MTLNOVEL CHAPTER 236
Chapter 236: The Diagnosis
"So, is this what you've all been experiencing?" Zhuang Zun, clad in a protective suit, inquired, his voice muffled.
Soro nodded weakly, punctuating his confirmation with a fit of coughing. The frequency of his coughs had noticeably increased compared to earlier.
Zhuang Zun turned his gaze towards Ivy, an Aeonian woman on his team, also clad in a full protective suit.
"Are you certain that your symptoms began after witnessing Jing Yi enter that hidden area?" Ivy asked, her voice soft yet firm.
Soro nodded again, another coughing fit wracking his body. "Positive," he managed to rasp out between coughs.
"As for this... virus, for lack of a better term," he continued, "its symptoms manifest in stages. First, paleness, weakness, dizziness, and nausea. Then, loss of consciousness and incapacitation. The third stage is a state of confusion and recurring nightmares... like what my teammates are experiencing."
Ivy's gaze followed his gesture towards the bed. The four afflicted members of the Soro Exploration Team lay bound with ropes, their bodies convulsing and their faces twisted in silent screams, trapped in the throes of nightmarish visions.
Soro nodded once more, a painful cough punctuating his affirmation.
The five Skywalkers fell into a thoughtful silence.
After a brief exchange of glances, Zhuang Zun and his team stepped out of the room, their protective gear still in place.
"We'll need to conduct further investigations," Zhuang Zun's muffled voice declared. "This situation is more complex than we initially anticipated."
"It might be contagious," Zhuang Zun's voice rumbled from behind his mask. "Whatever this virus is, it could spread."
Ivy added in a hushed tone, "However, even if it is contagious, it doesn't seem to be highly virulent. The Land God Association members who initially interacted with them haven't shown any signs of infection."
"And neither has that city guard, Duncan," she reminded them.
Zhuang Zun nodded thoughtfully. "So, we have two priorities," he stated, his voice firm and decisive.
"First, we need to locate the secret place the Soro team mentioned and see if we can eliminate the source of this virus."
The team members nodded in unison, their faces grim beneath their protective gear.
Zhuang Zun continued, "Second..."
He turned his gaze back towards the house.
"We need to contain the source of infection here, prevent the epidemic from spreading."
A chill ran through the other four members of the team.
Strictly speaking, aside from Zhuang Zun, they were all rookies. Despite their Spirit Realm strength, they had little experience handling such situations. Coming from the sheltered environment of the Eternal Clan, they had rarely faced the harsh realities of the Black Mist Zone.
Zhuang Zun's suggestion to take lives went against the core values of the Eternal Clan.
However, after a moment of contemplation, no one voiced any objections. They understood that sacrificing a few to save many might be the only logical course of action.
Suddenly, a weak voice broke the silence.
"We can't kill them..."
Zhuang Zun and the other three turned, their attention drawn to the other female member of their team.
"Heluo," Zhuang Zun's voice was grave, "what did you see?"
Heluo, the young Aeonian woman, closed her eyes for a long moment, then took a deep breath. Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke.
"We can't kill these infected people," she said, her words heavy with foreboding. "Because my precognition tells me that once they die, their bodies will transform into a pale green mist! This mist is an even more potent source of infection. The spread of this strange virus will accelerate exponentially."
No one doubted Heluo's vision.
Zhuang Zun immediately rescinded his previous proposal.
After a moment of thought, he spoke again, his tone resolute. "We won't kill them. But we must identify the source of this infection."
"I propose we have the Soro Team lead us to the secret place they discovered. A few of us will assess the situation there before formulating a plan."
The rest of the team nodded in agreement.
The early morning of the 217th day of the Black Mist Calendar
Zhuang Zun, accompanied by two other Skywalkers and Soro, set off for the Flame Clan Ruin. Ivy and Heluo remained in Archean City.
"I need assistance from the Land God Association," Heluo informed Quan Chao.
Quan Chao nodded without hesitation. "Of course. What do you need?"
"First, we need to establish an isolation zone for all the infected individuals," Heluo explained, gesturing towards the six members of the Soro team confined in the room behind her. "And there are likely more than just these six infected people in Archean City. We'll need the Land God Association's help to find them."
"Remember to prioritize your safety," Heluo reminded Quan Chao.
He nodded in affirmation.
"Secondly," Heluo continued, "I need to set up some restrictions in specific locations. I'll choose the sites, and you can provide the materials."
Quan Chao's curiosity piqued. "What kind of restrictions? What materials?"
"Simple restrictions that can purify and filter impurities from the air. The materials are easy to find, but we'll need a large quantity."
Heluo planned to establish three rings of these restrictions throughout Archean City.
The first ring would be centered around the City Lord's Manor, the second would encompass a larger area surrounding the Manor, and the third would cover the entire city.
The purpose of these restrictions was to combat the pale green airflow she had seen in her precognitive vision.
It was clear that Heluo was preparing for a long and arduous battle against this unknown virus in Archean City.
Quan Chao, after a moment's thought, nodded in agreement.
Heluo then added, "Lastly, I need specialized equipment for analytical research. A pre-existing laboratory would be ideal."
Hailing from a noble background, Heluo was a logistics researcher trained by the Sky Monitoring Bureau. She possessed not only precognitive abilities but also expertise in the field of biological virology.
She hesitated for a moment, then continued, "It would be even better if you could find me a few assistants... But I doubt there are any virology experts in Archean City."
Just as Quan Chao was about to agree, Huo Sheng spoke up. "Let me help. I have a few people with me who might be able to assist you with this kind of work."
Heluo turned to Huo Sheng, raising an eyebrow. "You?"
Her tone carried a hint of suspicion and even a touch of impoliteness.
Huo Sheng, unfazed, simply replied, "Let's give it a try. Having some assistance is better than none, wouldn't you agree?"
Heluo considered for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."
Morning, 218th day of the Black Mist Calendar
Velo and Roxin escorted Zhang Chengcheng, Wei Lan, and the others to the City Lord's Manor, where arrangements were made for their stay.
Meanwhile, Quan Chao diligently fulfilled Heluo's requests, providing her with everything she needed.
Deep within the Flame Clan Ruin, Zhuang Zun, his teammates, and Soro arrived at the entrance of the First Research Institute.
After using a complex instrument to scan the cave entrance, Zhuang Zun's expression grew grim.
"What a precise concealment method," he muttered, his voice laced with a hint of awe. "Such sophistication... If this isn't the work of a god, it must be the creation of a peak Ancient Realm expert."
Such mastery was beyond the capabilities of Zhuang Zun's team.
"Getting inside will be extremely difficult, almost impossible," he admitted.
"But based on Mr. Soro's account, I suspect the virus you're infected with originated from that light door."
Zhuang Zun's mind raced, searching for a solution.
"We'll set up a barrier here to completely seal this place," he decided. "Then, we'll remain here to guard and observe. Once Heluo has some research results, we'll determine our next move."
If they couldn't enter, they would ensure nothing could escape.
End of Chapter 236