Chapter 1012: The Giant Evolved Hornet’s Magnetic Field

What does the magnetic field released by the giant evolved hornet actually feel like?

Xia Qing tried to describe her experience as accurately as possible. “When I got within five meters of the giant hornet, I could feel its magnetic field—it felt like walking in the shade and then suddenly stepping into sunlight. Warm, pleasant. But when I got within two meters, there was a clear burning sensation in the center of my forehead, though I could still handle it. I haven’t gotten close enough to know what it feels like within two meters.”

Zhang San quickly pulled up the database and gave his assessment. “So far, humans have discovered 28 types of natural Evolutionary Synthetic Elements—12 made by microorganisms, 10 by plants, and 6 by animals. The sensation you described doesn’t match any of the 28 we know. This means it’s likely a brand-new Evolutionary Synthetic Element.”

Xia Qing’s eyes lit up right away. “Third Brother, if that’s true, this would be the third Evolutionary Synthetic Element you’ve discovered and named yourself!”

Is that really the big takeaway here?

Zhang San was silent for a few seconds, then continued, “The lifespan of a giant golden-ringed hornet is about nine months. We need to figure out before this hornet dies whether this element is synthesized by the hornet itself or by microorganisms living in or on it. Tomorrow, I need you to get close again. When it comes at you, use a sedative to knock it out and quickly collect samples—its saliva, hemolymph, and any microorganisms on its body…”

Zhang San turned his laptop around so Xia Qing could see, and carefully walked her through how to collect those samples.

With her current skill level, Xia Qing felt confident plucking some fur or collecting saliva from a wasp, but drawing hemolymph accurately and finishing all those tasks in under thirty seconds sounded nearly impossible. “Third Brother, could I get Brother Song to go with me?”

Zhang San shook his head. “I suspect the hornet’s evolution in this valley is tied to the presence of pure spring water in Section Three of Hill Forty-Nine. It’s still too soon to let Zhang Song and the others know about that.”

So far, only six people aside from Xia Qing know the secret that there’s pure spring water in Section Three: the Idol, the three leaders of the Azure Dragon Squad, Doctor Wang, who detoxed Luo Pei, and Wei Chengdong who gathers the water.

Thanks to Xia Qing’s tight secrecy, even Hu Zifeng’s Squad, who wander Section Three regularly, only know her territory has two patches of high-grade Evolution Element soil. They guessed the original strain of X-2 came from Section Three, but they have no idea about the pure spring water.

Now the problem is: the sedation time for the giant hornet can’t be longer than sixty seconds or it will harm the rest of the hive. But Xia Qing can’t guarantee she can get all the samples on time and without hurting the hornet.

Which means she needs to bring someone who can get the job done. Of the people who have that skill and know the spring water secret, there are only two: Doctor Wang from Azure Dragon and Zhang San, who’s sitting right in front of her.

But Doctor Wang and Chang Li are both out on a mission with Luo Pei, leaving only one choice.

Xia Qing grinned. “Third Brother, how about we team up tomorrow and head out to the valley in Section Three of Hill Forty-Nine? That whole valley is my turf. We’ll be completely safe.”

Zhang San, slouched in his comfy chair, was stunned for a moment.

Seeing her idol’s expression, Xia Qing hurried to backpedal a little. “If you’re too busy, I’ll just go to the chestnut grove and catch some regular evolved hornets to practice on. Once I know how to draw hemolymph, I’ll tackle the giant hornet. That thing looks tough—it’s not dying anytime in the next few days.”

With Xia Qing watching him anxiously, a slow smile spread across Zhang San’s face.

Back when he worked at the Hui One Research Institute, Zhang San was stuck there, never allowed to leave. Even after moving to Territory Seven, his collaborators still insisted he stay put for his own safety.

Now, partnered with Red Eleven Base, Hui Three Base, and Xia Qing, he’d nearly forgotten he actually had his freedom now. He could go outside if he wanted.

Once Zhang San realized this, his excitement became hard to contain. “Alright, let’s team up tomorrow: you handle defense, I’ll handle the sampling. To keep the real purpose of this trip under wraps, after we collect the samples, we’ll head to the evolved bamboo grove on Hill Fifty-Two and dig up a few bamboo shoots, then swing by Hill Fifty to check on Zhang He’s project. Then we come back, yeah?”

With her idol this eager, superfan Xia Qing couldn’t possibly say no. “But Hill Fifty-Two’s evolved forest is totally wild. I’ll get in touch with Yang Jin and see if he can join us tomorrow.”

Xia Qing’s a top-class sniper—long-range combat is her forte. Yang Jin is an elite speed evolver with incredible close combat skills. With the two of them protecting Zhang San on the trip to the bamboo grove by Hill Forty-Nine, his safety was pretty much guaranteed.

Whether or not they’d actually find Green Lantern shoots, though, was up to luck.

Zhang San waved it off. “Yang Jin’s busy looking for Hui Three’s missing Magnetic Sense evolver and prepping for Devastation Rain. We don’t need him. I may not be much of a fighter and I’ve got zero real-world combat experience, but I can bring extra pesticides to protect myself. Just bring along two strong evolved wolves and that’ll do.”

Zhang San had always been interested in the Northern Wolf Pack and wanted to take this opportunity to observe how Xia Qing interacted with the wolves up close.

That… could actually work. “Third Brother, make sure you get rid of all the cat hair and cat scent before we leave tomorrow morning, okay?”

Back in her own territory, Xia Qing packed medicines and supplies for trading with the wolves. She crossed Hill Forty-Nine and Hill Fifty-Two, reached Hill Fifty-Five, greeted two evolved wolves on lookout, and headed straight into the Northern Wolf Pack’s core territory—on the Second Peak of Hill Fifty-Five.

On a huge boulder above what used to be Python Pond—now filled in and nothing but a shallow pit—Xia Qing found the wolf pack’s leader basking in the sun.

“Queen, how’s that platform? Comfy?” Xia Qing called out to the Alpha lounging on the specially-built royal platform, then cheerfully greeted the curly-furred wolf studying on a laptop in the shade. “Broken Back, looks like the fur on your leg’s growing back! Congrats.”

Crippled Wolf stretched out the still patchy, stylus-wrapped foreleg, showing off a set of small, charming fangs. The Alpha yawned, rolled over, and fixed Xia Qing with a pair of dazzling golden eyes.

Xia Qing pulled out the Alpha’s favorite double-sided comb, brushing its fur while slowing her speech to discuss the cooperation.

Broken Back paused the video and listened up.

“Queen, tomorrow before sunrise, could you bring Handsome Wolf, Big Wolf, and the plucked one to the Wolf Valley and wait for me? Third Brother—the human who healed Handsome Wolf’s back—is coming, and we’ll need to protect him…”

After listening, the Alpha kept lazing around, while Broken Back looked thoughtful.

Xia Qing understood—she’d have to negotiate with Broken Back. She finished brushing the Alpha and then went over to Broken Back, adding lots of hand gestures as she explained again.

Once Broken Back heard that Zhang San was coming to collect samples from the giant evolved hornet, his interest was definitely piqued.

Xia Qing immediately seized the moment. “Handsome Wolf can learn how to sample from Third Brother. It’s tricky—I don’t know how and he’s the only one who does.”

Broken Back considered it, while the Alpha yawned again and went back to sunbathing.

“Of course, this job comes with a reward. As long as Queen, Handsome Wolf, Big Wolf, and the plucked one come help me protect Third Brother, Handsome Wolf can have anything he wants.”