Chapter 555 - 452: Mystery: The Source of Evolution, the Seed of Resurrection

"Chen Bai?!" Fang Tangtang was about to cry foul. She had never seen a Major get promoted to Colonel in one go.

What about Lieutenant Colonel?

Did someone eat that rank?!

But then, she heard Gao Neng’s voice.

In an instant, Fang Tangtang found an outlet for her frustration.

"Hey, Lieutenant Chen Bai, how are you!" Fang Tangtang immediately copied Gao Neng, waving at Chen Bai and greeting him warmly.

"..." Dark lines appeared on Chen Bai’s forehead.

’Do these two have to be so enthusiastic?’

’I don’t even know you that well!’

There’s an old saying about how fortunes can completely reverse over thirty years.

’But that’s supposed to take at least thirty years!’

In truth, ever since Gao Neng was slated to become the next Speaker of the Supreme Council, Chen Bai had wanted to avoid him at all costs.

But this time, Shen Ning’Er had come to the Northern District Battlefield in person, and as her assistant... he really had no excuse not to follow her to the North District.

Even so, he had tried to keep a low profile.

But of course...

He still got caught.

Chen Bai’s face was a little pale, his feet frozen to the spot. But in the end, he turned back and gave a military salute in Gao Neng’s direction.

"Colonel Gao, Major Fang, greetings!"

"What do you mean, Major? It’s *Colonel*!" Gao Neng immediately corrected.

"..." Chen Bai.

’FML.’

’I clearly said Colonel, okay?!’

’Do you really think I’m blind?!’

Chen Bai was cursing internally but didn’t dare say more. After all, in the Military Department, rank was absolute authority. "Yes, congratulations, Colonel Gao. I was not aware."

"Not aware? If you weren’t aware, then how did you know to call me Major?" Fang Tangtang blinked.

"*#%&" Chen Bai.

’They’re not going to let this go, are they?!’

"A soldier should be honest. If you know, you know. If you don’t, you don’t. It’s like going to war—when it’s time to charge, you charge!" Fang Tangtang continued.

"Yes... Major Fang’s lesson is well-taught." Chen Bai nodded.

"It’s good that you can admit your mistakes and correct them. A shame you’re a little old, though... By the way, Lieutenant Chen Bai, how old are you this year?" A corner of Fang Tangtang’s mouth twitched.

"..." Chen Bai.

’Damn it!’

’You asked the exact same question last time, okay?!’

’In the car!’

’Back when you two scoundrels had just been promoted to Captain.’

’Don’t think I don’t remember!’

"Alright, Tangtang, come take a bath with me. We can get you changed into your new rank insignia while we’re at it. Speaking of which... did you make Major at a younger age than I did?" Shen Ning’Er glanced at Chen Bai, looking a little helpless.

"Oh? Sister Ning’Er, how old were you when you became a Major?" Upon hearing this, Fang Tangtang immediately shifted her attention from Chen Bai to Shen Ning’Er.

"Eighteen."

"Hahaha, I’m only sixteen! Hahaha... I became a Major at sixteen! The number one Major in the Alliance! Who else could it be but me?!" Fang Tangtang burst out laughing, her mood instantly brightening. "Let’s go take that bath, quick! From now on, I, Death God Fang Tangtang, am a Major! Oh yeah!"

"Mm, let’s go." Shen Ning’Er led Fang Tangtang away. Before leaving, she winked at Gao Neng again. "See you later."

"Okay." Gao Neng nodded.

He knew that Shen Ning’Er’s real reason for taking Fang Tangtang away had nothing to do with Chen Bai. Because, if he wasn’t mistaken, Gao Xiaomeng was surely watching him from nearby.

"..." Chen Bai looked at Gao Neng.

He was waiting for Gao Neng to start boasting to him again now that they were alone.

"..." Gao Neng was also looking at Chen Bai.

He thought Chen Bai should leave.

After all, he was about to become the Speaker. A Colonel didn’t need to be bragged to too many times. An occasional boast was more than enough.

The two of them stared at each other, wide-eyed, for a full five seconds.

Chen Bai was finally starting to crack.

"Doesn’t Colonel Gao have anything else to say?"

"Say what?" Gao Neng pursed his lips, then acted as if he’d just had a sudden realization. "Huh? Do you know that I have a pair of Major General insignias I haven’t taken out yet? Speaking of which, Commander Qin specifically told me not to mention it ahead of time. Said I can’t be promoted from Major to Major General all at once, that it has to be step-by-step. My double promotion this time was already an exception. And now he’s insisting I wait another month before I take out the Major General rank. Lieutenant Chen Bai, isn’t that just infuriating?"

"!!!" Chen Bai’s eyes went wide as saucers.

’Major General!!!’

Although he knew Gao Neng’s promotion to Major General was inevitable, because there was a ninety percent chance he would become the next Speaker of the Supreme Council.

And the Military Department would never let someone with the rank of Colonel sit in the Speaker of the Council’s seat.

Therefore, Gao Neng would be promoted to at least the rank of Major General.

But knowing was one thing...

’Hearing it for real was just too painful!’

’It’s been less than a year.’

