From the Abyss Invasion to the Blasting Star.

Chapter 444 Retrieving the Tree of Life
On the west coast of the White Eagle Federation, 160 kilometers from the coastline, lies an island called Prudence Island.

This island is not well-known because it is a private island, not open to the public, and has no port, making it inconvenient for large numbers of ships to land on it.

At this moment, three teams are conducting reconnaissance of all locations on land, sea, and air around the island, expanding the reconnaissance range to 50 kilometers.

To be on the safe side, the underwater environment was even surveyed, so a deep-sea team was deployed.

Liu Haiyang and Jiang Shaoran led the deep-sea team to the seabed a day in advance, and even figured out how many kinds of coral polyps grew in the surrounding coral reefs.

After the abyss battlefield in the Siren World, Liu Haiyang's Deep Sea Team became the strongest force in the underwater world, bar none.

Moreover, human technology is unlikely to be effective on the seabed.

Although humans can build submarines, even nuclear submarines, the low visibility underwater, coupled with the presence of background noise, makes submarines like blind people at sea, relying solely on sonar to hear.

When two submarines, one friendly and one enemy, meet on the seabed, their contest is like two blind men trying to hear each other's movements, neither daring to start their engines, lying quietly on the seabed listening.

Whoever hears the other person's voice first wins.

This is the battle between submarines before the abyss descends.

The arrival of the Abyss Era completely changed the rules of the game in the ocean.

The powerful marine-type ability users have completely gained control of the seas.

Because of their small size, superhumans can only sink to the bottom of the sea. Even if the sky is full of anti-submarine aircraft, it is impossible to find ocean-type superhumans.

Those with ocean-based abilities can easily locate submarines as long as the submarine enters their search range.

In particular, Jiang Shaoran, with her spiritual [Tidecaller] class, can have a subtle connection with the seawater, and no movement on the seabed can escape her perception.

Therefore, human technology is completely ineffective against marine-type ability users. The only way to compete for control of the seas is through a contest between marine-type ability users themselves.

At present, Great Xia has the strongest deep-sea team on Earth, bar none.

Liu Haiyang's deep-sea team is the undisputed ruler of the ocean once they enter it.

Of course, Liu Haiyang often joked that once the six of them got ashore, they were like six salted fish.

While not as weak as an ordinary person, their combat power has indeed shrunk by more than half.

This is the price to pay for specializing in marine science, and it's well worth it.

For most people with superpowers, becoming the best in a particular field is the best option.

Even if Lu Heng goes into the sea, he won't compete with Liu Haiyang and the others.

……

This evening.

Three teams were tasked with protecting Yu Zhenhai and Shen Yunyue, and conducted reconnaissance in the waters surrounding Prudence Island to confirm that there were no ambushes on any islands or reefs within a 50-kilometer radius.

Finally, they landed on the island to conduct reconnaissance.

The whole process went smoothly, and no traps were found.

Even the researchers on Prudence Island were still working as usual, and ships carrying food and materials were still on board as usual.

After the reconnaissance was completed and it was confirmed that there were no problems.

As night fell, Lu Heng officially landed on Prudence Island, passed through the wall into the laboratory, and then searched for the Tree of Life Vine inside.

During this time, they encountered a researcher, whom Lu Heng controlled using [Mental Domination], and inquired about the computer room where the experimental data was stored.

They copied the experimental data and took it with them, then asked where the Tree of Life vine was stored.

The Tree of Life vines are stored in an encrypted warehouse; the alloy door requires a triple password to open.

Lu Heng didn't need any of that. He went straight through the wall and saw the Tree of Life in front of a cylindrical glass cabinet.

The emerald green, energy-infused vines floated quietly inside the glass case.

Lu Heng cleaved open the glass cabinet with a single sword strike and retrieved the Tree of Life vine.

As the glass case was broken, the alarm in the laboratory went off, alerting all the staff on duty.

After obtaining the Tree of Life Vine, Lu Heng used a teleportation to leave the laboratory, reunited with his teammates, and then left Prudence Island.

The whole process went surprisingly smoothly.

Even Lu Heng began to doubt whether the Tree of Life vine he had obtained was fake.

So on the way, he handed the Tree of Life Vine to Su Muyu so that she could check its authenticity.

