Cultivation Chaos: Superheroes In The Realm Of Immorals

Lu Ming and the hawk locked gazes for what seemed like minutes before—

Ke-eeeeee-r!

The hawk let out a shrill cry as its new glistening feathers flapped into motion. It shot upward into the rocky ceiling, but even the obstruction didn't impede its movements. Its beak opened, unleashing what seemed to be a sword light that tore mercilessly through the underground building, continuing unhampered into the sky, followed closely by the hawk itself.

Lu Ming just stared in shock.

Heavens! Did I succeed? He still found it hard to believe.

What did he do differently? Nothing! He was sure of it. Even with his mind fatigued, he never doubted his methodology. His work was brute-forced, patterned, precise. So what was different this time?

Suddenly, his gaze fell on the empty blood pack he had just used. He quickly grabbed it, fishing out its scanty contents.

After a series of tests and scrutiny, his eyes glinted with fascination. Interesting… to think such DNA could possibly exist.

What are these X mutant points I see binding the genetic strands? The more he searched, the more fascinating properties he uncovered.

They always said a single human cell contained a galaxy. But this… this was more akin to galaxy clusters — or even a universe.

The genetic structure of the blood was tainted by X-shaped mutation points that coated the nucleotides, granting them the ability to absorb energy infinitely and output it just as freely.

Fascinating.

Such a genetic miracle could actually exist. This new concept shattered the limits of what he once thought was the peak of genetics.

The more he studied, the more he realized how much of a joke his previous goal had been. With this new gene opening doors, he could strive for more than the so-called "perfect life." With this, the skies were the limit.

His dreams of becoming the ultimate organism would merely be the start of his grand journey.

An eerie smile crept across his face. A man who hadn't smiled in ages, his features had long since stiffened into a mask of fatigue and fury. Forcing a smile now made his expression look so… wrong.

First, I need to find the source… I wonder, will there be more people with even more fascinating mutation points? A flame of greed and determination ignited in his heart.

And for the first time in a very, very long time, the Dean of the Southern Wastelands Seekers branch stepped out of his research room.

The guards who saw him in the hallway panicked, scattering out of sight. Some ran to inform his attendant.

…

"What? Lord Dean is out?" The attendant scrambled from her quarters at the news, her expression turning strange as she recalled what Mu Bai had said a few days earlier.

'Ah, attendant Si Xi, I want you to do me a favor this time while delivering this batch of genetic samples… Hehehe, you see, this time around there is a special blood pack in there that might just bring Head Lu out of seclusion. So please, when that happens, just tell him where I'm at and I will take him to the source.'

She shook her head in disbelief. It couldn't be, right? It must just be coincidence… yes, that's all it is.

Very quickly, the lone figure of the Dean came into sight. Before she could even catch her breath and greet him properly, he spoke — for the first time in years, his words directed at her. Not muttering in depression, not furious banter with himself… but actually speaking to her, and remembering her name.

"There was a unique blood sample in the last batch you gave me, Si. I want you to source the origin."

Her eyes glowed with fervor. Fortunately, his first request of her was something she could fulfill. Now she didn't care that Mu Bai had somehow been involved in bringing the Dean out of seclusion. All that mattered was fulfilling his desire.

"Dean, I thought you would ask. I will lead you to the man who has knowledge of the source right now. He is a scholar of our faction," she hurriedly blurted.

Lu Ming nodded. "Lead the way. Let's see what request he has."

Si Xi quickly obliged, but after a moment she couldn't help but ask, "Lord, why are you so sure he will have a condition for you?" She didn't stop moving as she spoke, guiding him forward.

Lu Ming remained stoic. "Si, you must remember — we are all eccentrics by nature. For a fellow practitioner of knowledge to discover such a treasure and still share it with others, it is a given he has a catch."

Si Xi nodded in understanding. No wonder I found his smile so unsettling.

Soon, they arrived at the door to Mu Bai's abode. Si Xi knocked.

After a few seconds, the door creaked open — but no one was there.

Si Xi furrowed her brows in annoyance. How dare that bastard ignore the Dean. She stepped into the dark abode, spotting Mu Bai in a corner, seemingly working on something. She was about to berate him furiously when suddenly a hand rested on her shoulder, freezing her in place.

The Dean actually touched me… Her face flushed pink.

"Do not disturb him. Can't you see he is on the verge of a breakthrough?" Lu Ming's soothing voice came from behind.

"Huh?" she blurted, confused, glancing back at Mu Bai's figure. He seemed lost in an impassioned trance, working feverishly.

How can he be about to have a breakthrough? We are all mortals, aren't we? she wondered inwardly.

But she stayed still, fearing that any movement might displease the Dean.

After what seemed like hours, Mu Bai finally finished, staring passionately at his creation.

Suddenly, Lu Ming's voice resounded, startling him out of his daze. "Wonderful, isn't it?"

Mu Bai turned, his expression warping into shock at the sight of the famous Head Lu standing before him.

"Greetings, Dean," he quickly bowed.

"To think there exists such DNA in this world… the world is truly vast." Lu Ming continued, ignoring the greeting as he walked past Mu Bai's hunched figure, heading for the newly created substance — a mite.

This mite had been modified with the blood Mu Bai had extracted from Spark. Mu Bai had been ecstatic when he accomplished his first genetic modification. He felt he had taken a great leap toward his goal — which was precisely Head Lu.

Then Lu Ming said something that shocked both Mu Bai and Si Xi.

"What do you say you become my apprentice? I can see your talent. With our minds put together, we might just unearth more mysteries contained in this new DNA."

Deep down, Mu Bai knew the only reason the Dean was offering him apprenticeship was because he alone knew the origin of the blood — Spark.

But he didn't care. His motto was simple: The process does not matter. Only reaching the peak matters.

And so, without hesitation, he accepted. "Apprentice greets Master," he said, kowtowing three times.

Lu Ming nodded in approval. "Now that that's done, show me the way to the subject. We have much studying to do."

"Yes, Master."