"Next, you'll be entering the range of the research institute. All electronic devices won't be allowed inside, and the tour might take most of the day. If the two of you have matters to attend to..."
Amidst casual conversation and painting rosy pictures, Lin Ying and Chen Zhiyu arrived at the entrance of the [Dongxiang Spirit Beast Research Institute].
This place is a military zone, and no map will show its existence. Approaching it means all signals, except for the internal network, will be blocked.
Before entering the sentry zone, Director Yang explained the situation to the two, advising that if there's anything to handle, it's best to take care of it in advance to avoid any confusion.
Of course.
Director Yang's mention of this seemed like a kind reminder, but he was always looking at Lin Ying.
"We're involved in life research here.
Your grandmaster is willing to invest in the Longevity Club, so why not invest billions in us as well?"
A significant portion of our research teams here is clamoring for funding, crying poverty to the point they'd pawn off even their undergarments.
Lin Ying leveraged her influence and wealth, arriving at the Dongxiang Research Institute through a form of donation.
But how Director Yang wished to connect with the Lin Family, constantly painting rosy pictures to trick them into donating here.
All core technologies and related materials are stored in three emerging universities; what the institute showcases are only what can be publicly displayed.
If investment could be tricked...
Of course, it's not actually tricking, since the matter of Spiritual Energy Recovery won't be kept secret forever.
When information related to Spirit Beasts becomes public, these investors will also receive their share of benefits.
It's akin to crowdfunding. Some research is very challenging to yield results, or maybe it's not a priority. If the research institute wants to initiate research, they can only legitimately and legally gather funds.
If done well, they might even apply for a larger budget the following year.
Because the crowdfunders only have the rights to use the results, while the technology and knowledge belong to the institute and the state.
Calling it trickery... It's not exactly wrong.
Lin Ying took out her phone and sent a message to Grandmaster Lin overseas.
She didn't say much, just mentioned that she had connected with the regular army.
The director here is purely money-minded; three out of five of his sentences are persuading her to donate, even subtly hinting that they have mastered longevity technology.
Chen Zhiyu also called home to report on her itinerary and arrangements.
Once everything was arranged, they handed over their electronic devices and passed through the metal detector.
Director Yang and the accompanying researchers led Lin Ying towards the research institute, surrounding them.
"Deep!"
Director Yang looked towards the main gate, and when the armed guards gazed back, he quickly uttered a word.
"Soak."
The sentinel replied with a word, a small door to the side of the main entrance slowly opened, and everyone entered the institute, proceeding directly to a disinfection chamber at the entrance.
Moreover, a strange 'tick-tock' sound constantly echoed in the ears of everyone.
The rhythmic 'tick-tock' sound continued to resonate, even making people feel a bit irritable.
Lin Ying furrowed her eyebrows slightly; already experiencing some mental fatigue and exhaustion, she felt a bit restless hearing such noise, disrupting her initially calm state of mind.
"What is the Wild Boar King from Skinny Dog Creek up to? Why is it making these obscene sounds constantly?"
Hearing the 'tick-tock' sound, Director Yang frowned and discreetly instructed the researcher beside him to handle the rowdy boar, so it wouldn't continue wandering around.
"Alright..."
The researcher nodded and quickly exited the disinfection chamber to notify the caretaker of the Skinny Dog Creek wild boar.
Upon exiting the disinfection chamber, they should have arrived at a garden path shaded by trees, but in its place, they saw only chaos and a giant wild boar with a tuft of blue hair on its head.
The 'tick-tock' sound was emanating from the area around the boar's rear.
Hanging at the proud male position were two metal balls, the size of lanterns.
While the Skinny Dog Creek wild boar was ravaging the garden, the two metal spheres swayed and collided continuously.
Director Yang looked slightly embarrassed and said, "This boar king, codenamed [Skinny Dog Creek], due to certain unforeseen reasons lost... ahem, it's been in a state of depression."
"Now...it seems to be quite fond of its two stainless steel welded lanterns."
While speaking, Director Yang was frantically signaling the researchers and caretakers to quickly subdue the troublesome boar, ensuring it wouldn't frighten off the institute's benefactor.
The researchers and caretakers quickly approached, grabbing the saber-like tusks of the Skinny Dog Creek wild boar.
The Skinny Dog Creek wild boar initially resisted, but after some whispers from the caretaker, it reluctantly ceased its destructive behavior, plopped down, and looked towards Director Yang's group with displeasure.
"I originally had nothing, but now that I've got these, why can't I show off my metal lanterns?"
"!"
Director Yang glared at it fiercely, leading Lin Ying into the institute with a guiding gesture.
Aside from the Skinny Dog Creek wild boar, Lin Ying and Chen Zhiyu encountered other Spirit Beasts along the way.
Including the Han Yu Crocodile and the Estuarine Crocodile—a giant beast couple.
The crocs, originally aggressive, now floated lazily in the artificial pond, ignoring the differently-colored otter dragging logs and building a dam.
"Isn't that the Han Yu Crocodile from Changle River?"
Surprised, Chen Zhiyu glanced at the crocodiles, then turned to Director Yang walking ahead and said, "How many tons of sedatives did you add to the pond? As far as I know, that wasn't their original nature."
"It's about leveraging certain Spirit Beast traits. Once they recognize who the territory's overlord is, their rebelliousness disappears completely, more effective than neutering them."
Director Yang chuckled, offering a brief explanation, almost hinting that a mighty beast is in charge over them.
An Overlord Level Spirit Beast possesses its own pride.
But once its defiance is thoroughly defeated, it returns to a normal mindset. As long as it's within the domain of that overlord Spirit Beast, all other creatures, regardless of strength, are considered equal.
Facing equals, Spirit Beasts won't make rash moves as long as their lives aren't threatened, fearful of disturbing the overlord's rest.
Though they're beasts, they're not foolish.
No one wants to be idly picked up and beaten by an overwhelmingly superior Overlord Level Spirit Beast.
They have no masochistic tendencies, after all. Currently, food and drink aren't an issue; there's just more neighbors, like a fool from next door constantly pooping at their doorstep, but that's nothing serious.
Under Director Yang's lead, the group approached the first research project lab at the Dongxiang institute.
In a vaulted courtyard, four or five shirtless individuals watched over a roe deer.
The deer kneeled with eyes closed as if asleep.
However, as staff in sterile suits approached the deer and young humans, Lin Ying observed researchers injecting them with a particular serum.
Afterwards, the lights in the sunken courtyard dimmed, illuminating lines on the deer and the young individuals—resembling veins of orange pulsing.
Director Yang turned to Lin Ying and commented,
"These are meridians... Although I used to scoff at traditional Chinese medicine, my perspective has changed entirely after modern technology revealed human meridians."
"This is precisely the method of Spiritual Power utilization founded by our ancestors without modern technology or contrast agents, from who knows where in metaphysics."