Chapter Seventy-Three: The Creation of Space [Seeking Subscription]

After mastering the procedures for producing the two hormones and all the necessary precautions in the laboratory, Li Yang went to the Ren residence to find Master Ren. He asked for his help in escorting the laboratory’s materials and equipment, along with the three doctors, out of Renjia Town and to Hong Kong Island, where they would join Zhao Yuehua and the others.

Staring at the now deserted mountain villa, Li Yang found himself somewhat unaccustomed to the emptiness. Shaking his head to dispel the inexplicable emotions welling up inside, his figure blurred, and by the time he reappeared, he was already standing atop the peak behind the mountain.

“This time, whether or not I succeed all depends on you,” he said, pulling out the golden toad from his pocket. Stroking its slick, leathery skin, Li Yang smiled as he spoke.

During this period, Li Yang had tried more than once to carve open a dimensional space in the void, but without exception, every attempt ended in failure. After repeated reflection, he gradually identified the root of the problem. Whether it was the paradises created by cultivators who had achieved earthly immortality, or the construction of the Bliss Spirit Houses, the first requirement was always a vessel to serve as the foundation.

To attempt to create a dimensional space out of nothing, at least before attaining true immortality, was simply impossible. Though the void appeared motionless, Li Yang, having merged with the abilities of the Golden Centipede, knew this was just an illusion; in reality, space was in constant flux, though ordinary people could never perceive it.

Without profound cultivation and a certain mastery of spatial laws, it was utterly impossible to conjure a stable dimensional space from thin air. As for the vessel, Li Yang was unwilling to settle for anything less than ideal; the future potential of the dimensional space hinged on this choice—it was best to use an object that already possessed spatial attributes.

But in the current world, treasures of heaven and earth were vanishingly rare, let alone objects imbued with the laws of space—those were even harder to find. With no other options, Li Yang had set his sights on the golden toad. The ancient three-legged golden toad was said to be able to devour heaven and earth, swallowing the universe whole, with a world of its own inside its belly—an ideal candidate for anchoring a dimensional space.

Though the golden toad’s bloodline was not yet fully awakened, the space within its belly should not be underestimated. Moreover, Li Yang only intended to open a small dimensional pouch, so the problem should not be insurmountable.

“Croak!”

Sensing Li Yang’s scheming gaze, the toad immediately began to croak loudly and struggle violently in his hand.

“All right, stop moving. Just cooperate with me and I’ll reward you with two pills. How about that?”

Seeing the toad’s lack of cooperation, Li Yang could only resort to bribery, promising a reward.

“Croak croak… croak croak croak!”

“What? Ten Pure Essence Pills? Why don’t you just rob me!”

Receiving the faint message echoing in his mind, Li Yang’s face was instantly filled with disbelief, and he shouted with a darkened expression.

“Croak croak croak…”

“Fine, you win. Ten it is—let’s see if you can eat that much!”

Faced with the toad’s animated gestures, Li Yang clenched his teeth in anger. As his cultivation deepened, this toad’s intelligence had grown as well, even learning how to take advantage of a crisis.

“Croak!”

Only after Li Yang agreed did the golden toad leap into his palm, assuming a cooperative posture.

Li Yang exhaled a long, heavy breath, closed his eyes, and above his head, a golden cloud of fortune rose out of nowhere. The cloud twisted and transformed into a centipede barely an inch long, which crawled straight into the toad’s wide-open mouth.

Guiding his spirit to control the transformed six-winged golden centipede, Li Yang followed the toad’s throat downward, soon finding himself in a dark, cavernous space.

A hissing, crackling sound filled the air as he gazed upon the vast stomach before him, with chaotic currents occasionally sweeping through the void. Li Yang’s face registered utter astonishment.

It was as if he were standing in a primordial chaos that had yet to take shape. If not for the faint sense of the toad’s emotions detected by his scanning spirit, he would never have believed he was inside a stomach.

“Well then… Xuantian Nine Transformations: Pangu Transformation!”

Looking at this miniature chaos, Li Yang was instantly inspired. His body twisted and transformed, morphing into a golden giant, a towering figure over sixteen feet tall, muscle-bulging and imposing.

“What a pity, I’m missing an axe,”

he commented with a wry grin, glancing at his empty hands. Somehow, it felt as though the image was all wrong.

“Open!”

With a thunderous roar, Li Yang pressed his palms together, and a dazzling golden light slashed forth. The currents of the void churned violently, the very fabric of space seeming to tremble in response.

“Croak!”

“Splat splat hiss hiss hiss…”

Just as Li Yang was basking in his own triumph at stirring the primordial chaos, a deafening croak echoed through the void. Instantly, the churning currents surged toward Li Yang, tossing him out in a heartbeat.

“All right, all right! I’ll get started immediately!”

Sensing the toad’s dissatisfaction and threat to raise the price echoing in his mind, Li Yang could only respond with a face full of frustration.

“Golden Centipede Transformation!”

Setting aside his playful mood, Li Yang let out a resounding shout, his expression grave, and transformed into a massive six-winged golden centipede, plunging headlong into the void.

Crackling, roaring sounds erupted as the fabric of space shattered, forming a gigantic cavity. The chaotic currents surged in all directions, and the entire space seemed on the verge of collapse.

“Ha… open!”

Seeing the rift in the void begin to close, Li Yang’s expression changed. Instantly, he transformed back into a golden giant, bracing himself forcefully to prevent the rift from sealing.

Cracks began to appear all over his golden form, as if he were a pane of glass about to shatter, his body struggling to hold its shape and threatening at any moment to dissolve into vapor.

“This is bad!”

Feeling the mounting pressure, Li Yang’s face changed dramatically. Golden light flashed behind him, and suddenly, multiple arms sprouted out of thin air, casting one after another of the hand seals recorded in the Bliss Spirit House against the void.

As he worked his magic, silver characters manifested in the void, locking the space and stamping themselves firmly onto the cavity.

Only then did the cavity contract violently, condensing into a silver-white moon, suspended stably at the heart of the chaotic sea.

In the same instant, the golden giant collapsed into a stream of golden vapor, spilling out from the silver-white moon and reconstituting itself into human form.

“Phew…”

“Thank goodness this is the space within the golden toad’s stomach. The void here is relatively stable, a world of its own. If I’d tried this outside, not to mention forming a space, the instant the void collapsed, my spirit would likely have been torn apart!”

Exhaling heavily, Li Yang wiped the imaginary sweat from his brow, his face still haunted by lingering fear. In that moment when the void collapsed, he had truly experienced what it meant to be pulverized. Fortunately, this was the spiritual form of the golden centipede, not his actual body; otherwise, he would have been reduced to pulp in an instant.

...

Three days later, Li Yang stood before the gates of the villa. Gazing at the place he had called home for three or four years, a barely perceptible trace of reluctance flickered in his eyes before he resolutely turned to leave.

As he walked through the bustling streets of Renjia Town, watching the lively scene, his black-and-white robe made him stand out awkwardly among the crowds clad in coarse homespun.

He first paid a visit to Master Ren’s home. Learning from Steward Tian that Master Ren was not in town, Li Yang produced a letter he’d prepared long before and asked Tian to pass it on to Master Ren. Then, without further ado, he turned and made his way toward the public mortuary in town.