Research Notes

"Success! She didn't notice I switched a sample... That big-breasted, brainless, shallow woman has no idea of this thing's value! This is simply a groundbreaking masterpiece; with this, we have the power to destroy a world!"

"It's not easy. This thing is still imperfect and its stability is too poor. The conditions here are too rudimentary... But if we bring it back to the Main World, the Yuan Cultivation Society definitely find out... Next time, we should try to get some equipment in... Damn it, if only we had brought that woman's Handheld Box with us. A treasure that can bring things through doors would be so convenient."

"In the first experiment... the bred samples quickly began to Rage Transformation in the rabbits used as test subjects, showing absolutely no signs of being controlled... Is it a dosage issue?"

"The sixth experiment... no matter how I adjust the dosage, I can't get satisfactory results. This virus multiplies wildly inside the test subject and instantly takes over the host... It seems that it needs further improvement, but there are simply no conditions here to make improvements."

"The ninth experiment... I used an extract from the Mind-Numbing Grass to inhibit the virus's activity, which did slow down the mutation process in the test subjects... Although it only slowed it down for fifteen minutes, the approach should be correct!"

"The fourteenth experiment... No, no matter how I adjust it, the experimental subjects can't achieve stability for more than half an hour. Is the inhibitor formula not perfect enough, or is this approach simply not feasible? I'm a bit lost..."

"The seventeenth experiment... The test subject showed considerable stability for a considerable period and began attempting to control the mutated limbs, while still retaining an appetite for ordinary grass! Although it went Rage Transformation in less than a day and ultimately failed, it was at least a big step towards success! It seems the formula was effective this time!"

"The eighteenth experiment... Why? It's the same formula, why didn't it work this time? Where exactly did things go wrong?"

"The twentieth experiment... failed again... I've analyzed all the factors that could affect the results, making sure it's exactly the same as the seventeenth experiment. Why didn't the result repeat? Could it be that the rabbit was special? Damn it, I shouldn't have burned it so thoroughly; I should have at least left some tissue for research..."

"The new Liu Ma actually barged into my lab... I've been so engrossed in experiments lately that I didn't make it clear to her beforehand that the basement is off-limits and no one but me can enter. I reprimanded her severely, and the old lady was terrified. She even admitted that she had come in last month to look for a purse that had fallen down... This is too dangerous. If the things here were to leak out, who knows what kind of disaster it would cause. I have to lock the basement door from now on."

Luo Jun couldn't figure it out, so he could only open the second notebook first...

"The twenty-first experiment... With the help of the Soul-Returning Grass extract, the test subject exhibited remarkable stability. Even after mutation, it retained considerable intelligence, and this time, it showed no signs of berserk behavior for three consecutive days... I think it's time to begin human trials..."

The two foreigners mentioned earlier that what Gong Shiyue stole from the Hell Creek Family was called the Eternal Star, and the Hell Creek Family controls the Gate to the Wasteland!

The Hell Creek Family, through their research on the Wasteland, created Eternal Virus that can spread to other worlds, their purpose unknown... But they never expected that this thing would be stolen by Gong Shiyue, which is why they were so nervous and offered such a high bounty... That's why the owner of this notebook said it was something capable of World-Ending!

Eternal Star, Eternal Virus... The names are so similar, it's very possible that the so-called Eternal Star is actually a modified Eternal Virus that can spread to other worlds?

Luo Jun felt like all the information had come together!

But why? Why did Gong Shiyue bring the Eternal Virus into the [Martial World]?

A trade? She was trying to make a trade with someone! That's why she placed it in the Gathering Treasure Pavilion and carried the password with her at all times—all for the sake of convenience! The reason she chose the Martial World was because her trading partner was a member of the Yuan Cultivation Society!

For example, the phrase "big-breasted, brainless woman" mentioned at the beginning of the notes reminded Luo Jun of a woman he had personally sent to prison— Gong Shiyue.

"Liu Ma told me that the sachet contained a local specialty from her hometown called 'Soul-Returning Grass,' which has a refreshing and invigorating scent. It's said that even people who have recently died might be brought back to life if they smell it, so people carry it with them for peace and safety."

It seems Luo Jun's guess was correct; the owner of the notebook was an explorer from the Main World who, by chance, obtained a sample of the Eternal Virus and was conducting insane experiments on rabbits here.

What's strange is that before coming to Shannan Town, neither Tie Jingang nor his Senior Brother mentioned that anyone from Shannan Town Yuan Cultivation Society was permanently stationed there. Moreover, with the Eternal Virus appearing here, one would normally suspect the explorers immediately, and those in the know would rush to investigate the oil mill. However, judging from the reactions of his Senior Brother disciples, they didn't seem to care about the fate of the Notebook Owner...

"Of course I don't believe such nonsense. This situation is most likely a state of suspended animation where the person has regained consciousness and started breathing again after being exposed to the pungent smell... But using this 'resurrection' technique in experiments will definitely have miraculous effects. I've asked Liu Ma to go back to my hometown and bring me plenty of 'Soul-Returning Grass.' I believe I'm close to success!"

