"My king, this is our newly developed Dark Energy Restrictor. It works by using dark energy to shield a Super Soldier's Gene Engine, preventing them from drawing on dark energy and thus stripping them of their combat capabilities."
"Oh?"
Qin Feng grew interested. He walked over, took the data tablet Samo handed him, and flipped through the technical specifications. "What's the upper limit on this thing?"
"According to our tests, it can currently only restrict Super Soldiers with third generation divine bodies or below. Once they reach the level of a fourth generation divine body, the restrictor's suppressive effect is greatly reduced."
Samo reported truthfully, a trace of caution in his tone.
Super Soldiers with third generation divine bodies or below?
That was still pretty good.
Fourth generation divine bodies weren't exactly a dime a dozen.
The people in the Known Universe who could push themselves to that level could be counted on one's fingers.
Used well, this thing could sometimes produce unexpected results.
Seeing Qin Feng remain silent, Samo thought he was dissatisfied and hurriedly added, "My king, this is only the first-generation product. Development of the second generation is underway. We're trying to introduce an Analysis Module for the Void Factor, and I believe we'll soon have a version capable of restricting fourth generation divine bodies!"
"Good, very good."
Qin Feng patted Samo on the shoulder, approval in his voice. "You've done very well. I'm very satisfied."
Only upon hearing that did Samo's anxious heart finally settle.
Just then, Soton in the cage also noticed Qin Feng standing outside.
He abruptly scrambled up from his prone position, hooked his two front claws around the dark energy pillars, and bared his teeth at Qin Feng. "You stinking bun! You're finally back! Hurry up and make them let me out! Otherwise, once I get out, I'll bite your head off in one chomp!"
His roar echoed throughout the hall, drawing sidelong looks from the surrounding Giant Shadow Soldiers.
Samo's expression instantly darkened. He whipped his head toward Soton, undisguised anger in his voice. "Insolence! You dare act up before my king?"
He raised his hand and waved at the Giant Shadow Soldiers behind him.
"Guards, turn on the current! Let him learn who the master here is!"
Upon receiving the order, the Giant Shadow Soldiers behind him turned and entered a string of commands into the Main Control Console with almost no hesitation.
The next second, a powerful electric current poured into the cage through the dark energy pillars. Crackling arcs leaped between the pillars, precisely enveloping Soton's entire body.
"Hrrrooooh!!!"
Soton had only a moment to freeze before the electricity sent his whole body into convulsions.
His entire crocodilian body bounced and tumbled around the cage, a string of garbled screams squeezing out of his throat, just like a fish tossed into a pan of hot oil.
Watching him, Qin Feng's mouth twitched.
Seeing distinct wisps of white smoke rising from Soton's body, he waved a hand. "All right, all right. Any more of that and he'll probably turn into grilled fish. Research specimens aren't easy to find, so take it easy."
"Yes, my king."
Samo acknowledged him and gestured to the Giant Shadow Soldiers behind him. The current cut off at once.
Soton collapsed inside the cage, his limbs still twitching slightly as he muttered something unintelligible, but he clearly no longer dared to curse.
Still, a trace of defiance remained in those dark yellow, slit-pupiled eyes, and he secretly rolled his eyes at Qin Feng's back.
Qin Feng did not turn to look at him. His gaze fell on the busy Giant Shadow Soldiers deeper in the hall, a satisfied curve at the corners of his mouth.
The research was progressing much faster than he had expected.
He believed it would not be long before he no longer needed to fear Karl.
He withdrew his gaze, then suddenly seemed to recall something and turned his head toward Zhi Xin.
"By the way, Zhi Xin. You angels have patrolled the Known Universe for a long time. You should know which galaxies are currently undeveloped, right?"
"Undeveloped?"
Zhi Xin tilted her head slightly, a thoughtful glimmer passing through her pale golden eyes. "Qin Feng, are you planning to expand into a new galaxy?"
"That's right."
Qin Feng nodded.
"Why?"
There was a hint of puzzlement in Zhi Xin's voice. "Isn't Blue Star pretty good? With your current strength, if you wanted to take Blue Star and become the master of the Milky Way Galaxy, the Super God Academy shouldn't be able to stop you, right?"
At those words, the look Qin Feng gave her immediately grew peculiar.
He narrowed his eyes, reached out to cup Zhi Xin's soft little face, and kneaded it with moderate pressure.
"Something's off about you, Zhi Xin. Don't you angels uphold the justice order? You're actually encouraging me to seize Blue Star? Tell me, just what are you up to?"
Her cheeks distorted by his kneading, Zhi Xin's eyes darted aside as she tried to turn her face away like a kitten held by the scruff of its neck.
But Qin Feng kept his eyes fixed straight on her, showing no intention of letting her off.
Defeated, Zhi Xin sighed, her voice a little quieter than before. "Well, it's actually quite simple. It's true that I uphold the justice order, but on the day I left the Angel Nebula, my teacher said something that made me realize the justice order no longer suited the angels of today. In some respects, it has even begun to hinder the Angel Civilization's development."
A trace of surprise flashed through Qin Feng's eyes.
"What did your teacher, the Heavenly Blade King, say?"
"My teacher said that although Queen Kaisa's justice order was good, it was too idealistic. It's only because Queen Kaisa is powerful enough to subdue the gods that the justice order can continue to function. But if one day the queen is gone, or someone stronger than her appears, the angels who have always believed in the justice order will undoubtedly suffer terribly."
Qin Feng fell silent.
He had not expected He Xi to have seen that far ahead.
Indeed, if He Xi had not seen that far ahead, the angels would never have secretly researched the Sub-Biological Engine.
After all, the justice order explicitly stipulated that no one in the Known Universe could research technologies related to the void.
That was also why Karl had been targeted.
But that made things interesting.
The makers of the rules were taking the lead in opposing the rules they themselves had established.
Presumably, Kaisa also understood how idealistic the justice order was, but had chosen to follow that path to the bitter end because she could not change it!
"What else? What else did the Heavenly Blade King say?"
Zhi Xin pressed her lips together. "My teacher said that everyone in their generation was too extreme, but it was also that extremism that made them who they were. They couldn't change history. They could only strive to seize the present and thereby forge a new future."
"Seize the present?"
Qin Feng raised his eyebrows slightly. "In other words, you angels have already chosen me? Is that also why you agreed to let me seize Blue Star?"
Zhi Xin did not deny it, merely nodding in silence.
Watching her, Qin Feng suddenly felt the urge to tease her.
The corners of his mouth curved as he spoke unhurriedly. "Then what do you think yourself? Do you also think I'm your future?"
Before you continue