The Dust-Sealed Secret (Part Two)

Based on his investigation and observation of some "Blood-feeding Creature" and the information obtained from other researchers, Academician Shen wrote a document titled "The Influence of Blood Source Types on Variation in 'Blood-feeding Creature'".

In that document, Academician Shen argued that when a "Blood-feeding Creature" first undergoes mutation, if the blood source is its pre-mutation counterpart, then its improvement in the initial mutation stage will be the greatest, and it may acquire some abilities or characteristics that can be applied to other pre-mutation counterparts—except for organisms that were plants before becoming "Blood-feeding Creature."

Furthermore, if the bloodline has always been the same type as before the mutation, the physical mutation will be relatively small, making it easier to hide in the original population.

However, as time goes by and the number of mutations increases, the drawbacks of the same bloodline will become apparent. The mutation characteristics are too singular, the evolutionary limit is very low, the stage limit will arrive earlier, the mind will be affected, becoming more violent and bloodthirsty, tending towards instinct, and the mutation will also create path dependence, making it impossible to adjust by changing the bloodline type.

Even if the bloodline is the same as before the mutation, if it is always the same bloodline, the mutation will lack "imagination".

In contrast, not using their own kind before mutation as a blood source, and having a more diverse selection of blood sources, allows the mutations of "Blood-feeding Creature" to develop in more diverse ways and postpones their stage limits.

However, there are also drawbacks, namely that the appearance can change significantly and is less controllable, the blood-drinking cycle can vary greatly, and the amount of blood required for blood-drinking is also very unstable.

Academician Shen believes, based on his research, that the variation characteristics and direction of variation of "Blood-feeding Creature" mainly depend on their choice of blood source.

Meanwhile, if the "Blood-feeding Creature" have high intelligence and complex thinking patterns, their "subjective will" may also influence the direction of mutation, but there is currently no substantial evidence to prove this.

Regarding the viewpoints in this document, Xiang Kun only agrees with a portion of the points that "subjective will may influence the direction of mutation" and "the advantages and disadvantages of using the same bloodline as the pre-mutant species."

The former is based on his own practical experience, while the latter is based on his judgment of the fragments of Guo Tianxiang's memory that he obtained, and it is indeed true.

However, Xiang Kun completely disagreed with the idea that the type of "blood source" affects "Blood-feeding Creature".

Based on his own experience, a stable blood supply is actually more important.

The readily available single blood source can provide him with a stable supply of blood, much like the "staple food" in a human diet, which is a basic guarantee for survival.

The blood of other "Mutated Creature" is the "nutritional supplement," which can have a huge impact on the characteristics and direction of mutation.

Moreover, in Xiang Kun's view, the direction of mutation is not mainly determined by the choice of blood source, but more by targeted training.

Judging from the sensory information within the memory fragments of the "Giant Owl" and the "mutant spider" that he obtained, the diverse bloodline could not actually delay the arrival of their stage limits—the bloodlines of these two were as mixed as could be.

To use an analogy, what Academician Shen considers mutation is like flying in space or in a vacuum, mostly moving by inertia. To change direction, a power source is needed, and the power source determines the direction of motion.

The mutation that Xiang Kun believes in refers to flight within the atmosphere, where the pilot is always in control of the direction. Even if the engine stops, the pilot can still autonomously control the direction to a certain extent while gliding.

Xiang Kun knew that Academician Shen and his views and judgments were not necessarily all correct; the key was the difference in their research samples.

Each individual "Blood-feeding Creature" or "Mutated Creature" is highly independent, and their characteristics are often not shared.

Moreover, Xiang Kun became increasingly aware that he was the most exceptional of all.

Putting aside other factors, just considering the characteristic of acquiring memory fragments after consuming the blood of other "Mutated Creature," according to Academician Shen's various documents, no other "Mutated Creature" possesses this ability, nor has it ever been described.

This ability can obviously help Xiang Kun better understand the mutation paths of other "Mutated Creature".

