Gene Mutation Point

Lin Shen simply did not understand. Completing the first gene mutation only required a single Steel Gene Mutation Egg. Even if one had an Alloy Egg or even a Crystal Gene Egg, they could not be used.

A Gene Mutation Egg that was too advanced could completely metalize the human undergoing mutation, turning them into a lifeless statue.

Gene mutation was an incredibly wondrous and dangerous process. Only precisely the right amount of energy could grant a flesh-and-blood human a foundation of steel. The process was even stranger and more fantastical than the complete metamorphosis of a butterfly.

Was it necessary to risk their lives in such a dangerous place for one Steel Gene Mutation Egg? With the Lin Family's resources, buying a top-grade Steel Gene Mutation Egg should not have been much of a burden.

As though he had seen the doubt in Lin Shen's heart, Lao Ye explained, "Generally speaking, most top-grade Steel Gene Mutation Eggs only have one attribute reaching the maximum value of ten. Having two attributes reach ten was already exceedingly rare. Third Master and Fourth Master wanted to find you a Gene Mutation Egg with at least three, perhaps even four, attributes at their maximum values. That was why they went to Gourd Mountain."

Lao Ye gave a bitter laugh before continuing, "If they had known Fifth Brother had already completed his gene mutation, there would have been no need to go to Gourd Mountain."

Lin Shen could hear the faint reproach in Lao Ye's voice. Lao Ye believed he had already mutated but had not told Third Brother and Fourth Brother, causing them to take that unnecessary risk.

But Lin Shen had no way to explain it. How could a human who had not undergone gene mutation possibly render the Superspeed Gunslinger incapable of fighting back with a single blow?

"How did they know Gourd Mountain had that kind of Gene Mutation Egg?" Lin Shen felt that something was still amiss.

"Because Gourd Mountain is actually a Gene Mutation Point," Lao Ye said slowly.

When Lin Shen heard the words "Gene Mutation Point," his eyes widened. He said in shock, "There's a Gene Mutation Point near us?"

More than two hundred years ago, Gene Mutation Creatures had begun appearing around the world. It was not that they had suddenly appeared everywhere at once. Rather, they first emerged in certain special locations, then gradually spread outward into the surrounding regions. The places where Gene Mutation Creatures first appeared were called Gene Mutation Points.

Not only were Gene Mutation Creatures plentiful near a Gene Mutation Point, there could also be terrifying high-level Gene Mutation Creatures.

There had once been a base with over a hundred Crystal Gene Level Gene Mutators that attempted to force their way into the outer region of a Gene Mutation Point to plunder its resources. In the end, they alarmed an incomparably terrifying Gene Mutation Creature within. Not only were all the Gene Mutators who entered the Gene Mutation Point wiped out, that creature even flew to a nearby human base and directly destroyed it, leaving countless dead and wounded.

Since then, ordinary bases had deliberately avoided building near Gene Mutation Points.

Lin Shen had never imagined that there would be a Gene Mutation Point near Blackbird Base. Yet over all these years, he had never heard of any terrifying high-level Gene Mutation Creatures appearing nearby.

"No wonder even someone like Second Brother ended up trapped in there." Lin Shen felt somewhat vexed. If Third Brother and Fourth Brother were truly trapped as well because they had gone to find him a Gene Mutation Egg, he feared he would never know peace for the rest of his life.

"Lao Ye, do you know where Gourd Mountain is?" Lin Shen asked.

"Fifth Brother, don't ask about that. I cannot possibly let you go to Gourd Mountain. Even if Third Master and Fourth Master died, they would not want you taking such a risk," Lao Ye immediately said, shaking his head.

"Then send someone to Gourd Mountain to see what's happening," Lin Shen said after a moment of thought.

"No. To keep Gourd Mountain secret, Third Master and Fourth Master would rather take the risk themselves. If we send people there now and Gourd Mountain's secret is exposed, then all of Third Master and Fourth Master's painstaking efforts will have been in vain." Lao Ye once again rejected Lin Shen's proposal.

"Lao Ye, since Gourd Mountain was named by Second Brother and no outsiders knew about it, why did Bai Shenfei know that name?" After thinking for a while, Lin Shen suddenly looked up at Lao Ye and asked.

Lao Ye said gravely, "That was what I wanted to say as well. Fourth Master should not have leaked anything about Gourd Mountain. Qi Shuheng and Wang Tianer were acting strangely today too. They seemed extremely certain that Fourth Master was not at the base. Otherwise, they would not have tested us so blatantly again and again."

"You mean..." Lin Shen trailed off without continuing.

"There may be a traitor among us." Lao Ye's face darkened.

"How many people knew Fourth Brother went to Gourd Mountain with Third Brother?" Lin Shen asked.

