Forty Millenniums of Cultivation, page 420
"Such battles give the Blood Stripe Virus tremendous precious resources from underground.
"But more importantly, the endless fierce battles between the Titan Warriors and the apocalyptic beasts would result in unparalleled fighting will and killing intent!
"Such 'sense of slaughtering' is mandatory for the survival of the Blood Stripe Virus!
"The Blood Stripe Virus is an extremely weird life form. As parasites that boast enormous mental power, they do not have a high materialistic demand, but they need a 'sense of slaughtering'; it is their 'food'!
"The Blood Stripe Virus needs killing just as we need air and water. Without death, destruction, and devastation, the Blood Stripe Virus will gradually wither and perish!
"Therefore, the more brutal the battles between the Titan Warriors and the apocalyptic beasts were and the more creatures were killed, the more gratification of demolition and annihilation the Blood Stripe Virus would be able to devour, and the stronger and happier they would be!
"This is the reason for the bloodthirst of the Titan Warriors!
"The symbiosis between the Blood Stripe Virus and the Titan Warriors lasted tens of thousands of years. They swept countless constellations and had a territory that was far larger than the Star Ocean Imperium's in their prime years!
"However, one day, billions of years ago, their world suddenly experienced a destructive strike!
"Many constellations were wiped out instantly. Both the Blood Stripe Virus and the Titan Warriors could do nothing about it. The remaining Blood Stripe Virus could only board their starships, or in our eyes, the bizarre-shaped meteoroids, and flee in a hurry!
"The Blood Stripe Virus could live in the vacuum for a long time, and they did not need many resources for their survival. However, the journey in the cosmos was long and dark, and they couldn't find a new species to provide 'killing intent' for them.
"The surviving Blood Stripe Virus soon realized that they were about to wither. They could only seal the essential knowledge of their race with secret arts before they entered a certain 'hibernation state' on different meteoroids that were running toward different directions of the universe, hoping to find another world suitable for them and another species that could be lived on!
"I don't know anything about the rest of the Blood Stripe Virus. However, I do know that part of the race discovered the Flying Star Sector and human beings after floating in the universe for billions of years!
"Therefore, the Blood Stripe Virus in the hibernation state was awakened!
"That is what happened five thousand years ago."
The qi-trainers listened to the story in confusion and finally associated it with the arrival of apocalypse in the Flying Star Sector five thousand years ago. They were all stunned and exclaimed in shock.
Yan Xibei said peacefully, "The rest is history. A large number of meteoroids inhabited by the Blood Stripe Virus marched into the Flying Star Sector and nearly destroyed Iron Plateau, because the Blood Stripe Virus meant to build Iron Plateau into an environment favorable for them and transform human beings into their puppets, the new 'Titan Warriors'!
"However, the possession between civilizations could not be finished in a day.
"After tens of thousands of years of symbiosis, while the Titan Warriors were modified into the best puppets, the Blood Stripe Virus had evolved, too, in order to live more comfortably inside the Titan Warriors' bodies.
"The human beings of five thousand years ago were not the best candidate puppets for the Blood Stripe Virus. The most critical problem was that the intelligence of human beings was too high. It was quite possible that they would be swallowed by human beings when the infection process failed, just like what has happened to me.
"Therefore, the Blood Stripe Virus has been consuming our resources through the outbreaks of the eggs of apocalypse and strengthening our bodies without us knowing.
"In the meantime, we released endless fighting will in the fierce battles, which was the best nutrition for the Blood Stripe Virus, which has just woken up from the hibernation state.
"Our civilization would be less and less developed, but our skills of killing would be more and more proficient and our bodies stronger and stronger. We would become bloodthirsty, aggressive, primitive… Everything that the Blood Stripe Virus hoped us to be!
"Today, the most crucial turning point has come.
"We have basically used up the most fundamental resources to sustain a civilization. In the future, we will be more dependent on our flesh, blood, and most primitive fighting instincts. Finally, we will grow into the new Titan Warriors and the best puppets for the Blood Stripe Virus!"
Yan Xibei fell into silence after his speech.
During the silence, the only sound was the blowing cold wind on the desert. No one opened their mouth.
Many quick-minded people had already envisioned the future of Iron Plateau from Yan Xibei's brief introduction. They were all awed by the dark, disheartening scenes.
Even the bravest warriors found it hard to breathe and were tremoring uncontrollably.
"Little Xiong, I don't know how you felt when you found out the truth of possession between civilizations."
Yan Xibei's eyes shook, and there was a hint of fear in them. He murmured, "When I finally sorted out the puzzle based on the heritage of the Blood Stripe Virus, my very first feeling was horror. Endless horror!
"The universe is too vast, too cold, and too dark!
"Mankind calls itself the strongest fighting species in the sea of stars. We've defeated countless unknown species while we were expanding our territory!
"Conquering nature, slaying demons, building new worlds, defeating foreign species… How powerful and dominating!
"However, we are still merely frogs in a well when faced with the boundless universe!
"Deep within the heritage of the Blood Stripe Virus, a lot of mottled pictures were hidden. I saw a spacious universe and countless unknown species in them.
