Chapter 304: Chapter 300: Blind by Affection

Federation West.

Chong Peng City.

The Jiuli Group.

“Apologies, Instructor Luo, for draggingyou all the way to Chong Peng City.” Bai Qi looked sheepishly at Luo Xiang. They were initially planning to head straight for Nile City, the destination for this mission, but when he asked en route about the distance between Nile City and Chong Peng City, Luo Xiang altered their course to Chong Peng City straight away.

“Not much of a detour, I have a friend I need to look up. He might be heading towards Nile City too, so we might just share the road.”

Luo Xiang smiled, saying, “I’ll go ahead then. I’ll look for you later.”

With that, Luo Xiang rode away on his North Eagle, disappearing into the sky.

“He really does just up and leave, huh.”

Bai Qi watched Luo Xiang go, then noticed Bai Yan and Luo Zhu, each clad in research attire, emerging from the main entrance of the Jiuli Group.

“Oh my sweet boy, what brings you here?”

Clearly delighted by Bai Qi’s arrival, Luo Zhu gave him a hug before he could even say anything.

“You look a little haggard, son. Your dad didn’t make you read too much of his research, did he? I told him basic would do, but he insisted on going with the whole set.”

Luo Zhu shot Bai Yan a reproachful glance, to which Bai Yan just responded with a look of innocence.

It was Luo Zhu who had first complained about the lack of material, forcing him to tack on an entire suite of biology data. And now…

He decided to let it go. He’d take the blame!

“Haggard? I shouldn’t be.”

Seeing Luo Zhu’s concerned expression, Bai Qi scratched his head in confusion.

After advancing to the Fifth Stage, both his physical and mental states had greatly improved. Especially so after forming a pact with the Worm Grass, a Beast which skewed towards the mental side, which made him even more energetic. Even staying awake for days on end wouldn’ t cause him to look worn out.

Could it be that this was what counted as looking haggard to a mother?

“Alright, we shouldn’t be talking here. Let’s move inside the company.”

Bai Yan glanced at the curious crowd gathering around them, then led Bai Qi and Luo Zhu into the Jiuli Group complex.

Being one of the Federation’s oldest corporations, the Jiuli Group’s interior was decorated with some touch of antiquity, though not quite like the Wuhou Corporation. The overall style leaned more toward a rugged look.

Bai Qi curiously looked around him, following Bai Yan to a relatively unoccupied elevator.

“This area is for core staff only. Outsiders aren’t allowed. Please wait for a moment while I register.”

Bai Yan turned on the screen before the elevator and started communicating with the facility’s operators. Luo Zhu looked a little apologetic as she explained, “Our research is still ongoing, so we’re not allowed to leave the Jiuli Group’s controlled area, or we would’ve chosen a better place for a chat.”

“No problem, I’m on my way to a mission and just thought I’d swing by here. I’ll have to leave shortly.”

Bai Qi shook his head and clarified.

“Amission?”

Luo Zhu looked surprised, then noticed the five Rune Marks on the back of Bai Qi’s hand and cried out.

“Son, you’ve reached the Fifth Stage?”

“The Fifth Stage?”

Luo Zhu’s words interrupted Bai Yan’s operation. After confirming what Luo Zhu had said, there was a glint of pride in Bai Yan’s eyes.

Initially, they thought their son would end up following the research path, assuming he didn’t inherit any Beast Mastery Talent. But now, he’d already become a Fifth Stage Beast Master.

“Alright, we’re authorized. Let’s go up.”

Bai Yan closed the screen and was the first to enter the elevator. Bai Qi and Luo Zhu followed suit, and the three of them quickly reached the upper floors of the Jiuli Group.

The elevator doors opened to reveal various biological instruments, both in variety and quantity, far surpassing those Bai Qi had. However, despite the voluminous research space, there wasn’t a single researcher to be seen.

“This floor is our private research lab, it’s just the two of us here. You can rest while you’re here, son.”

Perhaps sensing Bai Qi’s confusion, Luo Zhu quickly explained. Bai Qi once again realized how respected his parents were at the Jiuli Group.

Having an entire floor as a research lab – wow, just wow.

Bai Qi followed them into a spacious lounge where Luo Zhu started asking about his current situation.

“Son, you were saying something about going out on a mission? Isn’t it dangerous for you to be travelling around on your own?”

Bai Qi nodded, “I’m not alone. Instructor Luo is with me. It’s likely that my teacher would be in Nile City too.”

“Oh, Bai Chuanqi will be there too. That’s a relief.”

Luo Zhu eased up upon hearing this. Meanwhile, Bai Yan seemed to have realized something, “Bai Chuanqi himself is going too? This mission must be pretty difficult, isn’t it?”

“I’m not sure. Apparently, it has something to do with an Inheritance Secret Realm of mythical creatures. I guess we’ll find out once we get there.”

Bai Qi shrugged indifferently, then changed the subject, “By the way, Mom and Dad, how’s your Ancient Species revival project coming along?”

“We managed to cultivate an initial embryo, but whether it can succeed in developing is still uncertain.”

