17: Arrive at the Dahuang Mountains! Strengthening potion!

An hour later, Xia Fan was back on the road. The Azure Giant Wolf's carcass was already badly mangled, most of its flesh having gone into his stomach.

Behind him, a purple beam of light followed closely.

This purple beam of light was the Magic Cat.

It would fly around Xia Fan for a while, then perch on his back for a while; in short, it was never idle.

Xia Fan did not interfere with this.

He had successfully gained the Magic Cat's favor through the crystal of the previous Azure Giant Wolf, convincing it to follow him.

"Meow—"

At this moment, the Magic Cat let out a cry. Xia Fan looked over and saw it tilting its head, its large eyes filled with curiosity. He then stopped, raised his front paw, and pointed in the direction of Great Wilderness Mountain.

Their communication was this simple, yet it allowed them to understand each other's general meaning.

Moreover, the Magic Cat was naturally curious and had developed an interest in Xia Fan.

Xia Fan believed that as long as he occasionally gave it a crystal, he would gradually be able to tame it.

By then, he would have a powerful King-level auxiliary fierce beast.

"This matter still cannot be rushed after all."

Xia Fan looked at the Magic Cat frolicking beside him, secretly pondering, "There's plenty of time. I have all the time in the world."

"As long as there are enough crystals, I can tame it."

"After all... this kind of thing can't be rushed."

Having made up his mind, Xia Fan couldn't help but speed up. Although he didn't explicitly show this intention to the Magic Cat, it followed effortlessly.

Thus, one tiger and one cat, one in front and one behind, advanced towards the Great Wilderness Mountain Range... Meanwhile, in the Imperial Capital.

"Professor Xia, should we proceed with the second experiment?"

Inside a vast Research Institute, Professor Xia Xinyu, dressed in a research uniform, stood before a huge transparent glass wall.

In his line of sight was a strong, bare-chested soldier.

The question just now came from his assistant beside him.

Professor Xia Xinyu withdrew his gaze and looked at his assistant, "During this period, many soldiers have sacrificed their lives to hunt fierce beasts."

"Originally, I wanted to capture a live fierce beast if possible, as that would be more beneficial for subsequent research."

"However... the beasts that transform into fierce beasts are incredibly violent. They would rather die with our soldiers than surrender."

"Therefore, the research results obtained through all these hardships are exceptionally precious."

"Professor Xia, we all know that."

The assistant's expression was solemn, understanding that to combat these fierce beasts that appeared due to the anomaly, Professor Xia Xinyu and the army cooperating with their research efforts had paid a heavy price.

Initially, the first test subject was Professor Xia's own son, but he died directly after undergoing one experiment.

Professor Xia Xinyu endured his grief and continued the experiments, further enhancing the potion with his son's remains and developing a strengthening potion more suitable for human consumption.

"Let's begin."

Professor Xia Xinyu fell silent, then nodded after a long while and said, "Start the countdown for the second strengthening potion experiment."

As his words fell, all the researchers around him began to move.

A researcher delivered a glass bottle containing a red potion into the transparent room, handed it to the soldier inside, and spoke solemnly, "Xu Heng, this strengthening potion was developed by Professor Xia using the fierce beast's ability crystal, as well as its blood and genes."

"You are a soldier who has fought fierce beasts; you understand how terrifying they are."

"Once you consume the potion, you could very likely die."

"Therefore, before beginning the experiment, I want to ask you one more time: are you willing to be this experiment's test subject?"

"I am willing!"

At this moment, Xu Heng's expression was incredibly resolute.

The reason he applied to be a test subject for the strengthening potion was that he had participated in a fierce beast hunting operation and had personally watched his comrades die at the hands of fierce beasts.

Although Xu Heng himself miraculously survived, he lost a leg because of it.

"From the moment I woke up alone in the hospital, I swore that as long as I lived another day, I would fight the fierce beasts to the death."

"But I know that with the strength of ordinary people alone, we cannot fight fierce beasts."

"Only by becoming like them can I fight those beasts and avenge my brothers!"

"Good, I also hope you can be successfully transformed by the strengthening potion."

The researcher nodded, handed the strengthening potion to him, but once again cautioned, "A little later, I will attach some equipment to you to monitor your physical condition. In ten minutes, you are to consume the strengthening potion and officially begin the experiment."

"Okay!"

Outside the glass wall, Professor Xia Xinyu watched the busy figures, his expression solemn.

When his assistant returned to his side, his gaze remained unchanged as he said, "The genes of fierce beasts are exceptionally powerful; a single drop of their blood could even make us humans sick or die."

"Compared to them, we humans are simply too fragile."

"Indeed."

The assistant nodded slightly, equally worried, "I heard that ordinary maximum-caliber bullets are no longer able to harm fierce beasts."

"Therefore, the only hope of defeating them rests with you, Professor Xia, and with us, this group of people."

"Professor Xia, do you think... this strengthening potion can unlock the human genetic lock, allowing us humans to awaken extraordinary abilities just like the fierce beasts?"

Previous experiments had all failed, which was a huge blow to everyone, and Professor Xia even fell ill because of it.

If this one also failed... their experiments might be called off, and then the country would directly use force to deal with the fierce beasts.

If they couldn't deal with them, they would slowly be wiped out by the fierce beasts.

"It definitely can!"

Determination and confidence gradually appeared in Professor Xia Xinyu's eyes. "This strengthening potion has greatly reduced the harmful elements in the fierce beast's ability crystal and blood, while retaining their function of unlocking the human genetic lock."

"Although people will feel pain after consuming the strengthening potion, this... is something that must be endured."

Ten minutes passed quickly.

Professor Xia Xinyu watched the last second tick away, then loudly ordered, "All departments prepare to collect data. The test subject can now consume the potion."

"Experiment begins!"

Xu Heng nodded, then unhesitatingly tilted his head back and swallowed a bottle of strengthening potion, standing still in place.

Professor Xia Xinyu and the others watched with great anticipation, their eyes fixed on him.

Soon, the strengthening potion took effect, and Xu Heng's body turned crimson under its influence!

"Quick, record the changes in the test subject's various physical data!"