Chapter 46: Pumpkin Experiment
Chen Xuan walked into the laboratory. The laboratory was larger than Chen Xuan had imagined, with countless white glass walls. Chen Xuan walked past, and the victims showed no signs of illness. These small rooms were equipped like a hospital, with a window on three walls and a one-way glass wall on one side, so the internal scene could be clearly observed.
Moreover, the laboratory was full of traces of fighting, and many uniformed soldiers were patrolling around, identifying Taoist believers.
"Most of these are victims of Daoxian, and some are victims of Pen Fairy. In-depth research has not yet been carried out. I can only report to you based on some of the current experimental results."
"Don't you need a tablet?"
Chen Xuan held the tablet and asked with some confusion.
Zhang Qifeng pointed to his head and said calmly:
"I recorded all the data you have. I simulated all 378 experiments in my mind before they were completed."
"I can only say that after the experiment, the Taoist believers must be controlled immediately."
"Let's get back to the point."
"It's obvious that Daoxian is divided into two stages."
Zhang Qifeng's tone became much more serious as he began to explain his experimental concepts, which would allow Chen Xuan to quickly understand this research institute.
"The first stage is the incubation period. Before the porcelain statue was shattered, the Taoist Immortal disguised the replacement as 'evolution' for the purpose of rapid expansion. Furthermore, in order to help the victim mature quickly, he granted them the ability to 'heal.'"
He pointed to one of the victims, which had the word "Number 34" written on it.
At this moment, No. 34 was being electrocuted all over his body and tied up with ropes. The ropes were so tight that each finger was separated by a different rope. No. 34's mouth was blocked with iron and he was whimpering constantly.
This is a restrained practitioner.
"Number 34 was one of the victims found six days ago. When Daoxian first began practicing, he wanted us to help him stop. We tried electric shocks, hypnosis, anesthesia, and even cutting down trees... but nothing worked."
"Until the end, he begged us to kill him, and we agreed to his request."
Zhang Qifeng spoke calmly, but his words made Chen Xuan a little confused.
"Wait, you mean... he wanted to die during his training?"
"yes."
Zhang Qifeng said as a matter of course:
"If I waited until he finished his training and recovered, and then regretted killing him, it would be inhumane, so I decisively met his request."
Zhang Qifeng said this as a matter of course, completely unaware of Chen Xuan's surprised expression.
Zhang Qifeng continued to talk about the experiment:
"Death was indeed useful in the experiments at that time."
"After we cut off the heads of the Taoist followers, they stopped practicing. We believe that by stopping them from practicing, their healing stopped and their pain also ceased."
“But in fact, it didn’t.”
"After his sculpture was shattered today and his Taoist disguise was torn apart... he was resurrected."
Zhang Qifeng stated the shocking fact. Chen Xuan frowned and then said:
"You mean... he was replaced?"
"That's right."
Zhang Qifeng confirmed it, and then stated the conclusion of this experiment:
"This shows that forcibly interrupting their cultivation will not prevent them from being replaced by Dao Immortals. On the contrary... they will be eaten by Dao Immortals in advance, and then a replacement will be produced."
"But in comparison, this substitute is weaker than a cultivator who has fully cultivated the Hard Flesh Realm."
"A semi-finished product?"
Chen Xuan murmured, swiping the screen, looking at the data, and said:
"In other words... all the current victims will eventually become Daoxian followers. Even if they are killed in advance, it will only suppress their abilities."
"This experiment also shows that Taoist believers are extremely deceptive, even faking their own deaths."
"This has also slowed down our experimental progress a lot, and a lot of data have to be overturned and re-concluded, but fortunately, this is also an experiment."
Zhang Qifeng said this, but he didn't look too worried. He just said it matter-of-factly:
"Next comes the second stage of the Dao Immortal: the outbreak stage."
"Currently, there are only seven Taoist believers in Tang City who have completed six days of cultivation. They are also the foundation of our research. Since they have all been interrupted in their cultivation, their threat is not great."
"Preliminary observations suggest that they can gain greater power by killing each other, such as wielding the Spine Sword."
"Controlling the sword doesn't mean the sword moves at will. They need to pinch their hands and recite spells to perform the operation. If you hit their arms and interrupt their spellcasting, it will affect their ability to control the sword."
Killing people with a sword, the ability that everyone envies in novels about cultivating immortals, has now become a killing weapon that reaps human lives.
But this is not the most worrying ability. Modern artillery shells and firearms can kill people at a long distance.
"And the second is their inherited... healing ability."
"During this period of research, we conducted nearly a hundred attack experiments on the seven Taoist believers, and also gave them enough time to recover."
Chen Xuan's heart skipped a beat. Do all researchers speak so beautifully?
Giving it enough time to heal is just like repeatedly whipping the corpse...
"We've tried everything from physical attacks like slashing with knives and shooting with bullets to chemical methods like sulfuric acid and poison gas."
Zhang Qifeng gave the conclusion of the experiment:
"Their bodies are not only superior to those of ordinary people, but once attacked, even if they're burned to dry bones, melted into a pool of water by sulfuric acid, or even sublimated... they can heal over time. However, the more severe the injury, the longer it will take to heal."
"Theoretically, by continuously vaporizing it, their eventual healing time will exceed a human's lifespan."
Chen Xuan retorted:
"But this is impossible for hundreds of thousands of Taoist believers."
"Furthermore, if they suffer a large number of injuries, new monsters may be born. They call it a breakthrough, but I prefer to call it a mutation."
"Although they may have major flaws, their strength will inevitably increase in a step-by-step manner. No one knows whether hundreds of thousands of Taoist immortal believers will eventually melt into a true Taoist immortal."
Chen Xuan looked at Zhang Qifeng's face.
Although Zhang Qifeng kept explaining the dangers of Taoist believers, saying that these believers were like uncontrollable bombs that could blow up the Xia Kingdom at any time, there was no doubt on his face.
Obviously, the previous decision was just a preparation for the current conclusion.
"So, what is your conclusion from the experiment?"
Zhang Qifeng stated his plan:
"Based on their characteristics, I think that rather than going to the trouble of killing them, it would be better to separate them and restrict them for recovery."
"Did you ever see an experiment in growing pumpkins when you were a kid?"
