It was a huge spherical space, more than 500 meters in diameter.

At the center of the space, a blazing ball of light, like a miniature sun, floats.

"My God!"

Upon seeing this ball of intense heat, Verina's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

"This is the core meltdown reactor that leaked energy during the nuclear reactor!"

Hundreds of years ago, this was the main cause that led the planet Zetalem into chaos.

This is the core of the nuclear meltdown reactor right before our eyes.

Mingxi never expected that this deadly thing would not be destroyed, but would remain in this scarlet corridor.

There are always some adorable people who are mentally unstable.

At this point, the core of the nuclear meltdown reactor, after hundreds of years of radiation mutations and human modifications, has become some kind of incomprehensible energy aggregate.

Plasma arcs continuously exploded on the surface of the light cluster, each explosion releasing high temperatures and intense radiation sufficient to melt steel.

Inside the ball of light, a distorted shadow, pulsating like a heart, could be vaguely seen.

But what's even more terrifying is what's below—

Thousands of culture chambers stood like tombstones, each containing a living organism.

There are humans, extraordinary creatures, and even various ordinary insects and animals.

Most of them were already dead or half-dead, their bodies twisted and mutated, and the deformities were very severe.

Some still show signs of life, but their original appearance is unrecognizable.

Countless tubes extend from the culture chamber and converge into a huge device beneath the central light cluster.

The device was vibrating violently, /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ its surface cracked with countless fissures, from which a dark purple, viscous liquid seeped out.

Around the device, dozens of figures wearing white coats or protective suits lay sprawled on the ground.

It appears to be a research team whose 'research topic' was the core of this nuclear meltdown reactor. They seem to have tried to escape when the device went out of control, but failed.

Above the device, a man in a white lab coat floated in mid-air.

He stood with his back to the door, his short gray hair moving on its own even without wind.

With arms outstretched, it was as if embracing the raging ball of light.

His body was semi-transparent, and one could see the energy flow inside that originated from the same source as the ball of light.

"Could this person be... the legendary Dr. Lagoli?" Verina murmured.

Upon hearing her murmur, Mingxi immediately recalled all the information about this Lagoli person.

Lagoli, whose real name is Mishu Doragon.

He is known as the flesh alchemist.

Born into a noble family on Yunhai Star, he showed talent in the field of biological genes from a young age.

At the age of 20, he became the chief scientist of the top gene research institute's 'Prometheus Project'.

Before the age of 30, he made groundbreaking achievements in the field of cross-species gene fusion, and his paper "Soul Carrier: On the Sustainability of Consciousness in Non-Original Bodies" caused a stir in the scientific community.

This paper also became a turning point in his life.

In order to continue his research into the realm of the soul and to prove the correctness of his arguments, he began conducting human experiments.

When he was 43, his 'human-supernatural consciousness transfer experiment' was exposed.

The experiment caused the brains (mental world) of more than 16 humans and 22 superhuman beings to collapse, their bodies to deform, and to die in extreme pain.

He was permanently disqualified from conducting research and sentenced to life imprisonment.

But in his second year in prison, he died in a prison riot.

In fact, he had already been secretly moved.

Over the next 60 years, Lagoli's name began to spread throughout the interplanet, and he led a series of experiments, including 'Soul Binding Brand', 'Bloodline Purification', 'Body Stealing', 'Star Core Embryo', and 'General-Purpose Berserk Inducer'.

Because of these experiments, countless humans, animals, and supernatural beings died at his hands, their bones piled up into several mountains.

However, some of his experiments were indeed successful.

The most famous of these experiments was the purification of a Beastmaster's physique using the flesh and blood of extraordinary creatures. It is said that ten low-level extraordinary creatures could forcibly raise a Beastmaster's physical level from E to D.

The success rate is not 100%, but it is around 30%.

However, this experiment was an inhumane act for superhuman beings.

Those extraordinary creatures used as materials will not only have their blood drained, but their energy cores will also be depleted, making it an extremely brutal process.

This is the main reason why he is called the flesh alchemist, although he himself prefers to be called Doctor.

Regardless, in the eyes of many scientists with sound moral values, Lagoli is a cruel and perverted individual with no sense of right and wrong.

