Chapter 115

Entering the spire, the first thing Bai Xuechao saw was a statue in the main hall and the exquisite relief on the wall behind it.

The statue in the center of the main hall was of a youth kneeling on both knees, his body turned to the side. The youth was looking up, his brows slightly furrowed, his eyes full of longing and anticipation, as if praying for mercy, his expression lifelike. He stretched his hand forward, wanting to touch the hand reaching out to him.

In front of the youth was a beautiful statue of a goddess. The goddess was draped in a light dress, its hem billowing as if blown by the wind. Her slightly curled hair also flew behind her, as if she had descended from the heavens. Her eyes held a sense of compassion for the world as she looked at the kneeling youth, extending a slender hand.

Behind the youth was an angel in the form of a young child. The angel was flying in mid-air, its small hand resting on the youth's shoulder, a smile on its face, as if encouraging the youth to reach out. Its entire weight rested on the youth's shoulder, supported only by their connected palms and shoulders, yet it was perfectly stable, making one marvel at the beauty of mechanics.

On the wall behind these three statues were more angel reliefs, with half of their bodies extending out from the wall, making them particularly three-dimensional, as if they could really fly out of the wall. They all stretched out their hands, as if preparing to welcome this youth to join them.

The scene depicted by the statues seemed to tell a mythological story, exuding a strong sense of sacredness and redemption.

Bai Xuechao took in the statues, his steps faltering slightly.

He sensitively perceived that this was not just a simple decoration, but had a deeper meaning.

Looking closely, although the goddess's eyes held compassion, there was a faint smile on her lips. Her vivid expression gave the illusion that she was mocking the youth.

“What's wrong?” Yuan Lan was pushing Bai Xuechao towards the stairs next to the relief when he noticed the other's steps falter while looking at the statue. Although it was very brief, he still noticed it. He asked with a smile, “Are you very interested in these statues?”

Bai Xuechao went with the flow, “You can tell me about them.”

“As you can see.” The smile on Yuan Lan's face was somewhat meaningful, but he didn't explain further.

Bai Xuechao sneered and didn't ask anything else.

Playing mysterious, fine.

They walked up the spiral staircase to the second floor.

“This floor is my warehouse, filled with little gadgets I made when I was bored.” Yuan Lan didn't continue to lead Bai Xuechao upstairs, but asked, “Do you want to take a look?”

Bai Xuechao knew that since Yuan Lan had offered to let him see, it meant there was nothing important here, but he still replied, “Sure.”

He wanted to see what kind of things Yuan Lan had made, and what level his skills were at.

They entered the second floor. One could see rows of shelves, and a few stacked cardboard boxes in the corner. It was clear that the owner didn't take much care of this place, as everything was just piled up randomly.

Bai Xuechao walked past the shelves, his red eyes scanning the objects on them. Yuan Lan followed quietly behind him.

There were many handmade items on the shelves, including wood carvings, pottery, and plant and animal specimens… It was clear that Yuan Lan had a pair of skilled hands.

Sunlight slanted in from the window, but because it was far from the shelves, it only cast a patch of golden light on the floor, with tiny dust motes floating in the light.

Bai Xuechao walked to the boxes in the corner. He lowered his eyes to look at the opening of the cardboard box that was not carefully sealed and asked, “Can I open it?” His flat tone was like a formality.

“Of course,” Yuan Lan said.

Bai Xuechao bent down and opened the box, finding some "miscellaneous items" inside.

He first picked up something that looked like a forehead thermometer, “The second-generation electromagnetic wave special ability value detector. You made this?”

As he asked, Bai Xuechao already knew the answer in his heart. After all, Yuan Lan had said that these were all things he made when he was bored.

“Mm,” Yuan Lan said nonchalantly, “I just improved it a little.”

Bai Xuechao chuckled at his words.

At first, detecting special ability values required a blood test, and this method of detection continued for several years.

Later, the officials developed the first-generation detector, which didn't require a blood test and could detect from a distance. Not long after, an improved version, known as the second generation, circulated in the underground exchange. It was more accurate and faster than the first generation in its measurements.

At that time, if they encountered an unknown mutated species outside, they relied entirely on the second-generation detector to safely and quickly determine their level and respond accordingly.

How old was Yuan Lan at that time? A casual improvement? Yuan Lan really knew how to show off.

Bai Xuechao put the detector back in the cardboard box and picked up a small juicer.

He took a quick look. This small juicer was very strange. It had no switch, no power cord, and no battery compartment when he opened the back cover. He could only see the electronic components.

Bai Xuechao glanced at Yuan Lan. Seeing that the other was just smiling at him with no intention of explaining, he turned his gaze back to the juicer in his hand.

What was Yuan Lan doing with a juicer?

He stared at the electronic components exposed after opening the back cover. He had never studied this, so he didn't know what these components were, but it was very obvious that the small, obsidian-like particle, only two millimeters in diameter, embedded in the edge of the circuit board was definitely not a component.

If he had to say what it looked like—

Bai Xuechao glanced at the black bracelet on his left wrist, which was no different from a handcuff. It had the same texture, similar to obsidian, and was smooth. But this black ring, more than a finger's width, had a clear glassy luster, making them similar, yet not so similar.

However, his intuition told him that these two things were definitely related.

Bai Xuechao raised his left hand and tapped the base of the juicer with the black bracelet on his wrist, making a few crisp sounds, and looked at Yuan Lan.

“You found out.” Yuan Lan touched his chin and said with some regret, “If you weren't wearing this bracelet, you would have figured out how to use this juicer.”

