Bone-chilling winds, the ice and snow of the Eastern lands—these were its eternal themes, and the true, undisputed sovereigns here. Hardly any entity could stand against them, and their presence permeated every corner.

Today, however, the Arctic was not ruled solely by frozen gales and ice. At least, within a hundred-meter radius of Xue Tian’s body, there was not a trace of wind or snow.

It was clear and bright there; with a bit more sunshine and a few coconut trees, one might mistake the locale for balmy Hawaii.

Seventeen-star level! Xue Tian’s seventeen-star level! The moment he merged with the bioweapon, he could not control the surging, hot blood within him, and a powerful urge to fight erupted, impossible to suppress.

Lin Liqiang stood on the crystalline ice layer, gazing up at Xue Tian in the sky. He raised a hand, gently stroked his chin, and nodded repeatedly, his eyes shining with focused intensity. “Indeed. I truly am the genius among geniuses!”

Inzarota, hearing Lin Liqiang’s intensely narcissistic declaration, cast a look of profound agreement. As another owner of a bioweapon created by Lin Liqiang, he understood the advantages of Lin Liqiang’s creations better than anyone. They could be said to have shattered every convention in the entire bioweapon community.

As the first-in-line heir of his family, Inzarota had already fused with a bioweapon purchased from the Lin family—at great cost—before he had even met Lin Liqiang.

According to the iron law of bioweapons, one person could only ever possess a single bioweapon in their lifetime. Inzarota would never have the chance to possess Lin Liqiang’s epoch-making, evolving type of bioweapon.

Yet, Lin Liqiang, relying on his unparalleled, super-genius ability, combined with various materials from the Bug Warriors provided by Qin Fen, had liquidated all his assets to create what was currently the newest and most complete type of bioweapon.

Lin Liqiang had integrated many characteristics of the Bug Warriors—such as their fiercely aggressive abilities, alongside others—to invent the Composite Bioweapon.

For Inzarota’s intellect, it should be called the Devouring Bioweapon.

The new bioweapon developed by Lin Liqiang to correct the weaknesses of the older models would, upon fusing into the host’s body, rapidly corrode, devour, fuse with, and absorb everything belonging to the original bioweapon, thereby becoming the host’s singular and unique bioweapon.

However, because this type of bioweapon was synthesized under extreme time pressure, its aggressive capability had inadvertently transformed into a self-preservation mechanism. Once this bioweapon was used even once, even if Lin Liqiang later developed a superior version, it would be impossible to re-devour and eliminate the existing one.

Despite this limitation, Inzarota had no choice but to admit that Lin Liqiang was a truly monstrous genius. This Composite Bioweapon did not merely replace and eliminate the previous bioweapon; it also inherited all of its predecessor’s abilities.

For instance, Inzarota was already in a Level Three Fusion state. After the new-generation bioweapon devoured the previous one, he did not have to restart from a Level One fusion; instead, he instantly attained a genuine Level Three Fusion, taking over all aspects of the former bioweapon.

“Young Master Lin, what was that just now?” Xue Tian retracted his sword intent and returned before Lin Liqiang. “When I was fusing, why did my emotions suddenly spike?”

Lin Liqiang displayed a hint of pride. “In the eyes of many people in this world, a bioweapon is merely a tool. But they fundamentally fail to understand the original intent behind the data used to create them.”

“What intent?” Xue Tian flicked an ear. “What else could there be?”

“Can’t you see?” Lin Liqiang said lightly. “Level Four Fusion is also known as Death Fusion. Very few who attempt it survive. But those who succeed gain some kind of special ability?”

Regeneration! This word flashed rapidly through everyone’s minds. Qin Fen even recalled several martial artists he had encountered who had achieved Level Four Bioweapon Fusion—their terrifying regenerative power gave one the feeling they were unkillable.

“Actually, regeneration is just superficial,” Xue Tian said, his voice carrying absolute confidence. “The essence of the bioweapon is longevity. Longevity coupled with powerful ability—that is its core. For example, if one reaches the Level Five Fusion state, I don’t know about eternal life, but it will certainly increase lifespan! And not by a measly three or five years…”

“Life extension?”

Inzarota considered this seriously, the confusion in his brow gradually giving way to understanding.

“Life extension, longevity… this is the power of technology!” Xue Tian’s expression was rarely so solemn as he nodded repeatedly. “Do you know what the top researchers in the field call the Level Five Fusion of bioweapons? Genetic Fusion! The bioweapon completely merges with the host’s genes, causing corresponding mutations, thereby greatly increasing human lifespan. Some lunatics in this field even believe that post-mutation humans could achieve lifespans exceeding a thousand years. Just like those mad scientists in the 21st century who studied the brain, believing life could be extended to terrifying degrees.”

