I Arrived At Wizard World While Cultivating Immortality Chapter 644: New Reconnaissance Method and New Strange News

The underground laboratory has undergone considerable changes during this period.

A month ago, it had been nothing more than a damp, dark basement built with rough stone bricks.

Mold spots grew in the corners, the air was filled with the smell of soil and decaying wood, and the light from the gas lamps could not illuminate every corner. There were always shadows hiding beyond the line of sight.

Now, silver-white metal had replaced those stone bricks, covering every inch of the walls.

It extended from the floor all the way to the ceiling, with seamless joints, as if the space had been carved out from a single massive metal ingot. The metal surface emitted a soft, glowing white light—uniform and stable—illuminating the entire laboratory with no shadows.

Walking inside felt like being constantly under shadowless lamps.

Experimental equipment now filled the entire space.

On a long table against the wall, various glassware were neatly arranged.

Beakers, test tubes, petri dishes, distillation flasks… They came in different sizes and shapes, but every piece was spotlessly clean, gleaming with a transparent luster under the glowing white light.

On the workbench on the other side were various instruments Jie Ming had taken from his inner world.

Several metal cabinets stood in the corner with tightly closed doors, storing various Strange fragments and sealing materials inside.

Simple runes were carved on the surface of the cabinets to isolate energy fluctuations and prevent interference between different samples.

The space itself was also far larger than it had been initially.

When Jie Ming renovated this basement, he used spatial expansion techniques common in the wizard world to “stretch” the existing space.

Now, if anyone entered this basement, they would definitely be surprised, because the interior space was already close in size to a large assembly hall.

After nearly a month of renovation, this temporary laboratory was barely usable for Jie Ming.

He could finally put various experiments on the agenda.

At this moment, Jie Ming stood in front of the workbench in the center of the laboratory. In front of him was a transparent culture vessel the size of a fist.

The vessel was made of high-transparency quartz glass. Its inner walls had undergone special hydrophobic treatment and contained a semi-transparent culture solution. The culture solution appeared empty.

If an ordinary person stood here, they would think there was nothing inside the culture vessel… perhaps just some forgotten water. But Jie Ming’s eyes were not ordinary.

All-Purpose Eye.

A golden light flashed deep within his pupils. The interior of the culture vessel underwent a dramatic change in his vision. The seemingly empty culture solution became almost transparent to the point of vanishing, while at the center of the solution, a tiny object about the size of a bacterium was suspended in the liquid, rhythmically emitting a faint glow.

This was a new type of reconnaissance method he had created using Strange fragments from this world.

After arriving in this plane, many of Jie Ming’s conventional reconnaissance methods had lost their effectiveness due to the need to consider the Stranges here.

His spiritual power scanning was still usable during the day. As long as the intensity was kept below a certain threshold, it would not attract any trouble.

But at night, or when encountering certain Stranges particularly sensitive to energy fluctuations, spiritual power scanning became a potential detonator. He could not do as he had in the wizard world—unrestrainedly covering the entire city with spiritual power and then sitting at home while learning everyone’s secrets clearly.

Other reconnaissance methods, if they exposed too high an energy intensity, would also attract Stranges.

Thus, aside from the limited spiritual power scanning during the day, his most reliable means of gathering intelligence had actually come from the black-market brokers. Although those people were not on the surface, their information networks were indeed well-connected.

Where new Stranges had appeared, what goods were available on the black market, and what the Official Spirit Medium Association had been busy with lately—they knew bits and pieces of it all.

But for Jie Ming, this was too passive.

Jie Ming disliked being passive, so he decided to solve the reconnaissance problem first.

The bacterium-sized reconnaissance unit before him was his answer.

The creation process was not particularly complicated.

He needed a reconnaissance unit capable of gathering intelligence over a large area for a long time without attracting the attention of Stranges.

This unit could not have overly strong energy fluctuations, could not emit an “unnatural” aura, and would preferably make Stranges feel it was one of their own.

Thus, he thought of Strange fragments.

The collected Strange fragments had come in handy at this moment.

Jie Ming took apart and reassembled sections of Strange fragments, isolating their distinct energy signatures. These signatures were then incorporated into the reconnaissance organism he had engineered.

The technique employed was rather rudimentary, in truth.

He had essentially merged the fundamental structure of the reconnaissance unit with the power fragments of the Stranges, causing the organism's external energy fluctuations to mimic those of a Strange.

Regarding its core detection capabilities, the unit inherited these from a reconnaissance-focused rune artifact he frequently utilized during his early wizarding days: the Micro Light Eye. That designation was carried over directly for the updated version.

