"That makes sense," Wang Jun nodded. "But we still need to be careful about keeping this potion secret to prevent other factions from replicating it."
"You’re giving the other factions too much credit!" Long Zhan said with a laugh. "Even if they got the formula, they couldn’t produce the same potion!"
"Most factions lack the technological capability, that’s true, but we still need to be wary of the Sea Eagle Country. They might be able to replicate this potion," Ji Yizhi said, shaking his head.
"Right. I’ll go and remind Zhao Jun about this." Wang Jun turned and left for the lab.
Long Zhan pursed his lips but said no more.
In his view, even if the Sea Eagle Country obtained the formula, they wouldn’t be able to concoct the Evolution Potion.
Their technology was very powerful, but with something like traditional Chinese medicine, you couldn’t figure out its mechanism of action just by analyzing the ingredients.
Wang Jun arrived at the lab and found Zhao Jun.
"Captain, what can I do for you?" Zhao Jun asked.
Wang Jun nodded. "Two things. First, pause the experiment to replicate the Peach Blossom Base’s potion. Second, I need to stress the confidentiality protocols."
At this, Zhao Jun froze. "Why are we halting the replication experiment?"
Wang Jun explained briefly. Zhao Jun’s brow furrowed in frustration. "This experiment isn’t even wasting that many resources. Do we really have to stop?"
The experiment mostly involved brewing a decoction and then using a machine to concentrate and extract the active ingredients. It used very few resources.
"Just pause it for now. Once we confirm this potion doesn’t require our stockpiled licorice, you can restart the experiment," Wang Jun replied.
"Yes, sir," Zhao Jun replied with resignation.
"What’s the current status of the live-subject trials?" Wang Jun immediately changed the subject.
Zhao Jun immediately replied, his tone laced with excitement, "As of now, it looks highly likely that this live-subject trial will be a success!"
All 150 people participating in this experiment were still alive, though they were in some pain.
In previous live-subject trials, not even one in a hundred survived!
As long as those test subjects remained alive, it was highly probable they would be successfully transformed by the Evolution Potion!
Wang Jun nodded slightly. "Remind the security detail to pay close attention to the test subjects’ condition. If they make any unusual moves, they are to be killed decisively."
"Yes, sir," Zhao Jun responded.
After leaving the lab, Wang Jun thought for a long time before finally sending a message to Ren Yuanyang.
"This live-subject trial will most likely be a success. As of now, the test subjects are all still alive, though they are in some pain."
Seeing this message, Ren Yuanyang replied with a laugh, "Looks like we’ll need to prepare a celebratory feast!"
"Indeed," Wang Jun replied, then added tentatively, "While we were preparing the Evolution Potion, we noticed the potion you provided seems to be a form of traditional Chinese medicine!"
"That’s right. It is indeed traditional Chinese medicine, and it’s simply a decoction made from a single herb," Ren Yuanyang said without any reservation, revealing his formula directly. "I trust you’ve already guessed—it’s licorice."
"Just a single herb—licorice?" Wang Jun feigned immense surprise. "You’re telling me just like that? Aren’t you afraid I’ll steal the formula?"
"If I were afraid of that, I wouldn’t have given you the potion to experiment with directly," Ren Yuanyang said, radiating confidence.
Even if a naturally evolved licorice plant exists, its medicinal effects would hardly be as potent as licorice that has been specifically enhanced.
So, no matter who gets the formula, they won’t be able to create the Evolution Potion without the enhanced-potency licorice.
Wang Jun paused, taken aback, then probed again, "You mean the licorice at Peach Blossom Base is different from others?"
"It certainly is different. Doesn’t your Aircraft Carrier Base have licorice? You could have just tested it yourselves to find out!" Ren Yuanyang retorted with a laugh.
He knew the Aircraft Carrier Base must have already tested it; he was simply playing along with Wang Jun’s questions.
"So, you’re saying the licorice at our base can’t be used to create the Evolution Potion?" Wang Jun asked.
"Barring any special circumstances, that’s correct," Ren Yuanyang replied.
