Ji Yizhi nodded in agreement. "It doesn’t seem like we can be of much help here. Let’s just wait for the results."
Wang Jun and the other two left the laboratory, each returning to their own fleets to handle other matters.
Inside the lab, Zhao Jun was directing the research personnel in brewing the decoction.
The Aircraft Carrier Base had no shortage of licorice slices, so they immediately requisitioned a batch.
After consulting with a traditional Chinese medicine doctor on the base, they learned that baked licorice was simply licorice processed with honey. They requisitioned a batch of that as well.
"Captain Zhao, how should we brew this licorice?" a researcher asked, looking at the licorice slices that resembled cross-sections of small tree roots.
"That’s simple," Zhao Jun replied. "Add some water, bring it to a boil, and let it brew. Then, at regular intervals, test the water for the target substances and their concentrations. Once the concentration of the target substance matches the potion from the Peach Blossom Base, we can stop and compare the two solutions."
The researcher immediately began brewing according to Zhao Jun’s instructions.
They soon detected the target substance in the brewing decoction. However, even when it had nearly boiled dry, the concentration still hadn’t reached the same level as the potion from the Peach Blossom Base.
Hearing his subordinate’s feedback, Zhao Jun thought for a moment before saying, "The Peach Blossom Base must have concentrated their licorice soup. Increase the brewing quantity, then concentrate it!"
"Yes, sir!"
After several hours of work, the Aircraft Carrier Base’s lab finally produced a potion with a target substance concentration matching that of the Peach Blossom Base.
Subsequent analysis of its characteristic components confirmed that it was identical to the potion from the Peach Blossom Base.
"Captain Zhao, it seems our potion is still a little different from the one from Peach Blossom Base," a researcher said, frowning slightly as he looked at the two beakers of potion before him.
Zhao Jun nodded slightly. The two potions in front of him had different appearances and their medicinal aromas also varied.
’If the main active ingredients are all there, it should just be a problem with the raw licorice material,’ Zhao Jun ultimately decided. "I’ll go request permission from the captain to run a test."
When Wang Jun received Zhao Jun’s request, he didn’t hesitate for a moment, immediately approving it. "Request granted. Test twenty doses first."
"Yes, sir!" Zhao Jun replied.
They quickly prepared the Evolution Potion and selected twenty prisoners for the test.
While the Aircraft Carrier Base was attempting to replicate the Licorice Decoction, Qin Haonan finally returned to the Peach Blossom Base.
After moving the semi-finished Evolution Potions from the trade into the laboratory, Qin Haonan went to the container and couldn’t help but complain, "Why does it feel like there are a lot fewer survivors out there this time?"
On his previous trips, he had managed to find other things besides just trading. This time, he got nothing and didn’t even run into any other survivors.
"Evolutionary Fish and mutated fish are still a huge threat to ordinary survivors," Ren Yuanyang said with a slight nod. "Most survivors have probably moved closer to the larger survivor bases."
"I didn’t even come across any of the slightly larger bases. This trip was purely for the trade with the Aircraft Carrier Base; I didn’t get anything else!" Qin Haonan said, a little frustrated.
"It’s fine. The main mission is complete. The other stuff doesn’t matter," Ren Yuanyang consoled him.
Hua Lingfang, who was standing to the side, spoke up. "Chief, should we wait for the Aircraft Carrier Base’s test results, or should we prepare the Evolution Potions now?"
"Let’s wait. There’s no rush. You’ve been working hard on the experiments these past couple of days, so take this chance to get some rest," Ren Yuanyang said, shaking his head.
"Alright," Hua Lingfang replied.
Xin Wan brought a plate of hot food to Qin Haonan. It was his dinner, which she had saved for him; Ren Yuanyang and the others had already eaten.
Lu Jiamei spoke up, "The Aircraft Carrier Base will probably analyze our potion and try to replicate it, right?"
"That’s a given. The Aircraft Carrier Base would never want to be dependent on others," Ren Yuanyang said with a slight nod.
Hua Lingfang smiled faintly. "It’s a shame they don’t have the ability to make licorice evolve. Ordinary licorice could never achieve the same effect as evolved licorice."
"But can’t modern scientific instruments extract the active ingredients from licorice?" Xin Wan asked uncertainly.
"Setting aside whether the geomagnetic storm destroyed those instruments, even if it didn’t, just extracting the active ingredients would be useless," Hua Lingfang replied. "The effects of herbal medicine come from more than just their active ingredients. It might not sound very scientific, but that’s the reality of it."
