Chapter 31: Transformation
Chapter 31: Transformation
Li Yi sat coiled like a dragon, his eyes closed, his breathing slow. Even the beating of his heart slowed down.
Under the Star-Slaying Knot, he meditated in the quiet room. The elemental vortex turned upside down like a giant bowl, turbulent and surging, occasionally bursting with colorful elemental vibrations and continuous roars. It was quite frightening.
This scene was dazzling, but it was not a good sign. It indicated that his meditation was not focused enough, that his mind was clouded.
Under such conditions, forget about achieving Meditation Phenomena like “Ancient Alligator Perching on Stone” or “Divine Turtle Carrying the Luo River Chart.” He couldn’t even reach eighty percent of his usual meditation effectiveness.
“Looked down upon… is it because I’m not from a noble family?”
After all, he was not a sage. He lacked the broad-mindedness to remain unperturbed by insults or the cultivation to keep his composure even if Mount Tai collapsed before him. Even though he had lived two lives, he was still an ordinary person.
“Ah…”
He let out a long sigh. The frustration, resentment, and unwillingness in his heart were like weeds—impossible to eradicate completely, regrowing even after being burned.
“Continuing like this, reaching the half-step to the seventh layer is hopeless!”
Li Yi frowned. His voice actually carried a hint of despondency.
“Damn it, disturbed by the ‘Inner Demon’ again!”
His expression changed. He took several deep breaths, suppressing the evil thoughts in his heart.
“However, the reality is indeed like this! In the next three or four days, even if I were extremely lucky and triggered the ‘Ancient Alligator Perching on Stone’ Meditation Phenomenon again, the possibility of reaching the seventh layer is extremely low.”
“And today’s Gao Huanzhang wasn’t even one of the Heaven’s Pride, yet he already pushed me to my limits, with only the secret technique ‘Thunderclap Strike’ left unused. So, what if I encounter the top three?”
“To win, I need more trump cards!”
A sense of urgency, like a dark cloud, left his brow only to settle in his heart.
“If adding isn’t working, why not do the opposite and subtract?”
Inspiration struck like a spark, flashing through his mind.
“Subtraction! How did I not think of that?”
Li Yi opened his eyes, a brilliant light shining within them!
Since moving forward wasn’t working, he would take a step back, retreating in order to advance.
Li Yi’s idea was to no longer wait for the two energies within his body to demand Mana, but to actively convert ordinary Mana into these two supreme forces.
After all, what use was ordinary Mana against the Heaven’s Pride?
Moreover, if the Dragon-Turtle Qi and Ancient Alligator Qi in his body were abundant enough, he might even be able to use these two types of Mana as a foundation to perform secret techniques!
So what if his apparent cultivation level dropped?
His true combat power would certainly soar.
He decided to act immediately!
“Here goes!”
Li Yi simply divided his focus. The two energies within his body—one profound black, the other pale white—flowed from his left shoulder and right shoulder respectively. One moved downward, the other upward, rotating clockwise in a cycle, over and over.
The two energies spun, resembling the Bagua diagram or a ring of Samsara, rotating continuously, life begetting life.
Wherever the energies passed, each time they rubbed against and collided with the Mana in his body, it was like the fiercest beast tearing off a piece and swallowing it for refinement.
“Huh? Why is the rate of Mana decrease far higher than the growth rate of the two energies? The gap is at least tenfold!”
After a short while, Li Yi opened his eyes, revealing a puzzled expression.
“The difference in quality between these two energies is actually this vast?”
Although he harbored many doubts, since he had already determined his direction, he would not turn back until he hit a wall!
A sharp light flashed in Li Yi’s eyes. Distracting thoughts scattered, leaving only determination.
“Don’t overthink it. Continue!”
In the evaluations of several elders, Li Yi was seen as cunning and lazy, as someone with a divided heart. But in fact, once he set his mind on a path, Li Yi possessed the resolve to follow it to the very end, never compromising! This kind of perseverance, of pressing forward even against millions, was actually more precious than the persistence of those who simply went with the flow.
Unfortunately, from the very beginning, no one had ever truly looked at him properly.
…
After a while, a series of crackling sounds arose from within Li Yi’s body. It was like a chick eager to break out of its shell pecking incessantly, or like the rhythmic blooming of a flower in the quiet of night, filled with profound mystery.
If a Mage proficient in “Heavenly Eye Technique” or “Eye of Truth” were nearby, they would be greatly astonished!
Deep within his body, the two rotating, alternating energies were leaving minuscule, imperceptible liquid droplets in every part of his flesh and blood! Each droplet was extremely tiny, but spread throughout his entire body, their numbers became quite significant.
These were the liquid essences left behind by the Dragon-Turtle and Ancient Alligator energies!
