Chapter 314: Chapter 198: Elder Shi: Oh No, What Is This Big Fool Up To! (Part 2)

...

For the next week, the entire base was completely absorbed in exploring the surrounding environment.

Without damaging the cave structure, the researchers used genetic editing to invent a biochemical weapon targeting the mutant snakes, which took effect quickly; almost no living creatures were seen throughout the cave.

Even if some mutant snakes remained, they were sent to meet their maker with a few bursts of gunfire.

Expanding from the cave as the center, professionals cleared all potential threats within a radius of dozens of miles, after which the scientists excitedly entered the scene.

You could say every three to five minutes, an enthusiastic researcher would carry a different mutated species back to the emergency experimental area for analysis and to record the results.

Though this area wasn’t the heart of the mountains, it was not far, boasting over three thousand plant and animal species, not to mention minerals which could mutate.

Thanks to this grand yet tedious experimentation, a significant albeit rough database gradually took shape.

These researchers couldn’t feel any Spiritual Qi but, unable to bother Ning An repeatedly, resorted to analyzing appearances to summarize and form a real system.

Just like the previous variant cobra, named "Black Water Profound Snake" in the database.

And as for the mutated granite, though not officially named, everyone privately called it "Pseudo Spirit Stone."

During this period, Ning An loved to roam around aimlessly, observing the scientists at work, feeling their genuine passion.

Their eyes shone, as if this work was not trivial and complex, but the prelude to establishing a great discipline.

From dawn till dusk, the experimental zone was brightly lit, machines roared, and cooling equipment was replaced repeatedly.

Ning An and Elder Shi sat inside the lab, looking at a map covered with super details, with boxes of minerals on the ground.

"The survey around the cave is basically complete. To the north is the extension layer of the cave, not far from the surface, only about sixty to seventy meters; south of the cave, in our direction, there are basically no cave extensions, not much value; eastward, although there are many, they are scattered..."

"Aside from the peculiar minerals found in caves, have any other minerals like iron or coal been found?"

Elder Shi looked weary, exhausted to his bones, yet his eyes shone brighter: "Yes, there are, but aside from this underground cave, no large mineral zones have been found. This is quite normal, as the mountain here wasn’t originally a mineral area. If it had been, it would’ve been mined extensively during major development periods."

This wasn’t Elder Shi boasting but acknowledging a very real issue.

At the time, Dragon Country was impoverished, and although not comparable to now, any opportunity to earn money justified ecological destruction over improving civilian life.

With current technology, while locating mineral zones remains challenging, identifying whether minerals exist in an area is relatively straightforward.

To date, the mineral zones discovered around the base are small to minute, yet no one can confirm whether these could be Spirit Stone Mines.

Thus, whenever a mineral zone is found, samples are brought back for Ning An to inspect.

This process is cumbersome, naturally inefficient, and has even lagged behind the base’s construction speed.

Suddenly—

"Roar!!!"

A colossal roar abruptly exploded.

This sound, like thunder, deafeningly pierced through meridian senses, Ning An felt his eardrums vibrate with a hint of pain, frowning as he looked outside the base.

Not to mention Elder Shi beside him, whose face contorted in pain as he immediately covered his ears.

"It’s the sound of a black bear," Elder Shi screamed in agony.

"What?" Ning An’s interest piqued. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

A commotion this massive couldn’t have been made by an ordinary black bear.

"Pak! Pak! Pak!"

"Second Battalion Commander, are you blind? Aim for its eyes!"

"It’s too fast; bows and arrows won’t hit, quickly dodge!"

Ning An stepped out of the lab, looked up, and indeed saw a dark shadow rampaging near the base.

The black bear’s stomach was empty, eyes blood-red, likely due to its increased appetite post-mutation. Initially, it barely managed to survive on the available food, and since the base’s cleanup, it had struggled to find food.

Charging fiercely, the black bear invaded the base, the soldiers refrained from using firearms, battling only with cold steel weapons.

The bear’s ear-piercing roars reverberated, shattering the glass windows throughout the base.

"Pak!"

"Boom!"

"Crash!"

One explosion after another.

The lab’s glass, precariously swaying, shattered upon falling to the ground, scattering around.

Elder Shi retreated continuously, covering his ears, wary of injury from the glass shards.

One shard flew like a guided blade towards Elder Shi.

"Huh?" Ning An’s glance caught it, setting his footwork like a ghost as his hands moved with lightning speed, snagging the incoming glass shard.

In the mirrored surface, Ning An’s reflection showed him casually chucking it aside, the shard whistling through the air like a hidden weapon, flying straight at the black bear.

"Roar!"

The bear stood in pain, as the shard embedded in its neck’s artery.

This creature was truly mutated; prior to this, such an injury would’ve been not fatal but sufficient to make it reconsider.

Aside from fierce beasts, they’re more afraid of injury than death, upholding dark laws within the forest; injury equates to slow demise!

Yet now, the bear merely shook its head, dislodging the shard, quickly stemmed the bleeding, and grew even more aggressive.

Nearby, though several snipers aimed their rifles, none dared to fire.

The bear’s post-mutation speed wasn’t the problem; it was too smart, avoiding casualties, mingling with surrounding crowds, risking friendly fire if shot.

Some warriors couldn’t stand it, charging in with swords for one-on-one combat.

Seeing this chaos, Ning An smiled helplessly, raised his left foot to provide support.

But before he could act, an inhuman and beastly cry sounded, terrifyingly piercing.

"Roar!"

The sound clawed attention, as a figure, resembling a specter, seemingly emerging from the Netherworld, appeared in the base, standing before the bear.

The bear opened its mouth but did not use its fangs to rip; it struck a palm as if it merely wished to swat the person away, showing restraint.

The ghostly figure cloaked in black robes hid his face, neither dodging nor moving, waiting until the bear drew closely to extend a palm.

Strolling with idle steps as though sparring with an old friend, mimicking its motion in peace.

Bang!

Palms collided; the figure remained unmoved while the bear felt as if crashed by a mountain, uncontrollably retreating.

In its eyes, terror and regret brimmed; sensing snipers ready to shoot, it frantically roared and screamed.

"Do not fire!"

Instantly, an angry shout echoed from afar.

The sniper was perplexed; hearing an order not to fire, you wonder, who do you think you are?

Suddenly startled, a sweep of red flashed by, followed by a crimson document embedding on the ground before him.

"Yes!"

Without even opening the document, the sniper stood, saluting respectfully from afar.

Disregarding what red credentials implied, observing the near distance hand flicking, sending paper with precision, why doubt their ability to subdue the mutated bear?

Moments later, shadows flickered by, speedy enough to leave aerial trails, and mere seconds transformed into a pounding rhythm.

As dust settled, the crowd saw the black bear cowering at his feet, eyes pleading, akin to seeking salvation.

The figure neither moved nor spoke, silently watching nearby,

"Supernatural Bureau’s First Special Operations Team, here by order."

The voice emerged again, shortly after, a rugged and intimidating group appeared outside the base.

Hmm?

Ning An attuned, looked towards the base entrance, disregarding the large, expertly equipped members but focused on the lead:

Pale-faced, thin, seemingly weak, occasionally coughing while covering the mouth, yet those piercing eyes exuded a fierce aura.

"Oh my, it’s actually him."