"Other than me, no one knew Third Master and Fourth Master had gone to Gourd Mountain. The only people who knew Fourth Master had gone out were those four fellows. As for those who could have guessed that Fourth Master might be away, there are rather a lot of them," Lao Ye said thoughtfully.

The four fellows Lao Ye mentioned were the four people Lin Xiangdong trusted most apart from Lao Ye. All of them were Alloy Gene Mutators.

"Lao Ye, which of those four do you think could be the traitor?" Lin Shen knew those four as well. They were all Lin Xiangdong's trusted confidants. They had followed Lin Xiangdong through life and death for many years and shared bonds forged by surviving together. They had also made plenty of enemies among the Qi and Wang Families. None of them seemed likely to be a traitor.

"They've followed Fourth Master for so many years. Fourth Master has saved their lives, and they have saved Fourth Master's life. To say that there is a traitor among them... I truly find it hard to believe. Besides, they have done no shortage of things offending the Qi and Wang Families while following Fourth Master these past years. It is truly difficult to believe they would defect to those two families."

"That is exactly what makes it frightening." Lin Shen sighed. "Lao Ye, you are the only one I can trust now."

"Rest assured, Fifth Brother. I will drag that traitor out. If it truly is one of those four, I will personally dig out his heart and see whether it is black," Lao Ye said viciously.

"Investigate in secret. Do not make a big fuss. Even if you find the culprit, do not act rashly. Everything can wait until Third Brother and Fourth Brother return," Lin Shen said.

"What if... I mean, what if... Fourth Master and Third Master are truly trapped and cannot return?"

"There is no what if. They will definitely return."

"Right. Third Master and Fourth Master are both extraordinary men. What great winds and waves have they not weathered? This time will definitely be like before—they will return safely." Lao Ye paused, then added, "Fortunately, Fifth Brother, you are already an Alloy Gene Mutator. With you here, the Lin Family still has a pillar to rely on. Even if Third Master and Fourth Master truly meet with misfortune, I will stake this life of mine to help you protect the Lin Family's legacy."

Lin Shen glanced at Lao Ye and nodded. "Lao Ye, then I'll be relying on you. Help me dig out that traitor first."

"Rest assured, Fifth Brother. I'll investigate right away." Lao Ye turned and headed outside as he spoke.

After watching Lao Ye leave, Lin Shen took off the mask on his face. Frowning, he muttered to himself, "This Lao Ye... several times, his words seemed to be subtly goading me into going to Gourd Mountain for a rescue. I hope I'm overthinking it."

Lin Shen naturally wanted very much to go to Gourd Mountain, but he truly did not possess that kind of strength. Going there would only mean throwing his life away for nothing.

Acupoint striking was powerful, but he still needed the ability to get close and land a hit. Seven Steps of Conflict was only effective when the opponent used a gun, and Gene Mutation Creatures that used guns were only a minority. Going there would be no different from seeking death.

"If I want to be of help, I first need to make sure I'm not dead weight." After pondering deeply for a moment, Lin Shen quickly left Lin Xiangdong's residence and returned to his own quarters.

After returning, Lin Shen went to the Incubation Pod and stared thoughtfully at the three Gene Mutation Eggs inside.

"In another day or so, the Steel Tail Scorpion should hatch. I'll see how things look before deciding." Lin Shen felt that these Gene Mutation Eggs possessing Super Gene Evolution Seeds should have attributes far beyond the ordinary.

If the Steel Tail Scorpion's attributes were off the charts after it hatched, he would directly use the Black Iron Swallow or Hundred Refinements Steel Beast Gene Mutation Egg to complete his gene mutation.

"What exactly is a Super Gene Evolution Seed?" Lin Shen could not help thinking of Bai Shenfei again.

Bai Shenfei was a human, yet she actually possessed a Super Gene Evolution Seed. It was truly somewhat unbelievable.

Lin Shen very much wanted to obtain the Seed on Bai Shenfei. If that Seed possessed heaven-defying abilities, he would have more capital to go to Gourd Mountain.

Yet even now, Lin Shen still had not figured out how the Seed had transferred onto him.

In practice, so long as he slept with a Gene Mutation Egg that possessed a Seed, he could obtain the Seed's abilities.

The problem was that Bai Shenfei was a person—and a woman at that. He could not exactly ask a woman he had only met once to sleep with him, could he?

If money could solve the problem, Lin Shen would now be willing to trade his little stash of savings for Bai Shenfei to sleep with him once, but that was clearly unrealistic.

"So you're the Lin Family's little brother Lin Shen—the one Senior Brother Lin often mentioned, the fellow proficient in eating, drinking, and playing." A woman's voice suddenly rang out behind Lin Shen.

Lin Shen turned around and saw a humanoid mass of mosaic sitting on his sofa. Other than Bai Shenfei, it could not possibly be anyone else.