Chapter 1373: The Crooked Pyramid

Zhang San's voice was unusually calm. "Send soil, qi grass, and white cogon grass samples from Territory One immediately. The samples Xiaoduan sent confirmed not only that the sulfate-reducing bacteria and methanogens in the soil have undergone advanced evolution, but also revealed an unknown bacterial species; its danger level is currently being tested. My white cogon grass roots are planted in a standardized greenhouse—how many plants do you have on your side?"

Xia Qing answered in detail. "I have 34 roots still alive here, protected by yi-stone with no abnormalities found; sampling and testing are underway. Hu Zifeng was allocated 17 roots, and the ones still active definitely don't exceed 6. Duan Yao's side has 7 alive, and right now there are still…"

Duan Yao Wolf, who had been pricking up his ears to listen to Xia Qing and Zhang San's conversation, immediately raised a paw and gestured a number.

Seeing this, Xia Qing continued her report. "Before Duan Yao came over, there were still 5 alive; now it's uncertain."

Hearing that the evolved white cogon grass at their three locations was all in small quantities, Zhang San breathed a sigh of relief. "That few plants won't trigger uncontrollable risks for now. Order Territory One to send people wearing Class Three or above field protective suits to immediately clear out the white cogon grass. Seal all the root soil completely and send it to my territory. During clearing, beware of triggering methane gas explosions, and guard against the already-spread hydrogen sulfide toxin."

Duan Yao Wolf jumped over and pawed at Xia Qing's arm.

"Copy that." Xia Qing, complying with Duan Yao Wolf's request, switched to speaker mode and asked, "Third Brother, should the evolved white cogon grass inside the wolf pack's territory be handled the same way?"

Duan Yao Wolf stared solemnly at the phone screen showing only Zhang San's name, listening intently.

Zhang San asked, "How large is Xiaoduan's planting area, what range has the rapidly growing qi grass covered, and is it close to its living area?"

Xia Qing glanced at the solemn Duan Yao Wolf and answered, "It's not far from its living area, but the range is unclear. Third Brother, please look after the territory and Mountain Fifty for a while. I'll go with Duan Yao to clear the dangers inside its territory?"

Duan Yao Wolf immediately nuzzled Xia Qing's head with his big one, expressing thanks.

"Good. Have Yang Jin come over to pick up one tube of synthetic bacteria. This synthetic bacteria can devour the highly evolved corrosive sulfate-reducing bacteria and convert them into harmless compounds. If you can't bring back all the contaminated soil from Xiaoduan's side, first use yi-stone to isolate the qi elements in the danger zone, then set up a snow shelter. At a distance of 1.5 meters from the qi grass, dig isolation trenches on all four sides at least 50 centimeters wide and as deep as the soil layer. Then in the danger zone, dilute the suppressant 1 to 1000 with water and spray it. One tube of suppressant can spray at most 30 square meters—don't waste it."

This suppressant was a synthetic bacterial strain Zhang San had cultivated to deal with the super-qi evolution of soil anaerobic bacteria. Because the original strain was insufficient, he had only prepared two tubes. If it weren't that Duan Yao's side was too far from human territory, and the travel risk coefficient during qi-snow season was too high, Zhang San would have been reluctant to use them.

As for whether Xia Qing would be in danger going to the Evolution Forest during qi-snow season, Zhang San wasn't worried at all, because she had Duan Yao Wolf and Yang Jin protecting her.

"Understood, thank you, Third Brother." Xia Qing immediately felt at ease. At the critical moment, you still have to rely on your idol. Third Brother is the most reliable human standing at the top of the universe's pyramid!

"Aww~~" Duan Yao Wolf also copied Xia Qing's tone and answered.

Zhang San, hearing that Duan Yao Wolf was also there, immediately reminded him to stay safe. "Xiaoduan, your protective suit's sealing doesn't meet standard—don't go into the evolved white cogon grass danger zone to clear it with Xia Qing and the others. If the suppressant can't control the disaster, don't panic, don't jump in to clear it yourself. Call me or Xia Qing immediately. I still have electromagnetic equipment here that can use electromagnetic interference on SBR's electron transport chain to greatly reduce the corrosion rate."

Duan Yao Wolf: "Awr!"

Xia Qing……

The idol does indeed stand at the top of the pyramid, but this pyramid has already gone astray, tilting toward beloved disciple Xiaoduan's side, and is about to stop shining on her, a die-hard fan of the highest order!

