You, a living person, are telling me I've served in the underworld for ten years?

In less than three breaths, all three members of the gene-engineered warrior team responsible for the search were subdued! Clean and efficient!

Chen Yang's face was ashen, showing no mercy. The Sumeru Ring flashed with a series of eerie lights, and the three unconscious bodies on the ground, along with all their equipment and even the detectors they had just used, were instantly swept away by an invisible force and vanished without a trace.

After doing all this, Chen Yang didn't even look back at the land that had just been stained with blood again. He plunged back into the depths of the mountains and forests. This time, without stopping, he sped off towards the small county town where Uncle Li was hiding in the northeast.

As dusk gradually painted the sky, it draped the small northern county town of Liuhe in a veil of dim yellow light. In the outskirts of the town, there was no bustling neon-lit atmosphere, only low-rise houses and a few scattered shops with their lights on.

Chen Yang walked through the somewhat desolate streets, and following the address given by Liu Yu, he finally stopped in front of a quaint shop with a faded sign that read "Bai Cao Sheng Hui Pharmacy".

The shop is small, with two wooden doors facing the street, from which warm yellow light shines through.

A simple sign stood at the entrance, reading "Difficult and complicated diseases, ancestral secret recipes". Pushing open the door, a strong but not pungent aroma of herbs wafted out.

The shop was simply furnished, with several rows of medicine cabinets standing against the wall. A long, old wooden consultation counter stood in front of it, behind which sat an elderly man wearing a faded Tang suit, with mostly gray hair, a thin face, and extremely peaceful and bright eyes—it was none other than Uncle Li, who had not been seen for a long time.

Uncle Li looked up and saw Chen Yang, who looked travel-worn. A slight surprise flashed in his eyes, but more than that, he felt a sense of joy and peace at their long-awaited reunion.

"Yangzi? How did you find your way here?"

He put down the medical record in his hand, pushed up his reading glasses, and then his eyes became serious.

"Has something gone wrong in the city?"

There were no other patients at the counter, so Chen Yang dragged a stool over and sat down next to it, lowering his voice to get straight to the point.

"Uncle Li, the lid of Kangping Pharmaceutical Factory has been lifted a little, and buried underneath are the blood debts of human experiments, the work of the Heavenly Alliance."

They're like startled snakes now, ready to retreat or bite at any moment. We're holding back for now, trying to piece together the bigger picture, but I have a feeling your lack of activity is a bit unusual. You've been lurking in this vibrant, verdant place... have you discovered anything?"

When the Heavenly Alliance and human experiments were mentioned, Li Shuping's eyes suddenly sharpened like needles, and a deep anger and coldness seemed to surge in his turbid eyes.

He glanced subconsciously at the closed shop door, his voice lower and colder.

"Yangzi, you're right. This place is definitely not simple! It's definitely not like a law-abiding traditional Chinese medicine shop on the surface!"

He leaned forward slightly, getting closer to the counter.

"For more than a year, on the surface, I was treating minor ailments like headaches and fevers using my family's secret recipes, but in reality, my eyes never left the shady dealings behind this company!"

Under the guise of "Bai Cao Sheng Hui Life Technology," they were engaged in an extremely insidious activity in the local area and several neighboring counties—secretly scouting and selecting children and teenagers with exceptional cultivation talent, especially young people with outstanding aptitude! They used the pretext of recruiting "inner disciples" to select reserve talents for prestigious sects, or to place them in nominal positions on the periphery of the Special Administration Bureau!

"Inner disciple? A quota from the Special Administration Bureau?"

Chen Yang frowned. This sounded far more vicious and far-reaching than simple economic plunder!
Uncle Li nodded vigorously, his anger burning even more intensely.

"It's this incredibly tempting packaging! Especially for kids from ordinary families who have the potential to make a name for themselves in the underworld! Baicao Shenghui has its own 'selection and testing center,' located on the corner of the street ahead in a shop with a sign that reads 'Qianlong Talent Transfer Company.' They use the guise of free testing, guaranteed job placement, guaranteed training, and even providing living expenses in the early stages!"
Even more insidious is their incredibly 'humane' standard—they'll take in anyone whose talent and aptitude aren't particularly good, or who isn't wanted by any sect or family, as 'outer disciples' or 'peripheral security'! As long as they detect even the slightest bit of cultivation potential, they'll take them!

"But the key point is..."

Uncle Li's voice carried a heavy chill.

"The people they selected and took away... disappeared without a trace! It's like they vanished into thin air! I tried to follow their transport vehicles a few times, but their security was very tight. They would change vehicles along the way, and they always disappeared on the highway leading out of the city."

