"You can understand it this way: in that era of ideological confusion, countless paths were tried in order to become stronger quickly. One of them was a path that was once believed in by many people, called... genetic modification."

"How exactly will it be modified?" Shen Qian asked curiously.

"For example, extracting the DNA of powerful organisms and mixing it with human genes to create so-called 'new humans' from the womb, but this approach has clearly failed."

"You mean, that Xu Nian... is one of the test subjects?" Shen Qian was taken aback, realizing something.

"Yes, when that secret experimental base was exposed, all of the tens of thousands of researchers and martial artists inside died. The only surviving baby was later adopted by the Duke of Yanshan."

Shi Dingyan said quietly, "That baby is the current Xu Nian."

...

"call!"

When the figure in the black cloak finally disappeared from the top of the tower, Ji You visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Actually, you don't need to be so afraid of your second senior brother. He does have a somewhat eccentric personality, but you should also know that it's because he's carried too much burden since he was a child..."

Guo Zhouyuan, standing to the side, frowned.

"Third Senior Brother, I understand. I'm just a little worried. Didn't the Martial Arts Association already ban Second Senior Brother from entering the country? Now that he's appearing in Shanghai so openly, won't that..."

Ji You chuckled dryly.

"You don't need to worry about that. Haven't you noticed? A major change is coming. Otherwise, why would the teacher call him back at such a sensitive time?"

Guo Zhouyuan said with his hands behind his back, "As long as the Prince of Zhenbei doesn't give the order, who would dare to stand up and spout nonsense?"

"That's good. Does Senior Sister know he's back?" Ji You thought of something.

"I don't know about that." Guo Zhouyuan frowned. "I just hope that my second senior brother won't anger her again."

Ji You nodded slightly and asked tentatively, "By the way, Second Senior Brother just said that Junior Brother can still be saved, but if we don't use the 'Creation' Pill formula, what other methods are there?"

"Have you forgotten why the teacher accepted Wang Shuo as a student in the first place?"

Guo Zhouyuan glanced at Ji You and said indifferently.

Ji You was horrified. "You mean... he's already awake?"

"He should wake up by now, even if he doesn't want to. In the end, this is his own business. We can't always have to clean up his mess, can we?"

Guo Zhouyuan chuckled.

"If that person can return, then even if the second senior brother reappears, there will indeed be no need to worry about anything."

A cold glint flashed in Ji You's eyes. "Heh, and that kid named Shen Qian, I'd like to see how long he can keep up his arrogance!"