As long as one possesses outstanding intellect, whether they are an ability user or an ordinary person, they can join the Scientific Research Guild.
This has led to it being the most united and cohesive organization among the three major guilds. Every ordinary person who relies on it for survival instinctively and wholeheartedly supports their leader.
Walking through the bright and spacious corridors, nearly half of the people passing by were ordinary humans.
Their hurried footsteps and mental state were far better than those struggling to survive at the bottom of society. Every movement exuded a sense of pride in being part of the Scientific Research Guild.
The receptionist had already led Sun Zhichun to the front of an office.
“Brother Sun is here again?” Deputy Zhang, who had met Sun Zhichun before, greeted him with a smiling expression. “Is there a problem with the Energy Disruption Device from last time?”
Sun Zhichun shook his head. “No issues.”
“Then what brings you here this time?”
Sun Zhichun was concise and to the point. “I heard that the battle pets at the Northern Base can transform into human form.”
Deputy Zhang suddenly showed a look of realization. “Ah, so it’s about that! Then you’ve come at just the right time. We’ve already had over two months of research on battle pet transformation, and our experience and methodology have become quite mature!”
“Brother Sun, since you provided an external base of our guild with a cable last time, we can offer you a twenty percent discount on this new research. You only need to pay one Grade-5 crystal to transform your battle pet into a human form!”
Sun Zhichun frowned slightly. “Just one Grade-5 crystal?”
“That’s right.” Deputy Zhang noticed his caution and smiled. “Coincidentally, someone is here today with a battle pet to undergo the transformation. Why don’t I take you to observe?”
It was indeed necessary to see examples first. When they purchased the Energy Disruption Device before, they had observed it for a long time before making the decision.
The results were quite satisfactory. At the very least, his sister’s dozen or so hawks no longer devoured crystals as dangerously as before.
Sun Zhichun nodded. “Alright.”
Deputy Zhang stood up to lead the way. “Brother Sun, follow me.”
The two of them passed through layers of corridors one after another, then took a private elevator to the highest floor of the building.
Standing within it, it was difficult not to feel as if the apocalypse had never arrived.
All of this was built upon the wealth and resources of the Scientific Research Guild.
“We’re here.”
Deputy Zhang stepped out of the elevator first, leading Sun Zhichun to a glass chamber.
Inside, the space was empty except for a silver-white chair positioned at the center. A white-furred fox was strapped onto it, its entire body covered with countless metallic plates.
Standing outside the glass chamber, Sun Zhichun watched as a researcher in a white lab coat injected a strange reagent into the fox’s body.
In just a few moments, the white-furred fox began to struggle violently.
The researchers observed with cold indifference, while the ability users standing by did not intervene but instead watched with anxious anticipation.
The entire process lasted for over ten minutes—or perhaps even longer.
Before the crowd’s eyes, the white-furred fox on the chair transformed into a slender human woman.
Sun Zhichun lowered his gaze and quickly shifted his eyes away.
Inside the glass chamber, a cheer erupted. The long-waiting ability user took out a prepared white sheet and carefully wrapped the “battle pet” on the operating table from head to toe.
At this moment, only the fox tail that couldn’t revert and the snow-white hair remained as proof that the woman was not human but the transformed battle pet.
Deputy Zhang retracted his gaze and looked at Sun Zhichun with pride. “Brother Sun, are you satisfied with our new research?”
Sun Zhichun remained silent.
His purpose for coming here was because the trend of battle pets transforming into human form at the Northern Base had become too widespread. Nearly every nearby base had heard about it. If the S City Base hadn’t fallen so early, this trend would have already reached there.
People tend to follow trends. Sun Zhichun had come to understand this matter in detail for the sake of his sister’s Eagle King.
“Brother Sun, is there something you’re still worried about?”
Sun Zhichun voiced his concern. “What rank was that fox just now?”
“Fifth rank.”
“But I heard that the first battle pet to take human form only did so after reaching the Tier 6.”