This is absolutely not the proper procedure for "transferring talent"!

Chen Yang's eyes turned completely cold. Uncle Li's description matched perfectly with what he had found about Kangping Pharmaceutical Factory's live experiments and talent gene plundering!
This "Bai Cao Sheng Hui" isn't some pharmaceutical company or talent recruitment agency at all; it's clearly a front-end screening organization for "live experimental materials" on behalf of the Heavenly Alliance! The so-called "inner" and "outer" distinction is probably just a way to differentiate the "quality" and value levels of the experimental subjects! Missing? They were sent to Kangping or some deeper "slaughterhouse," and there's no way they'd ever be heard from again!

"These beasts!"

Chen Yang tapped his fingers lightly on the wooden counter, making a soft, rhythmic sound, each syllable like a tap on ice.

"The selection test site is just around the corner up ahead?"

"Yes, 'Qianlong Talent Supply Company' is that shady business!"

They're recruiting every day!

Uncle Li affirmed.

Just then, the clinic's wooden door creaked open.

A cold, dusty wind blew in, and a middle-aged man with a sallow complexion, clutching his chest and coughing incessantly, walked in somewhat hunched over. He was wearing work clothes stained with mud, clearly a manual laborer.

"Dr. Li... cough cough... the cough medicine I got from you yesterday doesn't seem to be working... it seems to be even worse..."

The man was slightly out of breath when he spoke.

"Don't rush, sit down, sit down and talk."

The solemnity on Uncle Li's face instantly vanished, replaced by the calm and composure unique to a doctor, as if those cold topics had never happened.

He winked at Chen Yang, signaling him to wait a moment.

Chen Yang nodded silently, sat on the bench, but his eyes held a hint of inquiry as he silently observed how Uncle Li treated patients.

Uncle Li first carefully inquired about the man's changing symptoms, the timing of his cough, and the nature and color of his phlegm, listening with exceptional focus.

Then he was asked to stick out his tongue, and his wrist was placed on with three fingers on the three pulse points of Cun, Guan, and Chi respectively. He closed his eyes and focused on probing the pulse.

His expressions and movements were fluid and graceful, carrying an indescribable sense of rhythm.

"When pathogenic factors invade the lungs, the cold and wind do not dissipate but instead stagnate and transform into heat."

Uncle Li opened his eyes, his tone resolute, and quickly wrote down adjustments to the prescription on the paper.

"The previous prescription was a bit too warm, so this time I'll adjust two ingredients for you: one that is pungent and cool to relieve exterior symptoms and clear the lungs to relieve asthma. I'll also add a bamboo leaf core to guide the medicine to release heat."

As he wrote, he explained the principles of medicinal conditioning, using very professional terminology in a way that was easy to understand.

Although the man didn't quite understand, he was infected by Uncle Li's calm and confident demeanor, and his tense and anxious face gradually calmed down.

Uncle Li wrote out the prescription, then got up and walked around the counter to the medicine cabinet behind to get the medicine. His movements were precise and efficient; the small copper medicine scale rose and fell quickly in his hands, and the amount of each medicine was measured meticulously.

Chen Yang was slightly taken aback. In his memory, Uncle Li was the organization's intelligence expert, a discreet and resourceful assistant, and a calm and collected support. He had never imagined that this seemingly ordinary old man possessed such exquisite, even "miraculous," medical skills! The diagnostic prowess he displayed in every gesture was absolutely undeniable!
The man took the medicine and left, thanking him profusely. Uncle Li sat back down at the counter, his face once again showing that solemn expression.

"Uncle Li, your medical skills are amazing..."

Chen Yang finally couldn't help but ask, his tone tinged with surprise.

"Just a family heirloom trick."

Uncle Li's face showed no sign of pride; instead, his eyes held a distant, nostalgic look.

"Many years ago, I was fortunate enough to study under a true 'national master' for a few years. Later, due to some events... this path became unfeasible, so I picked it up as a cover for my identity. It's a pity I couldn't truly practice medicine and help people, but now..."

He shook his head and didn't say anything more; that sense of remembrance was instantly overshadowed by the bloody cruelty of reality.

Chen Yang understood the deeper meaning behind what he hadn't finished saying.

A person with top-tier medical skills can only rely on this ability to infiltrate the enemy camp and serve as the eyes of intelligence.

The hardships and helplessness involved are beyond what outsiders can understand.

He said in a deep voice.

"Uncle Li, I want to go and take a look at that 'Hidden Dragon Talent Transfer Company'."

The tone was not one of inquiry, but rather of statement.

"You're going in person?!"

