Kidnapping a Professor

'Did I misjudge the situation?'

'Or is this awakened Psionicist able to raise their realm in a short time?'

Wang Jixuan frowned in thought, not acting rashly.

The two were locked onto each other at this moment; whoever moved first would trigger the other's full offensive.

Spiritual Sense could tell that Fu Jian had already detected the abnormal Psionic Fluctuation here and would arrive in about fifty seconds, meaning...

'This Daoist doesn't need to fight to the death. Delaying for fifty seconds is enough.'

Wang Jixuan's gaze flickered slightly as he suppressed the urge to use Demonic Cultivation, staring into the other's eyes.

"Aren't you going to attack?"

Professor Shen slightly raised her chin. Her eyes, which had always lacked strong emotion, now held a hint of impatience.

"You knocked them out and collected data here. Is your purpose to steal secrets? Are you mute?"

"No."

Wang Jixuan's voice, processed to remove electronic noise, came out, and then there was silence.

Professor Shen slowly raised her left hand, her slender fingers opening one by one. The various surgical instruments in the laboratory converged towards her palm.

Those few assistants had already hidden behind the operating table.

Their psychological resilience was quite good; they immediately chose to cover their heads and squat down, observing the scene intently.

Wang Jixuan employed a stratagem:

[Bluff].

"You're no match for me," he said simply. "Mo Feng and Huo Rong both died by my hand."

--Actually, it wasn't entirely a bluff. He just didn't want to use Demonic Cultivation right now, and his preparations weren't sufficient; he didn't have the large formation formed by a drone swarm.

As expected, this move was quite effective.

Professor Shen's movements became a bit hesitant.

She didn't lower her left hand, only saying:

"Indeed, I'm not very skilled in combat, and I don't have much practical experience. I'm no match for Huo Rong, but that's no reason for me to sit here and wait for death."

"Are you researching Evangelists?"

Wang Jixuan crossed his arms, trying to appear relaxed, using his body language to express his disdain for Professor Shen's combat prowess.

As expected, this awakened A+ Psionicist, who was focused on research, became even more vigilant upon seeing this.

Wang Jixuan spoke as if they were having a casual chat: "How much do you know about Evangelists? Have you communicated with them directly?"

"No," Professor Shen frowned. "I'm just researching the mimicry principles of Evangelists and doing some Mecha applications."

"Are the Psionic Mechas in the warehouse your work?"

"It's the team I lead."

"You want to use the Evangelists' mimicry principles to modify those Psionic Mechas?"

"Yes," Professor Shen habitually pushed up her 'glasses,' then remembered that after completing her Psionic Infusion, she no longer needed to wear them.

Professor Shen said quickly:

"Are you just here to ask these questions? Or do you want to capture me and bring me back to D5 to serve Fu Jian? If it's the latter, I need you to do one thing."

"What?"

"Kill Fu Jian."

"That's impossible," Wang Jixuan said leisurely. "I can't get rid of my old buddy."

A hint of curiosity appeared in Professor Shen's eyes: "Are you also an old monster who's lived for over a hundred years?"

"I don't particularly like the description 'old monster'."

Daoist Wang chuckled inwardly.

This troublesome fellow was actually chatting with him?

He seized the opportunity to ask: "You have some sort of hatred for Fu Jian."

"Yes, my grandfather died in a war over fifty years ago. He was just a researcher, but he was killed by a Half-Human Mech's cannon fire.

"My father died in a conflict twenty years ago. He was still just a researcher, but he was killed by D5's Special Operations Team... half the base was completely destroyed by a few thermobaric bombs."

Professor Shen stared at the Half-Human Mech:

"So, tell me, should I hate him?"

"He was just fighting against the Six Elders."

"But my family and I became sacrifices in that struggle."

"So," Wang Jixuan tilted his chin towards Professor Shen, "you infused yourself and became a Psionicist? And you gained inspiration from Spiritual Practitioners?"

"Do you know this many secrets?"

Professor Shen was clearly a little surprised. A hint of confusion flickered in her naturally alluring peach blossom eyes:

"Aren't Spiritual Practitioners a secret guarded by those six old geezers? Why do you know about them?

"Oh, right. The fourth wall that Fu Jian stole fifty years ago has already been triggered by you guys."

"Half right. To be honest, I don't think much of the Spiritual Practitioner's technology."

Wang Jixuan chuckled:

"Is there a possibility that I once detained Huo Rong's soul and learned a lot about her?

"For example, her real name is Li Shujuan. She always believed that consuming high-protein food could whiten her skin. She had already lost her fertility, yet she still liked to pretend to be in her thirties and date younger men.

"However, I'm more interested in you, Professor Shen, right now.

"You're researching Blade Beasts. You should know that Blade Beasts were creations of the Spiritual Practitioner Civilization. It's just that the Blade Beasts went out of control and developed into a powerful civilization on their own. The Blade Beasts and the Spiritual Practitioners became mortal enemies.

"Are you trying to master more Spiritual Practitioner technology by researching Blade Beasts?

