The entire stone chamber seemed to be under the influence of some unseen force. The temperature began to rise slowly.

Bai Lingba suddenly turned his head. "What are you doing?"

He Yi Ming started with a jolt, only then realizing his distraction. His face flushed slightly as he quickly said, "I apologize, that was my oversight. Please forgive me."

At this moment, a reddish glow emanated from his body. The culprit behind the rising temperature in the room was not Yuan Li Xun, who had been injected with the gene fluid, but He Yi Ming himself, who, due to his anxiety and unease, was involuntarily speeding up the circulation of his internal true qi and subconsciously employing the Innate Blazing Fire Art (Xiantian Liehuo Gong).

It was under the influence of this innate true qi that the temperature of the entire stone chamber suddenly surged.

Fortunately, Bai Lingba had noticed it early. Had there been a delay, it might have genuinely affected Yuan Li Xun.

Slowly dispersing his true qi, the temperature in the chamber finally stabilized and dropped. Although Yuan Li Xun’s body temperature was extremely high at this moment, she was not an Innate expert, unable to communicate with the energy of heaven and earth; naturally, she could not influence the room's temperature.

A few moments later, Yuan Li Xun's body went slack, and she collapsed unconsciously.

However, before she could hit the floor, He Yi Ming was already by her side, reaching out to cradle her waist.

Then, He Yi Ming looked up at Bai Lingba and said in a deep voice, "She has lost consciousness. What now?"

Bai Lingba spread his hands. "There's nothing to be done. Once her body's genes have accepted the modification from the gene fluid, she will wake up automatically."

He Yi Ming's mind stirred. "What if she doesn't accept it?"

"That's impossible." Bai Lingba was supremely confident. "There is only a difference in the duration of acceptance; rejection is impossible." He paused, slightly hardening his tone for the first time. "Before reaching the perfect gene state, no gene can resist the alteration brought by the gene fluid."

He Yi Ming's eyes flickered as he understood the implication of those words.

This gene fluid was probably akin to what an Innate realm master possessed, while Yuan Li Xun’s original constitution was that of a Postnatal cultivator. In the presence of an Innate expert, a Postnatal cultivator truly stood no chance of resistance.

He withdrew his gaze from Yuan Li Xun and looked back toward the cavern deeper inside.

There were five more of those sapphire-blue glass vials. If used properly, five more Innate experts could be born.

Moreover, this was a treasure that allowed a direct leap to the Innate realm, completely skipping the process of cultivating to the peak of the Tenth Layer and then swallowing the Innate Golden Elixir (Xiantian Jindan). If news of this treasure leaked, it would surely cause a sensation across the entire world.

Carrying Yuan Li Xun, he returned to the original stone chamber and gently placed her on the room's only stone bed. He Yi Ming sat silently beside the bed, waiting.

Although Bai Lingba had repeatedly assured him there was no danger to her life, He Yi Ming could not be completely at ease. Only by watching Yuan Li Xun personally could he maintain his composure.

An hour passed, and He Yi Ming gradually calmed down. Although the heat from Yuan Li Xun’s body had not receded, it had stopped rising after reaching a certain peak, and the color of her complexion was slowly softening, indicating her body was adapting to the temperature.

According to Bai Lingba, her genes were beginning to accept the fluid’s modification, and her constitution was rapidly strengthening.

In He Yi Ming’s perception, Yuan Li Xun’s body was indeed undergoing subtle changes. Especially the power of "life" within her, which was growing exponentially, like sesame seeds blooming. Although it had not yet reached the standard for the Innate realm, it was undoubtedly moving firmly toward that direction step by step.

He Yi Ming murmured in amazement. He gained greater confidence in this secret medicine called gene fluid, and suddenly a strong, greedy desire to possess it surged in his heart.

Of course, He Yi Ming quickly suppressed this thought. It wasn't because he was some noble, upright gentleman, but because the guardian of those secret medicines was the unfathomable Bai Lingba standing before him.

Without absolute certainty, He Yi Ming did not wish to offend this humanoid weapon who had lived for at least a thousand years.

No matter how great the effects of those secret medicines were, the risk was not worth taking.

He glanced sideways. Bai Lingba sat expressionlessly in a corner of the stone chamber, silent and still. Even when He Yi Ming focused his gaze on him, Bai Lingba showed no reaction.

He Yi Ming suddenly noticed something very interesting: since the moment he met Bai Lingba, his eyelids had never once blinked. It was precisely because of this that He Yi Ming had initially been utterly convinced he was merely a lifelike statue.

Suddenly, He Yi Ming’s mind moved. "Brother Bai, can you manufacture more of your gene fluid?"

"I can."

He Yi Ming was instantly overjoyed, his eyes shining brilliantly. If this gene fluid could truly be manufactured in large quantities, wouldn't he really be able to mass-produce Innate experts?

Yuan Li Xun required the simultaneous administration of the Innate Golden Elixir because of her comparatively weaker aptitude, but the brothers and sisters in the He Family Village certainly wouldn't have this issue. At least the achievements of the Eldest Brother, Second Brother, and Third Brother could prove that.

