Mutagen-Chapter 1188: The [Ethereal Phoenix Physique], A Solution to Feng Zhiruo’s Struggles
Day 379 - 2:51 PM - Workshop, Mountain Base, Mount Malabito, General Nakar, Province of Quezon
After lunch, Mark continued working in his workshop. They had just returned to the base this morning. However, while the others could rest, Mark could not.
Time was not in their favor.
In less than a week, the Third Wave of the apocalypse would happen. While the Mountain Base might not be largely affected, it was different for other places.
The Infanta Settlement had already begun its preparations the moment it received Mark’s notice. In the Corregidor Settlement, they had already prepared to evacuate if things went out of control. The rebels in Catanduanes, where Mark’s family currently lived, had already made their preparations long ago.
In Japan, the Priestess would handle its protection. They had no worries as she had managed to protect their settlement during the Second Wave. The Third Wave with earthquakes and tsunamis would be more manageable for her compared to giant pieces of space debris falling from space with its [Infected] inhabitants.
However, Mark had no idea how other places would handle the incoming catastrophe. As such, he planned to at least find the [Inheritor] in South Korea before it happened.
For two days, Mark planned to work on the replacement armor and weapons for him and Mei. Then they would go to South Korea from Japan through Spera’s [Portal]. It looked like they had to borrow [The Cube] again for transportation, not that Chimetrice and Ilia would be bothered by it.
In any case, if it were the past Mark, he could never have imagined himself being so diligent and absorbed in work. He was barely making it in the past by creating cosplay props and a few online side jobs. He was just that unmotivated. Although he wanted many things, he never had the urge to actually fulfill them and felt content with the current way his life was going.
Mark was just one of the many people who found life boring.
It might not even matter to him if he lived or died.
But the apocalypse changed everything for Mark. It changed many things for everyone.
Now, Mark felt motivated for various reasons. He now had a family and people to protect. He also wanted to live through the apocalypse and see everything with his own eyes.
And maybe, Mark would experience more than just this world in the future.
But first and foremost, Mark and Mei needed new equipment. He needed to finish it all in two days. Luckily, the little girls did not need their things replaced. At least, that was one thing to be relieved about. If there was something he wanted to do after his and Mei’s equipment, it was to do some tweaking for the three golems of his daughters.
After all, Mark gained new knowledge after defeating and absorbing the broken soul of the [Deity of Soul Sacrifice]. Although he had to suffer consequences and the memories were fragmented, the knowledge of a few thousand years was still very valuable. He could not help but want to implement this knowledge in his current and future works.
"Uhm? Master, you called for me?"
While hammering the metal in contemplation, a confused voice entered Mark’s ears.
Mark inspected the metal on the table before putting down the hammer. He then turned to see the visitor to his workshop.
It was an oriental beauty. She might not be as beautiful as Mei, but she was still captivating in her own way. She was not like this when she arrived at this place, however. The better environment and increasing cultivation sure helped her develop both inside and outside.
The woman was Feng Zhiruo. She was the poor female Cultivator Apprentice they brought back after an unsavory meeting in New Jersey. Even though she was initially taken as an enemy’s accomplice, her circumstances led her to become one of his base’s most valuable residents.
Now, Feng Zhiruo not only increased her Cultivation, but also saw Mark as her Master in her path to strength.
However, Feng Zhiruo reached a roadblock in her path. And, unfortunately, she could not understand why.
"You know why I called you?"
Mark asked Feng Zhiruo.
Looking at her Master, Feng Zhiruo could only look down and sigh.
"Is it because of my incompetence? Something feels odd with me, and I failed to realize why it was happening."
Feng Zhiruo might have improved her strength. However, her lack of confidence never changed. It was something that grew on her after the years of so-called "incompetence" in her sect, remaining a low-class disciple despite her peers growing past her.
"Incompetence?" Mark scratched his head. "If you’re incompetent, then most people are worse."
For a few weeks now, the progress of Feng Zhiruo’s cultivation had suddenly halted. Furthermore, using the skills of her sect made her feel nauseous and uncomfortable. Even so, Feng Zhiruo never stopped trying to overcome this hurdle. Unfortunately, thinking and doing it had a severe difference in difficulty.
"Haah..." Mark frowned. "I actually did some digging."
Mark was talking about the memories of the Elder who was with Feng Zhiruo before. After all, after he used a forbidden technique to take Mark’s body, he was absorbed instead, giving Mark his knowledge as a Cultivator. While the bastard was wicked and evil, he sure had an epitome of knowledge as an Elder of their sect. It was actually this knowledge that helped in teaching Feng Zhiruo.
However, although Mark had full access to his memories, including the acquired ones, it did not mean that all these memories were active at once. He could only recall things he wanted to recall. It was like a search engine on the internet. He could only get answers by searching through the memories.
And after searching for the memories of the Elder, which involved Feng Zhiruo, Mark could not help but feel sick in the stomach. There was a whole lot more to her circumstances than she knew.
"Sit down and listen."
Mark pointed to the nearby stool and waited until Feng Zhiruo sat down.
Then, Mark told her everything.
Feng Zhiruo entered the Heavenly Sky Dragon Sect after her village in the mountains fell victim to bandits. The Elder then took her in at that time after finding her in the ruined village.
