Chapter 255 - 236: Elixir Zero
Chapter 255 - 236: Elixir Zero
Benevolent gentlemen?
These were nothing more than human guinea pigs!
The crowd exchanged puzzled looks; the director, this Martial Barbarian, was also beating around the bush when speaking.
The deputy director said, "Isn’t it a bit hasty to proceed with human experiments so quickly?"
"The situation is out of our hands!"
The director shook his head, "You should be the clearest, ghostly entities causing harm is on the rise, and they are getting tougher to deal with. The Imperial Court must have sufficient strength to confront them."
Like demonic cultivators, malevolent spirits and fierce ghosts didn’t care about their muddled consciousness and could grow quickly by devouring vitality and flesh.
The orthodox path of martial arts and cultivation couldn’t compare at all, and the Imperial Court also didn’t trust the powerful and free cultivators and martial artists. The only thing they could truly control and trust was technology.
Someone suggested, "This matter can be discussed with the Patrol and Arrest Department, there is no shortage of death row inmates in the prisons."
"They are already not enough!"
The director said, "We already have some research results, the new Cultivation Techniques are more suitable for martial artists, or to say, the stronger the body, the higher the success rate of the experiments."
The crowd’s eyes flickered upon hearing this, not trusting the so-called success rate; the difference between one in a thousand and one in ten thousand wasn’t much.
The deputy director said, "How come I have never heard of this experiment?"
"I also only found out about it recently."
The director said, "In recent three years, the authority of the Investigation Bureau has expanded rapidly, claiming to be the first under the cabinet. While enjoying power, one must perform their duties, otherwise..."
Whoever was unwilling to assist in the experiments would have their past dug up!
The crowd was immediately at a loss, nodded reluctantly with bitter faces, and began to ponder where to "invite" martial artists from.
The Imperial Court only needed test subjects; it didn’t specify who it had to be. There were many fervent martial practitioners in the world. Anything that could enhance their power, even if there was only a one-in-ten chance of survival, they were willing to take the risk.
"Don’t be so pessimistic, how could the Imperial Court harm its own people!"
The director said, "I have a mediocre talent, practicing day and night for thirty years, and relying on the Imperial Court’s support, I barely managed to form my Qi-Blood Foundation. Compared to those geniuses, they effortlessly surpassed me in just three to five years."
"Therefore, I have already submitted an application to take the new Elixir!"
"Moreover, members of the Royal Family will also participate in the experiments. Aren’t their lives precious?"
As the sound of his voice faded, the atmosphere of the meeting room suddenly relaxed, as if the life-threatening experiment they thought was dangerous now seemed to have yielded real results.
The deputy director questioned, "How did the cabinet allow the Royal Family to join?"
"Because the laboratory’s achievements are a fusion of ancient Cultivation Technique fragments and the Royal Family’s secret techniques, so the Royal Family has the right to share the research results."
The director said, "The new Cultivation Technique is different from cultivation but also originates from ancient methods, hence the rapid progress within a short period of time. Quite a number of people have survived the experiments."
Someone immediately asked, "How strong will they be after a successful experiment?"
The director was silent for a moment before speaking slowly.
"Body strength can be compared to someone who has solidified their Qi-Blood Foundation, and they will have special explosive secret techniques. In a life-and-death struggle, I am no match for them!"
...
Experimental Lab Zero.
A distinguished guest visited today, Emperor Mingxiang of the great Zhou, in name.
Emperor Mingxiang, Zhu Jin.
Although the Zhou Imperial Clan has no real power, it has substantial prestige among the people and controls a massive wealth conglomerate. Professor Hong, the person in charge of the lab, personally led the tour.
Zhu Jin was tall and handsome; even if he were not an emperor, he could still make a living off his good looks alone.
The Royal Family’s genes had been optimized generation by generation, and few were born ugly. Moreover, due to their environment and upbringing, they naturally exuded nobility.
"Professor Hong, you have worked hard!"
"Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern."
Professor Hong bowed deeply; since the abolition of the kneeling ceremony, bowing had become the highest etiquette.
Zhu Jin stated, "Aside from the tour, I have another matter. The Royal Conglomerate will donate another twenty billion to the lab to help accelerate your research progress, Professor Hong."
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
Professor Hong bowed again in gratitude; it was common for labs to receive commercial donations in great Zhou.
Zhu Jin nodded slightly; the Royal Family’s donations were not limited to Experimental Lab Zero. They had even spent a vast amount of money to establish the Royal Research Institute, aiming to keep up with the new era.
The Imperial Clan had plenty of money, but after the resurgence of Spiritual Energy, without powerful strength, they would be other people’s prey.
Conversely, with power, they could even reclaim some imperial authority!
After the routine pleasantries, they got down to business. All the visitors underwent a dozen layers of identity verification, including Emperor Mingxiang Zhu Jin.
This included various technological methods, such as a verification conducted by the cultivators trained by the Imperial Court using the Question Heart Technique.
As ghostly entities and demonic cultivators had appeared, even genetic testing was not accurate, as one could use soul possession or Soul Search.
An hour later.
Professor Hong led the way at the front. Aside from the lab members, only three members of the Royal Family were qualified to be on the tour.
The doors to the core area hadn’t opened yet, but from inside came the roars of beasts, fierce and brutal energy that went straight into the ears, as if ancient behemoths were imprisoned within.
The doors opened.
What came into view was a row of glass houses, each containing bizarre and monstrously shaped beasts.
Monkeys with two heads, gorillas with three arms, bulls with tiger heads, fish that had grown wings, mice as fierce as tigers and wolves, and even monsters with three heads and six arms.
Walking and stopping along the way, Professor Hong detailed each experimental subject, explaining their mutation directions and processes.
These explanations included scientific terms but also drew upon classical Buddhist and Taoist texts, legends and anomalous records to argue for the correctness or fallacy of the transformations.
"... Subject 953, originally a domestic pig, sprouted bird claws after injection and produces a call like that of a dog."
Professor Hong’s eyes shone as if admiring a piece of art: "The legendary ancient mythical beast, the Tanuki Power, bears three parts resemblance to this subject!"