After hanging up the phone, Duan Yao Wolf sliced open the rubber gloves on his paws with two quick swipes, accurately tossed them into the trash can, then opened the storage cabinet by the wall, took out a pack of antibacterial rubber paw covers from inside, and stuffed them into the side pocket of his protective suit.

Xia Qing contacted the speed evolver Yang Jin, asking him to go to Territory Seven to pick up the suppressant. She also quickly packed her gear, met up with Duan Yao Wolf, and discussed, "Duan Yao, let Yang Jin come with us? We'll drive to Mountain Fifty first, then when I can't run anymore, Yang Jin can carry me on his back. Once there, he can also help me work. He's a speed evolver—he works very fast."

It wasn't yet a moment of absolute emergency, and Xia Qing didn't want to take out the very loud single-person flyer, which would startle the animals in the Evolution Forest.

Duan Yao Wolf closed his mouth, his face solemn, disagreeing with letting Yang Jin enter Mountain Fifty-Five.

Duan Yao Wolf didn't agree to Yang Jin entering his core territory, and Xia Qing didn't press the issue, settling for the next best thing. "Then call Her Majesty, ask Her Majesty to send a giant wolf to wait for us at the foot of Mountain Fifty-Two to carry me over?"

Duan Yao Wolf bared his little fang tips, immediately pulled his shiny phone from his side pocket, and called the head wolf.

Xia Qing picked up Daigua and Ergua, who were testing samples, carried them to the greenhouse, left them with Wolf Lao Er, Sheep Leader, Little Huang Niu, and Little Feimao, then solemnly instructed her companions, "Leader, Lao Er, Daigua, Ergua, Little Feimao. I'm going to Mountain Fifty-Five to help Her Majesty and Duan Yao clear the danger. I'll try to be back before dawn. The territory will be protected by Yang Jin. Leader and Lao Er, protect this place and the companions. Can you do it, Lao Er?"

Wolf Dog Lao Er immediately opened his mouth, showing a happy smile.

"Leader, you are the lord of our territory, you can definitely protect the companions well, right?"

Sheep Leader raised his head, looking supremely arrogant.

"Good! The greenhouse is in your hands. Don't go out, wait for me to come back." Xia Qing took Little Feimao, who had burrowed into her pocket, and tucked him into the wooden nest hanging on the greenhouse's earthen wall.

This time she was going to clear toxic, explosion-prone plants; it would be dangerous for Little Feimao to come along.

After leaving the greenhouse, Xia Qing met up with Yang Jin and asked him to help guard the territory. "Captain Yang, Duan Yao and I are going to Mountain Fifty-Five. The territory is in your hands. I've already entered your information into the laboratory's access control system; the password is. Sheep Leader and the others are all in the breeding greenhouse. I've added firewood and sealed the heated wall, but just in case, you'd better call Er Yong over. Leader and Lao Er are most familiar with him."

Besides the companions, the breeding greenhouse also contained Little Huang Niu, the chicken flock, two black-maned geese, fifteen trays of mealworms, and a tank of spring-water fish, plus the green-light bee colony in the adjacent greenhouse. In other words, apart from Xia Qing and the sparrows under the eaves, all the resident animals in Territory Three were in the greenhouse—the area most in need of protection in Territory Three.

Xia Qing was not a speed-type evolver, and the danger coefficient of entering the Evolution Forest during qi-snow season was very high. Yang Jin was uneasy. "I'll call Hu Zifeng over too, and I'll go with you?"

Xia Qing shook her head. "Mountain Fifty-Five is the core territory of the northern wolf pack. You haven't gained the wolf pack's trust yet, you can't go in. The territory is in your hands. I'll try to be back within three hours."

Xia Qing had already made her decision, and Yang Jin could only nod despite his worry. "During qi-snow season, the animals' attack power in the Evolution Forest will surge. Don't separate from the wolf pack to act, and especially watch out for snow-jumpers."

"Understood." Xia Qing took the suppressant, jumped into the off-road vehicle with Duan Yao Wolf, and drove out of the territory.

Yang Jin, who had opened the south gate of Territory Three, called out uneasily once more. "Sister Qing, under no circumstances are you to open your protective suit or take off your protective mask. I'll wait for you to come back in the territory. Brother Duan, please, you must protect Xia Qing well."

Duan Yao Wolf, in the passenger seat, solemnly nodded.