Chapter 237: [artificial Muscle Spiritual Root]
After returning from Happy Home to Haunted House, Yuan Zhu stored the brand new pure version Uniform in his Soul Space, feeling exceptionally joyful.
This trip to Happy Home yielded considerable gains. First, he found various cheap and nourishing ‘health restoration, life extension’ items in the Exchange List, sufficient to safely rescue the weakened, near-death Orc.
Additionally, he received good news from the Captain: Despite not knowing how the other party tampered with his Shadow Domain, it had been forcibly developed to the ‘Peak Mature Great Perfection stage,’ ready for sign-in upon arrival.
It was just like suddenly hearing that his freshly seeded ‘Farm-level’ Plantation had skipped the Expansion process and directly ballooned to the level of an ‘Ultimate Principality.’
As long as he signed in, the Farm Owner would become the King, with a national treasury awaiting inventory and acceptance.
“Delightful!”
Thinking of this, Yuan Zhu couldn’t help but curl up the corners of his mouth. Three days—just endure three more days, and he could return to Bubble World to investigate!
He said to Snake Snake, “I’m a bit excited! Suddenly, I can’t sleep.”
“It’s only 3:00 PM now—what sleep? Should we call Frog Killer Girl back? While it’s not dark yet, we can work overtime and check out the plot in the eastern Suburbs.”
Yuan Zhu shook his head: “Not enough time. Forget the Suburbs—even the City’s edge could be shrouded in mist by nightfall. Various ‘Strange Tales’ in the Misty Mountains will emerge and wander randomly. I read in the newspaper that it’s not recommended to leave the Urban Area for night tours after dark.”
“We’re Holy Light System Supernatural, afraid of that? The newspaper warns ordinary people.”
Yuan Zhu: “Let’s play it safe—after I cultivate to 2 Imprints, then night explore Running!”
As he spoke, he took out a pile of various ‘Medicines, Fruits, Injectables’ from his Soul Space and shifted his gaze to the Half-blood Orc lying on the Attic Floor with faint breathing.
These ‘life extension potions, Vitality Fruits’ exchanged from Space of Gods came from different Pollution Systems and had their pollution effects uniformly removed before sale, retaining only the most basic ‘healing, life extension, life supplementation.’
From their appearance, some were scientific products, like injectable syringes stamped with the ‘Lotus’ trademark, 10 per board. There were also fragrant human-face Fruits, or Bloodshot Eyeballs with contracting and dilating pupils… some terrifying, some ethereal and fresh.
No time to identify their Systems, Yuan Zhu casually picked up the warm Bloodshot Eyeball, pried open the Orc’s mouth, and stuffed it in.
Without any assistance needed, the Eyeball rapidly awakened and activated upon contact with the Orc’s saliva. Countless blood-red thin threads sprouted from the stalk position, crawling swiftly toward the esophagus using ‘hands and feet.’
No chewing or swallowing required, a visible small bulge rose in the Orc’s throat and quickly moved down the neck, ultimately disappearing into the abdomen.
At the same time, within the comatose, near-death Orc’s body, Vitality suddenly erupted, followed by the Frog System Pollution in his Muscles erupting, rapidly spreading and eroding, depleting the Vitality, then a second small burst of Vitality, further intensifying the proliferation stimulation of the Frog System Pollution.
Seeing the ‘Medicine’ take effect, Yuan Zhu pressed on, picking up a foul-smelling, somewhat rotten and spoiled small cuttlefish juvenile and stuffing it into the Orc’s mouth, then covering it firmly.
The originally comatose Orc instinctively convulsed in retching attempts but was held down by Yuan Zhu. After several instinctive gag failures, it was forced to swallow along with the regurgitated contents… The Orc’s face visibly blackened from the ‘Ink,’ but his Vitality steadily climbed.
“Divine medicine!” All cheap but with extreme Side Effects, thus highly effective ‘cost-performance divine drugs’—truly lovable.
After several rounds of administration, the Orc’s breathing grew steadier, his Vitality substantially recovered and rose, while the pervasive Frog System Pollution in his body intensified in spread and proliferation.
A ‘powerful’ aura emanated from the Orc’s robust frame. Simultaneously, the Muscle contours under his skin became visibly sharper.
The originally grape-like clustered ‘Flesh Tumors’ were spontaneously digested by Frog System Pollution, with intense subcutaneous Muscle writhing, ultimately transforming into undulating, twitching, stringy forms.
Truly gaining Muscle even in sleep!
…
When the Orc was originally lying comatose in the Haunted House, he was surrounded by a high-concentration Shadow Pollution environment.