Furthermore, within the Hengshan lineage, there were also plenty of outstanding disciples from whom to choose.

For a moment, a vision appeared in He Yi Ming's mind: countless Innate experts being born under his command—a force powerful enough to make anyone take notice. The He Family Village and the Hengshan lineage would then unite the world, for a thousand autumns and ten thousand generations...

A moment later, He Yi Ming drew a deep breath and shook his head. What was he thinking? Had his very core been lost due to the rapid increase in his strength?

He coughed lightly and said, "Brother Bai, I wish to exchange energy stones with you for the gene fluid. Is that possible?"

"Certainly. I have five remaining gene fluids here. As long as you give me five energy stones from your Spatial World, this fair trade can be concluded."

He Yi Ming shook his head slightly. "Brother Bai misunderstands. I can provide dozens of energy stones. I wonder if you could manufacture some more gene fluid?"

Bai Lingba’s eyes flickered with intense light, suggesting he was greatly tempted by He Yi Ming's proposal.

Although his outward appearance remained unchanged, He Yi Ming vaguely felt that this might be his expression of excitement.

However, a moment later, Bai Lingba said, "I apologize. In my country, this gene fluid can be mass-produced, but in this current environment, I do not have the capability to manufacture it."

He Yi Ming fell silent, undisguised disappointment in his eyes.

The idea of having the brothers, sisters, parents, uncles, and Grandpa Bao in the village all use the gene fluid shattered completely.

He shook his head slightly and turned his gaze back to Yuan Li Xun. However, he had already decided: as long as Yuan Li Xun could successfully advance to the Innate realm, he would exchange for the remaining five gene fluids. Even if five wasn't many, it was better than nothing.

※※※※

Neither of the two people in the room held any interest in speaking; time flowed silently by.

He Yi Ming, as a First Line Sky expert, naturally wouldn't feel hungry in such a short time, and the humanoid weapon next to him, having lived for a thousand years, likely didn't even know what hunger was.

Finally, after a full day, Yuan Li Xun's body temperature began to drop gradually.

At the same time, He Yi Ming sensed that the vitality within her body had reached its peak. While her aura might not be as strong as a Postnatal expert at the peak of the Tenth Layer of Inner Strength, the sheer vitality was far above masters of that level, perhaps not inferior even to the former Lu Xinwen.

Bai Lingba's cold voice broke the silence. "Administer your Golden Elixir to her. After catalysis by the gene fluid, she will surely ascend to the perfect gene state."

He Yi Ming immediately took out the jade bottle. Although the Ice-Attribute Innate Golden Elixir inside was crucial, it meant nothing compared to Yuan Li Xun's status in his heart.

Gently prying open her lips, he flicked his finger, and the Golden Elixir slipped into her mouth. He lightly stroked her throat, and the Elixir was successfully swallowed.

The Innate Golden Elixir was refined from the inner core of a five-hundred-year-old Innate Spirit Beast. Such beasts naturally possessed the ability to communicate with and absorb the energy of heaven and earth, and to exhale it. When their inner core became a Golden Elixir, this ability to communicate with heaven and earth transferred into the Elixir itself. Postnatal masters at the peak of the Tenth Layer of Inner Strength relied on this opportunity to advance to the Innate realm.

Now, as the Elixir entered Yuan Li Xun's body, it naturally began to unleash its mysterious properties.

A trace of icy cold power slowly radiated from her body. Her physical temperature gradually returned to normal, and the surface temperature began to fall, but once the Elixir’s effect took hold, her surface temperature plummeted. Moreover, she faintly reacted with some power in the surrounding space, causing the air around her to be affected, and the temperature began to drop lower.

Bai Lingba suddenly said, "You can transfer her to the cryogenic chamber. It will be extremely beneficial for her evolution."

He Yi Ming immediately thought of the special room where the gene fluid was stored; he now realized that room was called the cryogenic chamber.

Sensing the temperature slowly dropping around Yuan Li Xun, He Yi Ming picked her up without hesitation. "Lead the way."

Under Bai Lingba's guidance, they quickly arrived at the cryogenic chamber. Although the temperature inside was enough to make a normal person shiver and offer any price to leave, He Yi Ming and Bai Lingba were completely indifferent; this level of cold had no effect on them.

Since arriving in this room, Yuan Li Xun’s expression in her sleep seemed to have relaxed considerably.

In He Yi Ming’s perception, the surrounding cold air was gradually gathering around her, as if intending to completely envelop her.

Bai Lingba's eyes once again lit up with sun-like brilliance. These two beams scanned Yuan Li Xun from head to toe twice.

"A pity," a calm, flat voice issued from Bai Lingba’s mouth. Though he said 'a pity,' his tone held no trace of regret.

He Yi Ming paused slightly. Concerning Yuan Li Xun, he dared not be the least careless. "Brother Bai, what is a pity?"

"Both the gene fluid and your Innate Golden Elixir are excellent things, but your companion's original aptitude is too poor."