"Some of the species were without entities. They were formless like devils, and yet they could take away the lives of thousands of creatures instantly.
"Some species were made of flesh and blood, but they could live and fight effortlessly in a vacuum and even feast upon meteorites!
"Some other species were like lifeless soil and rocks, but they boasted extremely uncanny techniques, too!
"Such unknown species are like deities in myths. Even the human beings of the Star Ocean Imperium, the well-acknowledged summit of humanity, might not have been able to defeat them!
"When I figured out the truth, I was like a water snake that had suddenly discovered a boundless ocean next to the pond which it had always considered to be its own kingdom. Living in the ocean were all ferocious animals such as sharks and dragons!
"The desperation caused by a whole new world suddenly unfolding itself in front of me explosively is beyond the description of any words.
"However, I was never a man who would be beaten by desperation.
"When my panic and desperation gradually faded, I immediately started pondering our future path. The destination of mankind and the ruthless universe was too complicated a problem for me to solve. But at the very least, I should alter the fate of Iron Plateau and free my compatriots and descendants from the miserable future of being enslaved by the Blood Stripe Virus!
"Over that year, the metaphysical and yet urgent questions such as how to make Iron Plateau natives stronger and how to stop the tragedy that was bound to occur thousands of years later had been troubling me. I was barely able to breathe.
"But my compatriots and my family knew nothing about anything.
"It's just like an army of soldiers that had been born blind, were striding toward a cliff, and were about to fall into the abyss.
"I was also a member of the blind army, but somehow, I was suddenly granted sight. I saw brightness as well as the cliff in front of us!
"But I could not shout or change anything, because the army was too huge and the path we were standing on was too shallow. If I suddenly burst out a cry, it was very possible that everyone would fall off from the two sides of the path and still end up in the abyss!
"We had no other options except to move forward until we reached the destination of destruction!
"I struggled for a whole year in pain and devastation. Many times, I thought about sharing my assumptions with everyone. But what could they do even if they learned the truth? Without resources, we would not be able to fight against the eggs of apocalypse. When the towns were destroyed and our civilization collapsed, we would still become the Blood Stripe Virus' slaves just like the wildings on the Dark Continent!
"While I was seized by desperation, however, I gradually discovered that unexpected changes were happening to my body!
"After I fully absorbed the drop of eccentric blood, my own blood as well my nerves and flesh were gradually becoming different. Not only did my capability slowly recover, my senses and control over spiritual energy also increased significantly. Besides, I seemed to have been granted the ability to modify animals and communicate with the eggs of apocalypse!
"After many tests, I finally concluded that, after I swallowed the Blood Stripe Virus, I had combined the strength of mankind and that of the Blood Stripe Virus. I had evolved in a brand-new way!
"The discovery made me overjoyed. It also opened a new window for me!
"The strong prey on the weak in the ruthless universe. Tigers eat men, but men can eat tigers, too!
"Attack or be attacked. Instead of waiting to be controlled by the Blood Stripe Virus thousands of years later, we might as well swallow the Blood Stripe Virus first while we still have the ability to fight!"
Chapter 625: Yan Xibei's Counterattack! |
"After we absorb the Blood Stripe Virus and grasp their techniques, naturally, we won't be scared that they will come to manipulate us in thousands of years' time!
"Besides, after assimilating the Blood Stripe Virus into our bodies, we will all evolve into newer, stronger human beings. It's very possible that we can march out of Iron Plateau and rule the entire Flying Star Sector!
"This is not only the only destiny of Iron Plateau but also the brightest future for the Flying Star Sector. It is even a brand-new path for mankind in general!"
The more Yan Xibei talked, the more excited and crazier he became. The blood stripes all over his body were glittering and fluctuating. Creepy noises were also echoing from the shell on his insect body like metal rubbing together.
"Bulls*it! This is bulls*it!"
Unable to stand on his feet, Yan Chihuo sat on the ground before Yan Xibei. His thighs were full of blood, and his face was pale, but he still shouted, "If you are really considering for the future of Iron Plateau, why didn't you put forward your proposal openly instead of cooperating with the Temple of Immortals and killing so many people?"
Yan Xibei sighed and replied, not without regret, "You think I never thought that?
"When I made up my mind, my very first thought was to share it with the public and ask everyone else to study the Blood Stripe Virus together with me in order to scrutinize and make the best use of it.
"However, three unresolvable problems immediately occurred to me.
"Firstly, look at me. Do you want to be like this?"
Yan Xibei pointed at the blood stripes on his body, which were twisting like vipers, vines, and veins and releasing eccentric redness, with a self-mocking smile.
"Or this?"
He then pointed at his extremely hideous body that was made up by multiple giant insects.
Not waiting for a reply, he shook his head and said, "It's impossible. You would definitely be unwilling to be changed into such appearances unless it was absolutely necessary. My plan would meet countless obstacles. I assumed that you would rather cooperate with the space residents than meld with the Blood Stripe Virus.
"No. You wouldn't agree to my plan. If anything, you would even think that I had been controlled by the Blood Stripe Virus, and that my soul and brain were no longer my own. Everything I did was actually the Blood Stripe Virus' will so that it could bloom and spread to every corner of Iron Plateau, if not the Flying Star Sector. You would think that way, right?"
