"In a way, they're like the Evolved Human in our base. Evolved Human are minimally affected by radiation, almost negligible. They can move freely in the face of radiation and even possess supernatural abilities. Similarly, what this research institute has developed is the ability to evolve radiation-exposed plants, thereby selecting species that are edible for humans."
"The samples inside are very important, even more important than your mission to Base 13. Right now... sigh, the base is in dire straits and needs this research. Please, bring the samples back. When you return, you will be richly rewarded."
Jian Cheng's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Yes."
The Zhan Qun nodded. "Yes."
"However, Qi Feng said there was some movement behind that wall, Sang Luoluo also sensed a dense swarm of living creatures behind it. We're a little worried..."
Dr. Wang pondered for a moment, resting his chin on his hand, and said, "Your concerns are quite valid, including the deaths of the researchers, which are not simple matters. Here's what we'll do: first, see if you can find any clues on the remains of the researchers who died earlier."
"Be sure to check for insect eggs."
" Sang Luoluo's perception should be correct. The densely packed feeling suggests that there are only living insect eggs. Moreover, I suspect that since this research institute has been sealed off for so long, the insect eggs inside may have been dormant for nearly three hundred years. Opening the door may awaken them, so please be careful."
Jian Cheng looked somewhat worried. "How could there be insect eggs here?"
Dr. Wang said, "At the beginning of the wasteland, many animals mutated, including some of the associated plants. Of course, it's also possible that insect eggs were mixed in during the research process back then, or that other changes have occurred in the past three hundred years. In any case, you must be careful and not be careless. Jian Cheng, you have more experience in this area, so you and the Zhan Qun leader should cooperate well. Also, Sang Luoluo, safety comes first."
Zhan Qun nodded. "Yes, Dr. Wang."
After hanging up the phone, Jian Cheng said, "Let's go see the remains first."
There were two in the hall. Sang Luoluo her hand and took out the box containing the testing equipment.
Jian Cheng put on gloves and goggles and began operating.
Sang Luoluo watched from behind, grabbing Qi Feng's arm.
A careful examination of the remains revealed some viruses and inactive insect eggs.
Jian Cheng shook his head. "There are insect eggs, but they've lost their activity. It must be because the external environment is too different from the standard experimental environment inside."
Zhan Qun said, "Then let's go take a look. We'll grab the Crystal Core and muskets; if all else fails, we can just burn it all down."
Jian Cheng said, "Unfortunately, the altitude here is limited. The heavy armor is too tall to fit through."
The Zhan Qun continued, "Everyone is wearing their protective gear properly; we'll disinfect them after we come out."
He called to the people behind him, "Let's blast this wall open first."
Without a password, they could only forcibly dismantle it. The team members behind them put on mechanical arms and cut a rectangular opening in the entire wall, which then collapsed with a roar.
Jian Cheng located the power switch and turned on the lights inside.
The light suddenly illuminated the passageway inside.
A blast of cold air hit me; I hadn't felt cold outside, but it turned out this place was a cold storage room.
If you go inside, you'll see sealed jars containing experimental samples, labeled with serial numbers and names.
Sang Luoluo looked over and saw that they were all specimens, including animals, all of which were common, such as earthworms and flying insects. Compared to the insects that were common in the ground three hundred years ago, these jars clearly contained mutated insect specimens.
There were also mutated mice, which had undergone varying degrees of mutation, and they were put into several jars.
Someone exclaimed, "Look!! The countless things on the wall are moving!"
Everyone followed his gaze and looked in the direction they had come from. Countless cocoons covered the entire wall, remaining active even in this cold storage. The cocoons, which had been motionless, began to pupate inside as they opened the door.
Chapter 170 Spring Water Trade The amount of mineral water was more than expected...
Are those flying insects about to come back to life?
How many are there?
Jian Cheng pushed up his glasses, a bad feeling creeping over him. "These silkworm pupae aren't afraid of low temperatures. They survived being sealed in a cold storage for so long, they've evolved in an incredible way. Now that they've emerged from their cocoons, they'll definitely continue to reproduce in the outside environment. It's best if we kill them here, otherwise, once they get out and into the food chain, they'll cause a major upheaval in the surrounding ecosystem."
Is it that serious?
Someone asked out of curiosity.
"Those mutated plants and animals outside are quite formidable as well."
"This is another species that didn't evolve sufficiently from hundreds of years ago, it can't be that..."
Jian Cheng said seriously, "Can you guarantee it? The harm this thing can cause is beyond our ability to predict. Who knows what direction it will evolve into after it goes out, whether it will become stronger or weaker? The safest thing to do now is to eliminate these insect eggs."