Uncle Li's expression changed slightly, and he subconsciously leaned forward.

“Yangzi, that place is incredibly eerie! It's heavily guarded! Those so-called 'examiners' inside all have menacing eyes; they're definitely not good people! You're just going in alone…”

"I know the risks."

Chen Yang's eyes were calm yet sharp, within which flickered a flame of determination and anger.

"We found out that Kangping was conducting live experiments."

And this is their 'supply point'! Every person they take away represents a destroyed family and a living person who may be sent to an experimental table to have their talent genes extracted!

To truly understand the enemy, someone must go in and observe their selection criteria and recruitment methods up close to have a better chance of dismantling this den of iniquity! Otherwise, no matter how much reconnaissance is conducted from the outside, it will only be scratching the surface.

This is no longer a simple infiltration and reconnaissance mission. I am the most suitable person to go in.

Looking into Chen Yang's unwavering eyes, Uncle Li knew he couldn't dissuade him, and he also knew that what he said was true.

He obtained this intelligence at great risk by infiltrating the area, and he understood better than anyone how desperate the families of the missing were.

He remained silent for several seconds before finally nodding heavily, his wrinkles seeming to deepen.

"Take that road out and turn left. Less than 200 meters away, there's a large sign with a bright red LED light that reads 'Qianlong Talent Transfer Company.'"

They're open every day, with queues stretching until very late... Go ahead and be extremely careful! The situation inside is incredibly dangerous!

"Don't worry, Uncle Li."

Chen Yang stood up and took a deep breath of the air filled with the bitter aroma of medicinal herbs.

"Wait for my news."

The night scene in this small county town wasn't exactly bustling, but the streetlights on the main road were fairly bright. Turning the corner, the "Qianlong Talent Transfer Company" was indeed conspicuous.

A large, cheap neon-red sign hangs high above the store, which occupies a considerable area. Two burly men in black jackets stand at the entrance, their indifferent expressions scanning the street with eyes like hawks.

To Chen Yang's slight surprise, there were quite a few people in front of the store! A queue that wasn't too long but also not too short had formed.

Most of them were young people, ranging from sixteen or seventeen to their early twenties, dressed in various styles, their expressions a mixture of trepidation, anticipation, and a suppressed excitement.

There were even a few people who looked like parents accompanying them.

Chen Yang silently blended into the back of the crowd, listening intently to the whispers and discussions around him.

"Brother, do you think I can do this? I heard their requirements are very high..."

"Give it a try! It's free! What if you pass? Once you're in, you'll be an inner disciple, with plenty of resources, and you might even have a chance to join a major sect in the future!"

"Keep your voice down! I heard there are some peripheral positions available from the Special Administration Bureau today! As long as we can get a reserve position, even if it's on the periphery, our family will benefit!"

"Yeah, yeah, my brat's talent is so-so, the proper sects don't even look at him. If he could be taken in by 'Hidden Dragon' for two or three years, polished up, and with some connections to help him get into the Special Administration Bureau system, his future would be secure!"

"Sigh, my son does have some foundation. He tried to find a proper master through formal channels, but he was turned away several times because they thought his foundation was unstable."

Sure enough, as soon as they heard that 'Hidden Dragon' had a lower entry barrier and offered professional training, they immediately came over.

"Professional? Absolutely! Didn't you hear what the father of 'Old Zhang's third son,' who was chosen before, said? The master craftsmen there are truly skilled! It's said they have elixirs to help improve one's foundation!"

"real or fake?"

"Of course! Why would I lie to you! When Old Zhang's third son left, he looked much better! They say he's already on the verge of success! He's about to make it big!"

"Sigh, I hope this time it will work out! It will ease the burden on my family and also pave a future for myself!"

……

Chen Yang listened silently, but his heart was ice-cold.

Temptation! A tremendous temptation! It targets young people in the lower classes who yearn to change their fate but are barred from the traditional path of cultivation. Under the guise of "low barriers to entry," "guaranteed training," and "bright future," they even fabricate lies such as "chosen children's complexions improve!" It's utterly vicious!
"Essential pills to enhance foundation"? Heaven knows whether what they fed those children were "essential pills" or "death warrants" to cause their genes to collapse so that their talents could be extracted!
He suppressed the murderous intent surging within him, his face remaining impassive, even displaying the same tension and "expectation" as those around him, as he slowly moved forward with the group. His gaze occasionally swept over the two burly men in black jackets at the doorway, a chill running through him.

These two individuals possessed restrained and composed auras, with slightly bulging temples, clearly indicating they were cultivators with considerable skill, and obviously the kind who had lived a life of constant danger. (End of Chapter)