Closer to Revealing My True Self
Chapter 390 - 284 A kind of Patina_1

Chapter 390: Chapter 284 A kind of Patina_1

Feng Yi laid on the bed and scrolled through his phone for a while, replying to some messages. When the time came, he made a video call to Wu.

Lately, Wu had been immersed in several small studies. To avoid disturbing his research, Feng Yi had scheduled a call with him in advance.

In Yang City, Wu, too, was keeping an eye on the clock. Although he hadn’t completed today’s studies, he set aside his work an hour early. As he pondered over the potential issues Feng Yi might encounter on the mission, he waited for Feng Yi’s call.

He had a hunch that this call from Feng Yi would bring him a pleasant surprise.

When the time arrived, Wu quickly answered the call as soon as it rang.

"Boss, was the mission smooth?"

Wu had looked up various news articles about Feng Yi online, but he didn’t believe the superficial information reported there.

Glancing at Feng Yi in the video, who seemed to be in good shape though slightly thinner, Wu asked.

"Not bad," Feng Yi didn’t elaborate on the mission, and instead said to Wu, "I’ve brought back a special kind of rock for Ding to deliver to you. Keep it. You may study it if you want."

Wu’s spirit lifted, and excitement glittered in his eyes, "Rock? What kind of rock is it?"

Feng Yi hesitated for a moment. He couldn’t give details about the cave of his ancestors, so he thought of a more indirect description.

"You can think of it as a kind of special material that forms on the surface of rocks over time... similar to how patina forms on antiques."

Wu: "...I think I understand."

After a careful recollection, Wu said, "From what I’ve learned from my seniors and the information I’ve gathered, what you’re referring to is—the secretions on the surface, energy rays, and various factors in a special environment, all acting together over years, to form a special ’shell’ within rock caves, right?"

Feng Yi: "Yes!"

Wu was actually knowledgeable about this!

However, Feng Yi noticed Wu’s mention of "learned from my seniors," and his brows slightly raised:

"Has it been researched before?"

Wu replied, "If it’s what I think it is, there were seniors who researched it decades ago."

The term "seniors" needed no explanation.

It referred to his great-grandmother and her team.

Feng Yi, curious, "Not the Ancestral Factory?"

Wu clarified, "No. The Ancestral Factory focuses on venom research. The team that studied rocks was another group founded by your great-aunt, Madam Feng, and it should now be in the hands of her daughter, your cousin."

"Tell me what you know." Feng Yi was genuinely interested, mainly to learn what they had found.

Wu: "I don’t know much. As far as I’m aware, the rock research team didn’t publicize that they were studying rocks but were instead working on specialized synthetic materials. They had collaborations with some major research institutes and key laboratories."

Wu pointed upwards, "This also involved some military matters."

"They initially developed three types of coatings and a new material based on the raw materials, which had basic properties such as waterproofing, antioxidation, temperature resistance, and preventing microbial attachment. The new specialty materials could also efficiently shield against certain harmful rays!"

"By now, they have developed more than a dozen materials, but as for how many more have been successfully researched without public disclosure, that’s unknown. This is a core secret of the company. That material company, no, now a major conglomerate, a behemoth much larger than when it was first established."

"The applications of the specialized materials developed are extensive, from deep-sea diving to land combat, and from aviation to space exploration—they’re present in many critical areas..."

Listening to Wu’s explanation, Feng Yi thought:

Perhaps, the boats and planes I’ve traveled on, and the satellites above, contain parts made from that ’patina.’

It’s just that no one knows.

And no one should know.

What emerged, was born in the laboratory.

As for the source, it’s top secret and cannot be revealed.

Feng Yi wasn’t the first to ’study himself.’ Before him, it was his great-grandmother, and likely, many seniors had done similar research.

Perhaps, a commonplace object in everyday life originated from one such senior’s ’study of oneself.’

Seeing that Feng Yi remained silent, Wu thought he might be concerned or regretful about something, so he continued:

"The material research team is now unaware of the core secret and the ’source material;’ they’re just further developing based on existing research results."

Watching Feng Yi’s expression, Wu tentatively asked, "Boss, are you thinking of establishing a new research team to study patina... cough, this kind of rock?"

Feng Yi shook his head, "No, there’s no need."

If no one was researching it, he indeed planned to assemble a team. But since others had already started and produced significant results, there was no need for him to pour extensive resources into it. With no advantage, there was no point in competing for a share of the pie.

Wu smiled, "Boss, you don’t need to envy them; one Ancestral Factory is enough already."

Feng Yi agreed on this point.

Venom alone was enough for them to study.

His venom was unique to him and was more potent and complex than that of the previous generation and many of his ancestors.

The stronger and more dangerous venom also meant it had a higher value for research.

Wu assured, "Many of the important projects have long development cycles, so the profit isn’t clear yet."

Feng Yi thought of the large amounts that appeared in his bank account each month, took a deep breath, and remained silent about the claim of ’profits not being clear yet.’

