268: Chapter 268 is just as everyone guessed.

Hearing Chen Jingshan mention the three words "old place," Lin Yuan was slightly taken aback at first, then chuckled and nodded gently.

He naturally knew where the "old place" Dean Chen was referring to was.

Looking across the entire Xia Academy of Sciences, or even the entire Xia Nation, there was only one building that deserved this title.

Research Building No. 7.

That was the place where all miracles began.

It was also the starting point where he used one "lie" after another to forcibly smash open the iron curtain of technological blockade against the Xia Nation.

From the Photolithography Machine to Fifth-generation Communication, that building witnessed how he turned earth-shattering lies that shocked the world into indestructible truths.

"Hmm, Research Building No. 7 is indeed quite suitable."

Lin Yuan agreed in a relaxed tone.

Chen Jingshan was walking in front; hearing this, he turned his head back with a smile full of emotion.

"Indeed, after all, that building has undergone major renovations. Its current security level and hardware plasticity are already the highest in the entire academy."

"Putting it there gives me the most peace of mind."

The two chatted as they walked, the atmosphere extremely harmonious.

Before long, Chen Jingshan escorted Lin Yuan deep into a quiet area of the Xia Academy of Sciences.

This was a separate apartment building for experts.

Chen Jingshan stopped in front of a dormitory room with an excellent view and reached out to push open the door.

The room inside was spacious and bright; all daily necessities were neatly arranged, and even the air carried a faint, fresh scent of grass and trees.

"This place has been empty ever since you left last time."

Chen Jingshan stood at the doorway, pointing into the clean and tidy room.

"The academy has arranged the most professional personnel to clean and ventilate it regularly every day, keeping it ready for your return at any time; you can move in directly."

Lin Yuan scanned the room and nodded with satisfaction.

Chen Jingshan looked at Lin Yuan and said earnestly:

"You just finished the major project at the south heaven gate and rushed over here; you must be exhausted."

"Don't think about anything else for now, just get some good rest first."

"Your health is now the most precious asset of our entire Xia Nation; not even the slightest mishap can happen."

After saying this, Chen Jingshan took half a step back and said in a decisive manner:

"I'll go finalize the personnel list right now and get the team structure set up."

"See you tomorrow morning at Research Building No. 7."

Lin Yuan smiled and nodded in thanks:

"Thank you for your trouble, Dean Chen."

The two said a brief goodbye.

Chen Jingshan turned and walked away with large strides, his back disappearing at the end of the corridor.

The hurried footsteps revealed a fanaticism, an impatience to witness new history.

...

The next morning.

Dawn had just broken, and the cold wind was still biting.

But inside Research Building No. 7 of the Xia Academy of Sciences, it was already a completely different scene.

The originally spacious lobby on the first floor had been precisely partitioned by high-transparency anti-static glass into several highly professional cleanroom experimental areas.

The air was filled with the smell of disinfectant and the metallic scent unique to new equipment.

Gene sequencers and cell culture chambers, representing the current highest level on Blue Star, stood quietly.

By this time, dozens of figures had already gathered here.

These people were all the top and most authoritative experts and scholars in the Life Sciences field of the Xia Nation.

They gathered in twos and threes, talking in low voices, their expressions a mix of extreme excitement and unbelievable nervousness.

As time ticked by, the atmosphere in the lobby became increasingly intense.

Everyone's breathing became heavy involuntarily, and several old professors were so nervous they kept wiping their reading glasses.

7:55 AM.

"Clack—clack—clack—"

Two clear and steady sets of footsteps came from the entrance of the lobby.

The buzzing discussions in the lobby ceased abruptly at this instant.

Dozens of top experts turned their heads in unison, their gazes, as if tangible, locking firmly onto the direction of the door.

The automatic sensor doors slid open to both sides.

Chen Jingshan and Lin Yuan walked into the lobby side by side.

In an instant, after the experts' gazes lingered on the two for a moment, they uncontrollably shifted downward.

Finally, they locked firmly onto the slightly worn black canvas backpack on Lin Yuan's left shoulder.

Gulp.

In the quiet lobby, someone, it was unclear who, swallowed a mouthful of saliva very clearly.

That backpack!

In the highest scientific research circles of the Xia Nation, this black canvas backpack had long since become a symbol with mythical status.

Every time this backpack was opened, it contained truths capable of overturning the technological tree of Blue Star!

Everyone stared at that backpack, breathing rapidly, the light in their eyes burning intensely, wishing they could see through that layer of canvas with their gaze.

Afterward, everyone came back to their senses, stood straight, and spoke to the two in unison.

"Hello, Dean Chen!"

"Hello, Academician Lin!"

The voices were uniform, filled with irrepressible reverence and anticipation.

Chen Jingshan smiled and nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Lin Yuan, also relaxed in posture, scanned the entire room with a peaceful gaze and nodded gently in response.

The two walked into the lobby and stopped.

Chen Jingshan scanned the room quickly and sharply, his gaze lingering briefly on every familiar face.

"Is everyone here?"

Luo Yang, who was in charge of attendance, stepped forward and reported in a low voice:

"Dean, all twenty-five core experts on the list are here; no one is absent."

Chen Jingshan nodded, expressing satisfaction.

Then, he turned slightly to the side, yielding the main position, and gestured for Lin Yuan, who was beside him, to take the lead.

Lin Yuan understood immediately.

He naturally stepped forward and stood still.

Lin Yuan first smiled and spoke politely.

"Good morning, everyone."

"It's really hard on you all to be dragged out so early in this cold weather, especially with the New Year right around the corner."

"I would like to express my warm welcome to everyone for coming."

His tone was calm, conveying a sense of ease that put people at rest.

Several old experts waved their hands repeatedly, saying it wasn't hard work, but their eyes didn't shift away from Lin Yuan for even a second.

Lin Yuan took in everyone's expressions at a glance.

He didn't engage in any more small talk and slowly scanned everyone present.

"Why you were all urgently gathered here this morning."

"Looking at the newly replaced equipment around us, I think you all must have already had many guesses in your minds."

Lin Yuan's gaze swept over the faces of the top biology titans in the crowd, his speaking pace steady and unhurried.

"Especially..."

"Given that everyone should have already seen the update I posted yesterday."

As soon as these words were spoken.

The atmosphere in the entire lobby was tightened to the extreme.

Everyone held their breath, staring at Lin Yuan without blinking.

Looking at everyone's expressions, which were tightened to the extreme, Lin Yuan didn't beat around the bush anymore.

He lifted his chin slightly, the smile on his face deepening, carrying an air of subverting common sense as if it were only natural.

His voice was unhurried, enunciating each word clearly.

"That's right."

"Just as everyone guessed, one of the goals this time... is exactly the Super Soldier Serum."