“As for Level Six Fusion?” Lin Liqiang scratched his head. “I don’t know if Venerable Qilin can achieve it. Current researchers provisionally call Level Six Fusion the Ultimate Fusion! As for what abilities Level Six Fusion possesses, for us, it remains mere simulated projection. Oh, right—Level Five Fusion has another trait…”

Lin Liqiang looked up at the sky that Xue Tian had just cleared, now once again dominated by swirling snow and wind. “According to projections, Level Five Bioweapon Fusion grants the ability to survive in space. The special capacity to live in the vacuum of space without any auxiliary equipment.”

“What does that have to do with my massive emotional shift just now?” Xue Tian patted Lin Liqiang’s shoulder. “Don’t go off topic.”

“It’s certainly not off topic,” Lin Liqiang said, speaking of the domain he controlled with a confident charm that was easily appealing. “My goal isn't just longevity; I want to advance bioweapons further. So, when developing the bioweapons for everyone, I specifically engineered an emotion excitation mechanism. This thing sounds esoteric, but it was actually inspired by the Bug Warriors. The people who created the Bug Warriors were either super geniuses or absolute madmen.”

Lin Liqiang praised them several times before bringing the topic back to Xue Tian’s question. “You are a swordsman. While you use fists and feet, your blade must be your strongest skill. Therefore, your bioweapon is a blade-type. Because your attack power spikes when you enter the Raging Slash state, I designed some minor details that allow you to become easily excited in combat, causing you to unleash greater fighting power even if you can’t reach the Raging Slash state. That’s why it’s called the Raging Chant Saber.”

“Blade-type?” Xue Tian was confused.

“That’s hard to explain,” Lin Liqiang waved his hand. “Just remember it. There are many types of bioweapons; yours is an extremely rare, specialized quality. Most are common types like tigers, lions, and leopards. Yours is a personal gift I donated until I bled.”

“Old Qin, yours, the Divine Demon Body, is only a first-generation product. But because many of its foundational concepts align with my newest models, even if I gave you another one, it wouldn't be able to devour your Divine Demon Body,” Lin Liqiang sighed. “You shouldn't worry that your Divine Demon Body is inferior to Xue Tian’s Raging Chant Saber. It’s just an older model, but it incorporates many of my fantastical designs. If truly and fully merged, it absolutely lives up to its name.”

Qin Fen nodded. He knew exactly how good the Divine Demon Body was. Despite being only a Level Two Fusion, its recovery capabilities and various other metrics were superior to the Level Three Fusion of many high-grade bioweapons. When leaving the Brozhou New Recruit Camp, the Divine Demon Body—perhaps due to anger—had begun fusing again and had already completed Level Three Fusion. Apart from not testing the arm-severing ability, all its data metrics were comparable to a high-grade Level Four Bioweapon Fusion.

Treading across the hard ice, the group moved slowly across the Arctic continent until they reached Solomon, who was engrossed in reading a copy of the Diamond Sutra.

In the freezing cold, reading the Diamond Sutra—Solomon was setting an unprecedented precedent.

“Solomon,” Lin Liqiang flicked his wrist, sending a colored orb from his bag shooting out, where it landed steadily in Solomon’s open palm. “I know you have a bioweapon; it’s fine. Infuse this one with your true energy, and it will bite and destroy your original one, then consume its abilities and make you stronger. I named this one: Asura Yaksha.”

Stronger! Those two simple words made Solomon’s eyes, which seemed frozen over, burst forth with excitement. He channeled the energy of the Peak Gathering Qi and Condensing Astral state into the bioweapon. Five-colored light enveloped his entire body before instantly shrinking, remaining only in his pupils.

Five-colored pupils! Solomon raised his hands, pointing one to the sky and one to the earth as he soared into the air, his long hair whipping up and standing straight toward the heavens!

Xue Tian watched Solomon performing the gesture of the Buddha—‘Heaven and Earth, I alone am the honored one’—yet his multicolored pupils radiated an indescribable, manic fervor. “To synthesize the essence of the Seven Great Buddhist Martial Ways into the Myriad Truths Extinction—this martial art, which should be grand and noble, is now practiced with an aura like that of a blood-soaked Asura. Solomon certainly lives up to his reputation as a genius.”

“Shedding the Buddha Body to become an Asura,” Qin Fen said lightly, hands clasped behind his back. “The Buddhist Path is a path; is the Asura Path not also a path?”

Lin Liqiang scratched his head and shrugged helplessly. “Right, I only found out about Solomon’s issue shortly before we arrived. So I added some things temporarily. It seems the dosage wasn't controlled well. I intended to make him even more… but it seems I added too much.”

