Chapter 614: Collecting Strains, Mycelium, and Research Manuscripts

[The current area is a restricted zone. Detected Player ID ‘Yu Yuan Shelter’ possesses Admin Privileges. Free entry granted.]

As the door swung open and the defense systems retracted, Yu Yuan stepped into the [Microbial Modification Laboratory].

Unlike the [Cross-Dimensional Gene Fusion Laboratory] and the [Legendary Creature Living Organ Bank] he had visited before, the [Microbial Modification Laboratory] felt far more like a building brimming with technological sophistication.

It was a five-story structure, with each floor designated for a specific function.

Yu Yuan released Bookworm from the Loser’s Cube.

“Kid, what do you want now?! I was in the middle of sleeping!”

A bottle of liquor had already appeared in Yu Yuan’s hand. It was a drink that had spawned from the [Myriad Blessings Bathhouse], with a truly unique flavor.

It was called [Whisper of the Breeze]. When the drink entered the mouth, it released a faint, refreshing scent of morning earth and dew. Moreover, drinking it could restore one’s energy.

It was considered a pretty decent beverage.

As the lid was popped open, the aromatic scent of the liquor drifted out, and Bookworm’s gaze instantly locked onto it.

“Bookworm, we’re in the [Microbial Modification Laboratory]. Give me a rundown of what this place is about, and this bottle of booze is yours!”

Upon hearing this, Bookworm happily agreed.

“[Microbial Modification Laboratory]... How did you even get here? Well, since you’re asking, I suppose there’s no harm in telling you!”

With that, Bookworm began to describe the [Microbial Modification Laboratory] in detail.

Yu Yuan managed to get a clear picture of the situation.

The laboratory was divided into five floors: the Research and Modification Floor, the Strain Preservation Floor, the Screening and Evolution Floor, the Fermentation Array Floor, and the Dome Observation Floor.

If one were to ask which areas were the most valuable, it would be the Strain Preservation Floor, the Screening and Evolution Floor, and the Dome Observation Floor. One housed mature microbial products, another was the most likely place to find extended experimental subjects related to microbes, and the final floor, the Dome Observation Floor, stored all the data and records for the entire laboratory.

“So, kid, those are the three places most likely to have what you’re looking for.”

After Bookworm had roughly explained the situation, Yu Yuan kept his end of the bargain.

“Alright then. How do you want to drink it?”

“Hehe, how else? Just toss me into the liquor so I can swim in it!”

Yu Yuan: ....

He stared at Bookworm in disbelief.

“Are you serious?”

“Hurry up, hurry up!”

Urged on by Bookworm, Yu Yuan grabbed the creature and threw it straight into the bottle.

To his surprise, Bookworm started swimming around in the liquid.

“This stuff tastes terrible, but whatever, I’ll make do!”

Ignoring Bookworm’s complaints, and because the Rabbit Ring could only store non-living objects, Yu Yuan could only carry the bottle by hand as he walked deeper into the laboratory.

He passed through a corridor lined with mycelium in various colors before arriving at the Research and Modification Laboratory on the first floor.

This was a massive, semi-circular space. In the center of the area was a huge ‘T’-shaped operating table, its surface covered in a living biofilm.

Yu Yuan spotted something familiar—recording crystals.

These were good stuff!

Fully aware of their value, Yu Yuan immediately walked over to collect them. However, he noticed a few pale golden sheets of paper scattered on the experimental table, covered in writing.

[Ding! Discovered high-value resource: ‘Researcher’s Manuscript-29’]

[Ding! Discovered high-value resource: ‘Researcher’s Manuscript-30’]

[Ding! Discovered high-value resource: ‘Billion-Liquid Slime Mold Synthesis Blueprint’]

Yu Yuan released Jiu Feng from the Loser’s Cube.

“Jiu Feng, take a look at these manuscripts. What do they say?”

