After discovering that his ability to enlarge and shrink might have far greater potential than expected,Li Chang'an began experimenting in every possible way—testing the effects and limitations of this new power.
Eventually, he came to several important conclusions:
First—Shrinking his body did not consume any energy. At its smallest, he could shrink down to the size of an earthworm.Even in that tiny state, his strength, speed, and physical durability remained completely unchanged.
Second—Returning from a smaller size to normal was not considered "enlarging," but rather restoring his original state.It was like untying a tightened rope, and thus required no additional energy.
However, if he wanted to become larger than his normal size, then he would have to consume the energy within his body to make up the difference.The more energy he expended, the larger he could grow.After some time, however, he would revert back to his normal form.
The ability had no cooldown period—as long as he had energy, he could use it anytime.Normally, the enlarged form lasted only a few minutes, but he could extend that duration by burning more energy.
Through multiple experiments, Li Chang'an discovered that he could precisely control the rate of energy consumption to adjust how large he grew.This meant he could choose to spend only a small portion of his energy to reach, say, several dozen meters long, instead of using it all up at once.
When the duration was about to expire, he could simply consume more energy to refresh and prolong the effect.So theoretically, as long as his energy reserves were sufficient, he could stay enlarged indefinitely.
"Energy… energy is the key," Li Chang'an muttered to himself.
Even after awakening the Nine Infants (Jiuying) bloodline, he could still feel that the power flowing within him was fundamentally soul power—only purer and denser because of the bloodline.But compared to the divine power he had once sensed from the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings, the quality was still far inferior.
This proved that bloodline and strength were two entirely different matters.
Having a powerful bloodline didn't automatically make him strong.Awakening it didn't mean he could suddenly leap into the ranks of top-tier experts.
He was still far from that level.
The Nine Infants bloodline merely granted him better aptitude and greater potential.If Li Chang'an wanted to truly become powerful, he still had to cultivate diligently and find ways to strengthen himself.
Otherwise, if he merely relied on instinct to build up energy, he'd end up just like that fat Ice Silkworm from Soul Land II—a giant blob of flesh, strong in theory but destined to become someone else's prey.
"It seems I'll have to start working on my idea of forming an inner core soon," he said quietly.
From what he knew, almost all beasts pursued the path of condensing an inner core (neidan) as they cultivated.But as for how to actually form one—he had absolutely no clue.
After all, an inner core wasn't something as simple as compressing energy into a ball.If that were the case, it'd be a "stone," not a core.There had to be a deeper principle behind its formation—something far more profound.
Just then, a thunderous growl echoed from within his serpentine belly.
Li Chang'an blinked, realizing he hadn't eaten in a long time.
He immediately began to slither forward, his massive body gliding silently in the direction where his senses told him there was abundant prey.
As he moved through the forest, countless weaker soul beasts fled in terror.Some were even scared to death just from his aura alone!
"My aura is too conspicuous…" he noted.
He halted his movement, towering still for a moment.Then, all nine of his heads closed their eighteen snake eyes in unison.He focused inward, suppressing the faint waves of power that leaked from his body.
Snakes were born masters of concealment—controlling their aura was second nature.Soon, he had perfectly restrained his presence, leaking not even the faintest trace of energy.
He reopened his eyes and continued forward.
In this part of the forest, most of the surrounding trees were tens or even hundreds of meters tall.So even though his body was over thirty meters long, he wasn't particularly conspicuous.Besides, there were plenty of soul beasts far larger than him.
As long as he didn't release that oppressive aura of higher lifeforms, his existence would go unnoticed even by the mighty beasts of over ten thousand years.
After traveling a while, he sensed the presence of multiple creatures gathered ahead.
To hunt more efficiently and avoid scaring them off, Li Chang'an focused his will—His enormous body swiftly shrunk down to just a few meters long.He then slithered forward silently, not making the slightest sound.
Soon, a vast lake appeared before him.
Many soul beasts had gathered here to drink and rest.
There were wild boars, reindeer, hedgehogs—and even small animals like rabbits and birds.
Despite being of different species, they all coexisted peacefully, resting and drinking side by side.
The strongest among them was a reindeer whose crystal antlers gleamed with a faint blue light—judging from its aura, it was about a thousand years old.Several wild boars nearby were close to that level too, while the smaller creatures like hedgehogs and birds had only cultivated for a few decades to a century.
Watching this peaceful, harmonious scene of beasts and nature,Li Chang'an almost felt reluctant to disturb it.
It was the first time since his birth that he had ventured this far from his lair.Until now, he had only hunted nearby, never daring to stray too far.And this was also his first time witnessing such tranquility among beasts.
He stared blankly for a long time.
Then, suddenly—The world before his eyes changed once again.
From every direction, endless threads appeared, weaving across the heavens and earth.Every living being, every creature, was connected through these threads—Influencing one another, intertwining, forming the grand tapestry of existence itself.
This time, however, Li Chang'an didn't panic.
Having experienced this phenomenon once before, all nine of his heads turned toward each other.Sure enough, each pair of scarlet eyes had turned into heterochromatic pupils—left red, right blue.
"It seems this must be one of the Nine Infants' unrecorded hidden abilities.But what exactly am I seeing?" he wondered.
The bloodline of the Nine Infants was something ancient and spiritual—it didn't come with any so-called "inherited memories" like the ones in other novels.So, Li Chang'an had to rely on himself—testing, observing, and guessing—to uncover its powers.
"And these omnipresent threads… what do they represent?" he thought, puzzled.
Everywhere he looked, every soul beast by the lakeside—whether it was a thousand-year reindeer or a ten-year-old rabbit—Each one was entangled with countless threads of varying thickness and color.
"I wonder… can I interact with these threads?"
Driven by curiosity, Li Chang'an focused his will on the thickest thread connected to the thousand-year reindeer.
The moment his consciousness touched it—
A deafening roar erupted in his mind!
His spiritual power began draining rapidly!
(End of Chapter)
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