Chapter 898: A Gift for the Huge Wolf

“Good, very good!”

Zhang San clutched the Evolutionary Synthetic Element plant sample Xia Qing had risked her neck for, looking more excited than when he discovered a new Green Lantern delicacy. He spun on his heel and hurried straight into the back lab.

Xia Qing sat quietly in her chair, her head bent over the new phone. This phone, gifted by that rotten wolf, was the same model as her recently broken one so there was no need to figure out new functions. She just needed to set it up the way she liked.

Even though she’d technically traded this phone away, shifting ownership, it was still in her territory. As long as it was here, she wasn’t about to waste the chance to use it.

Zhang San didn’t keep Xia Qing waiting. After a preliminary check, he strolled back out. “Both the Evolved Red Bean Tree and the Mistletoe contain the Evolutionary Synthetic Element. But to pinpoint which plant actually synthesizes it, I’ll need to run more tests.”

Xia Qing asked, “Third Brother, is the Evolutionary Synthetic Element you found this time a new one?”

Zhang San shook his head. “It’s Yi-3. The sample contains at least fifteen percent more Yi-3 than we’ve found in the previous three plants. That’s probably why you were able to sense it.”

Hmm…

Xia Qing quickly recalled what she’d learned about Yi-3. “Is this the Evolutionary Synthetic Element that boosts resistance to the Devastation Element? Third Brother, I remember you were the one who discovered and named it!”

Zhang San poured Xia Qing a cup of tea, smiling warmly. “That’s right. Yi-3 was the first Evolutionary Synthetic Element I discovered. So far, I’ve discovered and named two kinds, and as for Yi-28, you discovered it and I named it.”

Stars of pure adoration danced in Xia Qing’s eyes as she struggled to control her overflowing admiration. She pressed on, “Third Brother, so there are only twenty-eight Evolutionary Synthetic Elements discovered so far?”

Zhang San patiently explained, “Those twenty-eight are natural Evolutionary Synthetic Elements. There are also two that have been artificially synthesized. Before the Great Calamity, Blue Star had confirmed 118 elements—94 were natural, 14 were man-made. Back then, scientists generally believed there were only 94 natural elements in the universe, not just on our world. But when the Blue Star underwent its massive evolution and the Devastation and Evolution Elements appeared, their explosive reactions flipped all our assumptions on their heads again. Once more, humanity realized how deep and mysterious the Blue Star is, and how shallow our understanding truly was.”

Xia Qing nodded thoughtfully and asked, “Third Brother, there’s something I can’t quite wrap my head around. When the Evolution Element combines with other elements, shouldn’t the result be called a compound? Why do we call them ‘Synthetic Elements’?”

Her question showed she’d been studying in earnest. Zhang San looked very pleased. “Devastation and Evolution are both particles, so calling them elements is technically incorrect. But by the time we realized this, both names had become common parlance, so we stuck with them.”

“Particles are the basic building blocks of matter. Including the Devastation and Evolution particles, Blue Star has identified sixty-four distinct particles so far—plus the theoretical graviton, which hasn’t yet been discovered.”

That finally made it click for her. When her idol was in a good mood, he really did make the best teacher! Xia Qing’s eyes lit up. “So that’s the reason behind all this. Thank you, Third Brother, for clearing things up for me.”

Zhang San’s gaze filled with kindness. “The emergence of Magnetic Sense Evolution has taken our study, research and use of the Evolutionary Synthetic Elements leaps and bounds forward. Xia Qing, your ability is incredibly important, and you’re doing an excellent job.”

Since her idol didn’t like fake modesty, Xia Qing skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point. “I’m still at a low level, so my Magnetic Sense only picks up abnormal magnetic fluctuations within about a dozen meters. The Evolved Forest is just too dangerous, so in five months, I haven’t covered much ground. Last night’s discovery was all thanks to a Huge Wolf…”

When she finished, she looked at Zhang San with hopeful eyes. “Third Brother, it’s very likely that Huge Wolf will return tonight. If I don’t let it take a Medicinal Bath, it might sulk and cut ties with me. Then we’ll lose our most efficient way to scout the Evolved Forest.”

Zhang San was silent for a full ten seconds before he snorted. “How big’s this stubborn wolf? Male or female? How old?”

Xia Qing answered right away, “It’s a male—I don’t know how old. Its shoulder height comes to about 1.6 meters, but I have no idea how much it weighs.”

Zhang San turned and headed into the lab. Half an hour later, he came back out and tossed Xia Qing five packs of pale blue Pesticide. “Bathe it in this stuff, one bag per bath, no more than once a day. Not only does it heal bones and skin, but it also helps with shedding and repels bugs.”

“Thanks, Third Brother! That’ll make things way easier!” Goal achieved, Xia Qing didn’t wait for her idol to kick her out. She stood up right away. “Third Brother, my old phone got smashed by a leopard. Can I go find Brother Ya and ask him to help recover my data?”

Zhang San nodded. “On your way out, have Da Ya grab you a pair of the new night vision goggles from the Red One Research Institute. For your personal use only, not for sharing.”

“Will do. Thanks, Third Brother!”

If anyone wonders what it means to be a top-tier idol standing at the very peak of the cosmic food chain—well, this is it!

She’d failed to snipe her target last night because her night vision goggles sucked. The moment he heard that, her idol hooked her up with the hottest new pair from Huaguo’s best research institute!

With a satisfied grin, Xia Qing left her idol’s office. By the time she reached Zheng Chen, who was waiting at the end of the hallway, her face was back to its usual blank expression. “Captain Zheng, Third Brother asked me to find Brother Ya.”

Zheng Chen nodded, raising a hand to gesture for her to go ahead. He accompanied Xia Qing down the corridor.

When Xia Qing met Da Ya, she didn’t hide anything from Zheng Chen. She handed over her phone. “Brother Ya, I ran into an Evolved Leopard in the forest today and my phone got stomped. Can you get the data out?”

Looking at the cracked, mangled phone, Da Ya felt bad for her. “That’s the latest Red Two phone, isn’t it? You didn’t even have it for two months, right?”

“Nope.” Xia Qing’s heart ached, but her face and voice stayed flat.

Zheng Chen started to say something, but stopped when Xia Qing pulled another brand-new pink phone out of her pocket.

Da Ya chuckled. “Alright, Sister Qing, next time I need a new phone, I’m coming to you!”

Xia Qing replied, “No credit to me, just to a few very talented friends. Brother Ya, if you ever need something, let me know and I’ll ask them for you.”

After Zheng Chen left, Da Ya finally asked, “This one’s pretty totaled. I’ll see what I can do—what do you want to recover?”

Xia Qing stayed with Da Ya for half an hour, and only then left Territory Seven with her bag slung over her shoulder.

Just following procedure, Zheng Chen checked her supplies and noticed the brand-new night vision goggles from the Red One Research Institute tucked in her backpack, along with some unknown Pesticides. Once again, his understanding of the relationship between Xia Qing and Zhang San got totally upended.

He understood why Zhang San would make such exceptions for her: as a dual-attribute high-level Evolver with extraordinary toughness and vitality, Xia Qing was the perfect ally.

She really did live up to her name—so full of life and hope.

Noticing Zheng Chen following her, Xia Qing told him directly, “No need to walk me back, Captain Zheng. I can manage on my own.”

Zheng Chen nodded and stayed put, watching as Xia Qing headed off into the distance.