Chapter 1804: Competing?
Li Bing cackled, her gaze sweeping over Xia Yao incessantly!
"Of course, although your Blood Incineration isn't the same type as Xiaonan's, didn't you snag half a Howling Moon Wolf King's head a while back?"
"I managed to get some Wolf King blood from it, which can enhance your Blood Incineration • Wolf King!"
"Oh right, you can also tag along for the super-muscle cell modification—it's pretty beneficial!"
Xia Yao was so excited her fur stood on end. There was something for her too?
For the sake of getting stronger, she could endure any hardship!
Jiangnan was taken aback: (•︠～•︡)"What super-muscle cell modification?"
The group arrived deep in the lab, where a bizarrely shaped machine sat.
Countless pipes connected to it, and in the middle was a transparent culture tank filled with deep red liquid.
Li Bing licked her lips and pointed at the tank:
(๑͡°ٹ͡°)☛"This is it. I studied Wu Liang's body and discovered the freakish nature of the Parasitic Species!"
"His entire body is made of super-muscle cells. Although the cells are singular, they can perform multiple functions!"
"Extreme splitting ability, recovery, compatibility—cell activity is terrifying!"
"Compared to Mila's immortal cells, it's trash. But if we can evolve all the muscle cells in your body into super-muscle cells…"
With that, a flush crept onto Li Bing's face.
(งᵒ̌◡ᵒ̌)ง"Your body's toughness will rise another level. Recovery, stamina, endurance, explosive power, and muscle strength will skyrocket geometrically!"
"You'll also have higher tolerance for the overload of Blood Incineration!"
Jiangnan was thrilled: "Can I really use it? Can I become something like Wu Liang too?"
Zhong Yingxue's eyelids twitched:
(⌒﹏⌒;)"It… it's better not, right?"
Just imagining Jiangnan's body covered in red muscles made Zhong Yingxue uneasy.
Wu Liang: (̿▀̿ᯅ▀̿̿)̄
Sister Xue, aren't you being rude?
Li Bing shook her head: "He can't become that. Strictly speaking, Wu Liang is no longer human. He completed fusion with the Parasitic Species under extremely special circumstances."
"It's a unique case. He had incredible luck, wasn't devoured by the Parasitic Species, and achieved perfect fusion, which lets him use some Parasitic Species skills."
"Such an accident can't be replicated. We're just borrowing the super-muscle cells from the Parasitic Species. Of course, if you want to try, you can—if you're not afraid of turning into a muscle freak."
Jiangnan shuddered violently.
(´-﹏-`；)"Then forget it!"
Wu Liang's situation was an accident caused by Lucky Little Cherry. If he messed around, he'd definitely become a muscle freak!
Wu Liang's face darkened. So he didn't even count as a person anymore?
Li Bing patted her chest:
(◕ˇ◡ˇ◕)"Trust your sister, it's the right call. Only this way can you withstand the power of the new Blood Incineration."
"Otherwise, as soon as it's injected, your little body might burn up!"
Jiangnan's eyes bulged:
Σ(っ°口°;)っ"What? The new… new cheat is that fierce?"
So they had to use super-muscle cells to give him a massive enhancement first, and only then would he be qualified to use the new Blood Incineration reagent?
Push the enhanced super-muscle Jiangnan to the limit?
Just how insane was this!
His current body toughness was already comparable to an ordinary Dao Heaven, and that still wasn't enough?
Li Bing: (๑･᷄◡･᷅)"Who told you to bring back so much Yangque blood? If we're doing it, we're doing it until you can't take it!"
"Hope you survive long enough to reach the next step—modifying the Blood-Drinking Vine Armament."
Jiangnan suddenly remembered the painful experience from the last Blood Incineration upgrade. His heart trembled, but his expression gradually hardened.
"Do it! This dozen tons of meat is yours to handle!"
Li Bing grinned slyly: "I like how decisive you are, Southern Man. Strip now."
"Go, go, go. The upcoming scene is too brutal. I'm afraid you guys will feel bad watching. All of you, wait outside."
With that, she shooed Zhong Yingxue and the others out. Zhong Yingxue looked back every few steps, her face serious:
(๑･᷅～･᷄)و"Go for it, Xiaonan!"
Jiangnan immediately gave an OK gesture. The Source Quality Battle Armor on his body retracted into his bracelet, and in an instant he was completely bare.
Zhong Yingxue's eyes went wide, her pretty face flushing crimson:
(⑉Ծ﹏Ծ⑉)"Pfft! Have some shame!"
In no time, everyone was chased out. Lang Mie greedily took two glances, satisfying her eyes, then turned to leave.
But Li Bing grabbed her:
(。ớ₃ờ)ھ"You're going out? Didn't I say I'd upgrade you too?"
Xia Yao was stunned: ᕦ(•︠口•︡)"Huh? I… I'm staying? Together with Xiaonan?"
Li Bing spread her hands: ʅ(･´‸･｀)ʃ"Of course! You think I'd do it in two batches? Yours is easy—just tagging along with Jiangnan is enough."
"Later, after we stick on the electrode patches, you'll soak in the culture tank with him."
Hearing this, Xia Yao was ecstatic. She zipped over to Jiangnan, threw an arm around his shoulder, and winked repeatedly:
(๑◔.̫◔ิ๑)"Hear that? We're doing it together!"
