Chapter 199: Chapter 196: Gorging and Drinking
"That method is not only overly complicated and time-consuming, but it’s also too easy for some to slip through the cracks. It’s unacceptable."
"Foolish! The selection doesn’t have to be compulsory. We can have them come to us. How many mortals can resist the temptation of becoming an Immortal? Besides, it’s been quiet for far too long. It’s time to liven things up a bit!"
"Are you suggesting our clans join forces to host a grand Martial Dao tournament that spans the entire continent?"
"Exactly! The Mortal District may be teeming with ants, but I have to admit, the geniuses who emerge from there are exceptionally talented. This is the perfect opportunity to select a new batch of recruits. Because of that *one thing*, our clans still haven’t recovered from the losses we suffered in that battle. If the Demon Cave’s horrors are unleashed once more, what will we use to fend them off?"
At the mention of the "Demon Cave," all the powerful experts fell silent.
"Sigh... Was it all really worth it? Everything we’ve done for that thing..."
"Hmph. There’s no turning back now. You’re in too deep; quitting is no longer an option."
"Heh. I never said I wanted to quit. After all, that thing represents all of our hopes. We cannot afford to lose it."
"In that case, let’s all go make the necessary arrangements."
...
「In a luxurious and comfortable room in the deepest recesses of the Imperial Academy.」
A young man lay on the bed, showing no signs of life. He was surrounded by a group of elders, both men and women, with hair and beards as white as snow. Many had lost most of their teeth, yet their complexions were ruddy, and they were full of vigor.
Li Shimu and the Clan Leaders of the Six Great Clans were also present. All eyes were fixed on the young man.
A middle-aged man in green robes was currently examining the youth’s condition.
His brow was furrowed, and he couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh.
Li Shimu’s heart tightened. He quickly asked, "Wu Pill Master, how is the Blessed One’s condition? When will he be able to wake up?"
The young man on the bed was none other than Mo Qi’s External Incarnation!
The middle-aged man let out a long sigh. "His condition is highly unusual. I can’t sense any Life Aura from him, not even a heartbeat. And yet, he’s emitting strong spiritual fluctuations, which proves he is, in fact, still alive."
"I have seen and saved countless people in my time, but I have never encountered a case like this. I can’t make heads or tails of it. As for when he’ll wake up... I don’t know. It’s all up to him."
Li Shimu was aghast. "Even you can’t do anything?"
This Wu Pill Master was the Empire’s one and only Fifth-Grade Alchemist, which was why he had earned the title of "Pill Master."
Many of the Royal Family’s ancestors relied on him to maintain their health, so he held an incredibly high status.
The Pill Master shook his head and gestured to the External Incarnation with a wry smile. "This fellow has no meridians, no Dantian, I can’t even sense the flow of his qi and blood. If it weren’t for his distinct and clear spiritual fluctuations, I would have thought he was just a Puppet!"
Everyone present was stunned. ’No meridians? No Dantian? Doesn’t that mean he can’t practice Cultivation?’
’What kind of Blessed One is this?’
The Pill Master saw their confusion and said, "Although I don’t know the exact method, I am certain this fellow is capable of Cultivation. His physique is no weaker than the Vajra Realm—perhaps even stronger. It could be some unknown, powerful bloodline, or perhaps he was influenced by the Dragon Vein Imperial Bell. You can ask him yourselves when he wakes up."
Wait for him to wake up?
’Given his current state, heaven knows when he’ll ever wake up!’
’What if he never wakes up?’
Just as everyone was at their wit’s end, the External Incarnation on the bed slowly opened its eyes.
Mo Qi’s consciousness returned. He had no idea if his plan was proceeding as smoothly as he had hoped.
His mind was now consumed by a single thought: Save Jin Quan!
...
「Meanwhile, at the Dragon Vein Core Within the Pass.」
A golden stream, condensed from Pure Dragon Energy, gathered into a massive sphere of liquid.
Mo Qi’s true body was at the center of this sphere, tightly enveloped by Dragon Energy.
He opened his eyes, and with a single inhale, he drew all of the golden liquid into his abdomen.
His body slowly descended from mid-air.
"Nine Transformations complete. Spiritual Body Cultivation. Eight Transformations of Creation. Indestructible Golden Body," Mo Qi muttered to himself. This was the phrase that had appeared from the Chaos Scripture when he first achieved Nine Transformations into Spirit.
It was also what had thrown him into his current weakened state.
’Eight Transformations of Creation, Creation Golden Body Technique... Nourishing the Body with the Spirit, Entering the Spirit with the Body... I think I’m starting to understand.’
While he was unconscious, Mo Qi had faintly perceived a voice whispering to him, though he could never make out the words.
Now that he was awake, it was as if something new had been added to his mind, granting him a breakthrough in his comprehension of the Creation Golden Body Technique.
’Nourishing the Body with the Spirit requires eating... The chef profession is practically tailor-made for me. In that case, I’ll call the First Transformation of the Eight Transformations of Creation... Gorging and Drinking.’
Completely unfazed by how casually he had chosen the name, Mo Qi felt the abundant power within his body and opened his mouth.
"Gorging and Drinking!"
He let out a low cry, and a powerful suction force erupted from his mouth.
Instantly, everything within a thousand-zhang radius—be it the scattered, free-roaming Dragon Energy, the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, or even unknown, trace auras—was swallowed into his abdomen.
’What a tyrannical way to plunder energy!’ Mo Qi marveled inwardly.
He had only just grasped this First Transformation of the Eight Transformations of Creation; it was still imperfect, and he himself was still weak.
’If I were back at my peak, just how terrifying would "Gorging and Drinking" be?!’
Having consumed a massive amount of the Dragon Energy liquid, Mo Qi tried to digest its power to counteract his weakness.
However, he soon discovered that while the power of the Dragon Energy liquid was effective, it wasn’t by much. Even if he digested all of it, he would only shorten his recovery period by less than three days.
Compared to a three-month recovery period, three days was practically nothing.
That being the case, he might as well give this Dragon Energy to Liu Hui. He was sure it would be of great help to his Dragon Transformation Divine Technique.
Mo Qi spread his hands open, and with a thought, he tried to force the power of the Dragon Energy liquid out of his body.
The next second, five fist-sized golden Crystal Stones appeared before him.
"Huh? Why did it turn into this?" Mo Qi was completely bewildered.
The Chaos Scripture displayed a line of text: Dragon Crystal—the core condensation of Dragon Energy. Exceedingly rare and immensely valuable.
Just then, a portly figure wriggled out from a nearby pile of rubble. It was the Pig Emperor.
It shook the dust from its body and stared blankly for a moment. Then, a look of sheer ecstasy spread across its pig-like face, its eyebrows dancing up and down wildly.
"The power of the Dragon Source is completely digested! This emperor is now invincible! Hahaha!"
Its gaze inadvertently fell upon Mo Qi and the five Dragon Crystals in front of him. The Pig Emperor’s laughter died in its throat, its eyes bulging as if it were being strangled.
"D-D-Dragon Crystals?! Is this emperor dreaming?"
