"I understand. Thank you for the advice."
Chiba slowly backed out of the laboratory. After bowing deeply toward the people inside, he spoke with utmost sincerity.
"We will destroy all the research data related to this matter and keep it confidential for you. But if possible, I hope you can come here for regular checkups. Don't worry about anyone finding out about your physical condition."
From inside came equally sincere words. Yet beneath the voices, which sounded rather elderly, lingered traces of regret and sighing.
"Mm, I understand."
In response, Chiba straightened up and gave another slight bow before closing the door.
"Phew..."
As the door shut, Chiba let out a long sigh.
It was already nearly two in the afternoon. After that, Chiba had spent several more hours talking with the old scholars, gaining a thorough understanding of his current physical condition and working with them on several hypothetical scenarios and assumptions.
But in the end, they still could not explain whether his current native cells had continuously strengthened and evolved through recovery from near-death states, or whether they had come from devouring and fusing with foreign cells.
As for why he could not use Eight Gates Mode, all they could conclude was a somewhat far-fetched explanation: foreign cells existed in his body, while his own cells were still in a state of devouring and assimilation. His entire body was undergoing a period of transformation, and during that time, he failed to meet one of the activation requirements of the Eight Gates, making it impossible for him to use it.
Whenever Chiba had felt as though his body had been replaced with another one, he had not been wrong. His body was indeed changing from the inside out, and he truly was getting a new body.
According to the