Chapter 94: The experimental research institute should clean up this bad atmosphere!
"Professor Chi, Professor Feng, Professor Chu, thank you for your contributions to all mankind." Cheng Zhiyu said sincerely, looking at the dark circles under the professors' eyes.
Chi Hongyi waved her hand: "These are all things we should do. We also hope that the apocalypse will end soon."
The other two professors, who were not good with words, nodded and said, "Yes, that's right."
Chi Hongyi: "Speaking of which, we have to thank Team Leader Cheng and the others for providing the research samples. We discovered a substance in the samples that is quite amazing. It can resist the infection of the zombie virus and purify it. We simulated this substance, which is also the main component of the zombie virus vaccine. In fact, this is not just our achievement."
She laughed and said, "Without samples, we don't know when we'd be able to discover this substance."
She didn't mention that in the previous research institute, everyone was just scheming against each other, and not many people were serious about doing research. They were more grateful to the Xiaohe Base for giving them an environment where they didn't have to think about anything else and could just focus on their research.
Cheng Zhiyu smiled and thought to himself, "I really have to thank Xiaolu. I'll have to send her lots of delicious food later."
Currently, the zombie virus vaccine only needs further testing.
Chi Hongyi said, "However, the vaccine still has a big limitation. It must be injected within two hours of being infected with the virus. Injecting it in advance is ineffective. Our future research direction is to inject it into the human body in advance to make the body produce antibodies. In this case, the human body will not have to fear the zombie virus in the short period of time that follows."
Currently, if an ordinary person is bitten by a zombie, they will immediately turn into a zombie, so they need to be vaccinated immediately after being bitten.
The higher the level of the superhuman, the longer they can persist. Based on experience, they can persist for up to half an hour.
So, although it's said to be two hours, it's best to get an injection immediately after being bitten.
Cheng Zhiyu had a notice issued, inviting people to volunteer for trials to research a zombie virus vaccine.
The zombie virus vaccine! It caused a huge stir. Everyone was excited to hear about the progress of the vaccine, and many people eagerly signed up to participate in the trials.
"But how do we test it? Do we have to let a zombie bite us?" someone asked.
Upon hearing this, some people shrank back, thinking, "If that's the case, what if... they said 'what if,' and the vaccine doesn't work, then we'll just turn into zombies."
Although it has been successful on animals, people are still a little scared, wondering what might happen.
However, while some were afraid, others still signed up: "I just want the apocalypse to end as soon as possible."
"Just like before the apocalypse, many medicines were discovered by people who volunteered to test them. There are always people who have to sacrifice themselves. Anyway, I'm an only child with no ties, so it's good to be able to make a contribution."
"That's what I think too, so what's there to be afraid of?"
"Exactly, I refuse to believe that this vaccine has no effect at all."
Those who signed up received individually packaged vaccines and syringes the following day.
"Huh? Don't we have to deliberately get bitten by zombies?"
The person in charge was speechless upon hearing this: "Want to be bitten willingly? That's far too dangerous."
"Then how do we conduct the experiment?"
The person in charge explained, "You carry the vaccine and syringes with you at all times. If anything goes wrong, administer the injection immediately. Although the trial is important, you are all living beings. Unless something goes wrong, please don't do something so dangerous."
Everyone was moved after hearing this. The Xiaohe Base is truly a place where people are more important than anything else.
They wouldn't be using humans for experiments if vaccines weren't crucial to humanity's future.
The lives of a few individuals are more important than the hopes of all humanity.
Zhang Yan and Miao Li are a couple, and they also signed up for the experiment.
The two were among the few newcomers to the group of superhumans who volunteered to participate in the experiment.
They were two of the thousand people received at the Xiaohe base.
Miao Li's situation was special. At the time, she and her boyfriend were robbed by another group of superhumans. Neither of them had very strong superhuman abilities, and in addition, the other side had more people. In the end, they lost their things, and Miao Li also had one of her arms cut off.
She was a superhuman, and although she survived having her arm cut off, her powers were severely damaged, and the little food they had was also stolen. For a moment, she felt utterly hopeless.
