On the screen, an ordinary-looking stone emitted a soft, faint glow.
"According to testing, this item contains a massive concentration of energy. The exact amount of energy cannot yet be estimated."
"Furthermore, it can be utilized and guided."
"It appears to possess strengthening and infective properties toward human genes."
"Giant Gorge Laboratory No. 1 has applied for human trials."
Han Fei looked at the report and pondered carefully.
"Approved. Arrange all the death row inmates we negotiated from the military earlier."
"Increase the funding as well. Tell Laboratory No. 1 that I want to see results within three months, or they can all wait to be demoted."
"Yes."
"Message sent."
"Black Star, raise the surveillance level on everyone in Laboratory No. 1."
"Yes."
Han Fei stared at the stone and fell into thought.
"Light Shadow Stone... which one could it be?"
Longevity Cookware and the Successful Research of Genetic Medicine
Watching Black Star continue issuing various orders, Han Fei nodded.
He was rather glad he had fished up this intelligence. Otherwise, developing to this extent would probably have been difficult.
"By the way, Black Star, who are you?"
Night.
When Han Fei returned home, he caught a rich, fragrant aroma.
He recalled the powerful cookware he had hauled up during one of his usual salvages a few days ago. Thinking of its origins made his heart itch. He wondered how food made with it would taste, and whether it could shine once his cooking skills improved someday.
"Aunt Wu, what did you make today?"
Han Fei rubbed his hands together and sat down at the table.
"Haha, you'll definitely be satisfied with today's meal."
Aunt Wu was a middle-aged woman in her forties. Since she was a fairly renowned chef, Han Fei had poached her with a high salary.
And her cooking truly was excellent. Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Pheobe Crab Dou, Hollow Glass, Peony Fish Slices...
She could make all kinds of exquisite dishes.
With that cookware added to the mix, Han Fei was looking forward to it even more.
"Come on, I made this with that treasure you brought back, the Dragon Turning Pot. It only took an instant, but it tastes even better than if I made it myself. It's simply unbelievable."
As she spoke, she lifted the lid.
A faintly dim glow flashed through the rising white steam, barely noticeable in the brightly lit room.
Only Han Fei, who had been watching closely, saw it.
"It glowed. The Eight Great Cookware, longevity..."
The thought flashed through his mind and vanished.
His attention returned to the food.
The white mist dispersed.
Before him was a large porcelain bowl of... water?
Clear and bright, undeniably water.
Yet Han Fei's throat involuntarily bobbed as he swallowed.
He took out a small bowl and ladled some in.
The taste was impossible to describe. Only two words remained in his mind: delicious.
Gulp, gulp, gulp...
One bowl, then two...
Even the bodyguards beside him, who had always maintained strict discipline, could not help sneaking a few glances.
Aunt Wu continued explaining with pride.
"This soup is called Formless Divine Soup. You have to stew chicken soup inside a pig's stomach, fish soup inside the chicken's stomach, and pigeon soup inside the fish's stomach. Three layers, three sets, and you can't damage their insides at all if you want to make it properly."
"Come on, don't just drink the soup. There's also porridge and dry rations here. These dry rations are Nanliang Cake..."
"..."
After a long while.
"Ahh~"
"A delicacy beyond compare."
Han Fei rubbed his belly and lay lazily on the sofa, looking utterly content.
Even he, whose appetite had greatly increased after practicing Eight Extremes Heaven, was stuffed. One could imagine how much he had eaten.
"Aunt Wu, double this month's bonus."
Han Fei smiled as he watched Aunt Wu leave happily.
This was the life he wanted.
Enjoyment, free from all worries.
All he lacked was a beautiful, virtuous wife who would obey his every wish and massage his legs.
For all of that, he still needed to keep working hard.
"Master."
Black Star appeared on the television projection.
"? Speak."
"The replacement version of the genetic enhancement medicine has been successfully produced."
"!!!"
Han Fei sprang up at once.
"Raise the security level. Prevent anyone from leaking information. No one enters or leaves. Driver, bring the car around."
"All protective preparations were issued when confirmation was received."
"...Good."
Han Fei quickly got into the car and soon arrived beneath a garment factory in the suburbs.
"Hello, Boss."
"Hello, Boss."
Greeting after greeting rang out.
He entered deeper inside.
The defenses here were even tighter. Every few steps, there was an armed guard carrying live ammunition.
In a country where guns were banned, being able to do this was entirely because he had a partnership with the military, possessed something they could not refuse, and had immense funds. Otherwise, with this kind of setup, what terrorist organization were you?
An army would roll in the next moment and flatten you.
But that was all. Han Fei had basically stationed his most elite forces in this Laboratory No. 1. The other laboratories did not have such manpower.
After passing through one white corridor after another, as though walking through a science fiction film...
Han Fei arrived before a massive door.
Iris verification, fingerprint verification, password verification...
Only after several procedures did the mechanical door finally open.
Click.
It slowly slid apart.
"The double helix model of genes..."
"Our instruments detected that those..."
"The death row inmates can be suspended for now..."
"..."
Researchers moved back and forth inside.
Aside from several leading experts recruited at great expense, the rest were students serving as assistants.
The moment Han Fei entered, he saw an elderly white man walking toward him.
Do not ask why he had not hired yellow-skinned researchers. Mainly because they were tightly regulated and could not be subjected to certain strict management measures, such as house arrest, house arrest, or house arrest...
"Oh, my dear boss, you finally came. You have no idea what a great undertaking we have just completed. I dare say we have intruded upon God's domain. We may achieve evolution, or perhaps be punished by God, but what it brings right now is absolutely unparalleled shock."
"Professor Smith, could you explain in detail?"
Han Fei suppressed his impatience and asked seriously.
Professor Smith looked at Han Fei and began, "Based on the medicine you gave us earlier, Boss—oh, I still have to say it, that vial of medicine was truly miraculous. It—"
Seeing Han Fei's unpleasant expression, the old man decided it was best not to tease him further.
"Our previous tests showed that it could effectively strengthen human genes and unleash the human body's potential. Its enhancement effect varied according to each person's physique, and it could even extend one's lifespan."
"We wanted to replicate it. We told you before, Boss, that it would be difficult. However, among the items you provided recently, there happened to be a plant that could replace part of the medicine's effects, allowing us to successfully develop it."
"Only..."
"Only?"
"I don't know whether to call it weakened or strengthened."
"After replacement, it remained very stable, but its effects were reduced by 46%. Correspondingly, there is a possibility of developing abilities after taking it. Well, they do not really count as superpowers."
"Abilities?"
Han Fei's eyes lit up.
Could this medicine reach the level of a First-generation Super Soldier?
But he immediately discarded the thought. If it truly could compare, the rooms he had built would not be able to contain them at all.
"Uh, they should count as abilities, but they are actually rather weak. Mainly, certain human senses or muscles exceed normal human limits."
Smith led Han Fei onward.
They arrived at a somewhat gloomy area.
One prison cell after another held person after person.
They went all the way to the deepest section.
"Look, these are the test subjects who developed abilities."
In one cell, a seemingly refined middle-aged man sat in the corner, staring at the ceiling.
Han Fei did not understand and looked toward Smith.
Smith smiled faintly.
"Number One, what is up there?"
The middle-aged man moved slightly and spoke in a decayed voice.
"A fly with eight main veins."