I am the Clone of a Death Row Inmate

Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Meeting Gift

In Gu Chengguang’s small courtyard, Su Ze was performing the Swan Dance.

He was seizing every moment to digest the extract. He had already used up all the Time Tree Juice on him, leaving only a small piece of a Child Ginseng rootlet.

Zhang Tai had brought him back here and then left him to his own devices, heading into the house to speak with Gu Chengguang about something.

...

「Inside Gu Chengguang’s study.」

”How is Zhang Kun? Is he all right?” Gu Chengguang asked.

Zhang Tai shook his head. ”He’s fine. He took a bit of a blow, but I’ve already arranged for him to have counseling.”

”This Su Ze... what do you think of his strength?”

Zhang Tai thought for a moment before replying, ”He’s very strong. At the very least, Li Yongguan wasn’t this invincible during his Pupa Stage. But it’s still hard to tell just how strong he is. I don’t think someone in the Pupa Stage will be enough to force out his full strength.”

Gu Chengguang nodded. ”I never would have thought. Dr. Liou actually brought such a huge surprise to our Dongli Kingdom.”

Zhang Tai nodded as well. They had originally thought Dr. Liou was just recommending a genius to Dongli, someone who, at best, would be on par with Li Yongguan. They never expected... this genius was somewhat beyond their imagination.

”And that’s after absorbing only two vials of a second-tier extract. If he absorbs a third, with that combo he used to defeat Zhang Kun, he could probably challenge those freaks from the Sovereign Countries.”

”His skills are secondary. They’re powerful, but low-tier S-rank skills aren’t that hard to obtain. The main thing is his physical constitution—it far surpasses others at the same stage!”

Zhang Tai knew full well that if any other Pupa Stage individual were to use Su Ze’s combo, they wouldn’t be able to break through Zhang Kun’s defenses so easily. The truly powerful one was Su Ze himself.

After hearing Zhang Tai’s words, Gu Chengguang pondered for a long time before saying, ”In that case, we’ll do as he asks. Arrange for two more Pupa Stage individuals to participate in the Trial by Combat with him.”

”Also, I can see he still has a large amount of undigested Evolutionary Material accumulated in his body. Have him digest as much as possible over these five days to increase his strength. Fulfill any requests he has as best you can.”

”Understood.” Zhang Tai stood up. ”I’ll go make the arrangements right away.”

...

Su Ze finished a round of the Swan Dance and had just stopped when he saw Zhang Tai emerge from the house.

’Thank god he didn’t see me...’ Su Ze was relieved he had dodged another social death.

”The Chairman has agreed to let you represent the Dongli Kingdom in the Trial by Combat,” Zhang Tai said.

”That’s great!”

Su Ze was delighted. If that Li Yongguan and Gu Yue’er were only at about the same level as Zhang Kun, he was genuinely afraid Liou Wenxin and Mrs. Yun wouldn’t be able to come back.

’It’s better to rely on myself,’ Su Ze thought.

”Over the next few days, focus on digesting the extract in your body and increasing your strength. Let me know if you need anything.”

”Well... I actually do!” Su Ze didn’t hold back. ”I plan to digest the extract in my body within these five days and absorb the next vial. I was wondering if you have any natural medicines that assist with digesting extracts. I’d like to mooch... ahem, buy some.”

Zhang Tai saw right through Su Ze’s intentions. ”You really don’t hold back, do you? Natural medicines may be rare, but our Dongli Kingdom has some in reserve. Which kind do you want? How about more of that Child Ginseng rootlet you had today?”

Su Ze chuckled slyly. ”Do you have anything better?”

He had done a rough calculation. If he took a Child Ginseng rootlet every day for five consecutive days, he would have just enough time to fully digest the Mutated Giant Crocodile Extract.

’But... if there’s something better, why not ask for it?’

Zhang Tai wasn’t easy to fool. ”Don’t tell me you absorbed a third-tier extract? You can’t digest it in five days even with the help of Child Ginseng rootlets?”