However, Lagoli has not appeared in public for more than 10 years. Many people say that he is dead, that he died in a biological experiment, while others say that he was targeted for revenge and went into hiding.

Unexpectedly...

He's here, at the heart of this nuclear meltdown reactor that once caused the disaster. Clearly, he's been away for over a decade researching this thing.

The man in mid-air slowly turned around.

His face was unexpectedly handsome, but so handsome it was chilling.

His skin was as smooth and pale as porcelain, his eyes were two bottomless black vortexes, and a mad smile hung at the corners of his mouth.

"Ah...another guest has arrived."

His voice resounded directly in their minds, carrying multiple echoes.

"Welcome, distinguished and lovely guests. Have you come to witness the birth of a new world?"

"Are you Lagoli?"

Verina frowned and asked.

“Lagoli?” The man laughed. “You mean that proud but cowardly fellow? I am him, yet I am not him.”

What's the meaning?

"Because... he has sublimated! The Devouring Star Core Embryo, as long as I devour this man-made junk, I can become a real life-bearing planet!"

He suddenly opened his arms, and streams of chaotic energy surged from the device below, flowing into his body and then into the core light cluster.

The pulsation of the light cluster became increasingly violent, and the entire spherical space began to crack.

The roars of the beast horde outside pierced through, mingling with the rumble of the core to create an apocalyptic symphony.

"A Star Core Embryo?" Mingxi's handsome brows furrowed. She had seen the Star Core Embryo project in the fragmented information that Guangguang had detected.

It seems to be about artificially interfering with some kind of nuclear energy reactor to create a prototype of planetary life, attempting to 'ripen' it by injecting a large amount of life energy and spiritual consciousness, thereby artificially creating a real life-bearing planet.

The stellar embryo is the foundation of a life-bearing planet.

Lagoli's words just now clearly stated that he had devoured the star core embryo.

Could it be that his experiment was successful?

He also fused with a star core embryo.

wrong.

It must have been the stellar embryo that devoured him.

He still looks human, but he is actually some kind of monster.

"He wants to unleash the core completely."

Mingxi quickly assessed, "If successful, the explosive force would be enough to destroy everything within a radius of 100 kilometers and trigger a chain reaction, just like that great upheaval back then, or even more devastating, potentially causing the entire Zetalem module to disintegrate."

Zetalem is a planet created using technological means. In reality, it is a super-large disassembly and assembly tool. Although it is not as large as a real planet, its core, which is also its energy core, contains a considerable amount of energy.

If Lagori (the Star Core Embryo) is to grow, it is not surprising that it would devour the core of Zetalem.

"What? Then let's go stop him right away!" Verina was about to rush forward.

"etc."

Mingxi pulled her back, her gaze fixed on the core light cluster. "I have a plan, but once this plan begins, I won't be able to continue protecting you."

She whispered a few words quickly.

Verina's heterochromatic eyes flashed with astonishment after hearing this: "Are you crazy?"

"His body is already connected to the nuclear meltdown reactor, and there is no better way to stop him than this."

If she could, she wouldn't want to be this crazy.

However, the core of a nuclear meltdown reactor is not something that can be easily annihilated.

Moreover, the eight gold ingots were not by her side, and she could not summon the red jade. She had no other choice but to rely on herself.

Verina looked conflicted. "But your method... is too..."

That's insane.

If things go wrong, it could end in disaster.

All right!

A resolute look appeared on her face.

"Fine! Go do what you want, don't worry about me!"

At worst, I'll just end up following her around.

Verena pulled the short blade from her thigh and held it horizontally in front of her.

Mingxi took a deep breath and mobilized all the mental energy in her body.

Materialized light appeared around her, condensing into a semi-transparent suit of armor, its surface shimmering with star-like patterns of light.

The deep, inky blue color in her pupils was more intense than ever before.

She strode toward the core.

Lagoli noticed her, his black, swirling eyes turning towards her.

"You're from the Turan tribe? I heard you can use extraordinary skills. Is this armor also a skill? What a rare and amazing specimen... Unfortunately, you're destined to become nourishment for my growth!"

“Sorry,” Mingxi said, “I have no interest in being anyone’s nourishment.”

She raised her right hand, palm facing the core.

