paranoianovel Chapter 469 - 462: Life Atlas
Chapter 469 - 462: Life Atlas
"So you’re saying, you’re only one final step away from truly breaking through that last barrier?"
Zhou Yuanjue asked.
"Or, to be more precise, I could take that step whenever I wish."
Zhang Dongwei said.
"Oh?"
A look of confusion crossed Zhou Yuanjue’s face.
"Yes. In fact, the moment I was transformed into a Celestial Demon, my Spirit had already used the power of the Elixir of Immortality to cross that threshold. I just wasn’t aware of it at the time. I only realized it once I had a physical body again."
"But I don’t dare to actually cross that final barrier. This power doesn’t originate from me; it comes from the stimulation of the Celestial Demon’s power. If I were to break through, my will wouldn’t be able to contend with my body’s power. The Celestial Demon’s will would inevitably overwhelm my own consciousness, and I would no longer be myself."
"Moreover, the Celestial Demon Bloodline is highly resonant. The moment I ascend to King Level, I’ll immediately attract countless gazes. And right now, I’m not confident I can completely resist the restraint the Celestial Demon left within the Elixir of Immortality."
Zhang Dongwei said with a resigned shake of his head.
"But you hold the key to breaking through that barrier. Can you tell me about your experience?"p>
Zhou Yuanjue said, his eyes shining.
"My breakthrough wasn’t achieved through my own Power. All I know is that this kind of breakthrough is based on manipulating one’s genes to accelerate the body’s evolution. I don’t know anything beyond that."
"In fact, for a Celestial Demon, reaching King Level is less like evolution and more like ’atavism’."
Zhang Dongwei said.
"Atavism?"
This was the first time Zhou Yuanjue had ever heard of such a thing.
"I’ve devoted a great deal of my energy to the life sciences recently, which has given me a deeper understanding of this process."
"Humans have their own Life Atlas, and Celestial Demons have something similar. Furthermore, the source for the Life Atlas of every Celestial Demon on Earth can be traced back to those twelve individuals who transcend all reason."
"To a Celestial Demon, the Primordial Ancestors are the most perfect beings in existence. The ultimate goal of all their Cultivation and evolution is to continuously trace their own Atlas back to its source, to eventually become as powerful as a Primordial Ancestor."
"My Life Atlas originates from the Primordial Ancestor ’Ji,’ who is sealed in Kunlun Mountain. She is also the prototype for the Queen Mother of the West from mythology. That’s why my transformed features have the distinct characteristics of a leopard-like beast."
Zhang Dongwei said.
"Atavism... That’s truly a path of despair. They spend their entire lives, giving everything they have, just to become someone else. And it’s a goal that seems forever out of reach."
Zhou Yuanjue remarked with a sigh.
"Yes. From time immemorial, there have only ever been twelve Celestial Demon Ancestors. This is the greatest difference between their form of life and ours."
"Humans are different. We don’t have such a powerful ’source.’ Ours is true evolution, filled with infinite possibilities. The entire history of life’s evolution on Earth proves this point."
"However, infinite possibilities also mean extreme difficulty. For a Celestial Demon, once they reach this realm, they have a ready-made Life Atlas to guide their evolution. But for us, it’s different."
"We can only grope through the darkness, constantly trying, exploring, and pioneering to create something entirely new. Yet, a single misstep could plunge us into an abyss from which there is no return."
"Discovering a viable Life Atlas for human evolution is the most difficult part. Everything I’ve mastered actually originates from the innate blueprint hidden deep within the Celestial Demon Bloodline. So, as for how a human can truly break through to that realm, I have no idea."
Zhang Dongwei said with regret.
"A Life Atlas... That’s an interesting concept."
Hearing Zhang Dongwei’s explanation, a brilliant light shone in Zhou Yuanjue’s eyes. It was a look of longing for a future of near-infinite possibilities.
’A difficult path wasn’t frightening; what was frightening was having no path forward at all. As long as a path existed, he was certain he could walk it to the end.’
’Dela, from the Hunter’s Mark Organization, is probably at this step right now, isn’t he? I wonder if he can actually succeed.’
"My current level, and even the higher King Level, is the kind of existence you will have to face in the future. Now, use that near-perfect body of yours to experience this power firsthand."
Zhang Dongwei said with a smile.
SWOOSH!!
Before Zhou Yuanjue could reply, Zhang Dongwei’s body vanished from its spot.
Even with his immense willpower, he could no longer suppress the volatile stirrings of his Celestial Demon Bloodline.
The Celestial Demon Ancestor "Ji," known in ancient times as the "Golden Mother," presided over war and slaughter.
BOOM!!
A shockwave erupted from Zhang Dongwei’s body. His movement speed had broken the sound barrier!
In such a terrifying physical state, even Dela, who was once known as the "Overlord," would have been unable to withstand this horrifying attack.
This was a Power that transcended the limits of human genetics.
So, what about Zhou Yuanjue?!
BOOM!!
Zhou Yuanjue’s pupils contracted. Faced with that near-terrifying Power, he didn’t retreat in the slightest.
Forward step, horse stance, straight punch!
BOOM!!
Where their fists collided, a dazzling light flared into existence—a strange phenomenon caused by the air instantly igniting from the extreme heat of their friction!
A contest of pure Power, a violent collision of flesh, as furious gales swept out from the epicenter.
Zhang Dongwei’s pupils shrank abruptly. Under the force of his absolutely frenzied Power, Zhou Yuanjue hadn’t moved an inch. He was holding his ground as an equal!
’That body, still human, had actually withstood his non-human attack?!!’
Zhou Yuanjue’s eyes were filled with resolve and confidence.
’So what if his opponent was no longer human? To him, at this moment, what did it matter?!’
In a pure physical collision, he was indeed inferior to his opponent. But one shouldn’t forget that at this very moment, his body’s Recovery Ability was a level higher than before.
As long as his body could not be utterly destroyed, he had the Power to resist.
As both of their bodies trembled, Zhou Yuanjue retracted his fist. This time, his hand transformed into a Cunning Hand, shaped like a sharp beak.
Flame Beak, Star Fall!
SKREEEEE!!
Innumerable, piercing sonic booms accompanied a shroud of light that crashed down like falling stars, rushing densely toward Zhang Dongwei.
With his entire body converted into a magnetic field, stamina was finally no longer a liability.
At this very moment, he could finally cast aside all restraint and fight to his heart’s content.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
However, even when faced with this terrifying attack that could easily pierce a tank, Zhang Dongwei didn’t retreat in the slightest.
His body had already surpassed human limits. Why would he be afraid?
’Surpassing human limits, is it?’
’In that case, I’d like to try, too.’
A glint of light flashed in Zhou Yuanjue’s eyes.
Zhang Dongwei’s pupils shrank abruptly. He sensed the magnetic field within Zhou Yuanjue’s body suddenly detonate.
His internal organs, blood vessels—everything—began to operate on overload.
’This is some kind of technique, like a Forbidden Secret Skill!’
The dual perfection of his magnetic field and physical body not only allowed him to repair himself quickly, but it also gave his body’s magnetic field a regenerative ability similar to Chen Qingmu’s.
This allowed him, at this moment, to truly achieve a dual ascension!