Additional Abilities Brought by the Fetal Pearl

Da Huang was furious, Da Huang was seething with rage!

Once upon a time, he thought they were close friends who shared everything without secrets. But now? Things had changed. Everything had changed.

Lost in thought, a trace of resentment flickered in Da Huang's eyes.

It felt as if he had been abandoned.

"Senior Da Huang, what's wrong?" Gu Xian'er noticed his unusual demeanor and quickly asked.

"I want to be alone."

"Alone? Which brothel girl are you thinking of?"

"I..."

Da Huang gave Gu Xian'er a frustrated look. Was this really the image he had in her mind?

A brothel? Damn it, what brothel girl?!

"Miss Xian'er, do you really think I’m that obsessed with brothels?"

"Yes."

Gu Xian'er nodded earnestly. In her mind, Da Huang was nothing but a persistent patron of brothels.

Even though he couldn’t actually do anything, that didn’t stop him from being passionate about them.

Da Huang sighed helplessly and lay down, no longer speaking, his heart filled with melancholy.

The world misunderstood him too much—it was downright unfriendly!

Meanwhile, Medicine Destiny was staring intently at Yao Niming. Seeing Yao Niming’s condition improve steadily, Medicine Destiny grew increasingly excited.

After a while, Chen Chang'an finally withdrew his hand.

"My current abilities are limited. This is all I can do for now," Chen Chang'an said regretfully.

"It’s already more than enough."

"My body feels much better. In this state, I could easily live another hundred years."

"But..."

Yao Niming looked up at the sky. Though his body had been greatly restored, the impending divine retribution was something he couldn’t withstand.

Perhaps this was his fate, but Chen Chang'an’s methods had left him utterly astonished.

"Brother Chen, how did you do this?"

"This energy contains terrifying vitality, yet I’ve never encountered anything like it before," Yao Niming asked curiously.

If Yao Niming was curious, the others were even more so. What kind of technique was this? What kind of energy?

Chen Chang'an wasn't entirely sure himself. These abilities had manifested after he fused with the fetal beads.

His left hand possessed a vibrant, life-giving energy, while his right hand wielded an entirely different force—one of death.

Life in the left, death in the right.

Two opposing powers coexisted within one person.

Yet, Chen Chang'an still couldn't figure out why fusing with his brow center and heart hadn't granted him any special abilities.

Maybe they had, but he just hadn’t discovered them yet.

Chen Chang'an slowly extended his left hand, and a powerful surge of life energy radiated from it.

As the life energy spread, weeds sprouted from the soil at a visible pace.

The sight left everyone stunned.

This… this was nothing short of defying the heavens!

Though Chen Chang'an’s cultivation had started anew, his abilities far surpassed those of ordinary peak Great Emperor experts.

In their understanding, peak Great Emperors represented the pinnacle of combat prowess in the Tai Xuan Realm.

Yet, none had ever heard of a peak Great Emperor possessing such miraculous abilities.

Or perhaps they were simply ignorant?

"Just a minor trick, but it happens to help heal your injuries."

"Still, I haven’t fully mastered this energy yet. A complete recovery might take some time," Chen Chang'an said with a smile.

"Brother Chen, I appreciate your kindness, but while my injuries may heal, the divine retribution will arrive soon."

"I’m afraid I don’t have the time to wait," Yao Niming said bitterly.

Divine retribution?

Chen Chang'an glanced at the sky. He wondered if his body could withstand it.

"Don’t worry. It’s just divine retribution. I’ll give it a try."

Huh?

Yao Niming stiffened. Try? What did he mean?

Was Chen Chang'an planning to help him endure the divine retribution?

Was he insane?

"No!"

"Absolutely not!"

"Brother Chen, though your strength is extraordinary, divine retribution is no trivial matter."

"I’ve experienced it—I know how terrifying it is. And I can sense that this time, it’ll be even fiercer than when I broke through to the Great Emperor realm!"

"If anything were to happen to you, how could I rest in peace?"

