Boom!
The four elders of the human race trembled violently as the domineering power of the refining potion surged through their meridians and dantian, causing them to lose their balance and fall to the ground. The purple flames from the potion ignited within them, making their bodies convulse uncontrollably as they writhed in pain on the floor.
Despite their violent movements, the metal plates attached to their backs remained firmly in place. These plates, crafted by the Tian Gong Department, were specialized detection devices designed to monitor the physical conditions of the potion users.
At this moment, the detection plates were meticulously tracking the conditions of the four human elders, observing the effects of the enhanced refining potion on individuals at the Awakening Realm.
Every person has a unique constitution, even if they can be categorized into groups based on general traits. The key to the success of the nationwide evolution plan lies in the thorough and precise research of the effects of the refining potion and the Spirit Cleansing Fruit.
After discussions between Zhuge Ming and Hua Sheng, they had come up with two variants: the Common Evolution Potion for the general populace and the Spirit Cleansing Evolution Potion for soul warriors...
"Zhuge Ming, you really need to stop coming up with ridiculous names!" Lin Qian's angry roar echoed throughout the Tian Gong Department, causing Zhuge Ming to cover his face in exasperation and sigh deeply.
He knew that the name of the potion would inevitably be changed by the emperor.
"Such a cool name, why doesn't the emperor like it?" Zhuge Ming muttered, but after some reflection, he gained a sudden realization, "The emperor is never wrong—this must be my mistake."
With this conclusion, Zhuge Ming stood up, nodded firmly, and declared, "Yes, it's my fault, no doubt!"
Having acknowledged his error, Zhuge Ming felt a sense of relief wash over him, his body relaxing as he thought, "It's only natural that the emperor and others don't understand my personal preferences. What a pity."
In the end, Lin Qian did indeed force a name change, renaming the potions as the Basic Evolution Potion for the populace and the Spirit Cleansing Evolution Potion for soul warriors.
The dosage and effectiveness of both the Basic Evolution Potion and the Spirit Cleansing Evolution Potion had to be adjusted according to the user's physical constitution to avoid any life-threatening side effects.
For example, within the gathering place that had already used the refining potion, three people had died from the effects of the potion.
However, there was no resentment among the people because Lin Qian had clearly stated beforehand that those who used the potion first would bear the risks and responsibilities, including the possibility of death.
They were pioneers, blazing the trail for the rest of the human race in the ancient forest world. Knowing the risks, none of them had hesitated, and the fact that only three people had died was considered a success. In the past, death had always been a constant companion for the human race in the ancient forest world.
Unlike the humans of the initial continent who had faced despair and degradation as mere livestock, the people here were driven by anger at their own powerlessness, willingly sacrificing themselves for the sake of their kin.
Every hunting party that ventured out to battle soul beasts would lose at least ten members, but after using the refining potion, some parties returned without a single casualty, even among the other three races.
To the people here, this was already a great success.
Nevertheless, for Zhuge Ming and Hua Sheng, the loss of three lives was a mark of shame. In their eyes, no one should die from this process.
After deliberation, Zhuge Ming and Hua Sheng decided to categorize people into broad groups based on their physical constitution and adjust the potion accordingly.
Thus, the Tian Gong Department and the Medical Department needed more test subjects, including stronger individuals.
The four human elders currently before Lin Qian were perfect candidates.
Though they were of the same race, Lin Qian wasn't naive enough to give away his resources for free. If that were the case, he would have preferred to keep them for the people of his Hua Xia Empire.
As the saying goes, don't let fertile waters flow to outsiders' fields. He couldn't help others until his own people were well off.
The human race of the ancient forest world would help him refine the evolution potion, and in return, Lin Qian would solve the problem that had plagued them for countless years—a mutually beneficial exchange.
After all, Lin Qian intended to turn the ancient forest world into a new province of the Hua Xia Empire. In the end, helping them was just a roundabout way of helping himself.
Lin Qian was kind and benevolent, but that didn't make him a fool.
The four elders continued to writhe in pain on the ground, enduring far more suffering than Wang Gang had when he took the potion. The Tian Gong Department's measurements confirmed that the pain was indeed more intense, likely correlating with their higher cultivation levels.
Despite their agony, the elders' determination remained unshaken. Even in the throes of intense pain, they refused to scream, silently enduring.
"Almost there," Lin Qian remarked casually as he sat, sipping his spirit wine and munching on snacks while watching the four elders suffer under the effects of the refining potion.
But eventually, the pain became too much. The elders' voices broke the silence with agonized screams.
It took five full hours for the refining potion to fully process in their bodies, and the purple flames burning along their meridians and dantian walls finally began to fade.
Exhausted and drenched in sweat, the four elders lay sprawled on the ground, feeling as though they had narrowly escaped death.
But as they looked up at Lin Qian, their eyes were filled with gratitude. By now, they realized that the potion they had consumed wasn't poison at all but rather the antidote to the Spirit Cleansing Fruit that Wang Gang had mentioned.
In truth, Lin Qian had been testing the elders. Their behavior as the leaders of the human race in the ancient forest world would be indicative of the nature of their people.
The four elders had not disappointed him. Their willingness to endure such suffering for the sake of their entire race proved they were not selfish or corrupt.
Lin Qian watched as the elders slowly rose to their feet. A smile crossed his face. "So, how do you feel?"
After exchanging glances and nods in mutual understanding, Wang Qiongxing and the others knelt before Lin Qian, bowing their heads.
From this day forward, the four elders vowed, "From now on, we four serve you as our master, and you shall be the ruler of the human race in the ancient forest world!"