48: Man of Steel: Future and Change

【low-level skill synthesis crystal - 1】

【"Taiji Fist", "Xingyi Fist", "Bagua Palm", "Five Elements Fist"… Beginning fusion】

【Obtained skill "Internal Martial Arts"】

【low-level skill synthesis crystal - 1】

【"Baji Fist", "Shaolin Fist", "Hong Fist", "Long Fist"… Beginning fusion】

【Obtained skill "External Martial Arts"】

【low-level skill synthesis crystal - 1】

【"Golden Bell Shield", "Iron Shirt", "Iron Sand Palm", "Eagle Claw Skill"… Beginning fusion】

【Obtained skill "Hard Qigong"】

【low-level skill synthesis crystal - 1】

【"Poke Leg", "Spring Leg", "Point Leg", "Shaolin Leg"… Beginning fusion】

【Obtained skill "Intermediate Leg Techniques"】

【low-level skill synthesis crystal - 1】

【… Beginning fusion】

【Obtained skill "Intermediate Finger Techniques"】

【low-level skill synthesis crystal - 1】

【… Beginning fusion】

【Obtained skill "Intermediate Grappling"】

Bai Xuan gathered sixty low-level martial arts, and after reaching max level, he categorized them and synthesized six intermediate skills.

Then,

the key point arrived.

A look of anticipation appeared in Bai Xuan's eyes as he turned his gaze to the mid-level skill synthesis crystal in his item bar.

【mid-level skill synthesis crystal - 1】

【"Internal Martial Arts", "External Martial Arts", "Iron Bones", "Balanced Body"… Beginning fusion】

【Obtained skill "Steel Body"】

【Steel Body LV10 (Max Level): A hundred schools of martial arts, melted into one body; a hundred refinements to become iron, a thousand hammers to forge steel; copper skin and iron flesh, Steel Tendons and jade bones; a body of steel, invulnerable to blades and spears, impervious to water and fire, indestructible!】

【Specific bonuses are as follows: Strength, Agility, Physique, Spirit increased by 300%; skin hardness, muscle hardness, bone hardness increased by 300%; control over the human body increased by 200%, combat instinct increased by 200%…】

“Crack!! Crack!!!”

His entire body's Steel Tendons and bones resonated, and a powerful shockwave swept through his skin, flesh, Steel Tendons, bones, internal organs, and every corner of his body.

Vast transcendent energy poured into his flesh and bones; the invisible transcendent energy transformed into various raging fires and heavy hammers.

Melting, forging!

In agony, his mortal flesh and blood, through a thousand refinements, was slowly transforming into an indestructible Steel Body.

The human cells that absorbed the transcendent energy had already undergone mutation; no, it should be called evolution.

At this moment, under the effect of the Steel Body skill, the transcendent energy directly transformed his entire body, making its hardness comparable to steel.

Besides this, in Bai Xuan's mind, there were also tens of thousands of figures demonstrating tens of thousands of martial arts.

As his body was transformed into a Steel Body, the figures in his mind gradually merged into one… forming a single figure, and those tens of thousands of martial arts moves seemed to have completely integrated into his body, becoming muscle memory and transforming into combat instinct.

“Steel Body… This is the Steel Body, invulnerable to blades and spears, impervious to water and fire, indestructible!”

Although the enhancement had ended, Bai Xuan did not open his eyes; instead, he carefully felt the immense changes within himself.

Copper skin and iron flesh, Steel Tendons and jade bones… After a thousand refinements, his flesh and blood, having absorbed a large amount of transcendent energy, had already become extraordinary.

He looked at his right palm; his originally icy, jade-like skin now had a metallic luster, yet it still looked perfect, with pores and textures barely visible, without a single flaw.

“Truly powerful!”

The numerical bonuses of Steel Body were very generous, even more so than Zhenwu Sword.

This also meant that Bai Xuan had become significantly stronger again.

If he were to face a First Order Virus Apostle again, Bai Xuan was confident he could kill it within ten seconds.

Of course,

getting stronger was just routine for Bai Xuan.

It was only when Bai Xuan turned his gaze to the skill bar.

“Golden Wind Lung, Boiling Blood Heart…”

“I didn't expect High-Level Mutants to be even rarer than I predicted, preventing me from gathering the five corresponding advanced skills for the five internal organs.”

“When I gather the five advanced skills corresponding to the five internal organs, plus Steel Body, what kind of skill will I be able to synthesize then?”

“At that time, what I possess will no longer be advanced skills, but transcendent skills, First Order skills.”

“But I'm not worried. Although High-Level Mutants are rare, there must still be some.”

“I'll find them eventually if I search slowly.”

“Let's continue hunting.”

… … …

… … …

【Jiang Yuxi: The hype has passed, come out and play.】

【Jiang Yuxi: Let's go eat, watch a movie, get a massage.】

That night, lying in bed, Bai Xuan smiled slightly as he looked at the message Jiang Yuxi sent.

【Bai Xuan: Okay.】

【Bai Xuan: I haven't been out these past few days, I really need to get some fresh air.】

【Jiang Yuxi: Oh, these days we haven't met, Bai Xuan, you don't even miss your Good Brother, how cold-blooded and heartless.】

【Bai Xuan: Being naughty again, are we?】

Jiang Yuxi sent an emoji.

A small cat with an arrogant expression, saying, “If you have the guts, come and punish me!”

【Jiang Yuxi: Please punish me.】

【Bai Xuan: … …】

【Bai Xuan: If I really made a move, you'd be unhappy again.】

【Bai Xuan: Good Brother, I feel like you've changed.】

【Jiang Yuxi: People naturally change, Good Brother, haven't you changed too?】

【Jiang Yuxi: Your changes are even greater than mine. Sometimes I wonder, if you change too much in the future, will we still be Good Friends?】

Seeing this message, Bai Xuan paused.

Yes.

His own changes were even greater, from the inside out, from physiology to psychology… his mortal flesh transforming into a Steel Body… in the future, he was destined to become a god and an immortal… an existence beyond gods and demons.

So…

would his future self still be Jiang Yuxi's Good Friend?

As his strength grew and his differences from humans widened, would he still retain his humanity?

“If gods and demons are truly that powerful, almost omnipotent, then retaining humanity shouldn't be difficult.”

“So, my future self will definitely possess humanity.”

“Since I possess humanity, I will still have emotions.”

Thinking this, Bai Xuan immediately typed a reply:

【Bai Xuan: I hope we can always be Good Friends.】

【Bai Xuan: But you mentioned the future; the variables of the future are too great. Who knows what we'll become in five years, ten years…】

【Jiang Yuxi: We will definitely get better and better.】

【Jiang Yuxi: I've thought about my future. Even if I'm a good-for-nothing in the future, without any abilities, my family can still support me. I won't lack money, nor will I lack time. How bad can life get?】

【Jiang Yuxi: Life is but thirty thousand days. I can completely use it to experience all sorts of things, learn all sorts of skills, and see all sorts of scenery. I think my life will be very exciting, and I definitely won't become a good-for-nothing, but will become more and more excellent.】

For ordinary people, Jiang Yuxi's life would undoubtedly be an extremely beautiful one.

However, in Bai Xuan's eyes, such a life seemed to lack something.

But then again, if he was destined to become an existence beyond gods and demons, then he would certainly not lack time.

Over the long years, he could also experience all sorts of things, learn all sorts of skills, and see all sorts of scenery.

In this process, having a companion seemed pretty good too.

Bai Xuan's eyes flickered slightly.