7: Swallow the thunder fruit

A domineering aura suddenly spread from Xia Fan, like an invisible force field, deterring all fierce beasts that tried to approach him.

The Dali Mountains were home to a vast number of wild beasts. Therefore, even after the black giant bear killed the fierce beasts near the silver tree and then fought with Xia Fan, many fierce beasts still came, hoping to get a share.

However, when these fierce beasts saw the black giant bear's last moments before its death, they were instantly terrified!

In their sight, the Tiger King brutally killed the giant bear, and his superior aura was unstoppable.

Their originally restless hearts were severely struck by this, and all the fierce beasts were scared out of their wits, scattering in all directions almost without looking back.

Xia Fan ignored these small fry.

He, as the victor, strode to the silver tree. After carefully examining the silver fruit on the tree, he opened his mouth and swallowed it directly. “The thunder essence fruit is mine!”

Boom—

The moment he swallowed the thunder essence fruit, a violent power instantly swept through his entire body. The wild energy contained within the fruit surged wildly, like a horde of beasts, intent on crushing his body.

Xia Fan’s tiger eyes widened, and he gritted his teeth, adapting to the impact of the thunder essence fruit entering his body.

Gradually, his entire body became covered in layers of lightning. The electric currents, like small snakes, moved around him as if alive.

He exerted all his strength, striving to absorb the thunder essence fruit. After adapting to the initial pain, he felt a continuous tingling sensation throughout his body, and his physique gradually strengthened with the help of the thunder essence fruit... Meanwhile.

Huaxia, the Imperial Capital.

In a simple conference room, it was very quiet, and the atmosphere was very serious.

A young recorder in military uniform was tightly clutching a notepad, sitting on a chair, looking uneasy.

Opposite him were several middle-aged men in military uniforms, sitting upright and serious, looking straight ahead, seemingly waiting for something.

If it were just that, the young recorder wouldn't have been so anxious, but just now, he had personally witnessed one of the middle-aged military officers fly into a rage, smashing the porcelain cup in front of him into pieces.

Creak—

At this moment, an old man in a Zhongshan suit walked in, surrounded by several researchers in white lab coats.

“Chief, we have news.”

One of the researchers spoke respectfully, causing one of the military officers opposite to nod slightly.

This military officer was exceptionally burly. Years of military life gave him an air of unapproachable authority even when he did nothing, and anyone who came near him felt a sense of submission.

“Sit!”

He forced a smile, waving his hand to signal the old man and the researchers to take their seats.

Once everyone was seated, he looked at the old man in the Zhongshan suit, his expression becoming serious again. “Professor Xia, how is the research on the matter entrusted to your team progressing? Please tell everyone.”

“Understood, Chief.”

The old man in the Zhongshan suit, Professor Xia Xinyu, was a top biological research expert in Huaxia. He had led countless major research projects within Huaxia, and his students were spread across the country, becoming leaders in various Research Institutes.

He nodded to the Chief, opened the documents in his hand, and said in a strong voice, “Due to the limited research subjects we have, our team currently only understands the general situation of this change. The core of the anomaly still requires deeper research.”

“However, from the current information we have, this anomaly can be traced back to after that bloody rain.”

The Chief frowned slightly.

He knew about the bloody rain that had ended two days ago. According to the information he had, it wasn't just Huaxia, but almost the entire world that experienced a shocking bloody rain at the same time.

And since the bloody rain, the entire world had undergone an anomaly. The first to be affected were wild animals and pets around the globe.

Professor Xia Xinyu adjusted his glasses and said, “Our research has found that this bloody rain brought a mysterious energy to the entire world. It is this energy that granted extraordinary power to wild beasts and pets.”

“Initially, we believed that this bloody rain altered their physical structure, but through dissection, we found that the bodies of all affected creatures were extremely normal, and were even strengthened by it.”

“Through further research, we have temporarily named this mysterious energy brought by the bloody rain ‘Spiritual Energy’!”

“Spiritual Energy, just like described in some novels, can enhance physical fitness and strengthen flesh and blood when absorbed by living beings.”

“Spiritual Energy?”

The Chief and the other middle-aged military officers exchanged glances, all looking at each other in bewilderment.

They were staunch materialists and naturally did not believe in such ethereal supernatural matters.

The Chief pondered for a moment and asked, “Then, can you capture this Spiritual Energy? Or, in what way does it exist?”

“I apologize, we are temporarily unable to capture Spiritual Energy.”

Professor Xia Xinyu shook his head, a look of regret on his face. “During the research process, we found that Spiritual Energy indeed exists, but it is currently invisible and intangible.”

“If it weren't for the physical changes in a few experimental subjects due to Spiritual Energy, we wouldn't have discovered it so quickly.”

“Moreover, strong and healthy wild beasts absorb Spiritual Energy far more effectively than humans.”

A hint of fear flickered in his eyes. “Chief, I selected a few soldiers who had been exposed to the bloody rain and compared them with normal soldiers. I found that their strength had increased by a full thirty percent!”

“And even more terrifying, a sheep that had bathed in the bloody rain not only became violent but could easily break a soldier's bones!”

As Professor Xia Xinyu said these words, he showed a look of disbelief, but this was what they had witnessed during their research. “Therefore, I believe that Spiritual Energy affects all living beings, especially greatly enhancing wild beasts.”

“If we cannot quickly find a way to control the situation, in the future... humanity will be in danger!”

“Hmph—”

Suddenly, before the Chief could respond, a military officer scoffed, clearly disbelieving Professor Xia's statement. “Professor Xia, if what you say is true, can these mutated beasts really be stronger than guns and cannons?”

“That’s right, even if they are strengthened by some Spiritual Energy, they are still beasts. In front of humans, they can’t possibly fight back.”

Several military officers thought he was making a mountain out of a molehill.

Professor Xia Xinyu knew that words alone couldn't convince them, so he signaled a researcher to play the evidence on the spot.

In a shaky video, an armed squad was battling a golden python.

What was shocking was that the golden python was unafraid of bullets and elegantly departed after devouring several humans.

The conference room immediately fell silent.

Everyone who saw this scene showed looks of horror!

A terrifying thought emerged in everyone's minds.