Fourth Underground Floor.
This was a place generally forbidden to enter, even for Number 35 and the others; entry was prohibited except during important times.
Row after row of shelves.
Numerous glass bottles and jars were neatly lined up on them.
Like a Frankenstein's monster laboratory, every glass bottle and jar contained disgusting items such as human organs, eyeballs, strange wood, fingernails, and deep crimson, blood-like liquids.
Jiang Jiuguo looked around.
Taking everything in this place into his sight.
Finally, his gaze focused on a bottle of murky liquid in Number 35's hand, which he had received after communicating with the staff here.
"This is my ghost sequence formula?" Jiang Jiuguo covered his nose.
The liquid emitted a foul, fishy odor.
It looked like dead fish from a sewer, completely unappetizing.
Fortunately, Jiang Jiuguo had grown accustomed to the disgusting stench from dealing with corpses these past few days.
"Take it and keep it safe yourself."
Number 35 handed over the bottle of liquid: "What you requested was quite difficult to prepare. We went to some trouble to acquire it. Drink it all, don't spill any. Every drop is precious, and you must strictly follow the formula."
He took the bottle and examined it.
Jiang Jiuguo did not consume it immediately, carefully putting the bottle away.
According to the formula provided by the fourth ghost sequence keystone, besides preparing the ingredients, there was one more condition for consumption: it had to be taken at midnight on his birthday.
But he had just celebrated his birthday not long ago.
Fortunately, the birthday he celebrated was based on the solar calendar, while the ghost sequence formula adhered to the lunar calendar.
There was still some time until his lunar birthday.
"Will this stuff go moldy if I keep it too long?"
Jiang Jiuguo sniffed it and continued.
"How about giving me a fridge? I can put it in to chill and preserve it. Plus, it'll taste better chilled."
"You make a very good point," Number 35 said.
He took a portable mini-beverage refrigerator provided by the staff here and handed it to Jiang Jiuguo.
Jiang Jiuguo: "???"
They really did have a fridge for preservation.
But then again, it made sense.
The formula was a mixture of human blood and other ingredients.
If any single ingredient was left out, it would rot and stink over time. Now that the ingredients were mixed together, preservation was indeed necessary.
"Most ghost sequence formulas need to be consumed at a specific time."
The staff member here helped Jiang Jiuguo place the bottle of murky liquid into the refrigerator.
He added: "To prevent any potential delay in consumption time, they are all prepared in advance so they can be taken immediately when the time comes, ensuring accuracy."
"I see. You guys are very meticulous." Jiang Jiuguo said... Numbered Room '15'.
Jiang Jiuguo returned, carrying the small portable refrigerator.
"You're back. Looks like your good days are coming to an end," Zhou Fengchun said, glancing at the small refrigerator.
Once he consumed the ghost sequence formula,
Jiang Jiuguo would also put on the mask of suffering and endure pain alongside him.
"Let me take a look at your ghost sequence formula." Zhou Fengchun rarely left the corner, and a hint of life appeared in his hollow eyes.
Although it wasn't the first time he had seen a prepared ghost sequence formula,
every viewing felt novel.
Especially since Jiang Jiuguo's ghost sequence formula was the first time anyone had adapted to it.
Jiang Jiuguo didn't refuse. He carefully placed the refrigerator in the corner and opened it.
"Here, my formula. How does my formula compare to the one you drank?" Jiang Jiuguo joked.
"Not bad. The color is much better than the ghost sequence formula I drank, and it smells okay too."
"Really?"
Jiang Jiuguo was surprised.
He thought his ghost sequence formula was already disgusting enough, like sewer water.
"Yours looks decent. At least it doesn't have many particulates; it's relatively clean liquid. But the formula I had looked like..."
Zhou Fengchun rested his chin in his hand, trying to figure out how to describe it.
Then he spoke.
"It looked like a thick milkshake left out for several days, with lots of particulates. It felt gritty going down my throat. If it hadn't been chilled at the time, I probably would have thrown up after drinking it."
"Your description is very Lovecraftian. I already feel sick."
Seeing Zhou Fengchun about to elaborate further, Jiang Jiuguo quickly stopped him.
