The moment the clones appeared on the battlefield, it immediately shocked all of Mars, and even the entire solar system.
According to interstellar conventions, the creation of clones was strictly prohibited.
Anyone who did so would become an enemy of all humanity.
But with its own destruction imminent, Giant Pharmaceuticals couldn't care less and recklessly deployed its clone army into battle.
The clones had a vitality rating of 3.0 and were implanted with the most advanced combat skills in their brains, each one a killing machine. Once they entered the fray, the tide of battle shifted instantly.
The unstoppable momentum of the Mars Revolutionary Army suffered a severe blow.
Giant Pharmaceuticals' crisis was temporarily resolved, but its reputation was ruined!
Although the Solar System Coalition Government was a puppet regime whose laws were essentially meaningless, it still needed to maintain appearances.
Giant Pharmaceuticals had openly violated the law by massively deploying clone troops, breaking not only solar system laws but also interstellar human law.
Various interstellar powers hypocritically issued stern condemnations.
Even the Solar System Coalition Government, Giant Pharmaceuticals' backer, couldn't protect them now. It publicly declared that Giant Pharmaceuticals had violated interstellar conventions and was guilty beyond redemption, but anyone with eyes could see this announcement was more bark than bite.
In contrast, the Solar System Coalition Government harbored even greater hatred for the Mars Revolutionary Army, branding them as rebels and quickly assembling forces to suppress the uprising!
Feng Lin found it puzzling. How could Giant Pharmaceuticals be so brazen? These clones were clearly something that couldn't be exposed, yet they were sent out without restraint.
Even if they defeated the Mars Revolutionary Army, what then? Across the vastness of space, there would be no place for Giant Pharmaceuticals to stand, reduced to nothing but underground rats hiding in the shadows.
Did they have some other backing?
A shadow of unease crept into Feng Lin's heart as he recalled the inverted swastika symbol.
Though he was seeing this symbol for the first time in the interstellar age, it wasn't unfamiliar to him.
Because in his past life on Earth, a brief look at history would reveal the terror behind this symbol.
The nation, power, and military it represented had brought catastrophic disaster to Earth at the time.
Feng Lin never imagined that after spanning ten thousand years, he would still encounter this symbol!
Coincidence? Or perhaps some inevitability?
With too little information, Feng Lin couldn't make a judgment for now, but he grew deeply wary of Giant Pharmaceuticals' underlying motives.
Though the clone army was unstoppable on the battlefield, Feng Lin saw the emptiness within Giant Pharmaceuticals. If a powerful interstellar cultivator were to show up now, they might be able to wipe out the entire company in one fell swoop.
But Feng Lin didn't act rashly. The research records of the mysterious black shadow, with its invincible and formidable posture, were unforgettable.
Without understanding the full picture, acting recklessly would only put him in danger.
The battle on Mars grew increasingly fierce. Giant Pharmaceuticals and the Mars Revolutionary Army were tearing each other apart, and Feng Lin was happy to watch from the sidelines. The more chaotic the situation, the better the chance to fish in troubled waters.
But things never developed as simply as he imagined.
Another two-day weekend arrived.
Beep beep beep!
His identity chip buzzed incessantly, jolting Feng Lin from his intense cultivation. His rising genetic potential came to an abrupt halt.
Feng Lin opened his eyes, irritation flaring. Who was so clueless?
Cultivation was addictive, and being interrupted at a time like this was infuriating.
What puzzled him was that since arriving on Mars, he had cut off all contact, eliminated distractions, and focused solely on cultivation, ignoring all disputes.
Who could still find him at this point?
The next moment, a projection of a man in traditional Martian robes appeared before him—it was Luke.
Feng Lin's expression shifted, and he instinctively moved to cut off the image.
But Luke had anticipated this reaction and said calmly, "Don't do it! Unless you want your secret leaked to Giant Pharmaceuticals?"
Feng Lin's hand froze mid-air. His eyes narrowed as he stared at the other man, exuding a dangerous aura. "Are you threatening me?"
"Not a threat, just adding a little bargaining chip," Luke replied, unfazed by Feng Lin's undisguised hostility. Instead, he smiled. "We share the same goal, don't we? Shouldn't we cooperate?"
"Cooperate? What do you want?" Feng Lin asked coldly. Those who came with ill intent never brought good news.
He didn't believe this guy's motives were so pure. A weasel paying a New Year's visit to a chicken—what a joke.
"Something trivial for you! The clone army poses a huge threat to us. On the front lines, we can't win in the short term, and we don't want to get dragged into an endless quagmire. We need a decapitation strike. If we eliminate Giant Pharmaceuticals' top brass, we'll win this war without a fight. So we urgently need you to tell us about Giant Pharmaceuticals' current armed forces and internal defenses!" Luke laid out his demand.
"You want me to leak Giant Pharmaceuticals' secrets?" Feng Lin squinted.
"Feng Lin, don't play dumb!" Luke shook his head with a knowing laugh, looking smug as if he had seen through everything. "Wasn't it you who leaked the information about the clone army before? Even though you tried to hide the source, I could still guess it was you! Who else but someone in Giant Pharmaceuticals' core department would know such classified details?"