He Yi Ming's expression changed slightly. "She still cannot reach the Innate realm?"

"If the Innate realm you refer to is the one attained by the previous master of this cavern, then she will certainly reach it smoothly."

He Yi Ming felt a wave of relief. As long as she could reach the level of Lu Xinwen, that would be sufficient.

However, Bai Lingba did not notice his expression and continued, "If her original aptitude had been good enough, she could have advanced further. Now, the medicinal effects of the gene fluid and the Innate Golden Elixir can only be utilized by about half. Such an efficiency rate is indeed a pity."

He Yi Ming hesitated for a moment and asked, "Do you have a remedy?"

The light in Bai Lingba’s eyes flashed rapidly. Although He Yi Ming hadn't been with him long, he vaguely understood that this was Bai Lingba's unique mode of rapid thought processing.

A moment later, Bai Lingba said, "In my country, we have super-cold freezers. Transferring her there would allow the external cold to ensure the full efficacy of the medicine, but here, I cannot find such an extremely cold geographical environment."

He Yi Ming’s eyes suddenly brightened. "As long as the external environment can be made cold, that will suffice?"

"Not cold, but extremely cold."

"Extremely cold?" He Yi Ming asked urgently, "Is the colder the better?"

"Yes."

Without another word, He Yi Ming ripped off the silver ring on his chest and poured his powerful true qi into it without reservation. In almost the time it takes to draw a breath, it was filled with his true qi, and he successfully opened the Spatial World.

This time, Bai Lingba remained completely unmoved, showing no intention of trying to seize it. This also proved in another way that he truly had no desire to take possession of this precious Spatial World.

He Yi Ming struck with lightning speed and pulled out one of the small, dark-green vials.

As soon as this small vial was taken out, He Yi Ming released his grip on the silver ring. Having lost the infusion of powerful true qi, the Spatial World rippled like water once, then completely dissipated.

He Yi Ming held up the vial. "The cold energy within this is extremely strong. I wonder if it can substitute for the super-cold freezer you mentioned?"

Bai Lingba extended a hand and touched the dark-green vial. His movement paused, as if momentarily frozen by the chill emanating from the jade bottle. He Yi Ming’s face changed slightly. "Be careful."

But the next moment, Bai Lingba’s reaction astonished him. From his palm, a stream of white frost quickly spread, and in an instant, his entire body was enveloped in white frost. Yet, even so, he seemed completely unaffected, saying, "It can." With that, he stepped forward a few paces to Yuan Li Xun’s side, uncorked the bottle, and poured one drop of the liquid onto each of Yuan Li Xun's palms.

He Yi Ming’s expression immediately became solemn. He had a deep understanding of the chill contained within the dark-green vial. Let alone the liquid inside, even merely touching the bottle surface could freeze an ordinary Innate expert stiff. Even a First Line Sky expert like Sima Yin had to forcibly sever an arm to struggle free from such extreme cold. And this was only contact with the exterior of the jade bottle; if Sima Yin had touched the liquid directly, he likely wouldn't have even had the chance to cut off his limb and escape.

Yet now, Bai Lingba was pouring the liquid directly onto Yuan Li Xun's palms. Though it was only two drops, He Yi Ming’s heart became suspended once more.

Instantly, these two drops permeated into Yuan Li Xun’s palms as if her skin had become a water-absorbing cotton cloth, absorbing the two drops entirely without leaving a trace.

Then, a bone-chilling cold surged up from within her body like a great tide—a cold so intense that even He Yi Ming found it difficult to bear. Compared to this cold, the cold qi released by Mu Jintian or Zhuo Wanlian seemed like childish play, utterly incomparable.

Slowly, the cold surrounding Yuan Li Xun grew denser, until her body resembled a marble ice sculpture. However, what caused He Yi Ming great surprise was that the colder her body became, the more incomparably powerful the vitality within her seemed to grow. This level of vitality appeared to approach that of a First Line Sky expert infinitely closely. Of course, He Yi Ming didn't believe she could make an instant leap to the exaggerated level of a First Line Sky expert, but one thing was certain: her gains at this moment were immense, and the strength she possessed upon waking would likely far surpass that of ordinary Innate experts.

A few moments later, the ice layer on her skin began to slowly recede, but He Yi Ming knew this cold energy was not dissipating; rather, it was entering her body bit by bit. At this point, He Yi Ming felt a profound sense of incredulity. The human body was truly wondrous, capable of containing such intense cold. He suddenly thought of the 'evolution' Bai Lingba had mentioned. Was the cultivation path they followed this so-called path of evolution?

Several hours later, all the cold energy had been absorbed into Yuan Li Xun's body. Her surface temperature had completely returned to normal, just like an ordinary person, feeling neither scorching heat nor extreme cold.

Suddenly, her eyelashes quivered slightly, and beneath her tightly closed eyes, a pair of eyes slowly moved. This was the sign of impending awakening, and He Yi Ming’s eyes brightened in response.

Bai Lingba returned the bottle to He Yi Ming. "Success."

Following his words, Yuan Li Xun's eyes finally opened slowly...