The seven patients whose genetic mutation surgeries had failed, along with the thirty-six injured people who had fallen unconscious, were all sent to the best hospital near District Three. When Lu Qiao and Yan Qiu arrived there, they happened to run into Song Yue.
Song Yue looked extremely haggard. Even after seeing Lu Qiao, he did not have much energy.
Seeing that the wounds on his body seemed to have already been treated, Lu Qiao asked with concern, “Are Uncle and Auntie okay?”
Hearing this, Song Yue stiffened.
He swept his hair back with one hand. His face was as pale as a ghost, and his voice was hoarse and completely distorted.
“My dad… my dad’s consciousness body was shattered… He…”
Song Yue tightened his hands and clenched his teeth, unable to continue.
After telling his parents to escape as quickly as possible, he had done everything he could to keep his younger brother inside the house and shield him.
But his father had been worried about the two brothers. Regardless of the danger, he had rushed inside—
At that moment, his father had blocked an almost fatal attack for him.
But at the same time, his father’s consciousness body had been completely shattered!
What difference was there between someone whose consciousness body had been shattered and someone who had already died?
They could never wake up again!
More than ten hours had passed since the incident, yet Song Yue still had not been able to accept reality.
Not to mention his mother.
She had already broken down completely.
Lu Qiao froze.
Only then did the overlapping cries coming from the emergency room suddenly become clear, surging toward him like waves and pounding against his eardrums.
In the lobby, quite a few people remained in the waiting area. Some sat quietly in their chairs with their faces propped up by their hands, like statues. Others leaned against their loved ones’ shoulders and wept endlessly.
Lu Qiao’s heart grew heavy along with them.
If there had been no way to save them, what had happened yesterday would undoubtedly have been a tragedy.
Fortunately…
Lu Qiao exchanged a glance with Yan Qiu.
He reached out and placed a hand on Song Yue’s shoulder, saying quietly, “It’s okay.”
Song Yue closed his eyes, trembling slightly.
Lu Qiao said, “Don’t worry. I’ll wake your father up.”
Silence for one second.
Song Yue finally reacted. His eyes snapped open, and he stared blankly at Lu Qiao.
Lu Qiao patted his shoulder and said, “Trust me. Go inside for now. Taking care of Auntie is the most important thing right now.”
Song Yue stood where he was, dazedly watching Lu Qiao walk into the emergency room.
Yan Qiu nodded at him and followed.
Song Yue hurriedly grabbed Yan Qiu’s arm and asked nervously, “What did Lu Qiao mean?”
“Exactly what you heard,” Yan Qiu said calmly. “Go inside and wait. We’ll talk after Luo Ye arrives.”
Lu Qiao went to check on Song Yue’s mother.
However, before the treatment officially began, it was inconvenient for him to reveal his ability to more people, so he only comforted her for a few words and gave Song Yue a look, telling him to calm down and stay beside his mother.
After getting a general understanding of the situation, Lu Qiao and Yan Qiu went outside for a walk before eventually returning home.
In the evening, Luo Ye and his group arrived.
Luo Ye was no longer as elegant and composed as usual. When he entered the door, his hair was blown into a complete mess, and he was still panting for breath.
The moment he saw Lu Qiao, his eyes locked onto him.
There were several people behind Luo Ye. One of them was a young man with blue eyes and chestnut-colored hair. The moment he entered, he likewise fixed his gaze on Lu Qiao.
Lu Qiao realized that this young man was probably the most powerful consciousness manipulator Yan Qiu had mentioned.
Ye Lan.
Luo Ye walked up to Lu Qiao. Before his breathing had even settled, he immediately asked, “How did this happen? Was it really you who saved Yan Qiu’s father?”
“Sit down first,” Yan Qiu said with a frown, pulling Lu Qiao toward a chair.
Seeing this, Luo Ye restrained his expression. He took a breath, straightened his clothes, and raised his chin toward the people behind him.
Some of them went outside to wait.
He, Ye Lan, and a doctor stayed behind.
After sitting down, Lu Qiao received a look from Yan Qiu and began explaining what had happened after he encountered that patient on the mountain.
Lu Qiao’s third-level gene was the Consciousness Clan gene. This was very clear.
Although a third-level gene outbreak was uncommon, it was not particularly bizarre.
But the ability to repair consciousness bodies?
This was something the Emperor, Luo Ye, Yan Qiu, and many others had been concerned with for years.
Ye Lan and the other consciousness manipulators had worked hard on it for years, yet had never succeeded.
And now, someone who had only just experienced a genetic outbreak had actually done it?