Without external intervention, he would spontaneously absorb Shadow Power for self-repair and regeneration, returning to a healthy state. At that point, the Shadow Pollution in his body would undoubtedly grow stronger, reversely suppressing the already marginal Frog System Pollution, causing the Muscle transformation Phase 1 project to fail.
Now, as the Tiger Demon and owner of this Haunted House, he could perfectly control the flow of ‘Shadow Power’ in the Air. When he actively shut off the Orc’s external reception, the latter entered a ‘zero pollution’ state akin to being trapped in mire.
Meanwhile, the Orc was also a user of Anti-Law.Shadow, allowing Yuan Zhu even freer internal manipulation: selectively granting Shadow, shielding Shadow, or closing Shadow.
Thus, while treating the Orc, Yuan Zhu observed the entire process via Great Desolation Immortal Scripture.Client.Anti-Law Panel, precisely grasping all changes in the Orc’s body and witnessing the full process of his Muscles generating Supernatural Powers after receiving Vitality nourishment.
From the initial external Stimulation by Body Tempering Fluid, to Frog System Pollution gradually adapting to the Muscle environment and combining, then to secreting similar ‘Polluted Substances’ after gaining ample life nutrients, further spreading and eroding more skeletal Muscles.
Ultimately, after consuming 6 different ‘life-supplementing great medicines,’ the Orc underwent a full-body Tempering from head to toe, his body inflating like a balloon by a full circle.
Under Great Desolation Immortal Scripture’s microscopic observation, his Muscle Structure and Muscle Fiber strength had changed and been Reinforced, with Life potential greatly elevated.
Additionally, the originally externally parasitic Insect System.Mutated Tissue also fused into one with the original Muscle Structure during the Frog System Pollution erosion process.
The integration of Mutated Tissue also caused slight Alienation in the Orc’s original ‘Innate Muscle Structure.’ Though unclear if good or bad, Great Desolation Immortal Scripture judged it a Benign Mutation!
Snake Snake added: “Per Immortal Scripture analysis, this overlays a more efficient Insect Muscle Structure Module onto the Orc’s Muscle System. Hmm… similar to Showa Kamen Rider transformation.”
Yuan Zhu, using Great Desolation Immortal Scripture + Anti-Law microscopic data reading, directly sensed changes in another Supernatural System for the first time.
His understanding and Cognition of the Orc’s current Power System Mutation were in no way inferior to his own Holy Light cultivation! Clearly someone else mutating, yet he could insightfully perceive the secrets of the Power Path like viewing palm lines, without enduring any pain or torment.
…
As potion after potion was consumed, the Orc swiftly completed Phase 1 Transformation. Once the pervasive Frog System Pollution reached a Constant value, it ceased increasing. The Muscle rapid expansion and self-repair process also halted.
Per Immortal Scripture judgment, the Orc’s current Muscle strength was 1.7 times pre-transformation. This was merely temporary peak; with further Adaptation and recuperation, ample food and exercise, this value could continue rising.
Additionally, both Immortal Scripture and Anti-Law confirmed that ‘Supernatural Powers’ began gestating in the Orc’s Muscles. Yuan Zhu tentatively named this ‘Supernatural Power’ Frog Power.
Finally, he discovered that atop Frog Power layered a faint Shadow Enchantment Damage. This bonus ‘extra Damage’ not only integrated with the Power Path but also resonated distantly with Anti-Law.Shadow.
He had a premonition that his Anti-Law could use this Shadow Enchantment Damage as a medium springboard to deeply interfere with the Power Path, even pulling it under Anti-Law.Shadow to refine it into an exclusive Dao Soldier!
Yuan Zhu opened his eyes, squatted beside the sleeping Orc, poked his exaggerated pectoral Muscles with a finger, and quipped: “This is Frog System Supernatural Power? Looks so mundane, like it doesn’t exist!”
Buddhism Supernaturals cultivate Buddha Power akin to True Essence in Xianxia Novels; Insectoid Race Qi Refiners’ True Qi is like martial arts True Qi. Holy Light has both Energy aspects and, like Light, rapidly dissipates upon release.
Yet for Extreme Warriors, their Supernatural Power is extremely stable, hidden within conventional physical ‘Power,’ with no visual effects. Only careful Perception reveals a faint ‘threat’ in the polluted Muscles.
On the surface, just stronger physical ‘Power’; covertly, punches deliver physical Damage plus faint ‘destructive effect (Frog Power Damage)’; furthermore, can mobilize Shadow Power for additional secondary Damage.
Snake Snake: “This effect is somewhat like the Armed Color Haki in your brain, boss, except it can’t turn black. At the same time, the muscles reinforced by Frog System Pollution erosion come with built-in pollution resistance, and their structure is extremely stable.”
