"Y-y-y-you...!!"

Before Yang Lina could finish her serious warning, she watched as Zhou Yuanjue, without a word, opened one of the vials and poured its contents into the gash on his upper arm.

"What’s all the stuttering for? Young people are just so excitable."

Old Director Zhong Hongyu had the unfazed air of someone who had seen it all, though his gaze remained fixed on the wound where Zhou Yuanjue had introduced the Rebellion cells, monitoring its every change.

GURGLE!!

Suddenly, the wound on Zhou Yuanjue’s upper arm trembled violently.

GURGLE GURGLE GURGLE!!

Then, the wound began to writhe and squirm violently, as if something was hatching inside it.

’It’s begun.’

Zhong Hongyu narrowed his eyes. He knew this was the devouring and proliferating effect of the Rebellion cells taking hold. They converted the host’s own cells to obtain Energy, then rapidly replicated and multiplied.

Once this proliferation began, it meant the host’s cells couldn’t fight off the virus and were already being partially devoured and digested. Since Zhou Yuanjue’s cells contained a vast, saturated amount of powerful Energy, this would make the Rebellion cells’ proliferation even faster.

Based on estimates from experimental data, if an ordinary person were completely consumed by Rebellion cells, their body size and height would only increase by about a third. But if the subject were Zhou Yuanjue, he would likely become a terrifying monster completely dominated by Rebellion cells, at least five times his original size.

’Truly terrifying cells. Not even the native cells of a Saint Awakening Powerhouse of Zhou Yuanjue’s caliber could resist them.’

Soon, a huge, writhing ball of flesh bulged on Zhou Yuanjue’s arm, looking like a hideous tumor. Just then, a red glow completely enveloped the fleshy orb. The orb seemed to sense some kind of threat and continued to writhe, but it could no longer grow in size.

Without conscious direction, the native cells of a Saint Awakening Powerhouse could not resist the corrosion of the Rebellion cells. However, if a Saint Awakening Powerhouse consciously mobilized their own magnetic field, they could effectively block the spread of the Rebellion cells.

In other words, it was nearly impossible for the Rebellion cells to kill a Saint Awakening Level being through their infectious ability alone.

’However, that isn’t a certainty. The Rebellion cells are currently in an uncontrolled state. If they were within a certain range of the Plague of Rebellion, their effects would likely be much stronger.’

"Are you trying to merge with and control these virus cells?"

Zhong Hongyu asked Zhou Yuanjue.

"No. These cells originated from the Plague of Rebellion. His Magnetic Field Ability is bound to be more compatible with them than mine. If I merged with them, I could never overcome his ’control.’ On the battlefield, I would become a puppet he manipulates."

Zhou Yuanjue shook his head. Merging with them was not a wise choice.

"Then what are you trying to do?"

Yang Lina asked in confusion.

"Experience its specific effects firsthand, down to the subtle changes in the cellular magnetic field. This cell’s formidable proliferation, infectivity, and inherent strength grant its master a nearly-Immortal regenerative ability."

"The Plague of Rebellion’s abilities are based on some kind of magnetic field. The fact that he can so easily manipulate the virus cells he carries must mean they have a special magnetic field structure, different from normal cells."

"That magnetic field structure is exactly what I need."

Zhou Yuanjue said.

"What you say makes sense. When it comes to perceiving the Life Magnetic Field on a microscopic level, existing medical equipment is indeed not as precise as you are. That is our limitation."

"Once you have results, you must share the data with us."

Zhong Hongyu said.

"No problem. But you’ll have to send me a certain amount of Rebellion cell samples every day."

Zhou Yuanjue said with a nod.

"Alright, then we won’t disturb you any further."

Zhong Hongyu nodded, gave Yang Lina a look, and the two quickly exited the training room, leaving Zhou Yuanjue alone.

He began to carefully sense the subtle magnetic field changes in the tumor-like mass of Rebellion cells on his arm, but he soon discovered he couldn’t sense anything from them at all.

’The Rebellion cells are nearly impossible to analyze after they finish dividing. It makes sense; if this cell’s characteristics were so easy to decipher, the Plague of Rebellion would have long since exposed its own traits and weaknesses during its limited appearances.’

Zhou Yuanjue felt a slight sense of regret at being unable to analyze the true characteristics of the Rebellion cells. This meant he couldn’t uncover the fundamental secret to their rapid proliferation and strengthening through observation and research.

’Still, I can settle for the next best thing and study other valuable aspects.’

SWISH!!

Zhou Yuanjue violently swung his other palm, slicing at the huge ball of flesh on his arm.

THUD!!

With a muffled sound, he lopped off a large chunk of flesh from his own arm. This lump of meat, filled with Rebellion cells, writhed ceaselessly on the ground, displaying an incredible Life Force.

Then, Zhou Yuanjue beckoned with his hand, and a ball of scorching red light shot out from his palm, projecting onto the lump of flesh.

SIZZLE!!

The intense heat instantly covered the lump of flesh, causing it to make the sound of being roasted at a high temperature. Soon, the lump stopped writhing, and an unusual aroma began to waft from the roasting meat.

’It smells pretty good... probably tastes nice, too...’

Zhou Yuanjue glanced at the lump of flesh on the ground and, surprisingly, felt a strong surge of appetite.

His expression remained calm. He knew this was a primal temptation. The Rebellion cells seemed to be dead, but they were actually in a dormant state. If he couldn’t resist the temptation and ate the lump of flesh, the Rebellion cells might undergo an Awakening inside his body.

He increased the output of his magnetic field until the lump of flesh was charred like charcoal and no longer emitted any aroma. Only then did he stop.

Meanwhile, the wound on his arm was healing rapidly, even without him consciously channeling Energy to it.

He picked up another vial, opened it, and poured the Rebellion cells inside into the still-unhealed wound.

This time, he was completely focused, concentrating on the process of the Rebellion cells’ devouring and dividing. In other words, he ignored their formidable strength and regenerative proliferation, focusing instead on their rapid diffusion, consumption, and infectious capabilities.

’After all, without deliberate protection, not even the cells of a Saint Awakening could contend with this infectious power.’

This was not an easy process.

He began a series of repeated trials.

Apply the reagent, cut away the flesh.

Apply the reagent, cut away the flesh.

Apply the reagent, cut away the flesh.

.....

「Many days passed.」

The staff had lost count of how much charred flesh and blood they had cleaned up.

Gradually, he finally began to understand some of the principles behind the Rebellion cells’ super-infectivity.

He discovered that at the very instant a Rebellion cell—whose own magnetic field was in a chaotic state—came into contact with a normal cell, it would, for a fleeting moment, exhibit an orderly magnetic field structure.

This magnetic field structure, in turn, would have an instantaneous effect on the Life Magnetic Field within the target cell.

And this effect was remarkably similar to assimilation on a magnetic field level.