Plague Doctor-Chapter 520: Liquid

After a worm was cut into two, it could grow into two worms. First, the cut tissue would contract and part of the muscle would dissolve to form a new cluster of cells. The white blood cell would collect at the cut surface to form a clog to heal up the worm to prevent blood loss, and infiltration of micro-organism. After that, the worm could survive and enter regeneration status. Currently, there is still mystery about the worm's regeneration mechanism but mainly there are two theories about it. 

One is after the body cavity closes, the original cells within the body cavity would move to the cut surface and form a clog with dissolved muscular cells. At the same time, rapid mitosis would occur within the body to regrow back the cells in the digestive system, nervous system and capillary system. 

The second theory is that the cells at the cut section would differentiate to recover to its undifferentiated status. Then, these cells would differentiate, grow and regrow. Both hypotheses reach the same result. The part without the head would regrow a new head; and the part without the tail would regrow a new tail. A worm thus became two worms. Worm, a unique kind of life.

'This goat's leg is still alive?'

When Gu Jun heard Wu Siyu say that, the first thought in his mind was the worm. He stared at the broken giant goat's leg and he could see the hypodermal tissue dissolving. It was different from the worms, it was much more complicated than the worms. After these liquids escaped, they could coalesce to begin a new regeneration process to form yet another Black Billy Goat. As these thoughts flashed in his mind, Gu Jun's brain jolted with pain and the visions swam. But at the same time, he saw in his new system, his experience in autopsy grew. "Through observation of Black Billy Goat, you've increased your knowledge of life. +200 EXP, 4700/5000 (Level 1/9)."

Gu Jun was rather surprised that this would increase his experience but as the introduction to autopsy science said, the study was meant to have him learn about the truth of life through autopsy. It did not limit the autopsy to actually using knives or measuring, observation and making conclusions worked too. 

"I sense a stick insect." Wu Siyu hurried over. "It's pretending to be dead." Stick insect had the ability to break off its leg to fool its predator.

"Worm." Gu Jun gave his thoughts. "I suspect it is dissolving as preparation for regrowth." Hearing that, it dawned on everyone else in the cabin. Self-dissolution? Regeneration? Wang Ruoxiang said hurriedly, "Gu Jun, how about we leave the cabin now, put on the freezer to blast them into ice?" 

There were now two possible dangers, one was the liquid might leak away but that was not the most urgent because the cabin was airtight. Every drop from the goat's leg would be contained within the isolated cabin. The urgent issue was the other problem, if this continued, they would have nothing of the goat's leg to dissect. Wang Ruoxiang's suggestion was an idea, but could freezing really stop this process? 

Water froze at 0 celsius but an insect's liquid tissue would not freeze at 0 degree Celsius, this is called the supercooling effect. Freezing would not completely halt a life's cellular process if there was still cellular activity, plus this was abnormal life…

"Try freezing some of the liquid! See if they show supercooling!" Gu Jun ordered as he turned to look at the "4700/5000（Level 1/9）" in his mind, he was so close to the next level and reaching it might come with a new reward…

He still needed 300 experience. Facing a new unexplored abnormal creature, he had the chance to nab that experience without taking a deep dive into the autopsy. While Wang Ruoxiang and Uncle Dan moved about, Gu Jun studied the dark green liquid in the cannulated tubes, they were still flowing. Human body had a lot of water inside it as well. In fact 60 percent of human weight is water. They can be separated into two types, the 2/3 was inner cellular liquid and the remaining 1/3 is outer cellular liquid. The outer cellular liquid takes up around 16 percent of human weight. This was basic biological knowledge. But autopsy science is to understand the layering structure of the biological form. So what if the Black Billy Goat had a different physical form?

"These are not its effluence…" Gu Jun mumbled as he reached out to touch the dark green liquid. Even through the suit, he could feel their life and stickiness. "These are the liquid cells of the Black Billy Goat, they might be covering its whole body…" 

Xiao Huiwen gasped through the speaker. "You mean it can freely dissolve itself into liquid for the sake of regeneration?"

"It's just a hypothesis." Gu Jun picked up the Carlot scalpel and pierced through the skin that had deflated. "This liquid can help it grow and heal its wound. But they can transmute and regenerate…" Only a species like that could have the strongest fertility. An insectoid fertility. They would not easily be killed, death was just a new beginning. One young could lead to thousands young. 

Gu Jun cut open the skin and flipped it over. The inside was rotten and blurry. But he saw that the green liquid was dissolving out from flesh and tissue. They first dissolved into red liquid before turning dark green… 

"It can transmute." He concluded, "It can transmute its structural form." 

On the other hand, Wang Ruoxiang had collected a small cup of sample and placed it inside a -20 degree Celsius ice box. Gu Jun's guess was right. The strange liquid inside it did not show any sign of freezing! The green liquid was slowly swirling on its own like it was alive. 

The experts were stunned. Xiao Huiwen asked, "Then how should we stop this? We also need to study this state it's in…"

"Yes, yes!" Lucky slapped his thigh and gestured. "We have to stop."

Gu Jun stared at the cup of abnormal liquid inside the ice box. He was surprised that he was right… Suddenly, an inspiration came into his mind. The completion rate for the autopsy mission rose and a few other notifications followed it.

"By observing Black Billy Goat, your understanding of life increased. You gained 300 EXP, 5000/5000 (Level 1/9).

"Your investigative ability, autopsy science has increased in level! Currently you are at 0/15000 (Level 2/9).

"You have a new active skill from autopsy science!

"You have gained 1 autopsy science level up reward, please click to accept it."