Gao Neng had gone from a soldier... no, a military academy student, straight to Colonel, and was about to become a Major General.

"Uh... I have something to attend to, so I’ll be going!" Chen Bai couldn’t stay any longer. Heaven knows how much hardship he had endured to go from a soldier to a non-commissioned officer, and from a non-commissioned officer to a lieutenant.

’Ah!’

’Why?!’

’Why did *I* have to be the one to bring this guy back from the Forgotten Land!’

Chen Bai walked away quickly.

He vanished into the night in an instant.

As for Gao Neng, he waited until Chen Bai had disappeared before turning his gaze behind him. Where his eyes landed, a figure was now standing.

The bright moonlight shone down.

The figure cast a long, slender shadow on the ground.

But, unlike before, this shadow had a long, fluffy tail trailing behind it.

Not only was there a tail, but there were also two perky ears on its head.

"Haven’t seen you in a month. Did you revert to your ancient form?" Gao Neng looked at the distant shadow, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly. Then, he quickly dashed toward the shadow’s position.

But the other person instantly turned around.

SWOOSH!

And sped off into the distance.

Logically, this was a classic "luring the snake out of its hole" scenario, but Gao Neng wasn’t too concerned. He was certain that the aura had a familiar energy.

Without much hesitation.

Gao Neng immediately gave chase.

"Councillor Gao, any further and you’ll be outside the military camp."

"Mm, I know."

"Councillor Gao, where are you going?"

"Just taking a look around."

"..."

After a series of questions, Gao Neng arrived outside the military camp... or rather, outside the Northern District Battlefield, in a spot with several large, broken rocks.

"You used to just run straight into my room, didn’t you?" Gao Neng walked up to the rocks and brushed his hand over the snow on top of them.

"Into your bed," a voice replied.

And then, a figure walked out from behind the rocks.

She had long, silvery-white hair.

She wore a snow-white fur outfit and a pair of white, high-top boots. Behind her, a tail was swishing back and forth restlessly.

"Gao Xiaomeng, can’t you just put the tail away?" Gao Neng was momentarily speechless because Gao Xiaomeng’s current appearance was the spitting image of a catgirl.

’It’s really too much to handle!’

"Oh, I got used to it after spending time with my subjects." Gao Xiaomeng stuck out her tongue. Then, the tail behind her and the cat ears on her head vanished instantly. She then zipped right up to Gao Neng. "Bro, I can’t believe that in just one month, you can already kill a Tier Nine?"

"But of course. How else could I be your big brother?" Gao Neng tilted his head back proudly.

He didn’t ask about the battle at the South District City Gate, nor did he deliberately explain the Human Alliance’s decision regarding the Cat Race. Some things simply didn’t need to be said.

Gao Xiaomeng would not harm him.

And he, likewise, would not harm Gao Xiaomeng.

"Hmph, so can I!" Gao Xiaomeng also tilted her head back.

"You?" Gao Neng was a little surprised now.

Because to kill a Tier Nine, he had to use a system hack, and on top of that, he needed more than a hundred Tier Eight Late Stage genetic weapons.

But Gao Xiaomeng obviously didn’t have a system hack.

’So how could she kill a Tier Nine?’

’She must be bluffing!’

Gao Neng was rather skeptical.

But Gao Xiaomeng clearly had no intention of explaining. She just quickly moved closer to Gao Neng again, a mysterious look on her face.

"Bro, I have a huge secret to tell you!"

"What secret?"

"It’s about the Source of Evolution and the Seed of Resurrection!"

"Hmm?!" Gao Neng’s eyes widened.

"But before that, I have to ask you a question. If a heaven-sent opportunity was placed right in front of you, would you take it?"

"That would depend on what kind of opportunity it is." Gao Neng’s lips curled into a smile.

"The chance to take control of a race!" Gao Xiaomeng licked her lips, a faint silver light flashing in her deep blue eyes.

"Are you talking about controlling a race? Or exterminating a race?" Hearing this, Gao Neng’s heart trembled again.

"Controlling a race, of course," Gao Xiaomeng said with certainty.

"What race?" Gao Neng asked again.

"What race do you want?" Gao Xiaomeng asked in return.

"Can it be any race I want?" Gao Neng’s gaze was fixed on Gao Xiaomeng’s eyes. The question was simply too enticing.

"Mm, in principle, yes."

"Then what if I say I want to control the Blood Race?"

"The Blood Race? That’s not possible for now..." Gao Xiaomeng paused for a moment, then immediately shook her head.

"Heh, and you said it could be any race?" Gao Neng chuckled. In truth, he knew himself that trying to control the Blood Race was impossible.

After all, the Blood Race was one of the three major races on the Northern District Battlefield. They had a Strongest, and normally, they had at least two of them.

"Alright, I’ll amend my statement slightly. Any race without a Strongest will do!" Gao Xiaomeng unconsciously puffed out her cheeks.

"Can I only control one?"

"Mm, for now, you can only control one."

"Tell me, how do I control it?" Gao Neng finally stopped joking around. The temptation Gao Xiaomeng presented was too great for him to treat lightly.

’Control an entire race!’

’My God!’

’Does such a good thing really exist?!’