In the outskirts of Northern Mountain City, atop a verdant hill of pine and cypress, stood a building unknown to the public. In the dead of night, its subterranean levels stood silent like a ravenous beast, emanating an aura of icy danger.

Within view was a dark, damp, and frigid underground tunnel. Its walls were lined with extremely sturdy steel panels, and a row of faintly flickering white lights stretched into the darkness.

As one's gaze drifted toward the end of the tunnel, a surprisingly spacious and bright basement came into view. It was filled with a dizzying array of high-tech instruments, but it also reeked of blood, along with a pervasive, rank odor that was foul and deeply unsettling.

The source of the bloody, putrid smell was several blood pools in the center of the basement, each over three meters wide. That's right, they were actual pools of blood. Under the bright lights, they reflected a blinding crimson hue, a sight that sent a chill down the spine.

A line of people stood silently at the edge of the blood pools. The leader was a cold, stern-looking old man with white, disheveled hair and one blind eye. His unkempt hair partly obscured his face. Several silver throwing knives hung at his waist, their blades gleaming with a frightening, cold light.

It was clear that this man was none other than the old servant of the Third Leader of Tiger Leopard Hall—the very same Half-Step Innate Peak expert who had injured Chen Fei in the outskirts of Northern Mountain City with a silver throwing knife.

At this moment, he stared down from his high position at the limp figures in the blood pools, his single, cloudy eye showing extreme indifference.

"Dead again?" he muttered, his voice cold as he gazed at the lifeless bodies.

As the most loyal servant of the Third Leader of Tiger Leopard Hall, he had come to Northern Mountain with a crucial mission: to cooperate with the genetic research scientists hidden here to complete an experiment. The goal was to endow a living human with the abilities of two different animals, such as a tiger and a bear, or an eagle and a venomous snake.

But three full days had passed, and the experiment had not shown even a sliver of progress. The "test subjects" died one after another, turning into cold corpses, and he was growing impatient.

His master—the Third Leader of Tiger Leopard Hall—is not a man who likes to dawdle or mince words. Success is success, and failure is failure. There's no need for a stalemate.

Now, after seeing at least the fiftieth "subject" fail in three days, he had no desire to linger any longer and was already thinking of leaving. Clearly, their experimental approach was flawed. It was completely unworkable, and it seemed they had to find another way.

"Mr. Bai, the scientists say there's still a problem with the current research approach. Perhaps they need more time from the master," a gaunt, sallow-skinned middle-aged man in a suit said as he walked in. His eyes were as cold and sharp as a wolf's, and he approached the disheveled old man with immense respect.

"More time? This delay has gone on long enough. While the master may still have some patience, if it runs out, you know the consequences!" the old man first said calmly, before his tone sharpened into an icy threat.

"D-don't worry, Mr. Bai. I know what to do. Give us one or two months at most, and I swear those scientists will deliver results that satisfy the master. I guarantee it," the man in the suit stammered, his body trembling slightly as sweat beaded on his forehead.

"A guarantee? I don't need guarantees; I need action. The master has waited long enough. While he might still have some patience, I have none left!"

The disheveled old man's icy voice echoed through the basement, suddenly filling with a throbbing fervor as his pupil constricted. "Black Wolf, you should understand perfectly well that if the master's experiment succeeds, it will be an astonishing achievement capable of changing the world order! When that day comes, we will all be beneficiaries of this monumental feat!"

"Just imagine," he fantasized madly, "if my body could harbor the genes of two animals at once, I could probably even fight an Innate Expert, couldn't I?"

His current true Cultivation Level was only Half-Step Innate, but after successfully implanting eagle genes, he had become far stronger than before, practically invincible within the Half-Step Innate realm. So, if he could implant a second animal's genes, he might even have a fighting chance against a true Innate Expert. How could he not yearn for it? How could he not be thrilled?

"I understand, Mr. Bai! I understand! One month at most! I, Black Wolf, will make those scientists deliver results that will satisfy the master and all of us! I promise! I, Black Wolf, give you my word!" the man in the suit declared, his voice swelling with passion as he too was swept up in the fervor.