Wu went on, "Once those big projects yield results, and the drugs are gradually developed, the revenue will allow you to switch to a new luxury private jet every year with ease!"

Feng Yi: "..."

Although he knew well the research value of his venom, such discussions still made his heart race!

Taking another discreet breath to stay composed, he said,

Feng Yi: "Yes, I know all that. Ding will bring the rock back to Yang City tomorrow."

"Okay! I’ll ensure the sample is well-preserved!"

Wu was still highly interested in this patina... cough, this special rock.

The research team studying rock materials and the team researching venom have developed independently; as such, Doctor Wu could not participate in any research project involving rock materials nor could learn more. The information available was limited to what the other side was willing to share.

The longer Doctor Wu interacted with the unique species that Feng Yi belonged to, the more he realized that many secrets lay hidden where no one could see, secrets that were not disclosed to the public.

Who would have thought that certain specialized materials originated from the walls of a cave in a specific mountain range?

Who would have imagined that it was actually a form of "patina"?!

He willingly served as an uncelebrated personal doctor by Feng Yi’s side, just to satisfy his greater curiosity, to explore secrets inaccessible to ordinary people. Isn’t that what makes life more fascinating?

Regretless indeed!

Reflecting inwardly, Doctor Wu took immediate action after ending the call. Before Ding returned, he adjusted his work plan, determined to confront this rare patina... ahem, specialized material with the best of his mental state.

On the other end, after ending the call with Doctor Wu, Feng Yi made a video call to the butler.

The butler should not be busy at this time.

As always, the butler quickly answered.

However, the camera was off initially and only turned on after a while.

Feng Yi watched the phone screen.

In the frame, it seemed that the butler had hurriedly covered something with a cloth.

Observing the setting on that side, Feng Yi asked, "Are you making a model?"

The butler smiled, "Yes"

"It’s getting late, make sure to protect your eyes," Feng Yi said, while also searching the video for any signs of what kind of model the butler was making.

Alas, the butler’s protective measures were too thorough; it was impossible to tell what the model resembled.

It was also unclear whether any personal touches had been added, such as details that should not have been there.

After not seeing him for a while, the butler’s smile deepened when he saw Feng Yi, but then he slightly furrowed his brow, "You’ve lost weight!"

Feng Yi: "A minor issue, I’ll regain it soon."

They chatted about daily life for a while before Feng Yi brought up the mountain range he visited for the mission, inquiring,

"Did Madam Feng visit that mountain range many times before?"

The butler replied, "As far as I know, not often. As for what I don’t know, that’s harder to say."

Feng Yi expressed his understanding.

The butler had not earned Madam Feng’s trust early on, so he might not be aware of her younger activities. During the period of climate anomaly, with societal instability and global turmoil, it was easier and less conspicuous to explore the seas. Once developed to a certain stage, finding a suitable place to molt made the sea a far better choice than the mountains. Although the mountains could produce energy substances, the generation rate was slow and the quantity small.

Indeed, the mountains were a fine place, but they weren’t sufficient to support growth and development past a certain age.

It was doubtful one could even survive to the age of eighty there.

Feng Yi dared not compare lifespans with his ancestors; he just hoped not to fall short of Madam Feng’s lifespan by too much.

After a bit more conversation with the butler, they ended the call.

In the residence of Yang City.

After speaking with Feng Yi, the butler sat beside the window, removed his glasses, and gazed out without focus.

He reminisced about past conversations with that person.

Back then, Madam Feng was nearing her life’s limit, and Feng Yi had been chosen as the successor.

At that time, Feng Yi was a complete stranger to the butler.

Upon receiving information about the successor, the butler skimmed through it casually, aware that the details accessible to him were not important.

He had asked, "What kind of person is Feng Yi, will his talents be stronger?"

How had Madam Feng responded at that time?

"Feng Yi... I don’t know about his talents, but I hope he does not have to be too strong so he could live longer."

The butler knew that the environment on this planet was not very friendly to their unique species.

It was as if the planet had drawn a line for the lifespan of this species, limiting their development to a certain stage; once that limit was reached, life would come to an end.

The stronger the individual’s talents, the sooner they would encounter their end.

"There’s no need to be too smart or to have overly powerful talents. Ordinary, mundane—if one could live over a hundred years, that might also be considered lucky."

For survival, suppressive genes would sound a warning.

Perhaps, in a million years, for the sake of individual survival, suppressive genes in their genetic material might further take control, rendering them into smaller, less energy-consuming beings.

Generation after generation, more genes would fall silent, and the individuals would grow increasingly ordinary.

Perhaps, one day in the future, all their genes would lie dormant, and no one would transform into that form again.

The butler pulled back the cloth, revealing the unfinished model of Feng Yi’s true form that had been concealed.

Based on the Senran, people speculated about the Titanran’s appearance from sixty million years ago.

According to legends, they attempted to depict the stature and form of a certain tribe from the past.

But imagination was, after all, just imagination.

"Being alive is still better," the butler exclaimed softly.

After a short while, he sighed again in a low voice, "It’s better to be simple-minded."

So tiny, so pitiable.