357: The strange appearance of the snake

The young Researcher looked at Chen Heng with expectant eyes; Chen Heng immediately understood what he was thinking.

"You're quite clever." Chen Heng chuckled and reached into his dragon skin pouch.

Of course, the source fragment wasn't actually in the dragon skin pouch; Chen Heng just couldn't conjure something out of thin air.

There was no way to explain that.

"That's right, I do have a source fragment here." Chen Heng pulled out an irregularly shaped black object.

It was the one that burst out after he killed the evil Dragon, and Chen Heng had always been reluctant to use it to exchange for Optimization chances.

Wasn't it much faster to harvest the Noble and powerful clans' 'leeks'?

This thing was indescribable; its form changed every moment, sometimes a crystal, sometimes a rock, and sometimes a fluid.

The only constant was the strange aura it emitted.

Just looking at it gave one a feeling of wanting to commit suicide on the spot.

"Mr. Chen, are you serious?" The Old Woman looked at Chen Heng solemnly.

"Everything about the source fragment is unknown. Rashly transplanting it could cause irreversible damage to your body and mind."

"Are you sure you want to try?"

"Please don't misunderstand, our Research Institute is very willing to help you with this, as we are extremely interested in such an unheard-of technology."

"But the danger level is simply too high, not just for you, but also for the Empire."

"You just said that the only known product so far is that ancient scourge, the evil Dragon."

The Old Woman's eyes were sharp, and her tone was extremely serious.

"Your strength is greater than that of the evil Dragon that fused with a source fragment; this is an undeniable fact."

"Once you fuse and lose control, then we would become sinners for eternity."

"Creating a greater scourge than the evil Dragon."

Chen Heng didn't speak, just quietly listened to the Old Woman express her concerns.

"Don't worry, this thing can't control me." Chen Heng cut open his abdomen and inserted the source fragment.

Who knew if this thing could be kept in the dragon skin pouch? If something went wrong, who would he complain to?

It was safer to keep it in his own belly.

This horrifying scene stunned the Researchers.

"Go ahead and do it boldly. If it really doesn't work, discuss it with your Emperor."

Chen Heng thought about it and decided there was nothing wrong with telling the Emperor about this.

Moreover, if the Emperor disagreed, he would have a good excuse to meet him...

"I understand. I will first report this matter to the Council of Elders, and the final decision will be made by the Council of Elders and His Majesty the Emperor."

The Old Woman nodded, neither agreeing nor refusing Chen Heng.

She herself was very interested in, even eager for, the technology Chen Heng spoke of.

But reason prevented her from immediately agreeing to Chen Heng; as the director of the Research Institute, she had to be responsible for the entire Chengtian Empire.

If something went wrong, it wouldn't just be a few of them who suffered; the entire Chengtian Empire would be in trouble.

"Alright, let me know when there's a result."

Chen Heng nodded and prepared to leave. Lingering here was just lingering; he might as well go back and research what was going on with the pattern behind Wu Man.

And try to Optimize his two young disciples.

"Mr. Chen, please wait a moment." The Old Woman saw Chen Heng about to leave and quickly stood up to stop him.

"Something else?" Chen Heng looked at the Old Woman with some confusion.

"Ahem, what I said just now was official talk; now it's different."

The Old Woman's eyes became fanatical, not much different from the cultists Chen Heng had encountered before.

"Could you stay and cooperate with us for a physical examination?"

"I heard that your Qi and Blood directly overloaded our research detectors!"

"What, do you think your Research Institute's instruments can withstand my Qi and Blood?"

Chen Heng chuckled. He was actually quite interested in his own body data.

The information given by the System was too general, only cultivation and Qi and Blood, nothing more specific.

This was a good opportunity to understand his own body.

"That's not it, it's just curiosity, but we will do our best!"

"Alright, let's see." Chen Heng nodded and agreed to the matter.

Hearing Chen Heng agree, everyone in the Research Institute's eyes lit up, and they immediately started to get busy.

---

Meanwhile, in the Chen Family Courtyard in Qiyang City.

"What's going on? Something feels wrong."

Snake Green's face was somewhat pained, her features twisted together.

She had certainly anticipated that the process of transforming into a Dragon would be very painful, but why was her body also beginning to distort?

If anyone saw Snake Green's current appearance now, they would surely be scared out of their wits.

Snake Green was covered in various claws, and even several Dragon horns had grown out.

This situation was clearly not right, yet Snake Green could clearly feel her Bloodline evolving.

This made her very confused.

"Could it be that transforming into a Dragon is just like this?"

Snake Green looked at the various claws on her body, her heart filled with doubt.

Aside from those strange claws, a tender pink Dragon claw had also grown from her abdomen.

This was the fourth Dragon claw she had grown; once this Dragon claw matured, she would be able to successfully transform into a Dragon.

By then... she would be able to keep up with her master's footsteps, no longer being kept as a pet.

"I will definitely be useful, no worse than that girl Hu Ling..."

Snake Green gritted her teeth and tightened her grip on the Dragon Pearl in her arms.

Strands of black mist drilled into Snake Green's body, nourishing her body... At sunset, the entire Imperial Research Institute's physical examination of Chen Heng finally concluded.

It wasn't that they understood the data, but that all the instruments in the entire Research Institute had exploded.

The Researchers looked at the chaotic Research Institute and fell into deep thought.

There were some things they hadn't told Chen Heng.

In fact, the thresholds of the various instruments in the Imperial Research Institute were all set according to His Majesty the Emperor.

And now, these instruments had all exploded without exception, which could only mean one thing.

That is, Chen Heng was stronger than their Emperor, and by a lot.

"I'm truly sorry, Mr. Chen." The Old Woman smoothed her somewhat disheveled white hair and looked at Chen Heng apologetically.

"Please come again in a few days. We will create stronger instruments with higher thresholds for your use."

"Well, I'll come again when I have time then."

Chen Heng didn't refuse; he was idle anyway, so he might as well treat it as a visit.

Wasn't this more interesting than going to a brothel to drink flower wine?

"Then the Imperial Research Institute awaits your esteemed presence at any time!"

The Old Woman led the Researchers to stand in a line and bowed to Chen Heng.