I Arrived At Wizard World While Cultivating Immortality Chapter 668: Fusion Technology and Drastic Change

The operating table's shadowless lamp flickered off, and as Eric's eyes fluttered open, a silver-white ceiling greeted him. The intricate runes etched upon it gradually faded in the lingering light.

He remained still for a few moments before sitting up, his gaze dropping to his hands. They felt precisely as they had before the operation.

Clenching and releasing his fists, moving his wrists and shoulders, he detected no unusual sensations. He even felt a pang of hunger.

“It seems… there's no difference at all,” he murmured, touching his chest. This was the central point of the fifth seal. The skin there was smooth, devoid of any bumps or scars.

Jie Ming, positioned by the workbench, began tidying the surgical instruments. “You already possessed four Strange sealed within your body,” his calm voice resonated from across the room. “Flesh, soul, vitality, and mind—the four you are most acquainted with. You've effectively utilized the first two in treating patients: Flesh Distortion, which grants you perception and repair of physical injuries, and Soul Resonance, enabling you to touch and mend spiritual fissures. While you employ the vitality and mind Strange less frequently, you have grasped their fundamental operations.”

Eric nodded in affirmation. Flesh Distortion and Soul Resonance were indeed his signature skills at Noren Clinic, the very abilities that had allowed him to establish his reputation among the Association's physicians.

“The fifth Strange, now sealed within you,” Jie Ming announced, setting down an instrument and turning to face Eric, “is specifically designed to coordinate the other four.”

He approached the operating table, retrieved a palm-sized mirror from a nearby rack, and presented it to Eric.

As Eric took the mirror, he finally observed the subtle alteration in his appearance. His eyes seemed to possess greater depth. The color of his irises had deepened from a light gray to a dark gray, and a faint, almost imperceptible dark golden sheen now graced the whites of his eyes.

“Its name is inconsequential,” Jie Ming stated. “What matters is its innate trait: Coordination. It is neither the most powerful nor even the second most powerful. Without it, the four existing Strange within you can still function independently. However, they will inevitably clash, much like four musicians, each with their own artistic vision, playing without a conductor. The rhythm would descend into chaos, the melodies would falter, and eventually, your very soul would be torn asunder by their discord.”

“With this new addition, the four Strange can operate as a cohesive unit. Yet, it's not precisely a conductor. Think of it more as… a harmonizer. Keep that distinction firmly in mind.”

Jie Ming took the mirror back from Eric, returning it to its place on the rack. He then leaned against the operating table, arms crossed, observing Eric with a placid expression. “Your Strange sealing is now complete, each designated for its specific function. From this point onward, your progress hinges entirely on your own efforts in developing and utilizing these abilities. You must learn to comprehend, to fuse, and to innovate upon the Strange powers residing within you. Regard the capabilities of these five Strange as your palette of colors, and paint your own masterpiece. Do not allow them to merely scrawl aimlessly upon the canvas.”

Eric hopped off the operating table. His knees bent slightly upon landing, allowing him to adjust to his body's weight and newfound balance. Everything felt normal – in fact, it felt better than normal. He experienced a sensation akin to waking from a truly revitalizing sleep: brimming with energy, his body felt light, and every joint moved with effortless freedom.

“Teacher,” he addressed Jie Ming, looking up at him, “ordinary spirit mediums wouldn't normally attempt to seal five Strange within themselves, would they? That would be akin to suicide.”

Jie Ming cast a glance in his direction.

His gaze was calm, yet Eric felt an overwhelming pressure emanating from it.

Jie Ming remained silent, offering only a soft snort.

The sound echoed with remarkable clarity in the hushed atmosphere of the underground laboratory, like a glass bead striking metal. The lingering resonance carried an undisguised, almost deliberate, tone of mockery.

Realizing he had posed a foolish question, Eric promptly fell silent.

He climbed back onto the operating table, settled into a cross-legged position, placed his hands upon his knees, closed his eyes, and began to probe the presence of the five Strange within his body using his consciousness.

They felt like five distinct stars, each radiating a different hue, suspended deep within his soul and emitting energy fluctuations of varying frequencies.

Eric drew a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.

He understood his teacher’s intentions implicitly.

After all, for several years now, Jie Ming had been systematically cultivating this very notion within him.