At the time, he wondered how a Wanted List Evil Cultivator had managed to infiltrate the Martial World. Now it seems most likely the Notebook Owner secretly helped him. He said he secretly switched Gong Shiyue's belongings; could it be that the thing Gong Shiyue brought in was the Eternal Virus?

No... it's not just a lack of concern, it's more like they don't know anything about it at all!

That concludes the first notebook. There's still some experimental preparation and daily routine to follow, mostly just waiting for Liu Ma to Soul-Returning Grass.

Luo Jun knew very little about the Yuan Cultivation Society and the Hundred Rivers Sect, but his notes did contain some information that he was familiar with.

That doesn't make sense... Since she's from the Yuan Cultivation Society, why not just trade in the Main World? Is she Regret the other party will change their mind and arrest her? Entering the Martial World would be even more dangerous. The entrances and exits here are controlled by the Yuan Cultivation Society. If they really have designs on her, she won't be able to escape!

He couldn't comment on her intelligence, but he was certain her large breasts were no problem... Moreover, based on the information he currently had, Gong Shiyue had indeed entered the [Martial World] a few months ago and hid something at the headquarters of the Gathering Treasure Pavilion...

"Haha, I didn't expect that to be the reason. I found a chewed-up sachet in the rabbit cage, with remnants of a herb with a peculiar smell inside. The rabbit from the seventeenth experiment ate this stuff before the experiment, which is why it had such strong stability. I used the remaining herbs in my experiment, and they did help improve stability, but the amount was far too small!"

"The twenty-second experiment... failed. The difference between humans and rabbits is still too great. The dosage of virus and inhibitor is difficult to control. The ratio needs to be adjusted next time."

"The twenty-third experiment... failed. Although calculations were performed, the final result was still off... it's not just a matter of dosage; the immune systems of rabbits and humans are also different..."

"The twenty-seventh experiment... I used rabbits again, this time with several more as controls, and their performance was very stable... However, they seemed to have a lot of hostility towards the twenty-first test subject. As soon as they were put together, they attacked and killed it. I disposed of the twenty-first's body, fearing that the remaining ones would continue to kill each other, so I had to separate them into different lockers."

"The thirtieth experiment... was a success. This guy didn't show any adverse symptoms after the experiment, and he didn't even mutate. He was even begging me to let him go... I need to observe him for a while longer."

"It's been five days, and subject number 30 hasn't had any adverse reactions... I even suspected he might be a special individual immune to the virus... But after that, I did several control experiments with the same mix, and these people all behaved normally."

"However, I've observed that although they're in different cages, they communicate with each other through eye contact and occasionally display a strange kind of unspoken understanding... Is it just my imagination?"

"It's now basically confirmed that there's some kind of connection among those infected with the Eternal Virus, and there might even be a hierarchy among them..."

"Should I try it on myself? As Cultivators, my physique and vital energy can enhance my resistance to the virus. I should be able to withstand a small dose. If the dose is increased, I might even become a higher-level dominant type than all the test subjects! Like Deity, reigning over all the infected!"

"Or... should we observe further?"

The notes end here, so it seems he probably experimented on himself afterward, and failed... The so-called stability was probably only temporary, as evidenced by the rabbit cage below the steps... It was precisely because of this failure that the virus leaked out and caused a fire!

So here's the question: where are those human test subjects mentioned in the notes? I only saw rabbit cages in the basement, but no place where humans were imprisoned...

Unless, there's a hidden compartment here.

Just then, a knock came from the inn's door, interrupting Luo Jun's thoughts.

"Open the door, it's me!"

It's Tie Jingang's voice!

"Martial Uncle Tie!!" Deng Qian's face lit up with joy, and she immediately told the students to move the tables and chairs blocking the door. The other Martial World practitioners had witnessed Tie Jingang's methods before and knew that he was a powerful ally, so they did not stop him.

Soon, the gate opened, and Tie Jingang led Li Xinyu and his group of students into the inn.

Just then, a roar came from outside. It was a First-Order Infected had noticed the commotion and was chasing after them.

"You all go inside quickly!"

Tie Jingang turned around and rushed towards the infected. The infected opened its mouth wide and shot out its tongue from a distance. Tie Jingang grabbed it, pulled the infected close with his wrist, and then slapped it across the face, smashing the infected's head to pieces.

The students trembled at the sight of this brutal method and obediently entered the inn.

As for King Kong, he activated his inner energy to remove the bloodstains from his hands and then entered the inn.

"Deng Qian, is everyone here now?"

"They're all here!" Deng Qian nodded. "Song Shan is with some men in the backyard watching over the luggage..."

"Alright!" Tie Jingang nodded. "Hurry up, let's go through the backyard. There are more and more zombies in the town. I've encountered quite a few First-Order Mutant along the way. It won't be long before Tier 2 mutants start appearing, and it will become increasingly dangerous!"

The group immediately headed towards the backyard. A Martial World practitioner asked in confusion, "What are you talking about? What do you mean by first-tier and second-tier?"

Tie Jingang glanced at them. "You'd better run for your lives too. Those... demons outside will evolve into even more powerful species!"

As for Luo Jun, while following the main force, he remotely ordered the Tomb King to search for Secret Door in the basement.

(End of this chapter)