Transformation

"You are Shennong, destined to taste every herb and eat every beast. You won't do without a strong enough stomach..."

Xu Yanwu muttered softly as a vast amount of energy flowed from within him into Lianshan's body.

"Let's give Lianshan his first transformation. Making him stronger isn't something that can be done overnight..."

As Xu Yanwu spoke, he began focusing intently on altering Lianshan's body with his power.

"Ah..."

Lianshan had no idea what was happening. He only felt as if his abdomen were being scorched by flames, and beads of sweat immediately formed on his forehead.

"Brother Xu, what are you doing?!"

"Teaching you how to become stronger!"

Xu Yanwu did not explain much. As his power coursed through Lianshan's body, it had already sealed off Lianshan's ability to move. Next came the enhancement of Lianshan's body.

"Rapid digestion, physical-strengthening core, resilient stomach lining..."

In one go, Xu Yanwu modified Lianshan's stomach and intestines. First came the ability of rapid digestion. At the very least, Lianshan would never suffer from overeating again.

Next came the matter of strengthening his body. Xu Yanwu did not directly reinforce Lianshan's body; instead, he gave Lianshan's stomach the ability to use the energy produced through digestion to strengthen his body.

If Lianshan could eat every Honkai Beast in the world, he might truly achieve sainthood through his flesh alone...

Those were the two most important abilities. The rest merely ensured that Lianshan's digestive system could digest anything. They were not especially powerful abilities, but they were more than enough for Lianshan.

Xu Yanwu had actually wanted to add a Stigmata to Lianshan as well, but he knew nothing at all about Stigmata, so he temporarily set the idea aside.

Once he found other Stigmata bearers and studied them, he would try installing a Stigmata in Lianshan... one that a man could use.

After completing the transformation and releasing his suppression of Lianshan, Xu Yanwu rose to his feet in excitement—only for his legs to go weak, nearly making him fall.

"Damn it, I overused my energy again... Feeling a little weak..."

"Brother Xu?!" Lianshan had just climbed up when he saw Xu Yanwu sway. Thinking Xu Yanwu was about to fall, he hurriedly reached out to grab him—only to send Xu Yanwu flying with a single wave of his hand.

"???"

Lianshan stared at his own hand in disbelief, as though he could not believe he had done that.

Smack...

After being sent flying by Lianshan, Xu Yanwu hit the ground. When he climbed back up and heard Lianshan's words, he could not help getting angry—the kind that could not be soothed!

"You little brat, do you know how much energy I used to make you stronger? And you dare lay hands on me?"

Although Xu Yanwu was somewhat weakened right now, he could still put some effort into giving Lianshan a beating.

Besides, Xu Yanwu had modified Lianshan's body. Even if he got injured, he could heal himself after eating a hearty meal.

"Don't hit me, don't hit me! Brother Xu! What's going on? Why did my strength suddenly become so great?"

Lianshan clutched his head and endured Xu Yanwu's painful "affection," thoroughly expressing his utter confusion over the current situation.

"Obviously! I made you stronger! Otherwise, you couldn't even beat Ji Lin! What would you use to prove you deserve her, huh?"

Xu Yanwu spat out the dust that had gotten into his mouth when he hit the ground and continued, "But your current strength still makes you a weakling. Ji Lin's future growth will be terrifying. Do you want to keep following behind her and letting her protect you?"

"I..."

After being berated by Xu Yanwu, Lianshan could not help clenching his fists.

"Although I don't look down on women,

I don't think men should hide behind women! That is a man's shame!"

Xu Yanwu snorted. "Lianshan, do you want to stand behind Ji Lin, or stand before her and bear everything for her?"

"I..." Lianshan shouted, "I want to protect Ji Lin!!!"

"Even if it costs me my life, I will protect her!"

Seeing Lianshan roar at the sky, Xu Yanwu revealed a gratified smile and stretched out his hand... then slapped Lianshan to the ground. "What are you yelling for? Afraid someone might not hear you?"

"Don't tell anyone about what happened today."

Xu Yanwu habitually stroked his chin. "There's still plenty I can teach you. I just don't know how far you'll be able to go..."

By the time Xu Yanwu carried the dust-covered Lianshan—who had tripped and fallen repeatedly after his sudden surge in strength—back to the tribe, night had already fallen. Torches had been lit throughout the tribe, illuminating the work in everyone's hands.

"Lord Ying Long, you have returned."

After the guard bowed to Xu Yanwu, he looked curiously at Lianshan slung over Xu Yanwu's shoulder. "Lord Jiang Zhu is...?"

"It's nothing. I took him out today to broaden his horizons. Where are Ji Lin and the others?"

Xu Yanwu waved a hand dismissively and asked about Ji Lin and the others.

"The Chief, Lady Chi Yuan, and the others are making new clothes with the women. After the attack, much of our winter preparation was destroyed. We need to hurry and prepare before winter arrives."

"Hm?"

Xu Yanwu raised a brow. Ji Lin was making clothes? Chi Yuan was too?

Wow, this was something Honkai Impact 3rd had never mentioned!

Ji Lin was actually this virtuous?

She could kill Honkai Beasts on the battlefield, then become a good wife and mother off it?

Lianshan, you really did have good taste!

"Then what are you doing?"

Xu Yanwu looked with interest at the chunks of beast meat laid out nearby and guessed, "Are you... curing meat?"

The guard froze for a moment, then shook his head with a bitter smile. "You jest, Lord Ying Long. How could we have enough salt rocks to cure meat? We are only smoking dried meat."

After saying that, the guard returned to his work. Xu Yanwu remained where he was, patting Lianshan's body as he softly asked, "Lianshan, has life in your tribe always been like this?"

"Mm... Actually, life like this is already quite good."

There was a sorrow in Lianshan's voice, as if he had seen all the suffering of the people. "We are all weak. We have no power at all to defend ourselves against those terrifying monsters. If Ji Lin had not stepped forward, we would not even have this kind of life."

Xu Yanwu fell silent for a moment. He felt that there was something he could do.

So Xu Yanwu patted Lianshan on the backside and said, "Lianshan, I've changed my mind. Not only must you possess great strength."

"You must also lead these people to the pinnacle!"