Through increasingly sophisticated theoretical classes on Strange and research topics that delved into their very essence, Eric had come to grasp the profound implications of his current undertaking.

The technological hurdles for achieving a perfect fusion between humans and the Strange proved far more formidable than Jie Ming had initially anticipated.

This difficulty did not stem from the complexity of controlling the Strange, but rather from the inherent fragility of the human soul. No matter the extent of control exerted, the Strange would invariably begin to assimilate the human soul over time upon collision.

Of course, complete isolation could theoretically avert this issue.

However, if human souls and the 'Strange' were truly separate entities, then all of this endeavor would be utterly pointless.

Consequently, to perfect this technology, a fundamental alteration of ordinary human souls was a prerequisite.

After meticulously scrutinizing all the professor's posthumous research materials, Jie Ming arrived at a singular conclusion: the professor's theoretical direction was sound, but the chosen methodology was flawed. The professor had persistently attempted to enhance the 'compatibility' between the Strange and humans by refining sealing mechanisms, recalibrating energy frequencies, and optimizing fusion procedures. Yet, this approach inherently possessed limitations, and the professor had seemingly reached the absolute zenith of its potential.

Therefore, Jie Ming charted an entirely divergent course.

His strategy was to synthesize the Strange fusion theory he had independently discovered with technical-grade sealing methodologies.

The initial objective was to foster mutual adaptation among the Strange, thereby cultivating a stable, self-sustaining, and self-regulating collective. Following this, the entire integrated system would be seamlessly incorporated into the human soul.

Eric was designated as the inaugural 'experimental subject' for this groundbreaking concept.

From an extensive catalog of over ten thousand specimens, Jie Ming carefully selected three Strange entities intrinsically linked to essence, energy, and spirit, supplementing these with two more possessing affinities for mind and coordination.

To substantially elevate the probability of experimental success, Jie Ming deliberately opted for the lowest echelon of Hazard Grade Strange – entities that were exceedingly feeble, even within their designated grade.

With essence, energy, and spirit forming the bedrock, the mind acting as the commanding force, and coordination serving as the unifying 'adhesive,' the resultant compatibility between the Strange and the human soul was projected to achieve unprecedented heights!

Observing the ultimate outcomes, Jie Ming's innovative hypothesis proved remarkably effective.

The primary reason behind Eric's ascent to the esteemed position of a doctor was not solely attributable to his inherent talent and unwavering diligence, but more significantly, to the presence of the five Strange entities residing within him. The phenomena known as 'Flesh Distortion' and 'Soul Resonance,' in particular, had, through ceaseless application, integrated with his being to a degree far surpassing that of conventional spirit mediums.

"Teacher," Eric vocalized, his eyes snapping open, his expression imbued with profound seriousness. "I grasp the general principle now. Once I achieve complete mastery over these five Strange, adeptly wielding their unique abilities, and orchestrating their harmonious cooperation and fusion… at that pivotal juncture, my very life form shall undergo a fundamental transformation." He briefly paused, his voice softening incrementally. "I will become the very first human to attain perfect symbiosis with the Strange."

Jie Ming responded with a deliberate shake of his head.

"In principle, that is accurate. However, you are intimately familiar with the chasm that separates theoretical postulation from practical realization."

"Furthermore… even were you to achieve this singular success, it would represent merely your individual accomplishment. If our ultimate objective is to realize the complete fusion of humans and the Strange, several critical stages still lie ahead."

After a moment of contemplative silence, Jie Ming added, "Nevertheless, upon the successful culmination of your life form's transformation, utilizing you as a foundational source from which to extract and subsequently fuse Strange power with other humans should considerably simplify the ensuing processes."

"Setting aside considerations of the resultant power's efficacy post-fusion or constraints related to sample availability, the Strange power derived from your being should constitute the most advantageous material for propelling the human-Strange fusion initiative forward."

Eric became introspective, his gaze distant. Within the solemnity of this academic discourse, an unexpected query, entirely unrelated to their serious discussion, surfaced in his mind.

His lips moved, preceding any conscious regulatory thought from his brain:

"Teacher, speaking of which… ever since I gained dominion over that 'Flesh Distortion' Strange, my physical appearance has remained largely unchanged. Occasionally, when I catch my reflection, I perceive no discernible difference from five years prior. Will I, too, eventually reach a state like yours, where my appearance ceases to evolve?"

