On the attribute panel, after confirming the branch, Zhang Rongfang immediately allocated all available attribute points to health.
Health skyrocketed from 1703 to 1803.
And the new special trait talent also began to naturally become clear from being vague.
’Gene Simulation’.
This is a new special trait talent belonging to the ultimate biological entity.
And the explanation is very simple.
’You can read and simulate portions of other organisms’ genes at a genetic level, with the completeness of the simulation based on your understanding of the target’s genes.’
’This ability... is interesting.’
Zhang Rongfang raised his hand, feeling the blood cells under his skin gaining adjustment and modification under some special power.
This modification is not confined to a single part but occurs across the whole body comprehensively.
’Simulation... well, let’s give it a try.’
Before long, he felt the ability had already been modified, and immediately raised his right hand.
Hiss.
In an instant, his palm began to elongate, nails sharpened, and skin started to darken.
Soon, coarse black hairs even grew out.
This was another man’s palm, someone he remembered he’d killed, a Grandmaster.
Back then, during the blood and flesh replenishment, he preserved the opponent’s genes.
Now it came out instinctively at a mere thought.
The sensation of utilizing it was quite intriguing.
Zhang Rongfang simply felt he could morph, and then he successfully transformed.
He paused, flexed his palm, then stood up straightforwardly, resting quietly by the blood pool.
Swish.
Suddenly, he spread his arms upward and leapt.
His body swiftly rose into the air, rapidly changing mid-air.
Long hair became short, skin darkened, face widened, pores grew coarser, muscle lines thicker.
In less than a second, Zhang Rongfang vanished.
Replaced by an unknown dark-haired burly man, totally unfamiliar.
He lightly landed by the blood pool and took a step forward.
After a step.
His entire body changed again, turning into a bald-headed monk from the Western Sect.
Another step.
He transformed into a gaunt elderly man with white hair.
As Zhang Rongfang continued to step forward.
His appearance continually transformed, shifting into various forms and looks.
No matter which part of the body, it could be altered freely.
He approached a massive copper mirror inside the cave.
He lifted his head to look at his reflection in the mirror.
The cold visage in the light rapidly transformed into various faces.
Zhang Dingye from the Jade Void Palace, Cheng Hui from the Golden Wing Pavilion, Jin Yuan from the Western Sect, Fierce General Zhou Yan, even older ones like Kong Yuhui, Shangguan Zhi, his side’s Qingsu, Tang Xinyi from the Reversal Society, his disciple Chang Yuqing, his sister Zhang Rongyu, Ran Xinyue....
Numerous faces and forms continuously changed Zhang Rongfang’s body.
Until finally, he completely shrank, morphing into a familiar young boy’s face.
It was Zhang Huanqing.
A rapid shrinkage from an adult to a child less than half his previous height.
This exaggerated transformation instantly startled another observer.
’I....!! What did you do just now??!’ Bai Lin could no longer suppress the horror in her heart.
If the prior changes could be associated with shape-shifting and bone-altering martial skills, then this last one... was truly too outrageous.
’Nothing much, just created a new martial skill for disguise. No need to be shocked.’ Zhang Rongfang replied calmly.
’Your speed is way too fast!? Bai Lin watched the mirror, her skin crawling at the incessant morphing of Zhang Rongfang’s reflection.
Wait!
She seemed to have spotted her own face just now!
’Wait, why did you disguise as me?!’ she exclaimed in horror.
’Just trying it out, don’t panic.’ Zhang Rongfang answered placidly.
At this moment, he had transformed into the guise of Saint Emperor Meng Qian, lightly fanning out a folding fan identical to his.
Of course, in gene simulation, it’s not just appearance that’s similar.
But he hadn’t obtained Meng Qian’s genes, thus couldn’t acquire his talents.
As for the robe, tool fan, etc., they transformed via blood manipulation.
Turning around, Zhang Rongfang put away the fan, closed his eyes, and stepped forward.
Churt!
His entire body silently dissolved, morphing instantly into a massive crimson leopard, softly landing.
The leopard leaped again, transforming into a red stag.
The stag landed, turned, and became a giant bat retracting its wings.
The bat spread its wings, finally reverting to Zhang Rongfang’s original form.
’!!!!!!!?’
Bai Lin was utterly dumbfounded in her own Void.
’You call this a martial skill?!!’ she almost screamed into Zhang Rongfang’s ear.
’Of course it is.’ Zhang Rongfang’s face remained unchanged.
He’d already tested it: once he’d acquired someone’s or an organism’s genes, after simulation, he could gain part of their talents.
Those he hadn’t obtained genes from, he could only mimic their appearance.
’Martial skills can be this monstrous!?’ Though Bai Lin often got startled by Zhang Rongfang, this time, she was really paralyzed with awe.
She’d never seen any disguise, shape-shifting martial skills from any sect in her long life that could achieve such dramatic effects.
’It’s nothing special.’ Zhang Rongfang raised his right hand, pointing.
Immediately, a flock of identical Little Red Birds fluttered out of the blood pool.
’See, this is also part of disguise skill.’
He twirled his fingers, directing the Little Red Birds flying around the cave tirelessly.
