As if receiving a signal, the door immediately began to open slowly. The moment it swung inward, He Yiming’s brow involuntarily furrowed, for he felt a biting chill rush out to meet him.
Though this coldness wasn't yet severe enough to freeze a person stiff, the presence of such an utterly unexpected chill in this environment left him utterly perplexed.
His ears twitched slightly, and He Yiming grew even more surprised; there was no sound of breathing or heartbeats from within. This suggested that the cold was not emanating from an innate expert in the Cold element, like Mu Jin Tian.
But it was precisely this lack of typical source that made He Yiming suspicious.
As Hundred-and-Eight stepped into the chamber, He Yiming’s gaze swept the surroundings and was immediately captivated by the strange scene within.
This was a room saturated with profound cold. He Yiming’s eyes darted around and instantly pinpointed the origin of the chill.
In the four corners of the room, tendrils of frigid gas were continuously pouring in, the source of which had transformed the entire chamber into a massive freezer unit.
Hundred-and-Eight walked confidently to the exact center of the room, where a uniquely designed chest rested. He Yiming’s gaze settled on it. He was certain it was a leather trunk, but beneath the surface of the hide, it gave off a sensation of exceptional hardness.
He immediately understood that this leather trunk was no ordinary item.
Sure enough, the moment Hundred-and-Eight opened the trunk, an even colder wave of freezing air billowed out from inside.
He Yiming’s eyes widened instantly; he clearly saw that the internal structure of the box was exceedingly peculiar.
Inside the trunk were eight deep cavities. Two of them were already empty, but the remaining six cavities each held a circular, transparent glass tube. Within these tubes swirled a pale blue **.
As He Yiming focused his sight on the ** within, he was abruptly struck by a powerful sense of 'living' energy.
His body jolted, and he exclaimed, “Innate Golden Core?”
Hundred-and-Eight reached in, withdrew one glass tube, and then methodically closed the trunk. He looked up and stated, “Innate Golden Core is your terminology. Moreover, your kind of elixir differs significantly from our gene fluid.”
He Yiming managed to suppress the shock and excitement surging within him. He had just sensed that unique vitality of the Innate Golden Core emanating from that blue **. In fact, subjectively, the vitality within seemed to be on a higher tier than the Innate Golden Core.
He had previously been half-skeptical of Hundred-and-Eight’s claims. Transforming billions of people into innate experts—that required staggering power and an enormous territory to house such a population.
But upon witnessing this bizarre object, He Yiming finally began to believe.
Hundred-and-Eight could falsify many things, even lies that were impossible to detect. However, the 'vitality' within this ** was absolutely impossible to fake.
“Brother Bai, if my companion takes this, can she advance to the Innate realm?”
“Yes, but before she uses it, I must conduct a physical examination, draw blood for analysis, and fine-tune the gene fluid,” Hundred-and-Eight stated calmly. “Only then can we achieve truly perfect genes.”
He Yiming pondered for a moment. “After my companion uses this, what level can she reach?”
Hundred-and-Eight replied readily, “Similar to the previous owner of this cavern.” He raised the glass tube in his hand, which glowed with a beautiful azure light. “The function of the gene fluid is merely to elevate human genes to their perfect state. However, even beyond perfection, the path of human evolution has immense scope for further development. Where one ultimately treads depends on individual effort.”
He Yiming tilted his gaze upward. “Brother Bai, may I use this gene fluid?”
Hundred-and-Eight shook his head without hesitation. “Your genes have already reached or even surpassed the perfect state. Even if you used the gene fluid, it would have no effect.”
He Yiming nodded slowly; he now understood. This substance only affected cultivators below the Innate realm. If one had already reached the Innate stage, using it would be a pure waste.
He let out a slight sigh, casting a look of regret toward the trunk.
“Brother Bai, how much of your gene fluid remains?”
“This is all that remains of my supply,” Hundred-and-Eight explained as if justifying himself. “When I first arrived here, I only possessed eight units of gene fluid. I gave two to the first owner of this cavern, and with the one used today, only five remain.”
He Yiming asked urgently, “What did the first owner of the cavern want these for?”
“I don’t know,” Hundred-and-Eight replied nonchalantly. “Perhaps for research, or perhaps to use on his kin.”
He Yiming fell silent and followed him back out. During the walk, He Yiming had completely memorized the route. If he had to return without Hundred-and-Eight next time, he was determined not to lose his way.
Of course, he was immensely wary of the strange door here, and the entire atmosphere felt inherently bizarre; he had the distinct sensation that a pair of eyes was constantly fixed upon him.
Yet, no matter how He Yiming searched the surroundings, he could find no trace of the owner of those eyes.
This led He Yiming to suspect that in this strange place, there might be another peculiar individual residing, similar to Hundred-and-Eight.
The two emerged from the bizarre, cavernous chamber, and only upon returning to the empty great hall did He Yiming finally feel some measure of relief.
