Chapter 1193: Plucking Dragon Scales (Third Update)
The Way of Primordial Beginning was form without substance, which was why Qin Mu and the others had transformed into luminous energy bodies. The Way of Taiji, on the other hand, was the Way of Yin and Yang, where energy transformed into the myriad things, and the Way of Yin and Yang evolved into the ten thousand ways of the world!
"The only way to resolve our current predicament is the Taiji Divine Stones and the Taiji Primeval Stone!"
With this thought, Qin Mu immediately took out several Taiji Divine Stones and the Taiji Primeval Stone.
He only had one Taiji Primeval Stone, but over a hundred Divine Stones.
Regarding the Way of Taiji, the Way of Yin-Yang Evolution, he had once thought he understood it well. His Spirit Embryo Divine Treasury was itself a division of Yin and Yang. But after encountering the true Taiji ore vein and witnessing the bizarre events within it, he was no longer so certain.
The evolution of Yin and Yang caused matter and the Dao to change in countless ways, even altering species and the very rules of the Dao. It was truly miraculous and beyond description.
However, that journey into the Taiji ore vein had also brought him great benefits, because he had absorbed a portion of the power from the Taiji Divine Stones and the ore vein itself!
His understanding of Taiji's generation of Yin and Yang evolution had deepened immensely compared to before!
At that time, he was inside the vein. The Taiji ore vein controlled the Creator miners to kill him repeatedly, yet he used the Indestructibility of Matter divine ability to return to his starting point time and again, thereby comprehending the principles of Yin-Yang evolution.
During the final strike, the Taiji ore vein controlled the Yin and Yang energies, furiously drilling into his body in an attempt to assimilate him.
But Qin Mu, relying on the profound mystery of his Dao techniques and divine abilities, seized the opportunity to devour the Yin and Yang energies that had invaded his body, thus gaining a portion of the vein's power.
"The two ancient gods within the Taiji Divine Egg gave me this Taiji Primeval Stone. It can be said to have saved my life."
Qin Mu first tried to mobilize the power of the Taiji Divine Stone. Although he had a deep understanding of the Way of Taiji, he was not an ancient god born from the ore vein. He first needed to attempt how to master this power.
The Taiji Divine Stone slowly floated in his palm. Qin Mu felt the energy within his body merge into it, gradually transforming into Yin and Yang energies. This phenomenon was quite wondrous and astonishing.
The transformation from energy to Yin and Yang energies, and Yin and Yang energies being matter—the conversion of energy into matter—all happened naturally.
"However, pure Yin and Yang energies cannot restore my physical body."
Qin Mu pondered. The Yin and Yang energies he had obtained from the Taiji ore vein contained many complex principles of Yin-Yang evolution. He wanted to enter a dream state to deduce and organize them.
But his current state was very unstable. Entering a dream state relied on powerful thinking abilities, manifesting into thousands of avatars, mobilizing an immense amount of thought. It could very likely cause the energy within his body to spiral out of control!
He had to abandon this idea for now and slowly organize the principles of Yin-Yang evolution, studying the capabilities of the Taiji Divine Stone.
From the Taiji Divine Stone to the Taiji Primeval Stone, he had to proceed step by step, from the shallow to the profound.
Unknowingly, over ten days passed. Moon Venerable still hadn't returned, and Qin Mu had gradually mastered the power of the Taiji Divine Stone, gaining more and more understanding of the principles contained within the Taiji ore vein.
This place was undisturbed and very peaceful.
The Imperial Guard operated with strict discipline, an army that completely obeyed the orders of their commander. Wei Suifeng was that commander. With a single command, the Imperial Guard sat motionless, their minds free of any other thoughts. Their discipline was so strict it inspired awe.
The Chicken Mother Dragon Lin Xiao had been thoroughly subdued by Wei Suifeng and dared not make any rash moves.
As for Dragon Earl King, Feng Qiuyun, and the others, they were growing restless, becoming more and more anxious as time passed. Fortunately, each time they were on the verge of exploding, they would come to their senses.
"Dragon Earl King!"
Qin Mu finally stood up and called out to Dragon Earl King, smiling amiably. "I need some energy bodies from you Dragon Earls to test whether my recent gains can resolve our current state."
Dragon Earl King's expression changed, and he sneered, "Junior, you want to use us as experiments? What do you think you are..."
"'What do you think you are'? Such words from a dignified Heavenly Lord?"
Wei Suifeng walked over, sneering coldly. "Dragon Earl King, you are far too audacious."
