The haze of dust and debris cleared up, revealing Spark's figure. His posture defied the laws of physics and was perfectly balanced on the gene extraction apparatus on all fours…

Si Xi, Lu Ming, and all the scholars stared in bated breaths, no one daring to make a move, their eyes quivering with fear — the scholars fearing the consequences of failing the Dean's expectations, Si Xi dreading letting her idol the Dean down, and Lu Ming's heart palpitating in a furious tempest of emotions: anger, fear, hate, and helplessness.

This was his life's work, the goal he had taken upon himself since he could remember! And now, just as he was about to realize his dreams, this bastard just had to find a way to ruin it. His predatory teeth ground together in disgruntlement.

Spark, on the other hand, activated his ability input in full drive as even his Will bloomed aggressively in a focused attempt to drain the container to destruction.

His blazing sapphire pupils burned in full glee. With the distance between him and the scholar, no matter what the lunatic tried to do at this moment, it would be useless. So it was safe to say this was his victory — a hard-earned one at that!

The atomic particles that made up the molecular structure of the gene extracting apparatus quivered as a reality-bending intention bore down on it, forcing it to change its state, change its structure. The tightly bound molecules shuddered under pressure — this Will they couldn't deny.

And it started with one atom, and in tandem a chain effect took place, as the spirit tungsten material began dissolving into a fluorescent electric blue haze.

Though all this takes time to describe, all these reactions barely took a fraction of a second since Spark landed on the apparatus.

Suddenly, a click rang out as Spark's smile froze. He didn't need to turn around to know that someone had just interfered with his attempt to destroy the serums.

Si Xi's eyes blazed with an undeterred will. I will never fail the Dean! Even if it costs my death! This reverent chant boomed in her mind as she reached for a hidden compartment, unbolted it, and extracted a nearly full crystalline tube. A pure white substance bubbled within… this was a Perfect Life serum!

Though it had yet to be filled — in fact, it was the only one among the three to have anything within at all — she just hoped this would be enough for the Dean's cause!

After fastening a lid on it in a swift motion, with a resigned smile she threw it to the beastly amalgamation in the distance… whoever that was, she hoped they could take it to the Dean on time.

"NOOOO!" Spark raged as he could only stare at the projectile helplessly. He dared not move until what was left of the apparatus was gone.

His figure simmered, a blighting wave that promised vaporization on contact burst from his figure with raging speed…

Si Xi and the scholars couldn't even scream before they were reduced to ash. Meanwhile, Lu Ming moved the fastest he had ever treaded, his claws outstretched reaching for the vial, his expression that of revitalized glee. There was still hope! His dream wasn't completely dead after all!

His claw clutched the vial tightly as he embraced it, his figure curling into a ball so fast it did so in mid-air — all to protect the serum from the searing wave of carbonizing heat.

And he did protect it, but not without a cost. The scorching wave met with his figure, carrying it with the blast. As the heat dug deep into his hide, it met with his metallic scaled skin beneath. Unfortunately, that couldn't hold for long either, as the reddened strips of scales peeled off and the burn traveled unimpeded, digging further into his organs and marrow. But fortunately for him — and unfortunately for Spark — the burn didn't reach the vial. Or to be more accurate, it did, but it wasn't hot enough to do any damage anymore.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The only three living beings in the room landed limply on the cold floor.

The soulless naked figure of the Perfect Life fell as the apparatus it was in completely dissolved into pure energy.

Spark's exhausted body landed, his cells sore and his mind buzzed. That attack just now came in a fit of rage so blinding he poured every ounce of energy he could get hold of into it. His chest heaved aggressively as fatigue finally found its way into his system, which was on the verge of shutting down.

Meanwhile, all that could be seen of Lu Ming was a charred curled ball. Carbonized steam could be seen drifting from the meaty mess.

Spark frowned. This wasn't a good sign — if anything, that steam indicated life! His jaws clenched as he forcefully restrained his urge to pass out. After a couple of tries, he staggered to his feet.

His eyes glued to Lu Ming's figure. He cared for nothing but to confirm the state of the madman, so he inched forward in a clumsy stagger. His knees trembled. Pain! It dug through his fragile soles and his joints creaked as though in rebellion to movement.

