Chapter 92 - 91: Late Bloomer
The group arrived in front of a hospital room. The strange assailant from the attack had already been stripped and changed into a hospital gown. All his personal belongings had been confiscated. He was now on a respirator, his eyes tightly shut.
Two of the six strange assailants had regained consciousness, but Professor Xu had insisted on seeing this one, who was still unconscious.
Professor Xu walked to the man’s bedside and observed him for a moment before extending his large right hand, placing his thumb and index finger on the man’s temples.
He kept his eyes closed for a long time, and a surprised expression gradually appeared on his face.
After ten minutes, he finally turned his head to speak.
But Captain Wang raised a hand. "Please wait."
He turned and said, "Clear the room."
Everyone filed out, leaving only Professor Xu and the patient in the room.
"You can speak now."
Professor Xu slid his hands into the pockets of his white lab coat. He appeared nonchalant, but his eyes were filled with keen interest as he gazed at the strange assailant on the bed.
"My Jade Viscera Realm field is rather special. It can sense a person’s thoughts. This man’s mind was in extreme turmoil before he fell unconscious, and even in his coma, various pieces of information are still constantly surfacing..."
As he spoke, his tone became much more serious.
"They come from a parched Exotic Realm."
"Parched?"
"Yes... at least, that’s how his thoughts describe it. A large part of his mind is occupied with their struggle against a harsh natural environment. From what I know of all the various Exotic Realms, none are similar..."
"It’s not simply a desert, but a place lacking clean water sources, where survival is a struggle and the human population is sparse."
"Some kind of pollution related to the Source swept through their world. Vegetation withered, beasts mutated... Water became a deadly poison, and most of the land is now barren."
Professor Xu stroked his chin. "You know, limited by their level of technology and intellectual development, an Alien’s understanding of their own world isn’t necessarily accurate. It’s like how the ancients believed the heavens were round and the earth was square."
"But according to his thoughts, his homeland is in a perilous situation, on the brink of collapse. It’s been prophesied that humanity there will be extinct within thirty years, and this belief appears to be a consensus among their people."
Captain Wang frowned slightly. "What’s their technological level?"
"From the vague fragments I saw, it’s not very high... With their population dwindling, they’re lucky to have maintained any semblance of civilization and passed down their techniques."
"What about that strange technique they used? We have some written reports... Would you like to take a look?"
"No need, I’ve already seen it in his mind. That power... if I had to force a translation of their concept into the Yanhua language, it would probably be called... ’Curse Engraving’."
"Curse Engraving..."
Captain Wang mulled over the word several times.
Professor Xu continued, "It’s based on ’family inheritance.’ They inscribe the ’Curse Engraving’ onto their bodies. Different families possess different ’Curse Engraving’ legacies, and the effects are wonderfully strange and diverse..."
"This group all comes from the same family, and they’ve all mastered the same ’Curse Engraving’."
Captain Wang asked in a low voice, "In your personal judgment, what is the value of this... ’Source-application technology’?"
Professor Xu pushed up his black-framed glasses, and a glint of reflected light obscured his pupils.
"Incalculable..."
"Can you imagine how convenient it would be if this ’Curse Engraving’ could be applied to Martial Artists?"
"Many Exotic Realms have unique technological paths for harnessing the Source, but few can directly affect the body and also be compatible with Martial Arts."
"Take those people who practice Witchcraft, for example. Their methods are utterly vile and incompatible with both the bodies and philosophies of Martial Artists. But this... this might just work..."
This was an Exotic Realm. This was the development of an Exotic Realm.
No matter how barren and desperate the other world was.
To Cyan Blue, it could still be a gold mine!
Captain Wang took a deep breath. "I understand. But for the sake of cross-verification, please examine the others as well."
Professor Xu nodded. "Of course. I’m quite curious myself..."
"I hope you understand that any information you have seen tonight is top secret."
"Rest assured."
Professor Xu walked towards the exit.
"I have never forgotten that I am first and foremost one of the Yanhua People, and only then a Martial Artist."
"Last of all, I am the Patriarch of the Xu Family."
——————
The next morning, when Yang Shen opened his eyes, he felt himself growing ever closer to the third level of Qi Cultivation.
Yesterday’s battle had become Nourishment, fueling every aspect of his being and allowing him to grow rapidly.
This brought to mind the synergy between Martial Arts and Cultivation.
Although information was scarce, Yang Shen sensed that for the Cultivation Side, physical strength remained a valid indicator, as it could increase the circulation speed and capacity of the Spiritual Power within his body.
