Watching Gou Tuizhi, who seemed possessed, Han Lang's mind flashed with an idea, as if he had discovered something.
But when he tried to think it through, he couldn't grasp the fleeting inspiration.
So, he could only ask symbolically.
"Gou Tuizhi! Are you saying that your sudden, significant progress in strength is due to cultivating a technique? Can such a low-level technique as the one you practice yield such remarkable results?"
Han Lang's words immediately enlightened everyone.
Indeed.
They had been puzzled before.
Gou Tuizhi was originally just a modified SSS-class ability user.
Logically, his strength should have remained at that level for his entire life.
However, not only had he grown, but in just a few months, he had leaped from being an SSS-class ability user with roughly Golden Core stage strength to one who could resist someone like Dan Nan, who was around the middle Nascent Soul stage!
If the key to Gou Tuizhi's strength increase indeed came from cultivating a technique.
Then, if a mere Profound tier technique could bring him such great progress, wouldn't higher-tier techniques lead to even greater advancements?
This was almost unbelievable.
As everyone looked at Gou Tuizhi with curiosity, Gou Tuizhi started laughing heartily to himself.
"It seems you've all noticed some issues!"
"That's right! The breakthrough in my strength is indeed from cultivation. This is the latest research finding by the Doctor! And I don't mind telling you, starting today, ability user modifications will no longer be solely focused on foreigners."
"The Doctor will find every way possible to acquire more powerful cultivators from China's cultivation world. Then, the modified individuals will be ability users exceeding X-class!"
"At that time, you people will be nothing but ants before the ability user army! Beings to be crushed!"
"Hahaha..."
Gou Tuizhi's words sent chills down Han Lang and the others' spines.
If what he said was true, wouldn't that mean that in the future, when ability users modified cultivators, their strength could easily reach the Nascent Soul stage?
And this didn't even account for the strength of the modified cultivators themselves.
For example, would there be a difference in the strength of modified cultivators who were originally at the Qi Refining stage versus those at the Foundation Establishment stage?
If cultivators with higher cultivation bases became stronger after modification, wouldn't that pose an even greater threat to the Special Task Force?
After all, China's cultivation world had the largest number of cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage!
Someone like Gou Tuizhi, who had only cultivated for a few months, was at most just a beginner!
Compared to those Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, the strength difference was already too vast.
What if they also found a way to defect some cultivators from China? Even just a dozen or twenty would be enough to overwhelm the Special Task Force!
Thinking of this, Han Lang and the others couldn't help but show worry on their faces.
"What should we do? Deputy Officer Dan. This problem is too serious."
"Yes, Deputy Officer Dan. With the strength of ability users, defecting a few Foundation Establishment stage cultivators from China, I believe it would be a sure thing. Moreover, if they defect cultivators at the Golden Core stage or above, the modified ability users could reach the Soul Transformation stage. How could we possibly fight back then!"
Dan Nan also wore a troubled expression.
Upon hearing the questions from Han Lang and the others, he was at a loss for words for a moment.
After a moment of thought, he could only reply.
"No matter what, this must be reported to the Commander. Only by having the Commander report it to the nation might we have a solution."
"However, we don't need to worry too much for now. After all, China has a much stronger foundation in cultivation. Even if the ability users produce a few ability users comparable to the Soul Transformation stage, we are not entirely without ways to cope, it's just a bit tricky!"
Hearing Dan Nan's words, everyone suddenly seemed to recall something.
Indeed.
Behind them, there was a powerful motherland.
At the very least, China's super-artifact, the bright red flag, should be capable of dealing with ability users at the Soul Transformation stage.
But the problem was, there was only one flag.
If the situation continued to develop like this, China would surely be overwhelmed!
"I think our current mission might need to change. While the technology for ability users to modify cultivators is not yet mature, we must find a way to nip it in the bud!"
Han Lang's words enlightened Dan Nan.
"Are you suggesting that we must kill Dr. Sim, who is the first to know about this technology, to prevent the spread of this technology?"
Han Lang nodded solemnly.
"This is, after all, the border of the White Elephant Country. And among the entire ability user army, apart from Gou Tuizhi who possesses the Chinese physique that Chinese people can cultivate, they should temporarily not have many more subjects to support the research. Only by completely eliminating Dr. Sim at this time can we delay the ability users' mastery of cultivator modification technology!"
Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.
"Han Lang is right! For the sake of our compatriots and the safety of our comrades in the Special Task Force, our mission in the White Elephant Country this time must no longer be limited to preventing them from opening a new battlefield!"
Liu Xiaoxiao also chimed in.
Dan Nan's brows furrowed into a knot upon hearing their words.
Although Dr. Sim was not an ability user, he would certainly have a considerable number of ability users protecting him.
If the plan were to change at the last minute, the risk for everyone would naturally be greater.
"If the strongest individuals at Dr. Sim's base are still only those two X-class ability users, then doing this is fine."
"But if, within these few months, they have brought in new ability users, then killing Dr. Sim would be extremely difficult!"
"Most importantly, we currently have no information about Dr. Sim's situation!"
Seeing Dan Nan hesitate, Ma Long, who was standing nearby, couldn't stand it anymore.
"Oh, if you ask me, stop hesitating. When the sky falls, the tallest person will bear it! Let's take care of Gou Tuizhi first!"
Tang Geng and Zhao Wu immediately seconded Ma Long's suggestion.
"That's right! After dealing with Gou Tuizhi, we'll immediately head to Dr. Sim's base. No matter what, we have to take a gamble!"
"I also agree with this plan. A slip of the tongue is just a small scar! No matter what, we still have to try!"
Seeing the young soldiers around him speaking with such conviction, Dan Nan finally made up his mind.
"Alright! Then, as you say! Let's take care of Gou Tuizhi first!"
With that, everyone immediately assumed their stances, preparing for a fierce battle with Gou Tuizhi!