Though reluctant to die, Yao Niming had long prepared himself for the end. He couldn’t let Chen Chang'an, his dearest friend, risk his life for a dying man.

If it came to that, Yao Niming would rather Chen Chang'an had never appeared at all. Otherwise, his conscience would never be at ease.

"Relax, I know what I’m doing. It’s settled," Chen Chang'an replied with a faint smile, utterly unfazed by the divine retribution.

In fact, he was somewhat eager to see whether the divine retribution or his physical body would prove stronger.

Seeing Chen Chang'an’s determination, Yao Niming knew he couldn’t stop him.

Amid his helplessness, he felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. In his long life, he had met many people, but only one could truly be called a friend—a brother—and that was the man before him.

"Pill Emperor, may we stay a few more days?"

"Yes, perhaps we can be of some help."

"The divine retribution is coming—we’d like to witness just how powerful it is."

The other alchemists also wished to stay, partly to offer assistance and partly to see whether Chen Chang'an truly possessed the heaven-defying power to withstand divine retribution.

"As I’ve said before, you’re all welcome to stay."

"In fact, over the years, I’ve compiled my insights into alchemy. Feel free to study them."

The Pill Emperor’s alchemical insights? Open for all to see?

To these alchemists, it was like stumbling upon a priceless treasure.

"Senior, may I as well?"

Yun Xiao, who had earlier refused Yao Niming’s offer to become his disciple, now felt somewhat embarrassed. Not becoming a disciple yet wanting to study his notes—it didn’t sit right.

But Yao Niming didn’t mind. He smiled and said, "You’re no different from the others. Go ahead."

"Don’t feel burdened. Declining to become my disciple was your choice—I won’t force it."

"Thank you, Pill Emperor."

"Medicine Destiny, take everyone to rest."

"Yes, Master."

After Medicine Destiny led the others away, Yao Niming turned to Chen Chang'an.

"You can stay in my quarters. There’s enough space."

"What’s wrong with Senior Da Huang?"

"Why is he in such low spirits?"

Only now did Yao Niming notice Da Huang’s mood. Among everyone present, aside from Chen Chang'an, Yao Niming was the only one who knew Da Huang’s true form.

After all, when Yao Niming first encountered him in the Forbidden Forest, Da Huang was a qilin. Later, when he met Chen Chang'an again, Da Huang had already taken the form of a yellow dog.

"Senior, Da Huang here wants to go..."

"Ahem, it's nothing. I just couldn't bear seeing you like this, yes, couldn't bear it."

Though shameless, Da Huang didn't want to embarrass himself in front of Yao Niming.

Wouldn't the glorious image he'd carefully cultivated all these years go down the drain?

Yao Niming knew Da Huang well enough not to believe his words, but chose not to press further.

"Brother Chen, who are these two?"

"Gu Xian'er, my maidservant, and this is Kuang Zhongtang, a friend."

A friend?

Someone who could befriend Chen Chang'an must be no ordinary person.

"Kuang Zhongtang, is it?"

"Since you're Brother Chen's friend, you must be a man of true character. From now on, you're also Yao Niming's friend."

At these words, Kuang Zhongtang nearly choked on his own spit.

Just like that, he became friends with the Undying Pill Emperor? Who would believe this if he told them?

"True character? Oh, he's got character alright. If you don't leash him, he might go around biting people," Da Huang teased with a laugh.

"Oh? Why's that?"

"Ahem, well, to be honest Pill Emperor, my only hobby is fighting. That's all I enjoy."

Oh?

Fighting enthusiast?

Everyone has their own way of living, and Yao Niming understood this perfectly.

"Come, let's all go to my place then."

"Agreed."

Yao Niming led the group to his residence. In the following days, he did nothing but drink and chat with Chen Chang'an and the others, thoroughly enjoying their company.

"It's been too long since I've lived like this."

"Truly wonderful."

"Perhaps I should have changed my lifestyle earlier... what a pity."