Chapter 673.2: Brother Ample Time's Massive Plan
Chen Yutong placed the leaf aside and stepped to the monitor. “Results?”
“It’s odd,” the researcher said. “The Na Fruit strain we sampled from the Brocade River Province can’t infect local plants. We ran seven trials, even adjusted temperature to optimal range, and all failed.”
“But the Clearspring trials succeeded?” Chen Yutong mused softly. “All 12 samples were infected by the J strain.”
“Yes,” the researcher nodded, perplexed.
The J strain Na Fruit sample, collected near Brocade Lake Municipality, thrived in humid subtropical climates. Compared to Baiyue’s B strain, it carried genes from the Clearspring’s Hive, giving it terrifying aggressiveness, the secret behind the Kingdom of Heaven catastrophe.
In Shelter 79, experiments simulating both climates showed plants consisting of the B strain consistently devoured by the J strain.
When both B and J strains were present, the B strain briefly suppressed the J strain’s growth, but only for 48 hours. Thus the Institution theorized that Baiyue’s native B strain inhibited the Torch Church’s engineered J strain.
However, the lab results didn’t support that.
Now, field tests revealed something even stranger, the inhibition occurred without introducing the B strain at all.
In the soil of the Baiyue Continent, the J strain not only failed to spread, it withered, as if allergic to the land itself.
Researchers murmured around her.
“Could it be the soil?”
“No, Shelter 79 used Baiyue soil too.”
“Then maybe something other than the B strain is causing the inhibition.”
“Possible...”
Chen Yutong said nothing as the discussion went on, her eyes fixed on the data. She agreed, something else unique to this land was restraining the fungus.
But what?
Just then, her headset crackled.
Meng Liang’s voice came through. “This is the Expedition team. We’re heading to the old ruins of Shilong City to locate an underground site. What’s your plan?”
Chen Yutong looked at the map pinned inside the cabin. “We’ll move three kilometers north. There’s an anomaly in the life-signal readings, might be samples we need.”
Meng Liang chuckled. “Then we’ll split up. Good luck.”
“You too.”
The two teams diverged, the Biological Research Institution’s team northward under the Burning Corps’ escort, and the Expedition Corp westward under the Jungle Corps.
Players watched the convoy of the institution depart with envy. An hour earlier, the entire region had received the same search quest for the Hive. 1,000,000 silver and 10,000 contribution points to whoever found it first, plus a limited Jungle Conqueror title.
A million silver was enough to buy an apartment in the city!
Obviously, following the biologists offered better odds than chasing ruins with the archaeologists.
“Midnight, can we swap?” Prone Model pleaded to Midnight Pubg.
He sighed helplessly. “No can do. The Institution specifically requested their escort.”
He didn’t mention that the Expedition Corps had originally wanted the Burning Corps too, but Old White had declined for reasons related to game balance, passing the job to them.
Hard feelings aside, everyone knew the truth, those monsters were the true experts on the server. Their perception type, who should be the weakest fighter could solo a boss!
Still, the muscle-heads grumbled.
“Bet there’s some shady backroom deal.”
“Come on, commander, trade us for some of them!”
“Please!”
Midnight Pubg rolled his eyes. “Go fuck yourselves!”
“Damn!” Prone Model muttered.
...
While the Expedition Corps pressed toward the ruins, the Institution’s Husky reached its destination.
“All squads, spread out and secure the area!”
“Roger!”
Signaled with many gestures, armored players formed a perimeter.
The jungle teemed with life, they had already fought off five attacks on the way.
The staff of the institution would handle sampling and the soldiers’ job was to keep them alive.
Clad in full protective suit, Chen Yutong jumped down from the crawler with her toolkit. Recognizing her, Old White strode over while clad in his Dragon Cavalry exoframe. “Why are you down here?”
She smiled at the concern in his tone. “I’m the senior scientist here, the project’s mine. If not me, who’s going to take charge?”
Old White sighed. “This place is dangerous. The mutants haven’t stopped attacking since we arrived. Just... be careful.”
“I know. This’ll be quick.” She knelt, unpacking tools and test tubes.
After a while with no progress, he couldn’t help asking, “How much longer?”
“15 minutes at most... why? Are you getting nervous?”
“I’m worried about you.”
“I’ve been to the Brocade River Province,” she sighed lightly, “This place can’t be worse.”
“Can’t say that,” he muttered.
It was true there were no Mutant Humans or marauders, but there were more mutant beasts than he could count. All of them were terrifying monsters.
Then Chen Yutong looked up, meeting his gaze with a small smile. “I trust you.”
He blinked, momentarily speechless.
By the time he recovered, she completed her sampling. Sliding the vial into its slot, she snapped the case shut and grinned. “Let’s move, next site.”
“Don’t run off. Send me the coordinates and follow my lead,” Old White frowned and said firmly.
“I know, I know. I won’t make your job harder.” She tapped her VM twice, her coordinates synced to his visor display.
Through his tactical HUD, he saw the marker about 20 meters ahead. He gestured to flank formation and took point.
Leaves whispered all around, setting his nerves on edge. Behind him, Chen Yutong seemed entirely unafraid, chatting over comms as they walked. “I’ve heard this forest’s self-healing matches our lab data. It’s just as we theorized, this rainforest isn’t purely terrestrial. It’s a fusion of Gaia and Earth species.”
“Fusion?” Old White asked.
“Exactly.” She squinted up through shafts of light filtering through the canopy, her tone bright with curiosity.
“Nothing like it exists in Earth’s ecosystem. On Gaia, species may share evolutionary gains instead of competing, perhaps because they evolved from a single cell... or maybe they once belonged to an advanced civilization that transcended biology itself.”
Old White frowned, half of that went over his head, but she continued, undeterred by his confusion, “The only question is whether this rainforest has a collective consciousness, like the Hive in Clearspring City.”
Her voice softened, filled with conviction. “From the moment I entered, I felt it, the key to resolving the Na Fruit crisis lies here. Burning the Ocean Edge Province to ashes won’t solve anything. Since this is a biological problem, it needs a biological solution. Trust me... I’ll find that key. Just give me time.”
Old White tried to parse her meaning, then gave up with a sigh. “I don’t get half of that, but if you need help, say so. And, like in the Brocade River Province, don’t wander off. Stay behind me.”
Chen Yutong smiled. “Alright, I’ll stay close. Oh, and, did you record what I said just now?”
“Huh? The body-cam? Yeah, it’s on.”
“Good,” she giggled. “If I forget someday, you can remind me.”
He shook his head, returning to the path ahead. “You can remember it yourself.”
“I will,” she whispered. “I won’t let myself ever forget my goal.”