“When did you repair Old Marshal Yan’s consciousness body?” Ye Lan asked, but there was doubt in his tone. “From seven last night until Marshal Yan left the Yan Family Estate with you, you were unconscious the entire time, weren’t you?”
Ye Lan tightly clenched his hands, his body tense.
His breathing had only just settled down.
Heavens knew how excited he had been when he learned that someone could repair consciousness bodies!
He was the first person in the Empire besides Cheng Yi to break through to a higher realm as a consciousness manipulator.
He was also the first person entrusted with the important task of researching consciousness-body restoration.
But he had researched it for a full five years and achieved absolutely nothing!
Recently, he had even discovered that repairing consciousness bodies, just like their initial breakthroughs in cultivation, was not something that could necessarily be achieved through hard work.
Perhaps it was entirely determined by talent.
Or perhaps no one in this world would ever possess such a skill!
—No one could repair a consciousness body!
Yet just when he was despairing over this conclusion, Old Marshal Yan had awakened.
Someone had awakened him.
And that person was now on Sanguang Star!
The instant Ye Lan heard the news, he could not wait even a moment. He only wanted to fly over immediately!
But after the initial excitement passed, doubt also began to emerge in his heart.
Perhaps he had waited too many years for this moment, making what had finally happened seem almost too unbelievable.
Although he knew that Yan Qiu, as the Empire’s First Marshal, could never deceive the Third Prince about something like this, he still became nervous and afraid.
Afraid that everything was actually fake.
Had the young man before him really done all this?
How had he done it?
What exactly was different about his ability?
Ye Lan’s heart was pounding wildly.
Lu Qiao said awkwardly, “At that time, my consciousness had drifted out of my body. So my physical body was unconscious, but my consciousness was awake and able to move freely.”
Luo Ye and Ye Lan both froze.
When Luo Ye had spoken with Yan Qiu on the phone, Yan Qiu had not explained the details. Luo Ye himself had also been filled with all kinds of questions.
He had not expected to hear this kind of answer from Lu Qiao.
Luo Ye frowned and asked Ye Lan, “What does that mean? Can you do that too?”
Ye Lan shook his head blankly.
Yan Qiu spoke calmly at this moment.
“His power is somewhat different from that of other consciousness manipulators. In any case, check his consciousness-power status first.”
When Yan Qiu had contacted Luo Ye, he had bluntly demanded that Luo Ye bring along an even better doctor.
Besides checking his consciousness-power status, Lu Qiao also needed to undergo a comprehensive genetic examination.
Lu Qiao cooperated fully.
First, he allowed the doctor to draw two tubes of his blood.
Then, with Ye Lan’s help, he put on two wristbands.
The wristbands were connected to a consciousness-power testing device.
Ye Lan was also eager to know Lu Qiao’s condition. After adjusting the machine, he said quietly, “Let’s test your attack power first.”
“Okay.” Lu Qiao cooperated.
Ye Lan pressed a button.
Lu Qiao immediately felt an impact.
He tightly closed his eyes and endured it.
Then he heard Luo Ye let out a surprised “Huh?”
Opening his eyes, Lu Qiao was astonished to see that the device displayed his consciousness-power attack strength as 0.
Immediately, Luo Ye and Ye Lan looked at him suspiciously.
Lu Qiao was also somewhat confused.
How could it be zero?
His consciousness power had clearly awakened!
Beside him, the man stepped closer and placed a hand on his shoulder. His voice remained completely calm.
“Continue with the next test.”
Ye Lan came back to himself and said suspiciously, “Mm… Next is the consciousness-power threshold test.”
He adjusted the machine to another testing frequency.
Lu Qiao also steadied his mind and accepted the next test.
Ye Lan pressed the button.
This time, Lu Qiao felt a pulling force.
When the first number appeared on the machine, Luo Ye and Ye Lan both breathed a sigh of relief.
Although everyone possessed consciousness power, only the consciousness-power threshold of a consciousness manipulator could be detected.
The fact that a number had appeared on the screen meant that Lu Qiao had indeed awakened the Consciousness Clan gene, even if his attack power was zero.
Then—
When the number exceeded five hundred, Luo Ye nodded.
This had already surpassed the average level of consciousness manipulators in the Empire.
When the number exceeded two thousand, he became somewhat surprised.
When the number exceeded three thousand, he and Ye Lan exchanged astonished looks.
Three thousand was Ye Lan’s level.
He was currently the person with the strongest consciousness power among the consciousness manipulators in the Empire.
Yet the number continued rising.
Higher and higher—
The expressions on both men’s faces slowly changed into astonishment and disbelief.
Lu Qiao was also stunned.
The number continued climbing and finally stopped at—
12,320.
