We agreed to set sail, so you'd become the ruler of the deep sea?

Chapter 378 [Forbidden Experiment]

With Xiao Wan, the supervisor, leading the way, Xia En and the others avoided many detours.

It didn't take long.

They arrived at the deepest part of Area A, in front of a wall.

However, Shane did not see any other members of the Truth Society here.

Presumably, this was after discovering that the passage had not been opened for a long time.

They also realized that there was some deviation in the action plan for Area A.

So they moved on to other areas to continue their operations.

This discovery did little to ease Shane's mind.

Compared to enemies who appear in the open, the shadows lurking in the dark are what trouble him more.

Moreover, this also indirectly confirms Shane's earlier guess—

There are definitely more than one group of members from the "Truth Society" who infiltrated the research institute.

Perhaps, at this moment, they have already entered the restricted area of ​​the research institute from other areas.

He seemed to sense the urgency that Xia En and the others were feeling.

Upon arriving at the wall, Xiao Wan did not hesitate at all. She took out her and Shad's identification documents and pressed them lightly on a certain spot on the wall.

"laugh--"

Accompanied by the sound of steam depressurization.

The intricate gears and levers are constantly in motion.

The walls, which were originally perfectly sealed, now opened up to both sides.

A passage leading deeper underground suddenly appeared before everyone.

The dark entrance, like the gaping maw of a monster, seemed poised to devour anyone who entered.

at the same time.

A bone-chilling cold emanated from the passage, causing the surrounding temperature to drop several degrees.

Xiao Wan said, "This is the restricted area of ​​the research institute."

"However, even I have only entered the restricted area once, before it was fully completed."

"Now that so much time has passed, the terrain inside the restricted area must have changed considerably."

"There is a greater possibility of unforeseen dangers."

Xiao Wan looked at Xia En and the others seriously.

"To be honest, there is a very strong defensive force inside the restricted area."

"I don't think those invaders will be able to successfully reach the deepest part of the restricted area and take what they want."

"Let me confirm one more time, are you really going to enter the restricted area?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Xia En nodded.

"Yes, we have reasons to do so."

"OK then."

Xiao Wan sighed softly, knowing she couldn't dissuade Xia En and his group, so she simply spoke up.

"Then let's go together."

"We'll talk about what I know about the restricted area as we walk."

Subsequently.

Xia En and his group then headed deeper into the passage.

On the way, Xia En asked, "What exactly is inside this restricted area?"

Xiao Wan answered.

"As I said before, we, the 'Ice People' who volunteered to cooperate with the experiments, are conducting research that is relatively low-risk."

"Sometimes, it may not even be necessary to draw blood regularly and transfer icy secret energy."

"However, the intensity of the experiments would be greatly increased for prisoners who had committed capital crimes."

"There are even some forms of experimentation that can be considered taboo."

Xiao Wan hesitated for a moment, then spoke.

"For example... injecting the bloodline of the Bronze Dragon into the bodies of the [People of Ice and Snow]."

"Thus creating an existence that possesses both the secret power of ice and the power of spacetime."

"For example, special drugs can be used to stimulate the blood vessels in the bodies of the [Ice and Snow People], enabling them to achieve a kind of ancestral regression and thus master the more fundamental laws of ice and cold."

Upon hearing these words, An Bing's expression changed slightly.

But he didn't interrupt.

Xiao Wan said, "Of course, such radical experiments have a terrifyingly high failure rate, which is why many experimental subjects failed."

"Some of these experimental subjects have lost normal human thinking and rationality, and have become monsters that only know how to kill and destroy."

"Even so, their very existence is of great help to the research institute."

"So, the experiment failed."

"But Lord Cinder did not immediately kill these failed test subjects. Instead, he imprisoned them in the deepest forbidden zone and observed their condition regularly."

"This will help us optimize our future experimental direction."

Upon hearing this, Xia En suddenly realized what was going on.

Behind every research project, there are bound to be countless failures.

Only by learning from these failures can we find the path to success.

The failed attempts imprisoned in the restricted area are undoubtedly part of this path.

Moreover, although they were failures, it does not mean that they were weak.

Quite the opposite.