Hundred-and-Eight stopped walking. “You may call your companion out now.”
He Yiming’s gaze flickered towards the azure bottle in the other’s hand. Though he kept saying he wanted Yuan Lixun to break through to the Innate realm—and according to Hundred-and-Eight, using this strange ** would save her at least ten years of cultivation time—the idea was unprecedented, never recorded in any literature. Now, facing the reality, even He Yiming felt a flicker of hesitation.
Hundred-and-Eight did not press the issue, waiting quietly. Having waited a millennium, he certainly wouldn't mind a little more time.
After a long period of contemplation, He Yiming looked at himself and finally made a decision.
Since he himself had encountered an extraordinary fortune at the bottom of a lake in this world, it was perhaps acceptable to try and embrace events he could not yet understand.
He looked up and called out loudly, “Lixun, come out.”
Yuan Lixun had been waiting anxiously inside. Initially, she could still hear two sounds of impact, not terribly strong. But after a short while, the external sounds ceased almost entirely. Though she could vaguely catch snippets of conversation, she would never venture out to cause trouble without being summoned by He Yiming.
Then, moments later, even the sound of conversation vanished, leaving the entire passage eerily silent.
She felt as if she had been plunged into a vast, empty void, and her worry was impossible to articulate.
Just as her anxiety peaked, He Yiming’s voice finally broke the silence—a sound like divine music to her ears, filling her with genuine, unexpected joy.
She hurried out of the passage and paused in surprise.
He Yiming stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the person who had initially intercepted them, and they appeared to have no lingering animosity between them.
If it weren't for the overpowering sense of cold arrogance she felt from the other person, she might have assumed the two were close friends who got along splendidly.
He Yiming coughed softly and moved to Yuan Lixun’s side, recounting his entire experience—entering the passage, meeting Hundred-and-Eight, sparring with him, and their subsequent conversation—omitting nothing.
Yuan Lixun’s beautiful eyes widened, eventually stretching into perfect circles.
He Yiming was unsurprised; anyone hearing such news suddenly would likely have an even more exaggerated expression than Yuan Lixun.
After a long moment, Yuan Lixun seemed to have processed the shocking revelations.
Her eyes sparkled brightly. “Young Master, are you saying I too can advance to the Innate realm?”
He Yiming was slightly taken aback, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes. After all his explanations, all Yuan Lixun focused on was whether she could advance to the Innate realm.
He let out a deep sigh and lowered his voice. “Lixun, everything Hundred-and-Eight said is unverified. No one can prove it, and I have never seen any description of this in any ancient text. Therefore…” His voice grew quieter, “…I have no confidence. None at all.”
Yuan Lixun understood the implication in his words. A strange light danced in her eyes—a light He Yiming could neither fathom nor interpret.
In that instant, He Yiming suddenly realized that Yuan Lixun no longer seemed to be just that delicate woman who relied on his embrace and protection.
It seemed she had matured in a flash, transforming into a woman capable of independence and standing on her own.
He opened his mouth slightly, but the words he intended to speak to this girl—both familiar and slightly alien—retreated back down his throat. He suddenly felt that the decision of whether or not to accept Hundred-and-Eight’s gene fluid should be made by Yuan Lixun herself.
If he voiced his opposition first, he feared Yuan Lixun, whether willing or not, would ultimately choose to obey him.
Yuan Lixun lowered her head, remaining silent for a long stretch. When she finally raised it again, the light in her eyes was utterly resolute.
Though He Yiming hadn't asked, he already understood Yuan Lixun's final decision.
“Young Master, I am willing to try.”
Her voice was gentle yet unyielding, imbued with a power that even He Yiming could not fully grasp.
He scratched his scalp, genuinely perplexed; Yuan Lixun’s temperament seemed to have undergone a massive shift in the last few moments. He vaguely felt that this transformation was somehow inextricably linked to him.
Looking into those eyes brimming with hope, He Yiming finally gave a slow nod.
He turned his head and called out clearly, “Brother Bai, this is my wife, Yuan Lixun. Before accepting your gene fluid, I need to know: is there any danger associated with using this substance?”
Hundred-and-Eight’s face remained expressionless. “Is there any danger when you consume an Innate Golden Core?”
He Yiming hesitated for a moment. “If Lixun were at this age, consuming an Innate Golden Core would, at worst, prevent her from advancing to the Innate realm; it would not cause mortal danger.”
Hundred-and-Eight looked up, and his eyes suddenly shone like the sun.
Two beams of light shot toward Yuan Lixun, sweeping over her back and forth several times before slowly receding.
Although Yuan Lixun had learned of this person’s origins from He Yiming, seeing him display such incredible supernatural ability still made her eyes widen, her expression approaching vacancy. However, in those eyes, there was not a trace of retreat; instead, her resolve seemed only to deepen.
“Her aptitude is somewhat weak. Even with the gene fluid, reaching perfection will be difficult,” Hundred-and-Eight retracted his sun-like gaze, uttering words that greatly disheartened both He Yiming and Yuan Lixun.
