Shackles of Humanity

With only two Genetic Potions, deciding how to split them became a huge problem. Ordinary Genetic Potions were no longer very useful for a Body Master, but High-Level Gene Potions were different. If you compared the body to a container, ordinary potions could strengthen it, but the container would quickly reach its limit. A High-Level Gene Potion, however, could not only enhance the container itself but also expand it. Its value was simply immeasurable.

Su Chengbo said thoughtfully, ”The Yao Yue Liu was born a Wood Attribute Fierce Beast. After evolving into its Complete Form, it also became compatible with the Water Attribute, making it a truly unique specimen of nature. Later, its remaining roots were buried in the Underground Yin Veins for a thousand years and assimilated by Dark Energy. This means it possesses both Elemental and Dark Energy.”

After speaking, he gave Luo Kai a seemingly casual glance and continued, ”If it were just Water and Wood Energy, that would be fine. Among the Five Elements, water and wood are naturally interdependent—not only are they not harmful to each other, they are actually beneficial. However, it’s a different story when something possesses both Elemental Energy and Dark Energy.”

”All forms of Energy are mutually exclusive. We most likely only managed to kill the Yao Yue Liu by a stroke of luck because its own energies were in conflict, preventing it from drawing on external power for help. It could only fight us with its physical body. On top of that, that member of the Abyss Clan tried to achieve a mental Fusion with it and suffered a backlash as a result. If even one of those conditions had been missing, I’m afraid we all would have been buried in that Yinling Mountain Stream.”

”Ah,” Tuoba Ye nodded. He licked the corner of his mouth and said, a little impatiently, ”So how are we splitting these things?”

Su Chengbo smiled. ”These two High-Level Gene Potions possess Water, Wood, and Dark Energy. They’ll be more effective for those who cultivate these three attributes. My main focus is Light Energy, so I’ll sit this one out.”

The other three were stunned. Tuoba Ye said, ”Old Su, you’re being too generous! These are High-Level Gene Potions. That bit of energy affinity can be completely ignored.”

Xi Jinghui chimed in, ”Brother Su, that won’t do. You deserve most of the credit for us killing the Yao Yue Liu. You should be the one to take a potion.”

Su Chengbo chuckled. ”You two, please don’t be so polite. The three of you can split them.”

The three of them exchanged glances, hesitating, unsure of what to say next.

Just then, Luo Kai spoke up. ”I’ll pass, too.”

”Why?”

The other three exclaimed in unison, stunned. Su Chengbo choosing to pass was understandable; he specialized in Light Energy, which had some repulsion to Dark Energy. Furthermore, Light Energy demanded the utmost purity, almost like an obsession with cleanliness, unable to tolerate even the slightest contamination from other energies.

But Luo Kai was different. He was young, at the perfect age for his body to easily accept and process external Energy. Most importantly, he was a Water Elemental Master with an extremely high affinity for Water Energy. If he drank this High-Level Gene Potion that increased Water Element affinity, then undergoing a Water Energy Infusion in the future would be a seamless process. The wide, open road to becoming a Body Master lay right before him, yet he chose to give it up?

Of the four people present, the Genetic Potions would be most effective for Luo Kai and Xi Jinghui. Tuoba Ye had already been preparing to give up his claim but never expected Luo Kai to beat him to it. Confused, he reached out and touched Luo Kai’s forehead. ”Are you sick, kid?”

Luo Kai pushed his grimy hand away with a sigh. ”I’m not sick.”

’Of course, he knew his own condition. He had already drunk a bellyful of the Yao Yue Liu’s sap earlier. Anyone else would have surely died from their body exploding, but he had the Holy Blood Worm inside him to filter it. Although most of the Energy couldn’t be absorbed and was lost, he had still taken in a lot of Dark Energy. As a side effect, his affinity for Water Element Energy and Wood Element Wood Energy had also greatly increased. In a way, he had already gotten the best deal. He’d never really had friends before, but after these past few days, he had come to see the three men before him as friends.’

”Then why?”

Su Chengbo’s expression flickered. ”Xiaokai, does this mean you don’t plan to undergo a Water Element Infusion?”

Luo Kai hesitated for a moment before nodding.

Su Chengbo seemed to understand his concerns. He sighed and said, ”All forms of Energy are mutually exclusive. It would be disastrous if a conflict occurred with other energies during the infusion. It’s highly likely your body would explode and you would die.”

Tuoba Ye and Xi Jinghui said nothing more. They knew that Luo Kai wasn’t just a Water Elemental Master; he was also a Sha Qi Resonator. When advancing to become a Body Master, one could only choose one type of Energy for the infusion. It was indeed a situation where things could easily go wrong.