Su Ze replied, ”It’s not a third-tier extract, but it might as well be. I absorbed extract from a mutated Brahma River Crocodile. Mr. Zhang, you have no idea! That giant crocodile was as big as a mountain, probably even stronger than some third-tier mutated beasts! The extract is really hard to digest!”

As he spoke, worried that Zhang Tai wouldn’t believe him, he even pulled out his phone to show him a picture of the Mutated Giant Crocodile.

Zhang Tai was secretly astonished when he saw the photo of the Mutated Giant Crocodile.

However, he knew Su Ze was exaggerating when he said the extract was hard to digest. He couldn’t be bothered to argue with him and simply made a call to have someone bring the items over.

A short while later, a handsome man in a suit arrived in the courtyard and respectfully handed a case to Zhang Tai.

Zhang Tai opened the case and said to Su Ze, ”Here are ten Child Ginseng rootlets and ten Future Flower petals. They’re all yours. Remember to use them wisely and not waste them.”

He was also reminding Su Ze that it was unnecessary to use Future Flower petals at his current stage. It was better to save such a rare resource for when he reached a higher evolutionary level.

Su Ze understood as well. He was only at the Pupa Stage. Using Future Flower petals was indeed a bit of a waste, and unnecessary. The Child Ginseng rootlets would be more than enough.

”Thank you, Mr. Zhang! And thank you, Mr. Gu!”

Su Ze stepped forward, closed the case, and gripped the handle tightly, making no mention of money.

’I’m about to contribute to the nation. Mentioning money? Wouldn’t that tarnish my patriotic fervor? So tacky!’

Zhang Tai didn’t mention it either. Since Chairman Gu Chengguang had given the word, there was no way the Dongli Kingdom would take Su Ze’s money. These items were considered a welcoming gift for him.

If Su Ze displayed even greater strength and potential, the Dongli Kingdom wouldn’t hesitate to spend even more resources to cultivate him.

”Well then, Mr. Zhang, I’m going into ’secluded cultivation’,” Su Ze said.

Zhang Tai nodded, but then seemed to remember something and called out, ”Wait.”

Su Ze stopped in his tracks. ”Is there something else, Mr. Zhang?”

”Have you learned any Training Skills for the Assistive Digestion of Evolutionary Materials?”

”A Training Skill?” Su Ze mulled it over and realized Zhang Tai was talking about a special training method like the Swan Dance, similar to the Cultivation Methods found in fantasy novels.

Su Ze quickly shook his head. ”I haven’t.”

’Inside, however, he was secretly delighted. Looks like Zhang Tai is going to teach me a new Training Skill. This way, I can finally ditch the Swan Dance and train out in the open.’

’No more having to hide my hard work from everyone.’

’Mom won’t have to worry about my social death anymore!’

Zhang Tai said, ”Since we have time now, I’ll teach you a Training Skill developed exclusively by our Dongli Kingdom. Pay close attention and learn it well.”

”Okay!” Su Ze put down the case in his hands and stood opposite Zhang Tai.

Zhang Tai stood up straight, his back ramrod-stiff. ”This is a Training Skill developed by several of Dongli’s top evolutionary scientists. It was created by improving upon ancient Dongli martial arts with the most advanced evolutionary theory. It’s called the ’Dragon-Slaying Posture.’ Watch me perform it once.”

Su Ze watched as Zhang Tai planted his feet firmly on the ground. He performed a set of movements that resembled a martial arts form, seemingly slow yet actually fast. The motions flowed like moving clouds and flowing water, imbued with a hint of Zen and a touch of unrestrained grace. It had an indescribable rhythm, fully displaying the air of a master.

Su Ze’s heart was stirred. ’Now this is what a Training Skill is supposed to look like!’

’This is a Training Skill a man is supposed to practice!’

’The main selling point is how cool it looks.’

’As for the Swan Dance? To hell with it.’