Chapter 176: Abyssal Research Journal

"What's going on..."

Luo En muttered in a low voice, feeling his brain being squeezed by invisible pressure, his thinking becoming sluggish and chaotic.

This feeling was completely different from ordinary fatigue, more like some kind of overload from the depths of the spirit.

When he tried to continue reading, the text before his eyes seemed to begin to twist, turning into incomprehensible symbols, and then reorganizing into terrifying visions.

"It seems the mental load is too heavy." Luo En gritted his teeth and barely closed the book.

Even with his High Apprentice spiritual power of 4.0, reading this forbidden book involving abyssal knowledge for several hours in a row was still a huge challenge.

He couldn't help but recall the old guard's warning—when you gaze into the abyss, the abyss is also gazing into you.

"If I were still at the Middle Apprentice stage, I'm afraid I would have had this situation after reading only a few pages."

He thought self-deprecatingly, rubbing his temples.

Then he took a deep breath, letting his breathing gradually stabilize.

Then he began to operate basic meditation, circulating his spiritual power slowly to alleviate the stinging pain like needle pricks.

"Greed leads to indigestion; the content of this classic is far more profound and dangerous than I imagined."

He made a rational decision: "Postpone reading the rest for a period of time, giving the spirit enough time to relax."

Putting the "Abyssal Creature Atlas" carefully into a specially made lockbox, Luo En set up several protective arrays to ensure that the energy fluctuations within would not leak outward.

This knowledge from the abyss is like a double-edged sword, which can bring power but also become the root of destruction.

When Luo En got up and left the workbench, his gaze fell on the storage cabinet in another corner—where the tissue samples he had purchased from the Manticore corpse not long ago were stored.

"Such precious abyssal creature samples, just right for testing the effect of my newly acquired 'Insight' trait."

Luo En smiled slightly, his thoughts turning in another direction.

He recalled the insights he gained in the dissection class, as well as that clear cognition of the structure of extraordinary creatures; Extraordinary Biology had also officially reached the "Proficient" level.

"This means I have met all the conditions to advance to 'Bloodline Modulator'."

Luo En pondered in his heart, and a sense of expectation gradually rose.

Since performing well at the Bloody Gladiator Society and advancing to High Apprentice, he had met all the conditions for applying for the Bloodline Modulator qualification certification.

And now, even without formal external certification, he could first take this new profession through the career panel.

Luo En walked to the center of the laboratory, held his breath, and called out his career panel.

The transparent information interface unfolded before his eyes, detailing his current status and selectable advancement paths.

【Bloodline Modulator (Two-Star) advancement conditions met:

1. Basic Pharmacology reached Mastery √

2. Extraordinary Biology reached Proficient √

3. Bloodline Modulation reached Proficient √

4. Successfully performed at least three different types of bloodline modulation √】

【Whether to immediately change career to—Bloodline Modulator (Two-Star)】

"The conditions have all been met." Luo En took a deep breath, his eyes flickering with expectant light.

Bloodline Modulator, this profession, which is even rarer than a potion master, specializes in the understanding and transformation of the bloodlines of extraordinary creatures.

For most apprentices, this is almost an unreachable dream.

Not only does it require a deep foundation in pharmacology, but it also requires an essential understanding of extraordinary creatures.

More importantly, it requires that intuitive insight into the essence of life, which is a realm that the vast majority of people cannot reach in their entire lives.

But for Luo En, who possesses the dual additional traits of "Trace Tracking" and "Insight," he already possesses bloodline perception ability far exceeding those of the same rank.

"Let's start."

Luo En concentrated, confirming in his heart: "Change career to Modulator."

A warm energy surged from deep within his body, spreading rapidly to his whole body.

Similar to previous career changes, but with obvious differences.

This energy was more vivid and active, as if countless tiny lives were flowing in his body.

Every cell, every meridian, every tissue was being awakened, activated, and reshaped.

Luo En could feel a strange change happening—his perception of life was undergoing a qualitative change.

In the past, even with the assistance of the two major additional traits of "Trace Tracking" and "Insight," his understanding of biological bodies only stayed at the level of "seeing" and "analyzing."

But now, this perception became more direct and instinctive, as if the other party was actively telling him their secrets.

From before, those life fluctuations that required concentration to detect could now be clearly captured with just a slight focus;

The bloodline structures that could only be vaguely perceived in the past could now be intuitively understood as if reading an open book.

If a small insect were placed in his palm, he could even perceive every tiny energy node and bloodline characteristic within its body.

This was like suddenly mastering a brand-new language, capable of talking directly to life itself.

