Chapter 257: Section 45: Crisis of Life
Seeing that the big guy’s condition had stabilized, the Dragon-man youth let out a sigh of relief.
But at the next moment, the big guy’s aura changed abruptly!
Before the Dragon-man youth’s eyes, the big guy’s Cultivation broke through to the Bronze Level, officially casting off his ordinary human status and leaping forward to become a Transcendent!
The Dragon-man youth and Cang Xu were both shocked and puzzled.
“The big guy was already close to Bronze. Now his Divine Bloodline has come into play, allowing him to take the final step. Not good!” The Dragon-man youth’s complexion changed.
The recently stabilized big guy’s condition deteriorated once again.
The little giant’s breath once again became difficult, and his eyebrows were tightly furrowed in his coma, as if he were having a terrible nightmare.
“What’s going on?” the Dragon-man youth asked Cang Xu.
Cang Xu took a deep breath, “This is the Divine Bloodline! It’s too high-end. The Bloodline Stabilizer you provided is just at the Silver Level; it’s hard to have an effect.”
The Dragon-man youth shook his head, “That’s not right! At the time he took the potion, he was just an ordinary person. Even now, he’s merely a Bronze-level fighter. How can a Silver Level potion have no effect?”
Cang Xu shook his head, “Bloodline transformations vary from person to person. Captain, the reason why the Silver Potion was suitable for you is that your own condition was very stable, with a solid foundation of Fighting energy. But for someone like the big guy, this sudden change is too intense. Think about it, he spent most of his life at sea, where his giant Bloodline was constantly suppressed. Now that it has burst forth suddenly, it’s like a floodgate has been opened. From what we see now, a Silver Level Bloodline Stabilizer has no chance at containing it. Even a Gold Level potion is doubtful, while a Holy Domain Level potion might stand a chance. Even the top-level potions might be possible.”
The Dragon-man youth was silent.
How could he obtain such high-end potions? In fact, even accessing Gold Level Bloodline Stabilizers was a distant prospect. The most hopeful path lay with the Empire, elevating his permissions to the Silver Level, which might allow for the exchange of some Gold Level resources.
As for potions higher than the Gold Level… that was too distant a dream.
The Dragon-man youth looked at the little giant, whose breathing was growing increasingly difficult, and anxiously asked, “Is there no other way?”
Cang Xu affirmed, “Of course, there is. We can use Divine Arts or Spells for treatment. The life-threatening aspect of a Bloodline breakthrough is essentially due to the high-grade Bloodline’s intense remodeling of a lower life form, which can severely impact a previously stable life form and lead to collapse.”
“If we lack treatment, the big guy will surely be shattered to pieces by the Divine Bloodline. However, if we can maintain steady and effective treatment during this process, it should be possible to help him through this crisis.”
The big guy wasn’t pure-blooded but a Mixed-blood of humans and giants.
If he were a pure-blooded earth giant, his growth would be extremely slow, but from a young age, his life structure would be very stable, allowing for smooth development.
As a Mixed-blood, the big guy possessed both the earth giant and Human Race Bloodlines. Externally, he had a physique weaker than a normal giant’s but far surpassing that of the average human. This also applied to his physical condition and recovery ability.
Previously, the two Bloodlines within the big guy coexisted relatively stably. Occasional conflicts caused him to go mad.
But now, with the Divine Bloodline’s complete transformation, it was forcefully impacting the big guy’s human Bloodline. The overly dominant blood of the earth giant meant his original form was no longer suitable.
It was as if the big guy was initially a simple wooden house, while the Divine Bloodline needed a castle. Currently, the wooden house was on the brink of destruction, with no sight of the castle.
Leaving the Bloodline transformation to continue would result in the complete destruction of the wooden house, including its foundation, with no chance of successfully building the castle.
If, however, the process was accompanied by ample healing, it would be like a strong external force protecting the entire wooden house, patching it up continuously, allowing the house and its foundation to endure until it eventually expanded into a castle.
The big guy’s life was in danger!
If his emergent Bloodline had been of a lower grade, it might have been easy to manage, and he might have been able to withstand it on his own.
But the earth giant’s Bloodline was too high-grade, and it had ironically become a death warrant for the big guy.
“What do we do?” the Dragon-man youth was at a loss.
Although Cang Xu had mentioned using treatment methods could help the big guy, the youth knew it was extremely difficult.
This was evident from the case of the Bloodline Stabilizer.
Only treatment methods above the Gold Level could truly aid the big guy.
“Is there any chance your Undead Magic could work?” the Dragon-man youth asked in desperation.
Cang Xu shook his head, “Regrettably, my Captain, I am powerless in this respect. In fact, even if there were a way, I am only at the Black Iron Level. I simply can’t perform higher-level magic!”
“Then how can we find a Mage who can help the big guy?”
“No, more than a Mage, it would be more appropriate to seek clergy.”
“But!”
“Contacting these people carries immense risks. Divine Arts come from deities, and helping the big guy would expose all of us, as well as the true nature of Mysterious Monster Island, to the gods.”
The Dragon-man youth couldn’t help but feel flustered.
“First, use the Healing Potion to stabilize the big guy’s body. I will inquire with the Tower Spirit!” he finally decided.
Cang Xu nodded and followed the Captain’s orders.