Facing his probing, Feng Lin wouldn't admit it. Instead, he countered, "That's ridiculous! If I tell you Giant Pharmaceuticals' secrets, what's in it for me?"
"At the very least, Giant Pharmaceuticals won't find out you leaked classified info, right?" Luke said meaningfully. "Right now, only heaven, earth, you, and I know your identity. I haven't told anyone. If I happen to let it slip, that wouldn't be good. There are definitely Giant Pharmaceuticals' moles inside our Mars Revolutionary Army. If it gets out, it'll be very bad for you. You probably won't be able to stay at Giant Pharmaceuticals, and you might not even keep your life. Even if you escape, you'll face endless pursuit! I've gone to great lengths to keep your secret safe! Actually, Feng Lin, why not join our Mars Revolutionary Army? Giant Pharmaceuticals is our enemy and yours too. We could be on the same side!"
He extended an olive branch again, but Feng Lin didn't take it. He felt the heavy threat in Luke's words.
If he didn't agree to Luke's demands, it seemed Luke would report his leak to Giant Pharmaceuticals, with disastrous consequences.
What Feng Lin couldn't figure out was how they had tracked him down despite his caution, covering all his tracks.
This unexpected turn had trapped him in a corner.
Feng Lin silently reflected.
He really couldn't underestimate anyone!
The Mars Revolutionary Army, as a major underground force on Mars, was full of hidden talents, definitely including interstellar hackers.
With one slip, they had caught him.
In the future, he would have to be even more careful to ensure nothing went wrong.
As for joining the Mars Revolutionary Army?
No way!
Feng Lin couldn't agree to that.
One was befriending a wolf, the other a tiger—what was the difference?
Befriending a wolf still gave hope of fighting back and preserving himself.
Befriending a tiger would likely mean being devoured the moment he got close.
Feng Lin's mind raced. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he began to negotiate. "If I tell you the secrets, do you think Giant Pharmaceuticals will let me off? Mars is full of civil war and danger everywhere. I don't want to stay here anymore! So if I tell you, you must arrange for me to leave Mars and return to Earth."
Hearing this condition, Luke hesitated briefly before nodding in agreement. "Fine! Now can you tell me?"
"No!" Feng Lin shook his head. "I don't trust you! If I spill the secrets and you don't keep your promise, once Giant Pharmaceuticals reacts, how could I survive? I need to meet you in person. After I tell you, you must immediately arrange for me to leave Mars!"
"This..." Luke hesitated, his gaze probing deeply into Feng Lin, trying to discern his true intentions.
Feng Lin's expression remained calm, showing no sign of deceit.
Perhaps backed by some force, Luke was confident and unafraid of the formidable strength Feng Lin had displayed in their earlier encounter. He nodded in agreement. "I can meet you. Tonight at 9 PM, at the flying car scrapyard on Fire Prison Street in Shitai City."
He gave an address, and Feng Lin memorized it.
"I think you know what to do. Don't try anything clever, or you won't like the consequences," Luke warned finally, and his projection dissipated on the spot.
Feng Lin's face darkened as he shut off the image and deleted all records.
Without hesitation, he decided to go to the meeting.
Going alone to meet the Mars Revolutionary Army seemed like walking into danger, extremely risky.
But he had no choice. He had to resolve this threat, or all his efforts so far would be wasted.
After resting for a day, at 8 PM, Feng Lin left on time.
The moment he stepped out of Giant Pharmaceuticals' gates, he immediately sensed someone tailing him!
Giant Pharmaceuticals' people!
Feng Lin's heart tightened. Since he had entered the company's core department and knew too many secrets, Giant Pharmaceuticals might not restrict his freedom openly, but they would definitely monitor him secretly.
He pretended not to notice and headed toward the outskirts of Shitai City.
The presence lingered far behind him.
When he entered a dim alley, two men in black followed, only to find it a dead end. Feng Lin had already vanished.
"Where is he?" The two exchanged glances, confused and wary.
"Hypnosis!" A faint voice suddenly sounded beside them. They turned to see a graceful hand seal flying toward them, seemingly gentle but incredibly fast, expanding rapidly before their eyes until it struck their foreheads.
Their souls felt shrouded in darkness, their vision blurring as they lost consciousness.
Catching them off guard, Feng Lin successfully hypnotized the two monitors. When they returned to Giant Pharmaceuticals, they would only remember that Feng Lin, on his first visit to Mars, had spent his free time sightseeing in Shitai City—nothing else.
Watching the two men in black disappear into the distance, Feng Lin's eyes narrowed. He suddenly moved, speeding through the darkness of Shitai City's night toward the agreed meeting point.
He moved swiftly, leaving afterimages in his wake. Occasionally, someone spotted him and screamed in fright.
But Feng Lin didn't stop. Soon, he entered a dark, chaotic street.
At the street's corner lay a vast scrapyard for abandoned flying cars, a place rarely visited, messy and chaotic, with rusted car wrecks and parts piled high like mountains.
Feng Lin felt as if he were walking through a forest of scrap metal. The surroundings were dim and eerie, with no light, giving off a sinister vibe.
Suddenly, he stopped. Without warning, four dark figures had appeared, surrounding him tightly, cutting off all escape routes.