Free Web NovelChapter 417: Chapter 147: Adjustment
The entire month of September passed uneventfully. The Meng Manor on Motie Mountain had not suffered a single attack.
But everyone knew Meng Huang would never give up. The current calm could only mean he was making preparations and adjustments, waiting for the right moment.
The later the attack came, the more difficult it would be to deal with.
Chen Chuan opened his eyes, emerging from his meditation. He had recently been focusing all his energy on optimizing his state, replacing sleep with meditation. For a while now, no memory fragments had surfaced in his mind.
But he knew those memories were still deep within him, not gone. They would surface on their own whenever his mind was relaxed and unburdened. Conversely, when he needed to maintain peak condition without any distractions, the memories wouldn’t interfere.
Just then, his Realm Token chimed, transmitting some videos and photos. They were from Tan Zhi. Aside from clips of Tan Zhi dancing and scenes from the dance floor, there were also pictures of Chaoming eating.
Since he was staying on Motie Mountain, he had asked Tan Zhi to look after Chaoming for the time being. All it took was preparing food and water; Chaoming was very intelligent and didn’t require much extra effort.
Tan Zhi was more than happy to do it. After all, Chen Chuan wasn’t just his classmate; he was now a Third Limit Fighter. Being entrusted with this task was a sign of Chen Chuan’s trust, proof of their close relationship. Others would kill for such an opportunity!
He sent a reply, then browsed the news from the outside world. Other than the three-month-long tournament finally coming to an end and the usual reports of violence in Central City, there was nothing of note.
Afterward, he washed up, ate a few tubes of Nutrition Paste, and then left the villa with a training saber in hand. He went to an open area outside and began practicing his martial arts and Saber Techniques.
As October began, the maple forest on the mountain gradually turned red, painting the landscape in a wash of crimson and gold. Practicing martial arts amidst such scenery created a unique atmosphere, and he felt he could easily become completely immersed.
Two hours later, he finished his practice and took a stroll around the manor grounds, both inside and out.
After a month of preparations, the manor’s defensive systems had been completely reconfigured. Many areas were now so fortified that not even a Third Limit Fighter could hope to breach them in a single attempt, and numerous other locations were laden with traps.
Trapping a Third Limit Fighter was practically impossible, but if the traps could just hinder their speed and trigger an alarm, it would be enough to give the manor’s occupants time to react.
Back in the villa, he took out some medications and consumed them. Nowadays, these were all provided by the manor, so he no longer needed to carry his own supply.
Over the past month, the growth of the Mutated Organization—triggered by his breakthrough—had gradually slowed to a halt. Under normal circumstances, if he continued to train, his strength would still progress, but at a considerably slower rate. It would no longer be as easy to advance as it had been in the previous stage.
He estimated that in just a few more days, he would be ready to take the special medicine.
After another hour of Breathing Technique exercises, he picked up a stack of files from his desk and began to flip through them.
These were records of Third Limit Fighters from a bygone era, which Meng Shu had obtained through certain channels.
Although much of the information was outdated due to its age, with many of the techniques being obsolete, the records still held significant reference value.
This was especially true for matters concerning Fighters, as the records inevitably contained insights into cultivation, many of which he found highly illuminating.
According to these fragmented records, when people in the bygone era reached the Third Limit, if they were in a Period of Change, their goal was to find rifts and hunt the "monsters" within. By being tainted with the monsters’ aura, they could then expel impurities, nurture a True God, and seek an opportunity for a breakthrough.
However, if it was a Cold Silence Period, things were much more difficult. Fighters would have to expend immense energy and time searching for "remnants" left behind from the Period of Change.
During these times, the number of civilian Fighters would plummet. However, the various Empires and Imperial Families, having preserved certain resources, were still able to cultivate some talented individuals even in a Cold Silence Period.
Looking back through history, eras in which Fighters frequently emerged were invariably Periods of Change. These times were also marked by great turmoil and upheaval in the world, often culminating in the fall of dynasties.
In contrast, a Cold Silence Period was a low ebb for Fighters, while dynastic power would correspondingly stabilize. In the past, this was a universal law across the entire world.
However, these old-era methods were likely primitive and extremely dangerous. Most who tried were simply taking a gamble; failure often meant paying with their lives. Nearly all the surviving accounts described grim outcomes.
For instance, he was now reading a partially destroyed letter to a disciple. It told of a Fighter who had discovered a rift and decided to venture in with a companion to seek a chance for advancement. Uncertain of his return, he exhorted his disciple on several matters and solemnly charged him with passing on their legacy.