With only two people left, there was no room for dispute. However, both Tuoba Ye and Xi Jinghui looked a bit uncomfortable. Tuoba Ye was mostly fine, but Xi Jinghui looked particularly sheepish. ’Back in the stream,’ he thought, ’Su Chengbo undoubtedly contributed the most, followed by Tuoba Ye and Luo Kai. I was the most useless one, but now I’m getting the biggest reward.’

The trunk and branches of the Yao Yue Liu were, of course, extremely valuable, but they still couldn’t compare to the High-Level Gene Potions. Once the Active Energy was extracted, its remains could only be used as materials for crafting top-level weapons and armor. Humans were certainly masters of utilizing external objects, but melee weapons were different from mechanical ones. A melee weapon’s strength was entirely dependent on its wielder. The user was the source of its Power; the greater their Power, the greater the weapon’s might. Conversely, in the hands of an ordinary person, even a top-level Energy Divine Weapon was little more than a particularly sharp tool.

Su Chengbo thought for a moment and said, ”How about this: Xiaokai lost an excellent piece of equipment, so after we get to Shangjing, we’ll commission the best master smith to use the Yao Yue Liu’s trunk to forge you an Energy Weapon suited to your Attributes.”

Tuoba Ye immediately agreed. ”Yes! What kind of weapon do you want, kid?”

Luo Kai caressed the Severing Blade on his back and shook his head. ”There’s no need. I already have a weapon.”

Su Chengbo glanced at the long blade on Luo Kai’s back. ”Although that blade of yours is full of Spirituality, it’s still far inferior to an Energy Weapon. An Energy Weapon can channel and amplify the Energy you cultivate. For example, if the main trunk of the Yao Yue Liu is forged into a weapon, it will certainly improve your control over Water Element Energy.”

Luo Kai smiled and relented. ”Alright, then. To be honest, I’d really like to get a set of clothes that won’t rip. You know my clothes get torn to shreds every time I finish a fight.”

Xi Jinghui quickly jumped in. ”That’s simple! The Xi Family raises a species called the Night Sand Cicada, and the Cicada Silk it produces is incredibly durable and flexible. Once we’re in Shangjing, I’ll have a set custom-made for you.”

”Thank you.”

”Do you want a saber, a sword, or something else?” Su Chengbo asked.

Luo Kai thought for a moment. ’I don’t really need another weapon. The Severing Blade might only seem like a weapon with a bit of Spirituality, but as my connection with it has grown stronger over time, I sometimes get the faint feeling that it has a will of its own. What’s more, it can react with my own blood to produce the Evil Flame, which is my ultimate technique for fighting enemies. I definitely can’t give it up.’ He then said aloud, ”A sword, I guess. I already have a saber.”

”Alright then. We’ll head back to Shangjing tomorrow!”

There was no rush to divide the rest of the Yao Yue Liu’s branches. Xi Jinghui, clutching the bottle of blue Genetic Potion, hurried upstairs, clearly intending to consume it immediately.

Tuoba Ye, however, stared at the surreal, dream-like Genetic Potion in his hands, lost in indecision.

”What’s wrong? Just drink it already,” Su Chengbo said with a grin.

”Sigh... Old Su, do you think I should save this for Xiaoyong?”

”Who’s Xiaoyong?” Luo Kai asked curiously.

A smile spread across Tuoba Ye’s face. ”He’s that brat of mine. He’s just started the initial stages of his Gold Energy Infusion. If he had this Genetic Potion, his chances of successfully completing the infusion would probably increase by a good thirty percent.”

Su Chengbo, however, frowned. He spoke in a sincere, weighty tone, ”Brother Tuoba, the young have their own Karma Technique to follow. If we elders spoil them blindly, we might end up stunting their growth by trying to rush things. Besides, their minds are not yet mature at such a young age. If they suddenly gain immense power, they might not be able to control it. They could even be blinded by it.”

’Luo Kai was full of silent admiration. Su Chengbo really was profoundly wise. His words were very similar to a realization Luo Kai himself had just recently come to: immense Power must be guided by a Buddhist Technique, or in other words, it must keep pace with the growth of one’s character. Otherwise, one could become lost in that Power, growing dark and tyrannical, even becoming a bloodthirsty killer.’

So, he also chimed in to persuade him, ”Old Tuoba, if you ask me, you should drink it now. Sharp Gold Produces Soft Water. If you can comprehend the Water Power Path, you will surely achieve a new level of well-rounded mastery. Then you’ll be able to tap into the wondrous applications of your Azure Wave Force.”

Hearing those first two words, Tuoba Ye’s face first flushed with anger, but then he sank into thought. After a moment, he clapped Luo Kai hard on the shoulder. ”You little brat, you’re supposed to call me Uncle!” With that, he also clutched the Genetic Potion and hurried upstairs.