Chapter Seventeen: Nirvana! The Phoenix Maiden! (Part Four)

Ye Ling felt her mind was no longer enough; everything she had seen today had completely surpassed her imagination. As Xie Liu and the others pulled her down from Star City, she was still digesting the information in her head.

"You have entered the Institute of Superpowers. Please confirm your authorization," came a voice as Ye Ling stood dazed. In the air, a mass of water vapor coalesced, forming the face of a young girl before Vladimir. He raised his hand, and the vaporous face dispersed, enveloping his palm. "Authorization confirmed. Welcome to the Institute of Superpowers. Would you like to schedule a service?"

"Book one for Basic Implantation and Extreme Development, four for Ability Calibration, and one for Mutation Monitoring," Vladimir nodded. The water vapor formed the girl's face again. "Booking complete. Please wait for service in Hall Four."

Ye Ling looked around, eager and curious. Unlike the previously quiet Star City, this place was bustling with people, their constant movement injecting vitality into the otherwise rigorous research institute.

"Aren't you interested in superpowers?" Vladimir gestured to the crowd before them. "All of these are superpowered individuals."

"Really?" Ye Ling's face lit up with delight. "What abilities do they have?"

"What are your measurements?" Vladimir asked out of nowhere. Ye Ling's expression changed, hugging her chest and stepping back. "What are you trying to do?" She looked ready to lash out like a startled cat.

"In the city, asking someone about their abilities is about the same as asking a woman about her measurements elsewhere," Vladimir replied, his expression unchanged. "So don't go around asking people about their powers or levels."

"I don't get it. Aren't superpowers supposed to be cool? Why wouldn't they want others to ask?" Ye Ling was puzzled. Vladimir gave her a helpless glance. "That’s because you haven’t lived in the city. Yes, to outsiders, superpowers are mysterious and impressive, but here, they’re nothing more than a routine part of daily life. Once something becomes ordinary, no one cares." His gaze swept over the crowd. "But where there are people, there is conflict. Where there are people, there are classes."

"What do you mean?" Ye Ling asked, still confused. Xie Liu continued from Vladimir’s words, "First, superpowers can be incredibly destructive. If someone’s abilities are powerful and known, others will keep their distance. Beyond that, there’s a special kind of discrimination in Fantasy City called ability discrimination. Like how whites once discriminated against blacks, high-level supers look down on those with lesser abilities. So, most people won’t reveal their powers."

Ye Ling was taken aback. Xie Liu sighed. "Fantasy City is nearly five hundred years ahead of the outside world. Many things born here are unacceptable or incomprehensible to outsiders. It's normal. Also, remember, though few do it, city laws don’t prohibit human experimentation. Don’t wander the streets aimlessly—if someone grabs you for dissection, I won’t be able to save you."

"I told you, this is paradise. Here, you can witness miracles, but it’s also hell. Besides technology, people care about nothing else—ethics and morals included." Xie Liu’s face grew grave.

"This world is a twisted one..."

...

"Ah, Chairman, why are you here?" A young woman in a white lab coat looked up from a pile of chaotic instruments. Vladimir gestured to the group behind him. "We've recruited a new member. You handle ability development and body enhancement; the appointment’s already made."

"Wait a moment!" The lab-coat woman rifled through a stack of documents, pulling out a page filled with characters. "Not this one." She traced her finger across it, and the list flipped as if turning pages. "Ah, found it. Ye Ling, right? Okay, follow me."

Ye Ling glanced worriedly at Vladimir and the others. Vladimir nodded. "The process might be uncomfortable, but it's fine. You need three days of body enhancement before your superpower can be developed, otherwise your body might not withstand the external force of the ability."

Though she didn’t fully understand, Ye Ling followed the lab-coat woman into the laboratory.

"Let’s see. The available extreme development equipment is number 476. All right, we’ll begin prepping the serum. Whoever’s next, strip off your clothes." She turned to Ye Ling.

"Huh?" Ye Ling was startled. "What are you doing?" She looked wary. The lab-coat woman shook her head. "That’s why I dislike developing powers for outsiders. You’re about to enter this tank—how would you go in with clothes?" Ye Ling looked at the iron tank in an adjacent compartment, slowly filling with pale green liquid. She frowned. "Even so, shouldn’t there be a changing room?"

