Chapter 153: The Mo Clan—Surely a Family Guided by a Healer's Heart?
"Remember, once you're back home, avoid any combat for a month or two. Set up several stages: start with light activity, gradually increase the intensity, and finally incorporate Dou Qi."
Inside the Earthfire Blacksmithing Room, Jiang Lin bit down on a milling knife, eyes focused as his hands cautiously maneuvered the tool. Bit by bit, he attached the Azure Scale Dragon Arm to the cold, elegant-looking woman lying on the surgical table. Beside him, Fatty Yuan stared on, wide-eyed in shock.
"I've reconnected your meridians and modified the non-human meridians within the Azure Scale Dragon Arm. You'll be able to control its activation through Dou Qi impact on specific acupoints. Once activated, you'll gain a Xuan-rank secret technique: Azure Scale Claw. I'm not sure how powerful it is, but at the very least, it should let your Azure Scale Dragon Arm reach the strength of a tier-4 magical beast, even if only for a short time."
Using a life infusion fluid uniquely crafted through the Mo Clan's Soul Fusion Secret Art, Jiang Lin carefully administered it to Mo Lan's severed arm. Then, he added a layer of soft armor beneath a harder, reinforced outer shell capable of withstanding attacks from a Dou Wang, wrapping and fixing it in place.
Curious about Mo Lan's magical beast prosthetic, Jiang Lin had taken the time to study it. Perhaps due to his terrifying gift of Spirit Sense, he found research in these areas incredibly intuitive. He immediately understood the mysteries of the Azure Scale Dragon Arm and used his most proficient Dou Tool forging methods to semi-transform it into a Dou Weapon.
At the same time, Jiang Lin had also obtained the Soul Fusion Secret Art brought by Mo Lan from the Mo Clan. Though he felt something slightly off about it, he still admired the contributions made by the Mo Clan's ancestors to the field of prosthetics.
The Mo Clan had achieved nearly complete mastery of limb and eye transplants—complex surgeries. They had also developed several secret techniques for accelerating recovery and meridian integration with Dou Qi. Jiang Lin's "Armor Merge" technique had borrowed some Mo Clan tech, allowing him to create it in almost no time.
"The only flaw of the Dou-weaponized Azure Scale Dragon Arm is that its power is fixed—it can't grow with you. Then again, your clan's original Soul Fusion technique couldn't achieve full integration either. The body would always react to it as a foreign object, and its strength was likewise capped."
As Yuan Bao remained dumbfounded, Jiang Lin wiped the blood off his hands and stepped back to wash his surgical tools.
"Still, the Azure Scale Dragon Arm is good enough to carry you through the Dou Ling stage. Before, that arm was dragging your body down so badly, your cultivation was likely capped at Great Dou Shi. But now, you still have a chance to reach Dou Ling."
"...Thank you, Master Youlin..." said Mo Lan weakly from the surgical bed. Her face was pale as she glanced at her new Azure Scale Dragon Arm. Apart from the armored joint, it looked nearly indistinguishable from a regular human arm—except for the fine greenish-blue scales.
Gone was the grotesque, shriveled claw of old. Now it was a semi-Dou-weaponized arm that only morphed into a terrifying Dou Armor Claw under the activation of Dou Qi.
"Rest for a few days. Once you're able to move your fingers, you can start walking around." Jiang Lin was highly confident in his prosthetic work. After all, no one else had his Spirit Sense, which allowed him to scan the internal energy circuits of the limb to ensure they were fully connected.
This wasn't something achievable through high soul realm alone—it required the specialization of one's soul force into Spirit Sense.
That ability was akin to... the Dao patterns that resided within spiritual artifacts.
"Junior Brother, when did you learn... that kind of surgical skill?" Yuan Bao finally couldn't help but ask in awe after watching Jiang Lin finish.
"A year ago, when I came to the capital, I traveled with them. Along the way I got curious, studied it a little, found it pretty simple. Later, Miss Mo Lan gave me her clan's secret technique, and I helped her upgrade and modify the Azure Scale Dragon Arm. It still can't grow with the user, but at least it puts less strain on the body and is more practical."
Jiang Lin packed up everything, keeping only what was useful and tossing the rest. He handed Mo Lan over to Yuan Bao. "Senior Brother, take care of Miss Mo Lan for a few days. Her meridians should fully connect within three days, and she'll be able to move her fingers. When that happens, pass her to the Mu Clan's Mu Yun."
Jiang Lin was so confident in his work that he didn't even feel the need for a follow-up check. According to his Spirit Sense, the Azure Scale Dragon Arm had zero issues. If it weren't for the recovery period, Mo Lan could probably do a kip-up right now and perform a dance for them.
Mo Lan: ???
"You're not going to stay a few more days?" Yuan Bao looked a bit troubled by how casually Jiang Lin passed the responsibility onto him.
"No, no. If I stay any longer, I might as well be home already." Jiang Lin shook his head. At full speed, it would only take him one or two days to return to Wu Tan City. Very convenient.
By now, he had learned almost all the foundational skills a qualified Xuan-Grade Blacksmith should have. The only things limiting his advancement were his Dou Qi and soul realms. Of course, Jiang Lin was always leagues ahead in terms of soul power. What truly held him back was his Dou Qi cultivation.
Jiang Lin was currently considered a tier-4 Xuan Blacksmith, but forging a tier-4 Xuan weapon without help—without something like the Crimson Dragon Cauldron with its internal Dragon Flame—was incredibly difficult. Unless he could find earthfire, or powerful beastfire or heavenly flame.
"...Master Youlin." As Jiang Lin was preparing to leave, Mo Lan suddenly called out weakly from the surgical bed.
"What is it?" he asked, turning back.
"The Mo Clan's Grand Elder would like to invite you as a guest," Mo Lan said, revealing a task she had carried with her.
"Well, when I have time, I'll make a personal visit." Jiang Lin nodded after thinking it over, accepting the Mo Clan's invitation.
Although he did feel something was a little off with how the Soul Fusion technique was used, Jiang Lin still felt a certain respect for the Mo Clan. A family with unique technical knowledge like that deserved a closer look. If time permitted, he would visit and observe how they applied the Soul Fusion technique firsthand.
'The Mo Clan ancestors who devoted themselves to prosthetic research... surely they were a family with the heart of a healer, right?' That was Jiang Lin's first impression of the Mo Clan. Perhaps a little biased, but logical—prosthetics drained a host's potential, and no sane person would willingly cut off their own limb just to receive one.
Of course, this was largely due to the influence of the white-boned predecessor who studied the Ziyun Wings. After all, the Soul Fusion technique, Ziyun Wings, and even the Heavenly Swallowing Nine-Winged technique were all essentially branches of the same technological tree.
(END CHAPTER)
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