Star Gate

Chapter 990: Kindred Spirits (IV)

“Teacher, do you think it’s possible to replicate a complete version of the modern human?” Li Hao asked Yuan Shuo. “The kind with countless dao meridians, just like last time’s model of the human body.”

“It becomes difficult when the number of meridians increases!” Yuan Shuo frowned and transmitted the rest, “You can try something else. And since you’re going to experiment, you might as well experiment with multiple types of bodies! I recommend you keep several backups and try several different kinds.

“The first one can be one of entirely unattributed dao meridians—thirty-six of them. The second can have seventy-two, the third 108... so on and so forth!

“And then, you can have bodies with singular meridians, one of the five elements, ones of wind and thunder, and all sorts of other attributes. Also, make some bodies with a mix of attributed and unattributed meridians. You can use them for comparative experiments. He is an Immortal, so it’s not like he’ll die from one failure. We can blow him up a few dozen times and see which is more suited to him!”

Although Yuan Shuo silently transmitted his words to Li Hao, his strength was much weaker than Director General Wang’s. Hence, the latter could clearly hear every word—color drained from his face.

Hot damn! Were these people even human?! They wanted to experiment with him dozens of times!

While it made sense and was actually a demonstration of responsibility to determine which kind of body was most suited to the director general, the thought of repeatedly undergoing the process made his scalp crawl. It was potentially wasted effort on one hand versus experiencing death almost one hundred times!

“That’s right, we need to conduct comparative experiments!” Li Hao exclaimed excitedly. “Director General Wang is the first to make the attempt, so we need to be more thorough. The rest can make do with what we have at the time, but for the director general, we need firsthand and the best information possible!

“Will any mishaps occur on an Immortal’s core origin dao if it has to endure dozens of disturbances?” The young man turned to Vice Head Qi.

“It should be fine so long as we stabilize it properly.” The man shook his head. “It’ll just be that each disturbance is slightly painful. But being able to suffer through hardship is what sets the truly great apart from the rest. Wang Ye is of the Wang bloodline, tribulations are no problem for him. It will be an affront to the Exalted Blood Emperor’s face otherwise!”

Wang Ye had been deathly afraid moments ago; he set his jaw with a determined look. “Of course! The spirit of Battle Heaven fills those of the Wang family, how would we ever be afraid of death?”

“That’s good!” The rest nodded. They would experiment to the fullest with him then!

The director general regretted his words as soon as he said them and wanted to take them back.

“Director General Wang, we’ll be sure to choose the best body for you since this is the first time we’re undertaking this attempt,” Li Hao quickly said when he thought of something. “It’s also because this is the first time that we have enough resources for you to pick and choose from. Once I exhaust my stores of Water of Life and treasures, whoever wants to convert to the new dao later on will get whatever we have lying around at that time. So if you’re unwilling, I can always approach the Ninth Division leader.”

“......don’t!” yelped the director general. “I’m your man!”

Who was he kidding??

There was no subterfuge with Li Hao’s words. Each instance of physical body creation depleted some of the treasures at hand. Where would they get better materials from once the resources were consumed?

Hence, Director General Wang grit his teeth and tragically declared himself to be in for the experiments. I have chosen you, new era. If I have to die by a thousand cuts or hundreds of explosions, so be it.

Li Hao smiled and nodded at Vice Head Qi and the rest. Although no one was familiar with each other yet, that was fine. Conducting a few experiments together would soon close that gap. As opposed to going to the trouble of picking another day, let’s just go with today. We’ll get started as soon as we head back!

Vice Head Qi smiled as well. Originally, it hadn’t felt to be a good outcome that he’d left the research center. These people, particularly Li Hao and his companions, were unknown to him. They were not of the same time period and might not get along. Not to mention, it looked like Wang Ye and the others were under the young man’s control.

But he found that the Li family of this era was different from the Li family that he knew! His impression of the Lis were damned brutes and sword fanatics. They were violent lunatics! Who would’ve thought that countless years later, the Li representative he met would be a research enthusiast?

Wonderful! So the Lius had changed as well!

In fact, the vice head even briefly suspected Li Hao of not being descended from the Lis. But... since he could employ Stellaris... he was, wasn’t he?

Who cares!

This was countless years later. It didn’t matter if he was or not.

