Chapter 451 98: Classic Exploration Level, Completed!

October was approaching.

The temperature in the wasteland had dropped slightly, and the autumn wind occasionally swept past. The sparse trees and vegetation in the sandy Gobi Desert gradually withered and yellowed, blending into the color of the earth.

RUSTLE!

Amidst the slight rustling, a small lizard burrowed out of the dirt. It cast a distant glance at the Crimson Fire sun hanging high in the sky and the steep mountain peak below it that pierced the ground like a sharp blade.

The corpses of the warlord's soldiers and the Tan family that had once been buried here had quietly disappeared. All that remained were the traces of white bones left behind by scavenging vultures.

The entire area around Nanyun Mountain was exceptionally quiet, seemingly devoid of much life. However, deep inside the mountain, within the experimental base situated beneath the subterranean rock formations...

BUBBLE!

The sound of boiling liquid gradually echoed.

Following the noise down to a laboratory on the second basement level of the base, flames shot out from a metal nozzle, continuously roasting a pharmaceutical glass furnace positioned above. Inside the furnace, over a dozen liters of dark green liquid continuously boiled, producing a steady stream of bubbling sounds and continuous activity.

On a metal table to the side, numerous glass apparatuses, bottles, and jars were neatly arranged. The surfaces of these containers were marked with various text labels.

[Beast Blood Extract], [Mineral Element Crystal], [Vermilion Fire Fruit Refined Essence]... They were all refined medicinal essences.

Additionally, a six- or seven-meter-long white skeleton resembling a giant python lay across the corner of the room, quietly exuding the aura of death typical of the Beast King Level.

"After pouring in the Beast King extract, I need to use the Mineral Element Crystal to fuse the medicinal properties. This will gradually merge the essences into one and concentrate the Beast King's blood.

"The Spirit Plant medicines should be added sequentially only after the aforementioned steps are completed, continuously neutralizing the negative elements of the beast blood factor..."

His eyes focused and his mind calm, Lu Chao, dressed in a black suit, stood in front of the metal table. Following specific procedures, he sequentially poured the previously refined Beast King essence and medicinal extracts into the glass furnace.

The high-temperature flame projector continued to apply heat. As a result, the medicinal liquid inside the furnace boiled even more vigorously, constantly evaporating and concentrating.

Watching this scene quietly from the doorway was the Elemental Devouring Beast. It lay there silently throughout the entire process. It first glanced at Lu Chao a couple of times before fixing its gaze on the pharmaceutical glass furnace, lightly swishing its slender, cat-like tail.

Before they knew it, the man and the beast had been living together for nearly two months. They were no longer as guarded and estranged as they had been at the beginning.

Gradually, under the Elemental Devouring Beast's patient wait...

BUBBLE, BUBBLE...

The boiling medicinal liquid was finally concentrated and refined, transforming into several hundred milliliters of blood-red fluid.

After he poured it into a dedicated glass bottle, the following information appeared:

[Biological Serum]

[Quality: Basic]

[Consumption Effect: Contains Beast King Level essence blood and partial Life Essence, and is fused with numerous basic medicinal materials. When consumed at the Superpower Level, it can increase Life Energy...]

"Not bad." Lu Chao's eyes brightened as he nodded to himself.

The word "incomplete" from his intuitive sensing had disappeared. This was undoubtedly the complete version of the biological serum. He wasn't surprised by this, as he had been in the wasteland for nearly two months.

He had long since fully understood and comprehended the five Superpower Knowledges of a Biological Alchemist. Furthermore, he had successfully hunted two Beast Kings, obtaining a substantial amount of pharmaceutical materials. Through multiple attempts, he had already completed the recipe for the biological serum.

The serum potion before him was already the fourth perfectly crafted batch.

Wasting no time, Lu Chao promptly tipped the biological serum into his mouth.

As the abundant medicinal power settled in his stomach, [Plundering Growth] activated instantly. All the energy was broken down and restructured at this moment, transforming into the most optimal state for him to absorb.

Simultaneously, Lu Chao adjusted his breathing, guiding the medicinal power according to the principles of Ten Thousand Jins Return Flow.

His muscles and sinews, having developed "vitality," squirmed like pythons. His skin and membrane also trembled slightly under the force-exerting technique of his projected Qi Flame.

Under this intangible tempering, all the medicinal power was completely absorbed, fusing into every cell of his body. Finally...

WHOOSH!!

He exhaled a stream of turbid air that didn't dissipate until it traveled several meters away.

Lu Chao's eyes lit up. As he gradually settled the power within his body, he clearly felt a certain bottleneck shatter, raising his maximum life capacity once again.

[Life Energy: 199 -> 200!]

[Potential Progress: 75%]

"Just as I thought." With surging strength filling his body, Lu Chao clenched his fists and nodded inwardly.

After more than two months, he had finally stepped into the veteran Exploration Level.

Two hundred points of Life Energy was a watershed within the Exploration Level. To a certain extent, it counted as a minor qualitative evolution of life.

Sensing his body carefully, he realized that his strength, speed, physical toughness, neural reflexes, environmental adaptability, and so on had all increased by at least fifty percent, significantly widening the gap between him and ordinary Exploration Level experts.

Moreover...

HUM!

The Qi Flame solidified, swirling all around him.

Lu Chao could feel that the heavy pressure characteristic of the Qi Flame had been strengthened once more, and its corresponding destructive power had increased by several tens of percent. Especially when projecting the Qi Flame outward, it brought about a new qualitative change.

"Let's test it out."

Prompted by a thought, Lu Chao leaped out of the laboratory and walked over to a specially cleared training area. Concentrating his mind, he thrust his palm out fiercely.

SWISH!!

The Qi Flame erupted, blasting outward. Like a high-speed meteor cannonball, it slammed into the concrete rock wall of the training area.

BOOM!!

The sturdy rock and concrete exploded violently, leaving behind a shallow crater nearly three meters in diameter. The surrounding concrete was scorched black, with long, narrow cracks spreading out for several meters.

Such power was at least twice as strong as before his breakthrough.

"Oh?" Lu Chao was slightly surprised as he looked at the Qi Flame in his palm. This was even better than he had anticipated.

He soon realized, "That's right. It's not just the enhancement of the heavy pressure characteristic.

"Even the Qi Manipulation Skill has quietly improved by a margin following the enhancement of the Qi Flame's quality, allowing me to control my power with much greater ease."