It was just that to High-Realm Cultivators, the body was like a change of clothes—it could be possessed, reshaped, or even discarded. Thus, to advance their realms as quickly as possible, most Cultivators wouldn’t waste painstaking effort on their physical bodies in the "early stages," unless their Cultivation Method was unique.
’Why waste time tempering the body when you could reach Foundation Establishment, achieve Core Formation, or even attain the Nascent Soul realm sooner? That’s true power.’
And as it happened, the entirety of Cyan Blue’s Martial Arts revolved around the "physical body," with "willpower" as a secondary component.
His physical body was clearly far more robust than that of other Cultivators at the second level of Qi Cultivation. This meant the "Spiritual Qi"—or "Source"—within him was more active, allowing him to cast Magic with a silkier smoothness.
This was the reason he could form a Finger Technique and instantly cast various Minor Magic spells. Any other second-level Qi Cultivator would not only have a long wind-up, but might even fail to cast the spell if they used too much force.
’Even in the future, once I obtain my Qi Sea, its capacity will be far greater than that of an ordinary third-level Qi Cultivator!’
As for practical combat enhancements like faster reaction speed and greater durability, those were just added bonuses.
Yang Shen felt as if he possessed two "Professional Systems," each with its own distinct level—for instance, he was a "Level 2 Cultivator" and a "Level 3 Martial Artist."
But the enhancements they provided to him fused together perfectly. ’Maybe my combined level could even reach 4 or 5.’
’Of course, that’s just a feeling. It’s not like this stuff can be quantified. In a life-or-death battle, one’s realm is merely a point of reference.’
’Take the leader of those strange assailants, for example. He was tricked and killed. He might have been strong, but what did it matter?’
’He was plotted against by a member of the Rebel Species and killed.’
’Sometimes, just getting the chance for a straightforward fight is a luxury.’
’So I can’t just get drunk on one victory. I have to find a way to *keep* winning!’
’In a 365-day year, I need to win 366 times. That extra win is to show off my margin for error!’
The hospital was bustling in the early morning, and his aunt was due to arrive soon. Yang Shen packed his belongings while scrolling through his system quests.
As expected, overnight, the family’s reputation had already reached 72!
’My family’s reputation has tripled since yesterday. Is this what it feels like to go viral overnight?!’
"New Main Quest: Increase Family Reputation to 50 (72/50)."
"Quest Reward: One Life Chart Duplication opportunity (Claimed)."
"[Life Chart Duplication]: The host may select any two family members (including the host themself) and copy any Life Chart from one to the other."
"The Life Chart Duplication takes effect immediately. However, man’s fate is no match for destiny’s decree, so please use this with caution. If multiple Life Charts conflict, it may lead to unforeseen consequences."
"New Main Quest: Increase the number of family members to 10 (6/10)."
"New Main Quest Reward: The legacy and basic skills of one random art from the Hundred Skills of Cultivation."
’Life Chart Duplication... it can only be used within the family?’
’It’s a little weaker than I imagined. Or maybe it’s just that no one in my family has a great Life Chart right now.’
’Yang Mo’s and Yang Man’s Life Charts are not yet determined.’
’The best one available is the Lei Brothers’ "Young Dragon on a Trapped Reef," but that’s not a purely positive Life Chart and even carries some risk.’
’They’ve been trapped for so long...’
’As for my aunt’s and my "Life of Labor and Struggle"... there’s absolutely no need to copy that.’
’Speaking of which, even though I’ve made huge progress, my "Life of Labor and Struggle" Life Chart hasn’t changed at all. It seems changing one’s fate isn’t that easy.’
’Perhaps... a Life Chart is like a magnet. You aren’t immediately free just because you’ve deviated from its original path. Instead, it constantly tries to pull you back onto your "fated trajectory"...’
Yang Shen had already strayed far, but it seemed it wasn’t enough to cause a fundamental transformation.
’If there’s one thing right in front of me that can truly change a person’s destiny... there’s only one answer.’
The college entrance exam!
’Getting a great score on the college entrance exam and going to a top-tier university... that would be a true "change of fate"...’
In addition, there was a pleasant surprise today.
He had triggered an achievement quest!
Achievement quests gave no prior warning; they only appeared after you completed them. Each one felt like winning the lottery!
"Achievement Quest Complete: A minor-aged family member has gained some renown in the local area and can be considered a figure of note."
"New Personal Title Acquired: Late Bloomer"
"Personal Title Effect: When equipped, the level of regard ’adults outside the family’ have for the wearer is significantly increased. This title can be equipped by any family member, but it automatically un-equips after they turn 18, at which point it can be re-equipped to someone else."
"Note: There is the kind of regard that says, ’This child is destined for greatness,’ and there is the kind that says, ’This child absolutely must not be allowed to live!’"