The group traveled to the Skystar Town ruins in full enthusiasm. Li Hao had no presence of mind to spare for others. It was time to try making people!

......

A group of daredevils prepared to create a human.

The ruins of Skystar Town.

Zhang An was once more summoned out of closed door cultivation. Qi Yun was familiar with the man and surprised to see him. However, they hadn’t come in contact with each other much during New Martial. Other than respectfully inclining his body, the reverent Qi Yun didn’t say much else.

Meanwhile, Li Hao busied himself with fashioning the body. That wasn’t a difficult task, but many bodies would be created this time. The best ingredients for the body were found in the pool of treasure in the mine. These items were meant to be used on fortifying everyone’s body, but now Li Hao felt that clearing dao meridians was a better method for this goal.

In the meantime, these treasures could be used to create bodies.

......

“Director General Wang, do you like being a man or a woman?” asked Li Hao.

The director general sat cross-legged next to the pool and looked at the young man with resignation. “A man!” he answered after a beat.

“Of about what age?”

“....thirty or so.” What kind of questions are these?

“Do you have any special requests?”

“None!” Director General Wang could barely suppress an eye roll. What special requests can I have when you ask me so blatantly?

“Then I’ll begin creating the body and will start with the elementary thirty-six meridians...” Li Hao rubbed his hands together. “It’s my first time creating a body, I feel like a creator of life! Please don’t mind it if I happen to shape an ugly person!”

With that, he began extracting Water of Life and mixed in various sorts of power to create a human body.

This wasn’t a difficult task. Creating flesh and blood was a simple matter for powerhouses. The crux of the issue were the dao meridians.

The others simply observed and weren’t involved. Since Li Hao was interested in this, he could conduct everything himself. Yuan Shuo was absent because he had been assigned to moving the machines and other warehouse treasures out of the research center. The other plant spirits crowded over, as did Panther take a break from seclusion.

Creating a human body... especially one that was meant to become a real body... was a type of cultivation as well.

Li Hao began to shape his creation, but frowned after a moment and suddenly gave up. Energy wafted out as he pulverized the complete form in front of him. Director General Wang watched with painful spasms to his heart.

That body looked so much like his own that he felt Li Hao was killing him! How cruel!

The young man had his eyes closed in concentration, then started anew. Blood qi surged amid surprised glances as Li Hao disassembled the blood qi and reorganized it in a humanoid form.

Zhang An’s eyes darted around—he recognized the deconstruction method from The Accounts of Evenround. So Li Hao didn’t wish to construct a crude body according to conventional methods!

The young man wanted to utilize the reconstruction of blood qi to form a human body that was more compact and stronger. There wouldn’t be large-scale flaws riddling it, but could he accomplish his goal?

Li Hao wasn’t that strong. Could he actually create a body of blood qi?

The young man didn’t know either, he just had to give it a try. It was his first time creating a body, anyhow. Success was good enough for a first-timer! What was with the high expectations?

This was a rare opportunity and a good chance for martial masters to deepen their knowledge of the human body.

A figure appeared in front of them before long, first the body, then the organs. Here, Li Hao paused and thought for a bit.

“Director General Wang, give me some of the essence blood from your organs. I’ll mix that in during the creation process so it’s easier for you to assimilate with your new body!”

The director general was deeply resigned, but elected to offer up his body for the sake of the undertaking at hand and his future. Drops of essence blood floated into the void. He looked at Li Hao with a hint of yearning. Don’t misuse this! My body’s finally recovered and might have to be discarded again.

The five organs quickly took shape after the infusion of Director General Wang’s essence blood. Li Hao built all sorts of organs. As much as he joked about it, each instance of body creation was a consumption of resources. He placed a great importance on this matter and worried about failure and wastage. No matter how many treasures he had, his reserves would not withstand continual depletion.

Once everything was complete with the human body, Li Hao prepared to trace the dao meridians. They were key to connecting to the Hao Cosmos. While weapons and core origin could be the vehicle, the meridians themselves need to exist.

The young man frowned, how should he go about constructing them? Forming them out of pure energy was a thought, but that would make them incredibly fragile. Even if he formed them successfully, they wouldn’t be able to siphon much energy from the Hao Cosmos. Director General Wang would then be naturally weaker than others.