At that time, several bases came to receive people. Miao Li knew she was a burden, so she told Zhang Yan not to worry about her: "You are a superhuman, go and try your luck, maybe they will want you."
Zhang Yan refused: "If I abandon you, you'll probably die."
Miao Li smiled and said, "I've had enough of this apocalyptic world. It's better to die."
Zhang Yan frowned: "Don't talk nonsense, there's always a way."
Miao Li cried. What could she do? She and Zhang Yan were only level one ability users, their strength was too weak to be worth mentioning. Before, when they cooperated, they could still survive. Now that she was in this state, she couldn't help Zhang Yan much at all. On the contrary, she was a burden to him joining the large base.
No one would want someone like her. Even if a healing ability user could regenerate her limbs, why would those bases be willing to waste such important resources on a piece of trash like her?
Joining the base alone is the best choice for Zhang Yan.
Otherwise, they would both die.
But Zhang Yan refused: "We've come this far together, and you know I'm not that kind of person."
Miao Li cried. She was very sad. The better Zhang Yan did, the sadder she became. She was sad that she had dragged him down.
Just when they were in despair, they heard about the Little River Base, and that this base didn't have much requirement for the strength of superpowered individuals.
Xiahe Base places more emphasis on character.
Miao Li pursed her lips, a glimmer of hope returning to her eyes: "Why don't we give it a try?"
Zhang Yan nodded and said okay.
Actually, neither of them had much hope, but they still wanted to give it a try, just in case.
Although Miao Li said she didn't want to live anymore, who would want to die if given the chance to live?
Moreover, she didn't want to be a burden to Zhang Yan.
There was a glimmer of hope, and they wanted to give it a try.
When registering, Zhou Min glanced at Miao Li's arm.
The two men felt a pang of anxiety, fearing that the Xiaohe base would reject them because of this.
If that's the case, Miao Li has already made up her mind. She begs the other party to take Zhang Yan in, since Zhang Yan is physically healthy and has a better chance than her.
Thinking this, Miao Li felt a pang of bitterness in her heart.
However, Zhou Min wrote their names on the registration form, and Miao Li was somewhat stunned when a wad of cotton wrapped in cloth was stuffed into her arms.
Seeing this, Sun Yu reminded him, "You've passed the screening."
Miao Li: "!!!"
She and Zhang Yan exchanged a glance, then hugged each other and cried tears of joy. Not only had they joined the Xiahe Base, but they also had materials for making clothes and white flour steamed buns to eat. It was like a dream come true.
Later, after they arrived at the base, someone suggested that Miao Li could have her arm checked at the base's hospital.
Zhang Yan said, "Let's go take a look."
Miao Li nodded, but she didn't hold out much hope. Would a healing-type ability user be willing to help someone like her who was at the bottom of the ability hierarchy?
As it turns out, they were willing.
"However, the treatment costs are quite high," the other party said.
Miao Li nervously swallowed, and Zhang Yan, who was standing next to her, quickly asked, "How much?"
The other party said, "You've taken a bit too long, and it's a case of limb regeneration, so you deserve 5,000 contribution points."
Miao Li was surprised, so little?
At her previous base, besides important figures receiving this treatment, another possibility was that it would cost a lot of money, at least hundreds of thousands of contribution points.
But apart from the big shots, where do other people get so many contribution points?
Even if they worked themselves to the bone, they couldn't possibly earn hundreds of thousands of contribution points. So, while this requirement sounds like it gives everyone a chance, it actually excludes these people.
It's said that survival is tough for ordinary people in the apocalypse, but those at the bottom of the social hierarchy who have superpowers but are of low rank are not much better off than ordinary people.
Therefore, knowing all this, Miao Li didn't have any hope before coming. It was only because she was unwilling to give up that she wanted to give it a try.
Unexpectedly, it only requires 5,000 contribution points!
Although they couldn't come up with 5,000 contribution points.
Unexpectedly, the other party said, "Your condition will become more difficult to treat the longer it is delayed. How about this, I will apply for special circumstances for you, and you can postpone your contribution points for now."
