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The Science of Cultivation - Chapter 213: Ascension Technique Attempt Pt.2
🕑 Added 2025-01-02 23:41:44 +0000 UTCMany of Li Lang’s students were now also in the peak stage of Energy Gathering. However, only Xiao Dong managed to take the step into the next realm.
For those who had grade one aptitude, it was attributed to their lack of accumulation. While Li Lang had observed that the level of Qi didn’t change from the moment they entered the ninth stage, the accumulation he speculated about referred to the degree of strength a cultivator could exert on their Qi. The only way to improve this was through simple training, but the Lingering Impact Technique Wei Ping had brought back was a particularly effective way to train this Qi strength.
Nevertheless, Li Lang still had cultivated for a lot longer than any of the other kids. It would stand to reason that he was the furthest ahead.
The only thing I’m missing should be willpower! Even if Xiao Dong had grade-two aptitude and had more spiritual roots, he shouldn’t be that far ahead of me.
As Li Lang’s breakthrough attempt continued, he could feel the increasing pressure. It felt like he was hanging from a pole, holding on to dear life. If he fell, his goal of reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm would be over. Every second sapped his strength. It did so slowly, which made the ordeal even more tortuous.
Hours passed, and the event had taken a toll on Li Lang, both physically and mentally. It made his thoughts start going astray.
Why do I have to endure this? I’m a researcher, for goodness’ sake. I should leave the hardship up to the soldiers—no, in this case, the cultivators. My mind feels scattered… my focus is crumbling. I have to keep it together.
Still, can’t I just leave this breakthrough business to someone else? I can still do my research and help empower others like Wei Ping and Long Yi. They should be able to achieve my goals for me. Goals…my goals.
Li Lang took a moment to recollect his thoughts. He thought hard about what motivated him.
He had suddenly found himself in this world when his new body of his supposed reincarnation had reached a point where it could handle his adult consciousness. Immediately, he had been enamored by the existence of something as fantastical as cultivation that could make someone immortal. After all, it had been what he was researching toward, up until the moment of his death.
Forced to accept his circumstances, he made do with what he had to study this interesting new phenomenon. However, before he could even properly start on that, tragedy had befallen the Zi family who had been taking care of him.
He wasn’t fully conscious over the first ten years of his childhood, but he had the memories of their love and care for him. If it was within his abilities, he was determined to help save his two childhood friends who had been kidnapped.
Having thought of the incident with the Abductress, a burst of anger stimulated Li Lang’s mind. It jolted him, allowing him to regain some of his focus.
The infamous demonic cultivator was the goal he had set for himself in the short term. He wanted to acquire the power to confront her, whether it be through his own strength or borrowing another’s. She was an expert in the Spirit Divide Realm, and not even the largest sects on Violet Isle dared to openly antagonize her.
This is what is driving me to hurry along with my research. In this world, power is the only guarantee. Might makes right.
Reaffirming his resolve, Li Lang redoubled his efforts to cram all the Qi in his body into his dantian. It got harder as the concentration of energy rose, but he didn’t stop practicing the Ascension Technique to figuratively pump more Qi toward his navel area.
The discomfort eventually grew into pain and his body became damp from all the sweat.
Wei Ping and Long Yi could only watch Li Lang suffer. Long Yi in particular knew exactly how difficult it was owing to first-hand experience, but they had to keep a close eye on him in case any accidents occurred.
Thankfully, nothing happened so far, and hours passed by.
Li Lang’s clarity of mind once again eroded over the long hours. He held on with only one thought in mind: to compress his Qi. His consciousness slowly but surely drifted away.
-----
“Wake up, Langley!” a woman’s voice called out. “Goodness gracious, why are you always such a slob? Alfred, when was the last time Professor Langley left this lab?”
The question was strangely directed toward the ceiling of the laboratory, where the speakers embedded into the walls answered.
“The last recorded instance of the professor leaving was thirty-six hours, seven minutes, and twelve seconds ago. Professor Langley was gone for two hours and ten minutes before returning.”
The woman then proceeded to shake Langley, who was still slumped over his desk, a few more times before the professor finally showed signs of rousing.
“Debra, five more minutes, please.”
In response to his pleas, the woman slammed a tablet into the back of his head.
“I’m not your mom. You better get yourself together—”
“Or I’ll regret it?”
“Yes. When the federation cuts your budget, don’t come crying to me.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll do what you tell me. I still haven’t forgotten about that in-person meeting for next Thursday.”
“Langley—That meeting is for today. It’s Thursday already. How can someone as brilliant as you have trouble with something as simple as keeping track of the date?”
