Chapter 70 Untitled

After all, it was not the original Celestial Transformation Divine Ability. The Golden Toad’s power, though capable of altering its shape and size, did not come with enhanced strength; nor was the Six-winged Golden Centipede renowned for its might. It only appeared formidable, but was ultimately mere semblance.

Since fusing with the Six-winged Golden Centipede, Li Yang’s natural disadvantage in combat had vanished without a trace. He not only inherited the centipede’s innate combat instincts, but also found himself wielding its abilities as if he were born with them, effortlessly and at will.

Beyond this, his body had shattered the limitations of ordinary humans. He now resembled an ancient beast, formidable beyond the realm of mortals. One could say he had perfectly inherited the centipede’s cultivation. The centipede’s soul had transformed into a guardian totem, inscribed upon Li Yang’s sea of consciousness.

This presence aided his cultivation while serving as a constant protective totem. Even should Li Yang lose consciousness, if danger drew near, it would react automatically to repel threats.

Sitting in silent concentration, Li Yang’s mind involuntarily reflected upon his entire being: his body was suffused with a golden hue, blood like liquid mercury surged through his veins, and his bones shimmered with a golden radiance. The greatest transformation was in his spine and ribcage.

Whereas a normal human possesses thirty-three to thirty-four vertebrae and twenty-four ribs, Li Yang’s spinal dragon boasted over a hundred segments, interlocked like buttons, every link covered in intricate, cloud-like patterns that emitted a strange magnetic field. His sternum resembled the centipede’s hundred legs, arching protectively around his internal organs.

Within his sea of consciousness, a massive Six-winged Golden Centipede stretched across the center, endlessly swallowing and exhaling. On its left, the script of the Golden Toad’s arcane arts; on its right, a sphere of true solar fire—the evolving manifestation of the Wrathful Rooster’s divine script.

Moreover, in Li Yang’s dantian, a silvery-white full moon hung high, releasing a soft, shimmering glow like starlight, merging into his coursing blood. The aura exuded by the moon was indistinguishable from the unique energy within Zhao Yuehua’s body; Li Yang understood this was her very essence.

It was thanks to this essence that he had so smoothly merged with the Golden Centipede. Though his family’s cultivation method was fundamentally solid, the centipede’s power was overwhelming—far beyond what Li Yang could bear. Yet he was loath to abandon the fusion. Without this pure yin essence to temper the centipede’s yang fire, even if he succeeded in the fusion, it would not have been so simple.

With the nourishment of this essence, at least for now, Li Yang need not worry about the burdens of merging with exotic beasts.

After resting upon the ground for a while, Li Yang rose and, with a flicker, vanished among the mountains.

...

It was now autumn.

Compared to a month prior, the courtyard had utterly transformed without the presence of the giant egg. With the newly arranged Yin-Yang Spirit Gathering Array, the entire yard was bountiful with fruit, filled with a delicate fragrance, the paths flanked by lush green trees. All this had changed in just one short month.

“Yuehua... have you noticed anything unusual in your cultivation lately?”

At the center of the courtyard, Li Yang asked softly as he gazed at Zhao Yuehua, who had just finished her practice and was dressed in the attire of a Daoist priestess.

“What could I feel? Only that my breath flows more smoothly than before.” Seeing Li Yang, Zhao Yuehua approached with a gentle smile.

“Is that so? Can you describe in detail what it feels like?”

Li Yang had always been curious about her unusual constitution. To possess such a profound, pure yin essence was something he had never heard of before. It was only back in Angry Rooster County that he’d heard a passing mention from the shaman who had taken over the He family estate. Even the well-traveled Ninth Uncle knew little of it, only stammering uncertainly when asked.

“What could I possibly say...”

She shot Li Yang a faintly reproachful glance, her cheeks suddenly flushed, as if at a loss for words.

Seeing her expression, Li Yang immediately understood—the changes likely had less to do with her natural constitution and more with the supportive effects of their dual-cultivation.

After a moment’s pause, Zhao Yuehua changed the subject: “When do you plan to marry Tingting? The construction of the villa owes much to her help.”

“Yuehua... you truly don’t mind?”

Hearing her mention Ren Tingting, Li Yang stepped forward, his voice gentle.

“I may have remained chaste, but I was still once wed. That I can spend this life with you is enough to content me—I dare not hope for more.”

Seeing the conflict on Li Yang’s face, Zhao Yuehua’s heart warmed, and she spoke with a serene sigh.

...

Three months later, beside the laboratory near the villa, in a newly built alchemy room—

Li Yang sat cross-legged before a massive pill furnace, the fire below it glowing red-hot.

Dr. Rick, Dr. Puth, and Dr. Erskine stared unblinking at the furnace, their faces filled with astonishment.

