Forty-nine rules of the end times

Chapter 301 The Fourth Stage of Parasitism

Pinglu City, No. 3 Quarantine Zone.

This area is a key monitoring zone where the actions of spore addicts are meticulously recorded and reported regularly.

Zhang Minglu had previously brought Dragon Soul to observe the site once and concluded that those who had not eaten for a long time had entered the third stage of being parasitized by spores.

Several days have passed, and an urgent message has been delivered to the Countermeasures Research Office.

Violence has occurred in the quarantine zone.

Chaos reigned within the quarantine zone, which had been converted from a stadium.

A large number of practitioners huddled in a corner, leaving the central area clear, and watched the chaotic battle raging within with expressions of fear.

Approximately several dozen practitioners are attacking staff in the quarantine area.

By deeply exploring the potential of the spores, they all became incredibly strong and fast, knocking several staff members to the ground.

The person in charge immediately sought help from outside, and armed forces that had been deployed nearby quickly came to support them, using their superior firepower to swiftly suppress the unrest.

Upon receiving the news, Zhang Minglu immediately led the Dragon Soul to the scene. By the time they arrived, the suppression had already ended, and the dozens of troublemaking practitioners had been bound hand and foot.

"What happened?" He immediately found the person in charge of the quarantine area and asked, "Why did they start fighting?"

Although those who have been influenced by the spores and are obsessed with practicing the technique are fanatical, they do not have any tendency to harm others.

On the contrary, due to their "cherishing life" nature, these practitioners try their best to avoid conflicts with others in order to avoid putting themselves in danger.

This can also be seen from the majority of people who huddled in the corners of the stadium, far from the center of the battle.

"These people have gone mad from practicing martial arts!" the person in charge said with a dark face. "There was no warning at all. They suddenly started yelling and attacking. Many of our staff were caught off guard, and there were quite a few casualties!"

Zhang Minglu frowned: "What are they shouting about?"

"Dr. Zhang, you'll find out for yourself. These bastards are still not behaving themselves even when they're tied up!"

Zhang Minglu and Long Hun immediately went to the group of people who were bound.

They all stared wide-eyed, gritting their teeth. Although they had never met before, they looked at Zhang Minglu and Long Hun as if they were their father's killers with whom they had a deep-seated hatred.

The look in their eyes, filled with pure hatred and even murderous intent, left both of them bewildered and their hearts heavy.

Before Zhang Minglu could even speak, these people started chattering away.

Although their timbres and volumes differed, their content was remarkably consistent.

"Why don't you join our family! You heretics!"

Join the family...

Zhang Minglu and Longhun exchanged a glance.

Spore addicts collectively receive messages that appear to be from extraterrestrial intelligence, including the message, "Join our family." This information had been previously explained by analysts in a meeting at the Countermeasures Research Lab.

No one expected that these people would not only join themselves, but also resort to violence against others who refused to join.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Minglu tried to ask a few questions.

"You resort to violence for this reason? Don't you know that your actions are seriously illegal?"

"Have you forgotten that your original purpose in advocating the practice was to strengthen yourselves using spores? Why are you now forcing others to follow your ideas?"

"Do you have any self-awareness? Can you realize that your reasons don't justify your use of violence at all?"

When Zhang Minglu asked several questions, all the answers he received were irrelevant, such as "joining the big family."

He shook his head at the Dragon Soul: "It seems these 'pioneers' have already entered the fourth stage."

The fourth stage of spore parasitism is characterized by a suspected severe disruption of self-awareness, exhibiting extreme aggression towards non-spore addicts.

Dragon Soul said, "Doctor, those who have entered the fourth stage are already a threat to others."

"Yes."

Zhang Minglu went to find the person in charge and asked him to lock up all those who showed aggression in separate rooms and closely observe their subsequent changes.

He had a vague feeling that the fourth stage wasn't the final stage. But after the violence, how could things develop? Could there really be a significant physiological transformation, turning them into something akin to a monster?
However, given their aggressive behavior at this stage, all quarantine zones must be on high alert. The two left Quarantine Zone 3 and were on their way back to the base.

Zhang Minglu was in a heavy mood and said to Long Hun, "Have you noticed that the first to enter the fourth stage of parasitism are all ordinary people?"