However, the bandits themselves were unusual since Feng Zhiruo’s village was among the few hidden villages where the Cultivator sects would look for new disciples every few decades. It should be under the protection of the sect ruling over it. Yet, it was attacked and destroyed.
Well, since that was the case for the village, there was nothing suspicious about the Elder taking Feng Zhiruo into the sect, at least on the surface.
Unfortunately, those bandits attacked under that Elder’s command. And Feng Zhiruo was the sole reason for it.
"What?" Feng Zhiruo exclaimed in shock. "Why?!"
"You might not remember it since you were little, but the Elder passed by your village and saw you. He wanted to take you immediately, but that would cause more conflict, not to mention suspicion, since the village isn’t under the Heavenly Sky Dragon Sect’s territory. So, he needed to create a cause. Bringing a sole survivor of a village destroyed by bandits out of pity would not rouse such circumstances."
Mark explained with a shrug.
"But why?" Feng Zhiruo started to tear up. "Mother, Father, everyone... They all died because of me? Why? Considering how he treated me, I don’t think I’m such a valuable person to catch his eye!"
"No, you are valuable," Mark said in all seriousness. "But not as a disciple of the Heavenly Sky Dragon Sect, but as a disciple of another sect they are competing with."
"What?"
Feng Zhiruo was confused.
"It’s also the reason for your slow cultivation within the sect and why you are experiencing unpleasant things right now," Mark stared straight at the girl in front of him. "Similar to Mei’er, you are someone born with a unique physique. The [Dragonic Sky Technique] you practice and the environment of the sect designed to cultivate it didn’t suit you because you have the so-called [Ethereal Phoenix Physique]."
Mark then continued to explain to the flabbergasted Feng Zhiruo.
The techniques of the Heavenly Sky Dragon Sect heavily relied on the Yang type of energy. And if one normally thought of fire, it meant Yang. A regular [Phoenix Physique] would have no problem in a Yang-filled environment. However, people with the [Ethereal Phoenix Physique] required Yin, in contrast. With a Yin-type body, Feng Zhiruo had been cultivating and using Yang-type techniques. No wonder there were some issues with her.
"But I still reached this far?"
Feng Zhiruo could not help but ask.
Currently, Feng Zhiruo was at the Peak of Blue Level, the last level of Human Level Cultivator. If she reached the next level, she would become an Early Green Level, the first level of a full-pledged Cultivator.
"Remember why you reached that level?" Mark asked as he looked out of the open door where the trunk of the tree at the center of the base was visible. "Chiyo can help nourish everyone with the kind of energy they need. It provided you with Yang Energy that you would not normally get."
Feng Zhiruo fell silent, and Mark watched her contemplate as he turned to the table, doing something.
Then, after a while, she spoke.
"What should I do now?"
"You have two options, right now," Mark replied without looking. "One is to stop at your current level since there is no way you will get past that in your current state."
Feng Zhiruo frowned. There was no way she would accept that.
"And the other?"
She asked agitated.
Mark then turned in response before suddenly handing her a thin notebook.
Feng Zhiruo accepted the notebook by reflex but was utterly confused.
Mark then spoke as she opened the first page.
"To take a gamble."
Feng Zhiruo’s eyes opened wide. She immediately skimmed through the pages. The content of the notebook was a cultivation technique she had never seen before.
"Is this from the Elder’s memories?"
Feng Zhiruo could not help but ask, but when she looked at Mark, she saw him scratching his cheek.
"No. That guy had a whole lot of books and techniques in his memories, but not that one," Mark shrugged. "Using all that knowledge, I created one with the combination of methods that will likely suit you the best."
"What? That’s impossible..." Feng Zhiruo’s hands were shaking. "They said that cultivation techniques were handed down from the Lost Era, and making new ones was practically impossible. Are you saying that you created a new one? The first cultivation technique after several thousand years?"
"What?" Mark shrugged and pointed his right thumb at Brunhildr, who was waiting nearby. "I made her and the other two golems with incomplete and barely recognizable reference materials. So, why can’t I create one when I have all the knowledge needed inside my head?"
"Of course, I’m not saying that it’s a perfect one," Mark shrugged. "But I made sure it would not have severe aftereffects, so it can be adjusted later. Also, your cultivation will be downgraded to the first level of Purple again once you decide to try that. After all, you need to convert all your current accumulated Yang Energy into Yin."
"No! The downgrade is already amazing!" Feng Zhiruo was agitated. "Normally, one would need to abolish their current cultivation if they wanted to change their [Cultivation Technique]!"
"Oh, yeah, that’s true," Mark nodded. "But I had some reference, so I managed to do that instead, since abolishing someone’s cultivation also came with severe risks."
Suddenly, there was no reply. Mark looked at Feng Zhiruo and saw her eyes closed. After a few breaths, she suddenly opened her eyes, twinkling in reverence.
"Amazing! It’s just a few verses, but I feel my Qi flowing smoother!"
Feng Zhiro exclaimed with her eyes glued to the notebook.
Mark smiled as he suddenly removed his work apron. He then picked up a box nearby and began walking out of the workshop.
Feng Zhiruo watched him in confusion, not understanding what he was doing. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
"What are you waiting for?" Mark turned his head and looked at Feng Zhiruo over his shoulder. "Follow me. We’ll set up the place where you will cultivate. Since we are already at it, we might as well go all out."
Feng Zhiruo was surprised. She sprang to her feet and immediately followed Mark like a child on the way to an amusement park.
