Chapter 1153: Real and Fake Taiji (Third Update!)
Qin Mu's divine consciousness fluctuated, probing into the void of this black desert. He saw layers of void filled with flying black sand, howling past—even a void beast dared not set foot here!
He erected a barrier of divine consciousness to block the wind and sand, but it was quickly riddled with holes.
Chi chi chi—
Grains of black sand pierced through their bodies, leaving them full of holes!
Qin Mu, Yan'er, Long Qilin, and the void beast beneath them were all drenched in blood. However, this void beast seemed possessed, stubbornly walking deeper into the black sand desert without stopping.
Qin Mu quickly switched to a primal energy barrier, but soon it too was covered in tiny holes.
He drew the broken sword he had forged, pouring his magical power into it. The broken sword radiated light as he slashed against the wind and sand. A series of crisp clinks rang out endlessly—the microscopic runes he had imprinted on the sword were annihilated one by one!
Qin Mu's heart pounded with fear. This broken sword was forged from a rare treasure from the Ancestral Court, using the finest materials. Even the Mute had praised his forging skills, saying Qin Mu had entered the threshold of the art and could establish a Forging Heavenly Palace.
Yet, facing this desert's black sand, even the broken sword could barely withstand it!
He immediately raised the Azure Sky Canopy, activating the Twenty-Eight Heavens. Each layer of heavens rotated continuously, protecting them and the void beast. Even the Twenty-Eight Heavens were breached by the black sand.
The violent wind and sand raged wildly within the Twenty-Eight Heavens, causing even the treasures inside to flare with light and spark with flying embers.
Each grain of sand was unknown material, extremely terrifying—as hard as the toughest divine metal.
Qin Mu leaned on the Azure Sky Canopy, doing his utmost to keep the Twenty-Eight Heavens from collapsing, shielding them and the void beast.
The void beast trudged through the endless black sand, heading deeper into the desert.
"This desert is also a treasure land. The black sand can be used to refine treasures, but it's too dangerous to enter easily."
Long Qilin caught a falling grain of black sand. It shimmered with a metallic luster, but he couldn't discern any metal grain. The sand was very heavy.
The void beast pressed on with difficulty. There was no sun or moon here. After walking for who knows how long, the wind and sand suddenly lessened, and the sky gradually brightened.
Qin Mu breathed a sigh of relief. Leaning on the Azure Sky Canopy, he looked ahead and saw a white desert appear in front of them!
In the white desert, wind and sand were also swirling, equally astonishing!
Between the black desert and the white desert, a narrow, winding mountain range stood, radiating a simple, unadorned luster.
Beside this mountain range were many ancient ruins—villages of the Creators.
It seemed some Creators had used some method to cross the desert and reach this place, building villages here to settle.
There was no wind or sand on either side of the mountain range. When the void beast reached the foot of the mountain, it stopped. Qin Mu jumped down and looked up. The cliffs were steep as walls, but here the scenery was lush with various plants and vegetation, completely unlike the desolation elsewhere.
Suddenly, Qin Mu saw the forest shaking, and a giant beast poked its head out.
That beast was not a void beast but another ancient giant beast, hiding here, managing to escape the slaughter of the void beasts!
"Giant beasts of the Ancestral Court—they haven't gone extinct!" Qin Mu was both surprised and delighted.
The nearby village had tall houses, but they were empty, with no Creators.
Qin Mu searched through the village and found a few Creator skeletons. One skeleton clutched a gemstone in its hand.
Qin Mu approached, pried open the finger bones, and saw that the gemstone was like a simple Taiji diagram—one side black, one side white, one side cold, one side hot, with a curved dividing line in the center. Yin and Yang were harmonious, very aesthetically pleasing.
Qin Mu wiped off the dust. Suddenly, the Taiji gemstone began to change, floating above his palm, with yin and yang flowing and intersecting.
When the gemstone flowed, it seemed formless and shapeless, changing endlessly. Qin Mu stared, entranced, and unknowingly entered a state of profound mystery.
The yin-yang Taiji diagram of this gemstone was unexpectedly similar to the yin-yang Taiji diagram of his Fetal Spirit Divine Treasury, causing him to unconsciously connect it with his own divine treasury's Taiji diagram when he saw the Taiji divine stone.
After who knows how long, he snapped out of it, put away the Taiji divine stone, and smiled, letting out a long sigh. He chuckled, "It seems this is the real Taiji mineral vein. The place occupied by Langxuan Divine Emperor also looks like a Taiji diagram, but it should be a fake site! No wonder nothing could be dug up there!"
"Young master is awake!" Yan'er's cheerful voice came.
Qin Mu followed the sound and saw Yan'er, in her female form, cooking a meal. Long Qilin was beside her, meditating and practicing qi, placing the Primordial Divine Stone on his brow to cultivate his divine consciousness.
Qin Mu was surprised and asked, "How long have I been standing here?"
"Ten days already."
Yan'er set out the dishes and said, "It's a bit shabby here, but luckily I brought some fruits, vegetables, and spiritual herbs. Fatty Long has already reclaimed a few acres of wasteland and plans to plant some spiritual herbs here."
She brewed a pot of tea and brought it over, calling out, "Pi, time to eat."
Long Qilin woke up and was overjoyed to see Qin Mu. He laughed, "The Sect Leader is awake."
The three sat down. Yan'er picked up Little Earth Lord and placed him on the table, setting a plate in front of him with a single spirit pill.
"Don't get it on yourself," Yan'er instructed the little Earth Lord.
She also brought out two plates of spirit pills, stir-fried with tender spiritual herb leaves, and placed them in front of Long Qilin. "I added some cooling Snow Ganoderma for you to reduce the heat," she said.
The void beast sat on its rear, its four front legs propping it up, watching them eat.
Qin Mu visualized some flesh and blood, and the void beast quickly rushed over to feast.
After finishing his meal, Qin Mu slowly sipped his tea, leisurely gazing at this mountain range stretching for thousands of miles. He saw all kinds of rare plants and spiritual herbs in the forest, with many giant beasts appearing. Suddenly, he burst out laughing.
Long Qilin quickly swallowed his spirit pill and asked at just the right moment, "Sect Leader, what are you laughing at?"
Qin Mu pointed at this mountain range and said leisurely, "I laugh at Langxuan Divine Emperor for having eyes but not recognizing true treasure. He thought he had occupied the Taiji mineral vein, but he never expected the real Taiji mineral vein to fall into my hands!"
He laughed heartily. "The mineral vein he occupied—the Creators never dug anything out of it because they were digging in the wrong place! No matter how powerful Langxuan is, even if he digs that place to the very bottom, he'll never find the real Taiji divine stone! Eat quickly. After we finish, we'll go find where the mineral vein actually is!"
Long Qilin picked up his plate and poured the contents into his mouth. Little Earth Lord also stuffed the half-eaten spirit pill into his mouth but nearly choked. Yan'er quickly patted his back to help him swallow.
Everyone packed up and prepared to set out. Qin Mu pointed at the void beast and said, "You stay here."
The void beast obediently sat down, staring at the various giant beasts appearing and disappearing in the mountains, drooling heavily. Its long tongue kept extending from under its chin, licking up the saliva dripping from its mouth.