Chapter 292: Nearly Shut Down to the Point of Plasmolysis

The Book of Living Beings was released, affecting global printing companies, figurine manufacturers, and countless other industries, even influencing governments worldwide.

The Book of Living Beings is a comprehensive database of living species; to biologists and other scientists, it is essentially a biological encyclopedia.

Even though the book does not detail genetic information or physiological data of the living species.

It only describes the appearance, advantages and disadvantages, origins, and racial traits of each species—but for biologists and medical experts, this alone enables deeper understanding of life.

Each nation's supernatural response department established a dedicated division—the Book of Living Beings Species Research Division.

As the name suggests, it studies the strengths and weaknesses of living species to determine whether useful scientific discoveries can be made for humanity, even the possibility of humans becoming supernatural, or methods to combat supernatural beings and gods/demons.

This is a groundbreaking scientific endeavor.

It offers immense assistance in weaponry, biology, and other fields, and is highly likely to be the third great technological revolution in human history, following the Steam and Electrical Revolutions.

In addition to establishing research divisions, governments are also discussing incorporating the Book of Living Beings into textbooks.

The Book of Living Beings concerns living species, just as students learn biology in class—it deserves to be studied.

It is necessary to include it in textbooks.

The reason for this idea is not only because studying the Book of Living Beings helps humanity understand living species, but also because biology teachers, in class, keep drifting into topics from the Book of Living Beings.

Crucially, students listen with great interest—even troublemakers like "Kinuzawa Tamao" and "Takigawa Genji" are taking notes, illustrating just how popular it is.

This is the second time since history teachers hijacked classes that teachers have taken over physical education lessons.

But this time, it's biology teachers doing the taking.

Many physical education teachers say they feel miserable inside, yet they still can't resist—they go to listen to the biology teachers' lectures on the Book of Living Beings.

Meyer and his group brought forth the Book of Living Beings, bringing massive change to the world.

But in fact, they brought out more than just the Book of Living Beings; each of the hundred-plus individuals brought back a blade of grass and a pinch of soil.

These people came from various nations.

Immediately, each nation dispatched high-ranking officials to acquire every person's blade of grass and soil at great cost for research.

Then, nations erupted in excitement; top officials rejoiced, scientists were thrilled.

Unlike research on supernatural saliva and corpses, this time, studies on the palace grass and soil were not stagnant—on the contrary, progress was visibly apparent.

Scientists extracted the components of the grass and soil, conducted experiments, and discovered these materials greatly benefit humans; if hybridized with crops like rice, they not only increase agricultural yield.

They also enhance the nutritional value of crops.

This nutrition does not refer to ordinary dietary nutrients, but to nutrients that strengthen the human body and boost immunity.

In other words, these blades of grass are universal medicinal herbs—god-tier herbs—that, when processed into medicine or herbal remedies, can cure all diseases!

Inside the research labs.

Scientists wept, tears streaming down their faces; some cried like children.

These were tears of overwhelming joy and profound emotion.

"Fucking finally got results," the lab director said, raising his arm to shield his face from view, yet everyone could hear him crying, venting his emotions.

Since the emergence of the supernatural and gods/demons, how many years have passed? They worked day and night studying supernatural saliva and corpses, staring at a blob of saliva, a corpse—year after year, superiors came for inspections.

And every time superiors came to inspect and asked about their progress, their answer was always the same.

"Almost there, almost there—this experiment should yield results, maybe."

Then, when superiors returned next time and asked about the results of the previous experiment, whether any breakthrough had occurred, their reply was always:

"The last experiment… wasn't great—it was… just… no results… negligible returns…"

Every visit from superiors was a torment for them.

Who were they? They were elite scientists in their respective fields—each one a pillar of the scientific community.

And they were not one person—they were a group.

Such a gathering of top scientists, researching for so long, yet producing zero results, crushed them, shattered their self-worth.

Especially after the mysterious mist appeared, and their research into it yielded nothing.

They saw the look in the superiors' eyes when they learned again there were no results—disgust, disdain, and deep suspicion: were these people just freeloaders? A group of loud reputations but utterly useless, empty sacks?

That look devastated them, drove them into deep isolation—they nearly shut down completely, bordering on plasmolysis of the soul…

Are we really worthless? We've researched for so long—why haven't we produced a single result? Why?!

When the palace grass and soil arrived.

They felt no joy—only headache and dread, fearing they'd fail again; their eyes were filled with panic, for the previous blows from saliva, corpses, and the mysterious mist had plunged them into depression.

Especially after the mysterious mist incident, some had gone to psychologists—then it became a group therapy session.

Now, seeing the grass and soil arrive, they assumed it would yield nothing again; some scientists immediately swallowed antidepressants, trying to ease their depression; others with milder symptoms rubbed camphor oil repeatedly on their temples and nostrils to rally themselves.

Then, gritting their teeth, they began research.

Unexpectedly, this time the research went smoothly—within mere days, significant results emerged.

When the first research report was finalized.

In that moment, their eyes filled with tears—even scientists in their seventies and eighties burst into sobs.

Finally, they could hold their heads high.

Finally, the gloom was lifted, proving they were not empty sacks.

Finally, they knew they weren't useless—they still had value, science still mattered!

At this moment.

They were elated, nearly breaking into a dance.

The research results on the grass and soil greatly inspired scientists, restoring their confidence and radiance, and thrilled government officials, who immediately approved massive funding to fully pursue grass and soil research.

Some officials even proposed temporarily delaying supernatural research and shifting focus entirely to the grass and soil.

After all, studying the supernatural is not only for understanding and countering such powers, but primarily because of the benefits they bring: extended lifespan, physical strengthening, even immortality.

Humans fear death most—no one doesn't wish to be healthy, live forever, or at least extend their life.

Today, research on grass leaves and soil benefits the human body, curing diseases and bringing health—isn't this what people most desire?

Herbs, soil, and the Living Spectrum have thrown the entire world into a frenzy, bringing immeasurable benefits and playing a monumental role in the transformation of the age.

It is for this reason.

While the world focuses on herbs, soil, and the Living Spectrum, attention has turned even more intensely to Mayek and the others who brought them forth, for these herbs, soil, and the Living Spectrum truly originated from a single palace in Heian Kyoto.

Simply taking out a few grass leaves or some soil from it brought immense benefits—how could anyone not be frenzied, desperately eager to know what other treasures lie within the palace, what exactly happened inside, and why the Kamikawa Mitsu siblings never emerged?

……