Having undergone forbidden experiments, their strength may far surpass that of their former selves.

Especially those beings that have been infused with bronze dragon blood are very likely to possess abilities that transcend common sense.

Even if the price is the loss of human reason.

Not to mention.

This underground, frigid environment is essentially a sacred place for the cultivation of the "Ice and Snow People".

Staying here for a long time will greatly increase their total amount of secret power.

This is the source of the danger Xiao Wan mentioned.

Xiao Wan continued.

"Moreover, some special individuals known as the 'Ice People' are also imprisoned in the restricted area."

"They are elders with profound cultivation within the clan, and they are also excellent experimental subjects."

"Because they were much stronger than ordinary prisoners, they were also concentrated and imprisoned deep in the restricted area."

After hearing these words, Xia En roughly understood the significance of the restricted area to the research institute.

If the entire research institute is equivalent to a giant prison...

Therefore, the restricted area is probably like a "heavenly prison".

The most dangerous and vicious criminals and experimental subjects are all imprisoned here.

So, Shane asked again.

"Since these beings are being imprisoned, what protective measures are in place in the restricted area?"

"Of course there are."

Xiao Wan answered decisively.

“Each test subject is equipped with a device that extracts their secret power at all times, ensuring that they are always in a weakened state.”

"They also have automatically activated miniature bombs strapped to their vital organs, which will detonate as soon as they leave their cells."

"Moreover, there are two legendary experts on standby inside the restricted area."

"They are also the last and most reliable defensive force in this research institute."

These words reassured Xia En considerably.

Think about it too.

Since it is a place that holds the most dangerous prisoners, it naturally has the most stringent protective measures.

The Lord of Cinder probably considered this when he designed this area.

But that's it.

Suddenly, a muffled sound came from deep within the passage.

Xia En's expression changed slightly, and the group quickly went down and soon arrived at the end of the passage.

Unlike the situation where a red warning light is flashing above.

The lights in the restricted area were a monotonous silver-gray, like unyielding, ancient ice.

It seems like it will never change.

While it is cold and desolate, it also gives people a sense of deathly stillness.

For the prisoners in this place.

Such lighting will likely only exacerbate their despair.

Moreover, the temperature here is significantly colder than in other areas of the research institute.

A thin layer of solid ice even formed on the metal wall.

The air exhaled by Xia En and the others all turned into puffs of white vapor. The perceived temperature was probably already below zero.

This is partly due to the environment of this area.

On the other hand, it is because...

The prisoners held here possess a large amount of icy, secret power.

Even a little bit of it escaped, and that was enough to make this place so cold.

Soon, Shane looked in the direction from which the muffled sound came.

Not far away, there was a prison cell with its door wide open.

A cold body lay in front of the gate.

The entire skull shattered like a watermelon.

The red and white substances were scattered on the ground and were gradually freezing due to the low temperature.

Obvious.

This person tried to escape from the cage in the chaos, but overlooked the deadly device around his neck, which led to his current predicament.

only……

After glancing at the corpse, Xia En narrowed his eyes.

He discovered that the person's body was covered with a thin layer of scales, and his blood had a faint bluish tint.

It's not hard to guess that this person is the failed experiment Xiao Wan mentioned.

Just as Shane was examining the corpse.

Xiao Wan looked at the open cell door, a look of confusion on her face.

"Strange...why is this door open?"

"In the event of an emergency lockdown, the doors to the restricted areas should be locked."

After examining the scene for a moment, Jian frowned and said...

"The doors here show signs of being remotely hacked."

"Perhaps the Truth Society wants to create chaos and release all these prisoners?"

Upon hearing this, Xia En immediately became alert.

"The Truth Society has already intruded into forbidden territory?"

Jane replied, "I think so."

"However, the situation with this door is more like a modification of the central control program."

"This left all the cell doors in the restricted area wide open, and some prisoners may have already escaped."

Although the Lord of Cinder also implemented other preventative measures, such as bombs around the prisoners' necks.

However, for certain experimental subjects who were injected with dragon blood and had their bodies modified, this was not the case.

Such a device may not be able to kill them completely.

Coupled with their own self-healing abilities, they might actually be able to escape.

