Chapter 22. Longevity Genetics, A Dominant Power

"What in the world..."

Lu Yuan was taken aback. The appearance of the man before him had completely surpassed the limits of human understanding.

Standing at two meters tall, his muscles bulged like knotted cables—especially his right arm, which was grotesquely swollen and resembled a thick stone pillar.

Despite the significant distance between them, Lu Yuan could feel the terrifying power radiating off of him.

"I took this forbidden drug at the cost of my lifespan. My strength is now amplified by dozens of times. Now that you've seen this appearance, you must die."

Though a sliver of rationality remained in Zhao's mind, his gaze was now filled with beastly savagery.

From his words, it was clear that he already regarded Lu Yuan as a corpse. With his current power, he was confident that even when up against a world champion boxer, he could kill him in a single blow.

In this state, his defence, speed, and strength were monstrously terrifying.

And not wasting another word, Zhao made his move.

Boom!

He kicked off against the ground ,and in a single leap, he closed the dozens of meters between them in an instant. Even the ground beneath his feet cracked open under his force.

He drew back his right arm. Channeling all his power into his arm, he swung it forward at Lu Yuan. The force split apart the air, creating a sharp sonic boom. If his fist struck any normal person, their body would've been reduced to a smear of blood.

A battle of strength, huh?

Lu Yuan narrowed his eyes slightly, and remained rooted to his spot without even flinching.

He bent his knees slightly, then coiled his own right fist back. The next moment, he swung it forward, head on against the monstrous arm.

The remnant pill essence in the Meridian Heavenmend Furnace had already tempered his body to match that of a Foundation Realm I Awakened. Though his opponent had undergone a grotesque transformation, he was still, at his core, made of flesh and blood.

When it came to pure physical strength, Lu Yuan held absolute confidence.

More importantly, he had lived two lifetimes. His combat instincts and experience far surpassed anything an ordinary man could hope to achieve.

Boom!

In the next moment, their fists collided with a thunderous bang that echoed through the air. The sheer force of the impact unleashed a shockwave that blasted outward in all directions.

The ground beneath Lu Yuan's feet caved in, forming a half-meter-deep crater, with cracks spiderwebbing across the surrounding earth.

The sheer magnitude of their power was unmistakable.

And yet, Lu Yuan remained rooted to the spot, his stance unshaken.

On the other hand, Zhao's eyes widened in disbelief and shock. Due to the overwhelming impact, the blood vessels on his right arm had burst open.

H-How...How is this possible? Is he even human?

Zhao was consumed by shock and extreme disbelief.

He had relied on a forbidden drug to gain his current strength. Yet the man in front of him, no matter how he looked at it, the man just looked like an ordinary person.

"Was that your full power?" Lu Yuan suddenly asked, breaking the silence. "It's my turn then."

As soon as the words left his mouth, his clenched fist suddenly shifted into an open palm. Grabbing Zhao's closed fist, he effortlessly hurled the two-meter-tall brute straight over his shoulder.

Boom!

Under the crushing force, the ground split apart like a spiderweb, forming a crater tens of meters wide. Zhao, taking the brunt of the impact, couldn't withstand the pressure. Blood gushed from his mouth as his entire body trembled violently.

He struggled and tried to stand. He drew back his most powerful arm in a desperate attempt to strike and carve out a chance to escape.

But Lu Yuan tightened his grip ever so slightly. A sickening crack echoed in the air. Zhao's arm, thick as a millstone, snapped like dry wood.

And that was Lu Yuan holding back. If he had wanted to, tearing the entire limb off would've been effortless.

The gap between them was far too vast.

"Now. Anything else you'd like to say?" Lu Yuan's voice was as calm as ever while he stared at Zhao with an indifferent gaze.

He had no idea what drug that was, but at the end of the day it was still just the product of modern science.

While himself?

He had absorbed the pill essence left behind by an immortal.

"Y-You...what the hell are you? How can you possess such terrifying strength?" Pain coursed through Zhao's body. But more than that, he was consumed by fear.

The man before him was a monster. Even though he had taken the company's drug, he was still easily overpowered. Confusion and dread twisted inside him. Whatever this man was... he couldn't be human.

"I didn't ask that question." Lu Yuan shook his head. "Answer my question."

Lu Yuan then casually brought his foot down and snapped another one of Zhao's ribs.

He wasn't some soft-hearted person. He wouldn't stop until he got the answer he wanted.

Zhao saw the cold indifference in Lu Yuan's eyes. He knew the latter wasn't kidding. He gritted his teeth and pondered for a moment before he eventually gave in. "I'll talk, but you have to spare me."

"That'll depend on whether what you say interests me," Lu Yuan replied flatly.

"Alright." Zhao stopped struggling and confessed, "I'm from Longevity Genetics, a specialized combat personnel groomed by them. Our current mission is to collect the meteor and bring it back to the company. The higher-ups place great importance on this operation."

Zhao then continued to spill every intel he knew, including the number of teams being dispatched out, and even the plan that had been set by Longevity Genetics long ago.

The company's initial plan was to purchase the farm through normal channels but someone beat them to it. So they had no choice but to send a team out to snatch the meteor.

Longevity Genetics?

Lu Yuan's brows furrowed slightly. From what he knew, Longevity Genetics was a powerful domestic corporation with deep roots and extensive influence. The true mastermind behind the company remained shrouded in mystery. No outsider knew who was truly in control.

As its name implied, Longevity Genetics specialized in genetic and lifespan research. Rumor had it they held countless patents and had achieved significant breakthroughs in the field.

He'd also heard that the company often purchased the remains of monks and Daoist cultivators who had passed away in seated meditation. In a similar vein, they spared no expense recruiting the extremely elderly, all in pursuit of the secret to longevity.

According to his memories, after the global awakening, Longevity Genetics had quickly risen to power and secured a foothold in the chaos of the new era. They had many Awakened under their banner and were not a force to be taken lightly.

"Looks like Longevity Genetics anticipated the awakening long before it happened," Lu Yuan muttered. "They must've uncovered something through their genetic research. Otherwise, there's no way they could mass-produce this many Awakened out of nowhere."

The puzzle pieces finally fell into place. No wonder this guy gained such monstrous power after taking a single pill. This had to be one of the company's experimental breakthroughs.

"Anything else?" Lu Yuan pressed further.

"We were instructed to withdraw once we secure the meteor. The company said too many people had their eyes on it. Wuzhou Group, Skygod Technologies, Polaris Biotech, and others." Zhao didn't dare withhold any information.

Damn. Not only are those some of the biggest corporations in the country. They are also powerhouses after the global awakening.

Lu Yuan's suspicions were further confirmed. Not only did the upper echelons of society know of the upcoming global awakening, but they had even made their preparations way earlier.

Perhaps, the world was shrouded in far more mystery than anyone could possibly imagine.

And to think that the Wuzhou Group, with which he was well-acquainted, was one of them. They had actually extended their claws and set their sights on him.

"I... I told you everything I know! You promised to let me go," Zhao immediately blurted out after Lu Yuan's prolonged period of silence.

Lu Yuan snapped out of his thoughts. He released his grip on Zhao's hand, and a faint smile surfaced on his countenance.

"You did well. But...you still need to die!"

With that, he balled his right hand into a fist and slammed it into Zhao's face.

Boom!

The ground split apart once again as Zhao's body collapsed and sank into the cracks. He never rose again.

Unbothered, Lu Yuan calmly wiped the blood from his knuckles, his expression as composed and indifferent as ever.