Dragon Earl King's dragon-skin face twitched violently. He harbored fear towards Wei Suifeng. It was Wei Suifeng who had led the Imperial Guard to destroy the Dragon Earl Kingdom, suppress the Dragon Earl Rebellion, and behead countless Dragon Earls as sacrifices to the Dragon Han Heavenly Court!
Even he himself had been captured by Wei Suifeng.
"Pastoral Lord is one of the Nine Heavenly Lords of Dragon Han, with the grace of transmitting the Dao to all beings under heaven. For a million years from ancient times to the present, anyone who meets him, even the Ten Heavenly Lords of the Heavenly Court, must address him as 'Dao Brother'!"
Wei Suifeng said calmly, "He has saved your life. Not only do you fail to repay that kindness, but you also speak insolently. You are utterly unworthy."
Dragon Earl King's expression softened slightly, and he said, "I am the sovereign of the Dragon Earl Kingdom, a divine being born from the Dragon Veins of the Ancestral Court. My status is a hundred times more noble than these so-called Heavenly Lords! In the past, at the Heavenly Court's grand banquet, the Heavenly Emperor invited me to attend. As for the Nine Heavenly Lords of Dragon Han, they were merely insignificant figures playing in the Jade Pool. I truly never took them seriously. However, since the Commander of the Imperial Guard has spoken, I will grant you this face."
He pondered for a moment, then summoned a Dragon Earl. "Pluck a scale from yourself and give it to this Pastoral Lord for his experiment."
That Dragon Earl felt humiliated. Dragon Earl King snorted coldly, reached out, and plucked a scale from his body.
The Dragon Earl's face twitched violently, and he stood aside resentfully.
Qin Mu took the dragon scale and immediately activated the Taiji Divine Stone to test his new findings. He paid no attention to the sarcasm in Dragon Earl King's words.
Wei Suifeng and Dragon Earl King watched the dragon scale nervously, their hearts pounding with excitement, which they quickly suppressed.
As Qin Mu channeled his power, the Taiji Divine Stone seemed to lose its fixed form, transforming into two streams of energy, one black and one white—Yin and Yang energies. They swirled around the dragon scale, and a wondrous force erupted from the Divine Stone, altering the physical structure of the scale.
This dragon scale was merely a scale-shaped energy body, without any substance. Yet, under the influence of the Yin and Yang energies, the scale gradually began to form matter!
Everyone found it difficult to suppress the excitement in their hearts, but they had to, which was truly arduous.
Just as the dragon scale was about halfway through its transformation, suddenly, the process of the scale converting from energy to matter rapidly reversed, turning from matter back into energy!
The dragon scale began to glow brightly, its light growing more and more intense!
Wei Suifeng's expression changed drastically. He quickly flicked his sleeve, rolling up the dragon scale and tossing it high into the air.
Boom—
Matter annihilated, energy exploded. It was as if another sun had appeared in the sky, terrifyingly powerful, and it lingered for a long time.
"Another one." Qin Mu frowned slightly, saying.
Dragon Earl King gestured to the Dragon Earl. The Dragon Earl looked miserable and reluctantly stepped forward, only to have another scale plucked from him.
After a moment, Wei Suifeng flicked his sleeve again, and another sun appeared in the sky, while the previous one had not yet fully dissipated.
"Another one." Qin Mu said without looking up.
Dragon Earl King plucked another scale from that Dragon Earl. Qin Mu took it, adjusted his technique and force, and tested again.
"Another one."
...
Dragon Earl King plucked that Dragon Earl bald, then waved his hand to dismiss him and called over a new Dragon Earl to continue plucking scales.
A month passed. Explosions in the sky came one after another. Qin Mu had failed countless times, without a single success!
Dragon Earl King's face was flushed with green energy, and he nearly exploded on the spot several times. But having seen much of the world, he managed to endure.
"Another one." Qin Mu said.
This voice was like a curse that would trigger Dragon Earl King's explosion. He was furious beyond measure, his body growing brighter and brighter, barely able to restrain himself.
Wei Suifeng coughed and said, "Dragon Earl King, be careful not to explode."
Dragon Earl King came to his senses, suppressing the turmoil in his Dao heart. Gritting his teeth, he plucked a scale from his own body and said through clenched teeth, "Pastoral Lord, you can't just keep plucking us Dragon Earls! That Phoenix Clan leader over there has plenty of feathers too!"
Qin Mu said apologetically, "Almost there, almost there. Once I've plucked you clean, I'll go pluck Sister Qiuyun."
In the distance, Feng Qiuyun's expression changed drastically.