Chapter 216: Project Tinder

Chapter 216: The Spark Plan

"Do you know her? Do you all know her??"

Chen Jian stared dumbfounded at the scene of this “recognition,” his tone laced with unabashed doubt.

The queen called Lin Jing remained silent, while Ji Xing let out a long sigh and nodded slowly, replying:

"I know her."

"She once served as a monitor in the Hall of Sacred Blood—the weakest monitor, and also the weakest of the Sacred Blooders."

"She possessed no body that surpassed ordinary humans; when I was still in the Hall of Sacred Blood, I had heard many legends about her."

"I have seen many facets of her; back then she was once a doctor."

"I do not know why she appears here; she must not die yet."

"We must find her and get a clear answer!"

As the words fell, Chen Jian turned toward Xu He, who was still weeping beside him.

The latter was trying every method to revive Lin Jing, but to the naked eye her life was draining away at a frantic pace.

Such a display was not what a Sacred Blooder should exhibit.

Chen Jian realized that Ji Xing had not lied to her.

Thus, he issued a decisive order:

"Lei Jie, give her two shots of adrenaline, keep her hanging on."

"She cannot survive; we lack the skill to save her."

"Ask whatever you can extract, and count it all."

"Understood."

Lei Jie obeyed at once, injecting two large doses of adrenaline; the Lin Jing who had already slipped into unconsciousness suddenly opened her eyes.

"Alive! Hey, she's alive!"

Xu He, exhilarated, shook Xu He; aided by his exoskeleton, Chen Jian shoved him aside, then half‑crouched before Lin Jing and spoke:

"I don't care what crimes you've committed or what wrongs you've done; you're on the brink of death, and I will not pursue you further."

"But you must tell me what you truly intend to do."

"From now on I will ask, and you answer."

"When a man faces death, his words become sincere; don't deceive me, okay?"

Lin Jing nodded slowly.

Then Chen Jian asked:

"Are you a Sacred Blooder of the Hall of Sacred Blood? Why did you leave the Hall?"

"I once was. Our ideals diverged."

Lin Jing spoke with difficulty; those few words seemed to drain the last of her strength.

Chen Jian wasted no time, pressing on:

"Why don't you possess the physique of a Sacred Blooder? What is your peculiarity?"

"Longevity. I age more slowly than others."

"I see that now."

Chen Jian nodded again and continued:

"What did you do after you left?"

"I went to Huadu and used drugs to control the people there."

"Where did the drugs come from?"

"From a certain manuscript of the Hall of Sacred Blood; that is irrelevant."

Lin Jing's spirit recovered a little, but it was evident that this was her final flare of brilliance.

Chen Jian knew he must seize the moment and strike at the core of the matter.

"What is the purpose of your research into the terror demons?"

"The stability of hereditary genes. I

“ I must solidify this trait, and the blood‑skeleton’s genes are the key.”

“ They possess extraordinary genetic stability, capable of solving the problem of propagation.”

“ If we can unravel their secrets, everyone in the wasteland could inherit a longevity gene like mine.”

“ That is the true method to change this world.”

“ Power will inevitably fade, but as long as humanity lives, they can create anything.”

The words hung in the air as Lin Jing closed her eyes.

Chen Jian reached for her throat, yet after a silent half‑minute he felt no pulse at all.

He let out a long sigh and barred Xu He, who was about to rush forward.

Then he spoke:

“ She’s dead.”

“ She’s a lunatic—a lunatic who knows a great deal.”

“ But what she said also indirectly proves that the so‑called gene cores, terror demons, and holy‑blooded ones are far from simple.”

“ Even the Holy Blood Hall is not as simple as it seems.”

“ We may truly have to go to the Imperial Capital, perhaps even to the headquarters of the Holy Blood Hall.”

“ Come, move her away and clear the ruins.”

“ Search, see if she left any other useful information.”

“ Understood.”

Lei Jie and Li Shi stepped forward to act, while Xu He continued to rage on the side, and Xie Liu and Ji Xing stood motionless together.

“ Any problems?”

Chen Jian asked, his brow slightly furrowed.

“ .None.”

Ji Xing slowly shook her head.

After a moment of silence, she spoke:

“ I was just thinking”

“ If she could have endured a few more years in the Holy Blood Hall, that would have been wonderful.”

“ Indeed.”

Xie Liu, standing nearby, sighed:

“ To be precise, seven years.”

“ Commander, had she not committed those crimes, perhaps she truly could have waited for you.”

“ Indeed.”

Chen Jian nodded lightly, his gaze falling on Lin Jing’s corpse that had been moved aside.

Yet in that instant, the body jerked upright with sudden force.

Then a hoarse wail escaped her lips.

“ Go to the Imperial Capital.”

“ Seed. The Seed Project.”

( End of Chapter )