In the apocalypse, I hoarded goods and handed over my storage space to the government.

Kunlun Base, the core area for scientific research.

The security here is more than twice as tight as before.

Su Ran passed through five biometric locks before entering the core laboratory.

The previously separate P1 to P4 laboratories have now been completely connected and expanded into a huge circular experimental area.

Through the bulletproof glass, you can see countless researchers in hazmat suits working busily. The cool-toned lights shine on the sophisticated instruments, creating a sacred and chilling atmosphere.

This is a high-stakes gamble involving the entire nation, and also a unique kind of romance belonging to the Chinese people.

"Mr. Chen, you're in good shape."

Su Ran pushed open the door of the isolation room and shouted at the old man who was operating the robotic arm.

Chen Changhe turned his head, his eyes bloodshot.

Upon seeing that it was Su Ran, he was taken aback at first, then revealed a bitter smile.

"Xiao Su, if you're here to push for the refinement of the awakening potion, then don't bother. We're basically blindly searching in the dark right now. Every little bit of progress we make is overturned by new mutation data the next day... It's tough."

His voice was hoarse, revealing a deep weariness.

"Mr. Chen, you are a national treasure, you must take care of your health."

Su Ran looked serious and said, "I'm not here to ask about the progress; I'm here to deliver local specialties from the front lines."

"Local specialties?"

Chen Changhe rubbed his temples, forcing himself to stay alert. "Brought back from the front lines? What kind of mutated beast's crystal core is it this time?"

Su Ran smiled slightly, offering no further explanation.

With a slight movement of consciousness, the laws of space begin to operate.

The next second, a thick, white tissue, about ten centimeters square, appeared out of thin air.

It was firmly imprisoned by Su Ran's spatial power, suspended in mid-air.

Chen Changhe moved almost reflexively, his hand speed was astonishing.

He grabbed a high-strength glass box and slammed it on.

The moment it hit the ground, it trembled slightly as if it were alive.

Countless slender hyphae instantly spread along the metal countertop, trying to find a place to parasitize.

"This is……"

Chen Changhe narrowed his eyes and took a step closer. "A mutated plant? Its life force is incredibly strong."

"That's right, this is a mutated fungal symbiosis. It's a rather unique mutated plant."

Su Ran pointed to the clump of things, her eyes slightly cold, "Originally, what was growing on the ground were mushrooms, but they were destroyed by General Zhang Guomeng. This is a fungal carpet underground."

"Fungal mats? Currently, the Chinese Academy of Sciences has no research on heterogeneous plants."

Chen Changhe stared intently at the clump of mycelium and asked, "Advisor Su, are you suggesting we start a new research project specifically to study this fungal carpet?"

"That's right"

Su Ran said, "Actually, more than anything, I want to make a second use of this strange fungal carpet."

Chen Changhe suddenly looked up at Su Ran, "How do you plan to use it?"

"Actually, I have two ideas,"

Su Ran pointed to the huge map of the Great Xia defense zone on the wall, his eyes becoming deep.

"First, biological defense."

"Old Chen, you've seen the situation for yourself. The various safe zones on the ground are facing the dual pressure of zombie hordes and mutated beasts. Our ammunition reserves are being depleted at an alarming rate."

Shooting down a single mutated beast requires dozens of bullets, and against a horde of zombies, it's like burning tons of bullets. We're using our limited industrial reserves to fill that bottomless pit. We need a cheap defense system that doesn't require logistical support.

Chen Changhe fell silent.

The existing industrial system has not yet fully recovered, and bullet production cannot even make up for a fraction of the consumption.

"So, you want to use it?"

Chen Changhe pointed to the fungal cluster that was still trying to corrode the glass.

"That's right, fight poison with poison."

Su Ran turned around and pointed to the clump of fungus. "This thing has an extremely strong sense of territory and is very aggressive. If we can figure out its attack logic, cultivate it artificially, and then deploy it around the outer defense perimeter of major bases, it can serve as a natural barrier."

Chen Changhe was startled, and his tone became urgent.

"You mean...you're going to keep it as a guard dog?"

"More useful than a dog."

Su Ran tapped her temple. "Dogs need to be fed cooked food, but this thing only needs zombies and mutated beasts. It eats zombies, gets nutrients, continues to divide and grow, and the defense line will become thicker and stronger."

No logistical support is needed, no shifts or rest are required, and even military pay is not required.

Once planted, it will become a death trap.

This idea is crazy and ingenious.

Turning the zombie hordes that plague humanity into fuel for defensive structures?

Is this the real-life version of "Plants vs. Zombies"?

"This is practically a biological variant of the perpetual motion machine theory."

Chen Changhe felt a chill run down his spine, and his previously cloudy eyes began to shine. "If we can really achieve targeted guidance, the pressure on our city's defenses will definitely be reduced significantly!"

Although he was a biologist, he understood what this kind of defense meant.

That is to defeat magic with magic!

"Biological defense system...biological moat..."

Chen Changhe muttered to himself, his mind racing with ideas, "Theoretically feasible! Consultant Su, you're a genius!"

"How likely is it?" Su Ran pressed.

"It's hard to say."

Chen Changhe suddenly explained, "The biological activity, bio-recognition mechanism, and controllability of this kind of fungal mat will all affect the feasibility of the final operation, and further analysis is still needed."

"That's your problem as experts."

Su Ran held up two fingers. "As for the second way to use it, it is to serve as a biological material."

"This thing is extremely tough. Even Zhang Guomeng, that roughneck, couldn't destroy it by burning it with napalm or bombarding it with armor-piercing shells."

"You mean...?"

Chen Changhe seemed to have grasped something.

"Make armor."

Su Ran put it succinctly, "If we can't make a biological defense line, we'll try to make this into a biological composite armor."

Both the biological defense line and the new type of armor are strategic projects by today's standards.

"Okay, I'll remember these two ideas. But I can't personally take charge of this."

Chen Changhe gave a wry smile and lowered his voice, "The commander specifically asked me to report on the project's progress and personally gave me a death order, instructing me to abandon all other research projects and focus solely on the 'Awakening Potion.' You know how military orders are; they are absolute."

Upon hearing this, Su Ran's heart skipped a beat.

Cancel everything?

Fight to the death for the Awakening Potion?

This is perhaps how the leader gives himself the greatest support.

"You're too kind, Chief." Su Ran took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her eyes.

"But don't worry!"

Chen Changhe changed the subject, pointing to the laboratory next door, "I've assigned this fungal carpet project to my most outstanding student, Zhou Jian. That kid is a biological genius, and this stuff is right up his alley."

"OK!"

Su Ran remembered the name and nodded, indicating, "I can definitely trust your outstanding student."

"Consultant Su, do you have any more samples of this fungal mat? Please leave me more samples so we can conduct further research."

"it is good."

After leaving behind a cubic meter sample of the fungal carpet, Su Ran bid farewell to the group of scientific researchers.

Looking at the busy laboratory again, Su Ran breathed a sigh of relief.

Let's take it one step at a time.

The end of the world is nigh!

The Great Xia Dynasty wouldn't mind going even crazier.