Ren Yuanyang and the others nodded.
"How is the training for our base’s patrol team coming along?" Ren Yuanyang asked, turning to Lu Jiamei.
"Everything is progressing smoothly. They’ve already started patrolling in shifts at night," Lu Jiamei answered.
Ren Yuanyang nodded slightly. "In that case, you two don’t need to be on duty constantly anymore. Just check in on them from time to time."
"Okay!" Lu Jiamei and Qin Haonan replied.
"By the way, Chief, what should we do with those mice that evolved? Should we kill them all?" Hua Lingfang suddenly remembered the lab mice that had become Evolutionary Forms.
"Not for now. Let’s wait. They might be of great use later," Ren Yuanyang said, shaking his head decisively.
Hearing this, Hua Lingfang and the others were all stunned.
"What great use could these evolved mice possibly have?" Qin Haonan asked, swallowing the food in his mouth and looking at Ren Yuanyang in confusion.
Ren Yuanyang gave a mysterious smile. "You’ll find out later."
No matter how much Qin Haonan pressed him, Ren Yuanyang wouldn’t say another word, leaving him so anxious he was practically tearing his hair out.
"Alright, it’s getting late. Everyone, go get some rest," Ren Yuanyang said, getting up and heading to his room.
"What use could the mice have?" Qin Haonan asked, looking at the others.
Hua Lingfang and the others all shook their heads.
The rest of the group also stood up and took their leave.
Qin Haonan was helpless. He could only channel his curiosity into his appetite, furiously wolfing down the food in front of him.
That night, Qin Haonan couldn’t sleep, his mind consumed with what great use the lab mice could possibly have.
Also sleepless was Zhao Jun at the Aircraft Carrier Base. Of the twenty people they had tested, nineteen were already dead.
The last one was on the verge of collapse, ready to meet their Amaterasu at any moment.
’How could this happen? The concentration of the main indicator substance is identical to the Peach Blossom Base’s!’ Zhao Jun’s brow was tightly furrowed.
The researchers were equally bewildered. The three other live test groups nearby showed no abnormalities, aside from their horrific screams.
"Continue analyzing the potion from the Peach Blossom Base! Did we miss some crucial ingredient?!" Zhao Jun ordered in a low voice.
"Yes, sir!"
It was now six in the morning. Zhao Jun glanced at the time and sent a report of their test results directly to Wang Jun.
"The potion we created allows the test subjects to hold on a little longer, but they can’t escape death in the end. It’s possible the Peach Blossom Base’s potion contains certain key ingredients that we haven’t discovered."
Seeing the report from Zhao Jun, Wang Jun thought for a moment and asked, "So, you’re saying the licorice soup does indeed have the ability to mitigate the harshness of the Evolution Potion?"
"Yes. It’s better than any other substance we’ve used before, but it’s not as effective as the potion from the Peach Blossom Base," Zhao Jun replied with absolute certainty, though his tone also held a note of confusion.
"Well, that’s still some progress. Continue with your analysis as planned," Wang Jun replied. "You’ve worked hard. Go get some rest."
"Yes, sir. Thank you for your concern, Captain," Zhao Jun responded.
After ending his chat with Zhao Jun, Wang Jun immediately shared the news with Ji Yizhi and Long Zhan.
"The concentration of the main indicator substance is identical, yet the effect is different? How strange!" Ji Yizhi said, somewhat surprised.
Long Zhan, however, burst out laughing. "Looks like my earlier judgment was correct! Good thing Captain Ji didn’t make a bet with me!"
"It seems the Peach Blossom Base has an expert in traditional Chinese medicine," Wang Jun speculated.
Ji Yizhi nodded in deep agreement.
But Long Zhan expressed a different view. "Not necessarily. Remember how the Peach Blossom Base was buying up licorice plants with such fanfare before? And how they were able to produce so much fresh fruit? I suspect they have an ability to alter the properties of plants!"
"Alter the properties of plants?" Wang Jun and Ji Yizhi were both taken aback.
"That’s right. The difference between our potion and the one from the Peach Blossom Base should lie in the raw materials. There shouldn’t be much difference in the processing," Long Zhan began to analyze. "We’re just using licorice slices, whereas they are using licorice they’ve grown themselves. The key difference is most likely in the cultivation!"

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