123 Photographs, the Same Person...

The hollowed-out island housed a metallic elevator that continuously descended deep into the earth, plunging ten levels down.

Fresh instruments and intricate machinery, along with the solid steel walls, all spoke to the unmistakable aura of advanced science here.

At a glance, one could see a myriad of wise scientists clad in white lab coats.

Walking through the spacious interior, each nutrient chamber harbored strange and unusual creatures.

Weapons, organisms, machines—everywhere one looked, it was clear these scientists, who were ahead of their time by five centuries, commanded a collective of nearly a hundred lab-coated aides, all supporting their research.

“General Zephyr, please come this way. Lord B.J. Punk is already waiting inside,” said a scientist in a white coat, wearing glasses, giving off the unmistakable air of a researcher.

“Let’s go,” Zephyr nodded and prepared to follow behind the scientist.

“Wait! They can’t enter—only General Zephyr is allowed!” Suddenly, the scientist turned sharply, furrowing his brows as he flatly refused Xuanye and the others.

Zephyr’s expression changed subtly but he said nothing, giving a barely perceptible nod toward Xuanye.

“What did you say? I didn’t catch that!” Xuanye stepped forward, his gaze icy as he stared at the scientist.

“I said you... ugh... ugh...” The scientist’s eyes widened, face flushed red, gasping for breath—because a massive hand was tightly gripping his neck, lifting him into the air.

“Tell Yellow Ape that I’m in a very bad mood right now. Contact him immediately—right now,” Xuanye said coldly, still clutching the scientist’s throat.

Hearing Xuanye’s words, another scientist in a white coat calmly dialed a communication device.

“Moses... Moses... this is Yellow Ape,” came the voice from the island’s center, inside a villa where Yellow Ape lounged in a chair, sipping wine leisurely.

“Hello! This is the experimental base. Someone here says he’s very displeased and wants us to contact you,” the calm voice from the lab continued.

“Don’t stop that lunatic. Whatever he wants to do, let him do it. You don’t need to intervene,” Yellow Ape replied, rubbing his forehead. Without a doubt, this was the doing of that bastard.

“Understood.”

After the call ended, the scientists on site quickly dispersed, returning to their tasks without a hint of tension.

“Hmph... next time, you’ll die!” Xuanye spat, slamming the man he held to the ground with force, then casting him a cold glance.

Without another look, Zephyr led the way through the door.

Inside was an exquisite hall—exquisite because the modern ambiance was so dense. Upon entering, Xuanye felt as if he had been transported back to a previous life, or even decades into the future of that life.

An office desk covered in instruments and complex devices stood before them. Behind it, a man in a white coat was conducting an experiment.

Hearing the noise, the figure at the desk looked up, revealing his face to Xuanye.

He was ordinary, a simple middle-aged man. Except for his uniquely striking eyes, everything else seemed perfectly mundane.

Meeting those eyes, Xuanye felt as though he had entered an endless starry sky, each star representing knowledge, sending a tremor through his heart. It was as if he had been seen through completely.

“You’re here? Time is short, so let’s fit the prosthetic limb first!” The man stepped out and pointed to an experimental platform nearby, beside which stood a massive crusher.

“This crusher is made of the toughest hard steel now available and integrates Seastone. Once fitted, if there’s any discomfort, with time you’ll get used to it,” his voice was magnetic, carrying an inexplicable eerie quality.

“Good. Warring States has already shown me the design schematics,” Zephyr nodded as he lay on the test bench. Next to him, Xuanye frowned, watching Zephyr with concern.

“I suppose this must be Lieutenant General Skylark! Truly, appearances can be deceiving,” the middle-aged man said with a faint glance at Xuanye before beginning to fit Zephyr’s prosthetic limb.

“Heh, many thanks to Liao Zan, the world’s top scientist,” Zephyr responded lightly. For such brilliant minds, the best strategy was to keep one’s distance.

After several tens of minutes, Zephyr stood up from the bench, flexing his right arm. Mechanical sounds emitted, exuding an inexplicable dignity.

“Due to your age, it will take two to three years to fully adapt to this crusher. If your body can’t sustain it, you’ll need medication,” the man said casually as he removed his surgical gloves.

“Such a long adaptation period for this prosthetic? And medication too?” Xuanye raised an eyebrow, eyeing the crusher in Zephyr’s hand.

“This is currently the most advanced prosthetic limb available. It has many functions. To master it in combat and use it freely, at least two to three years are necessary,” the man looked up at Xuanye with a strange expression.

“Don’t worry, Xuanye. I only plan to stay at the academy to train students, so I’ll have time to get used to this new arm. No need to worry,” Zephyr said honestly. In his previous life, he would already have been considered elderly—hardly the kind to still fight. This world was different; at this age, he could still stand on the battlefield.

“If there’s nothing else, you may leave. And if any issues arise with the arm, feel free to come back to me,” the middle-aged man waved them off as he began preparing refreshments.

“Let’s go,” Zephyr led the way out, feeling the weight of the moment.

“Oh, by the way, if possible, Lieutenant General Skylark, would you consider staying behind?” Suddenly, the man turned, casting a faint glance at Xuanye.

Everyone froze, puzzled.

“Master, you all go on up! I’ll be there shortly!” Xuanye frowned, thinking it over before deciding to remain.

“Very well!” Zephyr nodded, and the others left the room.

For a moment, the room fell silent. Both men stared quietly at each other, as if they were old acquaintances.

“Xuanye Tang?” the man finally spoke.

“Is there a problem?” Xuanye’s heart tightened instinctively.

“Take a look at this!” The man silently pulled a photo from his desk drawer and handed it to Xuanye.

Xuanye took it, puzzled, lowering his gaze to the image.

His pupils contracted sharply; his breathing quickened. His body trembled as his eyes locked onto the photo.

“This was something I came across a few years ago by chance. You know, it’s unbelievable. This material simply doesn’t exist in this world. It possesses power beyond the rules,” the man said excitedly, almost like a madman, his eyes bloodshot.

“I never imagined that such material was merely to protect what’s inside. It’s incredible. This thing even emits a special substance... Unfortunately, I lost it when the World Government captured me on my way here, and I never had time to study it further.”

“I believe that once the existence of this material is explained, there will be unexpected discoveries. Perhaps... this world isn’t the only one. This could very well be a divine masterpiece.”

The man paced excitedly, oblivious to the terrifying expression on Xuanye’s face.

“Where is this thing now?” Xuanye demanded, his eyes glowing golden-red as flames wrapped around his body, sending a wave of searing heat into the air.

“Doom... doom... doom...” Suddenly, alarms blared throughout the laboratory.

“Warning! Warning! Unexplained high temperature detected, rapidly rising. Please resolve immediately,” metallic voices repeated.

“I told you, I lost it when the World Government captured me,” the man said calmly, surrounded by a mysterious protective shield that deflected the intense heat.

Xuanye struggled to suppress the turmoil within, his gaze cold as he asked, “Are you sure?”

“Of course. I showed you this photo to get your help in finding it.”

“Deal. We will meet again,” Xuanye said through gritted teeth, storming out and slamming the door behind him.

Watching Xuanye’s agitated departure, the man smiled mysteriously and murmured to himself, “Indeed, we will meet again. Two of a kind.”

Outside, Xuanye gripped the photo tightly, his eyes red as tears streamed down his face.

“I will find you! Just wait.”

...

There will be another chapter later.