Ye Lan took a step back and murmured, “This number…”
Luo Ye said dazedly, “This isn’t even on the same scale as a thousand-tier level anymore.”
Lu Qiao stared blankly at the number, unable to come back to his senses for a long time.
12,320.
This was the pinnacle of consciousness manipulators in the Empire from this day onward.
The hand resting on his shoulder tightened slightly.
Lu Qiao heard Yan Qiu’s voice come down from above his head, as calm and gentle as always.
“This is your current strength, Lu Qiao.”
At this moment, the doctor who had taken Lu Qiao’s two tubes of blood for genetic testing hurried out of the inner room and excitedly handed over a report.
Luo Ye took it and looked at it, becoming even more astonished.
Lu Qiao had awakened a total of three genes.
First-level gene: Featherwing Clan.
Second-level gene: Instantaneous Clan.
Third-level gene: Consciousness Clan.
All three of his first three genes had fully erupted!
Setting aside the seven patients whose genetic mutation surgeries had failed and who had experienced multiple gene outbreaks, Lu Qiao was, up until now, the only person who had truly manifested three fully erupted racial genes!
Unprecedented!
At six in the evening, the group had not even eaten dinner before hurriedly rushing to the hospital.
Song Yue’s father was the first person to receive treatment from Lu Qiao.
During the treatment, Lu Qiao and Ye Lan stood beside the bed.
Song Yue and his mother were stopped several steps away, nervously and expectantly watching every movement on the hospital bed.
It was only when the rescue truly began that everyone else finally understood just how special Lu Qiao’s power was.
When his consciousness power activated, it was completely silent!
Luo Ye stared blankly at Lu Qiao’s back for a long time before asking quietly, “What exactly happened to Lu Qiao’s fever and genetic disorder during the first two years?”
The doctor he had brought stood to the side, his emotions still surging.
Hearing the question, he said, “It may have been caused by Mr. Lu’s consciousness power.”
Luo Ye and Yan Qiu looked over.
The doctor explained, “At present, we still cannot completely determine all the effects that consciousness power can produce. But Mr. Lu’s consciousness power itself is also unusual. When it was being ‘suppressed’ during the early stages, it affecting the manifestation of his other two genes would not be strange.”
According to Ye Lan’s estimation, although Lu Qiao’s consciousness-power threshold was not as high as that of certain marshals such as Yan Qiu—the consciousness-power threshold of ordinary people could not be measured, but after a consciousness manipulator came into contact with them, they could estimate an approximate number—it was already completely capable of entering the ranks of generals and marshals.
This had previously existed only in theory.
No one could imagine what it would look like to place marshal-level consciousness strength inside a consciousness manipulator.
Now they had seen it.
And this powerful consciousness power would not be used to attack anyone.
It could only be used for defense and healing.
How exactly had such a miraculous ability been formed?
“What exactly is going on with him?” Luo Ye had received too many shocks from Lu Qiao today, and his mind still felt somewhat blank.
Then he heard the man standing beside him slowly speak.
“He was never an aggressive person to begin with. The reason he can become powerful is because he has something he wants to protect. He is resilient, hardworking, and has never forgotten his original intentions. His competitiveness and refusal to admit defeat were both born from this. That is why he trained a strong body capable of attacking, while his soul possesses only the ability to protect and heal.”
Luo Ye turned his head.
The man’s gaze remained fixed on the young man not far away, tender and focused.
Luo Ye slowly understood.
He turned back and watched Lu Qiao for a while before suddenly laughing.
“Got it. You mean that although he can beat everyone into the ground, he’s still pure and kind-hearted.”
Yan Qiu said softly, “He is an angel.”
Luo Ye burst out laughing.
For Yan Qiu to say something like that, Lu Qiao really was incredible.
Beside the hospital bed, the brainwave monitor connected to the middle-aged man who had been lying motionless suddenly showed activity.
Ye Lan shouted, then turned toward Luo Ye.
His eyes were red.
“Your Highness, he’s really been saved!”
Song Yue and his mother, Luo Ye, Yan Qiu, and the doctor immediately stood and moved closer.
Although Song Yue’s father had not yet awakened, the fluctuations on the brainwave monitor had already returned to normal.
The doctor Luo Ye had brought immediately stepped forward to examine him.
Lu Qiao stepped aside and breathed a sigh of relief.
While fully conscious, he had used his consciousness power to enter deep into Song Yue’s father’s mind and make contact with those fragments of his consciousness body.
He had successfully pieced them back together.
Perhaps because Song Yue’s father’s consciousness body had only been damaged recently, the brainwave monitor showed activity the moment Lu Qiao finished restoring it.
