Chapter 200: Transmutation

The earth‑shaking, thunderous cackle finally ceased, and the Cave was silent for a moment, save for the faint murmur of lake water flowing.

Wang Shan remained half‑kneeling, his half‑human, half‑beast form unchanged; beneath the coiled muscles, the dark‑colored scales were even more distinct, as if they could burst through the skin at any moment. The scarlet and clarity in his eyes clashed like opposing armies, and after a fierce duel, a strange cease‑fire had been reached.

Li Hu and Zhang Mei dared not even breathe, watching from a distance, their hearts uneasy. The old ancestor's condition—one might call it a demonic deviation, yet his gaze was startlingly clear; but to say he was fine, who would believe it?

"Old ancestor… are you, are you alright?" Li Hu mustered courage and asked.

Wang Shan ignored him, merely directing his gaze toward the two grandsons who were practicing their techniques.

Wang Zhitao was bathed in circulating golden light, resembling a tiny golden statue, vigorously "digesting" the energy Wang Shan had passed on and feeding back the refined "residue" to help Wang Shan neutralize the Counter‑Devouring force within him. Wang Zhize, clutching a jade tablet, manipulated the energy vortex at the lake's bottom, further converting those "residue" into pure Spirit Qi for everyone to use.

A perfect cycle.

Wang Shan felt the energy returned by his grandsons, bearing the anti‑evil property, weak yet like a clear spring, dousing a lingering burn deep within his soul.

The Counter‑Devouring force of the Ten Thousand Beasts Reversal inside him still raged like an unbridled beast, charging wildly. But now, with this cycle, he no longer merely endured the blows; he possessed a rope that could somewhat restrain the beast.

Suppression?

No, why suppress?

A thought sprang up from deep within Wang Shan without any warning.

This power is so mighty, so primal, the very source of this land. The Beast Taming Sect idiots were driven mad by it because they only sought to control it, never considering… becoming part of it.

Wang Shan's spirit jolted; he no longer deliberately suppressed the raging beastly force, but instead, cautiously, he split off a thread of will thinner than a hair and reached out.

It was like a beast‑tamer, extending a hand to a peerless ferocious beast for the first time.

The power instantly sensed his intent, becoming even more ferocious, as if to tear his overreaching thread of will to shreds.

But Wang Shan did not retreat. His will, now tinged with that wild, domineering aura, was not torn apart; instead, it seemed to find a kindred spirit and stubbornly "stuck" to it.

An unprecedented sensation surged in his heart.

His perception seemed instantly amplified countless times, no longer confined to his own body. He could "hear" the rhythm of lake water lapping the shore, "smell" the various fragrances emitted by Spirit Plants in the air, and even "see" the flow of life energy within an unremarkable glowing vine beside him.

This thing… can it really be used like this?

Wang Shan's heart leapt; a bolder idea formed in his mind.

His thought, following that beastly force, extended outward again, this time targeting that glowing vine with clear intent.

"Grow!"

A simple, blunt command issued from his will.

In the next second, an incredible scene unfolded.

The vine, originally only as thick as an arm, seemed to have been sprayed with a growth accelerator, emitting a creak—creak growth sound, and it surged upward and thickened at a sight‑visible speed! Within a few breaths, it swelled into a bucket‑thick colossal vine, its glow flickering, brimming with explosive vitality.

"Whoa!" Li Hu blurted out, unable to hold back.

Zhang Mei also covered her mouth, eyes wide as saucers.

What divine technique is this? Accelerating Spirit Plant growth? This is far more impressive than an alchemist's tricks!

Wang Zhitao and Wang Zhize were also startled, halting their techniques and watching curiously.

"Grandpa, it seems to be listening to you?" Wang Zhize asked in a baby‑like voice, his big eyes full of stars.

"Hey, that's interesting."

Wang Shan grinned, his hardened skin making the smile appear especially stark. He felt like a child who had discovered a new toy, his playful spirit soaring.

"What's the use of growing fast? It must be hard enough, ruthless enough!"

The thought stirred again!

