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

Chapter 214 Ling Cage Part 1 (7)

As Bai Yuekui watched the unbelievable "resurrection" process on the screen and heard ASH's affirmative answer, a huge wave of emotions surged within him.

Life iteration...

This is a realm that she and everyone in Dragonbone Village have dreamed of but have never been able to truly reach.

In another world, in such a way, it was achieved through this man?
She abruptly stood up from the control panel, ignoring the images still playing on the screen, and turned to walk towards the cave entrance.

She had to find Yang Chen immediately to confirm this.

However, as soon as she lifted the canvas curtain, she saw Yang Chen standing outside, seemingly having just returned as well.

"Yue Kui, what's wrong?" Yang Chen asked, somewhat surprised and puzzled, noticing her slightly hurried movements.

He had just returned from the soul storage place and was about to explain the situation to her.

Bai Yuekui stepped forward, almost grabbing his arm, but restrained himself.

But those sharp eyes were fixed on him: "ASH showed me the cycle of life. You can resurrect those who have already died!?"

Looking at the expectation in her eyes, Yang Chen nodded frankly: "Yes, that's what I was thinking. I just went to the Soul Storage Area and the life essence is well preserved, and the quantity is sufficient. But..."

He changed the subject, his brow furrowing slightly: "It seems there's no 3D human body printing equipment here in the village? Even with life essence, I can't reshape a body. Is that thing... still at the Heluo Ruins?"

Upon hearing Yang Chen reveal the location of the equipment and point out the crucial missing component, Bai Yuekui's last remaining doubts dissipated.

He truly understands the whole process and is capable of doing it.

“Yes…” Bai Yuekui’s slightly bright eyes betrayed her excitement. “The equipment is indeed still in the old research institute in Heluo. After all, the environment is complicated and the equipment is too large, so we can’t retrieve it back to the village.”

She looked at Yang Chen with a complex and unreadable expression.

"It's...unbelievable." She finally murmured, as if speaking to Yang Chen, but also as if speaking to herself.

Yang Chen looked at her and understood how she felt at that moment.

He smiled and said, "Since the equipment is in Heluo, let's go there tomorrow. What do you think, Yuekui?"

Bai Yuekui met his gaze without the slightest hesitation.

To resurrect her fallen comrades and to bring new hope to the village, she would go to any place, even more dangerous ones, than just the Heluo Ruins.

"Okay," she replied decisively.

"I'll arrange the manpower right away, and we'll set off first thing tomorrow morning."

"Wait a minute," Yang Chen called out to her. "Did you retain the physical data of those victims before? Although the life essence contains some information, having detailed data would make the reconstructed body more perfect and avoid some unnecessary risks."

Bai Yuekui nodded, not surprised that Yang Chen had thought of this: "We have archived data on most people and soldiers. We realized the importance of life essence a long time ago and have been preparing for possible technological breakthroughs in the future."

She paused for a moment: "However, even if all the data is complete, the resurrected personnel still need to be carefully selected."

Yang Chen understood her concerns: "Is it a problem with the life essence itself?"

"Hmm." Bai Yuekui walked to the side and pulled up a list that recorded brief information and source markings of the life essence in the soul storage jar.

"The life essence in the soul storage jar does not all come from our comrades who voluntarily sacrificed themselves. A large part of it was recovered from those who had completely lost their humanity when we carried out the essence recovery mission."

"They exchange their own children to eat each other, and kill each other, their consciousness is completely twisted in despair and madness. Even if such life essence is forcibly resurrected and reshaped, it will only bring disaster to the village."

Yang Chen remained silent for a moment before expressing his understanding.

In the apocalypse, the bottom line of humanity is constantly being breached, and some things, once lost, are truly hard to get back.

After all, not everyone there gets their body reshaped.

“I understand.” He looked at Bai Yuekui. “Then, you can decide on the list. You are more familiar with the situation here than I am.”

Bai Yuekui looked at the scrolling list on the screen, pausing on a few names.

Those were outstanding soldiers and indispensable technical talents who sacrificed themselves in recent years to protect the village. Their resurrection would undoubtedly greatly enhance the village's strength.

However, Yang Chen's next sentence made her fingers pause slightly as she operated the screen.

"However, if possible, I would like to resurrect the parents of those children first."

Bai Yuekui raised his head and looked at Yang Chen.

She nodded slightly: "Okay."

Night had fallen, and most of Dragon Bone Village was fast asleep.

However, the lights were turned on in the council chamber located in a corner of the village.

