Armor: After finding the Demon-Sealing Box, I won't eat beef.

Inside the secret laboratory.

The cold white light illuminated the walls covered with flashing instruments and densely packed data panels.

Dr. Karen stood in front of the holographic display screen and showed Lin Zhen her latest research results.

"My data shows..."

"The energy in your body is of the same origin as the Demon Spirit Stone, but its ability to infect has been greatly weakened."

"Like viruses on Earth."

"It was originally a highly infectious virus with a near 100% fatality rate."

"But the one in your body is different."

"It has a very low infection rate, but it can directly integrate into the host's DNA and become an inseparable part of the host."

"And it will be passed down through generations via genes."

"Just like now, if you randomly test the genes of a human, you will find that there are many gene fragments of ancient and terrifying viruses in them."

"Those viruses also use the same method to allow their DNA to survive on Earth."

Karen gave a serious example.

Lin Zhen isn't stupid either.

After a moment of stunned silence, he muttered to himself, "So, I've become a mutant beast?"

"No."

Karen immediately shook her head in correction.

"You haven't turned into a mutant beast."

"If the alien beasts can be successfully researched, then dark energy will inevitably dominate their bodies and consciousness."

"And you are because the dark energy has become one with you, becoming an inseparable part of you."

"It only played a supporting role; you are still yourself."

"You could say that you are a completely new kind of human being."

"From this moment on, a very unique branch has emerged in the evolution of human history from your point of view."

"Data doesn't lie."

"Before you mobilized that power, your heart rate, body temperature, and various physiological indicators were no different from those of an ordinary person."

"Once mobilized, their skin becomes as hard as copper and iron, impervious to swords and spears."

"The instantaneous explosive power generated by muscles far exceeds the limits of ordinary humans."

"It's like leaping from outdated steam power to highly efficient electric motors."

"And this growth is becoming stronger and faster over time."

"From the perspective of someone like me who does scientific research."

Boss, what is your current health condition?

It's less a disease and more an evolution.

"It took humans millions of years to evolve into what we are today."

"And you only spent a few short years."

It has evolved to an achievement that humans might have taken hundreds of millions of years to reach naturally.

"It's a pity that the evolution was too fast."

The side effect is that they will eventually lose their rationality.

Lin Zhen listened to Karen's words.

With a furrowed brow and a heavy heart, he asked, "So, in other words..."

"As my evolution speed increases."

Will I eventually become a monster devoid of intelligence, acting solely on instinct?

"Is there any way to stop this evolutionary process and make it cease?"

If this evolution continues...

Reason will be completely swallowed up by ever-expanding power, and in the end, they will definitely lose to the protagonist's team.

That goes without saying.

This is what people often refer to as the villains becoming less intelligent.

Karen shook her head and said, "That's all I can do for now."

"I still don't know how to stop it from growing."

"But I have an idea: since dark energy comes from a dark universe, light and darkness are inherently opposed."

"Does that mean there's a force in the world that can balance dark energy?"

balance?

A thought suddenly flashed through Lin Zhen's mind.

"Light Energy!!!"

Yes.

Where there is darkness, there is also light.

Lin Zhen's eyes flashed with surprise as he said to Karen, "If there were something in the world that could balance dark energy..."

"And it just so happens to be on Earth."

"Then I can only think of one thing... a light and shadow stone!"

Karen nodded and said, "That's exactly what I wanted to say."

"Perhaps finding the Light and Shadow Stone might solve your problem."

"It's just that the light and shadow stone is hidden too deep and not easy to find."

Lin Zhen smiled.

"I have a way to find them."

After setting a new goal.

As soon as Lin Zhen left the secret research room, he immediately ordered people to collect detailed information on all the orphanages in D City.

Ultimately, he focused his attention on one of the orphanages.

After careful investigation by his subordinates.

The majority of the orphans in this orphanage are descendants of those from Guangying Village.