"This is the women's section—everyone here is female. No need to be so reserved. If you’re so shy, why didn’t your companions come in? So much fuss—don’t want to strip, don’t develop." The lab-coat woman was impatient.

"Wait, wait, I’m just asking." Ye Ling shook her head, thinking of Lin Yang and the others’ terrifying physical abilities. She couldn’t help envying them. She looked up, as if searching for something. The lab-coat woman smirked, "Relax, there’s no camera." As if seeing through Ye Ling’s thoughts, her cheeks flushed slightly. The lab-coat woman pointed to the coat rack beside the compartment. "Put your clothes there. Let me explain: you’re about to undergo extreme development—three days, with medication and physical stimulus, rapidly enhancing your body’s abilities."

"Neural transmission speed increases by 300%, physical strength by 120%, resistance to common viruses and toxins by 140%, muscle density by 34%. Based on current stats, your body fat will drop by 42%, brain development rises by 66%. These are the main enhancements; there are many secondary ones I won't list. You'll get a report after the procedure. All right, you can go in." Seeing the tank filled with green, semi-transparent fluid, the lab-coat woman turned to Ye Ling, who had already stripped, nervously covering herself and asking, "Will I end up looking like a muscle monster?"

"Don't worry, we don't recommend body fat under 15% for women, so no one turns into a muscle giant or she-hulk." Hearing this, Ye Ling was reassured. "But your weight will increase, mainly from denser muscles."

Ye Ling’s expression shifted; she shrugged helplessly. "Can’t be helped." She entered the compartment, lying inside a glass tube. "You’ll spend these three days asleep. On the third day, we’ll inject harmonic nanobots to develop your superpower."

"Thank you," Ye Ling smiled faintly as the breathing mask descended, covering her mouth and nose. She saw the glass tube slowly descend into the green, semi-transparent liquid. As the tube disappeared, Ye Ling felt as if she were submerged.

"Mm..." Ye Ling let out a surprised sound. The instant the green serum enveloped her, her skin seemed to come alive, every cell cheering. A tingling sensation surged through her. Within minutes, she felt drunk and dizzy. "Just sleep," she faintly heard the lab-coat woman's voice, and her consciousness began to sink, soon drifting into sleep.

Three days passed quickly. Xie Liu and the others, after finishing their own enhancements and calibrations, gathered in the control room. Vladimir was still there, watching the screen. Ye Ling’s tank was now cloudy; only her head was visible. Her already beautiful face seemed even more exquisite. Vladimir’s expression was odd. "Tell the development department to replace the serum in tank 476."

"What’s going on?" Xie Liu came out, rubbing his shoulder. Vladimir’s face was strange. "The girl you brought back is like you—she’ll need more than a week of extreme enhancement."

"Oh?" Xie Liu showed surprise. "Does that mean she’s a physical mutant?"

"We’ll see. If the process exceeds five days, inject her with the transformation nanobots, make her a physical mutant." Vladimir turned to the screen. As his order was given, fresh green serum filled Ye Ling’s tank again. Physical mutation was a kind of superpower, not manifested through brain computation but through bodily evolution. These abilities were weak at first, but later became earth-shattering. Physical mutants also possessed extraordinary bodily skills, meaning their physical limits far exceeded ordinary people. That’s why their development took much longer.

"Physical mutation—one in ten thousand, if that. I’m really curious about her ability," Vladimir smiled.

Yet Ye Ling’s enhancement exceeded all expectations, lasting half a month. When Xie Liu and the others saw her body, now beyond the human realm, they could only smile wryly. What kind of monster had they found?

"Did you settle things at the school?" Xie Liu asked Lin Yang behind him. Lin Yang made an OK gesture. "The mechanical stand-ins can take our place for now." Xie Liu nodded, looking toward the transformation room. "She’ll soon have the transformation nanobots implanted. I wonder what ability this lady will awaken?"

"Nanobots for device 476 are ready." A researcher in white approached, holding a report-filled sheet. "Based on the data, her awakening will immediately reach level nine, perhaps even ten."

"Oh?" Vladimir’s face showed surprise. "A level ten physical mutant—none ever before, right?" He turned back to the screen. "This is more than curiosity; I’m truly eager now. Proceed—inject the bots."

As Vladimir gave his order, the researchers took a silvery glowing vial from the sterile case. "Final check—confirmed for injection." The staff inserted the vial into the platform’s round port.