As one of the master's most loyal subordinates, he was also a beneficiary of the animal gene transplantation experiments. Originally possessing only the strength of an ordinary King of Soldiers, his power had surged to the level of a peak King of Soldiers after successfully implanting the genes of a black wolf. It was no surprise he was fanatical and lost in his own fantasies.

Seeing the disheveled old man and the man in the suit so impassioned, the others around the blood pools felt their own blood race with excitement. They were all confidants of that "master." Although their ranks were lower, if this experiment—a feat that could potentially change the world—succeeded, they would benefit as well. How could they not be thrilled at the prospect of becoming so much more powerful?

"One month? I don't think you have a month to wait," a voice laced with frost suddenly drifted in from the tunnel entrance, shattering the feverish atmosphere.

"Who's there?" Black Wolf's eyes snapped open. His sharp, ferocious pupils scanned the basement entrance, his terrifying gaze quickly filling with intense murderous intent.

This is a Tiger Leopard Hall experimental base. Someone actually dares to barge into this dragon's pool and tiger's den? They must be tired of living!

"Who are you?" The remaining men in the basement stared at the newcomer with shock and fury, their faces simultaneously twisting with murderous intent. This basement was their most critical experimental site. No unauthorized personnel were allowed entry without the master's permission. Violators would be killed without mercy.

"Is it you?"

Only the disheveled old man frowned as he watched Chen Fei slowly walk into the basement, his turbid eye flickering fiercely. He certainly remembered that day. Chen Fei, a young man barely in his twenties, had somehow managed to dodge a flying knife from him, Mr. Bai himself. The feat had left a deep impression, and now, unexpectedly, they met again.

And from the looks of it, he's here to cause trouble? How interesting... hehe...

"So you do remember me," Chen Fei said, his gaze like ice as he scanned the pile of corpses stacked in the corner. He couldn't help but tremble as he continued in a voice dripping with menace, "But I'm sorry, I have no desire to be on the mind of a depraved beast like you."

He had never imagined he would witness such a scene firsthand. Dozens of people had been used for their experiments. This was beyond psychotic; it was a complete renunciation of humanity. A dark, fierce aura began to emanate from him as he trembled with rage. He had never considered himself a bloodthirsty person, but seeing people used in blood sacrifices for experiments made a murderous intent boil up from within.

These bastards... they're nothing but beasts! They all deserve to die!

"You're courting death!"

However, before Chen Fei could even act, several men stepped forward, their lips curling to reveal menacing teeth.

CLANG! The sound of weapons being drawn echoed abruptly through the basement.

The men brandished their weapons, the grim edges of the blades glinting in the light. They surrounded Chen Fei from all sides, swinging their weapons in a blur, aiming for his neck, heart, head—all of his vital points.

"Daring to act so brazenly here? You're truly courting death." The man in the suit, Black Wolf, sneered cruelly, his smile like that of a wolf stalking its prey, enough to send a chill down one's spine. Only the confidants of the master—the elite of Tiger Leopard Hall—were qualified to guard this basement. All of them were at least at the pinnacle of Second-Rate Ancient Martial Artist strength. This was more than enough to overwhelm a young man in his twenties; in fact, it was overkill.

However, the disheveled old man did not share his sentiment. He knew very well what his opponent was capable of. He's at least at the Peak of a First-Class Ancient Warrior. He won't be killed so easily.

"Hehe..."

As expected, in the next moment, a spine-chilling laugh echoed through the room. A flash of white light blinded everyone for an instant.

SPLAT! SPLAT! A series of sickening thuds, like muffled thunder, rang out. Before anyone could even see how Chen Fei had moved, the Tiger Leopard Hall elites—one, two, then three of them—were sent flying backward as if struck by an invisible titan, vomiting blood as their lives were extinguished instantly.

HISS!

"How is this possible?" Seeing this, Black Wolf gasped, his rigid face frozen in shock.

I can't believe what I'm seeing. Is this really happening? Am I dreaming?

These were elite members of Tiger Leopard Hall, each with the strength of at least a peak Second-Rate Ancient Martial Artist. Even he, Black Wolf, with his peak King of Soldiers strength, would have to be extremely cautious and on full alert to handle such a group.

But what had he just witnessed? He saw a young man, no older than twenty, kill five or six of their elite members without even appearing to move from his spot.

What the hell is this? Am I seeing a ghost? This has to be a joke! It's impossible!

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.