Bai Xuechao handed the juicer to Yuan Lan and said, “Input special ability energy.”

“That's right.” Yuan Lan took the juicer. The juicer suddenly started running in his hand, making a continuous “buzzing” sound.

Bai Xuechao looked calm on the surface, but his heart was in turmoil. It would be a lie to say he wasn't shocked.

This material could convert special ability energy into electricity? Or could it store special ability energy like a battery and then use it as an "energy source" or "power supply"?

The research institute of their Dark Organization only studied medicine because the old leader longed for eternal life. However, the intelligence department would collect intelligence related to special ability research from various forces. He could be certain that a material with this function had never appeared in the underground exchange, or even in any of the organization's intelligence.

If it were the former, in the future, regardless of whether a special ability user's ability was strong or not, they could all serve as a mobile power station.

If it were the latter, as a material that could store special ability energy, it would be the most needed material for the special ability guns that the officials had been researching and improving for years without success, bar none.

Either way, it could advance special ability technology by a large step.

Over there, Yuan Lan put the juicer in his hand aside.

After leaving Yuan Lan's hand, the juicer only continued to run for about five seconds before stopping.

Seeing this, Bai Xuechao could be sure that it could store special ability energy, but for a very short time. Perhaps the stored special ability energy would naturally dissipate over time.

It was definitely not because it could store little special ability energy. If it were that simple a reason, then Yuan Lan could solve it by simply increasing the volume of this material.

This was a flaw.

But with continued research…

Yuan Lan took a small handheld fan out of the box on his own initiative. In his hand, the blades of the small fan began to spin rapidly, creating a breeze. Then he handed the small fan to Bai Xuechao.

Bai Xuechao naturally took the small fan. This time, the small fan ran in his hand for a few more seconds before stopping.

A clear improvement. The running time had become longer after leaving the continuous input of special ability energy.

Of course, it could also be that the small fan required less power than the juicer.

However, when Bai Xuechao saw Yuan Lan's brilliant golden eyes curve at him, he knew that the former guess was correct. Yuan Lan had indeed upgraded the material.

“Do you like it?” Yuan Lan continued to rummage through the cardboard box, saying at the same time, “If you like it, I can give it to you.”

This time, he took out a hand warmer in the shape of a cat's paw. It was pink and tender, and quite cute.

“Give it to me?” Bai Xuechao was a little speechless. He shook the black bracelet on his left wrist, “Are you doing this on purpose? Did you forget I can't use it right now?”

“Then I'll give you this first.” Yuan Lan smiled and shook the cat paw hand warmer in his hand. The small red light on the edge had already turned green. He handed it to Bai Xuechao.

Bai Xuechao put down the small fan and took the hand warmer. The hand warmer was already heating up.

He counted the seconds in his mind and found that more than thirty seconds had passed, and the hand warmer was still heating up. He looked up at Yuan Lan, who was watching him at leisure.

“After being fully charged with special ability energy, it can continue to heat up for two minutes.” Yuan Lan held up two fingers and playfully beckoned.

Bai Xuechao: “…”

He was too lazy to curse.

What could he do in two minutes?

However, compared to the initial five seconds, the current time had increased by more than twenty times.

He squeezed the hand warmer in his hand a little harder.

Seeing that Bai Xuechao didn't say anything, Yuan Lan didn't mind his lack of response. He rummaged through another box that he hadn't looked at yet, “The rest are just some small toys. Do you want to play?”

He suddenly pulled a gun out of the cardboard box and pointed it at Bai Xuechao's forehead at an extremely fast speed.

Bai Xuechao looked calmly at the smiling Yuan Lan, his scarlet eyes as calm as a windless sea, without a ripple, quiet and profound.

“Shoot,” Bai Xuechao suddenly smiled.

Yuan Lan gently poked Bai Xuechao's forehead with the muzzle of the gun a couple of times, then moved the gun away slightly and pulled the trigger—

A red tongue made of plastic paper shot out from the muzzle.

“Aww…” Yuan Lan sighed dramatically. He twirled the gun around his index finger through the trigger guard and threw it back into the box, “Still not scared.”

Bai Xuechao stared at Yuan Lan and said perfunctorily with a straight face, “Ah, so scary.”

“Too fake, that won't do,” Yuan Lan said.

“I remember saying that I prefer scaring people to being scared.” Bai Xuechao glanced at the things in that cardboard box. If he wasn't mistaken, they were all prank toys. He had finished looking at the things driven by special ability energy that Yuan Lan had made and had gained something. He was not interested in prank toys. “I've seen all these. Let's go.”

Yuan Lan casually piled the things he had taken out back into the box and said, “Okay, I'll take you to the next floor.”

Yuan Lan put his arm around Bai Xuechao's shoulder and led him away from the second floor and upstairs.

The two walked side by side on the stairs.

Bai Xuechao glanced at Yuan Lan, who was walking briskly beside him. His long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and a dark glint flashed in his eyes.

The setting of Yuan Lan's character was more complicated than he had imagined.

A person's energy was limited, but Yuan Lan had done far too much.

He founded the Apocalypse Society and developed it into such a powerful force. He had also researched many things: X8 pills, bracelets that suppressed special abilities, special ability value detectors, materials that could temporarily store special ability energy… He believed that the things the other had researched were not limited to these, and he would be able to find out soon.

Bai Guzi creating such a character was definitely not just for them to compete with their Dark Organization.

The waters of the Apocalypse Society were not shallow at all.

But that was what made it interesting.

“We're here!” Yuan Lan stopped with Bai Xuechao on the third floor and introduced, “My laboratory number one~”