【Career change successful!】

【Obtained profession: Modulator (Two-Star)】

【Basic attribute improvement:

Spirit: 4.0→4.2 (+0.2)

Magic Power: 2.55→2.75 (+0.2)

Physique: 2.75→2.85 (+0.1)】

Luo En felt the new energy surging in his body, especially surprised by the obvious improvement in physique.

Unlike Potion Master and Alchemist, which mainly improve spirit and magic power, after advancing to Modulator, it actually has a certain strengthening effect on the flesh itself.

This is also reasonable:

As a profession that needs to frequently contact various extraordinary biological tissues and energy, the resistance brought by a stronger physique is undoubtedly a necessary guarantee.

But what is even more surprising is the special bonus that appeared subsequently:

【Special bonus:

1. Bloodline-related ability acquisition speed increased by a medium amount

2. Transformation efficiency of biological tissues increased by a medium amount

3. Understanding ability of bloodline essence increased by a medium amount】

These bonuses directly raised Luo En's bloodline research ability to a brand-new height.

Allowing him to more accurately identify the bloodline purity and characteristics of various creatures, which is crucial for selecting suitable experimental materials.

Luo En tried to reach out and touch the two different tissue samples in the culture dish.

To his surprise, these two tissues, which were originally somewhat incompatible, began to fuse slowly under the guidance of his magic power, forming a brand-new mixture, and there were basically no signs of instability.

This ability required complex rituals and precise calculations to barely achieve in the past, but now, he could easily complete it just by operating magic power.

"This is the true power of the Modulator bonus..."

Luo En exclaimed in his heart and had a deeper understanding of the potential of this new profession.

However, the surprise did not end there.

"Now let's look at the changes in skills." Luo En muttered to himself, checking the skill panel.

Just as expected, several key skills also underwent fusion evolution:

【Skill linkage detected: Bloodline Modulation (Proficient) + Extraordinary Biology (Proficient) + Material Transmutation (Proficient)】

【Bloodline Modulation (Proficient) has automatically advanced to: Bloodline Shaping (Proficient 1/100)】

A brand-new knowledge system unfolded in Luo En's heart.

This is no longer simple bloodline adjustment or energy guidance, but a life reshaping technology that goes deeper into the essence.

"Bloodline Shaping" perfectly combines the theoretical knowledge of Extraordinary Biology with the practical skills of Bloodline Modulation, plus the powerful reality-shaping ability of Material Transmutation.

When the Bloodline Modulation skill completed its advancement, he associated it with the "Life Alchemy" mentioned in ancient alchemy:

This special technology can not only be used to improve the abilities of existing creatures but also reshape their basic structure, creating brand-new life forms that completely meet the designer's intentions.

And the "Bloodline Shaping" he has now obtained might be the prototype of "Life Alchemy."

Luo En closed his eyes, letting this new power flow in his body.

When he opened his eyes again, the world had become different.

He could see tiny life forms floating in the air, perceive the life energy flowing in plants, and even detect the subtle changes in the bloodline inside the ancient tree of Ailan in the distance.

"Amazing..." Luo En exclaimed softly, shocked by this deep-level cognitive transformation.

To test the specific effects of this new ability, he walked toward the storage cabinet where the Manticore tissue samples were kept.

Taking out a small piece of well-preserved heart tissue, Luo En placed it in a specially made observation dish.

In the past, he needed various instruments and reagents to analyze the basic structure and energy characteristics of the tissue.

But now, just by focusing his attention on the sample, he could "see" countless information flows presented before his eyes.

【Manticore Second Heart

Main function: Magic power circulation and conversion

Special structure: Triple energy chamber, forming a closed-loop circuit

Energy characteristics: High conversion rate, low loss

Abyssal influence: Medium

Usable value: Relatively high】

This intuitive, almost instinctive analysis ability gave Luo En an unprecedented sense of control.

"This is not just the mastery of knowledge, but a direct perception of the essence of life."

Luo En took a deep breath, feeling the brand-new perspective brought by the Bloodline Modulator.

He began to try to use the "Bloodline Shaping" skill to make small-scale adjustments to the Manticore heart tissue.

His spiritual power was like a precision scalpel, easily cutting into the interior of the tissue, guiding the energy to flow along specific paths.

Every tiny adjustment would trigger a chain reaction in the tissue structure.

Under his guidance, those originally chaotic energies began to form orderly flow patterns, and the tissue activity was significantly improved.

【Bloodline Shaping experience value +1】

【Current progress: Bloodline Shaping (Proficient 2/100)】

The potential of this ability far exceeded Luo En's initial imagination.

