A metal introduction board was welded to the exterior wall of this building.
【Gene Museum】
Welcome to the Gene Museum, a subsidiary of Serpent Staff Gene. Housed inside for your viewing are Dr. Sheng’s great creations over the years. Dr. Sheng cracked the code of life and led mankind to a new era.
Tickets: 888/ticket, half price for children.
The location of the Gene Museum was marked by a red dot on the map.
On the map, not far from the museum, was a blue dot. It was labeled: Life Research Institute.
【Life Research Institute】
Introduction: Entry to the flagship store of the Serpent Staff Gene Group is free and open to the public. However, due to the large number of visitors, it is recommended to visit during off-peak hours. There, visitors can interact with Dr. Sheng’s holographic image (Session fee, 50/session).
The test paper against his chest heated up.
Sure enough, below step 1, there were a few more lines added.
- Find the Gene Museum (5 points)
- Find the Life Research Institute (10 points)
Sometimes, some information can be gleaned from the scores given by the test paper.
Finding the Life Research Institute came with higher points than finding the Gene Museum.
This meant that the research institute was far more important than the museum.
Si Chen took a picture of the map.
20 minutes later, the RV arrived at the Life Research Institute.
The building was cylindrical in shape, with an irregular oval on top. Its surface was covered with hyphae.
Shen Yanxing said, “There’s a solar power grid on top of the building.”
But even that had already been completely covered.
The whole building looked like a big hairy metal mushroom.
Si Chen quickly made arrangements. “Song Ziyu, stay in the car while Shen Yanxing and I go down to take a look.”
Song Ziyu felt like he was being excluded. “Why am I staying in the car?”
Si Chen: “You’re pregnant. It would be inconvenient for you to go.”
Song Ziyu: “…”
He gave it some thought and did not continue to argue.
He didn’t know if it was just his imagination, but after entering the Space Fold, No. 9’s fetus inside his belly seemed to be a lot more active.
Several times, Song Ziyu felt like he’d been kicked in the stomach by the fetus in his belly. He couldn’t tell whether it was motion sickness or the pregnancy but he felt so uncomfortable, he wanted to puke.
When Si Chen came back last time, he had only taken off his helmet. Now, he just needed to put it back on again.
Shen Yanxing changed his clothes completely. When he took off his coat, his arm prosthetics glowed with a cold metallic sheen.
Si Chen couldn’t help being momentarily dazed.
Ji Chuyao’s legs were also replaced by prosthetics but they felt no different from organic body parts. They even felt warm to the touch. Many times, Si Chen forgot that his body wasn’t entirely the original product.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
In comparison, Shen Yanxing’s prosthetic parts were much more obviously inorganic.
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Scientific research says that humans actually find mates through smell. Even if you aren’t consciously aware of it, your instinct will help you pick out the right person.
Si Chen didn’t hate Shen Yanxing’s smell.
There was a wide open space in front of the Life Research Institute, which looked to have been an area where food stalls had set up.
The RV made an emergency landing in the square and the several-ton vehicle directly crushed a large area of fungus blanket to death.
Si Chen got out of the car. Stepping on the mycelium felt like stepping on hairy tofu. It had an uncomfortable sticky texture.
He had also changed his weapon from an energy gun to a flamethrower.
The flamethrower was worn on the body, like a metal vest equipped with an oil tank and a fire-ejection pipe on one side. It could also be taken down.
According to Song Ziyu, this flamethrower was originally used for picnics. The meat of some high-dimensional creatures is difficult to roast, so this equipment would be used for such cases.
The two men were armed from head to toe.
Si Chen held the flamethrower and kicked open the door of the research institute.
Because of the solar power grid overhead, though mycelium had grown all over the walls after so many years, there was still electricity in the building.
Under incandescent lamps, these hyphae grew extremely vigorously, like an endless field of wool.
Although this place was called a “research institute”, it was actually a commodity store. It looked quite safe but Si Chen still didn’t dare let down his guard.
The entire institute had two floors. There was no elevator but a spiral staircase was attached to one wall. Walking over, you might almost be overwhelmed by the mycelium.
They were wearing protective clothing, which was soundproof. Fortunately, they were equipped with wireless Bluetooth headsets, so communicating was no problem.
“We should split up. You search downstairs and I’ll search upstairs. We’re looking for Dr. Sheng’s holographic image.”
Shen Yanxing said, “Let me go upstairs. My body is more mechanized. My reaction to the mycelium won’t be as intense.”
Si Chen thought for a while and felt that what he said made sense. “Okay.”
Shen Yanxing headed to the second floor.
The hall on the first floor was almost completely open, filled with many display cabinets though they glass panels had already been covered with ash and fungi.
In front of each display cabinet, was a motionless mycelium man.
Their bodies were slender and they were taller than ordinary people, like mushrooms growing from the ground.
Their uniforms too had been covered with mold and they gave off energy fluctuations much stronger than those of the mycelium men outside. The white filaments on their bodies were green.
Si Chen walked over but these mycelium people did not attack. The only reaction was an increase in the number of spores ejected.
It seemed that during the day, even the mycelium people who have not turned into carpet also fall into a dormant state.
As Si Chen approached, the mycelium man struggled on the edge of consciousness.