The surface of the bucket‑thick giant vine instantly sprouted countless tiny offshoots, twisting and interlacing in the air; their tips sharpened rapidly, turning in an instant into gleaming, cold‑shining spikes, like mace‑like wolf‑fang rods.

And it's not over yet!

Wang Shan shifted his will, and several of the thickest vines abruptly detached from the main body, like animated giant serpents, swooshing through the air and generating whooshing sounds, forming a temporary defensive barrier that shielded the group inside.

"This…" Li Hu could no longer speak.

Wang Shan was still unsatisfied; he commanded one of the vines, mimicking the attack pattern of a mythical beast from memory, and hurled it fiercely toward a towering rock several people high in the distance!

"Bang!"

A deafening blast!

The hard rock, under the vine's strike, shattered like tofu, splitting into pieces with fragments flying everywhere!

Wang Zhitao and Wang Zhize were both stunned.

Wang Shan himself was momentarily stunned, then a terrifying gleam flashed in his eyes. The power of this strike… was probably on par with a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator's full‑force blow!

【Ding! Detected that the Zhuren has initially mastered the Ten Thousand Beasts Reversal transformation derivation ability — Environment Resonance (Primary)!】

【Ability Description: This ability allows the Zhuren to imprint their own will onto certain lifeforms within the Ten Thousand Beasts Origin, using Counter‑Devouring force as a medium, to achieve preliminary control and alteration.】

The system's cold notification sounded at the right moment, confirming Wang Shan's hypothesis.

Good! What a fine Environment Resonance!

Wang Shan's heart pounded. This is no curse; it's clearly a supreme divine power delivered by the heavens themselves!

With this ability, the entire Cave becomes his domain, doesn't it? Every plant here could become his eyes, his ears, his weapons!

Isn't the Golden Core Elder from the Ten Thousand Beasts Gate coming? Fine! Let him come!

Here, Wang Shan is a god!

"System! Give me an in‑depth analysis of this 'Environment Resonance', combine it with the Beast Taming Sect's Array knowledge, and see if we can devise a grand formation," Wang Shan shouted in his mind.

【Ding! Task established, now extrapolating based on the Zhuren's existing knowledge base… Extrapolation will consume massive energy; please maintain energy supply.】

"Energy supply sufficient!"

Wang Shan glanced at Wang Zhize, who was diligently "converting" Spirit Qi, and felt a deep sense of assurance.

However, before the guest arrives, he must first settle the little treasures at home.

He turned, looking toward a stone wall behind him. In his perception, the wall was hollow inside.

His will extended outward again, this time not to spur vines, but to directly connect with the tangled plant roots beneath the stone wall.

Move aside.

A single command went out.

The soil and plant roots beneath the stone wall, as if soldiers receiving orders, began to writhe and recede on their own. Soon, a hidden passage just wide enough for one person appeared at the foot of the stone wall. Around the entrance, several plants automatically drooped their branches and leaves, perfectly disguising the opening; from the outside, no abnormality could be detected at all.

"Zhitao, Zhi Ze, you two go in with Li Hu and Zhang Mei first," Wang Shan said, pointing at the passage. "Grandfather will set something up outside to properly 'entertain' our guests."

"Grandfather, we want to help you," Wang Zhitao looked up, his face earnest.

Wang Shan smiled, reached out and patted his little head; his palm, beneath the scales, moved with surprising gentleness.

"What you're doing now is giving Grandfather the greatest help. Rest assured, once Grandfather deals with those flies outside, it'll be your turn to show your skills."

His mindset now is completely different from before.

The beastly power within his body still roared, but his reason was like a stabilizing needle, firmly controlling that force. He could clearly feel his strength growing every moment, yet the fear of losing control had vanished.

Beastliness and humanity, power and reason, within him achieved an unprecedented, subtle balance.

He is no longer the Wang Shan who struggled to survive.

He is the king of this forbidden land, a hunter about to begin his hunt.

Wang Shan licked his cracked lips, his gaze piercing the Cave as if he could see the enemy rapidly approaching.

Wan Tiande... right?

"Old man has prepared this great gift for you; be sure to keep it safe."