Something was obviously not right. Li Weiyi wanted to stop, but his right foot sole seemed to turn into a volcano, uncontrollably spewing out scorching, molten energy like flowing lava.
At the same time, a silver trace vein began to grow on his right foot sole, much like a vine emerging from a seed that had just sprouted, guiding the energy flow as it spread upward. It ran along his calf, to his thigh, through his inner organs, up past his neck…
“Whoosh!”
In the instant that Li Weiyi opened his eyes, the silver trace vein and the surging energy converged there, causing his pupils to emit a faint silver light. Suddenly, his entire world became clear—the colors were richer, and every detail more precise.
Above his head, the rust marks and fingerprints on the iron cladding of the makeshift medical tent’s roof were distinctly visible, enough to deduce the order and process by which it had been constructed. In the air, countless specks of dust, nearly invisible, were carried along by the currents of his rapid breathing.
Outside the tent’s door, tendrils of eerie mist, like fine gauze of pale hues, filled every crevice and moved with the wind.
“What…what is happening?”
Li Weiyi was filled with bewilderment, his heart pounding like a drum. The world he saw now was completely different from before! His eyes, as if once shrouded by a blurred lens during the nineteen years of a dazed existence, now felt as though they had broken free from a confining barrier and murky swamp.
The silver radiance in his pupils gradually faded away, yet his eyes felt as though they had been entirely remolded, with vision far superior to what it had been before.
Looking at Professor Xu on the adjacent sickbed, Li Weiyi could even pick up on the subtle changes in the muscles, wrinkles, pores, and even the fine hairs on his face, sensing his inner emotions. After spending a long time to regain his calm, Li Weiyi began to seriously ponder.
“Could this be what Master meant by extraordinary matters?” he thought.
“Master said that my mortal body had long reached a critical point—because I was born at the wrong time, in the wrong era, I couldn’t advance further. Now that I’ve fallen into the microscopic world, with the environment changed, perhaps I’ve instantly broken through that critical point?”
Among the many guesses and thoughts forming in his mind, he felt that even though the changes inside his body were unknown, they surely were not a bad thing. So he began to explore them actively. He once again practiced the Jade Void Breathing Technique.
Along with that scorching energy bursting from the sole of his right foot, he consciously guided the energy flow toward his left arm, which had been badly injured by a bear-like creature.
“Whoosh!”
A second silver trace vein grew out, leading the scorching energy along an alternate route, extending to his left arm and up to his palm. As the angry energy passed over the wound, the burning pain it once caused immediately softened considerably.
Soon after, it turned into a tingling, slightly numb sensation—like the feeling of flesh growing over a healing wound. The injury was rapidly improving.
“This silver trace vein must be the pathway opened up first by the energy flow—thin as a hair and winding in its route, directing the energy through certain parts of the body. Wherever the energy passes, it nourishes and transforms the flesh and blood, the muscles and tendons, the inner organs… even the eyes. The whole body is undergoing metamorphosis.”
“Perhaps it won’t be long before the injury on my left arm heals fully under the nourished energy flow. Moreover, it will probably undergo some extraordinary, almost unbelievable transformation, just as the eyes did.”
Li Weiyi felt as though he had unlocked a mysterious door connecting heaven and earth; he was overjoyed and then completely immersed in exploring this extraordinary realm. …
“Haha, Weiyi, Weiyi…”
Zhao Meng hurried in, brimming with excitement as he rushed into the medical tent, his body covered in dust and grime. Fresh off completing his tasks, he had just heard that Li Weiyi had awakened, so he came over immediately.
For the moment, Li Weiyi ceased his exploration of the extraordinary changes, propping his body up and sitting against the bed frame. He no longer looked as weak as before; his entire being now was full of vigor and spirit. After he looked over Li Weiyi for a long while, Zhao Meng became even more delighted.
“Haha, this is unbelievable! You’re in an amazing state—your complexion is rosy, your eyes full of spirit. It seems like there’s not a single trace of any issue! Doctor Qi’s skills are truly impressive.”
“Doctor Qi’s techniques are indeed remarkable, but Doctor Cai’s fish soup has even greater medicinal effects.”
A light, airy voice came from the deepest part of the tent, from the sickbed there. It was the voice of the short fellow who loved telling mythic stories. He had wooden boards strapped around his neck and right arm, and his gaze was dazed as he stared at the tent ceiling.
His name was Gao Huan, one of Professor Xu’s students. However, at this moment, he was neither happy nor joyous. Although Cai Yutong feeding Li Weiyi the fish soup was enviable, the fact that his two classmates who came to deliver fish soup to Professor Xu had forgotten about him only compounded his misfortune.
Outside the medical tent, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed. Zhao Meng’s expression changed slightly as he quickly leaned over to whisper in Li Weiyi’s ear, “After you lost consciousness, some things happened. I hid the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish, along with the relic—the Shaoli—but if anyone asks later, be sure to act like you know nothing.”
Captain Gao Xin, Director Yang, Xie Tianshu, Xie Jin… In just a moment, a dozen people crowded into the medical tent, pressing around Li Weiyi’s sickbed until there was no room left.
“You’ve just woken up and your body is still very weak—you need to rest and recover. Quickly lie down!”
With his back to the crowd, Zhao Meng supported Li Weiyi by holding his neck and back, gently laying him back onto the bed. Xie Tianshu couldn’t wait any longer and asked, “Little Li, now that you’re awake, we have an urgent matter to discuss with you.”
Zhao Meng turned around and said with displeasure, “I already said that when the Buddha’s Shaoli was lost, it fell into the sea during the attack by the bear-like creatures and Nine Infants. I know nothing more about what happened afterward—neither I nor my junior brother.”
