Chapter 25: The Molecular Manifestation

“……Hmm, just as I suspected, Bai Li’s physical fortitude is exceptionally high.”

Lin Xi’s hand lifted from Bai Li’s abdomen, and Bai Li let out a soft, drawn-out sigh.

Presently, Bai Li lay sprawled on the sofa, her gaze slightly unfocused as it drifted upwards, her lips parted just enough to allow ragged breaths to escape.

Had her innerwear not remained perfectly in place, one might easily have mistaken her for having just undergone some intense ordeal.

…Well, strictly speaking, she *had* indeed just undergone something.

Only moments before, Lin Xi had gently restrained a compliant Bai Li, then activated her [Sensory Manipulation Magic] to heighten her perceptive abilities to their absolute peak, commencing her thorough examination of Bai Li’s physique.

Specifically, this involved her hands roving over Bai Li’s form, sometimes caressing, other times pressing, all while Lin Xi maintained a posture of intimate proximity.

It was worth noting that Bai Li’s clothing had been almost entirely shed; only a single layer separated her from Lin Xi, allowing the scent of her skin and the warmth of her touch to be felt with startling clarity.

Coupled with Lin Xi’s seemingly newfound caressing techniques, this entire process left Bai Li in a state of semi-consciousness.

‘Oh? You think that’s all?’

‘That was already quite intense. She certainly couldn’t handle anything more… intimate at the moment.’

“Bai Li, wake up.”

Lin Xi gently patted Bai Li, yet even that light touch caused Bai Li to reflexively shiver from head to toe.

This reaction prompted Lin Xi to muse once more, ‘Bai Li truly is too pathetic.’

‘She usually carries herself with such an assertive, dominant air, yet a few mere touches turn her into a soft, pliant mess.’

‘While Lin Xi herself had felt a belated blush creeping up during the examination, she had at least managed to keep her composure.’

Nevertheless, through this comprehensive examination, Lin Xi had gleaned a wealth of information about Bai Li’s physical attributes.

Both her explosive power and stamina were remarkably high, surpassing even the capabilities of a typical E-rank body enhancement ability.

Moreover, her defensive prowess was equally formidable, yet she possessed an astonishing degree of flexibility, allowing her to effortlessly execute challenging movements like leg raises beyond a hundred and eighty degrees.

As for how she discovered this, it was naturally by having Bai Li physically demonstrate these feats.

When Lin Xi lifted Bai Li’s legs, Bai Li appeared to feel nothing at all, suggesting she could likely achieve even more extraordinary poses with ease.

At the very least, this revelation had genuinely astonished Lin Xi, stirring within her a flicker of excitement.

‘Hmm? This was merely a routine physical examination. What exactly are you imagining?’

“Bai Li, your fundamental physical capabilities are remarkably high across the board.

Furthermore, your five senses, and even your sixth sense, are exceptionally keen, far exceeding my own when I’m not employing magic.”

Truthfully, the sheer comprehensiveness of Bai Li’s ability enhancement was utterly absurd.

While most body enhancements typically focused on one, or perhaps two to three, specific areas, Bai Li’s entire being had been fortified in every conceivable aspect related to the body, even those that seemed contradictory.

Indeed, such a phenomenon could only arise in the present era, where special abilities like these, defying prior scientific explanation, now existed.

“In contrast, however, your magical power is quite low.”

“Mmm…”

Bai Li finally seemed to regain her composure, her face still faintly flushed as she picked up nearby clothes to cover herself, blushing with the shyness of a young girl who had just finished a private moment.

Forcing herself to resist the temptation, Lin Xi continued her explanation.

“Given your current magical reserves, Bai Li, it’s not impossible to create a weapon that you could wield effectively; it merely requires certain conditions.”

With that, Lin Xi retrieved a notebook from her magical space.

“After extensive practice and testing, I discovered that the strength of an item manifested by magic isn’t solely determined by the amount of mana infused into it; one’s depth of understanding of that item is also a crucial factor.”

Within Lin Xi’s notebook, her developed magical formulas and theories were meticulously documented, and the page currently open displayed a detailed structural diagram of her most frequently used shotgun.

From the barrel’s material, length, and thickness, to the bullet’s propellant charge and type, every detail was laid out with the precision of a professional arms dealer’s blueprint.

Building upon this, Lin Xi had integrated her own magic, combining it with the firearm to elevate its power to an even greater degree.

“Initially, I merely glanced at a shotgun’s exterior, and that superficial understanding resulted in a manifested weapon that was, at best, a crude iron pipe.

However, after thoroughly studying instructional videos on its internal mechanisms, the gun I created possessed basic firearm functionality.

Now, having deeply researched the purpose and composition of each individual component, the shotguns I produce not only boast the original’s full performance capabilities but also allow for my own modifications, such as replacing the bullet’s propellant with magical energy.”

The shotguns Lin Xi now crafted were truly products of magic and technology fused together, their performance far surpassing that of ordinary firearms.

Yet, she harbored even more profound ideas regarding this aspect.

“So, I’ve been pondering: if one were to delve into an even deeper level of understanding—the very molecular structure that constitutes matter, for instance—would it be possible to further enhance magical efficiency?

Currently, I lack the capacity to process such an immense volume of information, but I believe you, Bai Li, might be capable of it.”

Lin Xi’s hypothesis was that the less one understood an item during manifestation, the more mana would be required to compensate for the vague areas.

Conversely, by delving into the molecular level, the mana expenditure could potentially be suppressed to an even lower point, thereby elevating the weapon’s overall performance.

However, such an endeavor was far easier said than done; even advanced computers might struggle to process such a colossal amount of data.

“So, Lin Xi, you believe I, with my comprehensive body enhancement ability, would be able to withstand such a mental strain?”

“Yes, Bai Li, you’ve always possessed an uncanny knack for effortlessly comprehending and resolving any challenge, haven’t you?

If I’m not mistaken, your brain might also be considered part of your body’s enhancement, and the combined effect of both might just be sufficient.

Ah, but beyond this, I have other tricks for manifesting intricate weapons, which I’ll teach you later.

For now, try creating something simple.”

“I understand.”

Meeting Lin Xi’s trusting gaze, Bai Li didn’t hesitate, reciprocating that trust in full.

Emulating Lin Xi’s previous method of manifesting a shotgun, Bai Li channeled her limited magical energy, simultaneously envisioning a simple weapon in her mind.

Yet, it wasn’t enough; she had to delve deeper, reaching into the molecular level—what substances composed it, how particles stacked together…

The sheer magnitude of information caused cold sweat to bead on Bai Li’s forehead, and her consciousness began to waver.

Nevertheless, Lin Xi believed she could accomplish it, and therefore, she *had* to accomplish it.

Forcing her mind to remain lucid, Bai Li gritted her teeth, then, with a surge of determination, fully conceptualized the entire weapon.

Magical energy gathered and arranged itself in her hands, culminating in the formation of a single—iron rod.