The reason Li Yi felt the conversion speed was incredibly slow was that the two energies not only absorbed but also—released nourishment.
However, You Qiushui’s evaluation was correct: his bloodline was indeed mediocre, not worth a mention.
If he possessed a powerful bloodline like “Lionheart” or “Blue Lotus,” at this moment, it would probably be enjoying a feast fit for a Taotie, devouring all these leftover essences clean.
But Li Yi’s bloodline was dull and foolish, taking no action.
Just as it seemed those droplets could not remain and were about to return to the two energies, another startling change occurred!
Streaks of gorgeous, mesmerizing, strangely colored energy, as if attracted, fluttered over like butterflies.
And these energies were all material essences!
Feixue’s gifts were far more than just the flesh of the Prison Dragon and the Balor’s Skull. There were also things like the flesh and blood of the aforementioned two, Fairy Blood, Mad Nightjar’s Red Feathers, and more. Among plant fruits, there were Midnight Iris and Void-Transforming Fruit. Special materials included Dust of the Stone of Three Lives and Storm Crystal Jade. Three months wasn’t long, but Li Yi had consumed quite a few natural treasures.
Each instance of vomiting and diarrhea was essentially due to his human physique being unable to absorb these heaven-and-earth treasures. The vast majority was wasted in the toilet, a tragic waste of precious resources. A small portion was absorbed, and of that absorbed part, most lay dormant in various corners of his body, undigested.
If nothing special happened, even after ten or a hundred years, they might remain as they were.
But now, the two energies acting as catalysts had clearly stirred up the Heavenly Thunder and earthly fire!
Like a chemical reaction, all sorts of different forces underwent wondrous, indescribable changes. Within a faint radiance, they merged with his bloodline, soaking into it.
Nourishing, consolidating, and strengthening the origin of his bloodline!
Li Yi had no idea that the current situation was a hundred times more shocking than “breaking through a realm overnight”!
Secret techniques to strengthen one’s bloodline origin were all priceless—no, it should be said they were beyond price, unavailable on the market.
Just imagine: aside from a very few secret techniques with enormous costs, Mana could not be transferred between people, but bloodlines could be inherited.
If successive generations used secret methods to enhance their bloodline, one could imagine what kind of monsters would emerge after several generations of accumulation. Dragons? Gods? Or perhaps an Ancient Bloodline?
Even if it meant recklessly devouring countless natural treasures in a wasteful manner, the great noble families would flock to such an opportunity.
Li Yi did not know that his current situation subtly aligned with the obscure path described by the Dawn Dragon “Morning Duck”: using Mana to nourish the bloodline in return.
Unaware and unconscious, he continued operating the millstone, grinding away his Mana bit by bit, like a diligent mule, repeating simple, monotonous work that seemed to have no end.
…
Sunrise, the second day.
“The refinement progress is actually this slow? My Mana has already degraded to the half-step fifth layer, yet these two energies have grown by less than ten percent.”
Somewhat bewildered, he rubbed his chin, his expression changing.
“What’s going on? Huh, what’s happening to me?”
While rubbing, he noticed that old skin was peeling off in layers like a thin film. Looking down, he saw a floor covered in dead skin.
Not only that, Li Yi also discovered a fingernail lying on the ground. Looking at his own little finger, he saw a new, jade-like nail had grown.
“Shedding skin? Whoa, is this complete metamorphosis or incomplete metamorphosis?”
Li Yi’s gaze became momentarily blank. He cracked a joke at himself, then a sharp light erupted in his eyes.
“In that case…”
…
“Hey kid, didn’t you go back to cultivate? Why do I feel your Mana fluctuations aren’t increasing but decreasing?”
Yan Zhao widened his eyes. He had heard of cases where someone’s hair turned white overnight. For a Mage, a blow to the spirit could be a devastating injury to one’s foundation. It was very likely to lead to a decline. The nonsense about breaking down and then rising stronger was absolutely not to be believed!
He looked Li Yi up and down until he saw that Li Yi’s spirit was quite good, with occasional flashes of intelligent light in his eyes. Only then did he finally set his hanging heart at ease.
“Don’t worry. My cultivation seems diminished, but my true strength has actually increased!” Li Yi felt a sentiment akin to “adversity reveals true strength.” Knowing such friendship was precious, he smiled slightly. “Look at Zhangsun. Isn’t he only at the half-step fourth layer?”
“You and I are different. I cultivate intent, not force. My spirit has reached the Heaven-Earth Resonance. Even without Mana, I can transform all things for my own use.” Zhangsun Shenji shrugged helplessly. He didn’t speak much, but his words often hit the mark. “Li Yi, I’m not afraid you’ll collapse and not recover. I’m afraid you’re too impatient and might go down the wrong path.”
“Don’t worry, I have my own considerations,” Li Yi said with a smile.
The matches of the second day began.