In the dim underground passage, a Black-toothed Wild Boar ran forward, an Underground River surging beside it.

Wang Yi and Fish-Transformed Dragon followed behind on the Jade Jiaolong.

"Who would’ve thought it’d be a whole different world down here, with a massive river and all. I wonder where this boar’s refuge is."

Wang Yi surveyed his surroundings, feeling utterly amazed.

He continued following the boar and soon entered another cave. Inside was a passageway constructed from alloy decks. The moment Wang Yi drew near, lights suddenly flickered on within.

"Ding! Congratulations, you have discovered an ancient ruin. Building number: D999. Designation: Secret Laboratory. Danger Level: None. Exploration Value: Low. Feel free to explore."

Wang Yi was delighted to hear the system prompt. ’I actually found a ruin!’

"So this is the Black-toothed Wild Boar’s refuge? A D-class ruin with no danger? There’s probably nothing of value inside, then!"

Wang Yi followed the passageway into the "Secret Laboratory" and soon saw the Black-toothed Wild Boar again.

It was lying on a circular platform. Behind it stood a bizarre figure.

The figure had a bulging, perfectly round head, upon which sat only two ink-green eyeballs. It had no ears, nose, or mouth. Below its neck was a mass of dark red roots that resembled tentacles. They writhed and crawled over the boar’s body, and many had already pierced through the Black-toothed Wild Boar’s skin.

The boar, however, seemed to be enjoying it. As the dark red roots writhed, its condition visibly improved, as if its injuries were healing rapidly.

But the arrival of Wang Yi and Fish-Transformed Dragon seemed to shatter the peace and tranquility.

A red light flashed in the bizarre, large-headed creature’s eyes, and its roots began to writhe frantically. The Black-toothed Wild Boar’s eyes flew wide open as if it were suddenly struck by immense pain, and it let out a blood-curdling shriek.

Its body began to convulse, and soon, green smoke rose from it as the smell of something burning filled the air. About a minute later, the massive boar vanished completely.

Just then, Wang Yi received a system prompt: "Ding! Within the current ruin, all flesh-and-blood units can undergo a special class change to become a Muscle Man. Please note: once you become a Muscle Man, you will lose your existing class and skills, and you will be unable to learn any other skills. You may alter your Muscle Man Physique through certain potions and re-classing. Please explore on your own for specifics."

"’Muscle Man class change?’" Wang Yi stared at the "big-headed" creature. "So, you’re the class-change instructor?"

The "big-headed" creature was also sizing up Wang Yi and Fish-Transformed Dragon. It actually spoke, "Outsiders, welcome to my bio-lab!"

Wang Yi was startled. "You can actually talk! Are you a Sufferer, or a Wood Knot Monster?"

"Neither. I am Dr. Xiao!"

"Dr. Xiao? Are you an Earth Deity?"

"Not quite. To be precise, I am a lesser creation from a Metamorphosis Body. Dr. Qin and I are both subordinates of Mr. Jin!"

"Dr. Qin? Mr. Jin? Is Mr. Jin an Earth Deity?"

"I cannot answer that. However, per Mr. Jin’s orders, any outsider who comes here can accept my modification and become a Muscle Man! So, do you wish to accept my modification?"

’So the so-called class change is just biological modification!’ Wang Yi said in a low voice. "Can I refuse?"

"Of course, you can! I am not like Qin. I only accept willing subjects. Those who accept my modification can become Angel Muscle Men. Qin, on the other hand, performs forced modifications. She creates Devil Muscle Men!"

"Angel Muscle Men and Devil Muscle Men, what’s the difference?"

"Angel Muscle Men have higher intelligence and strong self-control. Devil Muscle Men are stronger, but they are short-tempered and easily enraged."

"You just killed that boar!"

"I can only ’construct’ one target at a time. To take on a new one, I must abandon the old. So, are you willing to accept my modification?"

"Sorry, but no!"

"That is unfortunate. Then, according to Mr. Jin’s orders, I must ask you to leave!"

"Goodbye!"

Wang Yi waved and left. The secret laboratory could be taken in at a glance; aside from Dr. Xiao, there was nothing else. There was no point in staying any longer.

After leaving the secret laboratory, Wang Yi explored the surrounding underground passages and discovered more secret labs. All were numbered D999, and each one contained a Dr. Xiao.

"Whoa, this place is basically a class-change hall!"

Wang Yi muttered to himself, then looked at the rapidly flowing Underground River. An idea struck him, and he immediately received a system prompt: "Ding! The current river is 49 kilometers long. It is an Underground River formed by the convergence of 6 streams. Refinement requires 550,000 Chaos Energy. Do you wish to proceed with the Refinement?"

’It needs 550,000 Chaos Energy...’

A flicker of joy went through Wang Yi’s heart.

’This river is great!’

’The amount of Chaos Energy required for Refinement is perfect!’

’I might as well Refine this Underground River!’

Wang Yi made his decision in an instant. The next moment, he responded to the system, choosing to Refine the Underground River before him.

As 550,000 Chaos Energy was consumed, a golden light rapidly spread across the surface of the Underground River.

Five minutes later, the rushing Underground River suddenly vanished. The riverbed was instantly bone-dry, without a single drop of water remaining. A point of light the size of a grain of rice appeared before Wang Yi and slowly flew into the spot between his eyebrows.