"Correct!"
Xiong Wuji said coldly, "Master Yan, after listening to your theory, I have every reason to believe that the Blood Stripe Virus has conquered your brain. Or in other words, you've been possessed by the Blood Demon!"
Yan Xibei was not angry. He smiled and replied peacefully, "Yes! That is a very reasonable doubt! If I were you and I saw such an ugly monster showing up, I would naturally speculate that he was possessed by a demon and would never believe anything coming out of his mouth!
"I pondered for a long time, but I failed to find an undeniable method to prove that I was not possessed by the Blood Stripe Virus.
"Therefore, I could not tell the secret, because nobody was going to believe me even if I did.
"Like I said just now, you are like people who are born blind. You don't know what brightness is. Even if I tell you that I see the cliff ahead of us and a bright path beyond it, you will not believe me but simply think that I've been bewildered by a devil.
"But I am well aware that I am not controlled by the Blood Stripe Virus. My head is as clear and sharp as ever, and I am nothing but rational.
"Hahahaha. Since it is inexplicable, I might as well not explain it at all! The whole world may misunderstand me, but so what? Just allow me to save Iron Plateau on my own!
"However, since I was on my own, the next crucial issue immediately emerged, which was that I didn't have enough resources to study the Blood Stripe Virus and perform the necessary experiments!
"I'd been struggling against the Blood Stripe Virus for years and stopped taking care of the affairs of my tribe long ago. My younger brother, Yan Zhengdong, had become the chief.
"I was never a man fond of power. If I suddenly meddled in the tribe's affairs and demanded a lot of resources, I was bound to be suspected!
"Although I had a lot of connections in all of the six tribes, they could not be translated into the enormous resources that I was in dire need of.
"Even if many people in the six tribes were willing to listen to my command and provide the resources for me, they would inevitably know that I was preparing for a groundbreaking discovery!
"Thirdly, and lastly, let's say that I could collect resources and carry out my plan in secret. There was still a fatal problem that I could not bypass.
"The space residents!
"I had profound understanding about the capability gap between Iron Plateau natives and space residents. I was well aware that, after thousands of years of separation, the overall combat ability of Iron Plateau natives is much lower than that of space residents.
"At the moment, since we are all human beings, the ostensible peace is still maintained.
"However, if my plan is carried out on a large scale, and Iron Plateau natives start evolving into a whole new life form by absorbing the Blood Stripe Virus…
"… will space residents idle by and watch?
"They won't. When they discover Iron Plateau natives in our new forms, they will definitely regard us as terrible monsters and destroy us mercilessly!
"We do not have the ability to cruise in the universe and would only be able to take their blow. The war could never be won!
"If any of the three problems remained unresolved, my plan would be just an unreachable dream!
"However, Iron Plateau natives were not doomed.
"While I was troubled by the three problems, I accidentally discovered that a mysterious organization was active on Iron Plateau. They were looking for a 'cooperator', or rather, a puppet, on Iron Plateau!"
Xiong Wuji narrowed his eyes and remarked coldly, "The Temple of Immortals?"
Yan Xibei nodded with a smile. "Yes. The Temple of Immortals!
"We all know the purpose of the Temple of Immortals. This organization of the so-called Immortal Cultivators has been conspiring against Cultivators and infiltrating them for many years. But they were in lack of ordinary soldiers, or cannon fodder, if you will.
"The tricks, plots, and harassment of space pirates were far from enough to overturn the world of Cultivators.
"Iron Plateau natives, who boast countless excellent warriors and have a long grudge with Cultivators, naturally caught their attention.
"Iron Plateau natives are too untamable to be directly commanded by them. So, they could only look for a puppet on Iron Plateau and raise a war between Iron Plateau natives and space residents through the puppet. That was the easiest choice.
"The puppet had to enjoy certain prestige in the six tribes and be familiar with their situation in order to supervise the plan of the Temple of Immortals.
"Also, the puppet could not be very strong. He had to be at their mercy and be able to be wiped out easily when necessary.
"Lastly, the puppet had to have a fatal weakness or a very urgent demand that they could lure him with.
"Haha. Hahahaha. Who else on the entire Iron Plateau could meet all the three conditions except for me?
"Therefore, a leader of the Temple of Immortals who called himself 'Lotus King' soon found me and tried to talk me into their plan.
"They threw out two baits.
"The first bait was that the cooperation between the Temple of Immortals and Iron Plateau natives was equal. When the plan succeeded, the Flying Star Sector would be evenly divided between us.
"As for the other hook, they claimed that they had methods to treat my legs and restore my capability. My longevity could also be lengthened so that I would be able to explore the summit of qi-training!
"In order to convince me and show their respect for Iron Plateau natives, they even invited me to be one of the four leaders of the Temple of Immortals. 'Four Kings of Immortality, Mountain Sea Black Lotus'!
"Ridiculous. It was too ridiculous. Those ugly, cowardly Immortal Cultivators who wouldn't hesitate to sell their mothers for their own benefits were too naïve and hilarious!
