Mutant Vines

The files were sorted by date.

"Analysis of Desire Compound Concentrations in Vine Blood"

"Experimental Report on Inheriting Vine Powers"

"Surgical Plan for Extracting the Diamond-grade Energy Crystal from the Vine's Body"

"Feasibility of Controlling Vine Powers with a Diamond-grade Energy Crystal"

"Latest Blood Analysis of the Mutant Vine"

"Progress on the Vine's Repair of the Diamond-grade Energy Crystal"

"Research Report on the Vine's Healing Powers"

"Report on Cultivating the Vine's Healing Powers"

"Analysis of Mutant Vine Blood Culture Results"

"Experimental Plan for Further Mutating the Vine"

The files ran from newest to oldest. The most recent dated to shortly before Yu Tu was sent to Calamity Planet.

At the time, Lan Xiao had just dug the Energy Crystal out of Yu Tu's neck. He wanted Yu Tu dead, but he couldn't give up Yu Tu's powers. So he had pumped Yu Tu full of Desire Compound, hoping to make him father a child with a woman who would inherit his vine powers.

But the date on the earliest file surprised Yu Tu.

Judging by the filenames, Cang Qi had clearly guessed something too.

A Vine Energy Master's powers were negligible, scarcely different from an ordinary person's. Across the entire Blue River System—perhaps even the whole galaxy—only Yu Tu's vines were worth studying.

The earliest date was absurdly far back. But the vine in these files had to be Yu Tu.

Cang Qi's startled voice came through the communicator. "This... the earliest date... Era 2026? How?"

Era 2026 was far too early. By Yu Tu's age, he would have been only nine.

The former emperor had still ruled then. Lan Su had been crown prince, and Lan Xiao had been a prince in kindergarten.

Yu Tu said nothing. He silently opened the oldest folder.

The main control screen