Benign Liquid
If this had happened two weeks earlier, Zhang Xuezhou's understanding of the giant tree fragments would have been very limited, and he wouldn't have been able to identify them.
He took the liquid Qin Zhong had collected and then picked up a six-legged worm.
The six-legged worm's mouthparts were covered in liquid, and it grew at a visible rate, just like before. However, when it reached its fixed size, Zhang Xuezhou only saw the six-legged worm's abdomen turn purple rapidly, and then it died without even struggling.
The abdomen of this insect quickly ulcerates, then oozes out piles of purple fluid.
Zhou Rihui, who was peeking out from behind Zhang Xuezhou, shuddered, feeling as if the festering abdomen of the six-legged worm was hurting right in his own body.
"Have you seen the consequences of eating whatever you want?"
Zhang Xuezhou tilted his head and asked a question. Zhou Rihui scratched his head and gave an awkward laugh.
"This insect was growing normally before, how did it suddenly die from the poison?"
Qin Zhong couldn't help but be somewhat surprised.
The condition of the six-legged insect was too obvious; those poisonous plants and trees had this color. Zhou Rihui also turned his body purplish-red by eating grass.
Zhang Xuezhou demonstrated the situation, giving many people a very accurate understanding of the poison and the problems associated with the liquid.
However, this situation was completely different from the growth of other insects, which surprised everyone, who felt that this liquid was not as magical as they had imagined.
"Does the difference between natural acquisition and forced acquisition create a problem?" Li Qi asked solemnly.
That's right!
Zhang Xuezhou poured the juice that Qin Zhong had carefully collected back onto Qin Zhong.
These sap substances didn't stay on the black stone for long; they were absorbed back in just a few seconds and disappeared without a trace from the surface.
"I thought we'd found an alien substance that stimulates rapid biological growth, but it turns out there are limitations to its use. We can only use it normally when it's naturally secreted," Changkong Yinghao said regretfully. "If we need to find some larvae that stay on rocks for extended periods and also need to be able to feed, we can only consider small fish that like to stay on rocks!"
"I originally thought I could quickly breed some chickens and ducks, then the chickens and ducks could lay eggs, and these eggs would hatch into more chickens and ducks. These chicks and ducks would grow by consuming liquids, and then the cycle of life would continue!"
"They can't even feed people, and they're thinking of raising chickens in here!"
"We can feed the chickens with insects!"
"There aren't enough insects to eat!"
The crowd chimed in with their complaints, feeling that the black boulder used for breeding six-legged and eight-legged worms had become much less useful. They even thought it would be better to leave it in the water to continue breeding the worms, since the worms had a fair amount of meat in their thorax and abdomen, which tasted almost the same as shrimp and crab, making it a perfect supplement and seasoning for compressed food.
"Nags, do you have any expertise in this area?"
Badun glanced at Naggs, then at Zhou Rihui.
The group had worked together to lift stones many times before, but this was the first time they had ever seen a stone that could rapidly promote the growth of living organisms.
Badun believed that the stone had more uses than just that, and that if a suitable way to utilize it could be found, it would surely bring even greater benefits.
"I know some Spirit Stone can enlighten one's wisdom and enable one to understand more combat techniques, but I have never seen a gem that can promote growth or poison," Nagos replied cautiously.
"Zhang Xuezhou, what do you say?" Badun asked.
"This seems to be the foundation for cultivating that Tongtian pillar," Zhang Xuezhou said. "Or perhaps it's just a kind of fertilizer. What do you think?"
"No matter how I think about it, it's no use. We lack the resources for research here, and this black stone is difficult to cut and transport to the outside world. For now, it can only serve as the main body for breeding insects," Badun lamented. "However, I have a hunch that if we could obtain a suitable amount of a beneficial liquid, it might be able to promote evolution, for example, transforming alien beasts into ferocious creatures more than ten times their size. Or, if diluted and given to people to consume, that might also bring positive effects!"
"It seems the primary issue is obtaining a suitable fluid," Zhang Xuezhou nodded.
"You seem to have a knack for discernment," Badun asked.
"I have a certain ability to judge danger!"
Zhang Xuezhou nodded and gave a perfunctory reply.
This boulder could indeed have a significant effect; the twenty-mile-long Soul-Locking Pillar is one example.
The benign fluid produced by the megalith provides energy, allowing the body to grow to its genetic limits.
If you feed a baby, Zhang Xuezhou suspects the baby could very well grow into an adult in a short period of time.
These liquids contain growth factors and energy that are far beyond the scope of current technology.
But for Zhang Xuezhou, who had witnessed the giant tree's form from his memories and had grown it using the Breath of Earth, accepting this was not difficult.
This kind of accelerated growth inevitably comes at a price, and this growth does not guide the evolution of intelligence.
To make good use of this giant tree fragment, certain testing and research are needed, as well as a dilution ratio, in order to potentially achieve better results.
The most pressing issue right now is obtaining the beneficial sap from the giant tree fragments.
After a brief discussion, everyone's questions became much more practical, and they no longer fantasized about cultivating any kind of organism.
"If it's causing the stinging sensation, then the oozing fluid is probably not benign!"
"Using insect bodies for deception might work temporarily, but in the long run, it could very well cause those liquids to change!"
"The stone from outer space is truly mysterious and unpredictable!"
"Suddenly, I don't feel so suffocated and stifled here anymore!"
"If I could have a place to live, electricity, and hot food, it wouldn't be a bad thing to spend my whole life studying rocks here!"
No one wanted to live in a place where not even birds could be found. At the edge of the territory was a bottomless, sheer cliff and darkness, and the sky was always gray, with frequent rain. The wooden houses built from poisonous trees would drip poisonous water that would rot the skin. The people could only rely on some huge rocks for shelter from the wind and rain, living like primitive savages every day.
However, if such a place has something novel and beneficial to them, and they can freely enter and exit, they feel that it is not a bad thing to do research here. Even as a raw material collection site, it is worth spending a long time collecting the sap of the giant rocks.
After a certain age, people's behaviors tend to converge, namely, how to live a longer and healthier life.
The sap on the boulder undoubtedly sparked some thoughts, and even Bi Dazhi and others, who had not been involved in technical research for a long time, were extremely interested.
Obtaining a suitable liquid became a part of the research.
Zhang Xuezhou was no exception.
Some acts of violence and sabotage have backfired quite severely, and even Badun, who wields the magic staff, was no exception, as he was also shaken until his limbs went numb.
In the end, the crowd could only watch from the side of the boulder, and some even wiped it with insects.
Zhang Xuezhou wiped it several times, and then collected a few milliliters of the overflowing liquid.
He glanced at the liquid churning inside the sealed bag and ultimately concluded that the sample he had taken seemed to be non-toxic.
When dealing with the giant tree contractor, the fragment of the giant tree, which was over two meters tall, recognized him and did not spill any venom on him.