"This should be considered the most primitive application of Spiritual Power."
As the contrast agent was injected into the human body, both the bodies of humans and Spirit Beasts revealed a map of meridian lines. Researchers in sterile suits injected an unknown mist-like substance into the test subjects.
Lin Ying and Chen Zhiyu could clearly see something seemingly traveling through the fluorescent meridians of the human body.
The Institute Director simply watched and did not offer any explanations to Lin Ying and Chen Zhiyu.
It's as if the Director said nothing, yet recalling the educational overview he gave on the road, it's as if he already explained everything here.
The research conducted in the sunken courtyard is a scientific endeavor to replicate the ancient application of Spiritual Power.
The known results include life extended by 700 years; originally limited osteoblasts in the human body mutated, and skeletal remains that have been buried for millennia remain resistant to explosives.
Research should be rigorous science.
But the researchers' unconventional methods resemble orthopedic doctors swinging large hammers with a "bang, bang" crash.
After touring the sunken courtyard research,
The Director led everyone to a vertically managed plant factory.
A series of display racks, twenty meters high, where numerous vertical, unmanned electronic elevators transport pots of various plants to different light zones for diverse spectrum exposure to promote growth.
"Before the emergence of Spirit Beasts, actually, the most sensitive to Spiritual Power were plants."
"The plants in this factory originate from crops cultivated by a certain university, undergoing ultra-fast cultivation at speeds of three, four, even five times the norm..."
The Director remarked with a touch of regret, "Currently, we have not yet developed a cost-effective way to capture Spiritual Particles, so researching this material can only be done through medium purification extraction techniques...."
"In addition to being a medium and a base, studies on different drug effects are ongoing, hmm.....pharmaceuticals."
The Director paused briefly, then nodded heavily at Lin Ying with a very affirmative expression.
Medicine!
Extracted from mediums containing Spiritual Particles, infused with substances supplementing the human body's nutritional needs.
Get it? These plants resemble raw materials for crafting longevity medicine. Would your family like to invest in our research project and order some Spirit Medicine?
"........"
Lin Ying maintained a meditative expression, quietly looking at the Director, and said, "Let's proceed to the next project."
When it comes to Spirit Beasts, Lin Ying's knowledge might not be as comprehensive as that of the Director.
However, in terms of pharmaceutical processes, Lin Ying's expertise could overwhelmingly surpass that of the Director.
The norm in the pharmaceutical industry is that tens or even hundreds of billions are invested into the gamble of developing a potential miracle drug, resulting in decades of monopoly profits.
Much like Sildenafil, initially developed for cardiovascular diseases, yet it's now commonly used between weekend couples in the market.
The plant factory might research life-extending drugs.
But they might also develop something that causes humans to regress, climbing trees and howling after consumption.
It's a monumental gamble.
Inappropriately speaking, if electronic devices weren't prohibited inside the research institute, the Director's words landing in a fraud prevention center would directly trigger red alerts, and the police could call Lin Ying's phone non-stop.
The Director looked at Lin Ying but couldn't discern anything from her expression, slightly disappointed.
Pharmaceutical investment is exceptionally massive, one of the research projects Dongxiang Spirit Beast Research Institute wants to launch but lacks the funds to pursue.
Next, the Director led Lin Ying to visit the Dongxiang Spirit Beast Research Institute's specialized areas.
Research in animal nutrition, microbiology, and veterinary medicine.
Chen Zhiyu wore an odd expression, whispering to Lin Ying, "The content in animal nutrition broadly covers 'Pig Farming and Postnatal Care of Sows,' they mainly focus on Spirit Beast breeding here....."
Animal microbiology and veterinary medicine...
From Chen Zhiyu's understanding of these disciplines, it is generally titled: 'On How to Serve Spirit Beasts' or 'Tales of Zoologists Turned Servants.'
"No! Our focus is on medical research, as well as treating diseases related to Spiritual Power and parasite prevention!" The Director defended seriously:
"These are serious subjects and an inevitable challenge for our future. Parasites and fungi have a tight relationship with humans, and any change could have widespread impacts."
While talking, the Director led the group to an isolation room, observing patients via monitors from outside.
Among these patients was one who left Ansheng deeply astonished, a patient with [Wish Power +4].
He remained comatose, but veins stood out on his face, with rainbow-like colors freely streaming inside them.
"This is a critically ill patient, doubly infected by Spirit Beast parasites and fungi," the Director gravely stated. "We are unable to cure him, even when considering antibiotics worldwide, they cannot save him."
"We attempted parasite treatment, but our medical staff was sternly warned by parasites clinging to their collars, requiring three bottles of glucose before returning to the patient's organs!"
"This imparts us with our institute's most vital task and mission: to research several effective drugs against parasites and fungal infections before everything arrives, ensuring humanity doesn't get utterly defeated during the Spiritualization's latency period....."
Normal healthy humans generally don't get easily infected by fungi.
But due to environmental changes, some fungi are quietly evolving.
The human immune system is not as robust as people think.
In the face of these evolved pathogens, the human immune system appears as if it's running naked, although once humans regain Spiritual Power and participate in this recovery, they can evade these impacts.
But the human body is exceedingly precise and complex, with delays in the recovery process.
Therefore, people need to use technology to protect their groups during the recovery process and must deepen research into Spiritual Energy Recovery, leading to a new systematic discipline derived from original subjects.
...
After the morning tour ended, Lin Ying was brought by the Director to a special guesthouse located outside but within a restricted area of the research institute for lunch.
A soldier beside them spoke to the Director, who nodded slightly and said to Lin Ying:
"Your Grandmaster Lin has called you three times. I think you might need to respond. Other than the research institute's location, Grandmaster Lin can know about everything else here...."
The Director routinely mentioned it, but it was merely a customary remark.
In the current era, anything on land doesn't truly hold any secrets, except for bases built deeply underground which could evade detection.
The Dongxiang Spirit Beast Research Institute's confidentiality level is merely classified, not reaching secret or sealed levels.
But since the institute is inland, even if spies intend to act, there's nothing they can do. Visitors cannot access classified research.
Lin Ying retrieved her phone and went alone to a private room in the guesthouse to call back Grandmaster Lin.
On the other end, Grandmaster Lin said:
"I saw your message. Is the Dongxiang Research Institute planning a project and seeking our investment?"
Grandmaster Lin's words stunned Lin Ying slightly, leading her to question, "Grandmaster already knows?"
"I wouldn't say I know, just had slight contact with related people," Grandmaster Lin responded with a chuckle. "Otherwise, how would your political review have passed?"
"Have they asked you about The Longevity Club?"
"We haven't discussed that aspect yet; I was just visiting the project's investment plan at the research institute," Lin Ying replied.
"Hmm....." Grandmaster Lin fell into contemplation and then stated:
"......About The Longevity Club, if anyone asks, just straightforwardly say you don't know. If they persistently pester you, feel free to cause a scene, accuse them of sexual harassment, and call the police."
"The origin of The Longevity Club.... "
"Niece.... Family lineages that have passed down without break, accumulating wealth consistently. Do you know how many generations have they continued?"
"As far as I know, they are in their ninth generation," Grandmaster Lin softly articulated:
"The Longevity Club originated from discovering new profit points and possible longevity..... "
"Due to historical reasons, their organization goes by names such as Biological Science and Technology Church, The Longevity Club, and Gentlemen's Society..... They are essentially one, a company established by billionaires."