Jiu Feng took the manuscripts and looked them over. At first, he was slightly stunned, his brow furrowed in concentration. But soon, a look of delighted surprise flashed in his eyes, as if he had discovered something extraordinary. He couldn’t bear to tear his gaze away from the papers for even half a second.

He then looked at the other two sheets of paper, the joy in his eyes growing more and more apparent.

It was only after Jiu Feng had skimmed through all the manuscripts that he finally spoke.

“Leader, these manuscripts are incredibly useful to me. Although the content here is far too fragmented, some of the ideas and concepts can be fully applied to the development of the Promiz Virus.”

“If I can find more of these manuscripts, even if we don’t find an item that can elevate you to the Silver-tier here, I’m confident that I can use the Promiz Virus to brew a Silver-tier gene agent.”

Hearing Jiu Feng’s words, Yu Yuan was a bit surprised. He hadn’t expected Jiu Feng to hold these manuscripts in such high regard.

But then, an old, raspy voice came from behind him.

“I was wondering who was spouting such big talk. It turns out it’s someone who has inherited a legacy, and even has the master’s former gift.”

It was Bookworm, who was now getting thoroughly drunk in the bottle behind Yu Yuan.

Jiu Feng looked at the worm, a flicker of astonishment in his eyes.

Yu Yuan’s own eyes showed a flash of contemplation.

“A gift? Bookworm, elaborate on that.”

Bookworm rolled over comfortably in the bottle and began swimming on its back.

“It’s a gift, plain and simple. I can sense the aura of the master’s gift on him. I’d say he must have a special talent in biological gene research, or else he wouldn’t have attracted the master’s gift.”

“So, he’s the inheritor chosen by Mortarian’s gift?”

“You could say that! What a lucky bastard! You absolutely must take him to the ‘Place of Divine Rest.’ I recall the master left something there that will be useful to him!”

Yu Yuan and Jiu Feng exchanged a glance.

Jiu Feng had previously felt that something was calling out to him from the ‘Place of Divine Rest.’

It seemed that what Bookworm was referring to was most likely that very thing. It was probably the coordinates of Mortarian’s final stronghold, hidden within the Spiritual Dimension.

Yu Yuan put Jiu Feng back into the Loser’s Cube and proceeded to haul away the remaining supplies on this floor, including the movable experimental equipment, all of which he stowed away in the motor lodge. He also found a few more Researcher’s Manuscripts, which he pocketed.

Only then did he head to the second floor, the [Strain Preservation Floor].

This floor was divided into the Preservation Hall and the Special Preservation Zone.

The Preservation Hall contained several thousand culture units, each one a transparent, cylindrical container, about 20 centimeters in diameter and 50 centimeters in height.

The Special Preservation Zone was divided into Rare Strains, Dangerous Strains, Forbidden Strains, and Special Strains. The colors for each preservation zone were blue, red, purple, and gold, respectively.

However, most of the strain preservation zones were empty, much like the Legendary Creature Organ Bank he had visited earlier. Only a few individual strains remained.

These leftover strains floated in the nutrient solution, emitting various colors.

Yu Yuan first inspected the remaining strains in the Preservation Hall.

There was a mycelium that resembled tobacco, which had the effect of refreshing the mind, strengthening the spirit, and eliminating fatigue.

However, its potency, duration of effect, and flavor were far superior to any ordinary cigarette.

In his view, this mycelium could essentially be treated as a special fortification item. Especially considering the possibility of a prolonged war in the future, having these mycelia would multiply the combat effectiveness and endurance of his troops several times over.

Without delay, he used the special containment cases in the preservation zone to package and secure the strains.

The remaining strains also possessed special effects.

For instance, there were spores that could thrive in high-temperature environments.

Another example was an iron-eating bacterium that could consume metal ore and finally condense it into pure metal.

And there were also mycelia that could devour nuclear radiation and purify the environment.

Yu Yuan didn’t let a single one slip away; he collected them all.

After finishing with the preservation zone’s strains, his gaze naturally turned to the Special Preservation Zone.

The moment he stepped inside, he saw a familiar name...