Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Intercept (Please follow)

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Yet, despite such extreme strictness, danger, and the Torch Human Civilization’s strict prohibition, such occurrences were still commonplace.

There was no helping it, for those Torch Ship Captains who had once possessed supreme power and strength, embracing the vampire variant was the last straw they could clutch at after exhausting all means to prolong their own lives, a final attempt they had to make, no matter what.

However, although there were quite a few vampires within the stronghold of the Torch Human Civilization, they were not the Scarlet Vampires necessary for the “Genetic Modification Chamber.” Scarlet Vampires were a mutant variant within the vampire population, far less common than ordinary vampires, and as of now, their presence had not been reported within the stronghold of the Torch Human Civilization.

In other words, the path to enhancement for this Scarlet Blood Clan Genetic Modification Chamber was severed, which was why all Torch Ship Captains dismissed this component at first sight.

But thinking about it, if it were so easy to enhance, the success rate of genetic modification would inevitably see a substantial increase. If it could be elevated above 10%, it would certainly be far more reliable than the initial embrace of vampirism, and in that case, this component would become a veritable cash cow.

However, if it truly were possible to reach such a level, then why would Baihe Mall put it up for auction at all? At least John Tros would never allow it.

As for the other two items besides the “Scarlet Blood Clan Genetic Modification Chamber,” they were quite satisfactory. Whether it was the Medical Cabin, a special component, or the Blood Light Protective Layer, a type of Energy Shield, both were highly favored by Torch Ship Captains.

After a burst of clamor, the auction for the Purple Relic officially began. However, those bidding were primarily the big shots in the ten private boxes above, opening with offers of Second-Rank or Third-Rank Floating Land Origin, or other onboard components of the same quality; Song Chi and other Zero Rank or First Rank Torch Ship Captains didn’t stand a chance to bid.

Following a fierce competition, the “Ancestral Blood” was eventually taken by a Second Rank Torch Ship Captain for a Purple Main Cannon of the same quality and an additional 100 strands of Second-Rank Floating Land Origin.

With that, the trade conference officially ended. Song Chi quickly controlled the Fire Peony Soldier Figurine to hurry to the backstage of the auction venue. After paying 600 Zero Rank Void Crystals + 100 First Rank Void Crystals + 2060 strands of Zero Rank Floating Land Origin, he successfully obtained 200 tons of Mercury Crystals + Abnormal Status Purifier.

Upon exiting the Tianhe auction venue, Song Chi had originally intended to browse through various shops to see if he could find a white or higher quality engine component. However, midway, he sensed some discreet surveillance.

Upon discovering this, Song Chi immediately tensed up, his mind racing to the Tros Family. Seeing this, he naturally preferred not to linger any longer in Baihe Mall.

Baihe Mall, first floor.

Song Chi moved swiftly towards the mall’s main entrance, with more than five pursuers, detectable by him, trailing behind.

Once certain he was being followed, Song Chi carefully scanned his surroundings out of the corner of his eye, seeking the best opportunity to enter Zhu Tian Ruins Market.

To vanish into thin air under the public gaze was too astonishing; such disclosure would inevitably catch the attention of many. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, he was reluctant to do so.

At the entrance of the mall, several diligent security guards were patrolling. Seizing the opportunity, Song Chi approached them directly.

At his succinct explanation, the security guards looked seriously towards the crowd behind him. This sudden development caused the Tros Family guards, who were blending in with the crowd, to instinctively slow down. Although the Tros Family was one of the three major affiliated families in Baihe Mall, the mutual checks and balances between the three meant they dared not take overt action within the mall itself.

Seizing this moment, Song Chi controlled the Fire Peony Soldier Figurine to dash out of the mall at high speed. The moment he left the mall, the Cangqiong, already hovering a dozen or so meters high, quickly opened its hatch. The Fire Peony Soldier Figurine leaped powerfully, the might of its First Rank physique propelling it upwards, enabling it to precisely jump onto the Cangqiong.

Whir, whir, whir!

Within the Cangqiong, a ready Song Chi immediately revved up the engines with all his might. After a loud roar, the Cangqiong soared into the sky and vanished above Baihe City in the blink of an eye.

Hundreds of miles outside Baihe City, the swiftly gliding Cangqiong abruptly halted—a hundred-meter-long colossal vessel was quietly suspended high in the sky, a kilometer away.

Song Chi’s pupils violently contracted; he had a premonition that this unknown Guardian Class Spectral Spaceship was there for him and, most likely, bore no good intentions.

“`

Just as he wondered when he had provoked such a high-level character, Cangqiong received a communication request.

After a moment’s hesitation, he accepted the communication.

Soon his pupils constricted once again.

“John Tros!”

Since he had pretty much confirmed that the other party bore ill intentions, Song Chi had no intention of maintaining superficial courtesies and directly called out his name.

Meanwhile, at the bottom of his heart, he was quickly thinking about how to extricate himself from this situation.

As for the purpose of the other’s visit, he knew full well it was nothing other than the Void Crystal, other than that, he had nothing on him that would be worth the other’s covetous gaze.

Forget the Dark Matter Energy Shield Generator or the Brainwave Remote Control System.

He had never revealed these two components from start to finish. As for the Mercury Crystal and the Abnormal Status Purifier, if the other party had wanted them, he would never have been able to successfully get them at the previous auction.

“Do you need the Void Crystal?”

On the projection screen, the elder raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing across his face.

“Clever, but not quite there, kid. In addition to all the Void Crystals on you, tell this old man about the origin of these Void Crystals, then you can leave on your own.”

Song Chi’s mouth twitched, and even with the cover of the white mask, John Tros still caught the sneer that flashed in Song Chi’s eyes. His expression immediately darkened, as a coldness emerged on his face.

But before he could speak, Song Chi went on the offensive:

“Showing your true colors now, and you still think you’re going to let me leave alive? If you’re going to act, at least make it convincing. As the saying goes, an old man who does not die is a thief; this doesn’t seem to apply to you at all.”

“It seems like you have lived these two hundred and eighty years as a dog.”

As soon as these words were out, John Tros no longer hid the murderous intent in his eyes.

Originally, he had planned to get the Void Crystals, learn their origin and then leave the young man in front of him a whole corpse, but now he had changed his mind. He wanted to use the most cruel tortures to torment Song Chi, to make the young man in front of him beg for life without hope, beg for death without release.

“You little brat, your mouth is quite tough. Very soon, I’ll let you experience the most cruel torment methods of this era, and then…”

Before he could finish his threatening words, the sudden movement from Song Chi made John Tros instinctively frown.

Song Chi did not choose to run but instead turned the airship straight down, charging toward the continuous mountain ranges below.

Just when he thought Song Chi had panicked and lost his composure, right before Cangqiong was about to crash into a mountain below, Song Chi unexpectedly retracted the airship back into the Ancestral Torch, letting himself plummet rapidly towards the ground.