Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Taiyin Red Blood Stone
"So it’s this thing."
"With my home-field advantage, my protagonist’s halo struggles to target you directly, but it can do so indirectly."
"Without it, even if you survive this winter apocalypse, you won’t amount to much in the next world."
Qi Suian couldn’t help but smile. As a protagonist, abilities were certainly important, but they required a stage and opportunities to be of any use.
And a protagonist’s halo provided just that: the stage and the opportunities.
A golden carp is no mere pond dweller; upon encountering wind and clouds, it transforms into a dragon.
Even if this golden carp wasn’t a pond dweller, it still needed the help of wind and clouds to undergo its Dragon Transformation.
The item Qi Suian had obtained was the very source of the cold energy. It also served the same purpose as the Source of Profound Virus he’d acquired before: an item used to remove his own limitations.
Of course, his Source of Profound Virus had now become the Source of Profound Darkness: Viral Frenzy, its quality far higher than this new item’s.
[Taiyin Red Blood Stone]
[Quality: S]
[Trait 1: Evolution Growth Cap +1]
[Trait 2: Yin Energy Divine Techniques Growth +1]
[Trait 3: Removes Taiyin Celestial Fate Limitation]
[Note: Due to its spirit escaping, its quality has dropped to S-rank]
Even its traits were remarkably similar to the Source of Profound Virus from before. And with this item, he wouldn’t have to worry about incompatibility with the cold energy.
’But this "escaped spirit" part is interesting. Its original quality was also considered S-rank, then?’
It wasn’t as if Qi Suian hadn’t seen this before. The consciousness within the Source of Profound Virus was basically equivalent to the spirit in the Moon Profound Yin Red Blood Stone.
When Qi Suian had removed it back then, a similar situation occurred, also indicating a drop in quality.
This just meant that even within S-rank, there were different tiers. If the quality had truly dropped a rank, it would be A-rank now.
’Taiyin Red Blood...’ Qi Suian narrowed his eyes, his gaze suddenly shifting to the Tai Sui God’s Taiyin Red Blood Dragon.
If someone claimed these two were unrelated, Qi Suian wouldn’t believe it for a second.
’So the escaped spirit is actually the Red Dragon?’
’No, no, it’s not that simple.’
’Red Dragon might have been its first-generation identity, or one of them.’
’It must be the mastermind who assimilated people like the Dragon Roar Daoist and Tiger Roar Daoist, turning them into avatars.’
’For example... the Taiyin Celestial Monarch.’
’You’re acting this brazenly because you think no one can spot the connection between you and the Taiyin Red Blood Stone.’
The reason he guessed the Taiyin Celestial Monarch was the spirit of the Taiyin Red Blood Stone, aside from the similarity between the terms "Taiyin" and "Red Blood," was naturally the "Taiyin Refining Technique."
Although the Monarch publicly claimed that the "Taiyin Refining Technique" was developed from observing the Red Dragon Corpse, Qi Suian suspected that wasn’t the case at all.
This was especially true since the Tai Sui God had obtained the nine-level "Taiyin Refining Technique" after equipping the Taiyin Red Blood Dragon. It felt very similar to how the Seven-Star Jade Vein Lotus had come with the "Beidou Seven Elements True Skill."
It was as if the spirit had created this "Taiyin Refining Technique" by combining itself with the Taiyin Red Blood Stone and the Red Dragon.
The version the Monarch used was one he comprehended himself later on—a shoddy imitation, by comparison.
The one the Tai Sui God used, however, was the innate, original version—a complete, nine-level version from the start.
Unfortunately, Qi Suian couldn’t practice it. Just like the "Myriad Phenomena Thousand Truths Hundred Refinement Skill," the "Taiyin Refining Technique" on the Tai Sui God was exclusive to it.
Humans couldn’t practice it; only the Tai Sui God could. And the moment it was installed, it was already at the ninth, perfected level.
After all, it was a module, a side effect that came with the Taiyin Red Blood Dragon.
’In that case, the Taiyin Celestial Monarch must have been possessed halfway through, not replaced by the Red Dragon from the very beginning.’
’So the mummified corpse in the statue and the "Blood Sacrifice Demonic Scripture" on its skin were probably the Red Dragon’s handiwork.’
Qi Suian thought up to this point... and realized it was all rather useless.
For the simple reason that this information was of no help to him whatsoever.
What could he do now that he knew? Announce it to the world and try to crush his enemy with righteousness and public opinion?
The pen is mightier than the sword only when used against moral people in times of peace.
In this world, which was currently experiencing a winter apocalypse and filled with individuals of immense power and Extraordinary beings, they could simply kill you until you shut up.
’Since this Taiyin Red Blood Stone has fallen into my hands, does that mean the Taiyin Celestial Monarch is playing the role of a wise old grandpa to some protagonist right now?’ Qi Suian suddenly had this thought.
’The possibility is high, but... where would I even go to find him?’
Qi Suian had no target for the moment.
Finding someone in the apocalypse was purely a matter of luck. This was especially true in a natural disaster-type apocalypse where modern communication devices were basically useless. Trying to rely on strength instead of luck was a bit of a stretch.
If he truly had that kind of power, Qi Suian wouldn’t be looking for someone; he’d just blast them to death from a distance.
After some thought, Qi Suian decided to go with the flow and rely on his protagonist’s halo.
If that didn’t work, he could only wait for the enemy to reveal himself.
But if it really came to that, it would mean the enemy had fully developed. And wanting to kill him then would be... even easier.
With the Floating Cannons in hand, he could unleash a saturation strike, guaranteeing a completely painless death.
