220: Chapter 220 Level 4 Life

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Inside Jiang Chen's body, a violent evolution known as Thunder Fusion was taking place.

During this evolution, every single one of his cells was being tempered, strengthened, dying off, transforming, and starting all over again.

Under such repeated tempering, a normal life form would have long since lost all signs of life.

But Jiang Chen's body never lost its vital signs; instead, it became increasingly powerful.

However, this power would last for less than a second before being immediately swallowed by a brand-new round of evolution...

This cycle continued for a full fifty years.

By the tenth year, he had already stepped from the level of a Level 1 Life Form into that of a Level 2 Lifeform.

At that time, a brand-new human organ appeared in his chest.

Jiang Chen's consciousness also sensed the changes in his body; some of his organs had lost their function, replaced by another more complex yet efficient organ.

'Fusion Pill.'

Feeling the energy inside his body that was comparable to nuclear fusion, Jiang Chen gave it a name.

But he did not stop there.

Because the Lightning Qi particles in the Solar System had not yet been completely absorbed.

Since he was going to absorb them, he would suck them dry.

In any case, the gathering immortal flag was right there on the Antarctic Continent; the Qi particles of the Solar System would be continuously sent to Antarctica and then spread out.

Coincidentally, the circular pit of this alien base actually actively collected Lightning Qi particles, so he simply stayed in this nest, absorbing and evolving continuously...

Another twenty years passed, and he had already reached the peak of a Level 2 Lifeform.

He was only one step away from becoming a Level 3 Lifeform.

However, for some unknown reason, something was missing, and he remained unable to become a Level 3 Lifeform.

Until one day, an aurora phenomenon appeared in the sky above Earth's North Pole.

The so-called aurora phenomenon is actually an optical phenomenon produced when solar storms blow charged particles into the upper atmosphere of the Earth.

This was originally a very common phenomenon.

But on that very day, Jiang Chen felt his life level ascend another step.

This step meant that while he could previously only mobilize the Lightning Qi particles within his own body, after reaching this stage, he found that the Lightning Qi particles in his body could resonate with, and even control, the Lightning Qi particles on the Antarctic Continent tens of thousands of miles away.

At this moment.

He was like a God of Thunder, actually able to control distant lightning.

But the Lightning Qi particles of the Solar System were still not fully absorbed, so he continued to evolve.

This was the longest evolution of all; it took a full thirty years before he felt progress once again.

And this time.

He discovered that besides the Fusion Pill becoming even more massive, there was another startling evolution.

That was, his consciousness could leave his body in the form of particles.

"All things have consciousness. If my consciousness particles occupied the consciousness of a dog, would I be Jiang Chen or a dog?"

He, at this moment, had fallen into a conscious dilemma known as philosophy.

But this dilemma was cast aside as the concentration of Lightning Qi particles dropped sharply.

Jiang Chen descended from the air above the circular pit. He had no clothes on his body, but his muscles, blood vessels, and skin had turned the color of lightning, making him look like a man made of mercury; even his eyeballs were silver.

He took a deep breath and controlled the pigments in his body, instantly letting his skin color gradually return to that of a person of the yellow race.

"So this is the state of a higher life form. It's too strong."

Jiang Chen muttered to himself.

He could not only control the Lightning Qi within his body but also change the size, strength, color, and shape of any part of his body...

He didn't know that he was already a Level 4 Lifeform, but he could feel that he seemed to no longer be the same Jiang Chen he once was.

"Congratulations, Inheritor!"

Just as Jiang Chen walked out of the circular pit, the ten diligent terracotta soldiers knelt down on one knee in unison toward him.

Jiang Chen sensed the energy within them; according to his estimation, these soldiers were also at the level of Level 2 Lifeforms.

However, these soldiers were exquisitely constructed and even carried some residual consciousness particles; theoretically speaking, they counted as half-human and were capable of growth.

"One Water, two Fire, three Wood, four Earth."

Jiang Chen differentiated the Qi particles within their bodies.

Four of them were earth qi particles, primarily based on earth qi.

But there were also those primarily based on Water Qi particles, Fire Qi particles, and Wood Qi particles.

The earth qi particles were the strongest, such as with Ren Xiao.

"I'll find some Qi for you later to help you evolve."

Jiang Chen thought to himself as he walked out of the base.

As he left the circular pit, the lightning snowstorm outside also gradually subsided.

Jiang Chen looked back, having a moment of realization.

"It seems that Ascension Star might not have entirely followed a technological path; it's also possible they followed an evolutionary path."

This circular pit seemed to be specifically built for Lightning Qi life forms.

In other bases, there were similar devices, but they just hadn't been activated.

He specifically went to check those devices, wanting to have the soldiers activate them, but they had failed.

"Does that mean only the circular pit in Base No. 7 hasn't failed?"

Seeing that there was no more 'wool' to pluck from the base, Jiang Chen walked down the hillside. There was a small fishing boat here covered in ice and snow, and the ten Horse Terracotta Warriors had also fallen into a state of deep sleep, though their shapes could still be seen.

The tiger tally!

Jiang Chen revealed the tiger tally.

The Horse Terracotta Warriors activated one after another, shaking off the ice and snow in an instant, their hooves bright as they let out whinnies that echoed through the heavens and earth.

Jiang Chen's palm landed on the fishing boat; the lightning energy gradually generated high temperatures, and the frozen fishing boat slowly melted out.

Fortunately, the surface material was sturdy enough; fifty years had passed, and it was still without wear or tear.

"Start, Flight Mode."

Jiang Chen entered the small fishing boat, feeling the long-lost cockpit as if he had returned home.

Home...

Conscious thoughts flooded Jiang Chen's mind: Xue Yao, his daughter, his son, his parents-in-law, Jiang Xiaoran...

"I wonder how they are doing?"

Originally, during his evolution, Jiang Chen had been single-minded, even discarding his emotions. But at this moment, as if re-entering the world of mortals, emotions suddenly surged, and a heart full of longing rushed forth.

Immediately, he used the communicator to call the Sister Li.

[Xue Yao, Xue Yao, this is Jiang Chen. Please respond if you receive this!]

[Repeat!]

By now, the Sister Li had long since changed its communication codes.

According to regulations, the original communicator should have been discarded.

But Commander Jiang Qiuzhi had not thrown it away; she had kept that ancient, backward, but meaningful communicator in a corner of the command room.

Zzt, zzt.

Just then, the communicator made a sound.

Commander Jiang Qiuzhi was resting at the time. Suddenly noticing the sound, she froze for a moment, then immediately rushed to the communicator and turned up the volume. Jiang Chen's voice came from the other side.

It's Dad!

It was actually her father's voice.

Fifty years.

A full fifty years.

It had been fifty years since the last time he changed her diapers.

Commander Jiang Qiuzhi's eyes reddened, and she choked up as she hurriedly responded, "Dad?"

"We're already an old married couple."

Receiving a response, Jiang Chen breathed a sigh of relief and said with a light chuckle.

"? Dad, has your brain short-circuited? I'm Jiang Qiuzhi."

"...Where's your mom?"

"..."