After Liu Yun successfully transplanted nine precious Spirits of Vegetation onto the battleship and used its advanced technology to protect and cultivate them, he set off on his way back to Jiangnan City. His trip to Mist Island had not only given him resources capable of changing the world, but also allowed him to eliminate a major enemy.
Upon returning to Jiangnan City, Liu Yun didn't rush to announce the Cell Evolution Fluid. Instead, he focused on the impact of the traditional Chinese medicine formula he had released earlier.
As expected, China Region reaped the greatest benefits. Thanks to its complete system for producing and processing traditional Chinese medicine, it had monopolized roughly ninety-nine percent of the new drug's output. The new drug developed by the Machine Race Clone represented a tremendous breakthrough, so this outcome was only natural. The other human bases on Earth could only consider how to claim a share for themselves.
India Base, EU Base, North America New Town, and the other surviving bases joined forces to pressure China Region. They demanded that China Region report all new drug production so the Human Council could redistribute it, and that it transfer its entire traditional Chinese medicine production system, spreading its production capacity among the various human bases.
China Region would never agree to such harsh demands. In truth, the other human bases acted as though they had the upper hand, but they had no means of enforcing their demands.
With monsters running rampant, the human bases could maintain only extremely limited contact. Most communication had to take place through radio conferences, making it difficult for them to coordinate their efforts. Moreover, China Region had two top fighters, Hong and Thunder God. Even the War Gods who wanted to secure benefits for their own bases could only stay silent in the end, hoping to replace confrontation with cooperation.
If the traditional Chinese medicine production system could be transferred elsewhere, human Martial Artists could be trained all over the world. Ultimately, this would improve humanity's overall combat strength and, from a broader perspective, help ease the pressure on China Region.
Unfortunately, China Region wouldn't have the spare capacity to transfer any of its production until it had made full use of traditional Chinese medicine. And even then, it would require numerous terms favorable to China. Everyone understood this perfectly well, but there was nothing they could do about it.
Liu Yun and the others had already returned from Australia. With the Excalibur Brave, getting home was naturally easy. Its main cannon possessed Star Level combat power—how could anything have stood in their way?
The people from the Limit Dojo, on the other hand, had returned later because of the beast tide. Apparently, Luo Feng had also been forced to remain behind for a while, but Liu Yun couldn't concern himself with that for now.
After returning to Huaxia Base, they first went to Liu Yun's residence in the HR Alliance. The girls now all knew Liu Yun's "secret," and trusted him completely.
But Liu Yun went alone to Little Red's grave, overcome with sorrow. Ever since he had transmigrated, he hadn't trusted anyone. The only one he had truly cared for was Little Red, whom he had hatched himself.
"Hmph. Is sincerity really the ultimate weapon? I think you were the only one who truly understood me, from beginning to end..."
Liu Yun murmured before the gravestone. The sky obligingly clouded over, and before long, a light drizzle began to fall.
An umbrella opened beside Liu Yun, followed by the slightly apologetic voice of a beautiful woman. Someone had come to hold the umbrella for him.
"Have you still not been able to let go? I'm sorry. It was just an accident, and now that the traditional Chinese medicine formula has been made public, I doubt anyone will care about you anymore."
It was Xueni. A gleaming Crystal hung on her, a token of her friendship with Liu Yun.
The Crystal had been made by the Machine Race Clone to fool people. It still had considerable computing power, though nothing compared to the Machine Race Clone. It could help Xueni and the others hack into any network, provide combat and training guidance, and facilitate communication between them.
"None of that matters. I released the traditional Chinese medicine formula on purpose. Besides... don't you already know that I have a new Cell Evolution Fluid, as well as Spirits of Vegetation?"
Even under Xueni's attentive care, Liu Yun still couldn't forget the past. He discussed what they would do next with her, and some of the information had already been shared with the team.
Little Red wouldn't stay dead forever. Liu Yun silently swore that when he reached the Universe Master level, he would bring her back to life.
Some of what Xueni would learn later was information she might have preferred never to know. She had followed Liu Yun all this way chiefly because of the upcoming distribution of the new Evolution Fluid.
The two walked through the grassland around the cemetery in the drizzle. Watching the sky clear after the rain, Xueni lifted her gaze and sighed softly.
Some people gained extraordinary abilities, like Yang Xiaolong and Ruby, but only wanted to use their vast computing power to hack into other people's networks and snoop on their private affairs. Blacka, by contrast, was more ambitious. As soon as she got the Crystal Ball, she used it to help with her training. All she did was practice the Nine-Fold Thunder Blade. It all came down to different personal interests.
As the daughter of a prominent family, Xueni naturally had to keep the bigger picture in mind. She wanted to secure benefits for her family.
"I know these things will completely change the world's balance of power. The Excalibur Brave is like the Mayflower from several centuries ago, landing on Earth and changing everything."
Walking beside Liu Yun, she voiced her concerns. The traditional Chinese medicine formula had already caused such a huge upheaval. If the Cell Evolution Fluid and the cultivable Spirits of Vegetation were revealed too, wouldn't the whole world be thrown into turmoil?
"Captain, I don't care what happens to other people, but could my family get a special license to sell some of the Cell Evolution Fluid? I mean, only if it benefits you. After all, there are some markets that only we can open up."
Xueni had been thinking about how to say this for a long time. She certainly didn't dare to ask for too much, but if the opportunity arose to secure an additional benefit, she had to take it.
By comparison, Blacka, Ruby, Yang Xiaolong, and the others were more guileless. The thought hadn't even crossed their minds.
"It's already impressive that you thought that far ahead! As for the Cell Evolution Fluid..."
Liu Yun briefly explained his plans for the next step. The Cell Evolution Fluid would first be a benefit for ordinary people in China Region. Only after meeting their needs would he provide it to people in other survivor bases.
Among the grass, Liu Yun spoke plainly.
"Let me put it this way! The Cell Evolution Fluid will become the new currency. If people from other bases want it, they can trade for it with enough resources."
Xueni frowned at his words. She was clever enough to understand what he meant.
"You're saying that, in the future, the other bases will only be able to offer cheap resources to Huaxia Base? All right, I understand. I think my family can still profit from this. I'll leave it at that."
In this world, only strength was hard currency. The value of the Cell Evolution Fluid would be recognized like never before. In that case, it would become the standard by which everything was measured—the new currency.
Meanwhile, inside Huaxia Base, a group of Military representatives crowded around Liu Ling.
"Oh my god! Liu Yun really has a new drug formula! Quick, we have to put it into production immediately!"
The group stared excitedly at the information Liu Yun had sent. They saw the new drug and its new active ingredient. Its effects could turn anyone into a Martial Artist—even one at the War God level.
This was enough to change the fate of all Huaxia. The most terrifying ability of the Machine Race Base was its technological breakthroughs and the impact they had on human society. Now, this extraterrestrial technology base was going to change the entire world.
Liu Ling, who was among them, looked uneasy instead. She hadn't received much useful information herself.
"Liu Ling, you're now the head of the Huaxia Research Base. This order takes effect immediately!"
Two Military representatives repeated the order to Liu Ling. It was true that Liu Yun had chosen to work with the Military to strengthen Huaxia, but Liu Ling's role in all this could not be overlooked.
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