153: Unintentional planting of willows has led to a forest of trees, and the warriors have magical powers.

“The moment I saw the carving, I felt a bit unwell, so I instinctively looked away.”

“After hearing your description of the carving, I forced myself to endure the discomfort and tried to memorize it.”

“And then…” Yang Dian pointed to his head:

“I must have suffered some kind of mental shock.”

“Once I try to recall it, my mind and Soul will be assaulted, leading to a surge of anger, and I’ll want to smash something.”

“I’ve probably been contaminated by some kind of memetic pollution; I hope I don't have nightmares tonight.”

After listening to Yang Dian’s account, Professor Shen Fei was bewildered:

“You said you can still recall the mural?”

Yang Dian was also stunned:

“Professor, you created the mural, it’s right here in the laboratory. You don’t remember what it looks like, or what its abilities are?”

“You didn’t just drag me in to see this thing before even conducting biological experiments, did you?”

The two looked at each other, speechless.

Finally, Professor Shen Fei turned his head away, his voice lacking conviction:

“This carving was made after I studied the patterns and eyes on a mutated Blue-Ringed Octopus.”

“It was just completed last night.”

“After finishing it, I looked at it three times, and fainted three times. I get dizzy just thinking about it, and I can’t recall the full image of the carving at all.”

“On your way to the Research Institute, I just checked myself. I didn’t find any problems with my body; in fact, my condition was even a bit better than before.”

“Otherwise, I wouldn’t have so carelessly pulled you in to see this thing.”

Yang Dian pondered for a moment, entered the Star Illumination of Constant Stillness state, and once again recalled, or rather, contemplated the carving.

As the carving continuously restored itself in Yang Dian's mind, the astrolabe floating behind his head began to click, and Yang Dian also felt his heart beating more powerfully.

He reached out and clenched his fist.

He looked down at the taut muscles and bulging veins on his hand, feeling the inexplicable surge of power within his body.

Yang Dian knew that Professor Shen Fei seemed to have created something extraordinary.

“Click~”

Two minutes later, with the last soft click, the astrolabe protecting Yang Dian’s Soul suddenly shattered.

At the same time, another star fell behind Yang Dian’s head, transforming into a brand new astrolabe.

The shattered astrolabe also turned into stardust, drifting back into the high Chaos, becoming a dim star, beginning to absorb the Divine Thought overflowing from his Soul, slowly regaining its light.

He exhaled a long breath, stopping his contemplation.

As the ‘carving’ in his mind, which was gradually becoming more bizarre and seemed ready to move at any moment, disappeared, Yang Dian’s body also gradually returned to its original state.

No, not its original state.

Closing his eyes and carefully sensing himself, Yang Dian found that his total Qi and Blood had decreased.

However, its quality had become more refined.

It was as if an iron ore had been struck a few times, removing many Impurities.

Opening his eyes, Yang Dian looked at Professor Shen Fei, who was holding paper and a pen, unsure what expression to show:

“Professor, you seem to have created something extraordinary.”

Professor Shen Fei was startled:

“How so?”

Yang Dian held up an index finger:

“First, viewing and contemplating the carving will impact the mind and Soul, causing damage to them.”

“Second, fully contemplating the entire carving will induce feelings of Life Qi and anger, during which blood flow accelerates, and muscle explosive power increases.”

“Third, prolonged contemplation of the carving will cause the mind to influence the body, refining the Qi and Blood within a Martial Artist’s body.”

“Finally, after refinement, the total Qi and Blood will decrease, but its quality will increase, meaning it will have more explosive power.”

Yang Dian extended his hand and clenched it, Qi and Blood condensing at his fingertips, forming the shape of a sharp Dragon Claw.

“I don’t know what kind of changes Qi and Blood will undergo after being refined to the end.”

“But it should be no problem to accelerate a Martial Artist in the Qi Blood Smoke Realm to master the martial art technique of Qi Condensation into Martial Arts.”

“Of course, all of this is predicated on suppressing the anger generated during contemplation and enduring the mental shock.”

Yang Dian gave Professor Shen Fei a thumbs up:

“If these two negative effects can be removed, Professor, you’ve created a divine art for us Martial Artists.”

Professor Shen Fei was somewhat bewildered:

“Martial Artists?”

“Divine art?”

“But I only wanted to create special illusionary suits to increase the survival rate of soldiers entering the underground world and reduce their casualties…”

Looking at the somewhat dazed Professor Shen Fei, Yang Dian couldn’t help but spread his hands:

“But this is reality.”

“You tried so hard, yet couldn’t achieve it.”

“You planted a willow without intent, and it grew into a shade.”

“Professor, isn’t this result also good?”

“At least it greatly increased the combat capability of Martial Artists in the Qi Blood Smoke Realm.”

Professor Shen Fei gave a wry smile:

“Indeed.”

“This result is also good.”

As he spoke, he thought of something else and walked to the side, tapping on the desk.

“Jingwei, bring over 3 bottles of high-energy nutrient tablets.”

As he finished speaking, a circular opening appeared in the center of the desk, and soon a circular tray rose from within, holding three bottles of Xiao Lan Yao (Little Blue Pill).

“Here, these are your nutrient tablet allocations for next month.”

“Those little cockroaches are growing faster than we imagined, and their shed skins are also excellent Materials, so your allocation is a bit more than expected.”

As he spoke, Professor Shen Fei pointed to the carving covered by a black cloth:

“Additionally, you helped me research and create this carving, so you will also receive a share of the merits.”

Yang Dian, who had just accepted the Xiao Lan Yao (Little Blue Pill), looked up:

“Professor, I didn’t make any contribution, did I?”

“Didn’t you create this carving by yourself?”

Professor Shen Fei shook his head:

“It’s different.”

“Without you, I wouldn’t have known the correct way to use the carving; perhaps it would have been buried by me.”

“So I’m important, and you’re important too.”

As he spoke, he clapped his hands again and led Yang Dian out of the laboratory.

“Although this time I stumbled upon something useful for Martial Artists, it also shows that my research direction was wrong.”

“I need to re-plan my future research direction.”

Walking out of the laboratory, Professor Shen Fei looked at Yang Dian again:

“Let’s not talk about my troubles.”

“What about you?”

“You’re being promoted to Deputy Director of the Special Administration Bureau tomorrow; shouldn’t you be very busy these two days? Why do you have time to come here?”

“It can’t just be for these few bottles of Xiao Lan Yao (Little Blue Pill), can it?”

“I heard you earned several million in merits in Chengdu.”

Yang Dian tossed the small blue bottle in his hand:

“What does being promoted to Deputy Director matter? I’m not planning to manage things in the Special Administration Bureau.”

“Oh?” Professor Shen Fei became interested:

“The taste of power is very alluring.”

“Some people sell their bodies and Souls just to climb one more step up.”

“Now power is right in front of you, and you say you don’t want it.”

“What are you thinking?”

“When I first received the news of the promotion, I was indeed very excited.” Yang Dian didn’t hide his thoughts:

“An 18-year-old Deputy Director, and of a special department, with both strength and authority—how awesome is that?”

“But after calming down and thinking carefully, I feel that what I should pursue is not so-called power.”

“Organizing, planning, and managing are not my strengths.”

“Playing to my strengths and avoiding my weaknesses is what I should do.”

“In my opinion, becoming Deputy Director only gives me more time to practice martial arts, allowing me to maximize my strengths.”

“What I pursue should be becoming an army of one, a Martial Arts Grandmaster, or even a Realm above Grandmaster…”