Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 2363: Chapter 2358: The Disappearance Incident

Professor Ah Kai is indeed diligent.

Considering earlier participation as technical support, it hasn’t been long since we joined the Ark Project, and now new tests are already being prepared two days ago.

Even when he disembarked, his condition didn’t seem very good.

The news brought by Professor Luo Bu made Fu Qian deeply sigh at how diligence pays off.

”Benevolence Institute? Is Ah Kai still there recently?”

However, what he curiously pondered first was the office location, glancing far out through the window.

While it’s not quite a dangerous building yet, the once magnificent Benevolence Institute suffered substantial damage during the Ark incident, and Ah Kai is actually still holed up there?

”Yes, and according to him, his office wasn’t much affected, making it even quieter,”

The reply from Luo Bu confirmed that it’s indeed so.

Even before the incident, most scholars from the Benevolence Institute were conducting research at home, yet after enduring the devastation, Professor Ah Kai still chose to hold his ground.

”I see, lead me there then.”

Fu Qian shook his head slightly and stood up.

Ah?

This overly straightforward action seemed to even take Luo Bu by surprise, but he quickly became excited.

The reasons for someone’s disappearance could be many; regardless of the concern, it’s merely speculation.

Yet Professor Fu simply took such worry seriously and set off directly.

...

”Any new progress recently?”

However, as they rushed towards the Benevolence Institute, Professor Fu suddenly spoke up at one point, posing a question that was somewhat bewildering.

”... You mean the laboratory over there?”

Luo Bu paused at this, couldn’t help confirming.

”Yes, during this period, have you not provided Ah Kai with more than one piece of material?”

Fu Qian casually confirmed, expressing his keen expectation.

”Not just that, but since obtaining Director Li’s forgiveness last time, I haven’t done anything against the regulations again...”

Realizing Professor Fu was serious, Luo Bu couldn’t help feeling somewhat odd, yet he cautiously stated first that there had been no misconduct during this period.

”Haven’t done it again? What a pity... tell me, any interesting outcomes?”

However, what widened his eyes was that Professor Fu shook his head slightly upon hearing this, seemingly regretting the absence of mischief.

Nevertheless, he didn’t offer any unlawful guidance, soon indicating for him to continue.

”Actually, it can’t be said as interesting, but indeed there were changes not seen before...”

Professor Fu not only remembered what he had there but actually seemed very concerned about the progress.

If it weren’t for the Benevolence Institute right ahead, Luo Bu almost forgot his friend’s safety.

”Previously, I added Divine Blood and Flesh again, making the swarms even more robust, enhancing the mushroom’s generation efficiency. But as the number increased, some of them actually started to float up...”

Leading ahead, Luo Bu explained the specific content of the project.

”Oh? How exactly do they float?”

Though Professor Luo Bu modestly claimed it wasn’t that intriguing, Fu Qian imagined potential scenarios, showing considerable interest.

”They simply suspend in the air, without any connection to other mushrooms, yet don’t drift around—almost as if growing from the Void.”

The described scene caused Luo Bu to furrow his brow, clearly finding it peculiar.

So that’s how it is...

Although he hadn’t seen it firsthand, Fu Qian was momentarily contemplative, nostalgically recalling the encounter with the Fungus Emperor—that mycelium lurking beneath the worldly dimension, seemingly representing the world’s reality.

Of course, in terms of the Transcendent realm, compared to the previous mimicry, such suspension hardly counts as a rare effect. No wonder Luo Bu didn’t consider sharing earlier.

However, the previous encounter left a profound impression.

Making any intriguing element in Luo Bu’s project worthy of reference, according to Fu Qian, including the one at their sight—

The door being even open, as they entered the familiar room with Luo Bu, Fu Qian’s gaze immediately fell to the ground.

...

Professor Ah Kai’s diligence is visible to the naked eye.

Even the somewhat messy office still had scattered manuscripts that could be found in various places.

And in the relatively tidy empty space in the center, there were some familiar tools visible.

Like that classic black cone, like a liquid formed after something melted, like a complete silver-gray insect shell... but most prominently, an overly stretched fungus.

These were clearly the works of Professor Luo Bu. For Fu Qian, the taste alone made them easily distinguishable.

These four items formed a pattern that was not square but still regular.

It seemed Professor Ah Kai was not only doing theoretical research here, but even conducted practical experiments onsite, utilizing the borrowed materials.

Additionally, the description of the mushroom as overly ”stretched” wasn’t an exaggeration. It had long lost its previous form, appearing as if the mycelium composing it had all broken free.

After completely dissociating, it almost formed a web-like structure, even climbing onto nearby manuscripts.

...

Indeed, it was quite a magical scene.

It seemed to prove that Professor Ah Kai’s research indeed made some progress, and the materials borrowed from Luo Bu had been effectively utilized.

But as Luo Bu mentioned, the person involved was nowhere to be seen.

On one hand, there were the residual tools left on the ground, and on the other hand, it was deserted.

Even through the perspective of the Abandonment King, the optical radar detected no anomalies.

It felt as if, when the closing bell rang, he just walked out.

But for someone like Ah Kai, who preferred to eat, drink, and could even relieve themselves within the room, it’s hard to imagine them adhering to such a routine.

Moreover—

Fu Qian reached for the center of the pattern, indicating no anomalies appeared after two seconds.

Professor Ah Kai seemed not to have been reckless enough to plant a Death Seed just because it was a dangerous building.

But if it wasn’t that he stumbled like this, then how could it possibly have gone wrong...

”I remember you mentioned that even picked mushrooms would still maintain some awareness with the swarm... did your laboratory have any particular movements just now?”

Glancing at Luo Bu, who was holding his breath and fearing to interrupt him, Fu Qian asked casually.

”Yes, actually it was when noticing the anomaly that I ran over, only to discover these.

”I also tried searching other places, but achieved no results. Does Professor Fu think something happened to Ah Kai?”

Earnestly nodding, Luo Bu confirmed Professor Fu’s memory was correct, making his sudden recollection of Ah Kai’s situation all the more reasonable.

”Think positively—at least you probably noticed something immediately if something indeed happened.”

Fu Qian nodded without overstating optimism.

”Take me to your side and let me take a look then.”