Deputy Zhang chuckled. “Battle pets that can naturally transform are extremely rare—just like how, in the past, very few animals could devour crystals without exploding. If we hadn’t invented the Energy Disruption Device, how could the Northern Base possibly have so many battle pets now?”
“Similarly, it is thanks to our efforts that more and more battle pets can achieve transformation. This is a scientifically sound evolutionary trend.”
“Brother Sun, since you already trust and have used the Energy Disruption Device multiple times, why not place a little more trust in us?”
“If there were really any issues with our transformation reagent, wouldn’t the many already-transformed battle pets in the base have caused an uproar against our guild by now?”
That made sense.
Battle pet transformations had been occurring for over two months now, and there had been no reports of side effects.
After pondering for a moment, Sun Zhichun asked, “What is the principle behind this transformation reagent?”
“Our researchers developed a device that shatters crystals and extracts energy,” Deputy Zhang’s expression instantly became one of immense pride. “A single Grade 6 crystal’s energy can be broken down into countless portions, allowing Tier 5 battle pets to achieve transformation without needing to rank up.”
“At the same time, with the assistance of the Energy Disruption Device, the impurities brought by the reagent are removed. This ensures that the transformation of battle pets has no side effects.”
“It’s truly a groundbreaking invention! The researchers are indeed worthy of being Tier 6 intelligence-type ability users!”
“When the third-generation Energy Disruption Device is released, perhaps all humans will finally escape the fate of exploding due to excessive energy!”
There was no denying that he spoke with such fervor that even Sun Zhichun was somewhat convinced.
Seeing his expression waver, Deputy Zhang pressed forward. “Brother Sun, you didn’t bring your battle pet with you, did you? Given your circumstances, you can just buy a reagent and take it back. Pair it with the Energy Disruption Device, and your battle pet can transform with ease.”
After a brief moment of contemplation, Sun Zhichun took out a Grade 5 crystal. “I’ll take one, then.”
“Great!”
Seeing that he had accepted the offer, Deputy Zhang enthusiastically had someone bring over a transformation reagent, which was carefully packaged and handed to Sun Zhichun.
“Brother Sun, come back anytime if you need anything else!”
Sun Zhichun nodded. Just as he was about to leave, he happened to cross paths with a strikingly good-looking couple.
However, the man appeared rather thin and was seated in a wheelchair, being pushed down another corridor by the woman.
To Sun Zhichun, these strangers passing by held no significance. He quickly retracted his gaze and left the Scientific Research Guild building.
—
Inside the courtyard.
“So, in other words, Xiao Hei isn’t suffering from a terminal illness but is actually about to take human form?”
“Yes.”
Pang Cancan let out a sharp hiss between her teeth as if suffering from a toothache.
What would a petty and vengeful black snake look like in human form? Would it have a sharp beak and sunken cheeks? Or maybe a narrow, triangular face?
She couldn’t hold back and chuckled twice. “Sister Su Su, do you think Xiao Hei refuses to transform because its human form is too ugly, and it’s afraid you’ll dislike it?”
Su Su blinked.
She instinctively lowered her gaze to the black snake in her arms. The moment it heard such “insulting” words, instead of baring its fangs or hissing as usual, it unusually buried itself deeper into the female’s chest, its half-exposed tail self-consciously covering its head.
“Oh my!” Pang Cancan covered her mouth, unable to hide the laughter in her eyes.
It’s over—Xiao Hei’s human form must be hideous.
“Sister Su Su, I think it’s better for Xiao Hei to stay in its original form.”
She really didn’t want to see a beautiful flower like Su Su stuck on a pile of cow dung like Xiao Hei.
When it came to the black snake that had once bitten her and constantly monopolized Su Su’s attention, Pang Cancan had always been petty.
Su Su cupped Xiao Hei’s head in her hands.
She examined it from the left and then from the right but saw nothing ugly about it.
She was just about to offer some comforting words when she suddenly recalled Xiao Hei’s endless lies from a few days ago. Her tone immediately turned indifferent. “That works out perfectly. I like Xiao Hei’s original form the most.”
The black snake’s typically fierce vertical pupils unexpectedly showed a rare trace of grievance.
