Chapter 1844: Chapter 1841: Cultivation in Secret

Every laboratory is equipped with surveillance cameras, not just to prevent accidents, but also to record the experiment process. Each important experiment in the laboratory is documented on video, serving as crucial research material.

Lin Tian knew the camera wouldn’t be blurry for too long, and once the monitoring staff noticed, they would certainly come to check. However, he didn’t need much time.

Approaching the Ghost Fire Worm incubator, Lin Tian observed the internal conditions. Inside the incubator were green leaves of an unknown plant, with the Ghost Fire Worms attached to the leaves, staining them with specks of purple light.

These green plants were likely used by Li Qingyun for nurturing Gu Worms, though whether it was effective remained uncertain.

Lin Tian opened the groove while raising his hand, igniting a small cluster of purple flame in his palm. The moment the Purple Flame appeared, the previously calm Ghost Fire Worms stirred and flew towards Lin Tian.

However, the Ghost Fire Worms were blocked by the container walls. Despite this, they continued to collide, attempting to break free from the container.

"You indeed mutated under the influence of Qingyao’s power, so my plan was correct," Lin Tian thought to himself and then carefully divided a strand of the purple flame.

The strand of purple flame, finer than a hair, entered through the groove and floated out from the middle of the incubator. The groove passage of the incubator is designed with double-seal devices, ensuring that during the control of the purple flame’s entry, the Ghost Fire Worms would not escape through the groove.

Once the purple flame appeared inside the container, the Ghost Fire Worms almost instantly sensed it, all flying towards the purple flame. However, the scene of moths rushing to a flame did not occur; in Lin Tian’s curious gaze, the Ghost Fire Worms merely circled around the purple flame.

During their encircling flight, with the vibration of their wings, strands of energy peeled away from the purple flame and were absorbed by the surrounding Ghost Fire Worms.

So that’s how it is; the method of energy absorption by Ghost Fire Worms differs from that of Ghost Worms. Lin Tian felt delighted; as long as they don’t rely on parasitic hosts for reproduction and growth, he has plenty of purple flame to feed them.

The Ghost Fire Worms appeared to be famished, greedily absorbing the Purple Flame Energy. As the energy absorption continued, the purple glow on them brightened slightly.

"Bang, bang, bang..."

Just as Lin Tian was carefully nurturing them, a knocking sound was heard. Through the surveillance camera outside the door, Lin Tian saw the person knocking was a woman. She wore a white lab coat, had a tall and slender build, a pretty face, shoulder-length hair, and fine-framed glasses.

It’s her? She’s indeed here to check the camera. Lin Tian recognized the woman; it was the same Professor Xia who handled the last experiment accident.

Lin Tian didn’t wait long and immediately said into the intercom, "Please come in." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

As one of the laboratory managers, Professor Xia naturally had the access codes. After a few beeps, the door clicked open, and Professor Xia walked in.

Lin Tian was in the isolation chamber inside. Professor Xia, upon entering, didn’t see Lin Tian doing anything, while Lin Tian maintained his posture of controlling the purple flame, listening to Professor Xia’s approaching footsteps.

"Lin Tian, the monitoring center found a camera malfunction here. Did anything happen?" Professor Xia, noticing Lin Tian hadn’t turned around or moved, furrowed her brows slightly.

Still controlling the purple flame, Lin Tian calmly replied, "A malfunction? I’ve been focused on studying the Ghost Fire Worms and didn’t notice."

As Lin Tian remained still, Professor Xia grew suspicious and pressed further, "What are you doing? Why are you not facing me when responding?" Saying this, she quickened her pace and approached the incubator.

Lin Tian kept an eye on Professor Xia’s proximity, and the moment she got close, he clenched his hand, extinguishing the purple flame. Simultaneously, the purple flame within the incubator had just been fully absorbed, and the Ghost Fire Worms slowly dispersed, returning to the leaves.

Professor Xia didn’t notice anything unusual, merely seeing Lin Tian maintaining his stance of observing the bugs. Doubt flickered across the beautiful professor’s face, contemplating whether she was overthinking.

Lin Tian slightly tilted his head, glanced into Professor Xia’s eyes, and softly said, "Shh, Professor Xia, don’t disturb them; they’re feeding."

This statement wasn’t entirely false, as they had just been in the process of feeding, albeit in a rather unusual manner.

Professor Xia blinked, observed the Ghost Fire Worms, and they indeed appeared to be feeding on the leaves. Ceasing further suspicions, she nodded towards Lin Tian and turned to inspect the camera.

At this point, the water stains on the camera had mostly dried, leaving only faint traces. After wiping it off, Professor Xia heard a voice through her earpiece, "Professor Xia, the image is clear now."

"Alright, everything is normal here," replied Professor Xia.

"Sorry for the disturbance, Lin Tian, you may continue." Professor Xia spoke again to Lin Tian, then turned to leave.

Watching her leave, Lin Tian breathed a slight sigh of relief; this woman’s intuition was impressively keen, nearly discovering his secret. Although being found out might not necessarily expose his identity as a zombie, someone with ulterior motives observing could pose a risk of exposure.

Soon after the beautiful professor’s departure, Li Qingyun returned. As she entered, she asked, "I saw Professor Xia; did anything happen?"

"Uh, it seems there was a minor issue with the camera." Lin Tian spoke nonchalantly, then shifted the topic, "Any progress from Professor He and the others?"

Li Qingyun didn’t delve deeper, nodded, and said, "Professor He conducted a preliminary analysis on the Ghost Fire Worms’ composition, indeed discovering some rare mineral elements. However, many unknown substances remain that require further analysis."

As she spoke, she walked over to the incubator, habitually observing the Ghost Fire Worms inside. After a moment, a surprised expression crossed her face.

"Hmm, they seem to have changed," Li Qingyun said uncertainly, pausing before asking, "Was there any commotion just now?"

Lin Tian half-truthfully replied, "The bugs briefly flew up, but only for a moment before returning to the leaves; I suppose they’ve undergone some changes."

"Flew up?" Li Qingyun pondered for a while and said, "It seems our nurturing direction is correct. Professor He and Professor Hu are preparing to isolate the elemental composition of mineral samples. These minerals were extracted from cavities in ancient tombs and should be useful in nurturing the Ghost Fire Worms."

"Additionally, Elder Jiang is researching the special medicine formula issue, and everything is proceeding in an orderly manner—that’s hope." Li Qingyun spoke with anticipation.

"Good, but we might not have much time left," Lin Tian hinted.

Li Qingyun’s gaze flickered momentarily, trying to discern something from Lin Tian’s face, but she saw nothing.

"Professor Li, I’m heading back. You can rest assured about the hospital; there won’t be any issues for now." Lin Tian spoke in his usual tone.

After bidding farewell to Li Qingyun, Lin Tian also left the laboratory. Professor He and the others were still conducting research; watching their busy figures, a celestial swirl flashed in Lin Tian’s eyes. This, perhaps, is the power of perseverance; it’s precisely this resilient power that allows one to overcome numerous obstacles, even when such difficulties stem from death.