Chapter 85: Killing the People of Wuling

While Ma Jun was busy, Old Qian was not idle either.

He purchased a private ranch in a remote and sparsely populated region of Australia. With various advanced technological items brought from other planes, he could avoid detection by the main world's technological scans. With the assistance of dozens of lower-grade bioengineered humans, a secret underground base the size of a football field was constructed beneath the ranch. The base was equipped with comprehensive defensive systems and independent, secure power generators.

All this was accomplished within just two months. Only then did Ma Jun, under the guise of a tourist, enter the ranch.

Inside the brightly lit laboratory, many lower-grade bioengineered humans bustled about in white lab coats. Ma Jun followed Old Qian to the main experimental area—a sealed room of a hundred square meters. In the center of the room stood a two-meter long, one-meter wide iron container, internally lined with other materials. Countless detectors surrounded the box.

“Boss, I’ve already made the preliminary arrangements in the Avatar plane. In the incubator, Xiaohua’s body is now fully developed. According to her request, it is a fourteen-year-old girl’s body,” Old Qian reported.

“The chosen genes have been specially cultivated, incorporating some Na’vi DNA, making the skeletal structure extremely sturdy. The brain has been specially processed to accommodate Xiaohua’s consciousness.”

“According to our trials, based on the Avatar link project, we can fully integrate Xiaohua’s consciousness into this body. However, unlike the lower-grade bioengineered humans, she won’t recognize you as her master!”

Ma Jun nodded, shrugging his shoulders. “Isn’t that obvious? Of course, that won’t do!”

Xiaohua’s projection appeared, displeased as she pointed at Old Qian. “So that’s your plan, you rascal—installing some kind of microchip in me to make me Ma Jun’s pet?”

Old Qian immediately put on a bright smile. “No, no, how could I? Lady Xiaohua, you’re so clever and adorable—I’d never do that.”

Ma Jun grinned, “All right, dear Xiaohua, I’ve gone to great lengths for you! You stole my heart, and now that you’re finally getting a body, I’m determined to pursue you!”

“Hmph! You’ve been ogling my beauty for so long—just how desperate are you?” Xiaohua, in high spirits, laughed. “Once I have a body, I plan to have some real fun. As for you—go cool your heels elsewhere!”

“But, Xiaohua, let me ask you again—are you sure that once your consciousness is separated from the system, the system’s functions won’t be impaired?” Ma Jun’s smile faded, his voice becoming solemn.

“Don’t worry, it’ll be fine!” Xiaohua patted her chest. “The system exists in the endless void—you can think of it as being inside a spatial ring. It’s a tangible entity, but it’s bound to you. As long as the carrier is ready, it will operate perfectly.”

“Hmm.” Ma Jun nodded with satisfaction. “Have all the superconducting microchips been prepared, Old Qian?”

“All ready!” Old Qian replied. “To be safe, we’ve produced about a hundred cubic meters of ultra-microchips. The storage capacity is immense—a piece too small for the naked eye rivals a supercomputer from the main world. Combined, it will definitely be enough for the system!”

“Excellent. As long as there’s a carrier, the plane invasion system can function. Its energy requirements can still be drawn from the conquered planes. But without Xiaohua, the system will become a basic operating platform, with no intelligence.”

“Oh? Uncle, are you going to miss me?” Xiaohua teased, her tone sweet. “I’ll still be by your side, always hovering around you!”

“Well, it’s rare to see you act coy,” Ma Jun laughed. “All right—since everything is ready, let’s begin.”

Few people receive such a gift and approach it as cautiously as Ma Jun. The system was like a pie falling from the heavens, but Ma Jun, ever the schemer, insisted on countless tests and experiments.

After traversing several planes and with a little subtle encouragement, Xiaohua finally desired to become truly human. Ma Jun, of course, was more than happy—without Xiaohua’s constant surveillance, he could act without restraint.

People love unearned rewards, windfalls, and having powerful, influential fathers so they can live freely and indulge in pleasure. Yet, we often only see the glamorous surface of others, ignoring the hardships behind it.

In truth, in peaceful times, life is inherently mundane. Those fleeting moments of excitement and glory cannot fill the emptiness of the remaining hours. Yet ironically, people’s attention is always drawn to the dazzling moments, neglecting the ordinary, which only deepens their sense of emptiness.

Ma Jun enjoyed easy gains as well, but when a great gift was truly placed before him, he became both cautious and excited. For he was certain that his life would soon become rich and colorful!

Xiaohua made a mistake—falling into Ma Jun’s hands was truly unfortunate, for Ma Jun was hopelessly cunning—a born actor, a man destined for stardom!

Next to the incubator, in the underground lab, was a large room with a volume of two hundred cubic meters. The system’s carrier transformation needed to be carried out simultaneously as Xiaohua’s consciousness was extracted. These procedures had already undergone several virtual trials and, in theory, were flawless.

Through the glass, Ma Jun could observe everything in both rooms, packed with dense machinery. Five lower-grade bioengineered humans stood in each room.

“Begin!” Ma Jun sat down, folding his arms, a grave look on his face as he spoke in a low voice.

“Energy check: sufficient. Backup power supply: fully functional.”

“Test subject’s biological indicators: all normal.”

“Superconducting microchips: normal.”

“Consciousness transfer device: activated.”

“System carrier integration device: activated.”

“Consciousness input: proceeding without error.”

“System integration: proceeding without error.”

“Consciousness input: 001.”

“System integration: 0000001.”

“Estimated completion: two days for consciousness input; two months for system integration.”

“Xiaohua?” Only then did Ma Jun, who had been holding his breath, finally exhale and call out hesitantly. Xiaohua did not respond; she was already in the midst of fusion.

“Boss, are you nervous?” Old Qian, observing the beads of sweat on Ma Jun’s brow—a rare sight—asked quietly.

“Of course!” Ma Jun laughed, “Old Qian, have you ever heard the old story?”

“Which one?”

“During the Jin dynasty, a man from Wuling made a living by fishing.”

“You’re referring to ‘The Peach Blossom Spring’? I know that story.”

“That’s right. The fisherman discovered the Peach Blossom Spring and reported it to the authorities! If I were one of the inhabitants of the Peach Blossom Spring, I would have killed him the moment he entered. Only that way could the realm’s solitude and uniqueness be preserved!”

Old Qian frowned, his expression thoughtful.