Comparatively speaking, although Academician Shen has more experimental resources, more channels for obtaining information, and has obtained more live samples and related "Mutated Creature" data, because "Mutated Creature" are all derived from mutations and cannot be cultivated, raised, or observed, they are basically discovered after having already gone through several mutation stages. Therefore, unless they are human "Mutated Creature" that are willing to cooperate, it is difficult for him to understand the true mutation process of other animal and plant "Mutated Creature," and his reference samples are very limited.

In other documents, Academician Shen analyzed the argument of some private research institutions in the West that the "mysterious force" restricting human research on "Blood-feeding Creature" is the root of all mutation forces.

Clearly, he disagreed with this argument. He believed that although the "mysterious power" was closely related to the "Blood-feeding Creature" and many of its "operations" were so powerful that they were difficult for them to understand, seemingly omnipresent and in control of everything, in fact, compared to the subversive understanding brought about by the existence of the "Blood-feeding Creature" themselves, it was not that powerful.

Academician Shen then cited a series of phenomena he observed to prove his point, believing that the "mysterious force" should be a higher form of existence of a "Blood-feeding Creature." Preventing humans or any other life form from exploring the secrets of the "Blood-feeding Creature" is to prevent humans from discovering it and eliminate the possibility of it being threatened.

In fact, judging from the early documents, Academician Shen's initial views were similar to those of others, and he also felt that the "mysterious force" was likely in control of the fundamental power of mutation. However, with further research on the "Blood-feeding Creature" and his own real experience as a "Blood-feeding Creature," he gradually changed his views and developed new perspectives.

This series of documents is likely intended by Academician Shen to allow future generations to understand his entire thought process and research trajectory, as well as the reasons for the changes in his viewpoints.

Next, Xiang Kun saw several documents that Academician Shen had kept about himself. Judging from the accompanying descriptions and photos, Academician Shen's appearance had changed significantly.

His left hand fingers became very slender, but very strong, and very stable when performing delicate operations. The center of his index finger, thumb, and middle finger could also open a small opening, turning into a suction cup.

He even developed a three-fingered appendage at his right elbow, which helped him perform some experimental procedures.

In addition, there are many minor but significant variations, all clearly designed to help him perform experiments better and complete more experiments and more complex procedures on his own.

Academician Shen also made detailed records and analyses of each of his mutation characteristics. Of course, he still believes that these mutations are directly related to the blood source he chose, and his subjective will also played a certain role in adjustment.

Academician Shen is even working on "harmonizing blood sources" by adding some common plant juices that have been previously proven to have been found in "Blood-feeding Creature".

Xiang Kun disagreed with Academician Shen's views, or rather, Academician Shen's views did not apply to him. However, Academician Shen's various experimental methods, perspectives, and ways of thinking under limited conditions and only allowing for single-person operation still greatly inspired him.

In particular, Academician Shen often analyzes and interprets new research on "Blood-feeding Creature" by researchers from certain secret Western institutions, which he obtained through unknown means. This allows Xiang Kun to clearly grasp Academician Shen's thinking and methods of analyzing problems, just like attending a class, from which he benefits greatly.

After reviewing these numerous documents, an image and cognitive model of Academician Shen were established in Xiang Kun's mind.

For Xiang Kun, even after the mutation, the belief that "no matter what I become, I am still human" still dominates and is his strongest instinct.

In Academician Shen's self-perception, the most important label is "Chinese scientific researcher." He doesn't really care about the determination of his biological type, whether he is human, a "Blood-feeding Creature," or something else.

What he sought was to study the characteristics and nature of "Blood-feeding Creature" and what benefits they could bring to the nation, the people, and even all of humanity.

His primary concern is that when research on "Blood-feeding Creature" makes a breakthrough and the hidden secrets and mysterious forces behind them can be discovered and utilized, our country will not be at a disadvantage in this field.

From the information about Academician Shen's resume, the era he lived through, and the things he did found online, Xiang Kun was able to understand the origin of his strong sense of mission and scientific spirit.

After reading so many documents, Xiang Kun felt a strong urge to talk to Academician Shen.