Soon after, when the old Scholar clandestinely dived to board the “Little Bird,” he took the initiative to board the “Justice.”
“You seem to have the leisure to come here for amusement?” Zong Ge, Captain of the “Little Bird,” received Cang Xu.
Cang Xu was solemn, “There is a matter of great urgency that I must discuss with you. It involves our survival.”
Cang Xu then detailed the big guy’s situation to Zong Ge.
Zong Ge was momentarily taken aback, then after processing, he sighed with emotion, “I didn’t expect such a thing to happen.”
Cang Xu sighed, “Given our Captain’s nature, he will surely not give up on the big guy. We all know the Tower Spirit’s condition is severely impaired, and she truly listens to Zi Di, who has the authority. If the Captain can inquire about a suitable method through her, that would be ideal. But the chance is very slim.”
“Mages are hard to come to, let alone those proficient in healing.”
“In the end, the Captain may very well resort to Divine Healing. However, this action carries tremendous risks. If even a slight clue is exposed, all our painstaking disguises and efforts, our achievements, will come to nothing, and we could end up imprisoned, facing secret execution or even public execution.”
Zong Ge’s brows furrowed, “Then what’s your thought?”
Cang Xu lamented, “Of course, I also hope the Big guy will recover. However, life will never change just because of our hopes.”
“The Big guy… is basically beyond help. Because time is too tight, and we simply don’t have high-end connections, it’s very difficult to treat him in time. We have control over two Divine Artifacts, which can be used as bargaining chips. But as analyzed before, it’s too risky! We are likely to be attacked and looted for exposing these treasures.”
“We need to join forces, Zong Ge.”
Zong Ge fell silent.
He was wary of Cang Xu and also secretly guarding against him.
However, he had to admit that the Undead Mage made a very strong argument.
Mercy does not lead an army!
Use a local sacrifice for the overall victory.
This was knowledge Zong Ge, as a commander, had long since understood.
In the Half-Beast’s mind, thoughts bubbled over: “If we leave the Captain to his own devices, I fear it will end just as Cang Xu has said.”
“However…”
“Is the Undead Mage really thinking of the big picture?”
“Does he have no selfish intentions? No plans to use this opportunity for his own gain? No schemes of using me as a pawn?”
Zong Ge’s wariness towards Cang Xu intensified, but he kept a calm exterior, his expression betraying nothing.
Finally, he nodded slightly, looked at Cang Xu, and tentatively asked, “What are you going to do?”
Cang Xu obviously relaxed, “On this matter, we need to reach a consensus. As for how to do it… rest assured, the Captain is my lifesaver, I would never harm him! I think the first step is to spread the news.”
Zong Ge’s eyes suddenly sparkled with brilliance.
This was indeed a good method!
Different measures should be used against different people.
Using mean methods against a despicable person would make them wary.
Responding to brutality with brutality often earned respect.
As for the Dragon-man Captain, use an Eastern Empire proverb – Confound the noble with fairness.
With Zong Ge’s tacit permission, the news about the Big guy spread rapidly among the survivors of Mysterious Monster Island.
Bloodline mutation, promotion to Bronze while unconscious, dying…
These startling words combined left everyone who heard them speechless.
The deserted aft deck of the ship.
Bai Ya clutched two thick ropes tightly in his hands.
He kept swinging and releasing the ropes, diligently training his Fighting energy.
His back soaked with sweat, he panted heavily, constantly checking his own condition.
“After long and arduous training, the Fighting energy produced was always barely noticeable.”
“If only I had the talent of Senior Xu Ma, just a few minutes of cultivation would yield more than a whole day of my hard effort!”
“Bloodline… Bloodline…”
The more Bai Ya understood about cultivation, the more dejected and despondent he became.
Cultivation is not about effort alone.
The majority of people can only be ordinary for their entire lives, while some are born with a Bloodline that destines them for greatness from birth.
“Bloodline mutation… can I really experience a Bloodline mutation?”
This was the only hope in Bai Ya’s heart.
But after speaking with Xu Ma, he only then understood how low the probability of a Bloodline mutation was!
Even if his ancestors, the source of his Bloodline, were extraordinary, and there were seeds of mutation hidden within him, it was very likely that at life’s end, these seeds would still remain hidden.
Just then, a loud noise and cries of alarm rose from the Justice.
Bai Ya stopped his cultivation and went to the railing of the Little Bird to look, only to see the Big guy disheveled and bellowing, rampaging across the deck of the Justice, repeatedly striking the mast.
“The Big guy is going crazy again!” Bai Ya was anxious.
“Bai Ya, you’re here,” a survivor from Mysterious Monster Island approached him, “I have news to tell you.”
Hearing the news, Bai Ya’s eyes grew wide: “He, the Big guy… has had a Bloodline mutation?!”
Shock coursed through him.
Then came joy, pleased for his companion’s opportunity.
He felt envy, something he had long yearned for, such an unlikely event happening right beside him!
He felt despair; a Bloodline mutation, why hadn’t it happened to him?
He also sympathized with the Big guy, too high-grade a Bloodline mutation turned into a Curse, and the Big guy was going to die!
A whirlwind of complex emotions spread through his heart, leaving the young man standing motionless at the railing.
“This is a new opportunity,” Cang Xu whispered from a corner, watching the frenzied Big guy, his eyes emitting a cold light.