Miao Li and Zhang Yan were overjoyed to hear this. They hadn't expected the Xiahe Base to be so great, offering to allow them to contribute points on credit!
Zhang Yan immediately replied, "Thank you for your help. We're willing to extend the credit."
The other party said, "Don't rush. I've made it clear beforehand that to prevent people from accumulating contribution points on credit for a long time without intending to pay them back, you need to sign a contract. If this happens, we will force you to take on tasks, and most of the contribution points you earn will be used to pay off your debts."
Miao Li asked nervously, "Then... what's the deadline?"
The other party said, "If it's not paid back in six months, we will forcibly issue a task."
Zhang Yan breathed a sigh of relief: "Six months is possible. If we work hard every day, we'll definitely be able to pay it back."
Since arriving at the base these past two days, he has inquired everywhere and found that it is not difficult for them, as superhumans, to earn 5,000 contribution points in half a year.
The Xiahe Base didn't mean to make things difficult for anyone. After Miao Li's arm healed, she could repay the contribution points on her own, not to mention, he was there for her too.
Miao Li felt relieved, her eyes glistening with tears: "I...I'm willing to sign the contract."
Zhang Yan smiled and said, "Write down my name too, it'll be faster if there are two of us."
This time, Miao Li did not refuse.
After signing the contract, a healing-type ability user immediately came to treat her. Miao Li nervously swallowed, her other intact arm tightly gripping Zhang Yan's hand.
Zhang Yan was even more nervous than her, squeezing Miao Li's hand so tightly it hurt.
They watched in disbelief as a white light appeared on the empty arm. As the other party used healing abilities, Miao Li felt pain in her bones.
Healer: "Stay calm, don't struggle, or it will affect the effect."
Miao Li quickly regained her composure, her brows furrowed, thinking about how her arm was about to grow back, and she managed to control herself.
After an unknown amount of time, the treatment ended, and Miao Li could feel her arm again. She tentatively moved it and found that her arm was much whiter than before, and the skin was also quite tender.
Chen Juan, a healing-type ability user, breathed a sigh of relief as she exhaled, "Go back and rest well. Don't rush to use your abilities."
Miao Li nodded quickly and thanked her repeatedly.
Chen Juan had a terrible headache, but she felt none of the discomfort she had experienced at the previous base. Instead, she felt very content, especially when she saw Miao Li and Zhang Yan hugging each other and crying tears of joy. She felt that her value was truly realized at this moment.
The hospital also gave Chen Juan nutritional supplements, allowing her to leave work early and go home to rest.
Chen Juan did not refuse. Her superpowers had been exhausted, and there was nothing she could do today. It would be good for her to go back and rest.
After a period of recuperation, Miao Li's arm was completely healed and felt no different from before.
It wasn't until the base issued a notice recruiting volunteers to participate in the experiments that Miao Li hesitated for a moment before deciding to sign up.
Firstly, she was very grateful to the Xiaohe Base. It's no exaggeration to say that she owed her life to the Xiaohe Base, so she was willing to contribute to it.
Secondly, by signing up for the trial, she would receive a substantial contribution point reward, enough to pay off the contribution points she owed the hospital in one go, with a surplus remaining.
Although I can gradually pay it back, I have to keep living frugally.
Eating it wasn't a big deal, but the crystal cores were also considered contribution points. They finally had a chance to improve their abilities, so they naturally had to seize the time.
Since they were both quite weak, after arriving at the base, they had to participate in the base's daily training for people with superpowers.
Actually, this is a great thing. Since the apocalypse, people with superpowers have been allowed to grow freely, and few people are willing to spend time on them, who are seen as having no talent.
They had to figure it out on their own, and upgrading was very difficult.
So even if they aren't allowed to join the training, they'll still have to find a way to spend their contribution points.
It has to be said that after training with them for a period of time, their progress was faster than if they had figured it out on their own for half a year. Their training has been very effective. Zhang Yan has already reached the edge of level two, and Miao Li is almost there as well.
They need crystal nuclei.
