Five years passed like sand slipping through one's fingers.
Over these five years, the One Heart Society had come to dominate most of the Angel Nebula's economy. Its influence had long since transcended mere commerce. The substantial annual dividends, combined with the various conveniences Chu Mo provided through his authority as Finance Minister, attracted a growing number of followers hungry for wealth and status.
It wasn't just wealthy merchants; many young military officers who were frustrated or eager for faster promotion began joining the One Heart Society through various channels.
Chu Mo's prestige quietly took root across the military, political, and business sectors. While not yet rivaling Hua Ye's, his influence far surpassed Su Mari's infamy in the military. Chu Mo could decide the flow of resources, influence promotion paths, and offer the most tangible benefits.
During these five years, Chu Mo never slackened in his practice of the Six Styles and dark energy manipulation. His underground training room bore witness to countless moments of exhaustion and breakthrough. He fused the physical potential of his First-Gen angel genes with his preliminary guidance of dark energy, forming a combat style unique to himself.
He knew deep down that wealth and schemes were his armor, but his own strength would be his ultimate blade.
However, the cruelty of the Heavenly Palace Order only intensified as those in power grew more decadent, fueling further tragedy and resentment. Through his network of eyes and ears, Chu Mo gathered many angels under his wing. Some were male angels suppressed for refusing to be corrupt; others were female angels who refused to be mere playthings.
Chu Mo took them in. Initially, he only provided work, but he observed their character in secret. Gradually, he gave them opportunities based on their talents, earning their absolute loyalty. From this foundation, he established a secret organization: the Shadow Guard.
He taught them the basics of the Six Styles. Only those with steadfast wills who mastered the basics were granted knowledge of the Shadow Guard's existence and given systematic training. They were everywhere—waiters in taverns, guards for transport fleets—becoming Chu Mo's omnipresent eyes and ears.
One day, Chu Mo was training in his private room. He had just finished a series of complex maneuvers combining Geppo and Rankyaku. As he caught his breath, his communicator buzzed. It was Hong Yu.
"Boss, Miss Hexi is here. She says there is significant progress."
Significant progress? Chu Mo's heart skipped. His collaboration with Hexi had been steady, but she had never come to him personally claiming a breakthrough like this.
"I'm coming."
In the study, Hexi sat in her usual white dress, her silver hair cascading like a waterfall. Five years had left no mark on her. She held a small silver data core in her hand.
Seeing him enter, she handed it over directly. Her voice remained cool. "It's a success. All verifications passed. The final optimization and hosting procedures... they're all in there. Late last night, the final simulation was completed with an error rate of less than one in a million."
Chu Mo took the data core, which still held the faint warmth of her fingertips. Five years! Massive resources! Finally... A First-Gen gene encoding and hosting plan perfectly adapted for female angels!
He didn't read the data immediately. Instead, he gripped it tightly and looked at Hexi with a sincere smile. "Thank you, Hexi. These five years... haven't been easy."
Hexi exhaled softly, her posture relaxing slightly for the first time. "No, they haven't. We were nearly caught several times. But... it's done." She looked at him. "When do you plan to begin the first host procedure?"
"Now," Chu Mo said without hesitation. "To my underground research facility outside the city. It's fully equipped and absolutely hidden."
---
Chu Mo, Hexi, and Hong Yu boarded a private aircraft. They bypassed a forcefield disguised as an asteroid belt and entered a hollowed-out planet. Inside was a state-of-the-art laboratory guarded by Shadow Guards in black armor.
Chu Mo led Hong Yu to a side room. "Hong Yu, do you remember what I told you five years ago?"
Hong Yu's heart hammered against her ribs. "Boss..."
"Today is the beginning." Chu Mo pointed to the lab. "Hexi's research is a success. A First-Gen gene designed specifically for female angels. It grants power and speed equal to male angels, and... a lifespan exceeding ten thousand years."
Hong Yu's eyes widened, her breath hitching. As a female angel who had survived the cracks of this world, she knew exactly what this meant. It wasn't just power—it was hope.
"Boss... you mean..." Her voice trembled.
Chu Mo nodded firmly. "You are the first. We will perform the procedure on you today. There are risks, but the technology is mature, and I will be right outside. Hong Yu, are you willing?"
Tears welled up in Hong Yu's eyes, but she didn't let them fall. She looked at the man who had protected her all these years. "I am willing! Boss...!"
A short while later, under Hexi's guidance, Hong Yu lay down in the gene-hosting pod. The transparent lid slid shut, and pale blue nutrient fluid mixed with shimmering gene serum began to pump in.
Chu Mo and Hexi stood at the console, watching the vitals and the fusion progress.
"Begin," Chu Mo said deeply.
Hexi's fingers flew across the controls. Inside the pod, countless fine energy currents began to swirl, penetrating and fusing with every cell in Hong Yu's body.