, she asked, "I only have one question now. How do I undergo the super transformation surgery that Mei told me about?"
Chen Ran sighed, "I almost forgot about that if you hadn't mentioned it."
"Are you not concerned about my situation?"
Kiana began to show her teeth.
During this time, she had been thinking about this matter.
Unlike others, Kiana would find it easier to undergo the super transformation surgery because her body contained both Kaslana and Schariac genes, which already had Honkai-related super transformation factors and the ability to manipulate Honkai.
Not to mention, Kiana's body also had the genes of Herrscher Sirin.
The coexistence of these three genes formed a unique Kiana, and Chen Ran only needed to stimulate the super transformation factors in her body with Honkai Energy.
He just didn't know if, even in the pre-civilization era, Kiana would be affected by the Stigmata space binding of Kaslana.
Speaking of which, theoretically, Kiana should be able to return to fifty thousand years later through the Stigmata space.
As Chen Ran thought about this, his eyes began to light up.
"Kiana, do you want to go back?"
"Back? To where?"
"To fifty thousand years later."
He quickly ran nearby to buy some paper and pens, then began some not-so-complex calculations.
Kiana stared at him in surprise.
…
…
While Chen Ran was spending time with Kiana, unbeknownst to him, a pair of special eyes was watching him.
After confirming that Chen Ran wouldn't make any unusual moves, the owner of the eyes left without alarming anyone.
She disguised herself as an ordinary member of Fire Moth, walking through the bustling rest area.
However, once she reached a blind spot where no one could see, she activated a jamming device, blocking the surveillance in that area.
Then she disappeared completely.
The girl hurriedly walked, then removed her disguise on the way, revealing her long pink hair.
After she finished changing, she arrived at her destination.
Cocoon.
This organization belonged to Fire Moth but was feared by everyone in Fire Moth.
Cocoon would target Honkai, but it would also target Fire Moth.
As a new member who had just joined Cocoon, Sakura was tasked with monitoring and investigating Chen Ran.
Calmly walking past the scanner, she looked at the leader in a black robe before saying lightly, "I'm back. Here's all the information I brought."
She tossed a USB drive over.
The person caught it, and Sakura said indifferently, "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
She waited three seconds, and upon finding no one stopping her, she left directly.
Five months ago, a large-scale Honkai swept through East Asia, not only putting Nagazora City and Canghai City in crisis, but countless other places were also affected.
At that time, Sakura and her Little Sister Rin were traveling abroad and narrowly escaped disaster.
But they lost their home.
Since then, Sakura began investigating matters related to Honkai until her investigation attracted the attention of Fire Moth.
Thus, Sakura reached an agreement with Fire Moth that only both parties knew about, joining Cocoon as a newcomer.
She became the sharp blade of Cocoon, and Cocoon provided her with the information she wanted.
"Today's work is done. There shouldn't be any important matters for a while. I haven't seen Rin in a long time; I'll make a video call today… Who!"
The girl's eyes turned cold, and she immediately fired at an open space not far away.
Then, she saw Chen Ran appear from a distance.
"So this is where Cocoon is located. It's quite low-key, I suppose."
Sakura's eyes narrowed. "You were following me?"
"Isn't that a question I should be asking you first?" he retorted. "I, Chen Ran, haven't violated any rules, so why am I being investigated by Cocoon?"
After Sakura left the Fire Moth rest area, Chen Ran separated from Kiana and secretly followed her.
At this moment, he had at least fought against a Herrscher, so he could certainly sense that he was being followed. The current Sakura was not MANTIS Sakura, so she naturally showed some flaws.
However, Chen Ran never expected that the one following him was from Cocoon.
Sakura said calmly, "I'm only responsible for following orders."
She was very composed.
Because she indeed only received orders.
Even if Chen Ran were to kill her now, her answer would still be that she didn't know.
Chen Ran sighed, "Alright, even if you don't say, I can probably guess."
Although Chen Ran hadn't done anything wrong, his astonishing growth in just a few months naturally attracted Cocoon's attention.
Let's not mention anything else; who could gain access to the Herrscher Core just a few months after joining Fire Moth?
That was simply unimaginable.
Chen Ran looked at Sakura and smiled, "So will you tell Cocoon about meeting me?"
"I will."
Sakura replied honestly.
"Alright then, see you."
He only wanted to confirm who was following him and their purpose, and he had no intention of making a move.
As for Cocoon, it wasn't that scary.
As long as he didn't betray Fire Moth or sell its interests, Cocoon wouldn't really take action against him. As for monitoring and investigating, he could just be more discreet in the future.
As for whether Chen Ran would betray Fire Moth, he could only say that he had no such thoughts for now.
At present, he had resources and materials, so he had no such intention.
After witnessing Chen Ran leave, Sakura fell into thought.
——
Fifty thousand years later.
Schicksal South Africa Branch.
Otto and Cecilia were conducting an experiment there.
"Even though the Herrscher of the Void is not present, we can open a passage to the world beyond using the Ether Fuel and Spatial Lens, utilizing the mimetic Divine Key Cosmic Juggernaut."
Ether Fuel is the energy and fuel needed to explore the imaginary world.
The Spatial Lens is the observational tool required for exploring the imaginary world.
Before the Divine Key appeared in the pre-civilization era, the people of Fire Moth used these two items to explore the Imaginary Tree and Sea of Quanta, and the Ether Anchor Point technology was supported by a large amount of Ether Fuel and Spatial Lens.
In fact, there were even more efficient energy-gathering spatial lenses in the pre-civilization era, making the technology of that time quite enviable.
Otto intended to use these items to send Cecilia into the imaginary realm.
This risk was actually quite high.
Even though Cecilia had Schariac's blood in her body, it didn't mean she wouldn't be subjected to imaginary transformation.
"The mimetic Cosmic Juggernaut will open the subspace layer, and the Spatial Lens will guide you. Beyond the subspace layer, you will see the world beyond the world."
"In this experiment, we will verify whether your body can withstand imaginary transformation. This is a necessary condition for traversing the timeline."
"Cecilia, you must be careful. Even in the pre-civilization era, there was no way to save those who fell into the imaginary realm."
Otto looked at Cecilia, paused, and said, "It's still not too late to consider backing out now."
Cecilia's eyes showed determination. "I know."
She wouldn't back down.
Not even for her daughter.
Adapting to the imaginary space was the first step to traversing.
However, at this moment, Cecilia did not know that Otto had other intentions.
He did not plan to send Cecilia to the pre-civilization era; he only wanted to verify. Therefore, the target locked by the Spatial Lens he provided was empty.
This meant that even if Cecilia wouldn't be subjected to imaginary transformation, she also couldn't undergo any form of traversal unless she wanted to get lost in the torrent of time.
Otto would turn back time himself.
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