Chapter 83
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
Chapter 83: The Expert in Reporting
From Fulan’s report, Lin Qingliu distilled the most significant details.
Fulan had spent an entire day visiting three nutritional paste processing factories.
One of these factories utilized cockroaches and other insects derived from household waste as raw materials, while the other two processed extraordinary beasts.
Among these two, one was a newly established facility, and the other had been in operation for five years.
Upon hearing this, Lin Qingliu’s brow furrowed slightly.
Five years—this implied that humans had been consuming extraordinary beasts for over half a decade. Yet, why could Fulan only detect the presence of extraordinary beasts that had entered Hope City around the same time she did?
Lin Qingliu was deeply perplexed.
According to Fulan’s account, the production line for the nutritional paste involved chopping, mixing, and basic hot and cold processing of the nutrient components.
Such methods were entirely inadequate to deactivate the mycelium within the extraordinary beasts.
Yet, there had never been any recorded instances of mycelium invading human bodies before.
Could it be that humans possess a natural resistance to mycelium?
No, that couldn’t be the case.
This contradicted the established knowledge.
Even in one’s own blood, specific measures were required to deactivate the mycelium; an ordinary human would not be able to resist such an invasion.
After consuming that nutritional paste, humans might enter a phase akin to an incubation period.
So where did the problem lie?
What had made the previous extraordinary beast nutritional paste safe for consumption?
What had prevented Fulan, a being derived from extraordinary beasts, from overrunning all of Hope City?
Lin Qingliu was absolutely certain that something unknown had transpired in Hope City during this period.
Hope City must have lost some form of protection, leading to the current predicament.
Reflecting on this, Lin Qingliu felt that this ominous warning could no longer be ignored; he had to act immediately—
Report!
Of course, he would report it. Would he really confront an unknown crisis head-on?
Lin Qingliu had already resolved not to take any unnecessary risks until he had at least one method to reach the Fifth Level.
However, reporting was also a matter that required expertise.
Professional matters should be entrusted to professionals.
If he were to discuss this with El, the latter would likely just scratch his head and ask what mycelium was.
Zhuang Mian might only consider arresting some suspicious individuals initially.
So who was the expert in this case?
Ji Yongxing.
Lin Qingliu hadn’t forgotten his identity; he was the prized asset of the research institutes, welcomed in any department he chose to join.
Moreover, in such a bizarre world, those who adhere to science must be even more resolute.
The hypocritical advocates of science had abandoned their beliefs the moment the first superpowered individual emerged.
After her shower, Fulan received a new directive. She transformed once more into a briefcase, this time containing three tubes of nutritional paste and a report letter.
Lin Qingliu, carrying a briefcase, made his way toward the inner city.
Simultaneously activating both his Dream Illusion and Dimensional Shift abilities, Lin Qingliu effortlessly conjured an illusion of possessing an inner city identification card.
While the guards at the entrance were still rubbing their eyes, he slipped through the security checkpoint and entered the inner city.
He proceeded toward Fourth Commercial Street and utilized a secret passage he had previously sabotaged to infiltrate the underground level of the Department of Life Technology.
At this point, the underground laboratory had been entirely sealed off; all equipment and experimental records had been confiscated and secured by the relevant authorities.
However, the seemingly stringent security measures were no obstacle for Lin Qingliu. Harnessing the power of Dimensional Shift, he traversed as if gliding through the void, arriving at the dormitory area.
The security personnel here had a vivid memory of Ji Yongxing. With a subtle nudge in their dreams, Lin Qingliu guided them to Ji Yongxing’s dormitory door.
Respecting others’ privacy, Lin Qingliu placed the Fulan-branded briefcase on the young researcher’s desk before departing.
Based on his deductions, potential issues might arise in the outer city, prompting Lin Qingliu to return and monitor the situation closely.
—
In the laboratory of the research institutes, a strand of mycelium was being meticulously extracted from a mass of flesh.
This mycelium had fully integrated with the nerve fibers of an Avian Creature. Without Lin Qingliu’s spatial abilities, the researchers had no choice but to rely on traditional methods to painstakingly separate it.
At this critical moment, the steadiest-handed researcher was tasked with this delicate operation, while over a hundred fellow researchers, including Ji Yongxing, observed intently.
It was no surprise that everyone had abandoned their posts; this discovery was nothing short of extraordinary.
Previously, the researchers had dissected Third Level extraordinary beasts, but those specimens had always arrived at the research institute as lifeless corpses.
This marked the first instance of a live extraordinary beast being brought to the research institute.
While everyone anticipated groundbreaking findings, no one expected progress to come so swiftly.
A researcher from the Department of Life Technology, assigned to a sample from the extraordinary beast’s abdomen, discovered white, thread-like structures resembling parasites within the writhing flesh. He carefully extracted them, becoming the first to identify this mysterious substance.
Among the onlookers, Ji Yongxing had already activated his abilities, scrutinizing the thread-like material as closely as possible.
Observing this was far less taxing than observing Zhao Kai in his monstrous form.
The flesh blob that the old professor had transformed into would leave Ji Yongxing dizzy with just a glance.
In contrast, this new substance only induced a mild sense of dizziness.
Through his explorations, Ji Yongxing had gained a clearer understanding of his abilities. The more he comprehended the object of his observation, the less mental energy it consumed.
His current reaction suggested that while he had never encountered this substance before, it could at least be explained through existing theories.
As everyone held their breath in anticipation, the mycelium was finally successfully extracted.
The researchers prioritized safety; even such a precise procedure was conducted within the confines of an experimental chamber, ensuring no direct contact with the substance.
Amidst the jubilant cheers, a series of pre-prepared basic experiments commenced, subjecting the unfortunate mycelium to rigorous testing.
At midnight, Ji Yongxing returned to his dormitory, his heart brimming with excitement.
This new discovery had ignited the researchers’ fervor, making them oblivious to the passage of time.
It wasn’t until Deputy Director Zhou Zhuo personally intervened, urging them to rest, that the group reluctantly dispersed.
Nevertheless, their excitement was palpable, and they continued to discuss the findings on their way home.
After Ji Yongxing finally concluded his conversations, he entered his room alone and noticed a briefcase that had mysteriously appeared on his desk.
His footsteps faltered for a moment, and a familiar face flashed through his mind.