However, they still had to repay their debts. Neither of them liked being in debt, so they were reluctant to absorb the crystal cores and used them to pay off their contribution points instead.
They were envious when they saw others absorb the crystal cores and upgrade, and they became envious.
Therefore, they signed up for the experiment without hesitation.
Upon learning that it wasn't what they had imagined—that they had deliberately been bitten by zombies—the two breathed a sigh of relief.
Just then, a few people I know who have superpowers said they were going out to hunt zombies, and I asked them if they wanted to go.
After arriving, Miao Li and Zhang Yan hadn't left the base. Since there were many people this time, there was basically no danger, so they naturally agreed.
Although leaving the base always comes with risks, that's just how it is for superhumans. Their upgrades are always accompanied by risks. Unless someone is willing to support them, they have to fight their way out of hordes of zombies time and time again to upgrade.
The group left the base: "There are basically no zombies within a kilometer of the base. The base sends people out to hunt them every now and then, so we need to go further away."
No one objected, and they nodded.
After this period of training, they have become much more confident. Moreover, there are many of them. Although their highest level is only level two, they are not without the ability to fight against level three zombies.
Unexpectedly, their jinx came true; they encountered a level 3 zombie, and a particularly formidable one at that, one with lightning-based attacks.
While they were hiding, they were struck by lightning several times, leaving the group in a sorry state. Finally, they managed to kill the level three zombie.
Miao Li still had some strength, so she stepped forward, dug out the zombie crystal core, breathed a sigh of relief, and smiled: "Great, this crystal core can be exchanged for quite a few contribution points on average for each of us."
"Yeah, I'll have to go to the cafeteria for a meal when I get back and treat myself."
"Is the food in the cafeteria really that good? I've never been there before," Miao Li said curiously as she cleaned the crystal cores.
"It's delicious! I've been craving it ever since I tried it once. It's a pity we just arrived at the Xiahe Base and don't have many contribution points. We need to use them to buy some daily necessities, otherwise I would eat at the canteen every day." The other person then described the dishes and their flavors.
Miao Li swallowed hard as she listened. It wasn't that she was weak-willed; after the apocalypse, who had ever eaten so well? Even after they joined the Xiaohe Base, they hadn't dared to eat in the canteen because they had to pay off their debts.
I feel very happy eating only white flour steamed buns every day, because at the previous base, I could work myself to the bone and still not get a single white flour steamed bun.
At most, they gritted their teeth and exchanged their money for a bowl of pickled vegetables. They ate steamed buns with the pickled vegetables and felt so happy they were about to faint.
To my surprise, the food in the cafeteria was surprisingly good.
Miao Li made a decision: she would set eating at the cafeteria as her goal, and once she paid off her debts, she would go eat there.
The group chatted and laughed, but then they noticed that the level-two ability user in the group was pale and his forehead was covered in sweat.
"What's wrong? Did you use up too much of your power just now?" Everyone asked with concern.
"Haha, how about I carry you on my back?" someone joked.
To everyone's surprise, the level two ability user took a step back, his face pale, and said, "You can leave now."
"What's going on?" Everyone's smiles faded.
The level-two ability user closed his eyes, raised his hand, and saw a scratch on the back of his hand. It didn't look like an ordinary wound, and there were signs of decay around the scratch.
"I was accidentally scratched by a zombie just now." The level two ability user smiled bitterly: "You guys can leave now, but before you leave... kill me."
Everyone's face changed, and they were all panicked. Although they were just a temporary team, they were all kind people, and seeing a level-two ability user like this made them very sad.
The level-two ability user felt himself losing control. He closed his eyes and said, "You guys need to get out of here..."
Some of the more emotional people were already crying. If they weren't level two ability users, they wouldn't have been able to kill that third-generation zombie at all.
Miao Li and Zhang Yan were also a little confused. Everyone was just having a great time, but now the atmosphere was completely different.
Miao Li suddenly remembered something and said, "Wait, I have a new vaccine developed by the base here!"
"Yes, the vaccine. I heard they were recruiting people to participate in the trials!"
"Quick, give it to him."
Now we don't care whether it's useful or not; whatever happens, it's better than not using it at all.