After checking, Su Muyu confirmed that the Vine of Life was real: "I finally got the Vine of Life back. Now I can go to the Elf World and help Queen Oriana remove the aura of death."

……

Before dawn, all personnel returned to the Dragon Might Base.

After the squad leaders took attendance, they confirmed that no one was missing.

The operation was so successful that it felt strangely smooth.

If we didn't know about the near-ambush during the last operation, this operation would seem like an overreaction.

Even though only Lu Heng needed to go into the lab and retrieve the items, he scouted the surrounding sea area two days in advance.

Of course, no soldier who comes from the military would think that the reconnaissance work was making a fuss over nothing.

Only saturation reconnaissance can guarantee the success of the operation and the safety of personnel.

……

In addition to the Tree of Life vine, Lu Heng also brought back a complete set of experimental data from the Prudence Island laboratory.

After returning, it was submitted, and a dedicated research team will study the experimental data.

The next day, Lu Heng received the preliminary analysis results of the experimental data from Qi Jinghui.

The research team naturally didn't have enough time to verify all the experimental data due to the short timeframe, but it's clear what kind of research this laboratory is conducting.

Consistent with the initial intelligence analysis, this laboratory is using the Tree of Life vine to research methods to slow down human aging and extend lifespan.

There was no research on genetics among them.

The experimental results do not lie.

If the laboratory is controlled by the Berg family, the research objective will certainly be related to genetics.

This confirms the intelligence team's conclusion that the laboratory does not belong to the Berg family, but to the Phoenix family.

Besides the experimental data, there was another piece of information that Lu Heng was concerned about.

That is, what was the reaction of the people behind the Prudence Island laboratory after the Tree of Life vine was lost?

Regarding this issue, the theater intelligence team has received some information from outside sources.

Several mercenary organizations controlled by the Phoenix family have taken action, with some superhumans landing on Prudence Island to investigate the theft.

Conversely, the supernatural mercenary organization controlled by the Berg family made no response. The Phoenix family did send people to the island to investigate, but this time it was Lu Heng who took action, and no evidence was left behind.

Images, fingerprints, skin flakes—none of these things can be left behind.

Because Lu Heng was using the [Divine Source Armor] the whole time, he had no material exchange with the outside environment except for source energy.

In this era, Loca's law of exchange of matter has become invalid.

Unless scientists are able to discover any traces of the source energy in the future, no clues will be found.

……

In the days following the theft at the Prudence Island laboratory, the ASE consortium was shaken.

Because the Phoenix family is one of the most powerful families in the ASE Alliance, and has a great deal of influence.

Three days after the incident, the core members of the ASE Alliance held an online meeting.

This meeting was initiated by the Phoenix family, so more families could be mobilized, with nine families participating, three more than the number of families convened by the Berg family.

"You've all heard that the Tree of Life Vine is missing, haven't you?" The Phoenix family's representative immediately addressed the core topic of the meeting.

"Have you heard about it? Have you found any leads?"

"No, the detectives who landed on the island didn't find any useful clues. They only knew that the experimental data was stolen and the Tree of Life vine stored in the laboratory was also missing."

"There are not many forces in the human world capable of doing this."

Indeed, there aren't many. When the strength required for something reaches a certain level, there are very few targets that can be suspected.

Moreover, a large portion of the forces capable of stealing the Tree of Life are within the ASE All-Knowing Eye Alliance.

The Phoenix family representative spoke up, saying, "If any of you took the Tree of Life Vine, speak up now, and Mr. Lawrence will forgive and forget. If you wish to study the Tree of Life Vine together, Mr. Lawrence is also happy to cooperate."

After these words were spoken, the other eight families present at the meeting remained silent.

After a brief pause, the Phoenix family representative continued, "If you are unwilling to admit it, then I will, as Mr. Lawrence wishes, name you one by one."

Still no one responded.

The Phoenix family spokesperson looked at a small window on the large screen and asked, "Mr. Will Berg, do you have anything to say?"

Will Berg is one of the few people who have revealed his true identity.

He sat in his swivel chair, and when he heard his name called, he chuckled, "Why am I the first one called? Am I suspicious?"

In fact.

The other eight families attending the meeting all wanted to answer him: Yes, because you are mentally ill and capable of anything.

