151: Chapter 151: Not just repair, but a complete transformation

Looking at these lines of text, Jiang Ning's heart was filled with a mix of emotions.

Merit protection? So it has this function.

Over ninety thousand merit points were all the assets she had painstakingly saved since she transmigrated. From spirit energy batteries to Sky City, and then to driving away the Extraterrestrial Demons to save Donghai City... every single point was proof of her changing this world.

Now, the system was asking her if she wanted to use these to trade for her life.

Was there even a choice?

If her life was gone, what was the point of keeping merit points? To take them to her next life?

Her consciousness pressed directly on the "Yes" option.

As soon as the thought moved, the entire pure white space shook.

The number "92350" on the system panel dropped rapidly, becoming zero in the blink of an eye.

Then, a warm golden energy surged from the panel, instantly enveloping Jiang Ning's divine sense.

This power was different from the spiritual energy she cultivated.

Spiritual energy was something she absorbed from the outside for her own use; no matter how powerful, it was external.

But this power of merit was born from within her body, the most direct reward from this world for everything she had done.

Warm and peaceful, it was filled with the breath of life.

Within the golden energy, Jiang Ning could "see" the condition of her body.

That Gold Core was covered in cracks, its light so dim it could go out at any moment. Her meridians were a mess, and her internal organs were in shambles.

To put it bluntly, this body was ruined. Any other cultivator would have had their soul scattered long ago.

But now, that golden power of merit began to repair this broken body.

As the golden energy flowed through, the severed meridians grew back on their own, becoming even tougher and wider than before.

The injured internal organs were also being repaired, regaining vitality, and their surfaces even emitted a layer of precious light.

The most critical part was that nearly shattered Gold Core.

The massive power of merit pieced those fragments back together—no, it completely remade it.

The golden energy enveloped the entire Gold Core. While the cracks were being repaired, inexplicable changes were happening inside the Gold Core. All the flaws left behind from cultivating too quickly were wiped away. The entire Gold Core became unprecedentedly smooth and translucent.

"Remolding the Dao Foundation..."

These four words popped into Jiang Ning's head.

She understood. Although she had nearly died this time, the system using merit points to save her wasn't just a simple repair, but a complete upgrade.

When the last bit of merit power merged into the Gold Core,

A soft sound exploded in her mind.

The remolded Gold Core erupted with thousands of rays of golden light, more than ten times brighter than before she was injured!

On the Gold Core, the originally blurred Dao patterns were now crystal clear, as if they contained some ultimate truths of heaven and earth. A wave of spiritual energy several times more powerful than before spread from the Gold Core, instantly filling her meridians.

Mid-stage Golden Core!

No, it even touched the threshold of the Gold Core Late Stage!

...

Kunlun Academy, Underground Medical Center.

The life support system emitted a steady electronic hum.

Director Zhao Lixin, Professor Chen, and Lin Yuan were gathered outside the medical pod, each looking exhausted.

A full month had passed since that great battle.

During this month, the whole world had been stunned by that shot from the Xia Kingdom. Various cooperation requests fluttered in like snowflakes. The Xia Kingdom's international status had reached a new height.

But the person who created all of this had been lying here, never waking up.

"Vital signs are still the same, no change," Professor Chen said, looking at the data on the screen, his voice full of helplessness. "The absorption rate of the spiritual energy potion is still dropping. Her body... seems to be rejecting external energy."

"Rejecting?" Director Zhao Lixin's brows furrowed tightly. "What's going on?"

"I'm not sure either," Professor Chen shook his head. "This can't be explained by science. It's as if... some kind of change we don't understand is happening inside her body. This change won't allow any outside interference."

"Change..." Lin Yuan muttered the word, his eyes fixed on the pale face in the medical pod. "You mean, she... is repairing herself?"

"We can only guess so," Professor Chen sighed. "But how long it will take, and whether the result will be good or bad, no one can say for sure."

Everyone's hearts sank again.

For this past month, they had been cycling through hope and disappointment every day.

Just then.

The monitoring equipment of the medical pod suddenly flashed red lights wildly, letting out a rapid alarm!

Everyone was startled and rushed to the screen.

On the screen, the value representing "internal spiritual energy activity" was skyrocketing!

10... 50... 200... 1000...

The numbers jumped so fast it made people's eyes blur.

"What's happening! Is the equipment broken?" a young researcher cried out.

"No! It's not broken!" Professor Chen stared intently at the data, his hands trembling. "Look! Her heartbeat! Blood pressure! All vital signs are recovering! No, they're surging!"

Everyone hurried to look at other screens. Sure enough, the heart rate chart, which had been almost a flat line, was now pounding like a pile driver, every beat full of power!

"Quick! Look inside the medical pod!" Sun Siyuan pointed at the medical pod, his voice changing.

Everyone turned their heads in unison.

Under the transparent cover, Jiang Ning's body had been enveloped by a faint layer of golden energy at some point.

Her originally deathly pale face was rapidly regaining its color.

Her weak breathing also became deep and powerful.

The most terrifying thing was that a pressure so massive it made people breathless emanated from her.

Under this pressure, everyone present felt incredibly small, as if they could be overturned at any moment.

"This... this is..." Director Zhao Lixin swallowed hard, feeling his legs go weak.

A crisp cracking sound.

On the medical pod cover made of special materials, a crack actually... appeared!

More and more cracks appeared, spreading rapidly.

"Not good! Get back!" Professor Chen reacted the fastest, shouting loudly.

Only then did everyone come to their senses, scrambling backward.

The next second after they backed away.

A loud bang.

The sturdy medical pod exploded with a crash!

Countless shards slammed into the walls, leaving behind deep pits.

Amidst the swirling dust, a figure slowly sat up from the ruins.

She opened her eyes.

When those eyes swept over everyone, they all felt as if they were being seen through, instinctively lowering their heads, not even daring to breathe loudly.

Jiang Ning moved her slightly stiff neck, feeling the surging spiritual energy within her, several times stronger than before.

She glanced at the mess around her and those terrified old acquaintances, then spoke her first words after waking up.

"How long... have I been asleep?"

Her voice was calm, yet carried a natural authority.

Director Zhao Lixin steadied his nerves, took a step forward, and replied, "Reporting, Chief Engineer Jiang... You, you have been unconscious for thirty-one days."