“Yes,” Dragon Soul said. “The Ascended seem to possess a certain degree of resistance, which can slow down the rate at which they are parasitized.”

“Psychic power provides comprehensive physical enhancement to those who have ascended. Although the rate of deterioration from parasitism is slower than that of ordinary people, it will still worsen... If in the future, infected individuals who have ascended generally enter the fourth stage and exhibit violent tendencies, then suppressing and controlling them will not be so simple.”

"Doctor, do you have any ideas?"

"I believe that prevention is always better than cure. After returning to base, we must conduct a thorough investigation to ensure that there are no similar problems within the base."

Zhang Minglu paused and said, "When you get back, check the dietary records of each Ascended individual in the base during this period. If anyone has suddenly eaten less or even stopped eating, tell me immediately when I get back to the base."

"Yes. Doctor, aren't you coming back to base with me?"

"Yes. I need to go to the academy to talk to Shi Jingyi."

……

In a small meeting room in the college.

Shi Jingyi agreed when the dean told her that Zhang Minglu from the Countermeasures Research Office wanted to talk to her.

After the two met, Shi Jingyi asked, "Dr. Zhang, are you here to ask me about Guan Tong's situation?"

She knew that Zhang Minglu was in charge of the official Ascensionist department.

He was in charge of the selection, training, and team formation of the official Ascended.

So she believes that his visit this time is still related to Guan Tong.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Minglu shook his head and denied it: "No. I came here this time for the rules."

"Alien spores?"

"Yes. I know that Lecturer Jingyi is different from other lecturers. She doesn't guard against the spores too strictly, but rather uses them naturally, right?"

Shi Jingyi nodded: "I guess so."

She had indeed felt the assistance provided by the spores during her cultivation these past few days. However, she was still a far cry from becoming addicted to that assistance.

"I wonder if Lecturer Jingyi has received any messages from extraterrestrial civilizations?"

“There were indeed some fragmented images,” Shi Jingyi said, “but they disappeared immediately as soon as they appeared, because I concentrate fully when I practice, and I can immediately bring my attention back when I get distracted.”

Zhang Minglu thought to himself, Shi Jingyi was able to dispel the information brought by the spores with her focus, which is not something an ordinary person can do... It is not easy for ordinary people to enter a meditative state.

“Dr. Zhang, if you want to draw on my experience, I'm afraid it's not suitable. In fact, I'm also struggling with the situation of some students right now.”

"Students?" Zhang Minglu looked surprised. "Are there students in the academy addicted to spores?"

"Yes."

"This is dangerous! When the spores penetrate deeper into the parasitic stage, the host may exhibit violent tendencies and could potentially harm other students!"

"Violent tendencies?" Shi Jingyi's eyes sharpened. "Then we certainly need to be prepared. I wonder how the authorities plan to handle this?"

“At this stage, we can only lock up deep parasites in isolation, but that’s only a temporary solution… I came to see Instructor Jingyi this time to hear if she has any suggestions. After all, the ‘Mind Power Flow’ you developed is extremely magical. It not only gives mind power a higher level of application, but also helps official ascendants break through the limitations of the mind lock.”

Shi Jingyi shook her head slightly: "Although I have been researching new ways to use mental power recently, I am afraid I am helpless against the effects of spores. I regret that I cannot help you, Dr. Zhang."

"Is that so... Alright. I wonder if your friend Guan Tong, Lecturer Jingyi, has any insights on this matter? After all, he is one of the most advanced individuals at the forefront of this era."

"..."

Shi Jingyi realized that Zhang Minglu came to her not only to ask for her advice, but also to try to get some information from Guan Tong through her channels.

"We haven't been in contact recently. But if he really has a widely applicable method for dealing with spore addiction, I think, given his character, he wouldn't keep it to himself."

Zhang Minglu nodded, then asked curiously, "I wonder what new form of mental power Lecturer Jingyi is researching? Is that a secret?"

"It's not exactly a secret," Shi Jingyi said frankly. "It's a form of outputting mental energy in a fixed model for combat. If I were to name it, I'd probably call it 'Mental Martial Arts'."

(End of this chapter)