“Oh... did ancient China truly possess such methods for refining and purifying substances using high temperature and pressure? It’s simply incredible! The East is truly a land of wonders.”

Watching Li Yang sort and add various herbs into the furnace with practiced ease, Dr. Rick was awestruck.

“Indeed. Our ancient Eastern alchemists believed the pill cauldron to be a microcosm of the universe—a ‘heaven within the furnace.’

“In this small world, all things follow their natural order; water and fire complement, yin and yang harmonize, and thus time flows swiftly—‘a day in heaven, a thousand years on earth.’ Time within the furnace may pass even faster than in the heavens, so that a single day’s transformation within equals millennia in the mundane world.

“As it’s said: ‘A single cauldron can contain dragons and tigers—thus is the universe held within.’”

Facing the doctors’ amazement, Li Yang explained with undisguised pride.

“Oh my God... this is astounding wisdom! Though different from modern science, your ancient Eastern alchemists deduced the profound truths of the universe from the patterns of all things.

“It’s every bit the equal of our modern understanding of matter, even aided by instruments. Such wisdom is truly awe-inspiring.”

Watching Li Yang’s skillful movements and his deft control of the fire, Dr. Erskine was utterly mesmerized.

“No, I must record all this valuable research data, bit by bit.”

Suddenly struck by inspiration, Dr. Erskine pulled out his notebook and began taking meticulous notes.

Three days passed. Dr. Rick and Dr. Puth, unable to endure any longer, had already left to rest.

Dr. Erskine, however, persisted with dark circles under his eyes, still energized, fixated on the pill furnace and diligently recording every detail.

To this, Li Yang could only admire him—no wonder this man would later create the ‘Super Soldier Serum.’ That kind of tenacity and dedication was not something ordinary people could match.

With a clang, Li Yang glanced out the skylight at the sky, leapt up, and opened the furnace lid.

A rush of steam and a strong medicinal fragrance billowed forth.

With a wave of his hand, all the pills that had shot into the air gathered into his grasp, like fledgling swallows returning to the nest.

“Excellent. Out of thirty-six Pure Origin Pills, only twelve turned out defective.”

He carefully placed the pills into a prepared porcelain bottle, his face alight with satisfaction.

“Oh... ‘Li,’ are these the pills you spoke of?”

Dr. Erskine looked at the pills in Li Yang’s hand with undisguised curiosity.

“Could you give me one of each type? I’d like to study their components and elemental structure.”

He didn’t know the effects of the pills, but was well aware of the value of the ingredients used, and could judge their cost from that alone.

“Very well. But remember, unless necessary, try not to damage them—the darker one is a failed pill, filled with impurities and unsuitable for human consumption.”

Li Yang agreed without hesitation.

“Oh, how beautiful they are.”

Examining the dragon-eye-sized, multicolored pills in his hand, Dr. Erskine sighed in admiration: “Don’t worry, ‘Li.’ Unless I must, I won’t destroy something so exquisite.”

“‘Li,’ here is the hormone you wanted, the one meant to stimulate the awakening of ancient genes. Take it and see if it works.”

At that moment, Dr. Rick entered, holding a jar of ochre liquid, which he handed to Li Yang.

“Dr. Rick, did you encounter any difficulties in this latest modification?”

Taking the jar, Li Yang smiled as he asked.

This was already the second hormone Dr. Rick had developed—the first had effects on the Golden Toad comparable to a body-tempering fluid, but was otherwise unremarkable.

“No, no difficulties. With the batch of experimental material sent by Master Ren, our research is progressing smoothly.”

As he spoke, Dr. Rick rubbed his hands together, breathing in the lingering medicinal aroma of the alchemy room. “’Li,’ did you succeed in refining the pills? Could I see the wonders of your ancient Eastern alchemy?”

“I’ve already given Dr. Erskine a sample; you can study it with him.”

Li Yang couldn’t help but smile at Dr. Rick’s manner.

Perhaps because he’d been in China for so long, Dr. Rick had begun to adopt a more tactful Chinese style, unlike the bluntness of Dr. Erskine or Dr. Puth.

“Is that so? Then if there’s nothing else, I’ll excuse myself.”

With that, Dr. Rick eagerly hurried after Dr. Erskine to the laboratory.

Li Yang only shook his head and laughed, unconcerned.

...

After three months, the research facility was running smoothly.

Two months ago, Li Yang had married Ren Tingting. With the Ren family’s fortune funding his research, and Master Ren’s assistance, not only was there no shortage of money, but with the family’s connections, Li Yang had also acquired a wealth of medicinal resources.

The prisoners from the town’s security brigade had become experimental subjects for Dr. Rick and his colleagues, saving Li Yang a great deal of time.