Lu Qiao turned back to look at Yan Qiu, his eyes bright.
He had succeeded!
A smile appeared at the corners of Yan Qiu’s lips. He was just about to speak when Lu Qiao was suddenly engulfed in a bear hug, his entire body shaking from the impact.
Song Yue threw himself at Lu Qiao and burst into tears.
“Lu Qiao! Lu Qiao, you really are my god! I’ll love you for the rest of my life!!!”
Yan Qiu’s smile disappeared.
His expression immediately became completely blank.
Lu Qiao’s scalp prickled. He hurriedly pulled Song Yue away and tried to calm him down.
“Calm down, calm down!”
“Waaah, Lu Qiao!! You’re amazing!! So amazing!!” Song Yue refused to let go of Lu Qiao, far too excited to hear anything.
Lu Qiao struggled until his forehead was covered in sweat.
“Let go of me first—”
The next second, a hand reached over and forcefully pulled him away.
Lu Qiao gasped and looked over.
Yan Qiu’s expression was indifferent, but no matter how he looked at it, there was an unmistakable hint of displeasure.
Beside the hospital bed, Luo Ye and Ye Lan had heard the doctor’s examination results.
They turned around and gazed deeply at Lu Qiao.
“Lu Qiao,” Luo Ye walked over and said solemnly, “I’ll have to trouble you with these thirty-plus patients.”
Lu Qiao composed himself and said seriously, “I’ll cure them.”
Ye Lan also stepped forward and bowed deeply to Lu Qiao.
Lu Qiao was startled and hurriedly went to help him up.
“What’s wrong? D-Don’t do that!”
Ye Lan straightened and said solemnly, “Please teach me how to repair consciousness bodies!”
Lu Qiao’s consciousness power was simply too powerful.
Perhaps this was precisely why he had possessed the ability to repair consciousness bodies the moment his power erupted.
It was as though the two of them had been born on completely different levels.
While Ye Lan had desperately searched for the door leading to a higher floor, Lu Qiao had directly appeared on that higher floor.
If Ye Lan relied solely on himself, perhaps he would never find that door in his entire life.
But if Lu Qiao was willing to lead him and teach him, then once he became familiar with the method, Ye Lan could use his own strength to push the door open and walk up those stairs.
Lu Qiao had never intended to hide this ability in the first place.
Ye Lan bowing to him and addressing him so respectfully instead made Lu Qiao feel as though he could not bear it.
However, before he could say anything, Luo Ye spoke again.
“Lu Qiao, I’ll tell you the truth. Right now, forget the Empire. Even throughout the entire Alliance, including the regions beyond the Alliance, you are the only consciousness manipulator capable of repairing consciousness bodies.”
“For the past five years, countless people have fallen into unconsciousness because their consciousness bodies were shattered. Many of them are important figures. We have always hoped that one day we could awaken them.”
“Now that the ability to repair consciousness bodies has appeared, we absolutely cannot lose it.”
Luo Ye spoke word by word.
“This ability absolutely cannot be possessed by you alone. You should understand what I mean, right?”
Lu Qiao pressed his lips together and nodded.
If he were the only person in the world who possessed this ability, it would actually be a bad thing for him.
“So,” Luo Ye glanced at Yan Qiu and said, “I know someone won’t let me interfere with your freedom. But I also hope you understand that you’re extremely important right now. Teach Ye Lan as quickly as possible. That way, whatever you do afterward won’t cause any problems.”
Ye Lan immediately said, “He brought me along just now when he treated the patient. I’ve already grasped some of the feeling. I should be able to learn it very soon.”
He did not want to drag Lu Qiao down either.
Actually, Lu Qiao understood this matter quite well.
Ye Lan was an excellent student. Judging from how quickly he had grasped things just now, teaching him should not take too long.
And if something happened to Lu Qiao before he could teach Ye Lan, the ability to repair consciousness bodies might disappear along with him.
That absolutely could not happen.
Therefore, even if Luo Ye had not said anything, Lu Qiao would have been careful about his actions until then.
So he nodded seriously at Luo Ye’s words.
“I understand.”
Having obtained Lu Qiao’s understanding and reached an agreement, Luo Ye also relaxed somewhat.
He smiled again.
A problem that had remained unsolved for so long had finally been overcome, and Lu Qiao was being so cooperative. His mood was excellent.
Naturally, he also felt like teasing his friend.
He drawled leisurely, “So, now that Lu Qiao is a consciousness manipulator, which military corps would be best to assign him to?”
Yan Qiu glanced at him.
“He’s mine.”
Lu Qiao’s face instantly turned bright red.
What was that supposed to mean?
“He’s mine.”
What kind of way was that to put it?!