65: Surviving in the belly of a whale! The price of the Five Elements cycle!

"Where... am I?"

After an unknown amount of time, Gu Yang regained a sliver of consciousness.

He found half of his body stuck to a slimy, fleshy wall that emitted a sharp, corrosive, and sour stench.

The surroundings were filled with lakes of green acid, in which floated various undigested remains of sea beasts, broken Magic Treasures, and even the white bones of unknown Cultivators.

[Environment Scanning: Stomach of the Nine Nether Underworld Whale. High-concentration corrosive acid.]

"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—"

The strong acid, capable of instantly melting a Nascent Soul Magic Treasure, poured over Gu Yang's golden body like a waterfall, sending up plumes of white smoke.

However, thanks to the insane defense of the "Taiyi Golden Body," Gu Yang was not melted; he only felt as if countless ants were crawling all over him, an itch that pierced his heart.

"Move... move a little!"

Gu Yang tried to lift a finger, but his body remained as heavy as a mountain.

Although the energy of the taiyi essence gold had been forced into his body during the fall, it had not fully fused. The power of the Five Elements had barely reached a fragile balance within him, forming a closed internal cycle.

[System Report: Fusion of Five Elements Origin complete (imperfect).]

[Physique Obtained: Five Elements Primordial Body (Incomplete Version).]

[Realm: Flesh Body Golden Core Perfection (Half-step Nascent Soul).]

[Side Effects: Due to the forced Fusion of high-level Origins, the Physical Body density is too high, and energy consumption is extremely high. If high energy is not continuously replenished, the body will enter a "petrified" state, making movement sluggish.]

"I didn't break through to Nascent Soul?"

Gu Yang's heart chilled.

He had put in so much effort and eaten so many good things, yet he was only a "Half-step Nascent Soul"?

And he even gained a "high energy consumption" negative buff?

"In other words, I'm a gas guzzler now? If I don't get fuel, I don't move?"

Gu Yang wanted to cry but had no tears. This wasn't evolution; this was clearly taking on a massive burden.

"Gurgle..."

Just then, a wave of green acid surged over, carrying the carcass of a Rank 3 sea crab that had just been swallowed.

Gu Yang's stomach let out a thunderous roar.

Hunger! An unprecedented hunger!

To maintain the operation of this heavy "Five Elements Primordial Body," every one of his cells was frantically demanding energy.

"Forget it! I'll eat my fill first!"

Although Gu Yang couldn't move his limbs, he could still move his neck.

He suddenly lunged his head forward like a turtle and bit down on the passing sea crab.

*Crunch!*

Shell and meat together, he chewed it up directly.

[Ingesting high-energy flesh... Energy conversion in progress... Body flexibility restored by 1%...]

"It works!"

Gu Yang's eyes lit up.

As long as he ate, he could move!

Looking at this stomach full of "garbage," his originally disgusted expression instantly turned into wild joy.

This Nine Nether Underworld Whale had lived for thousands of years; how many good things had it accumulated in its belly?

This was a natural, massive, and free buffet!

Thus, a strange cleaner appeared inside the Underworld Whale's stomach.

He was like a wriggling golden maggot (crossed out), moving bit by bit along the stomach wall. Everywhere he passed, whether it was Yao Beast corpses, Magic Treasure fragments, or solidified spiritual Ores, everything was stuffed into his mouth.

Five Elements Great Millstone—Internal Cycle activated!

He treated the stomach as a cultivation ground, using the Underworld Whale's stomach acid to assist digestion, frantically accumulating energy.

One month.

Two months... half a year passed.

The Nine Nether Underworld Whale continued to roam the deep sea. Occasionally, it felt a slight stomach ache and thought it had eaten something bad, completely unaware that a "parasite" inside was clearing out its inventory.

On this day.

Gu Yang finally finished eating the last piece of digestible material in the stomach.

He stood up, his joints popping like thunder.

The golden hue on his skin faded, turning into a natural bronze color, but deep within his skin, a five-colored halo flowed incessantly.

Although he hadn't broken through to Nascent Soul, he felt that his strength was several times greater than it was half a year ago!

As long as he had sufficient energy, he could burst forth with combat power comparable to the Nascent Soul stage!

"I'm full; it's time to go out."

Gu Yang looked at the thick fleshy wall above his head.

"Nine Nether Underworld Whale, right? A Soul Transformation Stage sea beast, right?"

"You've been eating me for half a year; it's time to pay the rent."

"Since you won't open your mouth, I'll... open a door myself!"

Gu Yang took a deep breath, and the energy accumulated over half a year suddenly erupted.

Dharma Image of Heaven and Earth (Pseudo)—Multiplication Technique!

His body suddenly expanded to ten meters tall (limited by energy, he couldn't grow any larger).

He raised the re-refined heavenly demon meteor hammer and smashed it ruthlessly against the weakest part of the stomach wall above him.

"Break... for me!!!"

*Splat!*

Outside.

The Nine Nether Underworld Whale, sleeping in the deep sea, suddenly let out an earth-shattering scream.

A pillar of blood erupted from its back like a volcanic explosion.

A blood-soaked man holding a Meteor Hammer soared into the sky from the pillar of blood!

"Is this the air of freedom? It's a bit fishy, though."

Gu Yang floated in the seawater, looking at the massive creature below rolling in pain.

He didn't stick around, as he could feel the terrifying rage of this Soul Transformation Stage beast.

"Gotta go, gotta go!"

Gu Yang used the buoyancy of the seawater, activated his Sea God Physique, and like a torpedo, instantly fled a thousand miles away.