However, Qi Suian had deeper considerations.
Namely, to make the best use of everything.
The simplest example was that when they finally met, if the enemy was fully developed, he would definitely be an Extraordinary Life Form beyond normal specifications. Using him as fuel would surely burn up a huge amount of evolution energy.
Even if it only allowed the Tai Sui God to evolve once, that would be enough to satisfy Qi Suian.
The extra module slot he would get would be perfect for installing the Taiyin Red Blood Stone.
There was a drawback, though: he couldn’t use the Floating Cannons.
Using the Floating Cannons for a cluster bombardment was indeed simple, and he could still get the protagonist’s halo as a baseline reward for the kill.
But that was all he would get—the baseline. To die under the Floating Cannons was to leave absolutely nothing behind.
Of course, if things got out of hand, Qi Suian would rather forgo this pile of evolution energy to ensure the enemy was annihilated.
Before, he would have definitely opted for the least troublesome path. But now that the Tai Sui God had enough modules and possessed greater strength...
...he naturally had to consider maximizing his profits, not just ending it all with a simple kill.
’Protagonist’s halo, I’m counting on you now. Help me find the protagonist among this batch of survivors as quickly as possible.’
’You need to put in some effort too. All this burning, killing, and looting I’m doing—isn’t it all to nurture you?’
’But you have to pull your own weight...’ Qi Suian rambled on, starting to psychologically manipulate his own protagonist’s halo.
It was probably useless, though. After all, he had already purged the subconscious from his Celestial Fate: Profound, turning it into the Treasure Map of the Lost module for his Tai Sui God.
But on the off chance this thing really could be manipulated by him, wouldn’t that be a huge win?
Acting on the principle that it cost him nothing to try, Qi Suian finished his psychological manipulation of the protagonist’s halo and let his gaze fall upon the Taiyin Red Blood Stone.
’Looks like... it’s useful to me, too?’ Qi Suian had initially thought it could only be used as a module for the Tai Sui God.
But he discovered something interesting. His own Profound Virus was boosted by "Trait 1: Evolution Growth Cap +1," and at the same time, the Super Adaptability from his "Celestial Fate: Profound +1" was also enhanced.
The boost wasn’t complete, but it was definitely there, and it seemed to be continuous, albeit with very low efficiency.
Then, Qi Suian’s gaze turned to his S-rank ability, Banquet.
His Physique and Spirit attributes, which originally had an extra fifty percent boost, had now increased to sixty percent.
This should be the effect of the so-called "Yin Energy Divine Techniques Growth +1".
However, a normal "+1" effect definitely wouldn’t be a mere ten percent increase; it would most likely be one hundred percent.
Because Qi Suian’s Banquet ability wasn’t a conventional ability or core, the effect was only one-tenth of its potential.
The previous "Evolution Growth Cap +1" had probably also only given him one-tenth of its effect.
As for the final "Trait 3: Removes Taiyin Celestial Fate Limitation," that was completely useless.
Qi Suian’s Celestial Fate was Profound, not Taiyin. It was of no use to him at all.
’I’ll just make do with it for now.’
’The effect of Banquet Fare has been enhanced as well, also a ten percent boost.’
’It’s not bad. If I use it as a module later and enhance it to SSS-rank, the effect will definitely be even better.’
’So... I’m just missing a module slot.’
’I can’t rely entirely on finding the protagonist. I have to hunt on my own. Even a mosquito’s leg is still meat.’
’It’s better than getting nothing at all,’ Qi Suian muttered. "AI, capture that batch of Cold Energy Monsters outside and burn them as fuel."
’I’ve never felt so short on fuel before.’
It was mainly because Qi Suian was too idle. If this were before, when his projects were progressing at lightning speed and he was swamped with work, he wouldn’t even have these kinds of thoughts.
-----------------
"Someone took it. Who?"
As the atmosphere churned, the streams of cold energy in the sky coalesced into the shape of a long dragon, its expression bewildered.
It was the Taiyin Celestial Monarch, and moreover, the spirit of the Taiyin Red Blood Stone. It called itself the Red Blood Dragon.
Its physical body had been destroyed by Tang Qing previously, forcing it to merge back into the cold energy. It was just preparing to find a new person to serve as its new body.
It was very interested in the "violator" that was the talk of the town recently.
But before it had a chance to find a suitable candidate, someone had already raided its home base.
"This is bad. Without the Taiyin Red Blood Stone, I have no foundation."
"If I encounter my fated person now, I’m afraid all I’ve built will just be a wedding dress for him."
The Red Blood Dragon came to its senses. It was too weak now. If it ran into Tang Qing, it would surely die.
As for taking back the Taiyin Red Blood Stone? That was simply impossible. It didn’t even know who took it, so where could it even begin to look?
A connection was out of the question. It had escaped; it had no desire to return to that sunless existence inside the stone.
"As things stand, my only choice is to devour all the yin energy in the world to strengthen myself."
"Then, I must kill that fated person to preserve my own life."
"As for the Taiyin Red Blood Stone, without the world’s yin energy, it’s nothing more than a hard rock."
A vicious glint flashed in the Red Blood Dragon’s eyes.
Devouring all the yin energy in the world would not only strengthen it but also cause the cold energy to disappear.
And because this would be a man-made disaster, it would be far more brutal than before. All life forms possessing cold energy, whether they were survivors or Cold Energy Monsters, would have the cold energy forcibly ripped from their bodies.
By now, they had long since fused with the cold energy. Once that energy was drained from their bodies, death would be certain.
"One month, and I shall reshape the world!"