Another point.
A graceful one-eyed woman in a white dress slowly walked out of the Blood Pool.
It was White Scale.
"Master, I am White Scale No. 1."
Soon, the second one-eyed woman followed.
"Master, I am White Scale No. 2."
"I am No. 3."
"I am No. 4...."
Soon, a dozen White Scales emerged from the Blood Pool, densely packed.
’Don’t you think it’s fun....’ White Scale exclaimed exasperatedly in Zhang Rongfang’s mind.
’It is quite fun.’ Zhang Rongfang chuckled.
With his hands gently clasped, all the White Scales turned into blood water scattering on the ground, then transformed into patches of blood-colored vegetation and flower clusters, covering the entire cave abode.
In an instant, the entire Human Immortal Cave turned into a vibrant secret cave.
Although it looked impressive, Zhang Rongfang also knew that it was all superficial.
He couldn’t fully understand the construction of plant genes, so the plants he created were just appearances.
’You’re becoming more and more like us.’ White Scale said complexly.
’No, fundamentally, I am completely different from you.’ Zhang Rongfang slightly shook his head.
Essentially, for him now, the ability of gene simulation wasn’t enhancing his fighting prowess, but his environmental adaptability.
If he wished, as long as he could obtain the other party’s genes, he could become anyone.
This transformation wasn’t just superficial; it meant becoming a real individual with exactly the same talents as the other party.
’It’s a pity that this ability didn’t appear when I was weaker. Now, it’s not very useful.’
Zhang Rongfang exhaled.
’White Scale.’
’What’s up, what’s wrong?’
’Next, I’m planning to retreat from the world and go into seclusion. I need you to keep an eye on the outside situation for me.’
’All right, after all, those stronger than me have been cut down by you and are slowly recovering in the Void. The ones left aren’t worth worrying about.’ White Scale was still sulking over what had just happened.
’That’s good.’ Zhang Rongfang smiled. ’By the way, have you ever thought about going beyond the celestial sphere?’
’Beyond the celestial sphere?’ White Scale was taken aback, ’You... haven’t been influenced by that Moon God guy, have you?’
’If the celestial sphere truly keeps contracting, then going out might be a choice we inevitably have to face.’ Zhang Rongfang replied.
’.....’ White Scale was silent.
’Think about it, if you’re willing, maybe you could accompany me outside.’
Zhang Rongfang mentioned, as he stepped out of the cave abode, raising his head to look at the sky that was gradually becoming dim.
’Who could have known that this seemingly boundless sky is actually finite?’
’Substituting the infinite with the finite is ultimately just a lie.’
He stretched out his hand, palm facing up.
Previously, before knowing the truth about this world, he felt nothing.
But now, knowing the truth, he suddenly felt an intense urge to break out of the cage.
All of a sudden, he seemed to somewhat understand the Moon God.
*
*
*
Outside the celestial sphere.
Thunk.
Two humanoid forms with black wings and vertical pupils stood motionless. Seconds later, they slowly collapsed to the ground, a purple viscous liquid oozing from the purple eyes at their chests.
The Moon God withdrew his hand, a bit of this liquid on his fingertips.
He quickly squatted down and wiped it on the ground’s soil.
But his fingers still felt a piercing pain.
As he raised his hand, he saw a faint charred blackness on his fingertips.
Ooooo~~~~
Suddenly, a soft sound resembling a horn drifted faintly from a distance.
The Moon God’s expression changed abruptly, quickly surveying his surroundings.
The sky was overcast with dense clouds, occasionally pierced by faint trails of lightning.
Below lay a charred city in ruins, with cracks in the ground from which lava seeped, glowing red.
The air was filled with a pungent toxic smoke, impossible for humans to breathe.
The Moon God had long left the previous black mud hills, and he had indeed found a town along the road.
But the town he found had long since been destroyed into ruins.
Now the wailing sound gradually weakened and diminished.
The Moon God finally found a hiding spot, darting into a tilted bridge arch, curling up.
The wailing finally ceased completely.
The clouds began to tear open, revealing gaps.
Brilliant white celestial light, like columns of white jade, descended from above, falling into the town ruins, connecting heaven and earth.
Boom!
Boom boom boom!!
Numerous pillars of celestial light fell into the ruins, emitting a heavy thudding sound.
Creating large holes through some charred buildings in the town.
Crouched under the bridge, the Moon God remained motionless, quietly watching the cascading light pillars from the side.
As long as the celestial light pillars didn’t directly shine upon him, they posed no danger.
Now the light pillars, like searchlights, slowly illuminated the once-dark world.
’What has happened to this world....?’ The Moon God gazed at the light pillars, momentarily lost in thought.
Fortunately, the duration of the celestial light was short, lasting only a few minutes before the clouds covered it again.
Relieved, the Moon God emerged from his hiding spot.
Suddenly, he paused, sharply turning to look behind him.
Swish!
A figure appeared behind him out of thin air at that moment.
"Boss, come and look, there’s a living person here?" The newcomer, looking at him, was equally surprised.
He spoke the same language but with slight variations in accent, making it easily understandable.