Today's test was another major failure.

"You're so small." You Yonghuai looked at the potato chip that had landed in his palm and reached out to tease it.

As You Yonghuai lightly touched the potato chips with his fingers, he looked at Ling Xiuqi and asked, "How did it become like this?"

How come I shrunk even though I helped you?

"Because I found its information." Ling Xiuqi also wanted to reach out and tease the miniature eight-legged human, but unfortunately, the other party wouldn't let him touch it. He helplessly pursed his lips and said:

"Some of the laboratory's data has been deciphered, including information about the eight subjects."

"Each subject has its own characteristics, and as the only subject that escaped from the laboratory, its characteristic is—change."

"So, this little guy's true form is actually Ditto?" You Yonghuai glanced down at the potato chips and asked, "Can you turn into Pikachu?"

"Huh?" Potato Chips tilted its head, a hint of confusion in its expression.

"It can only transform into things it has seen before to a certain extent; it can't transform into anything."

"Fine," You Yonghuai nodded nonchalantly, "but could you change your appearance? I hate spiders."

If he keeps lying on his hand like that, he's going to throw up.

The potato chip raised its head, its gaze falling on You Yonghuai. After a moment of thought, a wisp of smoke slowly emanated from its body.

Then, it transformed into a string of exquisite silver bracelets, which hung on You Yonghuai's wrist.

"Isn't this one of my previous works...?" Si Xuanyin stared at the silver bracelet, her eyes narrowing. "Where did you see this?"

"It was locked up in the lab before it met Xiaoyou, so where else could it have met you?" Ling Xiuqi chuckled. "The Wujian School has a collaboration with the lab, so it's not surprising that they got your work."

Si Xuanyin remained silent.

So you're just targeting her, aren't you?

"The test theme for Subject 8 is to attempt to house multiple extraordinary creations within a single living organism in order to gain different abilities." Ling Xiuqi looked at the potato chips with great curiosity and laughed, "Although I don't know why it wants you as its master, you've definitely struck gold."

"But how did it escape?" You Yonghuai asked. "Didn't the lab keep an eye on it?"

"Because the lab acquired something new that day, they shifted their focus there." Ling Xiuqi pulled out a photo and handed it over.

It was a shield-shaped pendant with four gemstones in black, white, yellow, and red set on it, like four stars. There was a depression in the very center, as if something was missing.

"What is this?" You Yonghuai leaned closer and asked curiously.

"I don't know," Ling Xiuqi said frankly.

Before You Yonghuai could even open his mouth to complain, he noticed Si Xuanyin's angry expression: "Is this yours too?"

"Huang Li, that motherless bastard!" Si Xuanyin didn't answer, but just frantically swung her fists, venting her anger.

"What about your grandmother...?" You Yonghuai thought to himself.

After her anger subsided somewhat, Si Xuanyin began to explain: "This thing is the Sage's Proof, representing the final stage of an alchemist... Don't look at me so surprised, it's still unfinished."

"Only when I can complete the red transformation and forge the Philosopher's Stone can I truly complete this proof. But even so, this proof is the culmination of my hard work to date."

Where is this thing now?

"Only people in the lab would know..." Ling Xiuqi shook his head and said, "Don't be too anxious. When the interrogation experts arrive tomorrow, they'll ask this first."

You Yonghuai also began to soothe Si Xuanyin, gently stroking her fur.

There was really no other way, and since You Yonghuai had come to comfort her, Si Xuanyin naturally wouldn't act recklessly.

But tonight won't be any better.

Unable to even watch TV dramas, Si Xuanyin anxiously stayed up all night, but did not wake You Yonghuai up in the morning.

He already suffers from insomnia every night; there's no need to wake him up so early.

After a less-than-smooth sleep, You Yonghuai stretched and looked at Si Xuanyin beside him, saying sleepily, "Don't worry, I'll wash my face and then take you to the police station to see if that expert has arrived yet."

"Let's put that aside for now; you haven't passed your special test yet."

"...That's true."

After trying all four options, the two of them roughly understood what each option represented.

The "Physical" stat increases the values ​​displayed on the panel.

[Spirit] is used to restore SAN value, and may also increase certain hidden values.

[Mystic Arts] can grant traits, but it's unclear whether there are any other skills.

The "artifact" item provides a recipe, and a successful test might yield the finished product, while a great success would be the true artifact.

Since the misfortune of "accumulating strength for a sudden burst" was still a little short, and the two wanted quick results, they chose the "physical" method.

You can always trust your numbers.

[Physical Examination: A value greater than 78 indicates a successful test]

Test result: 46

[Check failed! Agility +3, Body +3]

You Yonghuai rolled up his sleeve and took a look, discovering that he seemed to have some muscle definition on his body, making him appear more symmetrical.

The fat on my belly has disappeared.

Although it doesn't have much of an impact for the time being, You Yonghuai doesn't really want his body size to increase any further.

After all, his normal body size only counts as 10, so it's hard to imagine how he was scored.

What if I level up to 100 and become a muscular giant like Baki?

That's outside of You Yonghuai's aesthetic sphere.

With each meal failing the test, You Yonghuai felt that even though he was taking medication, his stomach problems seemed to be getting worse.

I can't rely on IV drips to get through the rest of my life until my stomach problems are cured...

You Yonghuai rubbed his stomach with some embarrassment and took a taxi to the police station.

You Yonghuai arrived at the police station close to ten o'clock and saw Ling Xiuqi sitting in a chair, leisurely reading a newspaper.

"They're here. Was there traffic again?" Ling Xiuqi clicked his tongue and shook his head. "The interrogation experts have arrived and are interrogating us now."

As he spoke, Ling Xiuqi gestured with his chin toward the interrogation room next to him.

"ah!!!"

A heart-wrenching scream rang out from within.

You Yonghuai did not recognize the voice, but guessed it might be one of the researchers at the laboratory site.

"Is this interrogation...compliant with regulations?" Even without meeting the "interrogation expert" in person, Yu Yonghuai already felt some fear towards him/her.

The guy being interrogated was screaming so pitifully.

"Who told them to resist to the death? Old Ye didn't want to waste his breath arguing with these people, so he just took action."

Shortly after, the interrogation room door opened, and a seemingly cheerful young man with a warm smile said, "I know the location of the stronghold."