At the coast of Yalong Bay.

At this moment, there are three black humanoid sea urchins placed on the beach, covered with spikes. One is of standard Black Thorn size, and the other two are only half the size of the former, with white numbers 1, 2, and 3 painted on their surfaces.

"Chairman, these are the Black Thorns bred by division."

Shu Yumei introduced to Zhou Yi on the side: "No. 1 and No. 2 are the next generation bred from ordinary Black Thorns of Ni Ge. No. 3 is cultivated using Hei Fu as the parent."

"Among them, No. 1 and No. 2 have strength less than 1% of the parent. It's likely due to insufficient Dead Sea energy density here, causing them to be much weaker than the individuals split on Jupiter, unable to enter an overload state, lacking the [Flashing] ability."

"I asked Recursive City and the Program Department to measure, and found their strength is above ordinary B level, but not reaching A level strength, currently rated as B+."

"Their [Insecticide] and [slowing wave] are also greatly weakened, unable to pose any threat to A level."

"No. 1 and No. 2 can serve as Dead Sea transport vehicles, but they cannot continue to grow and develop, having limited vitality."

"This incomplete developmental form, scientifically named [Young Black Thorn]."

This naturalist Mud Tree Person is still wearing a robe made up of a large number of leaves.

In the sunny summer, whether it's the green leaf coat or the patterns on the skin, they appear more vibrant and spirited, giving Shu Yumei an exotic beauty. Like a dancer in splendid dress stepping out from the theater into everyday life.

Zhou Yi asked her: "Have speed, load, and endurance data been measured?"

"Measured."

Shu Yumei swiped the enhanced controller in her hand—one must say, the Mud Tree People scientists have a strong ability to learn how to use new tools.

"According to the body measurement report. No. 1 and No. 2 can reach a maximum speed of 100 kilometers/hour, with a maximum load of 2.5 tons. In terms of endurance, there's no issue as the Black Thorns absorb energy from the Dead Sea, allowing continued navigation, operating using fruit cores."

"Can it carry people?"

She nodded: "It can. Inside, people are very safe, as Black Thorns can completely block out external energy, biological invasions, and dust, without affecting air circulation. Long-term navigation just needs enough fresh water and food."

Zhou Yixin thought.

That's equivalent to a Dead Sea mini-submarine with a perpetual motion machine.

Quite valuable.

The company is currently developing the Dead Sea, with Wasteland Armor able to protect single persons during external work, but long-distance seafloor transportation remains a problem.

Lately, the camp vehicle was invented, but it also requires an oxygen production and filtration system to avoid the threat of the outer Dead Sea possibly causing human death.

Both oxygen production and filtration layers are rapidly consumable, endurance issues still persist.

If Young Black Thorns could be widely distributed, it could directly resolve this current bottleneck issue.

"Can they be mass-produced?"

"There are only two parent bodies, so mass cultivation is unlikely in a short time."

Shu Yumei also said: "Because of the cutting of divisions, it causes harm to Black Thorns themselves, too frequent cuts can lead to functional damage. Each time, a maximum of three cuts can be made, according to our experience, we have to wait until the new generation completes growth to cut the second time."

"According to local timing, cutting out three pieces every two months, adding Hei Fu as well, amounts to six pieces, totaling 36 Young Black Thorns produced a year."

Zhou Yi listened with some disappointment.

Thought they could be mass-produced like dumplings.

But apparently not...

He suddenly gazed over the Young Black Thorns on the beach.

Scenes of public housing came to mind.

Jade City produced masses of E-level small high-rise buildings by lowering strength.

Could Black Thorns emulate this?

"What if these Young Black Thorns were further divided?"

Shu Yumei showed a hint of hesitation: "Division itself is not a problem, but the next generation will be weaker. According to the naturalist's experience, such rapidly divided offspring will be at least a strength grade lower than the parent."

"The next generation might only be C level."

"With continuous division, the divided bodies will grow weaker."

Zhou Yi's eyes lit up.

That means it's feasible.

He asked: "If it's at C, D or even E level, can it protect the pilot inside the fruit shell in the Dead Sea?"

The naturalist nodded: "Yes. In fact, the original Black Thorn strength wasn't this high; the naturalist initially discovered wild ancestor Black Thorns, only capable of drifting and protective abilities in the Dead Sea, as a relatively special hard fruit."

"Strength enhancement, having [Insecticide] and [slowing wave], even overload [Flashing] are results of continuous selection and hybridization, gradually cultivating a quality strong breed."

According to Shu Yumei's statement.

The primitive state of the Black Thorn is akin to a large coconut.

Its structure is unique, maintaining vitality even when detached from the tree branch.

