539: Chapter 183: Encirclement 539: Chapter 183: Encirclement In the 1940s and 1950s of the 21st century, Xiang Shan did serve as an independent consultant for the National Commission on Science and Technology Ethics—not only because he was a billionaire and entrepreneur, but also because he truly was a first-class scholar in the field of engineering.

Xiang Shan did not oppose “using intelligent creatures as experimental subjects.” In the end, all clinical trials fall within the realm of human experimentation.

If experimentation on intelligent creatures were to be banned, many fields would be unable to progress.

But precisely because of this, those conducting the experiments must adhere to the rules.

Because this could indeed cause tremendous harm to people.

Gene therapy was a medical technology that could have been put to practical use by the end of the 20th century.

However, it was because the researchers at the time were caught up in a fervor and assessed the risks of the project very irrationally, and also failed to adhere to the principle of “informed consent,” that the patient “Jesse Gelsinger,” who underwent a clinical trial for gene therapy in 1999, died.

The incident had a profound impact on the academic world, leading to a halt in a large number of related studies, which remained stagnant for a long time thereafter.

During this period, there were several academic scandals related to embryos and gene editing.

And the research was able to resume in the 1940s, largely because of…

Yawgmoth.

When Yawgmoth conducted the clinical trial for that gene modification surgery, the first subject was himself.

This act of self-sacrifice earned him reputation among certain groups.

And after that, the vast majority of people believed, the technology was harmless.

Because the developer had himself been the first to try it.

But back then, many scholars felt Yawgmoth was too radical.

Under normal circumstances, related experiments must adhere to two iron rules.

First is “informed consent.” That is, researchers must inform volunteers of all possible negative situations, make them aware of the worst consequences, and then, on this basis, obtain their consent.

The second is “not to lure with great benefits.” If such actions were allowed, there could likely arise situations where poor people gamble with their lives for money.

In many ethically non-compliant projects, researchers have failed on the first point.

The informed consent form they provide may tuck away “potential harm” inconspicuously, gloss over it with rhetoric, or even omit it entirely.

As for the second point, there are quite a few loopholes to exploit.

Xiang Shan thought it was very excessive to go after criminals who could be sentenced to death, “under circumstances where external conditions are exceptionally harsh.”

But the Six Dragons Sect set their baseline even lower.

They actually planned to use some technical means to enhance the “obedience” of the experimental subjects.

Xiang Shan did indeed want to get back into his old line of work.

Unfortunately, the Vice Captain didn’t know much more.

He only knew there was such a project, and the Holy Maiden was probably here this time for this very thing.

As for whether it really was the case, he wasn’t even sure.

Xiang Shan held his head, “The Hermit of Heavenly Machine uses the power of Green Forest to eliminate nearby chivalrous forces to avoid disruption…

That’s what the envoy thought, too.

Did this happen recently?

Could the Holy Maiden of the Six Dragons Sect be nearby?”

Xiang Shan tapped his head.

Just then, he heard some unusual sounds.

Xiang Shan gradually shut down the machines in the room and listened intently.

He detected the sounds of objects slowly approaching outside the door and windows.

The density of nearby drones was also rising…

Xiang Shan looked out the window and adjusted his Prosthetic Eye.

Although those vehicles below pretended to be just passing by, Xiang Shan could tell that the people below were actually setting up a fire support position.

“Oops, that was quick.” Xiang Shan shook his head, “Let’s see…

approaching me is a small squad, about six or seven people; are they Elite Martial Artists?

And then there are those blocking the door…

Haven’t they already set up defensive works in the stairwell?”

“The main force is just this squad?

And the rest are mainly to obstruct my escape…”

“This doesn’t fit the government’s usual style.

Is this squad from the Six Dragons Sect?”

Xiang Shan felt an unusual vibration under his feet.

It was the sound of an explosion…

probably two knight apprentices who he had controlled had made their sacrifice.

…………………………………

Inside the monitoring room, White Hermit was watching the images transmitted from the wired surveillance system.

This was a closed-circuit system, impervious to hacking, and the cameras auto-filtered visible light, retaining only a very narrow band of information from the visible spectrum.

This largely ensured they would not be affected by Inner Strength attacks.

The surveillance inside Mr.

Isin’s office had been diverted by Mr.

Isin’s own authority, and Bai Changkong could not see what was happening inside.

He could only stare at the sealed door.

If it were not for the fact that the faces of the Scientific Knights were forged of steel, his expression would likely be very distorted right now.

As soon as Guardian Zhi reported that the terrifying enemy had infiltrated the central building of Secluded Crane City, he made a decisive decision.

A protector from the Six Dragons Sect approached slowly, ringing the doorbell: “Mr.

Isin?”

Harald Hermit realized it was too late to save the situation.

The assassination of the Vice Captain of the Secluded Crane Knight Order couldn’t be concealed any longer.

Under these circumstances, the most advantageous outcome for the Six Dragons Sect was “to kill the assassin on the spot.” This way, the situation could remain within controllable limits.

The higher-ups would probably only conduct a limited investigation into the Secluded Crane Knight Order.

If the investigative team came from Mars, then the Secluded Crane Knight Order wouldn’t suffer a major blow.

But if King Aqini dispatched an investigative team from the Moon, the matter would be of a different nature entirely.

For this reason, White Hermit quickly contacted the Protector’s armed forces and arranged for troops to be deployed around the area.

The natural enemies of External Strength are “numbers” and “Dense Formation.” Without having crossed the First Layer Heavenly Land, being strong in both internal and external abilities, even the most formidable Martial Artist can be overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

And now, they were attempting to rescue Mr.

Isin.

That terrifying Internal Strength Master, it seemed, had directly taken control of Mr.

Isin’s Prosthetic Body.

This was one of the limitations of Inner Strength attacks.

Except for irreversible damage aside, bypassing the Biological Brain to control the Prosthetic Body required continual struggle against the original owner’s Biological Brain.

Mr.

Isin’s Biological Brain had a built-in alarm system.

Given that the alarm had not yet been triggered, they naturally couldn’t disregard his life.

The protector from the Six Dragons Sect, approaching the door, held a large gun—if this had been in the era of Natural Persons, the weapon could be considered a small-caliber cannon.

It could penetrate the door.

As long as the person inside opened the door or made a sound, letting the protector confirm their position…

At that moment, several different voices suddenly came from inside: “From the Six Dragons Sect?”