Zhao Meng was not skilled at hiding things or lying; his words were too absolute, which only made people suspicious. Xie Tianshu smiled and said, “But someone did see through the porthole at that time. They witnessed the green haze and red glare of our falling Bronze Ship, which emanated from Little Li’s body.
A treasure capable of producing such wondrous phenomena could only be the Buddha’s Shaoli.” Zhao Meng said, “I was that close and didn’t notice anything. At that time, you were tossed into the Arctic Ocean by the Nine Infants—how could anyone clearly see in such a dire situation?”
“The First Mate has his own idea of the truth,” Xie Tianshu replied calmly.
Many present were skeptical of Zhao Meng’s words. Director Yang, who cared deeply about the Buddha’s Shaoli, said, “Mr. Zhao, don’t get so worked up now! At that moment our situation was equally desperate—how can you be sure you didn’t overlook some crucial details?
The Buddha’s Shaoli concerns whether we can return to the macro Earth. We must find the answers.” Li Weiyi had already understood and naturally followed his senior brother’s line of thinking as he weakly spoke, “Regarding the Buddha’s Shaoli, I just asked Professor Xu.
It’s truly incredible! Did we really fall into the microscopic world? What is the origin of the Bronze Ship?
Where exactly is this ship headed?” No one present could answer these questions, for many things remained uncertain.
“If we retrieve the Buddha’s Shaoli, will we be able to return? But what connection does the Shaoli have with the Bronze Ship? Can they be controlled by us?”
Li Weiyi asked again. Xie Tianshu replied, “At the very least, the Buddha’s Shaoli wouldn’t vanish for no reason. If it’s within you, Little Li, you’d better take it out and let everyone study and analyze it.
Even if we can’t return to Earth, at least we’ll have an extra measure of security in this strange world.” Li Weiyi understood. The talk of returning to Earth was merely lip service; they had absolutely no confidence in it.
Seizing the Buddha’s Shaoli was really about increasing one’s own capital in this unfamiliar world. If the Buddha’s Shaoli did not merge back with the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish, Li Weiyi didn’t mind returning it—the thing belonged to its true master. It was not his to covet.
However, if the Buddha’s Shaoli was itself one of the fish eyes of the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish, then wouldn’t it now be the rightful property, truly returned to its owner? How could he possibly hand over the Sect Leader’s token of the Chan Sect to another? Zhao Meng was incensed.
“My junior brother has been unconscious for three days! If the Buddha’s Shaoli was really on his body, you’ve all taken it long ago.”
“It may not be on his body, but inside him… who can really say?”
Xie Tianshu could say such things because he had long harbored the idea of directly swallowing the Buddha’s Shaoli. Only by having the treasure within can one truly claim it. Zhao Meng said, “Are you suggesting we should dissect him?”
“I’m only stating a possibility,” Xie Tianshu replied. …
“Stop the bickering! After all, the Buddha’s Shaoli is the treasure that powers the Bronze Ship—very likely, it still remains in the macro world.”
Captain Gao Xin spoke with authority. Although he was getting on in years, he carried an air of command and stopped Zhao Meng and Xie Tianshu, who were about to come to blows. After everyone quieted down, it was Li Weiyi who was the first to speak.
“Senior Brother, the truth is that others’ real aim isn’t the Buddha’s Shaoli at all. They simply want to use the Shaoli as a pretext to have everyone on board target us, in order to isolate us.”
“The cold storage is damaged, and most of the food on this research vessel will spoil soon. In ten days, whoever controls the remaining food supplies will have a much greater chance of survival.”
“The captain and all the leaders are all old. The only one who could pose a threat to him is you, which is why they’d need a reason to get rid of you.”
The words spoken first by Gao Xin and then by Li Weiyi left everyone deep in thought. Clearly, the practical issue of food far outweighed that vague treasure like the Buddha’s Shaoli and was much more pressing. One by one, the people present left the medical tent.
As they departed, some offered polite words and feigned concern, urging Li Weiyi to rest well. Xie Jin caught up with Xie Tianshu and whispered, “Brother Shu, did you catch onto what’s going on?” Xie Tianshu’s eyes were steely as he replied, “That little brother Zhao Meng is far more troublesome than he appears.
He seems simple and kind-hearted, but he inadvertently messed up our plans. Thankfully, he was severely injured by the bear-like creature!” Xie Jin’s eyes turned cold.
“After that boy’s hint, Zhao Meng will surely be on high alert. Should we take action in advance?”
Xie Tianshu shook his head.
“There are a total of three guns on the ship! The rifles, with only three bullets left, are in Zhao Meng’s possession. The shotguns are held by the few people from Laboratory 705, and they should still have some ammunition. Captain Gao Xin has a handgun… All three guns are not in our control. We cannot rush this. Once we act, we must ensure every detail is faultless.”
Xie Jin scoffed, “Zhao Meng’s greatest weakness is that little Li. Once we get him under control, Zhao Meng will surely hand over the rifle without protest. As for those few elderly, weak, and sick from Laboratory 705, leave them to me.”
Xie Tianshu frowned slightly and said in a stern voice, “Do not act rashly! Let's stick to the original plan; first, we need to win over the Head Chef, Kong Fan, because he is the key to our bloodless victory.” …
(After reading some reviews, a reader mentioned that they’ve entered the realm of the Shaoli… er, no! The Shaoli is on the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish, transformed into one of its fish eyes. It was only after the Dao Ancestor Taiji Fish became complete that what followed happened. In Chapter 6, it was described how the Bronze Ship flew off from the Shaoli, setting sail…)
(End of Chapter)