Si Chen sprayed fire without hesitation.
The mycelium man in front of him melted, like chocolate exposed to high heat.
He reached out and wiped the stain off the counter.
The display cases on the outermost area sold metal jewelry.
Si Chen saw a silver badge that was fashioned in the shape of the Serpent Staff Gene trademark.
He thought for a moment and then took out his Serpent Staff Gene ID badge from the lining of his clothes, pinning it in front.
Walking further inside, he saw gene medicine being sold. But the counters had been smashed, leaving only price tags for the products.
Si Chen took out one of them and shook the dust off it.
Product name: Regenerative mycelium capsule
Quality: Grade A
Price: 3,500,000
Aside from “Regenerative Mycelium Capsules,” Si Chen also found price tags for “Longevity Mycelium Capsules,” “Special Effect Mycelium Capsules,” and “Mutation Mycelium Capsules.”
He couldn’t help letting out a ‘tsk’.
Obviously, the people in this world had taken these mycelium capsules, turning themselves into mycelium people.
Si Chen tentatively put his hand into the mycelium capsule salesperson’s pocket.
Sure enough, he found an aluminum medicine blister foil inside.
The teller moved stiffly and slowly. He stretched out his hand and grabbed Si Chen’s covered wrist.
The teller was stronger than Si Chen expected.
A cold feeling came through the layers of special fabrics. Si Chen used his fire control skill without hesitation.
This time the flames compressed the mycelium man by very little. Though the mycelium man still burned in an instant.
The flames spread through the tangled mycelium on the ground and the fire protection equipment overhead activated, spraying out yellowing rainwater, stored for so long it already developed a sour smell.
Si Chen was drenched in sewage and frowned subconsciously.
Fortunately, inside the protective suit, even the air did not circulate with the air outside and so, he smelled nothing.
The water was yellowish and contained patches of blue mold, making a particularly disgusting visual display.
Si Chen got the aluminum blister foil from the salesperson’s pocket.
It was a 2×2 blister foil. Three of the capsules had been used and only the last capsule was still sealed inside.
Si Chen smoothed out the aluminum foil and read the information on the back.
Serpent Staff Gene – D grade Regenerative Mycelium Capsule.
Specifications: 0.5g/capsule
Approval number: [D2340]
Instructions for use: Take once a week after meals to regenerate broken limbs.
Si Chen had no intention of taking the medicine himself. The fate of these mycelium people was a cautionary tale for others.
But as a former scientific research dog of Serpent Staff gene, he was actually quite curious about how the drug worked.
Si Chen couldn’t help himself from opening breaking the last blister. He found that it contained some small dry cake, far rougher than ordinary medicine.
He observed carefully for a moment and determined that this must be dried and sliced mushroom meat. He could even make out the mushroom cap pattern on it.
He burned the mushroom slice as well.
Just when Si Chen was about to continue searching these counters, Shen Yanxing’s deep voice came through his earphone.
“I found Dr. Sheng’s hologram, it’s on the second floor.”
Si Chen was stunned. “Okay, I’ll be right over.”
The test paper against Si Chen’s chest began to feel hot.
He carefully took out the test paper from pocket and sure enough, there were a few more lines on it.
- Find Dr. Sheng’s holographic image (10 points)
Additional question: Converse with Dr. Sheng.
Si Chen was beginning to suspect that the additional question only came out now because the Prophet’s Skin had only thought of the question just now.
Based on his experience from the last exam, additional questions were often the most difficult.
He walked up the stairs, carefully avoiding the mycelium on the walls.
The Eternal Life Abyss squeaked twice, its voice full of hesitation.
“Mom…hungry…”
Si Yuan hadn’t said anything about being hungry for a long time since it was cut in half.
Si Chen understood that this meant there was something going on the second floor.
“Is it dangerous?” Si Chen asked.
Eternal Life Abyss: “…squeak.”
It couldn’t say.
He turned on the headset. “Shen Yanxing, are you alright?”
The answer came from the headset. “I might… need some help.”
Si Chen took out the short knife White King had given him.
He thought he was ready for a fight, but when he reached the second floor, he was still stunned.
Shen Yanxing’s mechanical prosthetic body had fallen to the ground. Burn marks were evident where breaks had appeared. Sparks of electricity still lingered.
His back was turned to Si Chen and hyphae grew out of his broken arm. They had not yet been able to gather together and were floating gently in the wind.
There was a particularly obvious red mycelium web on Shen Yanxing’s back, like raised blood vessels, crimson hyphae was spreading on his body.
“If I were you, I wouldn’t shoot right now.” Dr. Sheng said slowly, “Or do you think that little flame will be effective against me?”
It turned its head and saw Si Chen’s work badge. It couldn’t help but frown deeply. “Fifth Step? An A-level employee? Has my company fallen this low?”
The author has something to say:
There is no relationship between Dr. Sheng and Qiao Yuna’s Dr. Sheng. It’s just that I think the name “Doctor Sheng” is very cool. So it was used repeatedly.
Dr. Sheng’s original name is “Sheng Wu”.
Thanks for the chapter!
Thank you for your translation!
All this talk if mushrooms has made my hungry…
Sheng Wu sounds cool, I should say
Thank you for your translation 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙
Nooo not his bro