"I have a question. Your abilities, your technology, and this brain of yours that seems so intelligent... By all rights, you should be under the protection of the Psionic Capital. Why are you staying in this godforsaken place?

"Were you ostracized?

"Or did they want you to conduct research you didn't want to, and you refused? Your eyes answered me. It seems that's really the case."

"I hate talking to you."

Professor Shen pursed her lips and frowned. Unfortunately, her mask covered most of her face, revealing only her slightly pointed chin.

She slowly lowered the left hand she had raised and said calmly, "Let's get back to the main topic..."

BOOM!

A massive explosion sounded from overhead.

Wang Jixuan's Spiritual Sense had been covering all areas. At this moment, he could see clearly:

The confrontation between the Peak Maid Group and the S-Class Psionicist Filly had come to an end. Filly, injured, began to retreat, and the Peak Maid Group fell under the assault of the local garrison.

Filly's crisis was not over.

The Peak Maid Group had injured Filly, and the Buddha Hall Squad was on their way to engage her.

Wang Jixuan had no worries at this moment—because while he was chatting with this young female professor, Fu Jian had already arrived!

Using his brain was much more effective than using Demonic Cultivation.

Moreover, Wang Jixuan stared at the symbols on the woman before him, sensing her aura.

Strangely, she had no karma and no lingering resentment.

She hadn't personally killed anyone, at least.

As for the specifics, he would have to perform a soul search to find out.

Ugh, when did this Daoist start using soul searching as a standard procedure?

Wang Jixuan lowered his arm, standing with his hands behind his back while wearing the X Armor. His posture was somewhat awkward.

He asked, "What do you mean by the main topic?"

"You killed Fu Jian, and I work for D5."

"Are you crazy, or am I crazy?"

"I can provide D5 with a large amount of Psionic Technology, including more efficient Psionic Infusion, as well as some Spiritual Practitioner technology."

Professor Shen said softly:

"I don't belong to the Dominion Faction, Naturalist Faction, or Beast God Faction. The Psionic Capital doesn't currently know my true strength.

"My Psionic Infusion experiments were done by myself. My brain doesn't have a Self-Destruct Chip."

Wang Jixuan asked, "Do you have an Infusion Wall?"

"I've replicated three. The walls used here were all made by me."

Professor Shen slowly took off her protective suit, dispersed the symbols on her body, put her hands in the pockets of her White Coat, and looked calmly at Wang Jixuan:

"I can prove my value is above Fu Jian's.

"I've seen your intel. Huo Rong died by your hand, so I'm not your opponent either. Since I'm not your opponent, I might as well strive for more conditions for my own survival."

A deep male voice sounded from outside the laboratory door: "Except for killing Fu Jian, everything else can be discussed. D5 wants your knowledge."

"Is that your helper outside?"

Professor Shen said calmly:

"Apart from that condition, I can achieve almost anything else on my own."

Wang Jixuan advised, "Is the hatred that great?"

"Have you ever lost your father?"

"I have," Wang Jixuan replied honestly, "but he died of old age."

"Then do you know what kind of fate a family faces in the twisted environment of the Psionic Capital after losing its backbone and pillar?"

Professor Shen calmly retorted:

"My hatred for Fu Jian stems mostly from the environment, not from him personally. He's just a personification of my past suffering.

"I've analyzed this point carefully.

"But this is my only pursuit right now."

Wang Jixuan said, "Don't you want to protect humanity? Be a hero."

"I don't have that strong a sense of collective honor," Professor Shen tilted her head slightly. "I only do what I want to do, and nothing else matters. It's fine if I don't kill Fu Jian. Just give me a research topic that interests me. I've been so bored lately that I've been contemplating dissecting a King-Class Blade Beast."

Wang Jixuan pondered carefully.

He said, "I can give you a research topic, but I must search your soul and see your complete memories to determine if you are a good person or a bad person."

"Ha!"

The professor burst out laughing, clearly amused to the point of anger.

"What arrogant words are these? You can search souls? And give me a research topic directly?

"Do you know how many top-tier Psionic Technology journals I've published in?

"Do you know how much I've contributed to reducing the mortality rate of Psionic Infusion rituals? I think you're insulting... uh."

Professor Shen stared intently at Wang Jixuan's left hand.

Wang Jixuan's left hand, encased in armor, opened. A rectangular, emerald green slip of paper fluttered gently. The talisman on it lit up, transforming the paper into a fiery serpent that flew towards the Evangelist on the operating table.

Boom!

An explosion sounded, and the Evangelist lost two pieces of its exoskeleton.

Wang Jixuan swept his Sword Finger horizontally, and a flashy, yet unsubstantial sword energy shot out.

With his Grand Perfection cultivation in the Returning to Truth Realm, the sword energy swept across, beheading the Evangelist in an instant. Its Crystal Core rolled out, and Wang Jixuan snatched it into his palm.

Wang Jixuan quickly absorbed the Crystal Core's psionic energy, causing it to shatter on its own. A Remnant Soul in the shape of the Evangelist flew out.