"I understand. Thank you for clearing up my confusion," Wang Jun replied. "I never would have thought the breakthrough for the Evolution Potion would come from traditional Chinese medicine!"
"Let’s just say the things our ancestors left for us are not to be underestimated," Ren Yuanyang responded with a laugh.
Wang Jun nodded slightly, a little worried. "I just don’t know if Peach Blossom Base’s licorice production can keep up."
"Our base’s licorice yield is decent," Ren Yuanyang replied with a laugh. "But whether our production can keep up or not, the rollout of the Evolution Potion has to be a gradual process. Isn’t that right?"
Wang Jun froze for a moment, then nodded. "Right. We can’t have too many Evolvers appearing all at once."
"That’s exactly the reason," Ren Yuanyang affirmed with a laugh.
"I understand," Wang Jun replied, ending the chat.
He sent the chat log to Ji Yizhi and Long Zhan, then sent another copy to Zhao Jun at the lab.
After reading it, Zhao Jun immediately replied, "Is Peach Blossom Base that confident? Since we’ve confirmed it’s a decoction made from licorice, why can’t we replicate it?"
Wang Jun had already guessed Zhao Jun would react this way. Shaking his head in resignation, he replied, "It’s now confirmed that our stockpiled licorice cannot be used to create the Evolution Potion. If you still want to try, go ahead."
"Yes, sir! Thank you, Captain!" Zhao Jun immediately replied. He was clearly not convinced.
By this time, Ji Yizhi and Long Zhan were already discussing it in the captains’ group chat.
"If we had known Taoyuan Yang was willing to share all this with us, we wouldn’t have needed to sit here guessing!" Long Zhan said with a laugh.
Ji Yizhi nodded. "His replies confirm that Peach Blossom Base does indeed have the licorice plant, and that the licorice at their base is not ordinary."
"Yes. If everything he said is true, then we’ll only be able to acquire the Evolution Potion by purchasing it from Peach Blossom Base from now on," Wang Jun sighed helplessly.
Although their relationship with Peach Blossom Base was good, he still didn’t like the idea of such a strategic resource being controlled by another party.
"At least it’s better than buying it from one of the Sea Eagle Country’s bases, isn’t it?" Long Zhan retorted with a laugh.
Wang Jun paused for a moment, then smiled and nodded. "That’s certainly true."
"So, both of you can stop agonizing over it. Just wait for the experiment results, then buy the Evolution Potion. That’s all there is to it," Long Zhan said.
Wang Jun and Ji Yizhi nodded.
Night fell. Twenty-four hours had now passed since the live-subject experiment began.
The test subjects in the third group had stopped groaning in pain and were slowly returning to normal.
They were shocked to find that every aspect of their physical constitution had improved, and some had even awakened a Superpower!
"This is amazing! I’ve awakened a Gold-Type Superpower!" a test subject couldn’t help but exclaim with joy.
RAT-TAT-TAT!
A heavy machine gun immediately roared to life.
The test subject was riddled with bullets before he even had a chance to experience his new Gold-Type Superpower.
The other test subjects who had awakened powers immediately went still, not daring to make the slightest movement.
The other two groups of test subjects were still in agony, but when they saw the Evolver who had just awakened his Superpower get turned into a human sieve, their own pain seemed to diminish slightly.
"Let me repeat myself. Do not make any movements that we could misinterpret. Otherwise, we will kill you without mercy!" the security captain stressed to the test subjects once more.
At that moment, Wang Jun, Long Zhan, and Ji Yizhi arrived together. They paused, slightly taken aback by the sight of the dead test subject.
The security captain immediately stepped forward, saluted, and explained what had just happened.
"It matches the timeline provided by Peach Blossom Base perfectly," Wang Jun remarked.
Long Zhan’s eyes lit up. "Does that mean all fifty of these people have become Evolvers?"
"That’s correct," Zhao Jun said, walking over quickly from the side. "According to our physical monitoring, they have all reached the benchmark for being Evolvers!"
Ji Yizhi asked excitedly, "Does this mean the experiment with Potion Number Three is a success?"

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