Western Continent, deep within a certain Dead Sea.

There is a cargo ship half-buried in sand and dust.

A few Light Cuttlefish swim around.

Zhou Yi noticed that these Light Cuttlefish are not ordinary B-level life forms; their strength has reached A-level. They seem to serve a role akin to guards here.

The Cat God hovering nearby said, "Chairman, they have all been modified. Just like the Transformed People, they have subunits of Mechanical Life implanted in their bodies, you could say they are artificial Guangna Species."

"Any unrecognized life form approaching the vicinity of the sunken ship will be driven away and attacked by them."

During interrogation, Wu Ye mentioned this matter.

While conducting experiments on Transformed People, he also attempted similar modifications on Guangna Species.

Unlike the excessive timidity and fear of humans, Guangna Species mostly exhibit deeply ingrained arrogance and pride, which Wu Ye also considered a kind of pathology.

The experimental results were not good.

Guangna Species considered themselves superior and believed they were right. They resisted and rejected the new mechanical-electrical body parts, ultimately detaching these connected parts from their bodies.

Mechanical Life possesses unparalleled manufacturing capability and efficiency, and focus far beyond other Earth Life.

But deep down, Guangna Species look down on Mechanical Life, viewing them as mere pathetic beings confined to programs, a lower form of life. They did not wish to be bound by programs.

The powerful alliance turned out to be Wu Ye's wishful thinking.

Only when humans are surgically transformed into Transformed People do they cherish the new power very much. For ordinary life, this is nothing less than a lifesaver.

Wu Ye quickly abandoned this direction.

Only some lower-intelligence Guangna Species had a few successful cases.

The most successful modification was the Light Cuttlefish. After maturity, they can reach B-level, but they rely entirely on instinct for survival, making modification smooth.

This batch of Light Cuttlefish became guards outside the laboratory, patrolling repeatedly under the orders given through the implanted mechanical-electrical light imprint.

However, under the Cat God's [Forgotten] ability, they could not perceive Zhou Yi's appearance and existence.

Entering the sunken ship.

Zhou Yi saw that many metal coffins were fixed inside, each with a transparent glass window. Within the ice-fog-filled coffins were sleeping men and women, with instruments beside them displaying their various vital signs.

"These are all Transformed People; there are a total of 30 people in the entire laboratory, and currently, only 6 are awakened."

The Cat God said, "Most Transformed People are usually asleep, which can reduce energy consumption and delay lifespan decay."

Zhou Yi walked all the way to the core laboratory.

This place was very well sealed, and one had to pass through a disinfection room to enter inside.

Outside the operating table stood a middle-aged woman in a white protective suit, and a young man seated in a chair, still somewhat dazed.

Zhou Yi first looked at the woman.

She was about forty years old, with clear fine lines at the corners of her eyes, and her mouth and neck weren't as smooth as a young woman's.

"Are you Wu Nu? Wu Ye's first assistant?"

"I am."

The woman spoke fluently in East Continent language, "May I ask if you're a friend of my father?"

"No."

Zhou Yi stated plainly, "Wu Ye has been detained for dereliction of duty and abuse of public resources, and is currently under investigation. I am here to verify the situation."

The woman's body immediately froze rigidly, "Detained investigation... you are..."

Zhou Yi raised his right index finger, making a hush gesture.

The other party immediately became extremely meek, "Whatever you want to investigate, I'll do my utmost to cooperate."

Zhou Yi nodded, "Which proxies have been here?"

"I don't know about that."

Wu Nu said, "Because even if the proxies come over, they can't be seen. My father forbids me from asking or inquiring about such matters."

Zhou Yi asked again, "Do you know the whereabouts of the more than forty thousand Transformed People that Wu Ye released to the outside world?"

Wu Nu nodded.

"Yes, I do."

"Although they live in different areas, they occasionally still keep in touch."

She said, "Because Transformed People have maintenance issues afterward. Although before they leave, I teach them methods to maintain their mechanical-electrical parts, sometimes there are unforeseen severe damages. Sometimes when I visit cities to maintain Transformed People, I encounter them and help as much as I can."

"Does Wu Ye know about this?"

"I don't know; however, my father probably wouldn't care about such matters. He is a scientist very much focused on transforming humans."

Zhou Yi examined this first assistant of Wu Ye, who was transformed at eight years old and was the first successful Transformed Person, now actually over two hundred years old.

Her appearance did not look that aged at all. However, her eyes indeed had the feeling of an elder, full of many complex things.

"Where do those Transformed People live?"

"Most have settled in some remote towns, places that don't attract attention."

Wu Nu explained, "If their identity is exposed, they will immediately move house and escape. However, due to the influence of Mechanical Life, most prefer a stable life, working in ordinary jobs and professions, striving to avoid big cities and attention."

Zhou Yi inquired further about some circumstances.

A notable point is the lifespan of these Transformed People.

Contrary to what Zhou Yi thought, the lifespan of this group varies.

"It is directly related to the original flesh and blood body."

Wu Nu said, "Because the original brain and heart still drive the body, the mechanical and electrical parts can't replace thought; they merely act as auxiliary organs."

"If an ordinary person becomes a Transformed Person, they will still die within decades."