The Daoist snapped his fingers silently, revealing the Evangelist's Remnant Soul, which was directly seen by Professor Shen and several assistants.

Under their gaze, Wang Jixuan casually grasped the Evangelist's Remnant Soul. A small, black Jiaolong appeared on his shoulder and bit off the head of the Remnant Soul, swallowing it in two bites.

Wang Jixuan patted the black Jiaolong's head, recalled it, and looked up at Professor Shen.

Professor Shen frowned deeply.

She could understand what other Psionicists could not.

In other words, she knew what she was looking at.

"When can you search my soul?" Professor Shen asked.

"Definitely not here. My students are still fighting Filly," Wang Jixuan said simply. "As your pledge of allegiance, you can kill this Filly yourself."

"Alright, I'll give you my pledge."

Professor Shen calmly agreed and turned to leave. After two steps, she couldn't help but stop, turning back to look at Wang Jixuan.

"Old sir, can you teach me how to control the soul of a Blade Beast? I can exchange it for technology you desire."

Wang Jixuan said, "That's very simple. You can do it now. We'll talk about it back at D5. You know too little."

This was an empty promise.

Professor Shen nodded slightly. "Indeed. My vision was too narrow before, and I was quite offensive... Thank you. You've made me feel a long-lost interest."

She removed her mask, revealing a rather beautiful, petite face. After taking off her White Coat, her simple outfit of sweatpants and a black short-sleeved shirt couldn't hide her curvaceous figure at all.

She quickly tied up her dry, black hair that reached her neck and said rapidly, "Give me six minutes. I need to change into my combat suit and then rush to Filly's location. A portion of the research team here are my followers. I have a way to bring them with me, so please don't kill them."

Wang Jixuan shook his head. "That depends on whether their hands are clean."

"When it involves psionic experiments, it's impossible for them to be completely clean. Most of the topics we work on are about reducing the mortality rate of psionic experiments."

"Ask the person outside the door. I don't handle that."

Professor Shen looked somewhat suspicious. She opened the laboratory door and froze.

Fu Jian stood with his hands behind his back.

Professor Shen was stunned for a moment. Her eyes, which had shown little emotion before, became bloodshot as she struggled to hold back tears.

Her body trembled a few times, then she took a deep breath, lowered her head, and quickly left.

"I'll go kill Filly. Remember to give me my research topic."

"Wait for me. I need to go grade my students. We're done exploring here."

Wang Jixuan went out and tossed the data device to Fu Jian, smiling.

"Three King-Class Blade Beast Crystal Cores. You can pay in installments.

"Quickly mobilize the troops. There are many good things here. This research team can also be taken back; they are very valuable."

"I'm negotiating with the General Headquarters of D3."

Kinoe slowly nodded, then turned to look at Professor Shen's retreating back and murmured, "It's really her."

"Hm? You know her? She's just a young girl, twenty-six or twenty-seven, isn't she?"

"She was mentioned a few times in the intelligence from the Naturalist Faction. Her name should be Shen Qionglin. She's a genius girl hidden away by the Six Elders, a Special Grade researcher who managed to anger the Six Elders without receiving any punishment. She made several major contributions to Psionic Technology, but the specifics of those contributions were classified as secret by the Dominion Faction.

"There hadn't been any news from her for five years.

"I didn't expect she'd transformed herself into a Psionicist and was hiding in this forgotten corner to continue her research."

Kinoe smiled with satisfaction:

"Knock out the people inside, and we'll follow them. It's fine even if we don't kill Filly this time; we must bring her back.

"I thought she would attack me, which would have been the perfect opportunity to knock her out."

Wang Jixuan casually unleashed a Spiritual Sense Hammer, causing the people inside to fall into a light coma.

He sighed softly, "It's like 'Ye Gong hao Long' after all."

"What do you mean?"

"It's hard for me to explain," Wang Jixuan said. "Was the hatred you felt just a driving force for her when she was lost? When you appeared before her, did she suddenly realize that what she hated was this world? It's probably something like that." Kinoe: ...

"In that case, she might as well just hate me directly."

"Hurry up and chase them. Don't let her get away."

Wang Jixuan whispered:

"You can't trust anyone who comes from the Psionic Capital. Your guard is too low, Commander-in-Chief."

Kinoe didn't retort, merely showing a calm smile.

Wang Jixuan had already activated the armor's booster system and pulled Kinoe forward as they ran.

With Spiritual Sense, they could see the Buddha Hall Squad engaging Filly. However, Filly was clearly scared from her previous encounter with the Peak Maid Group. Upon seeing eight enemies in similar attire, she began to retreat frantically as soon as they made contact.

Ahead, Shen Qionglin turned into a changing room. Without closing the door, she started to undress, opening her closet to reveal a purple, form-fitting combat suit inside.

Wang Jixuan stopped probing with his Spiritual Sense, only vaguely sensing her movements, wary of a sudden attack.

'One should not look at what is contrary to propriety; one should not listen to what is contrary to propriety; one should not speak what is contrary to propriety; one should not move what is contrary to propriety.' This Daoist is a proper, upright person.