Stronger with Crimson Modifier-Chapter 85: Experiment [2]

Hu Qi, room key in hand, found his room and quickly locked the door from the inside.

He hadn’t gotten a room in the middle of the day just to sleep, of course. He had other business to attend to.

He shut the windows and drew the curtains.

Once he was sure everything was secure, he placed his backpack on the floor and unzipped it.

Having been stuck in the bag for the whole trip, the Camphor Tea Duck poked its head out and immediately threw it back, quacking loudly and flapping its wings with all its might to show its displeasure.

The Camphor Tea Duck had grown much larger, so the bag was no longer comfortable, but rather cramped.

Hu Qi paid it no mind. He took out a disposable cup, poured something from a water bottle into it, and placed it in front of the Camphor Tea Duck.

"Here, Camphor, I’ve got something good for you."

When it saw the blackish-red blood in the cup, the Camphor Tea Duck craned its neck.

It eagerly stuck its beak in and began to gulp it down.

’Just as I thought!’

A thought struck Hu Qi as he watched the Camphor Tea Duck.

He had long suspected what was causing the duck’s changes.

After all, its strange transformation had begun right after it drank the Black Blood of that Blood Slave.

’If that’s the case, will drinking more trigger another transformation?’

This was one of the reasons he had gone hunting for a Black Blood Species.

His eyes were glued to the Camphor Tea Duck.

The Camphor Tea Duck seemed to adore the Black Blood, finishing the small cup in no time.

The Camphor Tea Duck then turned its crimson eyes to the water bottle in Hu Qi’s other hand, a look of human-like longing in them.

However, thanks to its long history of being disciplined by Hu Qi, it didn’t dare do anything else.

Seeing this, Hu Qi poured out the rest of the Black Blood for it.

Moments later, the Camphor Tea Duck finished the second serving. A human-like expression of contentment appeared on its face. It quacked twice at Hu Qi, then squatted down, closed its eyes, and seemed to fall asleep.

Low gurgles occasionally rumbled in its throat, as if expressing its delight.

As time passed, a thin, gauze-like black mist began to seep continuously from its body.

At first, the mist was just a few faint wisps, but it gradually thickened, enveloping the Camphor Tea Duck’s entire body like black smoke.

Shrouded in the black mist, the duck’s once-vibrant purple feathers began to change at a visible rate.

The purple gradually darkened, as if stained with thick ink, eventually becoming a mysterious, deep blackish-purple.

The Camphor Tea Duck’s form also seemed to change subtly. Its once-plump body grew taut, and the faint outline of muscles became visible.

Its feathers were no longer smooth, but bristled slightly with an indescribable tension.

Seeing this, Hu Qi silently backed away and drew the Long Saber from the bag on his back, ready to cut the creature down if anything went wrong.

Fortunately, aside from the black mist, there was no other activity.

Once the layers of black mist reached their peak density, they began to slowly contract, seeping back into the Camphor Tea Duck’s body until they vanished completely.

The Camphor Tea Duck, however, remained fast asleep, completely still.

Hu Qi’s expression flickered at the sight.

’The effects are a bit more dramatic than I expected.’

’Could it be because this Black Blood came from a Blood Slave that was on the verge of its own transformation?’

After waiting a while longer and seeing no further changes, Hu Qi finally relaxed.

He cleaned up the few drops of Black Blood that had dripped onto the floor and into the corner, then disposed of the cup and water bottle.

Hu Qi then stayed in the room until nearly dusk before taking the Camphor Tea Duck back to Anshan Academy.

However, just as he reached the main gate, he saw a figure standing to the side.

The man had graying temples, a tall build, and a somewhat haggard face.

It was Xie Guang.

He just stood there. Upon seeing Hu Qi, he said nothing.

Hu Qi glanced at him, then looked away.

Hu Qi hadn’t held much malice toward Xie Fei; the two had gotten along reasonably well.

As for his death, Hu Qi could only consider it a pity.

’But that’s that. If Xie Guang insists on causing trouble, I don’t mind sending him to meet his dear son.’

...

For the next few days, the Camphor Tea Duck remained in a deep slumber after drinking the Black Blood.

Just like the last time, the duck was extremely lethargic during this phase. It did nothing but eat and sleep, not even laying any eggs.

Hu Qi understood this meant his guess was correct: the Camphor Tea Duck’s previous transformation had been related to the Black Blood it drank.

He was eager to see what new changes would appear once it recovered.

In the days that followed, Hu Qi prudently stayed within Anshan Academy, not once stepping outside.

He wasn’t afraid of a direct confrontation with Xie Guang, but he feared the man might get his hands on some firearms and take a shot at his back.

If it were just an ordinary small-caliber handgun, he might be able to withstand it with his Cloud Iron Body.

But if he came up against a sniper rifle firing 6- or 7-centimeter rounds, he’d be a dead man.

Of course, the probability was minuscule, but he still had to be on guard.

’After all, you only get one life. Once you’re dead, it’s all over.’

He didn’t plan on going out until his strength had increased again.

During this period, he also researched Exotic Beasts online, but unfortunately, he didn’t find much.

The only explanation he could find was that they were mutations, possibly caused by environmental factors or problems with their Genes.

Of course, there might be more to it that he didn’t know.

After all, things like Secret Martial Artists and the Black Blood Species were kept under wraps by the Xia Federation.

If he hadn’t reached his current level, he would never have known about them.

He’d have to wait until he reached a higher level before he could search for the real answer.

On the fourth day, Song Jian found another Exotic Beast for him: a grey rabbit the size of a small dog.

This rabbit was unlike any ordinary one. Its body was rippling with muscle, making it look like a kangaroo, and its enormous ears drooped all the way to its feet.

Of course, its appearance didn’t matter. It would all be the same once it was roasted.

Hu Qi made the excuse that he was busy and couldn’t leave, asking the other party to deliver the rabbit. He then cooked it into a spicy dish.

With his appetite, Hu Qi polished off the entire kangaroo-sized rabbit in less than a day.

Hu Qi sat in his room, his Cold Iron Saber resting beside him.

’Crimson!’

He thought the word, and a blood-red panel materialized before his eyes.

[User: Hu Qi]

[Status: Normal]

[Age: 21]

[Skills: Snake Form Posture (Eighth Layer) △]

[Ghost Slaying Saber (Entry-Level) △]

[Cloud Iron Body (Great Success) △]

[White Whale Posture (Incomplete)]

...

[Modification Points: 6 (34%)]

The panel had changed slightly.

Eating the spicy rabbit had brought his Modification Points up to six.

Several Skills on the panel now showed they could be modified, all except the White Whale Posture, which remained unchangeable.

Clearly, his current Modification Points were insufficient to repair and complete this Pile Skill.

He wasn’t concerned about that.

His gaze fell on the Triangular Rune next to the Ghost Slaying Saber. He prepared to upgrade this Qi Blood Technique to bolster his combat strength.

However, just as his focus landed on the Ghost Slaying Saber, a line of crimson text appeared after it.

[This Sword Technique is incomplete, patched together by later generations. While it can be used for Cultivation, as one’s mastery of the Sword Technique deepens, the user’s will shall be subject to Erosion by killing intent. Without a remedy, one will eventually devolve into a mere killing machine.]

Hu Qi’s expression tightened upon seeing this line of text.