However, after Alice gained control of the dedicated network of the secret department of "Shenxing Technology" and obtained a large amount of information from the "Non-Normal Biology Research Center", she did not find any information about the name Shen Haichong, the experimental plans mentioned in these documents, or the existence of the laboratory.

Therefore, Xiang Kun had a vague premonition that Academician Shen might be no longer alive. Otherwise, if he were still conducting relevant research, Shenxing Technology would not have been completely without any information.

Further down, Xiang Kun discovered a document recording the mutation of "Mr. Liang" Lu Qinliang. The style of this document was very similar to the file of Mr. Liang that he had found at the beginning. However, the previous document was incomplete and did not have a signature. This document, however, had a signature, which was Academician Shen Haichong.

It seems that Mr. Liang, who recently mutated, is the first "partner" that Academician Shen has found.

However, judging from the early records, Mr. Liang's mutation was even much smaller than that of Academician Shen. Two years after the mutation, his appearance was still not significantly different from that of an ordinary human, and even less so than Xiang Kun's current changes—at least he lost his hair and became taller and stronger.

Mr. Liang looks like an ordinary, somewhat thin boy. Of course, compared to before the mutation, at least now he can move around freely.

Under Academician Shen's guidance, Mr. Liang's bloodline was also a mixture of various types, but his mutation direction was not directly affected by the bloodline as Academician Shen's initial theory suggested.

This led Academician Shen to revise his original theory in subsequent documents.

Xiang Kun also found a passage from Academician Shen in a document that resembled a diary:

"Only human 'Blood-feeding Creature' can be the subjects of this research, which has created a significant obstacle to the establishment of the team. There are simply too few human 'Blood-feeding Creature,' and even fewer that can be trained as researchers. Fortunately, I'm lucky; A-Liang and Xiao Xue are both talented individuals, and they will definitely become pillars of the 'Blood-feeding Creature' research community in the future."

"A Liang" likely refers to Mr. Liang, but who does "Xiao Xue" refer to?

Is it another human "Blood-feeding Creature" that Academician Shen recruited into his team?

Judging from the name, it seems to be a woman?

But while Mr. Liang's files, mutation records, and physical data are plentiful, none of the documents for "Xiao Xue" can be found. Has Alice not yet transferred them?

The following documents suddenly changed style. Although none of them were signed and there were no notes to identify in the electronic documents, the rough and casual style no longer had Academician Shen's meticulousness and rigor, and it was clear that they were not written by him.

Based on previous review of documents from more recent periods, including those documenting the discovery of "Guo Tianxiang" and the discovery of an "unknown Blood-feeding Creature" in the Qinling Uninhabited Zone, Xiang Kun can be fairly certain that these documents were created by Mr. Liang.

Where did Academician Shen go?

Where did "Xiao Xue" go?

Xiang Kun was greatly puzzled, and what he saw next, regarding Mr. Liang's own physical records, took a sudden turn.

Mr. Liang's appearance became increasingly inhuman, and various mutations began to occur.

Moreover, Mr. Liang modularized his mutations. He combined his mutated tissues with external materials and structures through some very special methods, and in this way, he forcibly controlled and guided his mutations to follow his "design ideas" and "functional concepts", forcibly combining his own mutations with modern technology.

However, in the early stages of his attempt, the results were clearly not good. His body underwent a terrifying change, and he became like a monster covered in hardened skin, extremely swollen, and no longer recognizable as human.

Compared to that, the way Mr. Liang appeared in John's dream was a hundred times more handsome.

Mr. Liang may have realized that his transformation plan had failed and that he might not live much longer, so he recorded a video that seemed to be aimed at "those who come after him".

In the video, he detailed his self-improvement plan, summarized his mistakes and shortcomings, and offered some new ideas for others to try.

Finally, he explained why he made such a radical attempt:

"This is a game of predators. To break through the Ultimate Predator's net, one must break through the mutation limits of the 'Blood-feeding Creature,' raid into its uncharted territories, and become a stronger predator."

"The limits of carbon-based life are within its control, and we are about to break through those limits."