Chapter 498: Chapter 492: What Exactly Is This Species?

The ugly mermaid monster shrieked sharply inside the glass container.

Although Cres’s Spiritual Protection blocked most of its piercing shriek, the sound still reached the group, causing them to falter for a moment.

"Its Spiritual Attack is quite strong." It was Cres’s first time encountering a monster with such powerful spiritual power, and a thin layer of sweat beaded on his forehead.

Xie Ning scoffed, pulled out two bottles of Replenishing Well Water, and handed one to Cres.

At the same time, the thrashing, screaming monster’s black-bean-like eyes suddenly fixated on the Replenishing Well Water in Xie Ning’s hand, a look of pure greed and desire appearing within them.

"Even it knows this is good stuff." Cres chugged several mouthfuls of the Replenishing Well Water.

After replenishing his superpower energy, he once again strengthened his control over the Spirit Net, trapping the mermaid’s spiritual power firmly within it and rendering it completely immobile.

"You can go over now," Cres said, his young face solemn. "But you only have five minutes. You need to be quick."

Yu Tianfeng quickly took out his experimental equipment from his Space—little hammers, nails, the whole kit. He grabbed the ferocious-looking mermaid’s head and started hammering away with a series of CLANGS.

Everyone who watched felt a chill run down their spine.

Gu Chen even secretly sidled up to his girlfriend, whispering a warning, "See that? Deep down, Dr. Yu is a total psycho. You can’t let someone like him get too close to you in the future."

Xie Ning also found the scene a bit unsettling.

’Even though it’s a mindless monster, it’s still a living creature...’

’Dr. Yu’s dedication to science might be commendable, but with his current excited expression, plus the deft CLANG-CLANG-CLANG of his hands, he looks like nothing less than a psychopathic mad scientist.’

Xie Ning nodded. As she looked up, she saw an excited Yu Tianfeng holding something in his hand, turning to grin at her. "Ningning, look! I found this in the monster fish’s head. It looks like an Artificial Crystal Core!"

The term "Artificial Crystal Core" made Xie Ning even more uncomfortable.

She averted her eyes, her expression blank.

Song You’ai thought this kid, Xiao Yu, was ridiculously dense...

’He clearly knows my daughter doesn’t like watching these live experiments, yet he still digs out an Artificial Crystal Core and shows it to her like he’s presenting a treasure.’

’This is the difference between someone with social awareness and someone without.’

’This is why he’s still single...’

"The monster fish’s body also contains something like an inhibitor," Xiao Yu chattered on while taking samples.

"Whoa, look at this, everyone. What is this?"

"This looks like a piece of fish oil. I need to verify it further. The monster fish just endured such a powerful lightning attack from Gu Xiaohai, yet there isn’t a single visible wound on its body. This means its body has abnormally strong defensive capabilities."

Gu Chen: ???

’Who the hell is Gu Xiaohai? I’m this handsome and suave, how did I end up with a name like that?’

"Just hurry up," Xie Ning snapped impatiently. "You have one minute left. Cres can’t hold on for much longer."

"Okay, okay, I’m almost done." Yu Tianfeng sped up, scraping off fish oil and taking tissue samples. The sight made Xie Ning shudder, and she quickly looked away.

When the minute was up, Yu Tianfeng ran back clutching a box, a goofy grin on his face. "Don’t worry, everyone. This monster fish’s body has a powerful defense mechanism. It won’t die just yet."

Hearing him say that made everyone feel even less at ease.

"So what now?" Song You’ai asked timidly. "Do we kill it, or do we take... it back."

Seeing the deadpan look her daughter shot her way, the mother’s voice trailed off.

’Take it back? How are we supposed to take it back??’

’Does Mom mean she wants me to put this monstrous mermaid into my Dimensional Space??’

’AHHHH! Absolutely not! Not a chance in hell!’

’If I put such an ugly monster species into the pond in my Dimensional Space, wouldn’t it scare all my fish, shrimp, and crabs to death?’

"Mermaids are amphibians, right?" Song Kexin asked meekly.

"They, they should be, I think." Housekeeper Youen nodded, only half understanding. "So, why don’t we take it out of the fish tank and bring it back for Dr. Yu to continue his research?"

Dr. Yu’s eyes suddenly lit up.

"Then, then how do we carry it!"

Everyone’s gazes secretly shifted toward Xie Ning, only to see that in Captain Xie’s round eyes, two words were clearly written: "I refuse."

Gu Chen was secretly amused and cleared his throat. "It’s not that we can’t take it, but the problem is, its Spiritual Attack is quite strong. We need to prepare for the possibility it might break free on the way."

Xie Ning’s small face was so tense it was practically petrified. "I have a question."

"Go ahead."

"Is this a mutated human, or a mutated fish?"

’If it’s human, then I refuse!’ Xie Ning thought.

’It would be better to just kill it and put it out of its misery.’

Yu Tianfeng froze for a moment, then blinked his beautiful Rui Feng eyes. He ran to Xie Ning’s side and tugged her hand. "Ningning, what are you thinking? This is a mutated fish. It just happens to have a human-like head."

"Look at it, it can’t talk at all and has no consciousness. It’s definitely not one of us. How could I possibly hammer away at a living person, right? Ningning, I’m not a psycho, you know."

Everyone: ...

’But Dr. Yu’s actions just now really did make him look like a psycho.’

Song You’ai also let out a sigh of relief. "If that’s the case, then should we try to take it back? Didn’t Xiao Yu just say this monster fish has a powerful defense?"

"That’s probably why Gushang Base was keeping this monster fish here for experiments."

Everyone nodded thoughtfully.

Lu Wei hung up his communication device and walked over. "The base has decided to send another team over specifically to escort this mermaid monster."

Gu Chen raised an eyebrow noncommittally.

’If the base sends people over now, the fastest they could get here is by tomorrow evening.’

’So, the problem of guarding this mermaid monster falls to us for now.’

"Ningning, could you please make a sturdy Gold Lock Chain?"

With a blank expression, Xie Ning pulled several fist-thick chains out of a container in her Space.

The group worked together to drag the mermaid monster out of the glass vessel.

The moment the glass vessel tipped over, the filthy water inside spilled all over the floor.

Xie Ning silently took out a pair of rubber shoe covers and added another layer of protection to her feet...

Gu Chen and the others found this rather amusing.

Song Kexin followed her example and put on a pair of shoe covers as well. Following Lu Wei’s instructions, she began tossing small blue Fireballs one by one into the smaller glass vessels nearby.

Yu Tianfeng was busy with his final round of aquatic sample collection.

Xie Ning pointed at the adjacent wall. "There should be a hidden room there. Open it and have a look."

Gu Chen nodded repeatedly.

’My girlfriend’s spiritual power scan is so useful. Nothing hidden can escape her eagle eyes.’

The group moved with swift efficiency. After clearing out all the small monster fish being cultivated in the glass vessels, they pried open the hidden door behind the wall.

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