Several "masters" summoned by Bai Yuekui, including Wulan Aodeng, Qiushi, Nanjixing, and Xia Tianlai, entered the council hall one after another.

They all looked puzzled, wondering why they were being summoned so late at night.

"It's so late, what did the boss call us here for?" Nanjixing yawned and asked, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

Ulan Aodeng crossed his arms, frowned slightly, and shook his head: "I don't know. Let's wait for the boss to arrive."

Although his rugged face remained calm, he had a vague feeling that this gathering was likely related to the two outsiders who had suddenly appeared during the day.

The way that man named Yang Chen looked at him always made him feel that something was unusual.

It's just like... just like the way I look at Maido.

Ulan Aodeng shook his head, dismissing the thought.

Qiu Shi didn't say anything, but just sat quietly on the floating board, closing his eyes to rest.

Summer came, and he sat quietly to the side, stroking his beard.

Not long after, the door to the council chamber was pushed open, and Bai Yuekui walked in.

She remained as composed as ever, but those who knew her well could keenly sense that something was different about her today.

When they saw Yang Chen walking in behind Bai Yuekui, the other four people's eyes were immediately focused on him.

Ulan Aodeng thought to himself, "It really is this kid."

Yang Chen sensed the various gazes directed at him, but he didn't seem flustered. Instead, he smiled at them as a greeting and then stood a little behind Bai Yuekui.

Bai Yuekui didn't beat around the bush; he went straight to the head seat, his gaze sweeping over the four masters present, and got straight to the point:
"I've gathered everyone so late because I have something extremely important to announce." She paused, but still chose the most direct approach, "There's been a breakthrough in life iteration... We've now found a way to resurrect the victims."

In short, he left everyone present completely dumbfounded.

"what?!"

A sudden jolt in the summer heat nearly made me slip off my chair.

Even the most composed Ulan Aodeng and Qiushi changed their expressions.

"Boss...you, you're not kidding, are you?" Xia Tianlai's voice trembled slightly.

Bai Yuekui did not answer directly, but glanced at Yang Chen before looking back at the crowd, his tone extremely certain:

"The solution lies with him. And I've already confirmed its feasibility."

At this moment, everyone's eyes were once again focused on Yang Chen.

An eerie silence fell over the council chamber.

The news was so shocking that even the officials in charge of the balance struggled to process it for a while. After the initial shock, deep doubts arose in their minds.

Ulan Aodeng spoke first, his voice deep: "Boss, it's not that I don't believe you. It's just... he just arrived in the village today, and then after all these years of research on life iteration without any progress, he suddenly has a breakthrough? Isn't that... a bit too much of a coincidence?"

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear, which made people suspect that there might be a trap involved.

Although Xia Tianlai is usually unreliable, his attitude immediately becomes serious when it comes to his life iteration research, to which he has devoted a great deal of effort.

He looked at Bai Yuekui: "Boss, what Ao Deng said makes sense. The core problem of life iteration lies in the perfect fusion of life essence and new body. All our attempts have failed. Can he... really solve it? Is this... really true?"

Although Qiu Shi didn't speak, her gaze towards Yang Chen was scrutinizing.

Nanjixing stared wide-eyed, looking at this and then at that, feeling like his brain wasn't quite up to the task.

Despite the crowd's questions, Bai Yuekui remained calm; she had anticipated this question.

Her gaze swept calmly over the four people.

“I know this is hard to believe. But it’s true.” She pointed to Yang Chen. “Besides, he’s not exactly an ‘outsider’ in the strictest sense. He’s practically mine…”

She paused slightly before replying, "...Yes, an old acquaintance."

An old acquaintance?

They knew that Bai Yuekui had lived from the old world to the present day. If this man in front of them was an old acquaintance, wouldn't he also have lived from the old world to the present day?
At least, his age isn't what it seems.

The four were filled with even deeper doubts, but Bai Yuekui's next words shocked them even more.

"In short, from now on, his status in the village is the same as mine. His words are my will, and he can freely mobilize all the village's resources. You must do your best to cooperate with his arrangements."

Equivalent to Boss Bai?!
Upon hearing this, Wulan Aodeng, Qiushi, Xia Tianlai, and Nanjixing exchanged bewildered glances.

This means that this strange man who only appeared today has directly become the highest leader of Dragonbone Village?
Ulan Aodeng opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but looking at Bai Yuekui's unwavering gaze and the unquestionable trust in her words, he hesitated.