As if to dodge the question, the professor swiftly got up from his seat and rubbed his eyes. He searched around the mess around his desk and took a swig out of a tumbler before turning his attention to the computer before him.
Seeing this, Debra sighed as she slowly moved behind him. She rested her two elbows on his shoulders and watched him work.
“You can’t keep torturing yourself like this. You’re a researcher, not a soldier on the frontline who has to push themselves to survive. Humans work better when fully rested.”
“Yeah, but we each have limited time in a day. Despite what others may say, I know I’m not a genius. Only by putting in the extra hours will I be able to stay on top and keep the funds coming.”
“But is that really all you want? To do—more research?”
“Hmm, if I get rich enough, retiring early doesn’t sound bad. I get to start my own lab and decide how things are run.”
“...You’re hopeless.”
After that, the two remained in the same position without exchanging any words. The only sound that could be heard was the keyboard Langley was typing away on.
On the surface, Langley continued as normal, but internally, he had begun to question what he wanted in life. He had passed on starting a family ever since his university days were over. He found no meaning in following his primal urges to reproduce. He refused to be controlled by the chemicals in his body. He believed he was above that. Only animals blindly followed their urges.
Is that truly how I feel? Hmm, it shouldn’t be far off. If I have children, my world will begin to revolve around them. I can’t have that. I want my time to be my own. Purposely walking into a future that makes me prioritize someone else is a trap of nature.
The two’s time in the lab was soon interrupted by a group of armed men waiting at the door. One of them walked in and saluted toward the two scientists.
“I am Sergeant Nicota Earl. Professors, it is time to depart!”
“Thank you for escorting us, Sergeant,” Debra said with a smile. “We’ll come right away.”
Just as she made a move to follow the sergeant, the clicky sounds of the keyboard continued to resonate throughout the room. It made her do a quick one-eighty before she forcefully dragged the middle-aged man up from his seat.
“Langley, let’s go!”
“Hmm, fine.”
The soldiers outside watched on in amusement as they escorted the eccentric professor out of the lab area. They went into a large elevator that could fit a dozen cars and began to ascend. The ride lasted several minutes, showing how deep underground they were.
They blew past hundreds of floors until they were above ground level, but even then, they continued ascending. Only when they were two hundred floors off the ground did they come to a stop. They were then led through a maze of corridors until they arrived inside a grand office.
Inside, only one person was there. A lone woman with a confident demeanor watched them enter.
“President Dekel, good day to you,” Debra immediately greeted. She then discreetly elbowed Langley, urging him to do the same. It only caused Langley to unenthusiastically parrot her words.
“Good day, President,”
“Thank you, professors. I’m sure we’re all busy people, so I’ll make this quick. Your team has requested an increase in your budget again, so it has come to my attention. I’m here to ask about your research.”
The eyes in the room were all drawn to Langley, as he was nominally the person responsible for their team. Even if he left most of the paperwork to others, he was the one who had to answer to their boss during these moments.
“It’s to safely carry out our research, of course. We need the money to set up various safety precautions for our new round of testing. We’ll also be taking on ten times the number of test subjects as well.”
The president closed her eyes for a few moments while resting her chin on a fist.
“That’s not what I meant. I don’t exactly care about the budget increase. My aides would’ve taken note of any issues regarding those details. I’ve only recently gone over the files regarding your studies since I’ve just come into office. The records say that you’re researching permanent life-prolonging treatment. What I want to ask is if this is truly what you want to pursue and your opinion if this is a research topic worth pursuing.”
“Umm, why would you want to know that?”
Debra opened her eyes wide at the direct question her coworker posed. She wanted to reprimand Langley for being so difficult. Why couldn’t he just answer the question? Unfortunately, she didn’t dare interrupt.
In response, President Dekel spoke frankly, not caring about any etiquette expected of high government officials at all.
“It is our first time meeting, Professor. Many things are new to me. I want to know if increasing our investment in your team is worth it. To do that, I look at people. I’ll ask again. Is permanent life-prolonging treatment what you really want to pursue?”
Being struck by such a direct question, Li Lang could feel his mind jolted. He sensed something amiss, as if he had forgotten something important.
What is it that I want? Isn’t it just to cure this telomere disease? For survival? But what comes after that? Wait, why does it feel like my objective has changed?
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Comments
Tavon Runecaster
dangit if the story wasnt so good i would have dropped it because of these cliffhangers! not even worth paying for because once you catch up its the same hell. my moment of rage aside, that is an interesting illusion. i wonder how much of it is memory and how much of it is dream.
Scrutinizer
It /stands/->[would stand] to reason that he was the furthest ahead.
Scrutinizer
Oh, I get it. The last 212 chapters were all just a dream. Man, this Dr. Langley sure has an active imagination!
