Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3618: Researching Mutations

Lin Mu’s attention sharpened.

These records described the fusion of multiple beings into a single entity. Beasts combined with other beasts. Humans merged with beasts. Even more complex combinations existed, each one attempting to create something stronger, something beyond natural limitations.

At first glance, it seemed unrelated.

But as Lin Mu delved deeper, he realized its importance.

The greatest challenge in creating chimeras was not strength.

It was compatibility.

Different bloodlines did not naturally coexist.

They clashed.

They rejected each other.

Most attempts resulted in failure, producing unstable creations that either perished or became uncontrollable.

These were the lowest tier of chimeras.

They were meant to be expendable and disposable. Used as mere tools rather than living beings.

But there existed a higher tier.

True chimeras.

These were stable, balanced and capable of growth. The difference lay in how their bloodlines were integrated.

Lin Mu’s eyes narrowed slightly as he processed the details.

"They used buffer bloodlines..." he murmured.

The texts described a method where weaker, more adaptable bloodlines were introduced between stronger, incompatible ones. These acted as intermediaries, reducing conflict and allowing the different components to merge more smoothly.

Not only that, but controlled mutations were induced to further stabilize the system. It was not brute force but precise manipulation to create a balance. Lin Mu’s thoughts aligned with what he had discussed earlier.

The parallels were undeniable.

"They are not solving incompatibility," Lin Mu thought. "They are managing it."

This was exactly what he needed.

The foxkin did not require a complete transformation. They required adjustment. A way to ease the pressure of the Bloodline Shackle without disrupting their identity.

The principles were the same.

A stable energy source to maintain balance.

A mutagenic factor to introduce change.

It would let the mutation be controlled, precise, and gradual without overwhelming and destroying the subject.

Lin Mu continued reading, absorbing more details.

There were additional complexities in chimera creation, many of which were unnecessary for his purpose. Soul fusion, structural reconstruction, and extreme body modification were all part of the process, but they did not apply here.

"I am not creating something new," Lin Mu said inwardly. "I am refining what already exists."

That distinction simplified the problem significantly.

He filtered out irrelevant information, focusing only on the applicable principles.

Time passed.

One day.

Then another.

Lin Mu remained immersed in his study, rarely moving, his attention completely devoted to understanding every nuance that could aid him. His immortal sense worked tirelessly, processing information at a rate that would be impossible for ordinary cultivators.

By the fifth day, Lin Mu finally opened his eyes.

The stacks of texts had diminished.

Many had been returned to storage.

Others remained, floating nearby for quick reference.

Lin Mu exhaled slowly.

"I have a foundation," he said.

It was not complete for sure but it was enough to begin. He knew the approach he needed to take.

A stable energy base.

Nature energy, possibly supplemented and modulated with his Healing Heart Sutra.

A mutagenic agent which would be the Beast Qi.

Carefully controlled and applied.

The balance between the two would determine success or failure.

Lin Mu’s gaze shifted toward the black crystals once more.

"These will be my reference," he thought.

But he did not move toward them.

Not yet.

Before testing on actual foxkin, he needed to confirm one thing.

The safety of the process, the risks that would have to be taken as well as its consequence.

"I cannot experiment on them directly," Lin Mu said quietly.

Even a small mistake could cause irreversible damage.

He would need a controlled subject.

Something that could replicate the conditions.

Something expendable, yet similar enough to provide meaningful results.

Lin Mu’s eyes narrowed slightly as he considered his options.

The next phase was about to begin.

And this time...

It would move beyond theory.

***

Lin Mu stood before the newly formed chamber of wood and living structure, his gaze calm yet intent as he reviewed everything one final time before beginning. The plan was no longer theoretical. It had moved beyond discussion and study, and into action.

There would be no certainty here.

Only observation.

Only results.

His eyes shifted toward the prepared materials laid out before him. Several refined masses of bloodline essence rested in containment, each one extracted through the painstaking process he had perfected over the past weeks. Beside them, the component crystals were organized in precise order, their properties already cataloged within his mind.

At the center of it all stood the structure he had just created.

A cylindrical construct formed entirely from the living wood of the Heart Tree itself.

It stood tall and smooth, its surface layered with runic inscriptions that faintly pulsed with controlled energy. The entire structure exuded a quiet vitality that went beyond mere form, its surface subtly shifting in response to his presence. It reacted subtly to Lin Mu’s presence, to his Qi, to his intent.

Before building it, Lin Mu had taken the necessary first step.

He had reached out.

The moment he began circulating the Healing Heart Sutra, the Nature energy around him had responded almost eagerly. It flowed through his meridians in a gentle, nourishing current, far more abundant than he would have been able to gather on his own. He kept the output low, ensuring that the energy remained stable and controllable.

Thin tendrils of green-tinged energy extended from his body and sank into the wooden floor beneath him.

The response had been immediate.

The wood stirred.

Not violently, not erratically, but with a subtle awareness that made Lin Mu pause.

And then...

He heard it.

"Human..."

The voice echoed within his mind, deep and ancient, carrying with it the weight of time itself.

Lin Mu’s eyes widened slightly as the Litany of Verdant Forests activated within his soul, resonating with the presence that had just spoken.

There was no confusion.

No doubt.

"Are you the tree?" Lin Mu asked.

A moment passed.

Then the answer came.

"Indeed... I am... the Heart Tree."