But his face remained straight. None of this was near what he had dealt with the past days. This pain was nothing but a tickle in comparison. So his figure inched forward slowly, in ignorance of all protests from his body.

And finally, he arrived at the charred curled ball, and his trembling hands stretched, reaching to unfurl the body of his opponent.

Fortunately, all it took to accomplish this was nothing but a touch. The curled meaty remains of his foe unfurled, followed by a wave of black ash.

Spark coughed, his now fragile lungs stung at each heave. A trickle of blood trailed from the corner of his mouth, but his teeth remained clenched and his eyes remained steady. He needed to see the result of his attack.

And the dusty haze of ash finally dispersed…

Spark froze as his eyes met with an empty translucent crystalline vial. This wasn't right! Why was it empty?

His eyes twitched. As though it surviving his furious attempt at vaporization wasn't enough… he had a terrible premonition. His neck craned laboriously and slowly across Lu Ming's figure.

And he finally reached the madman's charred face. His fur had been reduced to cinders, the black charred facial skin remnants in full display. And his snout… Spark's heart clenched.

His snout was twisted into an eerie satisfied smile, and from the corner of his lips a whitish smear of liquid could be seen.

"Damn! Bastard!" Spark yelled in rage as he attempted to kick the body of his foe. Unfortunately, his body couldn't keep up any longer and was on the verge of breaking down.

So instead of kicking, he did more of collapsing helplessly. He gazed at the charred ceiling in utter helplessness. He tried his best, but the bastard still accomplished his goal…

I—I hope he is dead at least, he prayed. But unfortunately, a sound reverberated in a steady rhythm, disappointing his wish.

Badum! Badum! Badum!

It was a heartbeat. The fucker was still alive, wasn't he? He sighed helplessly. Whatever — for now, there was nothing he could do.

Suddenly, rapid footsteps could be heard coming toward their direction. His heart was suddenly overcome with happiness — it had to be Lei Yu and the others…

And indeed it was. "Brother Spark! Heavens, what happened to you? Quick, Zhao Mei, help him!" Lei Yu's voice could be heard.

A delicate figure knelt beside Spark, arms outstretched as azure essence strings bloomed from her forearms, entangling into a weave as it burst into a brilliant emerald hue, simmering across Spark's limp figure, slowly revitalizing him.

Cough! That was all Spark could let out in his attempt to speak.

Finish my kill! End this blight! he hoped to communicate, but his blood-soaked lungs wouldn't let him. He could only lie there, letting the emerald sheen do its work.

First thing I do when I get up is rip that bastard's head off his neck! he vowed. But unfortunately, it was at this moment that an intense drowsiness hit.

His eyelids became heavy, his mind fuzzed, and his hearing buzzed…

"Who could have done this to him?" Bao'er voiced in worry, as her eyes roamed the charred remains of the lab before settling on Lu Ming's charred figure.

They all saw his strength, and they understood that not just anyone could defeat Spark.

"It seems his foe isn't any better," Zhao Mu sighed as he gazed at the unmoving remains of Lu Ming and assumed him dead.

Meanwhile, Lei Yu had a guilty expression. "If we were here as support, he probably wouldn't have ended up like this." The others went silent at this statement, with guilt and worry coating their faces.

…

Meanwhile, above the cursed village…

An elderly fiery figure dressed in vibrant crimson robes threaded the sky. Underneath him was a blazing platform. The elderly man's gaze roamed the animated village.

As his gaze burned with fury, "Heretics! To think they dared poison a whole village, turning them all into empty husks of their selves!" The elder's rage-filled words thrummed across the air.

"Let me rid you of your misery!" And with that, his arms burst into motion as he formed a hand seal, and behind him reality trembled, space rippled, and a flaming halberd slowly descended from nowhere. If one looked just close enough, one would notice the entire construct was made of flame-like essence strings.

Boom!

The flame halberd rammed into the village, vaporizing everything around — humans, buildings, rocks, and all. The halberd didn't stop there, as the earth turned into molten lava and the weave continued boring its way into the ground!

[A/N] I'm back guys!

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