Chapter 938: Zhu's Evolution
The draconian sage turned again to the coffin brimming with world's energy. He swallowed a gulp of saliva and sidled up to Zhang Lie.
"Zhang Lie, would you be willing to share some of this energy with me? Just a fraction—a tenth, no, a twentieth would be sufficient!"
Zhang Lie smiled. "Of course. We're allies, aren't we? You've taken care of the humans for so long, Sage—it would be my pleasure to share it with you. It would even be fair to give you all this energy, but I do need it for some of my plans, so I can't share too much. Will a quarter of what's here suffice?"
Many of Zhang Lie's plans had been facilitated by the draconian sage—the construction of the disaster-grade farm, the Yeluo research laboratory, among others.
Furthermore, the draconian sage had been instrumental in helping him collect disaster gene fragments. Considering all these factors, Zhang Lie was more than happy to hand this world's energy to the sage.
The draconian sage, who would have been happy just to receive a twentieth of the world's energy present in the coffin, a rare and precious resource within the third realm,
suddenly found himself with a windfall—the equivalent of the total energy a peak large world would possess. The draconian sage's eyes lit up in shock and excitement. "Haha, you truly are a friend of the draconians!"
Zhang Lie turned to Zhu. "Zhu, you snuck into the third realm without receiving the blessing of the realm. This world's energy will be able to shore up your foundations—take a portion for yourself, and feed the rest to the disaster-grade lifeforms."
The draconian sage looked toward Zhu enviously.
Zhu didn't realize how precious the world's energy was, and she was happy to accept a gift from Zhang Lie. "Thank you, Zhang Lie."
.
The draconian sage retrieved a quarter of the world's energy and had the will of the draconian world absorb it. The moment it did so, the world suddenly seemed more vibrant. The world itself was rejuvenated; the lifeforms of the world could feel themselves growing more comfortable, although they didn't know the reason as to why.
Zhu dipped a hand into the coffin and looked at the rainbow-colored energy cupped in her palm, as beautiful as any jewel. As she did so, strands of energy were absorbed into her body.
Zhu, who had dropped to the level of a peak-grade lifeform after stowing away into the third realm, was infused with the world's energy. The restrictions placed on her growth loosened, and dark clouds suddenly appeared in the sky.
Zhu hadn't received the second realm's blessing because of her unorthodox route into the third. Perhaps because the will of the third realm had noticed the intruder, or perhaps because Zhu had simply reached the requisite threshold of power to spawn a trial, a huge bolt of lightning struck from the heavens. Zhang Lie hurriedly replaced the lid of the coffin and stored the coffin away, just in case the world's energy was sucked up by the lightning.
He didn't intend to shield Zhu from the trial, which was part of the natural process of her ascension. Of course, if Zhu were struggling to survive it, he would step it then.
Zhu soaked in the lightning, her genes being activated under its pressure. The world's energy that she had absorbed elevated her status as a lifeform and strengthened her body.
Once Zhu's body charred under the lightning, Zhang Lie made his move. Allowing Zhu to remain within the bolt of lightning further would only injure her. He struck out with his palm, dissipating the thundercloud above her.
As though its authority were being challenged, the thundercloud seemed to grow darker. A scorching white bolt of lightning exploded from the cloud and struck at him, but Zhang Lie didn't mind. He retaliated with a punch of his own.
"[Fists of the Silent Sea: Soar]!"
A huge wave soared into the air. As Zhang Lie punched forward, the fish slammed its huge tail on the ground and sent a torrent of water surging toward the sky.
The pale-blue genetic energy rippled through the air with unceasing momentum. Like an enraged black dragon, it struck the lightning and shattered it.
The lightning seeped through the air, infusing it with a static charge that made the onlookers' hair rise. Zhu was pulled into an extradimensional space infused with energy and subsequently sent back to the third realm, where she looked to have aged a few years in a matter of minutes.
Her teenage exterior had matured into that of a young woman. Her eyes were dazzling, as though they mirrored the very galaxy itself.
Zhang Lie and the draconian sage were both able to defend against her charm, but anyone else who saw her would be struck dumb.
Her wavy hair unfurled in an invisible wind as her status as a lifeform shot up two straight levels into disaster-grade. The restrictions imposed on her as a stowaway had vanished, and she was free to grow stronger again.
Zhang Lie nodded with satisfaction. "Very good."
When Gold Comet was still Red Comet, it had absorbed a bit of the world's energy, which had elevated its abilities and attributes. Zhang Lie wanted to see if it would have any impact on Zhu and the other stowaways—and the experiment was clearly a complete success.
Zhu hadn't understood what the world's energy was before, but after sensing the benefits that she had received from it, she understood just how precious it was—a miraculous substance that could unlock her future growth.
She beamed at Zhang Lie in thanks.
Zhang Lie instructed, "Split the remaining world's energy among the disaster-grade lifeforms."
The effect of the world's energy on these lifeforms was equivalent to that on Gold Comet. After absorbing the energy, they all began to evolve.
Zhang Lie left Zhu to tend to the lifeforms as he returned to the city, teleported back to Earth, and told Hong Tianqi that he had found his stash of map fragments. Almost as an aside, he asked about the situation on Mars.
In general, Hong Tianqi wasn't someone that could be contacted at any time. As the highest authority of the world federation, his schedule had to be unbelievably packed—but Zhang Lie's call immediately connected.
Hong Tianqi asked, "Is something the matter?"
"Aren't you supposed to be inordinately busy? How did you have time in your schedule for little old me?"
Hong Tianqi chuckled dryly. "Little old you? What an understatement."
Hong Tianqi had responded so quickly not because he was free, but because Zhang Lie was one of the highest-priority people he would do his best to clear time in his schedule for, unless there really were a time-sensitive task at hand that he needed to accomplish at that very moment.
"I've found the map fragments—thank you."
"Ah, those fragments? Good to hear it. Earth has a few too, and I'll send them to you via Chen Fan."
"How's the situation on Mars now?"
"Thanks to the help of the Zenith Dojo, everything seems to be going back to normal. The last of the bugs should be cleared away in no time."
"Good, good. In that case, I'll hang up now."
"Hold on!" Hong Tianqi shouted. "I have a question for you."
"What is it?"
"What's up with this Potion #3? Why have I never heard of it before?"
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