“This place has been converted into a stronghold,” Old Hu said. “It won’t be easy to force your way in.”

"Are there any other entrances?" Lu Zhaoming asked.

Old Hu nodded and said, "I know a secret entrance that can be used to enter the factory through the ventilation ducts."

"Ventilation ducts?" Lu Zhaoming's eyes lit up. "Then let's use ventilation ducts!"

Old Hu led Lu Zhaoming and the others to a wall in the factory, pointed to a rusty ventilation duct and said, "This is it. This ventilation duct leads directly into the factory."

Lu Zhaoming carefully examined the ventilation duct and found that the entrance to the duct was very small, only large enough for one person to crawl through.

"I'll go in and scout ahead," he said.

"Be careful," Su Li cautioned.

Lu Zhaoming nodded and then climbed into the ventilation duct.

The ventilation duct was pitch black and filled with dust and grime.

Lu Zhaoming could only crawl forward inch by inch, bending over.

After climbing for about ten minutes, he finally saw the exit of the ventilation duct.

He carefully opened the cover of the exit a crack and then peered out.

He found himself in a laboratory inside the factory.

The laboratory was filled with all sorts of instruments and equipment, and researchers in white coats were busy at work.

"It seems this is where the virus samples are located," Lu Zhaoming thought to himself.

He was about to climb out of the ventilation duct when suddenly the system issued a warning.

"WARNING! High concentrations of contaminants are present in the target area. Continued exposure may result in irreversible damage!"

Lu Zhaoming was stunned.

He had no idea that there was such dangerous contamination around the virus sample.

He hesitated.

If he continues forward, he may suffer irreversible damage.

However, if he gives up, he will not be able to find virus samples and thus will be unable to unravel the mystery of the plague.

What should he do?

Time ticked by, and Lu Zhaoming's heart was filled with struggle.

Ultimately, he made a decision.

He took a deep breath and resolutely climbed out of the ventilation duct.

Now that we've come this far, there's no turning back.

Even at great cost, he was determined to find the virus sample and save the world!

He slowly walked towards a freezer in the center of the laboratory, where...

His hand slowly touched the freezer door handle...

The moment Lu Zhaoming's hand touched the freezer door handle, a chill instantly spread throughout his body, making him shiver and almost causing him to shout "Holy crap!"

Just then, countless fragments of memories flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.

In the luxurious conference room, several high-ranking executives dressed in elegant white robes sat upright, discussing a shocking plan.

"Antibody genes are key! With them, we can control the wasteland's population and make them our slaves!" An old man in a white robe wearing gold-rimmed glasses smiled sinisterly, his gaze behind the lenses as cold as a venomous snake.

In another memory, countless survivors were imprisoned in dark cages, wailing in agony, their bodies riddled with tubes—it was a living hell!

"Pah! These scumbags!" Lu Zhaoming cursed inwardly. Then, Red Wolf's annoying voice came through the communicator: "Lu Zhaoming, you really took the bait, hahaha! The White-Robed Lord knew you would come to your death!" The voice was like fingernails scratching a blackboard, giving people goosebumps.

Lu Zhaoming instantly realized that this was not a virus sample at all, but a complete trap!

Those old sly foxes in white robes really went all out to catch this big fish!

"Damn it! There's an ambush!" Lu Zhaoming roared, slammed the freezer door open, grabbed his weapon, and fired a burst of bullets into the corner of the laboratory.

The sound of gunfire echoed throughout the laboratory, and the smell of gunpowder instantly filled the air.

With a muffled thud, the laboratory door was kicked open, and several Red Wolf soldiers in black combat uniforms rushed in with guns at their ready.

Su Li, Liu Yan, and Lao Hu followed closely behind and rushed into the laboratory, everyone on high alert.

"Damn it, this is a disaster!" Su Li spat, her alluring face filled with murderous intent.

"Brother Zhaoming, what should we do now?" Liu Yan held a large cleaver, his eyes wide open, ready to fight at any moment.

"Don't panic, we're not at our wits' end yet!" Lu Zhaoming said calmly, dodging the Red Wolf soldiers' gunfire while observing his surroundings.

"Those old guys in white robes will need to train for a few more years if they want to catch me!"

His gaze sharpened, landing on the emergency escape route in the corner of the laboratory...