With that, her Source Quality Battle Armor retracted—now that was decisive.
Jiangnan's eyes bulged like copper bells. A stream of nose blood shot out, and he felt dizzy.
What a fierce Lang Mie!
(⑉⚆ཀ⚆)(❛ั.̫❛ั∗)✧*.
He quickly raised his hand: ฅ(°口°๑)"Sister Bing, I request separate modifications! Men and women should maintain propriety!"
What if, during the modification, he couldn't resist temptation and something uncontrollable happened? How embarrassing would that be?
Li Bing carried a stack of electrode patches over, rolling her eyes in annoyance.
(꒪ัд꒪ั*)"You two? Forget it. Maintain propriety? Pfft! Who knows how much you've already kissed in private? Still pretending to be proper?"
Xia Yao giggled, poking Jiangnan's ribs with her elbow:
(˵ಡ₃ಡ)"Exactly, exactly! Still pretending to be proper!"
Jiangnan covered his face: (ﾉ)﹏(ヾ)"But… but I'll get shy!"
Xia Yao folded her arms: (≖ᴗ≖๑)"Oh? Last time we bathed together, I didn't see you shy."
Jiangnan was baffled: (•︠ˍ•︡)"Last time? When did that happen? I don't remember!"
Xia Yao casually stuck electrode patches on herself: "That time you collapsed from exhaustion defending Jiangcheng, covered in blood. Xuexue and I cleaned you up."
"Otherwise, how do you think you got clean?"
Jiangnan's eyes bulged. He raised his hand and *smack*—slapped himself hard across the face, looking utterly disgusted with himself.
Σ(ﾉ)･᷅益･᷄)"Pfft! I'm really a piece of work. How could I faint at such an important moment?"
Xia Yao was startled by the slap. How ruthless could you be?
(⇀‸↼‶)"There'll be plenty more opportunities. Look at how little ambition you have!"
Hearing that, Jiangnan began to look forward to the future again.
After both were covered in electrode patches, they were tossed into the culture tank to soak.
Jiangnan pulled out two bottles of Large Green Stick, about to clink with Xia Yao.
Li Bing's expression turned serious: "I advise you not to numb the pain. Pain is the most direct way for humans to feel their limits."
"Once you can't feel pain, you won't see the line between life and death. Cross it, and you'll die."
Jiangnan paused, then obediently put them away. Fine, he wouldn't drink.
"Get ready. Let's begin. I'll perform the super-muscle cell modification on you both."
With that, she extended over a dozen vines and began the operation.
The vines' single eyes opened, constantly X-raying their bodies.
Over a dozen mechanical arms extended, steel needles spinning as they stabbed deep into Jiangnan and Xia Yao's spines and major muscles.
The next instant, Xia Yao's eyes flew wide. She felt as if every cell in her body was being pierced and crushed.
A fiery burning sensation flooded her entire body. The extreme pain nearly shattered her will.
She had no mood left for jokes. Tears streamed uncontrollably.
Every muscle trembled and spasmed.
She almost wanted to give up immediately.
She turned to look at Jiangnan.
He said nothing, his steel teeth clenched, jaw muscles taut, veins bulging on his forehead, eyes bloodshot.
But deep in his eyes was nothing but determination.
If he could become stronger, face the Holy Star, and protect those he cared about without feeling powerless, Jiangnan would endure any pain.
Xia Yao watched him. He was suffering no less than she was.
She bit her lower lip hard. She absolutely would not fall behind Xiaonan. Never.
No matter where the future took them—across the seas, among the stars—she would walk every step with him.
She absolutely would not fall behind. Lang Mie could endure any hardship!
The burning, agonizing pain continued to intensify. Both of them were already beginning to cramp uncontrollably.
Their muscle cells were transforming into super-muscle cells.
Li Bing kept increasing the dosage. Watching the two struggling in the tank, yet still gazing at each other, the corners of her mouth lifted into a smile.
(๑ºั╰╯ºั๑)
It wasn't because she was too lazy to do it separately that she stuffed them into the same tank for a joint modification.
Companions weren't just for company—they also motivated each other.
If they had gone solo, neither might have endured this pain for long.
"Ahem~ The longer you endure, the more thorough the evolution of your super-muscle cells!"
Jiangnan glared at Xia Yao, veins popping.
(ꐦ⚆_⚆ꐦ)
Damn it! I can't bear this pain? Especially in front of Lang Mie—I can't lose face!
I want to keep a straight face, look cool, and make her admire me!
Inner voice: "Wow~ Xiaonan doesn't even frown under this kind of pain? So handsome, so manly~"
That was the feeling he was going for!
Xia Yao peeked at Jiangnan, biting her teeth hard.
(ᵒ̴̶̷皿ᵒ̴̶̷ꐦ)
Goodness! This hurts so much and he's still expressionless? Did Xiaonan use a Space Wormhole to sneak a drink of Large Green Stick?
Ahhh~ It hurts like hell, Lang Mie!
If she gave up now, Xiaonan would definitely mock her to death, using it to dig at her for half a year!
I'd rather die than get out! I'll endure!
The two glared at each other in the tank, clearly competing.