164: Chapter 164 The Peach Garden, Monkey Head Mushroom

"Old Fungus Lao? Haha, you young people really have rich imaginations."

"However, there shouldn't be any connection between the two."

Professor Shen Wanyu smiled heartily after a brief moment of surprise.

Even though this colony could grow in extreme cold and showed strong intellectual tendencies, it was still just a puddle of primitive colony. How could it possibly have anything to do with the legendary Taishang Laojun from mythology!

Xue Yao's eyes lit up, and she asked, "Old Fungus Lao—that name sounds so cute. By the way, does it have a name? If not, we can just call it Old Fungus Lao."

"No, we usually call it by its serial number: Antarctic Colony First Generation No. 0001."

Professor Shen Wanyu shook his head.

"Professor Shen, besides its intellectual tendencies, what other functions does this colony have?"

Since this colony was so intelligent and had such strong survival capabilities, Jiang Chen couldn't help but think of the Southern Heavenly Gate Spark Source mentioned by Ren Xiao.

Immortal Qin had a Spark Source inheritance.

The ancient era also had Spark Sources.

This colony was so miraculous; it might be related to the ancient era or the Qin, Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties.

Though he wasn't sure which one it was connected to.

Old Fungus Lao was just a guess he made based on the name.

"Mushrooms, Lingzhi... these are the two most basic forms of reproduction."

"As for deeper research, it's not convenient for me to disclose it."

"I can only say that life no. 1 promoted by the Longke Academy only strengthens the human body, but this colony we are studying at the Scientific Research Station could very likely completely change the direction of human evolution through food ingredients."

When Professor Shen Wanyu said this, a look of intense longing was reflected behind his reading glasses.

Ever since humans first used the sparks of the Organization, they had been seeking tools from nature.

Wooden sticks, stone tools, ironware, bronze, porcelain, firearms, the industrial revolution, electricity, computers...

They had always been expanding outward, seeking external tools.

Yet, they had forgotten themselves.

The human body itself.

The brain, eyes, mouth, digestive system, skin, blood, nerves...

These biological entities are the most complex organs that no matter how advanced a computer is, it cannot simulate them.

Brain scientists have estimated that only a small part of the human brain has been developed, with the vast majority remaining idle.

If one could start from the human body and allow humans to fully tap into their potential...

It would absolutely be a brand-new direction for evolution.

Its significance...

...would be no less than the evolution from ancient apes to Homo sapiens.

"Food ingredients?"

"Interesting."

Jiang Chen scanned the surroundings; besides the research on the colony, there were also many mushrooms and Lingzhi.

As for genetically modified and hybridized ones, there were even more.

After continuing the tour with Professor Shen Wanyu for a while...

...the group arrived at Professor Shen Wanyu's office. He took out a fully sealed experimental box and handed it to Xue Yao.

"This is the sample our Scientific Research Station needs to send to the Longke Academy laboratory this time. I'll have to trouble you to deliver it safely."

The experimental box wasn't large, about the size of a small refrigerator.

However, it was wrapped in layer after layer; it was unclear what was inside.

"Don't worry, we will definitely bring it back to the country safely."

Xue Yao nodded and had the staff officer take it first.

"Everyone, I have another experiment to do, so I won't be accompanying you further."

"Little Cai, it's almost lunchtime. Take them to have a meal!"

Seeing that it was almost twelve o'clock, Professor Shen Wanyu handed the task of providing the meal to Director Cai Minghui.

"Okay, Teacher."

Director Cai Minghui led Jiang Chen and his group to a spacious restaurant.

Judging by its scale alone, this restaurant was large enough to accommodate two to three thousand people dining at the same time.

It was currently the peak dining period.

However, under Director Cai Minghui's arrangements, Jiang Chen and his group were still served a sumptuous lunch from the Scientific Research Station.

And among the dishes, the most eye-catching were three flat peaches as big as watermelons.

Xue Yao looked at these three flat peaches in shock. She gestured toward her own head and then toward a flat peach, saying in bewilderment, "What kind of peaches are these? How are they bigger than my head?"

"These are genetically modified, right? Are they safe?" Jiang Chen reached out both hands, picked up a flat peach, and weighed it; it was at least ten pounds.

But on second thought, he had already seen the giant mushrooms. These flat peaches were most likely cultivated in the laboratory as well.

He just didn't know how safe they were.

Director Cai Minghui smiled slightly, pulled out a kitchen knife from the side, and chopped down on a flat peach, splitting it in two.

It revealed the fresh pink flesh inside.

As he distributed the peach flesh to everyone, he smiled and said, "Don't worry. These are flat peaches cultivated by Teacher using the colony. They have already passed human consumption tests."

"Of course, this is only the weakest Grade One Flat Peach. It can only enhance immunity and mental state."

"Higher-grade flat peaches are still in the experimental stage."

Enhance immunity and mental state?

And this was the weakest flat peach?

With curiosity, everyone tried the sliced flat peach.

"Mmm, it's truly amazing. I didn't expect the taste to be so good."

Xue Yao took a bite, her cheeks bulging. As she chewed, she secretly marveled.

She had thought...

...that such a large flat peach grown in Antarctica might have issues with its texture or taste.

Unexpectedly, it was truly excellent!

Jiang Chen took a bite and was also blown away.

He couldn't help but say, "This is so delicious. You guys don't happen to have a Flat Peach Garden here too, do you?"

"Uh, there is indeed a crop garden called the Flat Peach Garden. However, besides growing flat peaches, things like mushrooms, Lingzhi, and other genetically modified crops are also planted there."

"It's on the mountain opposite the Scientific Research Station, about a half-hour journey from here. If you're interested, I can take you there this afternoon."

Director Cai Minghui nodded.

"Holy crap, there really is one?"

Jiang Chen had a strange expression and couldn't help but burp.

"So delicious! Can I pack the remaining half? I want to take it back for the brothers to taste."

After Commander Li Jing finished eating, he had a look of lingering enjoyment. After eating this flat peach, he felt his entire mental state improve significantly.

Director Cai Minghui smiled. "Sure, sure. I'll go to the kitchen later and get some more for you."

If they could feed the soldiers on the aircraft carrier with flat peaches, the Scientific Research Station would be even safer.

Lunch ended.

Jiang Chen followed Director Cai Minghui to the mountain opposite.

This mountain was a world of ice and snow.

If they hadn't been wearing thick clothes and had strong enough physiques, they really would have frozen like dogs.

Even at the entrance of the Flat Peach Garden, there were several guards taking turns on sentry duty.

However...

...inside the Flat Peach Garden...

...those flat peach trees were covered with flat peaches. The snowflakes falling on them seemed like a mere tickle.

Director Cai Minghui took out a shovel and dug down, revealing the form of a large mushroom.

Seeing the shock on the faces of Jiang Chen and the others, he introduced it.

"The vitality of these crops is very strong, unlike those on the mainland."

Jiang Chen walked through the Flat Peach Garden. Inside, there were all sorts of bizarre crops.

Mushrooms, Lingzhi, and flat peaches were just the most common ones.

There were Enoki mushrooms as tall as a person.

There were Wood Ear mushrooms that could be used as umbrellas.

They were all edible fungi found on land, but their sizes were enormous, and their growing season and frigid environment were far too strange.

Walking to the middle...

...Jiang Chen even saw a motionless grey monkey.

"Huh?"

"Why is there a monkey here?"

Jiang Chen reached out in surprise.

"Brother Monkey, is that you?"

Director Cai Minghui answered, "That is a monkey-head mushrooms, not a real monkey!"