However, the new Micro Light Eye shared virtually no functional similarities with its predecessor, save for the name.

From Jie Ming's present level of power, the reconnaissance and stealth features of the Micro Light Eye were not exceptionally potent. In the realm of wizards, a detection unit of this caliber would be deemed basic, easily deciphered and neutralized by any experienced wizard with minimal effort.

Yet, within this particular world, its capabilities were more than adequate.

Following a month of diligent intelligence gathering and meticulous observation of the Strange ecosystem, Jie Ming had solidified a key understanding: under normal conditions, Stranges did not interact with one another. They existed like independent broadcast towers on separate frequencies, devoid of overlap, communication, or even mutual awareness.

The Micro Light Eye was designed to exploit this very characteristic.

Admittedly, the technology remained in its nascent stages.

Due to the pervasive influence of Strange energy, the operational lifespan of the Micro Light Eye was considerably restricted.

Jie Ming observed the small, luminous point within the culture vessel, calculating silently in his thoughts.

From its point of "activation," it could likely sustain itself for approximately one month. Following this period, it would cease to function and decompose, mirroring a biological organism, ultimately vanishing into nothingness.

Despite these limitations, Jie Ming expressed considerable satisfaction. This was merely an initial prototype.

As his research into the Stranges advanced, the longevity of the Micro Light Eye could undoubtedly be extended. Crucially, this creation was suitable for mass production.

He secured the lid of the culture vessel and effortlessly placed it within his internal storage dimension. In a designated area of his workbench, over a dozen identical culture vessels were already neatly arranged, each nurturing its own sample of the developing Micro Light Eye.

Just as he prepared to commence his next experimental endeavor, his actions faltered.

The protective formation surrounding the bookstore had signaled an incoming presence. Someone was approaching.

Jie Ming lifted his head, his vision penetrating the ceiling, the layers of brick, stone, and timber, fixing upon the flagstone path outside the bookstore's entrance. His sight seemed to effortlessly bypass these physical barriers, revealing the identity of the visitor.

It was the broker from the black market.

Jie Ming retracted his gaze, briefly organizing the items on his workbench, and then proceeded upstairs.

As the door to the used bookstore creaked open, Jie Ming was found seated in his rocking chair, engrossed in a newspaper. He appeared unchanged from a month prior.

The oil lamp had been replaced by an electric light, yet Jie Ming seldom utilized it, preferring the ambiance of the oil lamp most of the time. The warm, orange-yellow glow flickered amongst the bookshelves, imbuing the dust settled on the spines of the old books with the appearance of a fine, golden powder.

“Mr. Jie Ming!” The black-market broker’s voice emanated from the doorway, tinged with an obsequious warmth. “Good evening, good evening.”

Jie Ming lowered his newspaper and regarded the broker.

The broker wore a dark gray trench coat, much like his previous attire. Instead of a briefcase, he carried a large, bulging canvas bag slung over his back. The bag's weight caused his shoulders to sag slightly, yet his expression remained unburdened. This indicated that while not a formidable expert, his prolonged immersion in the underworld had endowed him with a physical resilience superior to that of ordinary individuals.

“Enter,” Jie Ming stated.

The black-market broker hastened inside, closing the door firmly behind him and securing the bolt. His movements were fluid and economical, evidence of extensive practice ingrained into his muscle memory.

“What have you brought this time?” Jie Ming inquired, bypassing pleasantries.

The broker reverently set his canvas bag on the floor before unzipping it. The bag was densely packed with an assortment of glass vials and metal containers of varying dimensions. Unfamiliar labels, adorned with abbreviations and cryptic codes, were affixed to the containers.

“This consignment is of exceptionally high quality,” the broker declared, a note of pride in his voice. “All of it recently arrived from the northern regions. Conditions have been rather volatile up there, leading to the emergence of many items previously kept hidden. I personally selected the finest pieces for you.”

Jie Ming bent down, effortlessly selecting a glass vial, and examined it carefully under the lamplight.

The fluid within the bottle was a sickly, dark crimson, with fine, cloudy particles adrift on its surface.

With merely his unaided sight and his passive spiritual perception, he could ascertain the general makeup of the contents.

“Far too many impurities,” he stated, returning the bottle to its place. “The refinement process is insufficient. The fatality rate post-injection would likely exceed ninety-eight percent.”

The black-market broker’s composure faltered for a fleeting moment before he hastily plastered on a smile. “That’s precisely why I sought you out. These substances are worthless to others, yet treasures in your hands.”

Jie Ming offered no reply.

His gaze moved over the items within the canvas sack before he rose to his feet.

“The materials?”

