“Come, Snake Lord, try this jasmine tea, a treasure of Lü Wencai.”

In the underground laboratory, Zhu Tiandao poured a cup of tea for Zhang Ji and handed it to him, saying, “Every night, when the fog tide arrives, the obsidian substance becomes dense, and humans turn into monsters, devouring each other to evolve, survival of the fittest.”

Zhang Ji sipped the tea, the aroma of jasmine and the stench of blood swirling around his nose, a bizarre combination.

Zhu Tiandao continued,

“What kind of monster humans turn into depends on their zodiac sign, but even within the same sign, the animals they become have different levels, with vastly different strengths.

“The professional term is bloodline rank.”

“For example, someone born in the year of the rabbit might turn into a domestic rabbit, a wild rabbit, a long-eared rabbit, or even the more powerful Bloodthirsty Lion-Rabbit. That old lady Li in your neighborhood, she’s a Bloodthirsty Lion-Rabbit, with an extremely high bloodline rank.”

Zhang Ji listened in surprise, learning for the first time that old lady Li, who was on good terms with his grandfather, was actually a Bloodthirsty Lion-Rabbit.

This kind of rabbit also has another name: Bloodthirsty Lion-Rabbit Beast.

Naturally ferocious, with an ancient bloodline, it resembles a rabbit, but with the ferocity of a lion. It can hunt jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards, making it extremely terrifying.

Born at the top of the food chain, its bloodline rank is very high.

And that Wu Xiaobei is a winged Tianma (Pegasus), which is also extraordinary.

“After humans transform into beasts, is it fixed, or can they further mutate and evolve?” Zhang Ji asked. “For example, can an ordinary domestic rabbit evolve into a Bloodthirsty Lion-Rabbit?”

Zhu Tiandao nodded. “Theoretically, it’s possible, but it’s very difficult!”

“What kind of bloodline rank each person awakens depends on their physical fitness and constitution strength, but it also has a lot to do with luck. It’s random,” Zhu Tiandao sighed.

There was a hint of envy in his tone.

Because he was just an ordinary Northeast tiger. Before the fall of Xichuan Town, he might have been considered a fierce beast, but in today's Xichuan Town, it was just so-so.

Barely enough to survive.

Evolving into another tiger with a higher bloodline is also a major subject he is now trying to conquer.

“Snake Lord, you awakened the Titan Python King Cobra, no less impressive than the Bloodthirsty Lion-Rabbit. Your luck is really good!” Zhu Tiandao praised.

Zhang Ji smiled but didn't answer.

He started as an ordinary cobra, but later, through his own unremitting efforts, he slowly improved.

It was by no means accidental.

Zhu Tiandao took out a set of data he had compiled and said, "The twelve zodiac signs are very mysterious and ancient, with an untraceable origin, but they are generally divided into two categories: the 'six domestic animals' (horse, ox, sheep, chicken, dog) and the 'six beasts' (rat, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, monkey)."

"In the ancient times, they were all tribal totems, the guardian gods, and some unearthed artifacts have markings of them."

"There is also a theory of constellations that the twelve zodiac signs correspond to the 'twelve Earthly Branches': Zi Rat, Chou Ox, Yin Tiger, Mao Rabbit, Chen Dragon, Si Snake, Wu Horse, Wei Sheep, Shen Monkey, You Rooster, Xu Dog, Hai Pig."

He explained in great detail.

"The twelve zodiac signs are each person's birth label, imprinted on the year they were born, belonging to the attribute marked by that year's animal."

"This year is the year of the Tiger, a 12-year cycle, called Benming Nian (one's zodiac year), in which people wear red socks, red underwear, red clothes, etc., symbolizing a prosperous year with good luck."

Zhang Ji glanced at him and said, "You were born in the year of the Tiger, so why haven't I seen you wearing red clothes?"

Zhu Tiandao unbuttoned his pants and winked. "Snake Lord, look here!"

Zhang Ji looked and smiled; it turned out his underwear was red.

"After the nightly beast transformations, how do you and Lü Wencai maintain a clear consciousness?" Zhang Ji asked.

Zhu Tiandao smiled proudly and handed Zhang Ji a bottle of liquid. "This is a mind-clearing and refreshing liquid I researched. Before transforming, take a sip."

He curiously sized up Zhang Ji, eager to know how Zhang Ji maintained his human consciousness, but he swallowed the words back, not daring to be nosy.

Zhang Ji licked his lips and smiled. "Last question: You said you can help me evolve, is that right?"

Zhu Tiandao nodded. "Yes, as long as enough obsidian substance can be extracted, swallowing it will stimulate the zodiac beast bloodline imprinted in the flesh and blood, greatly activating recessive genes, and allowing for rapid evolution."

"Swallowing obsidian substance can lead to evolution?!"

"That's right! Lü Wencai and I have evolved five times this way."

Zhang Ji understood. No wonder Lü Wencai was so high-level but a combat weakling.

It turned out he was leveling up with drugs.

Zhu Tiandao looked at Zhang Ji's tall and sturdy figure and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Snake Lord, may I ask how many times you've evolved?"