Bai Yan shook his head, then returned the question, “What about you? Can you use those devices?”

“Erm… I guess I can.”

Bai Qi scratched his head, naturally, there was no problem with how he operated the instrument, but usually, those who operated it were Delta, he had basically become their assistant.

“That’s fine, once the first batch of embryos is successfully born, we’ll apply for a long vacation to spend some quality time with you and catch you up on biology,”

Bai Yan patted Bai Qi’s shoulder, saying: “By the way, how’s your Ancestral Beast doing? Have you figured out why it can evolve and devolve freely?” “Not yet, Delta’s condition is somewhat special, it might not be entirely a problem of its own bloodline.”

Bai Qi said: “But Delta has improved a lot recently, being able to remember six evolutionary forms. I came here this time to see if I could get Delta to remember a few more genes, to enhance its strength.”

Since Delta’s gene memory wouldn’t consume resources, Bai Qi wasn’t worried about his parents violating any rules of the Jiuli Group.

“No problem, Mom has already prepared that for you.”

Upon hearing this, Luo Zhu immediately slapped his chest, ran to a storage cabinet on the side and brought out a sealed box, presenting it to Bai Qi.

“Here are ten ancient species genes that your parents picked out for you. According to the records, they all have formidable fighting power. Take them back and study them.”

“Uh, isn’t it a bit improper for me to take this?”

Hearing Luo Zhu’s words, Bai Qi, who originally planned only to siphon off some genes and then scram, felt a bit embarrassed.

“No problem, everything that gets sent here can be dealt with at your parents’ discretion. Given the relationship between the Jiuli Group and the association, these are just some genes, there will be no problem.”

Bai Yan smiled slightly, they had been working for the Jiuli Group for many years, of course, they wouldn’t do things that violated the rules. If they took them out, they surely would have arranged everything properly.

“In that case, I won’t be polite.”

Upon hearing Bai Yan’s words, Bai Qi stopped being hypocritical and directly took the sealed box from Luo Zhu and put it in the Secret Realm Base.

“Son, it’s your first time visiting the place where your parents work. Let me show you around-”

Being able to see her son again, Luo Zhu was obviously very happy, she took Bai Qi’s hand and started strolling around the lab.

“That was your parents’ rest area, this here is the dining room, just order anything you want to eat, this is the gene extraction room…”

Luo Zhu kept on talking, quickly leading Bai Qi around. In the end, they arrived at the largest room of the entire lab.

“Cultivation Room? Is this where you cultivate the embryos of Ancient Species?”

Bai Qi looked at the plaque above the door and asked.

“That’s correct, but this one here is only small, it’s convenient for us to observe and collect data. The large cultivation room is downstairs, but you can’t go there.”

Bai Yan nodded, saying, “But it’s the same if you take a look here.”

“Can I look?”

Bai Qi’s eyes lit up, although Delta could transform into an Ancient Species, he felt that the senses were still not quite the same.

“Just taking a look, it’s no big deal.”

Bai Yan laughed and then entered a code to open the door to the cultivation room.

The cultivation room had ten nest-like incubators in view, each containing Ancient Species eggs of various sizes and colors. On a giant screen nearby, the vital signs of each egg were displayed.

“They actually managed to cultivate them…”

Bai Qi marveled at the stable data on the screen, his respect for his parents grew even more.

Seeing this trend, the Ancient Species that should have disappeared in the river of time might really be returning to the world.

“Huh, what’s going on with this egg?”

Bai Qi looked around and suddenly noticed a metal box in a corner that was not closed. Inside it was another Ancient Species egg.

“This one is a primitive embryo brought out from the Secret Realm. Unfortunately, it has completely lost its vitality. Your dad originally planned to send it for gene extraction and re-cultivation, but you arrived before we had time to put it away.”

With that said, Bai Yan was about to take that egg away.

“Dad, can I have this egg?”

Seeing the suddenly progressing Evolution Egg, Bai Qi was stunned for a moment before asking.

“For you?”

Upon hearing this, Bai Yan paused and said: “Is it for Delta’s use? That’s doable, but we have already prepared similar genes for you, isn’t it a bit redundant?”

“No, I just want to study it.”

Bai Qi shook his head and thought for a bit before saying: “And I somehow think that this embryo is not completely dead?”

“Not all dead?”

Hearing Bai Qi’s words, Bai Yan and Luo Zhu looked at each other.

They had already used the Jiuli Group’s most advanced instrument to check it. This embryo had completely fossilized and was of no use, except for extracting genes. Bai Qi saying that it wasn’t completely dead was really just a random guess.

But still, after a glance at each other, they agreed to Bai Qi’s request.

“Alright then, son, take it back and study it. Maybe you will revive the Ancient Species before your mom and dad.”

Luo Zhu patted Bai Qi, saying, “At that time, your dad and I will just quit and hang out with you!”

“I just said it might be possible, Mom and Dad, you give me too much credit.” Bai Qi’s eyes twitched, he hadn’t even fully understood biology yet, let alone reviving the Ancient Species.

Indeed, love can make people blind…