In the sky, Solomon slowly descended, his Level Three Fusion eyes shining with five-colored brilliance. He gave Lin Liqiang a thumbs-up. “Good. It has flavor.”

Zhuo Xi gazed intently at Solomon. “Entering the Body Astral state?”

“En,” Solomon nodded proudly. In just a few short days, he had gone from Gathering Qi and Condensing Astral to the Entering the Body Astral state. He admitted this progress was entirely due to Qin Fen’s selfless instruction.

Qin Fen clapped Solomon on the shoulder. Emotion is the best catalyst. Although there are no sudden ‘Cosmic Bursts’ in this world, intense obsession driven by anger can push someone into an indescribable state. True Qi might not surge exponentially due to this obsession, but the martial realm itself can undergo certain transformations. If someone remains in a state of obsession for seven, even ten or more days, and receives proper guidance, a qualitative change based on the existing quantity is not impossible.

“Next up should be Caesar, right?”

“Not Caesar, it’s me, Brooks.”

In the blizzard, Brooks held a broad battle saber—slightly narrower than Xue Tian’s iaijutsu katana. The swirling snow could not conceal the blade intent emanating from within him.

“Yours.” Yang Lie acted like a scattering prodigal son, tossing another bioweapon straight to Brooks. “Just like Young Master Xue, yours is also a blade-type bioweapon. Since your temperaments differ, this one is called [Tiger Soul Blade]—”

In the ice, Caesar’s eyes slowly opened. The ice around him, strong enough to shatter steel, was visibly melting at an astonishing speed.

Lin Liqiang pulled out an iron box the size of a fist and tossed it directly to Caesar. “Yours! This thing is too hot; be careful. I call it [The Sun]—”

No need for thanks. Brooks and Caesar simultaneously began the bioweapon fusion. Everyone already possessed a bioweapon, and over time, they were all Level Three Fusions. This time, even though the absorption process left them still at the Level Three Fusion state, the active feel of their skin and various other sensations marked a massive leap forward compared to before.

The high-grade bioweapons they had once purchased from their families at great expense suddenly felt like cheap knock-offs when compared to the bioweapons Lin Liqiang was casually tossing out like a scattering prodigal son. They also felt they had been utterly duped by the Lin family in the past.

Lin Liqiang lightly scratched his head as he looked at the endless snowstorm. “Du Peng clearly won’t accept my bioweapon.”

Qin Fen nodded gently. Du Zhanpeng had left very little for Du Peng, and every item Du Peng considered the most precious thing in the world. While Lin Liqiang’s bioweapons were superior, in Du Peng’s eyes, compared to the only birthday gift his brother Du Xipeng gave him, Lin Liqiang’s creations were mere dirt.

“Old Xing’s must wait until I see him,” Lin Liqiang said, rubbing his hands together as he looked at the others, sporting the smiling, avaricious look of a shrewd merchant. “Gentlemen, I hear you teamed up and robbed some place, making a hefty fortune. I slaved away creating bioweapons for you all until I was nearly broke enough to be kept by a rich madam. My own underwear was stolen from Young Master Yin, so shouldn't you settle your fees first?”

Inzarota repeatedly shook his head, denying that his underwear had been stolen by Lin Liqiang.

Inzarota then nodded again, confirming that Lin Liqiang had invested every penny he had into creating this batch of bioweapons. Furthermore, he had taken out personal loans, maxing out his credit line with the bank. If he had no money left, let alone funding future research, he might genuinely have to become a kept man for a rich woman to pay off his debts when the bank came calling.

PA: This is the repayment of the first four thousand; the other four thousand will be repaid tomorrow. The following updates will be the chapters that were due today; there will be something tonight.

PA: When I wrote about Xue Tian being Level 17-star, I knew someone would ask who the main protagonist is. Let me state clearly: Qin Fen. Why is Xue Tian Level 17-star? There are many intentions behind the story I want to write. One of them is that I dislike the cliché model where the younger brothers just stand by and watch the big brother perform, and the big brother only calls them over to be flag-waving yes-men. I want to write about: Brothers! Let’s charge forward together! A novel needs heroic individualism, but a novel relying solely on individual heroism is boring. Some will say Qin Fen’s aptitude is too poor. I want to say, most of us have unremarkable aptitude. In the face of those in power, we are all commoners. Why can’t we soar once we get an opportunity? We may not be geniuses, but we possess ambition and hot blood, and we are truly willing to work hard! We are not the sons of the rich or the favored children of officials; we have no distinguished family background. Then let us use our own hands to carve out a mountain and river that belongs to us!