Ling Cage: Twelve Talismans? I have everything I need.

Chapter 12 Potential Activation

"What are you doing following us down there, you little brat?"

Hong Kou affectionately flicked Mark's nose with her finger, but Mark impatiently slapped her hand away.

"Oh, throwing a tantrum?" Hong Kou couldn't help but tease.

"I told you I could help!"

Hong Kou winked at Xue Feng behind Mark, who immediately understood and secretly walked behind Mark, placing his hand under Mark's armpit.

How could a small child weigh as much as an adult man? Mark was easily picked up and carried outside.

Mark struggled in Xuefeng's arms, but when he realized he couldn't break free, he gave up.

"When I grow up, I also want to go to the ground to find supplies."

"Alright, alright, when you grow up I'll be your subordinate, and I'll listen to whatever you say." Xuefeng carried Mark out of the armory maintenance area and reached out to rub Mark's buzz cut.

Hmm, it's quite prickly.

"But now, you have to go and study."

Hong Kou watched as Mark, who was being carried out by Xue Feng and was cursing but eventually calmed down, walked towards her own gravity body, where the heavy alloy door of the armory slowly opened.

As Hong Kou entered the gravity chamber, the gentleness on her face quickly faded, replaced by a resolute expression. She took a deep breath, the cold, metallic aura making her mind even clearer.

"Attention all Hunters!" Her voice, clear and powerful, echoed throughout the depot via the gravity system. "Final equipment checks, gravity system pilots, calibrate sensor synchronization rates, ground teams, confirm ammunition allocations!"

"Yes, Captain!" The unanimous response carried a chilling aura.

"Elevator ready! Hunters, board!" came the command from the control tower.

The heavy armored transport vehicles and the vehicles carrying the gravity bodies began to move slowly, heading towards the huge elevator shaft leading to the ground. Red Colt, controlling the black gravity body, was the last to step onto the platform, its massive steel foot creaking heavily.

She turned back for one last look at Mark standing behind the city defense troops, then her visor fell off, revealing two glowing yellow optical eyes.

"The hunters set off!"

Meanwhile, in Longgu Village, at the Potential Activation Center's rest area.

Xu Tong stood against the wall, his face paler than usual, with fine beads of sweat still on his forehead.

Shan Da scratched his head and cheeks, occasionally peeking at the Returning Origin Warrior who had just activated his potential.

No, they should be called Awakened Practitioners now.

"Good heavens, his hand is gone. If it weren't for Boss Yang, he probably would have had to get a prosthetic." Seeing that Xu Tong didn't respond, Shan Da nudged him with his elbow: "What happened? Why is your face so pale?"

"Scared? You were chased by the Devouring Beast a couple of days ago and you were fine. Why are you so scared now that you're activating your potential?" Shan Da couldn't help but tease Xu Tong when he saw his reaction.

Xu Tong replied irritably, "Nonsense, I didn't break any arms or legs last time."

"Besides, what if it's my handsome face that gets hurt later?" Xu Tong narcissistically stroked his cheek.

"Pah! You pretty boy?" Shan Da sneered without any politeness, and slapped Xu Tong hard on the back, making him stagger. "If your face is really ruined, don't bother with Boss Yang's treatment. Just buy a mask and wear it."

Xu Tong winced as he was slapped, and was about to retort when Xia Tianlai's stern voice came from below:

"Xu Tong, stop joking around and come down to get ready!"

The two immediately stopped their playful antics, and Xu Tong jumped off the stands. The imaging equipment was ready, and Xia Tianlai and Nanji Xing stood in front of the main control panel, their expressions focused.

"Stand up there." Xia Tianlai pointed to the circular metal platform in the middle of the phenomenological equipment. Xu Tong took a deep breath, walked up, and the instrument beneath his feet rose up from behind, supporting Xu Tong entirely on it.

"Relax, kid." Xia Tian adjusted the parameters. "You saw what happened just now. There were risks, but Boss Yang was there. Even if you lost half your body, he could save you."

Yang Chen gave Xu Tong a reassuring look.

"Old Xia, can't you wish me well for once? What are you saying..." Xu Tong was about to protest when a strong numbing sensation suddenly spread through his limbs, choking him with all his words.

The electromagnetic pulse device has precisely targeted Xu Tong's acupoints.

"Ugh—!" Xu Tong's scream was cut short as she fainted.

“The sensory system and brain have stopped transmitting signals.” Xia Tian looked at the Awakener beside him: “Prepare to export the life essence.”

The enlightened practitioner swiftly operated the equipment in front of him, inserting transmitters used to assist in the export of source matter into various acupoints of Xu Tong.

"Activate the Source Projector!" Antarctic Star stared intently at the screen, speaking rapidly.

A projector-like device rose up not far in front of Xu Tong. The operator pushed a lever, and a strong blue beam of light shone directly onto Xu Tong's chest.

Behind Xu Tong, a blue sphere of light was slowly forming.

Seeing that a portion of Xu Tong's source matter had been extracted, Xia Tianlai immediately ordered, "Use the vibration frequency equipment to assist in entering the source matter turbulence."

The operators immediately struck the special musical instruments in front of them, and the vibrations caused the source material being extracted behind Xu Tong to tremble as well.

Once the source material enters a turbulent state, the latent power within the human body can be activated.

As the vibration frequency continued to change, the ball of light behind Xu Tong gradually took shape, and the source matter slowly gathered into his own form.

"My...my face! My face!" Xu Tong suddenly screamed in agony. He felt his cheekbones and jawbone cracking and popping, as if they were about to shatter and reform at any moment! This terrified him even more than losing a hand or foot!
"Old Xia! His face! His face is going to collapse!" Shan Da pointed at Xu Tong's distorted face, jumping up and down in a panic.

"Shut up! Don't interfere!" Xia Tianlai shouted sharply, without a trace of panic in his eyes. Unleashing potential is inherently accompanied by enormous risks, but as long as one perseveres, the non-coding protein portion of the human genome will evolve at an accelerated pace.

However, in the process of evolution, the body will most likely suffer damage to varying degrees.

Time passed second by second, and finally, the source energy behind Xu Tong turned golden and gradually stabilized.

The equipment was then gradually shut down, and Xu Tong's body was slowly lowered down.

Yang Chen suddenly appeared beside Xu Tong, and a gentle blue aura instantly enveloped Xu Tong!
The halo carried an indescribable soothing power, like the warmest spring water, instantly extinguishing the tearing sensation and excruciating pain on Xu Tong's cheeks.

"Huff...huff...huff..." Xu Tong collapsed on the platform, panting heavily. He immediately raised his hand to touch his face.

Smooth to the touch, with sharp, defined contours! Still handsome!

He let out a long, relieved breath.

"How do you feel?" Yang Chen asked with a smile.

"I...I'm alive...this must have been awful." Xu Tong's voice trembled slightly, filled with lingering fear. "Thank you, Boss Yang! Is my face...is it really alright?" He couldn't help but ask again to confirm.

A smile flashed in Yang Chen's eyes: "Completely intact, even more rosy than before."

Summer and Nanji Star had no worries from the beginning and started checking the data recorded by the equipment.

"Huh? The appendix has mutated?"

(End of this chapter)