He Yiming snorted coldly. “Brother Bai, I don't care about her constitution. I only know that if she cannot advance to the Innate realm, you will not receive the energy stones.”
Faced with He Yiming’s threat, Hundred-and-Eight appeared completely unmoved, responding with characteristic calmness, “Extend your hand.”
Yuan Lixun unhesitatingly stretched out her right hand, placing it flat before her.
Her fair palm was not large, her fingers long and slender, like the tips of bamboo shoots emerging after the rain.
Though she was merely the daughter of a concubine, she came from a prominent family and had never performed heavy manual labor; at most, she cleaned her own room or cooked a simple meal for her younger brother—that was the extent of it. It was natural that she possessed hands coveted by ordinary women.
Hundred-and-Eight stepped forward and extended one of his hands as well.
Under the horrified gaze of He Yiming and Yuan Lixun, he curled four of his fingers inward. The single index finger remaining extended slowly stretched, its tip shimmering with a pure metallic luster, becoming thin and elongated.
Though the hairs on the back of He Yiming’s neck stood up, neither of them dared to move rashly.
The needle-like tip of Hundred-and-Eight’s finger gently pricked the skin of one of Yuan Lixun’s fingers, and a bead of blood immediately emerged.
Then, Hundred-and-Eight’s finger changed again; the needle tip split open a tiny aperture and sucked in that bead of blood.
His movement was steady, and the resulting wound was negligible. Once the droplet was absorbed, there was no trace of injury left.
Afterward, his hand returned to its normal shape, as if nothing had happened at all.
However, the way He Yiming and Yuan Lixun looked at him now, especially at his hand, which looked entirely ordinary, had distinctly changed.
A moment later, Hundred-and-Eight stated, “I have completely analyzed her genes. To elevate her to the level of perfect genes, in addition to the gene fluid, another item is required.”
“What is it?” He Yiming asked grimly.
“The Innate Golden Core you mentioned.”
He Yiming blinked, then offered a wry smile. “Brother Bai is joking. Where am I supposed to find you a Water or Metal-element Innate Golden Core right now?”
“You have one on your person,” Hundred-and-Eight stated flatly.
He Yiming gasped in surprise, flipping his wrist to produce a jade bottle. Inside rested the Innate Golden Core that appeared Water-elemental on the outside but was actually Ice-elemental.
“You mean this one?”
“Precisely. Using the gene fluid in conjunction with this item should give her an eighty percent chance or higher of reaching the perfect gene state.”
He Yiming was confused. “Brother Bai, I’m not reluctant to part with this Golden Core, but you must know this is not a Water-element core; it belongs to the Ice element.”
“Her constitution already leans toward ice and cold. Using this pill will be even more effective in perfecting her superior genes.” Hundred-and-Eight’s face remained utterly impassive—a fact that truly frustrated He Yiming, as he could discern nothing from the alien’s expression.
He Yiming fell silent for a moment, then turned to look at Yuan Lixun. Meeting his gaze, she nodded with unwavering determination.
Sighing helplessly, He Yiming stepped back. “Very well, I entrust everything to you, Brother Bai.” He suddenly bowed deeply. “If you can help my wife reach the Innate realm, He Yiming will be eternally grateful. I will certainly hand over the energy stones without fail, and I will not go back on my word.”
Hundred-and-Eight replied icily, “This is a transaction. You have no need to thank me.”
He Yiming’s expression momentarily stiffened, but he quickly remembered that this being was not human, making any expression of cold indifference entirely understandable.
Hundred-and-Eight picked up the azure glass bottle and struck one end against Yuan Lixun’s arm.
Though it was through her clothing, Yuan Lixun gasped but immediately stifled the sound, her fine brows knitting slightly as if in sharp pain.
He Yiming’s heart leaped, but then he saw the blue fluid inside the glass vial rapidly diminishing.
He realized then that the substance was not meant to be ingested but injected directly into the body.
This peculiar method of administration was something he had never seen or heard of before.
The blue fluid was not extensive, and soon it was entirely injected into Yuan Lixun’s system. Moments later, a flush spread across her face. Simultaneously, He Yiming clearly sensed that the temperature of her skin was rising sharply, as if she were about to become a furnace, threatening to burn everything away.
As the redness deepened on Yuan Lixun’s face and her body temperature soared, He Yiming’s anxiety mounted even higher.
His fists were clenched tight, and he watched Hundred-and-Eight without blinking. Even during his own breakthrough to the Innate realm, he had never felt such profound disquiet.
P.S.: No more filler moving forward. Also, April 1st, 15,000 words updated on the first day. I wonder how long Bai He can keep this up? Heh heh. Use Monthly Votes as motivation to encourage Bai He! How long Bai He can last depends on you all! Let’s see if the first day, the second day, how many days we can reach. Bai He begs for Monthly Votes...