" Captain Zhan, please take your men and close the gate."
Zhan Qun nodded and personally led his men to close the doors. Sang Luoluo took out the weapon crates she had brought out as instructed. Everyone put on oxygen tanks and made sure their helmets were in good working order. Jian Cheng even personally collected a few insect eggs and put them in a bottle, preparing to take them back for research.
In addition, Jian Cheng had Sang Luoluo collect all the usable experimental samples from the cold storage, and everyone worked in an orderly manner in a short period of time.
The flamethrower was ready, and some of the insect eggs had already cracked open, releasing palm-sized moths that fluttered their wings and dropped some unknown powder.
The flamethrower was aimed at the insect eggs on the wall, and a crackling sound rang out. The eggs were gradually burned away. Some moths that flew out tried to escape, but were instantly burned to ashes by the flames in the air. Even though they had evolved relatively hard wings, they were gradually reduced to ashes under the scorching heat of the fire.
The Zhan Qun burned all the other items in the cold storage, making sure there was no threat left, before leading their men out.
Jian Cheng said, "We've gained a lot this time. When we get back to the base, I'll definitely ask the professor for more subsidies for everyone."
Zhan Qun smiled and said, "Thank you, Assistant Jian."
Jian Cheng said, "It's time for us to leave here."
"Um."
After everyone has rested, climb back up the rope just the way you came down.
However, since the rope was on the other end, Sang Luoluo Qi Feng used her Mental Power to levitate up and switch everyone's ropes to the other side of the crevice in the direction they wanted to go. Then she waited up there for them to climb up.
The crevice was deep enough, and some mutated animals appeared along the way, but Qi Feng shot them dead with a few shots, so there was no danger, and everyone climbed up smoothly.
They donned heavy armor, rested for five minutes, and then continued their journey.
Upon reaching the edge of the forest, the mutated animals they encountered were not as large as the mutated black bears, and they successfully exited the forest at eight o'clock in the evening.
That evening, after finding an open space, Sang Luoluo brought out the three vehicles. Everyone disinfected their heavy armor and protective gear before getting into the vehicles to rest.
Sang Luoluo covered the car with snow to disguise it, a task she now found quite easy to accomplish using her Mental Power.
After taking out the electric stove, canned food, nutrient solution, blankets, and other necessities that everyone needed, they began to rest.
"Finally, we're out of that hellish forest."
"Now that's great, we can stay in the car for the rest of the journey without having to leave."
How much longer until we reach Base 13?
Qi Feng estimated the distance and calculated in front of everyone, "If all goes smoothly, it will take two and a half days."
That's good too.
Sang Luoluo felt quite safe in the car, so she gave Lei Qi and Qi Feng an extra meal that evening: two eggs and a chicken leg each.
Qi Feng stood guard outside the curtain, while Sang Luoluo went inside to rest.
Lei Qi ate two cans of food, which were made from radiation-free food. Although they weren't as delicious as the chicken legs that Sang Luoluo had given them earlier, they were absolutely delicious compared to the nutrient solution and their previous meals.
Although the journey was dangerous, following the boss always gave me a sense of security. Thinking back to all the unpleasant things I encountered with Yan Lang before, I felt so happy now.
Sang Luoluo went into her spatial dimension and took a comfortable hot bath. While bathing, she also busied herself picking all the fruits in the orchard, as well as today's various eggs, mushrooms, and vegetables from the mountain. She was busy for two hours.
Someone messaged me privately on the forum.
Base Leader Sang Tong Base No. 32 ): [Hello Farm Owner, I have prepared the Crystal Core. Would you like to trade them?]
Sang Luoluo immediately replied: [Okay, you can top up your account first.]
After clicking the recharge button, several truckloads of Crystal Core immediately appeared next to the panel.
If Sang Luoluo remembers correctly, these Crystal Core should be the batch that Base No. 32 had Sang Ping lead the team to transport back from Base 71.
Balance: 34,560,000 Crystal Core.
There are so many.
Sang Luoluo was slightly surprised. Sang Luoluo looked at the inventory and gave him some options.
There are more than a dozen kinds of green vegetables, 100,000 eggs and milk, more than 30 kinds of fruits, dozens of kinds of fresh freshwater fish, and more than 600 newly grown rabbits.
Base Commander Sang Tong Base No. 32 ): [Please wait a moment, I'll fill in the quantity.]
Without exception, Sang Tong first chose the cheapest vegetables, then freshwater fish for high-quality protein, followed by rabbits and fruits. Although fruits don't keep well, he could have all of these foods canned.