The dean in charge was the previous generation's Earth Tiger Armor summoner.

Lin Zhen first donated a considerable sum of money to the orphanage in the name of the Riyin Group to express his goodwill.

Then he personally went to contact the dean and subtly inquired about the whereabouts of the Light and Shadow Stone.

Unfortunately, after some interaction, the old dean hid the light and shadow stone very well.

They refused to reveal any information about this matter.

So Lin Zhen had to change his approach and bribe the person the dean trusted most.

In this world, as long as you are an ordinary person, even if you are a descendant of the Guangying Village, you will almost certainly be unable to resist the temptation of money.

That person quickly betrayed the dean, revealing the exact location where the Light and Shadow Stone was hidden.

Early the next morning.

Dozens of unidentified thugs armed with weapons stormed into the orphanage and committed violence.

Many people died in the chaos.

In an attempt to protect the children, the old director was hacked to death at the office door.

The case shocked the entire nation.

When people engage in vicious conflicts, the police naturally have to intervene and investigate with all their might.

But when the police found the hideout of the ruthless criminals and broke down the door, they discovered that all of them were dead.

Not a single survivor.

The scene inside the house was gruesome, with bloodstains and signs of a struggle everywhere.

They appeared to have gone through a fierce battle to the death.

The case had to be closed at this point.

The ruthless killers are all dead, and all leads have been exhausted.

No one knows whether someone was behind this or not.

……

Time flies like water.

Twelve years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Riyin Group has developed into the undisputed leading enterprise in China and has begun to expand into overseas markets on a large scale.

The alliance between Shadow Capital and the Japanese Music Group has created a vast global capital network.

Almost every newly listed company has the backing of these two entities.

[Evening News: A special news report is being broadcast now.]

Donggang Wharf has been embroiled in another incident today, with a 10,000-ton cargo ship belonging to the Ocean Shipping Group reportedly attacked by an unidentified monster.

According to sources at the scene, the monster caused the deaths of thirteen people and injured eighty-six others to varying degrees on the ship.

One batch of imported memory modules from the United States was unfortunately destroyed in the chaos when it caught fire.

It is estimated that Sino-Ocean Group will suffer direct losses of approximately US$10 billion, as well as substantial subsequent compensation payments.

Chairman's Office of Riyin Group.

Lin Zhen leaned back on the leather sofa, while the huge LCD screen in front of him was playing today's news.

Twelve years have passed.

Time seemed to have left no obvious marks on him.

Compared to before, apart from having become a bit more mysterious and composed, there are almost no major changes.

A stunningly beautiful young woman was standing behind him, gently massaging his shoulders with both hands.

"Dad, are you feeling any better?"

The woman's identity was revealed as soon as she opened her mouth.

She is indeed Lin Zhen's daughter, but not his biological daughter; she is an adopted daughter whom he took in when she was young.

Originally named Bing'er, she took Lin Zhen's surname after being adopted, and her name on her household registration was Lin Bing'er.

"Not bad, you've made some progress."

Lin Zhen has a kind and approachable smile.

Bing'er immediately widened her eyes and said in a coquettish tone, "Is it just okay?"

"My hands are sore from squeezing!"

"Okay, okay, very good, alright?" Lin Zhen shook his head helplessly.

Bing'er was raised by him.

She didn't become a cold, taciturn, and inarticulate person like in the original work.

Instead, she became a lively and cheerful person.

A rich young lady who is occasionally a little rebellious.

You can't blame her for that.

Lin Zhen possesses the nation's most abundant resources, and she has been pampered and adored since childhood.

They didn't completely develop an unreasonable and domineering personality.

This is the result of Lin Zhen's strict discipline over the past ten years.

Anyone else raised in this environment would have been lawless long ago.

Everyone in high society knows that Chairman Lin of the Riyin Group has a beloved daughter named Lin Bing'er.

He is very likely to be the future heir to the Nippon Group.