Miao Li quickly took out a syringe and vaccine, and injected the syringe filled with the medicine into the level two ability user. After the injection was completed, Miao Li took out a syringe filled with the medicine and injected the vaccine into the user.
The person next to him nervously swallowed: "How is it?"
The level-two ability user told them to stay away from him, and he shook his head, saying, "I don't feel anything right now."
"Huh? It didn't work?" someone said, somewhat disappointed.
They are not only worried about Level 2 ability users, but also about their own future. If the vaccine is really effective, it means that if they are accidentally scratched or bitten in the future, as long as they carry the vaccine with them and get injected immediately, they will not have to worry about being infected.
"What do you mean it's useless! Look at him, he hasn't changed at all in all this time, which means it's effective!" someone nearby exclaimed excitedly.
When everyone saw it, they were all incredibly excited.
After waiting a while longer, the Level 2 ability user remained conscious, and the wound on the back of his hand stopped festering. Instead, it gradually returned to its bright red color and eventually became an ordinary wound.
Everyone watched this scene in astonishment.
"Great! The vaccine really works!"
"It works! Great! Hahaha, these damn zombies! Die!"
"Does this mean we no longer have to fear zombies? Is the apocalypse finally over?!"
Some people cried, thinking of their family members who had been bitten by zombies. They watched helplessly as their family members turned into zombies and even attacked them.
In the end, he killed that zombie with his own hands... If only, if only there had been such a vaccine back then.
Everyone laughed and cried at the same time. After returning home, they reported what had happened that day.
Level 2 ability users need to undergo a blood test.
Subsequently, the vaccines were successfully verified to be effective.
Cheng Zhiyu chuckled. After contacting the authorities, they quickly issued a notice that all the major bases had received news that the zombie virus vaccine 1.0 had been developed and successfully tested.
In an instant, public opinion was in an uproar.
Ordinary people are pleasantly surprised that there is a vaccine, but they are also worried that they won't be able to get it. However, the major bases that are familiar with the situation at Xiaohe Base are somewhat incredulous.
You have to understand, the Little River Base is such a small base. It was already surprising enough that the other side had produced so many mutated seeds, but now they have actually developed a vaccine!
How is that possible!
However, although they were somewhat skeptical, they also knew that the Xiaohe Base would not dare to speak carelessly about such a big matter.
Everyone inquired about when the Xiaohe Base had acquired such talented researchers, including those from the Chaoyang Base.
Upon hearing his subordinate's report, the manager of Chaoyang Base looked up and asked, "You're saying those three people came from our base?"
The subordinate lowered his head, not daring to look at the other person, and nodded: "Yes."
The manager of the Chaoyang base, upon careful recollection, did indeed recall such an incident. At the time, the Xiaohe base claimed to have discovered a sample suitable for research, but upon closer inspection, he realized it was a small base and didn't take it seriously.
However, I still suggest sending a few people over to assist with the research.
The manager was filled with regret as he recalled the incident. If he remembered correctly, the Xiaohe base had originally intended to give them the samples, but he had turned them down!
The main issue was that the director of the Chaoyang Base Research Institute at the time probably wouldn't be a waste of time to say anything, so it was better to just send a few people over.
The administrator was persuaded and said that the dean would make the arrangements.
"If I remember correctly, he said these three people were just doing odd jobs at the research institute, right?" The manager sneered. Odd jobs? Could odd jobs produce such results?
He climbed up step by step, so how could he not understand the intricacies of the research institute?
These three people are clearly capable, but they have been sidelined!
If he had known the capabilities of these three people, he would never have been willing to send them over!
If only we had gotten the samples back then… The administrator thought to himself, then shook his head. The research institute seemed to be completely rotten. Even if we had gotten them, it would probably have been a waste of the samples.
It's unlikely that a vaccine will be available anytime soon, but in any case, the availability of a vaccine would be a fantastic thing.
"Contact Xiahe Base immediately..." The manager pinched his brow, made the arrangements, and then sneered, "It seems the research institute also needs to clean up its atmosphere!"
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