"Neural network confirmed, beginning injection," came the mechanical voice. A thin needle pierced Ye Ling’s arm. In her sleep, she seemed to feel it, frowning slightly. "Injection starting." The digital display showed 100%, dropping to 99% after a few seconds.

"Ah..." Ye Ling suddenly cried out. No one expected her to react so quickly. "What’s happening!" Xie Liu rushed to the glass window, watching tank 476.

"Body reaction too intense, injection paused," the staff announced, but Vladimir burst into wild laughter. "Good, very good, don’t stop, keep injecting!"

"Ahhh..." Ye Ling’s screams grew louder. She awakened, trembling, a bizarre energy surging in her, as if tearing her apart.

"Half injected, bodily reaction at maximum—requesting immediate halt." Vladimir only sneered, "Such talent must not be wasted. Don’t stop—continue!"

"She’s going to die." Xie Liu stepped forward, watching Ye Ling convulsing in the tank, curling up and trembling. "Stop!" He looked at Vladimir, whose face was alight with excitement, as if discovering a masterpiece. "You bastard!" Xie Liu shouted, punching Vladimir in the face.

"You scum! Stop this!" Vladimir was knocked to the floor. Staff rushed to help, but he pushed them away, staggering to the platform. "Xie Liu, I know you better than you know yourself. Why do you want to save this girl now?" He clutched his face. "But, no matter how many times you hit me, I won’t stop. This girl is a miracle."

"Then I’ll kill you!" Xie Liu said coldly, stepping forward, his katana already drawn, radiating chill. Vladimir sneered. "Hmph, your way of saving is only through killing. All these years, you haven’t changed. But it’s too late!" He laughed, "I won’t press charges for assaulting the chairman, but I ask you to watch this spectacle with me, my old friend." Vladimir grinned wickedly, tossing an empty glass tube to the ground.

"You..." Xie Liu’s face twitched. He had brought Ye Ling here; whatever the reason, he didn’t want her to die. But Vladimir was now obsessed. More than Ye Ling’s life, he wanted to witness the birth of a level ten physical mutant.

"The strongest physical mutant so far is level eight, but even then, they nearly match level ten regular powers. Xie Liu, don’t you want to see what a level ten physical mutant is like? Don’t you want to know what your own future holds?" Vladimir laughed, blood at the corner of his mouth, clearly feeling Xie Liu’s punch.

"I don’t need to know, nor do I want to." Xie Liu snorted, glancing at Lin Yang, his only teammate still present. Watching Ye Ling's body cease trembling, Xie Liu snorted, "Lin Yang, let's go. It's laughable—I told her this world is hell, that some disregard ethics for research, and now it’s come true for her so soon."

"Xie Liu, Ye Ling..." Lin Yang hesitated. Xie Liu answered coldly, "She’s probably dead." Hearing this, Lin Yang’s body trembled. Though he hadn’t interacted much with her, they’d shared hardship. His fists shook; if not for the vigilant joint team members at the door, he’d want to smash the lab to ruins.

"Let’s go," Xie Liu said icily. As they were about to leave, "Wait, what's that sound?" Lin Yang spoke up. Xie Liu paused, turning to the lab. The whole room was trembling—not strong, but distinct.

"Chairman, look at this!" a staff member called, pointing to the data. Vladimir was still rubbing his face, then froze. "Is that her superpower response data?"

"Based on these numbers, she’s reached the fourth energy tier. Chairman, your estimate was correct—she’s a level ten Absolute Ability user." Excitement filled the staff’s eyes.

"But her power seems unstable," he continued. "We’re trying to calibrate it, hoping to stabilize."

"What ability?" Vladimir cared most about Ye Ling’s power. The staff tapped the keyboard rapidly. "Oh, my god, this can’t be!"

"What is it?" Vladimir demanded. The staff turned the screen. Vladimir glanced, his face changing instantly. "How can such an ability exist!"

"Chairman, the awakened power level has broken through, reaching the fifth energy tier—the numbers are approaching Lord Thunder Sky." Another staff member exclaimed, "And her stats are still rising, soon beyond our control!"

"This is absurd!" Vladimir roared. "Call all nearby Mental-type users—we've created a monster, now we have to put it back!"

...

Xie Liu and Lin Yang ultimately didn’t leave. They watched, faces tense, as a dozen people in protective suits entered Ye Ling’s isolation chamber.