The black-market broker swiftly retrieved a cloth-wrapped bundle from his trench coat’s inner pocket, presenting it with both hands. “The ones you required previously—I managed to acquire them all. This particular item was exceptionally challenging to locate, especially this…”

He indicated a grayish-white shard possessing a metallic luster that lay within the cloth bundle. “This is a Threat Grade Strange fragment. Quite uncommon in the market. I navigated multiple avenues and finally procured it from an old associate specializing in such wares. It came at a significant cost.”

Jie Ming accepted the cloth bundle, unveiled it, and peered inside.

The gray-white fragment gave off a subtle, cold luminescence beneath the lamplight. The patterns etched onto its surface were notably more intricate than those found on Hazard Grade Strange fragments, exhibiting greater depth and a denser structure.

He gave a slight nod, then put the cloth bundle away.

“There is one additional matter,” the black-market broker mentioned, rubbing his hands together, his expression shifting to one of subtle intrigue. “I possess some… intelligence. I wonder if it might pique your interest.”

Jie Ming regarded him with a pointed look.

The black-market broker instantly grasped the implication: proceed with the information.

“The Spirit Medium Association has finally reached a conclusion,” he confided, lowering his voice as if divulging a profound secret. “The recent disappearances within the old district were not attributed to standard security failures. They were caused by a novel Strange entity.”

Jie Ming’s expression remained unperturbed, yet his focus demonstrably intensified.

“They have identified it?” he inquired.

“Indeed, they have,” the black-market broker confirmed with a nod. “The Association dispatched two teams to address the situation. The first team has… already been annihilated. Not a single member survived.”

Jie Ming’s eyebrows lifted subtly.

“Not a single survivor?”

“Not a single survivor,” the black-market broker reiterated, his tone betraying a hint of suppressed apprehension. “Their demise has been officially confirmed. The Association has circulated an internal advisory declaring the Strange entity to be of extreme danger. Initial assessments place it at a minimum of Threat Grade, possibly reaching the pinnacle of Threat Grade.”

Pinnacle of Threat Grade.

The mental image of the Graffiti Strange surfaced in Jie Ming’s thoughts.

That entity had been a Threat Grade Strange, and a particularly vexing one within its classification.

Should this new Strange also reside at the peak of Threat Grade, it warranted serious consideration.

“Is there any more specific information available?” he asked.

The black-market broker shook his head. “That is all the details at present. The Association is maintaining strict confidentiality. My knowledge stems from a contact within the organization. However, I can continue to monitor the situation for you and alert you immediately upon receiving further updates.”

Jie Ming remained silent for a few moments before giving a curt nod.

“I will accept this consignment,” he announced. “The terms remain unchanged. Return in three days for collection. The payment is situated over there; help yourself.”

He gestured towards the sturdy iron chest that consistently occupied a corner of the room.

The black-market broker promptly moved towards it, unlocked the chest, and verified the quantity of currency within.

He then proceeded to carefully place the glass vials and metal containers from the canvas sack onto the bookshelves, arranging them methodically.

Shortly, all the items were displayed, and the payment meticulously counted.

Securing the canvas bag onto his shoulder once more, the black-market broker bowed to Jie Ming. “Then, Mr. Jie Ming, I shall take my leave. I will return in three days.”

Jie Ming did not escort him to the door; a simple nod sufficed.

As the black-market broker reached for the door latch, an uncontrollable sneeze suddenly overtook him.

“Is something amiss? Feeling unwell?” Jie Ming’s voice inquired from behind.

The black-market broker turned, observing Jie Ming reclined in his rocking chair, engrossed once more in his newspaper with an air of composed indifference.

“It is nothing,” the broker replied, shaking his head. “Merely a slight irritation in my nose.”

He unlatched the door, pushed it open, and stepped out into the nocturnal expanse of Mist Capital.

The wooden portal swung shut behind him.

Jie Ming set aside his newspaper and tapped his fingers rhythmically on the armrest.

The Micro Light Eye had already securely affixed itself to the inner lining of the black-market broker’s trench coat collar.

Given the broker’s perceptive capabilities, he would never detect its presence.

An additional layer of precaution was always prudent.

Though Jie Ming remained seated, the glass bottles and metallic containers lining the bookshelves began to tremble.

They sprouted appendages fashioned from their own materials. After offering a bow to Jie Ming, they moved in a precise, unified march towards the basement.

“A peak Threat Grade Anomaly, it seems…”

With a casual motion, Jie Ming picked up a nearby bottle filled with a dark red fluid, inspecting it closely. The edges of his lips tilted upwards almost imperceptibly.

It was quite fortunate, as he was in need of a suitable subject for his research.