The mental energy surged out like a tsunami, but instead of attacking the core, it... enveloped it.

She is using her mental power to forcibly suppress the rampaging energy in the core of the nuclear meltdown reactor.

"What...what are you doing?!"

Lagoli, connected to the core, immediately sensed the anomaly and roared angrily, "Impossible! This is mental power?! No, you're not some extraordinary being, you're just a human? Hahaha!"

His voice shifted from anger to a sneer, and then to contempt.

"Mere humans dare to attempt to destroy the core energy of a nuclear meltdown reactor using only their mental power?! Like an ant trying to shake a tree! utterly absurd!"

“Who said I’m destroying?” Mingxi’s voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority. “I’m...forging.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she did something that Lagoli could not understand at all.

She removed all defenses and transformed her mental energy into countless tiny "probes" that pierced into the core!

It's not about destruction, but exploration, it's about infiltration!

She was using her mental power to forcibly analyze, dismantle, and reassemble the core energy structure!

This behavior is tantamount to putting one's own hands, without any protection, into the interior of the sun, and then trying to transform it into something else before it explodes!

Severe pain.

An indescribable, excruciating pain instantly swept through every nerve in Mingxi's body.

Her body surface began to crack, and blood seeped from the cracks, but it was immediately evaporated by the high temperature.

Blood was flowing from her eyes, ears, mouth, and nose.

But she didn't stop.

Deep within her consciousness, she resonated with the bond between herself and the nine golden ingots. Their energy and will were transmitted through the contract, sustaining her spirit.

But deep within her soul, Mingxi's own willpower, which transcends human limits, is burning fiercely.

She wasn't actually destroying the core of the nuclear meltdown reactor; instead, she was using her mental power as a bridge to forge herself with the violent energy within the core.

This was not only to consume the violent energy of the nuclear meltdown reactor core, but also to... break through her own limits.

Her life is coming to an end.

With limited time, the only option is to take a desperate, do-or-die approach.

What?

What if I can't have children?

She's already dead, how could she possibly go back on her word?

╮ (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.) ╭

Today is a great day to work hard.

The next moment—

The core of the light cluster exploded with a deafening roar!

However, the energy from the explosion did not spread; instead, it was forcibly bound in place by an invisible force, forming an energy vortex with a diameter of 100 meters!

At the center of the vortex, Mingxi's figure had been completely swallowed by the light.

"Forging? What does that mean?"

at the same time.

Outside, the entire planet Zetalem began to tremble violently!

It's not just the ground shaking; the entire planet's crust is shifting!

The collision of continental plates caused mountains to rise and waters to churn!

The clouds in the sky were stirred up by an unseen force, forming a giant eye of a storm that covered the planet!

Even more terrifying is the cosmic level—

Centered on Zetalem, the nebula within several light-years around it began to twist and rotate unnaturally, as if an invisible hand was stirring up the galaxy!

The most noticeable impact was recently seen on Yunhaixing, where the orbits of the three planets orbiting it shifted, the magnetic field became disordered, and auroras appeared during the day.

"What's going on?"

"Cosmic storm? Resonance between heaven and earth?"

"Could it be that a supreme being is evolving?"

Meanwhile, everyone on Zetalem was still alive and well.

Whether they were survivors in the Crimson Corridor or residents of other areas of Zetalem, they all witnessed this unforgettable scene.

A pure golden beam of light shot into the sky from the location of the crimson corridor, pierced through the atmosphere, and shot straight into the deep space of the universe!

Within the beam of light, one could vaguely see the phantoms of countless stars rising and falling.

It's as if you can still hear ancient and sacred rhythms.

Strange phenomena have occurred in the heavens and the cosmos!

But this scene only lasted for ten seconds.

Ten seconds later, the beam of light suddenly contracted and disappeared.

The planetary tremors ceased, the nebula returned to calm, as if it had all been an illusion.

And in the distorted space of the Crimson Corridor—

The energy vortex that erupted has also dissipated.

Verina, who had been driven mad by those vortexes of energy, hid among a pile of corpses.

His expression was a mixture of fear and bewilderment, and within that bewilderment lurked terror.

Just now, she felt the immense terror of being between life and death!

That feeling was as if I were being gazed upon by the supreme laws of the universe!