"Device 476—ability out of control, orange level, all unrelated personnel evacuate," the broadcast warned. Then alarms sounded; non-essential staff withdrew.

"Device 476—control level rising, now red, extremely dangerous!" Within seconds, the broadcast raised Ye Ling’s out-of-control level to the highest. Xie Liu and Lin Yang exchanged glances; even they felt the tremors beneath their feet. Ye Ling’s power was running berserk. The mental users couldn’t suppress her; this place would soon be destroyed.

"Let’s check," Xie Liu said, unable to shake concern for the girl. "She’s still my classmate—let’s go."

The lab had become chaotic. No one noticed Xie Liu and Lin Yang enter the transformation room. They looked up at Ye Ling in the tank; curled up, her long hair wrapping her delicate body, turning slowly in the green serum, seemingly peaceful. Yet the light radiating from her was immensely destructive—each flash made the ground quake. Each tremor made the mental users surrounding her stagger, clearly affected by Ye Ling’s power.

"What kind of ability is this? So terrifying?" Xie Liu frowned; Lin Yang shook his head. Vladimir, face grim, came down. "I miscalculated. Her power isn’t special—just ordinary Regeneration Therapy. But we forced her to level ten, triggering the Final Barrier, awakening powers that should not exist in this world."

"You mean..." Xie Liu narrowed his eyes. Vladimir sighed. "Yes, you see it. She’s touched one of the seventeen Unattainable Powers—the Immortal Body."

"The Final Barrier—we’ve never broken through, never reached that forbidden realm. Perhaps at that level, one stops being human and becomes god." Vladimir looked at Ye Ling with a complex expression. "I was too impatient. I hope we can suppress her power."

"Everyone, put in more effort!" shouted the mental users. They raised their hands, palms aimed at Ye Ling curled in the tank, eyes closed, chanting.

But the waves continued, growing stronger. Vladimir's expression shifted. "Is it truly uncontrollable? Level ten power fluctuations—this entire Institute will be destroyed!" He sighed. "There’s one last step. Xie Liu, kill her."

Xie Liu sneered, "Are you joking?"

"Do you think I’m joking? How many people are in the Institute—one hundred thousand, one hundred fifty thousand? If her power erupts, how many will die?"

Xie Liu’s sneer froze. "You made this mess, and want me to bear it?"

Vladimir nodded. "Otherwise, what use is your bottom-ranked hunting squad?"

Xie Liu said nothing, staring at Vladimir’s face for a long time. Finally, he bit his lip, walked forward, drew his silver Desert Eagle, and aimed at Ye Ling in the tank. His finger trembled on the trigger. This girl might not even know what was happening.

"Do it," Vladimir ordered. Xie Liu blinked, about to pull the trigger. At that moment, a vast mental force swept from behind, strong enough to shake the entire building.

"What’s happening?" Xie Liu froze, lowering his gun, looking around. The light around Ye Ling gradually faded, finally vanishing in silence. Vladimir hadn’t expected it either. But seeing the immense psychic force suppress Ye Ling’s fluctuations, he seemed to understand and sighed, "So it was her."

...

In a nearby lab, a girl with violet hair and eyes stepped out of a massive device. She approached another woman sitting on a bench, asking, "Sister, what just happened?"

"Nothing, it’s over," the woman replied gently. "Let’s go home." She rose gracefully, the psychic force capable of altering heaven and earth flowing back to her like a giant whale drinking, then vanishing without a trace.

...

"You’re lucky you survived that chaos," Vladimir said, facing the girl glaring at him, cheeks puffed in anger. Ye Ling crossed her arms. "You actually tried to kill me?" Seeing her angry look, Vladimir shook his head. "Not anymore—your power is suppressed, harmless now. No need to kill you. For now, you can control level three. We call it Potential Therapy. Nothing special—just speeds up your recovery from injuries."

Ye Ling pouted, but said nothing more—she already knew about her rampaging power. "Level three is fine. One day, I’ll show you level ten."

"That’s settled. Here’s your appointment letter," Vladimir handed her a sheet. "From now on, you’re an official member of the Misfortune Squad, codename Phoenix Girl. I look forward to your rebirth!"

Ye Ling grinned triumphantly, snatching the letter. "Of course! Who do you think I am?"