Zhang Ji licked his lips and smiled, his white teeth gleaming. "You want to know? Come find me tonight, and I'll tell you!"

Zhu Tiandao's face turned pale with fright, and he shook his head like a rattle-drum.

Seeing that Zhang Ji was about to leave, he quickly asked, "Snake Lord, should we continue the live experiments?"

"Continue!"

"Then I need a new batch of experimental specimens!"

Zhu Tiandao said, taking out a list and chasing after Zhang Ji to give it to him.

"This is a list Lü Wencai compiled for me, of all the people in the western district of Xichuan Town with high bloodline ranks after beast transformation. Please, Snake Lord, help me capture them."

Zhang Ji looked at the list. There were more than a dozen people in total, but when he saw one of the names, his eyes narrowed.

"Hmm? Wu Zhan, born in the year of the rabbit, his beast transformation bloodline is Three-Tailed Armadillo, living in Tonglin residential district."

Zhang Ji remembered that Wu Xiaobei's brother seemed to be called Wu Zhan and also lived in Tonglin residential district. Could it be him?!

Zhu Tiandao pointed to Wu Zhan's name with some excitement and said, "Snake Lord, I've been watching this guy for a long time."

"The Three-Tailed Armadillo is also a kind of rabbit, but even more ancient and terrifying than Old Lady Li's Bloodthirsty Lion-Rabbit. It’s extremely ferocious."

"How ferocious?"

"Ten tigers are no match for him!"

Zhang Ji gasped, his eyes flashing.

To be honest, he was jealous, his eyes turning red.

Wu Xiaobei and this Wu Zhan, how could their beast transformation monster bloodlines be so strong?!

Why?

Did the Wu family's ancestral grave emit green smoke?

Zhu Tiandao whispered, "The Three-Tailed Armadillo has the body of a rabbit but possesses the beak of a bird, the eyes of a hawk, and the tail of a snake. As soon as it sees a person, it lies down and pretends to be dead. When you are careless, it will leap up and bite your throat. It's cunning, insidious, and terrifying.”

Zhu Tiandao described the Three-Tailed Armadillo, his eyes full of dread and fear.

"Snake Lord, we must not let this guy grow up; otherwise, he will definitely threaten your position as overlord of the western district in the future."

"It just so happens that I want to do live experiments and need specimens with powerful bloodlines. You capture him, and I'll dissect him!"

Zhang Ji narrowed his eyes, licked his lips, and said, "No, that would be too wasteful. After you finish the experiment, if he's still alive, let me devour him!"

The Three-Tailed Armadillo, such an ancient rabbit beast, would be a huge number of evolution points!

Zhu Tiandao nodded with a "Jie Jie Jie" laugh, breathing a long sigh of relief in his heart.

He was worried that Zhang Ji was young and would be soft-hearted and unwilling to strike, but he didn't expect the other party's reaction to be so strong, unexpectedly ruthless, and he was very excited.

Worthy of being a person born in the year of the snake!

Ruthless and insidious.

From now on, he would never have to worry about not having specimens for experiments.

After exhorting Zhu Tiandao a few more times, Zhang Ji quickly left.

On the streets, the fog was heavy, the ground washed with blood, and there were scattered limbs, fragments of bodies, and animal fur everywhere. The white walls were covered with blood-stained claw prints.

Someone was crying loudly in the street, someone was shouting names and running desperately through the fog, searching for people, and someone was burning paper money at an intersection, the green smoke merging with the fog.

A building exploded and caught fire, thick smoke billowing, but it was swallowed by the fog. No one put out the fire, only screams could be heard.

Xichuan Town was even more chaotic than usual.

There were no police maintaining order, only gangs of hooligans banding together to commit crimes and robberies, occasionally breaking out into melee fights.

One of the young men was very fierce, throwing out shadows of fists with his boxing gloves, and the surrounding hooligans and thugs fell to the ground, screaming and begging for mercy.

"Is there anyone else who doesn't submit?!"

The young man raised his chin, his aura strong, his eyes bright.

The surrounding group of hooligans and thugs trembled, and finally all surrendered, shouting loudly, "Hail, Boss Wu! Long live Boss Wu!"

The young man leaped up, and upon landing, kicked in the front of a car, the strength of his fleshly body terrifying.

He stood on the hood of the car and laughed loudly, "I, Wu Zhan, am the most dazzling guy on this Peace Street!"

His voice carried far away in the fog.

"Wu Zhan?!"

Zhang Ji suddenly stopped, turned his head to look, his eyes gleaming.

"Is that Wu Zhan, the Three-Tailed Armadillo? Indeed extraordinary! His flesh and blood must taste delicious!"

Zhang Ji swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

In the distance, Wu Zhan seemed to sense something, suddenly turned his head, his eyes narrowed, and said, "Kid, if you don't have insurance, then looking at me like that will be very dangerous..."

Zhang Ji grinned and smiled, but cupped his fist and said, "Big brother, I was wrong, I won't do it again!"

He turned and left.

First, he needed to go home and see his father; then, in the afternoon, he would take this guy to the laboratory.

He hoped that when he was lying on Zhu Tiandao's experimental dissection table, he could still be so stubborn and arrogant.