“Hiss…”
Su Su ignored the fierce python, which was now silently begging for comfort, and stood up to walk into her room.
Seeing Sister Su Su leave, Pang Cancan wiped her little venomous pet with deliberate casualness and remarked, “Baby, if you ever transform into a hideous freak, you might as well stay in your original form. If we’re different species, I can still convince myself it’s just a matter of diverse aesthetics. But if we’re the same species, there’d be no way to deceive myself anymore.”
A veiled jab. An absolute veiled jab!
The black snake sulkily stared at this annoying human.
But it had to admit… she had a point. In the natural world, ugly males indeed had a hard time finding a mate.
Depressed, it turned around and slithered after the female into the bedroom.
Just before entering, it happened to glide past a full-length mirror.
The black snake instinctively halted.
It stared at its reflection in the mirror—imposing and majestic. Apart from a few pits and cracks on its shedding scales, there were no real flaws.
Otherwise, back when they first met, the female wouldn’t have taken a liking to it, deliberately using her ability to lure it into her backpack.
But… that form, neither fully human nor fully snake, was unacceptable to the snake and even more so to humans.
Even though the female had already seen through its lies, the black snake still wasn’t willing to completely reveal its ugly appearance.
It could vaguely sense that—just a little more energy within its body, and it would be able to fully take human form.
By then, the female would surely accept it completely.
The black snake cast one last glance at the mirror before silently crawling into the bedroom.
The rustling sound startled Su Su, who was changing clothes in front of the wardrobe.
She quickly hid behind the wardrobe door, revealing only her long, fair legs, and snapped in embarrassment, “Get out! You’re not allowed to come over!”
The black snake quietly slithered out.
As it passed by the mirror again, it suddenly stopped.
A certain cold-blooded creature thought for a moment, and its mischievous nature ultimately overpowered its pretense of obedience.
It stealthily slipped back into the room, noiselessly making its way behind the wardrobe door.
At that moment, Su Su had only managed to put on a camisole and a pair of home shorts. Caught off guard, she was suddenly tackled onto the carpet by the ambushing python.
“Hiss!!!”
The black snake slithered onto her chest, baring its fangs fiercely at the female just inches away.
Its tail maliciously moved toward…
Before it could act, Su Su panicked and called out, “Xiao Hei!”
The black snake froze coldly in place.
It needed an explanation.
She had clearly already said she accepted it before—so why had she avoided answering directly in the treatment room just now?
Most importantly, it had assumed she would be looking forward to seeing its human form…
The black snake’s questioning posture was far too obvious, and Su Su almost laughed from sheer frustration.
This lying snake was the one deceiving her!
Su Su reached out and pushed away the large python pressing her down. “Move. Do you even realize how heavy you are?”
“Hiss!”
No!
One snake and one human, one on top and one below, remained locked in a standoff for a long while.
Until Su Su suddenly let out a sigh and was the first to compromise under the prolonged stare.
She reached out and pulled the massive snake’s head into the crook of her neck. “Xiao Hei…”
She wasn’t truly angry—just a little frustrated about being kept in the dark. It wasn’t enough to upset her.
But… Su Su didn’t know how to put into words the vague unease in her heart.
She had been able to accept Xiao Hei before because she hadn’t thought their way of interacting would change.
But if Xiao Hei became human?
Sooner or later, it would be assimilated into human society. At that point, it would develop desire, possess flaws, and… would it still be as pure as before?
Blinded by her own perception, Su Su failed to realize that—even as a cold-blooded creature—Xiao Hei’s desire, possessiveness, and darker nature were already no less than a human’s.
She held the thick black snake tightly.
“Xiao Hei…”
“Hiss?”
Su Su looked at Xiao Hei, its dark green vertical pupils filled with confusion.
In contrast, she seemed to be overthinking things too much.
Never mind.
Su Su took a deep breath. “We’ll talk about it when you want to become human.”
She would accept it in any form.
And she would also accept… all of its changes.
Because she truly, wholeheartedly loved it.