He ultimately swallowed his words.

They were raised by Bai Yuekui, who is by no means an impulsive person. She must have had her reasons for making this decision, and very good reasons at that.

But... this reason.
Ulan Aodeng, Qiushi, Xia Tianlai, and Nanjixing looked at each other, their gazes shifting back and forth between Bai Yuekui and Yang Chen.

They still had doubts, but their long-standing unconditional trust and obedience to Bai Yuekui ultimately overcame everything.

Ulan Aodeng spoke first in a deep voice: "We understand, boss."

Qiu Shi nodded slightly, indicating that he had no objection.

Summer came and scratched his head without saying a word, but the curiosity in his eyes was almost overflowing.

Bai Yuekui was not surprised by their reaction. He nodded and began assigning tasks: "That's settled then. Xiao Deng, come to me first thing tomorrow morning to get a list. It marks several locations in the vicinity where usable supplies might be found. Have the Awakeners scout these places first to check the situation and risks."

“Yes, boss,” Ulan Aodeng replied.

"Everyone else, meeting adjourned." Bai Yuekui waved his hand, then added, "Tianlai, you stay."

Ulan Aodeng and Qiushi exchanged a glance, said nothing more, and silently left the council hall.

Nanjixing also sat in a chair and followed them out.

As he passed by Yang Chen, he glanced at him and noticed that Yang Chen was also looking at him.

"What are you looking at?"

Yang Chen's gaze fell on Nanji Xing's severed leg and he asked, "How long has your leg been missing?"

Antarctic Star was taken aback by Yang Chen's question, then a hint of unease flashed across his face, and he replied irritably, "None of your business?"

Then, maneuvering the mechanical chair, he left the council chamber without looking back.

Yang Chen watched his departing figure, not angry at his attitude, but silently kept it in mind.

Once we return from Heluo, we can use the power of the Horse Talisman to heal him.

At this moment, only Bai Yuekui, Yang Chen, and Xia Tianlai remained in the council hall.

Xia Tian looked at Bai Yuekui expectantly: "Boss... Life iteration... really... really successful?"

He needed to confirm it one more time, because it meant too much to him.

Bai Yuekui looked at him and nodded clearly: "Yes."

Upon receiving this affirmative answer, Xia Tian opened his mouth and said, "Then...then Layla, she..."

His wife, Leila, is still lying in a hospital bed.

Although the life essence was successfully preserved in her body after that iterative attempt, it also caused terrible mutations in her new body, causing her to suffer inhuman pain at all times.

The life essence has also become fragile. If the essence is extracted using the essence projector, it will most likely dissipate directly.

This is a pain and guilt that will forever remain in his heart.

Bai Yuekui naturally knew what he was thinking, and before he could finish speaking, he said directly, "Take him to see Laila."

Yang Chen frowned slightly when he heard the name "Laila".

He looked at Xia Tianlai and asked with concern, "Laila? Tianlai, what happened to Laila?"

When Xia Tian heard Bai Yuekui's words, hope was rekindled in her heart.

Bai Yuekui had no reason to lie to him. Since he brought it up now, it meant that it was really possible and that there was a way.

He could no longer care about anything else and hurriedly stepped forward to lead the way: "Follow me."

Bai Yuekui nodded to Yang Chen, signaling him to follow.

With doubts in his heart, Yang Chen followed Xia Tianlai and Bai Yuekui through several quiet passages to a clinic deep in the village.

The clinic was always lit, and the air was filled with a faint smell of disinfectant and herbs.

Summer came slowly to a hospital bed and lifted the curtain that blocked the view.

When Yang Chen saw what was behind the curtain, his brows furrowed instantly.

Lying on the hospital bed was a woman who was so thin she was almost unrecognizable; it was Leila.

Her skin was an unhealthy, deathly pale white, devoid of any color, as if all life had been drained from her.

The pale skin was covered with irregular honeycomb-like pores.

This body is less like a human and more like a slowly decaying wreck.

Only the faint waveforms of vital signs on the bedside instruments proved that Lyra's life essence was still trapped in this cage, enduring endless torment.

"Laila...?" Yang Chen's voice was very soft.

Summer came to the bedside, and seeing his wife like this, the old man, who was usually a playful old man, was now filled with sorrow.

He gripped Lyra's hand tightly: "Lyra..."

"It's my stubbornness that has made her like this."

Bai Yuekui stood aside, silently watching this scene, her eyes equally heavy.

(End of this chapter)