"Those originally very strong enhancers also have longer lifespans. This is why human test subjects of AB level are very scarce, and my father has always been searching everywhere..."

"After death, the mechanical-electrical organs on an artificial being emit a signal, and we go to retrieve them for use in the next person. Because these mechanical-electrical organs, after undergoing continuous adaptation with the human body, inherently have good compatibility. They have a large amount of recorded data, which is better than brand-new mechanical-electrical equipment, and they can be used with maintenance and optimization."

This reminded Zhou Yi of the old king's Northern Ocean Army.

Over there, human data is uploaded into Iron Soldiers, starting the journey of immortality. The downside is whether the data person is truly themselves or a data ghost created, which is quite controversial.

Zhou Yi pondered, the direction of artificial beings and symbiotic plants seemed more aligned.

The symbiotic plants of Mud Tree People deeply connect with the body, becoming a brand-new external extension of the body.

Symbiotic plants have higher growth potential, but require a long time to adapt, usually being implanted in Mud Tree People during childhood and only reaching alignment in adulthood.

The model of artificial beings created through biochemical experiments by Wu Ye uses Light Imprint mechanical-electrical branches to complement and enhance the body, improving the stability and strength he sees as most lacking in humans.

This greatly improves the body's lower limits and can be completed through neural prosthetics, faster than symbiotic plants.

Zhou Yi pondered for a while and finally decided, "Suspend all activities here, maintain the status quo."

"Wu Nu, now I have a task for you."

"You go find those artificial beings, document their detailed living conditions and group ecology, then compile a report for me, as the investigation into Wu Ye requires this information. You can ask if you need anything."

Wu Nu immediately said, "I only need to take three assistants with me, in the past we also traveled in this way to other cities to perform maintenance checks on the artificial beings."

Zhou Yi nodded, "Alright. Then go ahead."

Wu Nu immediately went to make preparations.

...

Zhou Yi then returned his attention to the young man beside him.

"You're from the Meat Mountain?"

The other party appeared dazed, as if in a hangover, with drifting eyes. This was because Wu Ye had performed a special anesthetic sealing treatment on him.

After being awakened, he still needed time to regain clarity and alertness.

"Yes... you saved me?"

"Correct."

"I remember I was captured and taken to 404 City... you even broke through 404 City?"

The other party looked surprised, though still a bit dazed.

Zhou Yi sat down beside him, "Tell me your story."

"I..."

The young man was still somewhat out of sorts.

He vigorously rubbed his cheeks and temples, seemingly trying to focus: "My name is Yang Zhao, since I can remember, I've lived in the mountains."

"In those mountains, there are no trees, no grass, but there is meat; the mountain is made of meat, as long as you dig through the hard outer crust, underneath is meat that can be eaten. What the outside world calls Meat Mountain."

"I grew up eating that meat."

Zhou Yi asked, "What about water? Don't you need water?"

"There's moisture in the meat."

Yang Zhao squinted and said, "There is water in the depths of the mountain, and the water of the Meat Mountain is different from the outside, much tastier."

At this point, he seemed a bit clearer.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Zhou Yi."

The other party's eyes widened immediately, "Wasteland Development Company, Chairman Zhou Yi?"

"Yes."

"No wonder... your company can even break through 404 City? That's really exaggerated... even more terrifying than the rumors outside... I'm very grateful for you saving my life, otherwise, I estimate I would never leave 404 City."

A flash of respect and gratitude appeared in Yang Zhao's eyes, which then transformed into a strange fervor and longing.

Zhou Yi observed all of this and asked him, "You were born from the Meat Mountain?"

The other party nodded, "Inside the mountain, there are many soft flesh masses... I would say it's a sticky area mixed with various substances, I was nurtured there. I have memory of that because my brain came into existence first."

"The Meat Mountain is both my mother and father, they birthed me."

"I grew up and came out, a voice told me to go outside. But I grow very fast, from birth to capture took about nine years... after coming out I heard your name everywhere, you are truly incredible."

This appearance is only nine years old?

Zhou Yi was rendered speechless.

Previously, it was known that the Meat Mountain was a biological manufacturing factory of the Seeder, producing Golden Elephants and Killer Rats with old human consciousness. Unexpectedly, there's a link to recreate humans?

The person in front of him seemed very normal, looking like a man in his twenties, with a nose and eyes, just wearing a hospital gown.

"Why were you captured by 404 City?"

"For poaching."

"Poaching?"

"It's because I attacked a Bone Man, its whole body emitted a strong delicious aroma, just like yours. I couldn't resist, so I followed and attacked it, intending to eat it. Then I lost the fight and got captured, and when I came to, I was already in 404 City."

The young man showed an embarrassed smile.

Zhou Yi felt moved, "The Bone Man you attacked, was it wearing a black muscle suit, bones extremely white, with a Bone Chain hanging around its neck?"

"Exactly! Do you know it?"

Surprised and a bit depressed, Yang Zhao said, "That Bone Man seems to be the prison guard of 404 City, I also saw it there. Sigh, my luck wasn't very good..."

Zhou Yi's face twitched.

You sure know how to pick targets.

Coming out of the mountain and attacking the 7th operative of 404 City's guards, not being killed on the spot is already considered extraordinarily lucky.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.