"Roar!!!"

As if to prove Shane's conjecture, a roar suddenly came from the shadows in the distance.

Immediately, a figure in crimson with icy blue light shot towards Dark Ice, who was at the very back of the crowd, like an arrow released from a bow.

At this moment, Dark Ice was still somewhat distracted by what the members of the [Truth Society] had said.

Upon hearing the roar, the reaction was a beat too slow.

She quickly raised her hand, trying to freeze the figure in front of her.

But to Anbing's surprise...

When his invincible, icy power landed on this figure, it failed to freeze it into an ice sculpture.

It merely caused its movement to pause slightly.

"what?"

A look of surprise flashed across An Bing's face, and she quickly changed her moves.

But at that moment, the blood-red shadow was already hurtling straight toward her face.

clang!
At this critical moment, Carles stepped forward.

The steel arm blocked its way, firmly blocking its closed jaws.

Only then did everyone see clearly.

They were attacked by a monster that was half wolf and half dragon.

Its upper body resembles the West Wind Frost Wolf from the West Wind Plateau.

Its large wolf head, sharp teeth, and pointed horns are very distinctive features.

But its lower body resembles a strange snake covered in scales.

Not only did it have menacing angles, but its tail was also constantly slapping the ground.

It looks bizarre and has an inexplicable sense of incongruity.

It's like a "Frankenstein's monster" from some kind of science fiction work.

And at this time.

The monster's gaping maw kept closing, but it could never pierce Karlless's tough armor.

Instead, its teeth crumbled little by little under the immense force, and it couldn't help but let out a whimper of pain.

Without hesitation, Karlless punched the wolf-monster in the jaw.

A surge of power erupted, stunning it and averting the crisis.

Xiao Wan immediately looked at An Bing, who had been attacked, with concern.

"Sister Anbing, are you alright?"

"I am fine."

Anbing waved her hand, a hint of confusion on her face.

"This monster... was it immune to my icy power just now?"

Xiao Wan explained.

"Most of the experimental subjects in the restricted area have undergone the modification of the icy secret power and have long since developed antibodies against it."

"It's very difficult to damage it with this kind of force."

On the other side.

Xia En took a closer look at the monster that resembled a hybrid of a dragon and a wolf, and his brows furrowed slightly.

As you can see, there is a huge gash in the monster's neck.

Fresh blood was flowing out of it.

However, even so.

This monster still possesses extremely strong ferocity and vitality, and it is clearly not going to die in a short period of time.

This is clearly an effect of the dragon blood modification.

Moreover, judging from the speed and power it just displayed, it actually possesses a level above the sixth rank!

That is to say, their group was exceptionally capable.

If it were guards inside the research institute, they would likely suffer heavy casualties the moment they encountered this monster.

Only then did Shane understand why this area was called the forbidden zone.

And it is clear that it is deeper in the restricted area.

There are many more, even more powerful, experimental subjects that have broken free of their confinement.

But now that things have come to this, we have no choice but to keep pushing forward.

Xia En glanced at An Bing beside him and gave a reminder.

“Miss Dark Ice, the journey ahead will only become more dangerous.”

"Please don't get distracted anymore."

Anbing nodded with a hint of shame.

"I see."

Immediately afterwards, the group continued deeper into the restricted area.

Even though he had expected it, the sight here still made Xia En secretly gasp.

Humans exhibiting obvious dragon-like characteristics;
An ice sculpture, frozen solid yet still brimming with life;
A mummified corpse muttering to itself in the corner...

Everything was filled with an atmosphere of eeriness and taboo.

If it weren't for the fact that this was a research institute, Shane might have thought it was the site of some evil ritual.

The reason why Lord Cinder kept this research institute so hidden was probably because he did not want these taboo experiments to be known by others.

Looking at the scene here.

Xia En's feelings were complicated.

He found it hard to believe that the Yan Yan he knew would conduct such a forbidden experiment.

But if it's the King of Cinder...

If it's for the sake of the people of the Great Yan Kingdom...

Perhaps he will indeed let go of some of his past convictions?

As his thoughts were racing, suddenly, the [Fire Seed] in Xia En's arms reacted.

(End of this chapter)