If it could be applied to living bodies, especially high-purity extraordinary creatures like Daier, the results would be even more astonishing.

"Theoretically, one could even try to integrate the characteristics of some abyssal creatures into ordinary biological bodies in a safer way..."

Luo En pondered, his eyes flickering with the thirst for knowledge unique to researchers.

Subsequently, he turned his attention to another storage container, where the poison gland tissue extracted from the Manticore's tail was preserved.

"The memory structure inside the poison gland is particularly critical..."

Luo En's spiritual power carefully penetrated the tissue, guiding the residual energy inside to flow in a specific way.

Under his operation, the energy circuits that were originally static in the poison gland became active again, forming a faint but stable fluctuation pattern.

This fluctuation contained rich information—the Manticore's hunting patterns, the secrets of toxin blending, and even its "memory" of the weaknesses of various creatures.

"If this information could be extracted and integrated into the Chimera core..."

Luo En's thinking expanded rapidly, conceiving a bold and complex plan.

The adaptability and mutation potential of abyssal creatures, if correctly guided and controlled, would become an extremely powerful source of power.

Of course, this was also accompanied by huge risks: the instability and pollution risk of abyssal energy are the top dangers most guarded against in any Modulator's manual.

"Bold assumptions, careful verification." Luo En reminded himself: "Any experiment must be conducted under completely controllable conditions."

He closed the storage cabinet containing the Manticore tissues again and recorded his preliminary conception in the experimental journal in his mind.

Luo En labeled it "Abyssal Fusion Project," and clearly listed the safety measures and termination conditions for each experimental stage within it.

"This is not a task that can be achieved overnight; it requires a lot of preliminary preparation and repeated verification."

He recorded at the end of the notes in the consciousness library: "But the potential gains are worth this cautious investment."

Walking out of the laboratory, the sunlight spilled onto the floor through the window, forming a warm golden area.

In the yard, Daier was playing with Li Li Liya, the silver-haired little sea siren's laughter crisp and pleasant, echoing over the workshop.

And not far away, that tall ancient tree stood quietly, waiting for the final moment of transformation.

………………

In the laboratory, Luo En was carefully operating a series of complex equipment.

"Stable... stable..." Luo En muttered softly, his spiritual power guiding the energy flow as precisely as silk.

In the culture dish in front of him, a thumb-sized piece of Manticore heart tissue was soaked in special magic liquid, its surface flickering with faint blue-purple light.

The advanced skill "Bloodline Shaping" allowed him to adjust the energy structure of abyssal tissues with unprecedented precision.

Separating the abyssal characteristics from the surface-world biological characteristics, and then recombining them into a more stable form.

This was his seventh attempt; the previous six had all ended in failure—either the energy structure collapsed, or the abyssal characteristics were completely neutralized.

"Must find the balance point this time..."

He had systematically recorded his findings in a specially made notebook titled "Abyssal Research Journal."

Every experiment, whether successful or failed, had detailed records and analysis.

In "Abyssal Creature Atlas," a concept had been clearly defined: the essence of abyssal creatures is actually a special existence capable of accepting and assimilating the rules of different spaces.

They are both trapped by the curse of the abyss and have gained special abilities that transcend surface-world creatures.

Luo En recorded his intended purpose in "Abyssal Research Journal":

"The key lies in finding a way to extract this transcendent ability while filtering out the erosive nature of the curse."

When the tissue in the culture dish began to show stable pulsation, Luo En carefully added a solution.

The solution presented a pearly white color, with tiny colored light spots flickering inside.

Because the Manticore is only a third-layer abyssal creature, the curse attached to it only manifests at the physical level.

So after all life professions advanced to two stars, relying on various linkage effects, he could barely have some clues about neutralizing and purifying this.

If it involved deeper curses at the consciousness or even soul level, he would be completely helpless, and would even avoid it...

And when the liquid he prepared touched the abyssal tissue, a silent "war" began.

The energy in the white liquid wrestled with the residual curse of the abyss, conducting a fierce tug-of-war at the microscopic level.

Luo En could clearly "see" this process through the "Insight" and "Extraordinary Identification" traits.

The curse energy was gradually separated and neutralized, while the special adaptability of the biological tissue itself was preserved.

"Success?" He was a bit happy to see the tissue in the culture dish gradually turn into a healthy reddish-brown.

The surface no longer had the ghostly blue light unique to the abyss, but the internal energy structure was completely preserved.

But the next moment, Luo En's joy was destroyed.

He seemed to be happy a bit too early...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 177 =====