When the laboratory doors opened, the once relatively steady rule fluctuations within Luo Heng suddenly fell into disarray for an instant.
Saine noticed the change, but unlike before, he did not have the nearby device continue recording Luo Heng's reactions.
Several mechanical arms extended from either side of the sealing platform and began dismantling the observation instruments mounted around its perimeter.
Luo Heng's silver-gray rules body remained compressed at the center of the platform. As one layer of restraints slowly loosened, he soon felt that he had a little more room to move than before.
But this did little to ease his mind.
Similar things had happened in the past.
The Mechanical Civilization's experiments did not always require him to be locked firmly in place. Sometimes, giving him a little freedom of movement made it easier to observe changes in his essence.
"What are you going to do today?" Luo Heng asked gravely.
He watched Saine, who had already reached the platform, his tone still far from pleasant.
Yet the trembling deep within his rules body, which he could not fully suppress, betrayed his true feelings.
Fear.
The feelings left by years of experiments would not vanish from his consciousness merely because Luo Heng was still a Level-12 Strong Practitioner.
Saine extended his hand and placed a familiar Balance Sigil before the platform.
Luo Heng abruptly fell silent.
There was no mistaking that aura of essence.
"Your situation has been settled," Saine said.
"The Myriad Manifestations Eternal Lord is ready to take you back."
Luo Heng did not answer immediately.
He first looked at the sigil, then at the experimental devices that were shutting down one after another.
Only when the Myriad Manifestations Eternal Lord's consciousness actually contacted him through the sigil did this Level-12 Strong Practitioner, imprisoned for