Will Berg scoffed and said, "Can that old bastard Lawrence hear me? The Tree of Life was sent to you from me. If I wanted the Tree of Life, I could have simply not handed it over to you."

The Phoenix family spokesperson didn't pause for long before continuing to speak, clearly indicating that the elderly and frail Lawrence Phoenix could indeed hear the meeting.

"Because you sent someone to deliver the Tree of Life, you are the most likely person to know its location."

While this statement cannot be taken as evidence, it does have some merit.

A month ago, the Tree of Life was still in the hands of the Berg family. After the Leiden City genetics laboratory was burned down, the Berg family handed the Tree of Life over to the Phoenix family.

The Tree of Life vine was then kept in a laboratory on Prudence Island.

If Will Berg did indeed have someone track down the person who took the Tree of Life vine, they could indeed find the location of the Prudence Island laboratory.

Will Berg continued with a contemptuous sneer: "Lawrence, I don't need the Tree of Life anymore, there's no need for me to steal it. If I really wanted it back, I would kick the door down."

After saying this, the Phoenix family spokesperson did not press Will Berger further, clearly acknowledging his statement.

A madman is indeed capable of anything, but given Will Berg's personality, if he wanted to take back the Tree of Life, he would definitely kick the door open, and even Lawrence Phoenix couldn't stop him if he were there.

The meeting fell silent for a moment, then Will Berg suddenly spoke up: "Lawrence, if you really want to suspect someone, you should focus your attention on the East, where the people who most want to take away the Tree of Life are."

It's no secret that Lu Heng's team wants to reclaim the Tree of Life Vine.

This time, the Phoenix family spokesperson remained silent; instead, a hoarse, aged voice came from behind him:

"The experiment on the Tree of Life has reached a critical stage. I need to retrieve the Tree of Life, and I need to do it quickly. Whoever it is can only help me get the Tree of Life back. Any conditions are negotiable."

The words spoken by the head of the Phoenix family naturally carry weight.

He said he was open to discussing any conditions, which also indicates that he desperately needs the Tree of Life right now.

Lawrence Phoenix's physical condition is no secret in the ASE League.

Will Berg chuckled and teased, "Another blood transfusion? I bet this one didn't go very well."

There have long been rumors in the ASE League that Lawrence Phoenix has tried many methods to prolong his life, one of which is a full blood transfusion.

This method has some effect; at least it can replace the blood in the whole body with fresh blood, which is a way to revitalize people whose hematopoietic function is getting weaker and weaker.

However, the more often this method is used, the less effective it becomes.

Cough cough cough...

At that moment, a coughing sound came through the conference channel, but after two coughs, it was covered by a hand, and the subsequent coughing was very soft.

A moment later, Lawrence Phoenix's voice came again: "Whoever can find the Tree of Life Vine, or provide information about the Tree of Life Vine, can negotiate terms. I allow you to make unreasonable demands."

The families attending the meeting remained silent.

No one knows where the Tree of Life Vine is now. Without information about the Tree of Life Vine, no matter how generous the reward, it's meaningless.

A moment later, one of the families attending the meeting spoke for the first time: "There are not many forces in the human world capable of taking away the Tree of Life. Apart from us, there are no more than ten forces that can do this."

"Although there is no accurate information about the Tree of Life Vine, three days ago, on the day the Tree of Life Vine was lost, the Dragon Might Mercenary Organization, the strongest in the East, carried out an operation."

"Although the operation was kept very secret, a large number of people were involved, so my spies became aware of it."

"However, all we know is that Longwei took action that day, but we don't know what that action was."

"We can only guess based on the timing; it might be related to the events on Prudence Island."

"If this guess is correct, then the Tree of Life Vine is very likely already in the East, and may even be in the hands of Lu Heng's team."

"Lawrence, I think you should think of another way, unless you are confident that you can get the Tree of Life back from that Great Xia person."

After these words were spoken, the conference channel fell silent once again.

Because of the destruction of the Planta family, the top families in the ASE Alliance are now afraid of that Great Xia superhuman who doesn't play by the rules.

Let alone getting the Tree of Life vine back, we'd be lucky to even hide and not be found.

Everyone else in the meeting fell into deep thought, but Will Berger looked at the nine-square grid on the meeting screen and revealed a chilling smile.

……

(End of this chapter)