Hearing this,
a smile appeared on Zhou Fengchun's sallow face.
"It is very Lovecraftian. The taste is pretty similar, actually. Never mind, let's stop talking about it. Let me tell you about the precautions before and after consuming the ghost sequence formula."
He settled back into the corner and hunched over.
He began giving Jiang Jiuguo instructions.
Jiang Jiuguo dared not be careless.
After all, this concerned consuming the ghost sequence formula. He composed himself, listened attentively, and carefully noted every detail Zhou Fengchun mentioned.
"Before consuming the ghost sequence formula, you must fast to prevent unknown reactions between the food in your stomach and the formula."
"Exercise moderately before taking the formula to maintain good physical and mental health."
"Also, Jiang Jiuguo, if you have any methods for self-relieving pain, tell Number 35 and the others in advance so they can prepare them for you."
"I prepared a towel and a mouthguard back then, to bite down on and prevent myself from biting off my tongue from the pain."
"Furthermore..."
Zhou Fengchun paused, raised a finger, and spoke seriously.
"After consuming the ghost sequence formula, the transformation into a Ghost usually takes one year."
"The transformation isn't instantaneous; it happens gradually, time after time, over the course of a year. The number of times depends on the specific ghost sequence formula consumed."
"Generally, one needs to undergo 10 transformations in a year. The harder the ghost sequence cornerstone is to adapt to, the more transformation cycles the corresponding ghost sequence formula requires."
Jiang Jiuguo heard this and said: "I heard Number 35 say that the harder the ghost sequence cornerstone is to adapt to, the more terrifying the resulting Ghost will be, is that right?"
"Yes."
Zhou Fengchun did not deny it.
"Every ghost sequence cornerstone contains a formula for becoming a specific type of Ghost. The more terrifying the Ghost, the higher the adaptation difficulty, and the greater the number of transformations required."
"This also means the more transformations you have to endure, the more pain you will suffer."
As he spoke, Zhou Fengchun looked apprehensive.
Every memory of the transformation process was an indelible psychological trauma, something he never wanted to experience again in this lifetime.
"As far as I know, the third ghost sequence keystone requires the most transformations—12 times."
"Mine was 10 times."
"As for your ghost sequence cornerstone, Jiang Jiuguo, I estimate it will be 15 times."
"Also..."
Just like that, Zhou Fengchun patiently recounted the precautions for consuming the ghost sequence formula.
Jiang Jiuguo carefully noted everything down, and in the following days, he exercised daily, ate nutritious food, and maintained his physical health.
Number 35 was also well aware of this.
Since Jiang Jiuguo received the prepared ghost sequence formula, Number 35 had not sought him out, finding someone else to deal with the corpses.
Time flew by.
Tonight, several days later.
Jiang Jiuguo stared at the clock delivered by Number 35.
23:40.
In 20 minutes, Jiang Jiuguo would welcome his lunar birthday.
"I hope you can pull through," Zhou Fengchun said.
He had currently been pulled out of the room by Number 35, leaving Jiang Jiuguo alone inside.
Consuming the ghost sequence formula causes many reactions.
Which could endanger those nearby.
Zhou Fengchun had only one final transformation left, and he couldn't be allowed to stay with Jiang Jiuguo, who was about to consume the ghost sequence formula.
"It's hard to say," Number 35 replied.
He thought highly of Jiang Jiuguo. Although Jiang Jiuguo was usually mischievous, his actions and intellect made him very suitable for becoming a Ghost—perfectly suited to their purpose for capturing people.
But his high opinion was just that.
These factors couldn't influence the outcome of Jiang Jiuguo's consumption.
Everything depended on whether Jiang Jiuguo could adapt.
Jiang Jiuguo didn't hear their conversation, focusing intently on the ticking digital clock.
As the seconds and minutes passed.
[23:59].
Jiang Jiuguo swiftly opened the small refrigerator and took out the bottle of 'ghost sequence formula' liquid.
Tick, tock... The moment the digital clock chimed.
[00:00]
The time had reached midnight.
Jiang Jiuguo's eyes were sharp, and he quickly drank the 'ghost sequence formula' in one gulp... (P.S. There will be another chapter later)