Madam Huo remained calm and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Daoist Master."

Xuanzhenzi waved his hand and said to Qiqi, "Let's go, little girl. Finish your business quickly and come back soon. Don't forget the midnight snack you promised me."

Qiqi, "..."

The two left the manor and got into an inconspicuous black car.

The driver was a trusted confidant sent by Huo Yuwei, and a special agent from a special department sat in the passenger seat.

Qiqi and Xuanzhenzi sat in the back. The little girl kept talking to Xuanzhenzi in a low voice the whole way. The two people in front couldn't hear what she was saying at all, but judging from Xuanzhenzi's frequent nodding, they figured that Qiqi was probably telling him about the action plan for later.

However, what they didn't know was that Qiqi, under the guise of speaking and acting, traded some talismans and pills to Xuanzhenzi, telling him that if he encountered danger later, he wouldn't have to do anything but throw the talismans.

She also stuck a puppet talisman on Xuanzhenzi, so that whatever she did, Xuanzhenzi would follow her.

Whatever he said, Xuanzhenzi would repeat it.

That way, her little secret shouldn't be discovered.

These talismans were drawn for her by her junior brother last night. The effect wasn't as good as the ones she drew herself, but they had more of them.

There was nothing she could do; too many people were watching and wouldn't allow her to use her spiritual power.

The car drove towards the outskirts of Beijing, where Tianxiang Pharmaceutical's laboratory was located.

On the way, as they approached, a special agent in the front row pulled out a crumpled map from his pocket and spread it out for Qiqi to see.

"Is this a topographical map of that place?" Xuanzhenzi leaned closer to take a look. "Oh, this is interesting!"

The agent, puzzled, asked, "Senior, what's so interesting about this?"

They didn't even notice that Qiqi would turn her head towards the car door whenever Xuanzhenzi spoke.

Qiqi glanced at it and frowned. "The feng shui here... is so strange."

"You noticed it too?" Xuanzhenzi gave her an approving look. "This place was originally a place where yin energy gathers, but it has been artificially transformed into a 'yin-yang reversal' pattern. Yin energy leaks out and yang energy gathers in. It looks normal on the surface, but in reality... tsk tsk, who knows how many dirty things are hidden inside."

"Then how do we get in?" Qiqi asked.

“Go in openly and honestly,” said the special agent. “The captain managed to get two passes; we can pretend to be visiting customers.”

Qiqi's eyes widened. "This is possible?"

“Why not?” the special agent replied matter-of-factly. “Tianxiang Pharmaceuticals appears to be a legitimate company, with occasional client visits. We’re just ‘investors’ checking on the progress of new drug development.”

He pulled two sets of clothes out of his bag, one a wrinkled suit and the other a small children's suit. "Change into these."

Qiqi looked at the children's suit with a hint of disdain, "It's not good-looking..."

She still prefers the little dress her mother prepared for her.

"Make do for now, business is more important." The department agent tossed the suit to Xuanzhenzi, telling him to change, then coaxed Qiqi, "Little Daoist, shall I help you change?"

Xuanzhenzi had already quickly changed into a suit. Although he was still sloppy, at least he looked presentable.

There was no other way, so Qiqi had to change into the children's suit.

The size is just right, and with a hat on to cover his hair, he looks like an adorable little prince.

The car stopped one kilometer from the laboratory. Qiqi and Xuanzhenzi got out, leaving the driver and special agents to wait for them. They then walked to the laboratory.

The industrial park was quiet at night, with only the streetlights casting a dim yellow light.

Tianxiang Pharmaceuticals' laboratory is a seven-story building with an ordinary-looking exterior.

But Qiqi could sense that the entire building was shrouded in an invisible barrier.

There was a security guard on duty at the entrance. Xuanzhenzi handed over his pass, and the guard checked it before letting him through.

Upon entering the building, a staff member immediately greeted me, "Are you Mr. Zhang?"

Xuanzhenzi nodded, "Yes, I'm here to check on the progress of the new drug development."

"Please follow me." The staff member led them toward the elevator.

Qiqi observed along the way and found that the interior of the building was much larger than it appeared from the outside, and its structure was complex.

Each floor has strict access control; ordinary employees can only move around on the floor where they work.

They were led to a conference room on the fifth floor, where a middle-aged man in a white coat was already waiting.

"Hello, Mr. Zhang, I'm Dr. Wang, the project manager." The man shook hands warmly. "And this is..."

“My grandson, I brought him out to see the world,” Xuanzhenzi casually made up.

Dr. Wang glanced at Qiqi, but didn't suspect anything. "The little girl is so cute. Shall we begin?"

He turned on the projector and began to introduce the progress of the new drug development.

It was all technical jargon, and Qiqi was completely confused, but Xuanzhenzi listened with great interest and even asked questions from time to time.

The introduction lasted for twenty minutes, and Dr. Wang concluded by saying, "Next, I'll take you two to see the laboratory."

Qiqi's spirits lifted.

The main event is here!

They followed Dr. Wang through several security gates to the laboratory area.

The security here is much tighter than outside; everyone has to undergo triple verification: card swiping, fingerprint scanning, and iris scanning.

Through the glass window, you can see researchers in protective suits working busily in the laboratory.

Various instruments flashed their indicator lights, and unidentified substances were soaking in the petri dishes.

Everything seemed normal, but Qiqi could sense a faint, unsettling atmosphere permeating the place.

That was the aura of a living soul.

Although very faint, it does exist.

Xuanzhenzi narrowed his eyes. "Dr. Wang, I heard that you are researching a drug that can enhance soul power?"

Dr. Wang's expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. "Mr. Zhang is joking. We are a legitimate pharmaceutical company that researches drugs for treating nervous system diseases."

"Is that so?" Xuanzhenzi smiled faintly. "But I've heard that you've recently made some 'breakthrough progress'?"

Dr. Wang chuckled dryly, "Those are just rumors. Mr. Zhang, it's getting late, how about we call it a day?"

He was driving away customers.

Xuanzhenzi didn't insist. "Alright, let's stop here for today. But Dr. Wang, I'm very interested in your research and hope to have further cooperation."

"Definitely, definitely." Dr. Wang saw them off.

Dr. Wang watched them get into their car as they left the building before turning back.

As soon as they got in the car, the special agent couldn't help but ask, "Young Daoist, Senior Xuanzhenzi, what's the situation inside?"

“There are indeed many living souls hidden here. They are using these living souls to conduct experiments and research drugs to enhance the power of the soul.” Xuanzhenzi stroked his beard.

The special agent then looked at Qi Qi, "And what about you, little fellow Daoist? Did you find anything?"

Qiqi snorted angrily, "There's a secret room hidden in this lab, and I think there's a good chance those kids are being hidden in it!"