*(Some content has been omitted due to content policy conflicts)*

Seeing Li Luo's confused expression, Station Master Liang sighed and explained, "These are Theseus Cells. Some people also call them Anti-Cells."

Theseus Cells?

Anti-Cells?

What are those?

Hearing the name, Li Luo picked up the electronic screen and started searching.

Mo Ling also quickly looked at the information on the screen.

Theseus Cells.

This is a type of organism that people have only recently discovered.

Why were they only discovered after exploring the Abyss for so long?

Because they are simply too hidden.

They have always existed, but no one ever found them until a strange incident occurred at the Seventh Monitoring Station.

For a period of time, researchers discovered that in a certain area on the first layer of the Abyss, the biological samples brought back by the Hunters were all detected as the same type of organism.

Initially, the researchers thought the Hunters were faking it and even presented evidence.

They thought the Hunters were trying to fool them.

But the Hunters were not convinced. They argued vehemently and even produced their video footage.

In the videos, these Hunters did indeed kill these creatures.

After discussion, they then suspected that the samples had been swapped.

So they checked the surveillance within the Monitoring Station but found nothing unusual.

Afterward, they suspected it was a Relic phenomenon, but after a large-scale investigation, the area was completely normal.

No one using Relics to cause trouble was found within the Monitoring Station either.

The investigation came to a standstill.

So the Seventh Monitoring Station dispatched a special team, including researchers and Hunters.

They went deep into this area together and hunted several creatures.

These biological samples were transported from that area to the microscope in the research institute under strict lockdown and the watchful eyes of the researchers.

However, even then, the detected organisms were still the same type.

This strange phenomenon brought the investigation to a halt.

It wasn't until a researcher discovered that even though they were the same type of organism, the cells of individuals within this area were completely different from their counterparts outside the area.

With this breakthrough, the researchers continued to study this area.

Finally, they figured out the reason for this strange phenomenon.

It's because of a type of cell.

It can mimic any kind of creature. From birth to death, the offspring normally produced during this process are also composed of this type of cell.

That's why the creatures in that area are all made of this cell.

Creatures composed of this cell don't show any abnormalities. They eat, drink, and live normally.

They also don't infect other normal creatures.

It's just that individuals composed of this cell will mix within the population and gradually spread.

After producing offspring with normal individuals, this cell will appear within the body of the offspring.

Then, it will replace the normal cells within the individual one cell at a time.

Until the offspring is completely transformed into a creature composed of it.

When the individual is alive, even the most precise instruments cannot distinguish between this cell and normal cells.

Only after death do they revert to their original state.

Upon learning about this cell, the Monitoring Station was on high alert. The researchers almost wanted to slice up everyone in the entire Monitoring Station.

Ultimately, to prevent panic, the Monitoring Station drew blood from everyone under the guise of a full physical examination.

Fortunately, no one in the station had been replaced by this cell.

Because of this strange characteristic, the researchers named it the Theseus Cell.

When all the cells of a creature are replaced by another type, and this cell can still perform all functions without affecting the creature's self-awareness,

Is it still the original creature?

The Theseus Cell has no harm, which also makes its concealment very strong. This bizarre characteristic, however, made everyone feel a chill.

When an entire race is replaced, does that race count as extinct?

If the people of a race discover that their entire race is composed of Theseus Cells, and their population's continuation is merely for the survival of this cell,

How desperate would they be?

Mo Ling felt a chill run through his body as he read this.

He looked at the cells on the screen, moving slowly and appearing completely normal, and suddenly understood why those researchers were in a panic.

Station Master Liang walked to the front of the screen, his back to Li Luo.

His voice also trembled slightly:

"Theseus Cells, some also call them Anti-Cells."

"You can imagine, if one day, a world is filled with creatures composed of Theseus Cells, and you, with only normal cells, are discovered by them."

"They will only capture you, study you, and then come to a conclusion."

"You are an anomaly!"

When Anti-Cells become dominant, normal cells become the anomaly.

At that time, what would be considered right? What would be considered wrong?

Li Luo was too shocked to speak, frozen in place.

Station Master Liang comforted Li Luo: "Fortunately, this kind of cell can only spread within a population."

He stared intently at the screen, his face filled with worry.

"In the beginning, some researchers even planned to use this cell to study medicinal agents."

"We extracted these Theseus Cells, which hadn't started replacing yet, from newborn offspring."

"They can replace various organs, regenerate severed limbs, and even substitute for the brain."

"Do you know what this means?"

"Humans could use those Relics with powerful abilities without any cost!"

"You should know about the 'Enchanted Pickaxe', right? That pickaxe that can dig up any mineral the user desires anywhere, but its cost is the user's hands."

"Theseus Cells could allow this Relic to be used infinitely!"

"But the use of this cell was strictly forbidden. No one dared to bear the consequences of humanity being contaminated by Theseus Cells."

Station Master Liang sighed.

"That area was also sealed off. Now, Theseus Cells have actually appeared elsewhere."

At this moment, Mo Ling realized he had underestimated the seriousness of the matter.

Outside the already sealed-off area, in the habitat of the Shock Beasts, Theseus Cells had appeared!

No wonder Station Master Liang repeatedly confirmed when questioning Li Luo.

"I will send people to re-investigate the Shock Beast habitat. You should go back first," Station Master Liang sighed, full of exhaustion. "I also have to thank you, Li Luo, for discovering such a major hidden danger."

"It's nothing."

After a simple farewell to Station Master Liang, Li Luo returned to her room, but she still seemed to be recovering from the information about the Theseus Cells.

Mo Ling was full of doubts at this moment.

The biological samples they brought back were obtained as soon as they entered the valley.

Mo Ling also didn't see any difference in the Red String Worms inside the other Shock Beasts.

Mo Ling didn't know how many Red String Worms were composed of Theseus Cells, but no matter what, all the Red String Worms had dissipated.

However, why would Theseus Cells, which never change the habits of organisms, suddenly replace Red String Worms and then violate convention by infecting on a large scale?