But things were different now. During a Period of Change that had lasted for over two hundred years, the world had undergone an unprecedented transformation. Now, although acquiring the medicines was still difficult, there were at least stable channels to do so, and it no longer meant risking one’s life at every turn.
’And it wasn’t just that. With the Great Collision imminent, the world might be on the verge of another unprecedented wave of change. This might be a great crisis, but in a way, wasn’t it also a great opportunity?’
After putting down the files, he went onto the academy’s online platform to search for information regarding the special medicine, hoping to find any important details or precautions. However, the platform had nothing to say on the subject.
After a moment’s thought, he contacted Teacher Jiang and Teacher Bai to ask for their guidance.
However, he quickly discovered that both Teacher Bai and Teacher Jiang became extremely guarded the moment he brought up the topic.
Although they gave him plenty of answers, they were all indirect, peppered with vague warnings to be careful. It was as if they were afraid to discuss it openly.
Realizing there might be some issue, he didn’t press them further. Fortunately, besides his academy contacts, he could also consult Cao Guiqi and the Processing Bureau. So, he tried contacting Cao Guiqi next.
However, it seemed Cao Guiqi never used a Realm Token for direct communication. So, Chen Chuan first contacted Uncle Ding, telling him he needed to consult Senior Brother Cao about some sensitive matters.
Uncle Ding politely asked him to wait. A moment later, he returned and said, "Chen, I’m sending you a secure Domain information channel. Please go to that platform to talk."
A platform password then appeared on Chen Chuan’s Realm Token. He could tell at a glance that it was a temporary, privately-built platform, and he logged in immediately.
After a short wait, Cao Guiqi’s voice came through. "You’re on Motie Mountain?"
"Yes," Chen Chuan answered without concealment.
Cao Guiqi didn’t ask for his specific location and went straight to the point. "This is a temporary, dedicated channel maintained by a powerful Domain. The Domain Creatures used to construct it are rather unique and are repelled by Central City, so it can probably only support a ten-minute conversation. Since you’re on Motie Mountain, we might get a little more time. Junior Chen, you can ask your questions now."
Chen Chuan acknowledged this and explained that he had acquired the special medicine. He wanted to ask about any prohibitions or precautions he should be aware of when taking it. He also mentioned that he had consulted his teachers at the academy, but they seemed unable to explain things clearly, as if the topic were forbidden.
Cao Guiqi didn’t ask where he had gotten the special medicine. Instead, he said, "Junior Chen, there’s a reason they didn’t speak directly. The academy’s teachers have signed an agreement. Unless the academy grants permission, they are forbidden from disclosing or discussing matters of this nature, even to someone like you who is already aware of it."
"Furthermore, the reason the special medicine is so tightly controlled isn’t just its rarity, but also its unique nature. It doesn’t just affect a person mentally; sometimes, even the verbal transmission of information about it can lead to unspeakable consequences."
A chill went through Chen Chuan. "Verbal transmission?"
"Yes," said Cao Guiqi. "If you listen to someone else’s experiences and form concepts and preconceived notions in your mind, something that might have been fine can become anomalous simply because you have that prior knowledge."
"I can’t tell you what will happen when you take the medicine, either. The specific effects vary from person to person. Everyone’s degree of mutation, the coverage of their Mutated Organization, their physical constitution, their mental state, and even their emotions are different, so the effects will be different for everyone."
"Your body is sustained by matter, like a solid shell that firmly encases your spirit. But after you achieved the Third Limit, a crack opened upon that shell, creating a certain potential."
"But this alone is not enough to propel you upward. The special medicine works by spiritually pulling you closer to that other world, spontaneously weakening this shell."
"During this process, the drug’s efficacy will be fully utilized, and your own limits will be raised as a result."
"However, at the same time, you will inevitably be infected and eroded by certain things from the other side. You must hold fast to your sense of self and not let them sway you."
"But that’s not the end of it. Every time you take the medicine, that corrupting influence will leave a deposit in your body. So, after each dose, you must find a way to expel the residual toxins."
"This is where your Essence Blood and Divine Constant come in. The more resilient and abundant they are, the more you’ll be able to resist these things. That’s why your foundation must be exceptionally solid. It’s best to leave an interval between each dose—not just to expel the residual toxins, but also to wait until your condition is back to its peak before trying again..."
Chen Chuan committed all the warnings and key points to memory. After thanking Cao Guiqi sincerely, he ended the call and began to focus all his efforts on adjusting his condition.
Another five days passed. He could feel that the growth of his Mutated Organization had almost come to a complete halt. Knowing the time was right, he prepared to take the medicine for the first time.
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