Wang Yi’s body trembled. He felt a cool, refreshing sensation enter him, which was quite pleasant. Then, he felt a power erupt within him, rapidly Enhancing his bones, skin, and muscles.

"Ding! Congratulations on Refining a river. With the landscape as your shield and a perfect Yin Yang Balance, your Life Force has been greatly increased!"

"Ding! Refining River into Soldiers! Congratulations, you have obtained a Warrior. The Warrior is named [Dark River Sword - Great Flood Spirit Blade]. For 5,000 Chaos Energy, you can summon this sword and use Sword Control to launch one attack. When the sword lands, it will unleash 49 kilometers’ worth of river water and then be automatically retrieved..."

"’Another ’Great Flood’ sword!’" Wang Yi couldn’t help but mutter upon hearing the system prompt. "’Does the system just randomly generate these names? Don’t tell me every weapon refined from water is part of a ’Great Flood’ series...’"

At that very moment, downstream in the Underground River, Ji Liangren, who had been drifting with the current, was abruptly dropped onto the dry riverbed. He let out a yelp of pain as he landed.

At the same time, piercing shrieks of agony erupted around him.

An octopus-like monster’s body rapidly shriveled, turning into something resembling dried grass in the blink of an eye. Then, it abruptly shattered and dissolved into the mud.

There were many such monsters in the dry riverbed, but they all vanished in an instant.

They were Dr. Qin.

In the water, Dr. Qin would forcibly modify anyone who entered, turning them into Muscle Men.

Ji Liangren had just been undergoing this forced modification.

However, his modification was not completed. Due to Dr. Qin’s bizarre disappearance, the process ended when it was only halfway through.

A halfway modification was like a halfway mutation.

Now, Ji Liangren’s upper body looked as if it had been inflated. It was incredibly burly, with pectoral muscles the size of washbasins and arms as thick as his own thighs used to be.

From the waist down, however, there was no change. Compared to his upper half, his legs looked frail and skinny.

At least Ji Liangren was no longer bound by ropes. He stood up, cursing under his breath, and hurriedly checked his information panel.

’Thank God the bio-modification wasn’t completed, meaning the class change failed. I didn’t lose my Dogman God class!’

Ji Liangren breathed a sigh of relief. Looking more closely, he saw that not only had he kept his class, but his Fighting Power had actually broken through to the Fifth Rank!

"’Breaking through to the Ninth Rank of Fighting Power lets you obtain Divine Power. I’m at the Fifth Rank now, more than halfway there! Doesn’t that mean I already have Demigod Power?! HAHAHAHA, my luck has finally turned! I’ve snatched victory from the jaws of defeat...’"

Ji Liangren roared with excitement.

At that moment, the ground suddenly began to shake. Dust rained down from the ceiling, and it felt as if the entire underground passage was about to collapse.

’What’s happening? An Earthquake? This place isn’t going to collapse, is it? I have to run!’

Greatly alarmed, Ji Liangren ran for the exit, following the path from memory. He had just barely saved his own skin; he didn’t want to be buried alive down here!

However, he had only taken two steps before he suddenly staggered and fell heavily to the ground. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Ptooey! Ptooey!"

Ji Liangren scrambled up and started running again. He made it five steps before falling once more.

Cursing, he climbed to his feet again. After seven steps, he took another face-plant into the dirt!

"Dammit! I’m done running. Can’t I just walk?!"

Ji Liangren’s face was swollen from the falls. He got up and tried walking slowly, but after less than ten meters, he fell again with a THUD. He had tripped on flat ground!

His modification was only half-complete, so his upper and lower body were uncoordinated. He was top-heavy and had an extremely poor sense of balance.

This had to be one of the side effects!

There was nothing Ji Liangren could do about it. He had to just deal with walking and falling for the time being.

Meanwhile, Wang Yi was also riding the Jade Jiaolong, rapidly heading back the way he came.

The underground passage was shaking more and more violently, and rocks had begun to fall from the ceiling. He suspected it might be related to his Refinement of the Underground River.

Suddenly, flames erupted from the dry riverbed. The fire swelled rapidly, and within the span of about three breaths, the former Underground River had become a river of fire.

Wang Yi was shocked. Peering into the riverbed, he was horrified to discover that flaming wooden stakes were growing out of it one after another.

’What’s happening? Did that Earth Deity from the scorched city follow me here?’

Wang Yi frowned, strongly suspecting that by Refining the Underground River, he had alerted a Divine!

The shaking underground grew even more violent and pronounced.

Wang Yi didn’t dare to hesitate. He fled the underground passage at top speed. Once outside, he saw that vast swathes of fire had already spread. Half of the stone mountain was ignited, and in the distance, an army of Flame Tree People was advancing on them.

The native villagers of Black Tooth Village were screaming and shouting as they fled in a panic.

’That Divine... it actually came! Could it be Mr. Jin?’

Wang Yi took a quick look around and immediately led Fish-Transformed Dragon away. He had no desire to get into a pointless fight with a fire-wielding Earth Deity right now.

At this very moment, five li due north of the stone mountain, the earth was also shaking violently.

Lu Aqi and his men were there, traveling on horseback under orders to explore. They were currently at a loss, unsure what to do.

Suddenly, with a loud RUMBLE, the ground abruptly collapsed, and a massive fissure tore open across the land.

Lu Aqi and his men were horrified. Caught completely off guard, all of them fell into the chasm.