"Why haven't these people left yet?" Qi Suian set down the inactivation weapon prototype in his hands, looking at the intel provided by the smart-brain.
The pursuers calling themselves the Rhino Task Force had been continuously searching the surrounding area for any trace of Qi Suian.
Based on their progress, they would find the air-raid shelter where he was hiding today, barring any surprises.
"This... probably isn't a coincidence."
"I just finished developing this weapon, and you all show up to throw your lives away." Qi Suian couldn't help but say with self-deprecation, "The protagonist's halo truly lives up to its name."
Over the past few days, Qi Suian had confirmed that the so-called Supervisor Chunyu of the Rhino Task Force wasn't present, which was a relief.
He'd also learned from their chatter that this Supervisor Chunyu had undergone a biomechanical modification called the Immortal Surgery, which explained his immense power.
"Perfect. I'd like to see what this so-called Rhino Combat Program is all about, too."
The smart-brain had been monitoring them through the surveillance network, so it had naturally recorded their conversations and compiled them into intel.
"I should leave one of them alive. From what they've said, the Rhino Combat Program seems to be a lesser version of the Immortal Surgery."
"If I can capture a live specimen, it could be a significant help to my talent."
Qi Suian had been struggling to find a way to improve his E-rank talent, Virus Suppression. But now, thanks to Celestial Fate: Profound, a perfect opportunity had just been delivered to his doorstep.
All Qi Suian could say to that was: 'having a protagonist's halo feels great'.
Too bad his protagonist's halo wasn't the Long Aotian type, or it would be even better.
"Might as well make the first move, then."
Qi Suian pondered how to capture a live specimen.
[Recommendation: Prioritize the evolution of the Tai Sui God. It is close to its third evolution and does not require many more materials.]
[Upon successful evolution, you can install the Profound Virus inactivation weapon into a module slot to upgrade its quality.]
Qi Suian checked the Tai Sui God's armor rating. It really was about to evolve. The value was already up to 3.9; with just a little more effort, it would definitely be able to.
He had been focused on his studies and research, so the smart-brain had been responsible for all of the Tai Sui God's upgrades.
As for him doing it personally? To put it bluntly, there was no way he could compete with the smart-brain.
The smart-brain could plot the most efficient routes for gathering materials, collect them at top speed, and evade all tracking.
If Qi Suian were to try, he'd probably be tracked the moment he stepped out the door.
"Gather them now? What a hassle." Qi Suian's brow furrowed. 'It's true that it's close to evolving, but the amount of materials required must be substantial.'
[Based on my calculations, the moment you engage the Rhino Task Force, your position will be compromised. You must relocate immediately after.]
[The air-raid shelter can be dismantled. Its metal can be used as evolution material.]
Hearing this, Qi Suian realized the smart-brain truly let nothing go to waste—it was even planning to dismantle his safe house for him.
Then again, it was a logical suggestion. After all, Qi Suian couldn't possibly come back here.
"Alright. Prioritize planning a new safe house, calculate an escape route, and then you can start dismantling." Qi Suian had to guarantee his own safety above all else.
Even with the Tai Sui God's third evolution, an armor rating of 4.0 was no match for Chunyu Bao. That Immortal Surgery of his was no ordinary modification.
[Plans are complete. Commencing execution...]
The smart-brain didn't provide just one plan for the new safe house and escape routes, but several, all designed to maximize Qi Suian's chances of a safe withdrawal.
Qi Suian gave the plans a quick look-over but didn't try to meddle. When it came to this, the smart-brain was truly better than him.
He wasn't a combat specialist; he was hardly a professional in that field.
As the air-raid shelter was violently torn apart, its metal harvested for evolution, the Tai Sui God's armor rating began to slowly climb.
It rose until it hit 4.0, completing its third evolution. The next would require an armor rating of 5.0.
It might only seem like one more point, but the evolutionary resources required would be many times greater than what it took to go from 1.0 to 4.0.
Next, Qi Suian took the Profound Virus inactivation weapon he had just fabricated and installed it into the newly vacant module slot.
[SSS·Divine Purification Force Field (Profound)]
"Interesting. I thought that after it became SSS-quality, it would work against all viruses. Turns out it's still specific to the Profound Virus."
"There's more to this Profound Virus than meets the eye." Qi Suian narrowed his eyes.
Then again, the Profound Virus was what gave him the X-rank talent Celestial Fate: Profound, which was proof enough of its extraordinary nature.
"Still, the Divine Purification Force Field is seriously powerful. Even I would die if exposed to it, if not for my own expedition-grade ecological circulation system of a similar level."
Qi Suian's body was teeming with the Profound Virus. Due to the severe infection, it was present in practically every part of him. If it were all annihilated at once, he would genuinely die.
"This thing can't be turned off—it's like a passive ability. I can't use it all the time, or I won't even be able to collect virus crystals," Qi Suian muttered.
With the Divine Purification Force Field (Profound) powered by the Supernova Strong Nuclear Reactor, any Mutated Zombie below the rank of a Corpse King would die, even though the Tai Sui God had only evolved three times.
It was an SSS-quality item, after all. If it weren't held back by the Tai Sui God's limited number of evolutions, likely no zombie in the entire world could withstand it—except, perhaps, for Qi Suian himself from his past life as the Zombie Dominator.
"I just wonder how effective it is against Immortals."
The Divine Purification Force Field (Profound) was a superweapon against zombies, but its effectiveness against the Watchman Morning Company's task force and leadership was another question entirely.
Their ability to modify and utilize the Profound Virus far surpassed Qi Suian's. It was even possible they had created a variant.
How else could humans have mastered the power of zombies?
"Smart-brain, can you control the intensity of the force field?" Qi Suian asked.
[The field can be adjusted by increasing, decreasing, or cutting off the power supply. This allows it to be turned off without removing the module.]
It couldn't be controlled directly, only indirectly, but that was still good news for Qi Suian.
"Good. Shut down the force field for now." Most of Qi Suian's research was related to the Profound Virus. If the field were active, he wouldn't be able to get any work done.
[The force field was disabled upon installation to prevent any unnecessary losses to you.]
The smart-brain was nothing if not intelligent, disabling it immediately upon installation.
"Alright, let's head out. Time to see this so-called Rhino Combat Program for myself," Qi Suian said.
Everything was ready. It was time to go give them hell.
If the Divine Purification Force Field (Profound) lived up to his expectations, he planned to fight his way to the Watchman Morning Company's headquarters.