After modification, they are stripped of natural reproductive ability, using all life nutrients to sustain themselves rather than supporting growth into a plant.

Improved Black Thorns boast greater endurance, capable of drifting for longer periods. Each one, if well-maintained, can last between one hundred to three hundred years.

Zhou Yi stated, "As long as the strength is sufficient, that's all that matters. What we currently need is coverage to protect ordinary people in the Dead Sea and conduct operations on the sea floor or within the sea."

"Is that feasible?"

"If it's just this simple requirement, there's no issue at all."

Shu Yumei asserted, "Then I'll conduct multiple rounds of division on them, which should quickly boost production."

Zhou Yixin relaxed, "Let's go with that."

"Chairman, there's one more thing."

She continued, "As a Light Core Body, the third Black Thorn cultivated by Hei Fu has the same strength as a normal Black Thorn, both at the Skywalker Rank, with complete functionality. It can also switch to an overload state and initiate flashing."

"Hei Fu is the first Light Core Level Black Thorn to date, possessing self-healing and recovery abilities far beyond Grade A Black Thorns."

"Due to the presence of the Light Core, its stability is tremendously high, likely ensuring that its long-term divisions will consistently remain at Grade A. The only regret is that, even with the parent being a Light Core Body, offspring birthed by this method cannot grow any further."

This was indeed good news.

"Chairman, I personally suggest cultivating them in two parts."

Shu Yumei proposed, "The first part is to nurture standard Black Thorns through the division of Hei Fu. They are strong enough to adapt to more extreme environments. With consciousness restored by Maria Hospital, they can directly communicate and collaborate with the pilot, becoming partners."

"The second part is scaled division cultivation. As long as the young Black Thorns maintain a stable structure that can navigate the Dead Sea and protect the operators inside, it is acceptable. The main goal is to establish a foundational mass production of a biological carrier."

"This way, both scale and high intensity are achieved."

Zhou Yi nodded, "Excellent. Proceed as you suggest. This area will be entrusted to you, and don't hesitate to request anything you need."

The naturalist hesitated for a moment, "I have a request."

"Chairman, can I use Chamber No.1? It's the origin of the company's foundational enhancement plan. I've heard about the peculiar life inside, capable of evolving ordinary people into enhancers."

"Through genetic mutation, it can restore existing life information, demonstrating characteristics once possessed."

"I was pondering."

Shu Yumei seriously said, "If we could use the chamber's technology to restore and stimulate the Black Thorns, then even the young Black Thorns might revert to ancient Black Thorns. Doing so would revive reproductive ability, enabling the planting of true Black Thorn shrubs and cultivating a large number of Black Thorns."

"The Black Thorn modification technology is highly mature. Once we nurture the ancient Black Thorns, there's a comprehensive method for their quick domestication. The modification tool is the air-carrot on me."

Zhou Yi was delighted.

Unexpectedly, there was such a method.

Indeed worthy of a professional.

He immediately informed Shu Yumei about the hydrogen-based life-form and authorized her to enter Chamber No.1 for biological transformation.

16 days later.

Shu Yumei arrived at 3101, smiling brightly, "Chairman, I have already enlisted the help of Qing Liu to revert a young Black Thorn through genetic mutation, restoring it to the ancient Black Thorn."

She opened the box she was carrying.

Inside was a black oval fruit, much smaller in form compared to a Black Thorn. Its surface wasn't as spiky, but rather relatively smooth, with a single layer of tough, dense black fiber, resembling layers of wrapped cloth.

"This is the ancient Black Thorn. Once planted on a Sky-reaching Tree or Pan Tree and modified, it can grow in about a month, and bear fruit in approximately three months."

"Each Black Thorn takes about 1 to 3 years to fully mature, but many can grow. Once grafting is complete, the total number surpasses that of division bodies."

Zhou Yi felt a wave of gratitude with what he heard.

This enables the simultaneous and long-term development of both emergency young Black Thorns and fully mature Black Thorns.

With time, the wider dissemination of Black Thorns becomes inevitable.

"Chairman, I also conducted a small experiment."

There was a gleam in Shu Yumei's eyes, "You're advancing the foundational enhancement plan, but there's only one Qing Liu, who can transform at most two people into enhancers each day, which is too slow. So, I tried something small."

"Using Qing Liu, I conducted an 'Adaptation and Evolution,' cultivating a long-lasting Transformation Fruit. Its effects will last at least 50 years."

"With this method, it's possible to scale up and accelerate the foundational enhancement plan."

Zhou Yi was dumbfounded by what he heard.

Shu Yumei's research abilities seemed excessively advanced...

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