Armed Train in the Apocalypse

Chapter 610 - 366: The Black Hand

Underground, negative tenth level.The hallway connecting the main functional zones was squeezed by the Fungus Carpet to just two meters wide, yet the carpet cleverly bypassed the light strip in the wall’s dark groove. Although the hallway was much dimmer, it wasn’t completely pitch black.

Suddenly, the bluish-purple Fungus Carpet convulsed violently, resembling a stomach spasm, then with a ripping sound, it disgorged a silhouette covered in mucus.

Ma Hongyu lay on the ground, unable to wipe away the mucus from his face, urgently asking, "Where have they reached?"

"Still at the negative eighth level’s energy center, the man known as the Conductor entered the running nuclear reactor. Terrifying lifeform, even I couldn’t withstand the radiation there. I never imagined that humans outside have evolved to this extent."

Ma Hongyu remained silent for a moment. The Conductor’s strength far exceeded his expectations, forcing him to interrupt his lurking plan. However, Su Huan’s god-like terrifying power infinitely raised his expectations, as his inner desire and turmoil peaked at this moment.

No one can resist the delightful taste of evolution.

Especially when success is within reach! Half a year of planning, the lives of tens of thousands of elites and numerous senior scholars as the price, Tianze University has reached this step, and too much has been sacrificed. He absolutely cannot fail!

The man stood up, heading towards the human enhancement laboratory at the end, his voice calm and determined, "The energy center might be shut down by them at any time, prepare to activate the backup power, we must hold out until the digestion phase arrives tomorrow. By then, no one will be able to stop us."

"It was already activated when you entered, but aren’t you afraid the Conductor might blow up the entire base at once? Given the energy level he released, he completely has that capability."

Ma Hongyu shook his head, "Without knowing that secret, he won’t destroy the base, he can only break it down layer by layer using physical means."

The lights inside the laboratory were still bright. A row of Genetic Potions neatly arranged on the table looked just as they did when he left, as if these months had been skipped over in this lab.

The only difference was that the floor was now covered with bluish-purple Fungus Carpet.

Various cultivation pods were piled in the lab’s corner like trash, replaced by a massive depression formed by the carpet, filled with bluish-purple liquid, very viscous, slightly shaking with the Fungus Carpet’s movements, the texture akin to Yu Jing’s three pots of repair fluid.

But these were the essences extracted by the Fungus Carpet over half a year from millions of mushrooms and puppets. Each drop contained energy equivalent to a Tier One Pan-energy Crystal, and the pit before him exceeded three meters in diameter, with a depth reaching two meters, the total energy far surpassing the amount of a dozen Tier Three Lords!

Ma Hongyu walked to the console, gazing complexly at the old man in a white coat beside the console.

The old man, like a stilled wax statue, showed no sign of the slightest movement, even in his breathing.

His eyes remained consistently lowered on the draft paper atop the console, not reacting to the outside battle, nor to Ma Hongyu who walked in.

The man tugged at the corner of his mouth, his gaze revealing a trace of reminiscence, "Teacher, I’ve finally reached this step. Interestingly, I encountered an old acquaintance—I didn’t expect he’d get this far too, but he seems to have forgotten me. Could this be the favor of destiny, allowing me to witness the fruit of the seeds I planted over a decade ago?"

Ma Hongyu discarded the absurd mushroom hat from his head, habitually washed his body, then donned a white coat, starting to mix the Genetic Potion.

While mixing, he talked to himself beside the long-deceased old man.

"No wonder he’s my teacher, being able to deduce a Tier Four Genetic Potion out of thin air when Tier Two was rare. But based on my current experience, this ’Vibration Sense’ should be replaced with ’Echo,’ lowering the skill level requirement and carrying capacity needs."

"No need to change these materials, just add some fungus..."

"Scream Mushroom? Good stuff..."

"Failed—it’s not surprising that the Maker’s success rate in Potion production is so low. Luckily, I have plenty of materials."

...

After failing three times, Ma Hongyu finally produced a new Skill Potion, looking at the three skill potions of different colors before him, Ma Hongyu stretched lazily with a smile.

"The standard skill needed for advancing to Tier Four ’Silent Judgment’ is assembled."

"Next step, first advance to Tier Three."

Ma Hongyu first tossed the three Genetic Potions needed for Tier Four to the Fungus Carpet, then picked up the last Skill Potion needed for Tier Three and jabbed the Fusion Potion into his arm, dropped the reagent, and stepped towards the nutrient pool.

The viscous liquid quickly soaked his body; at first, being submerged in the nasal cavity felt uncomfortable, but he quickly became accustomed to the sensation, as the injected Genetic Potion started exerting force, his body experiencing waves of agitation, pores opening, absorbing Pan-energy from the nutrient fluid.

While still retaining a glimpse of consciousness, Ma Hongyu stared at the Fungus Carpet-covered ceiling, systematically reviewing his plans in his mind.

The trajectory of events was consistently within his control, with the only variable causing him unease being Su Huan.

He thus said internally, "After the evolution begins, transfer me to the negative fifteenth level, isolated from all energy zones."

The Fungus Carpet’s consciousness didn’t respond, and slowly closed the nutrient pool.

Ma Hongyu’s eyelids also grew heavier.

"Once I awaken, I’ll tell you the most primal secret; otherwise, without a single familiar face in this world, it would be far too boring..."