His eyes fixed upon Jie Ming's visage, which appeared precisely as it had a decade ago, bearing no discernible marks of the passage of time.

Jie Ming cast a glance at him, a subtle mockery now evident in his gaze, far more potent than the barely suppressed snort from earlier.

"This phenomenon is a direct indicator of your insufficient control over the 'Flesh Distortion' Strange and a deficit in your related knowledge," Jie Ming's tone remained unhurried and even. "Were your mastery complete, you would possess the ability to freely manipulate your own flesh and blood, assuming any desired form at will. This extends beyond mere superficial appearance – encompassing alterations in height, body composition, skin pigmentation, hair coloration, and even…"

He deliberately left the sentence unfinished.

Jie Ming's countenance shifted abruptly.

His pupils constricted with startling intensity for a fleeting instant, then dilated dramatically. A brilliant burst of dark golden light erupted from the depths of his irises.

Acting without conscious volition, his body propelled itself upwards, obliterating the ceiling of the subterranean laboratory.

The silver-white metallic plates overhead yielded as if made of paper. Debris consisting of concrete and brick fragments scattered violently along his upward trajectory. He transformed into a searing streak of light, surging from the underground depths into the first-floor bookstore, subsequently breaching the bookstore's roof and ascending into the overcast sky.

Eric remained momentarily stunned, before instinctively following suit.

His physical form reacted with far greater alacrity than his cognitive processes.

Within him, the Flesh Distortion technique activated at its peak, instantly pushing the strength of his muscles and bones to their absolute limit. His legs bent momentarily before he propelled himself off the ground, launching upwards like an arrow released from a bowstring, ascending through the aperture Jie Ming had formed.

Gravel and dust peppered his face, yet his skin automatically hardened, repelling all impacts.

As he rose, his hands reached out, grasped the edge of the aperture in the bookstore's roof, and with a swift maneuver, he landed soundly on the roof's crest.

Jie Ming remained suspended in the air, approximately fifty meters above the bookstore, his robes whipping dramatically in the wind.

His head was craned upwards, his gaze locked onto the heavens.

Eric mirrored his upward look, and his own expression became somber.

The reason was that the sky had undergone a transformation.

The sky above Mist Capital had never been a natural blue. For decades, save for the one occasion Jie Ming had torn a hole in it, it had perpetually maintained a grayish-white hue, irrespective of sunshine or clouds. Eric and the inhabitants of Mist Capital had long since grown accustomed to this pervasive grayness, as naturally as they accepted breathing and the beating of their hearts.

But now, the gray had vanished entirely.

In its place, an extraordinarily peculiar and unnatural shade of dark purple had emerged. This deep purple covered the sky uniformly, clearly not a product of natural phenomena. It appeared as though the entire sky had been draped with an immense purple tapestry. Intertwined within the purple were fine, black patterns that writhed slowly. At first glance, they bore a resemblance to the intricate veins of some colossal organism.

“This… is…” Eric’s voice emerged, hoarse.

He gazed at the dark purple expanse above, feeling an unsettling sensation, as if he were witnessing something that had no right to exist in this reality.

Jie Ming maintained his position in the air, not descending.

His gaze shifted from the sky downwards, towards the ordinary people proceeding along the streets.

The bakery owner's wife was meticulously cleaning the counter at her shop's entrance, her movements as languid and unhurried as ever.

Two children were joyfully chasing each other down an alley, their laughter ringing clear and bright.

A man clad in a gray coat ambled along the cobblestone pathway, a cloth bag slung over his shoulder and an unlit cigarette perched in his mouth.

Apart from a segment of the populace drawn by the commotion when Jie Ming had previously smashed through the rooms, the overwhelming majority of the residents seemed utterly unfazed. No one displayed any sort of reaction to the sky's altered color.

This implied that they were incapable of perceiving the bizarre shift in the heavens.

Consequently, only individuals possessing heightened perception, such as spirit mediums or wizards, could detect this anomaly.

“Teacher,” Eric heard his own voice struggle out, sounding distinctly unlike his usual self. “What is this?”

Jie Ming offered no immediate reply.

He remained suspended, his eyes narrowed slightly, as if concentrating to discern some subtle presence.