Yuan Zhu couldn’t wait to hijack the comatose orc’s body through Anti-Law, control it to stand up, and throw a Frog Fist at himself.
“Let me test its purity!”
After standing up, the orc, who towered more than a head above Yuan Zhu, closed its eyes and smashed a fist at him, violently colliding with the Holy Light Barrier that suddenly popped up in front of him.
After a ripple, the orc withdrew its arm and stood motionless.
Yuan Zhu then linked Immortal Scripture for calculation… “Hmm, an ordinary orc’s full-power strike deals 10 damage. After 1 round of transformation, the orc’s basic damage for the same fist is 18, with room for further improvement. In addition, the supernatural effect of Frog Power converts all 18 physical damage into supernatural destruction, with a further 30% amplification. Finally, it can also mobilize over 10% Shadow Enchantment.”
Then, he said in surprise: “The wonder is that after the muscles are transformed by pollution, Frog Power is not active output, but a passive effect. The opponent’s active output is actually the Shadow Enchantment part. What a simple and cost-effective supernatural system!”
Once the Extreme Warrior transformation is complete, every punch is a Frog Power attack. Though weak, it excels in being endless. Unlike Holy Light, where every drop burns essence and energy.
……
Until nightfall, Yuan Zhu finally completed the transformation and nurturing of the Half-blood Orc, as well as the measurement and collection of body data.
After finishing all this, he tossed the orc aside, summoned the Eggplant Head Ghost to carry it to the second floor bedroom for rest, and then started complaining:
“This level is not much stronger than an ordinary orc, not qualified for the arena. But it could be thrown into the amateur group, honing combat experience through endless fixed matches. Say, if we install an External Brain Pod on it, input a large amount of fighting skills, could we train an Artificial Intelligence Program. Expert-Level Fighting Brain Pod? Then through batch copying of Brain Pods, mass-produce orc fighters indefinitely?”
Snake Snake: “Every orc’s body has slight differences; the higher the level of the intelligent program, the better it matches the body. Rashly changing hosts will inevitably cause a sharp drop in combat experience. Moreover, the Artificial Intelligence Fighting Program only stays at the technical level and cannot touch the soul or martial arts intent. But for low-end arena matches, it should be more than sufficient.”
“Phase 1 transformation is complete. What’s the next plan?”
Snake Snake: “We’re still in Phase 1 now. Even if it wakes up, until the muscle potential is fully excavated, it’s still in Phase 1. Next, we can accelerate the erosion reinforcement effect of Frog System Pollution through daily additional injections of Body Tempering Fluid, massive intake of high-energy food, and crazy exercise to stimulate muscle development, thereby achieving the effect of excavating exchanged muscle potential.”
“When tolerance to traditional Body Tempering Fluid develops and muscles can no longer gain even a bit of enhancement through traditional training, that’s the theoretical limit of the physical body and the end of Phase 1. At that point, we can try purchasing ‘special Body Tempering Fluid’ from other pharmaceutical companies, performing rotational and mixed injections of multiple agents to attempt breaking the muscle limit and excavating ultimate potential again. The price is high, but every bit of extra increase represents future ‘foundation’.”
“As for Phase 2 transformation, it’s after the skeletal muscle and smooth muscle systems are excavated to the extreme; then start injecting another Quenching Organ Fluid to ‘muscle reinforce’ the five viscera and six bowels and other organs. The final Phase 3 transformation is injecting the rarer Frog System Pollution Potion, letting muscles erode and penetrate into the bones, performing ultimate reinforcement on the structure of all body parts. After Phase 3 transformation is complete, it’s the final Frog God Ritual, gaining the Muscle Fiber Merging ability.”
“Note! Before the first round of muscle merging, the stronger the muscle reinforcement effect, the greater the potential after merging. In addition, beyond excavating muscle potential with traditional Body Tempering Fluid, we can use evil path methods to additionally enhance the artificial innate strength of muscles! For example, our Insect System Mutated Tissue is one of the rare Frog-Type great treasures.”
Yuan Zhu: “Mutated Tissue, for the Power Path, is equivalent to turning a Mixed Spiritual Root cultivator into an artificial Earth Spiritual Root quickly, improving cultivation aptitude.”
Snake Snake: “Yes, Mutated Tissue is the Frog School Acquired Muscle Spiritual Root. It can sell for a big price on the black market.”
Yuan Zhu sighed: “I didn’t expect the Insect System Dao Seed Meridian Spiritual Root plan to fail back then, yet unintentionally, we succeeded in refining an artificial Muscle Spiritual Root in the Extreme Warrior field?”
