Chapter 32: Essence of Sun and Moon

Liang Yuan watched the unfolding farce in silence.

The Winged Clan sought to kill Quan Xi because they were uncertain of the Merfolk’s intentions, unsure if the sea people would act against them. To this, Liang Yuan’s evaluation was… much ado about nothing.

Merfolk lived within the waters, and those who grew legs were rare. How many pearls could there be in the depths of the sea? Similarly, the Winged Clan could not breathe underwater; they could never threaten the Merfolk. Their fears were purely self-induced.

But it mattered little. Liang Yuan viewed matters from a godlike perspective; if judged from the angle of the Winged Priest, their choice was reasonable enough.

Strolling along the edge of the beach, Liang Yuan ambled leisurely, gazing at the sea bathed in the sunset, feeling a wave of emotion. How long had it been since he’d felt such ease? He could hardly recall. Looking at the shimmering water, he couldn’t help but reflect.

Memories of Earth surfaced in his mind, yet they seemed nothing more than a beautiful dream. The time spent here had already far surpassed his days on Earth, and now Liang Yuan even wondered if he truly belonged to this world he had wrought.

Night descended, and the stars glittered above.

Those myriad points of light in the sky were all creations of his own hand. Drawn by their splendor, Liang Yuan felt a strange, inexplicable pull.

This feeling... it seemed to be divine power.

“So many years have passed, and this is the first time I’ve noticed such a change,” he mused, a spark of delight rising within him.

The countless stars he fashioned each contained a trace of his energy. One could call it divine power, or perhaps magic, spiritual energy, vital force…

However it was described, this was a power that transcended the mundane.

The subtlest force in the world, cultivated through internal practice, drawing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into oneself.

“How interesting.”

The sudden discovery of this unique energy rekindled Liang Yuan’s spirits.

In recent years, he had also tried to create extraordinary beings. The first experiment was the divine bird, Bi Fang.

He nourished it with his own blood and forged it with the heart of a volcano, spending ten years before he barely succeeded, imbuing Bi Fang with unparalleled energy.

Yet, the wisdom he awakened within Bi Fang soon faded back into confusion. His ambition had been too great from the outset: even if an extraordinary creature was born, it would remain a dull beast, incapable of regaining intelligence.

From weak to strong, evolving step by step.

This was a new idea Liang Yuan had conceived. Unfortunately, this process did not last; he granted the Winged Priest a fire ability he could withstand, but it never advanced further. As time passed, the fire ability began to wane.

After the Winged Priest, Liang Yuan bestowed upon the little girl the power of healing lotus, gentle and serene compared to fire.

But now, there was an energy present in the world itself; no need for Liang Yuan to intervene.

If the Winged Clan or Merfolk could cultivate on their own, breathing in spiritual energy from heaven and earth, wouldn’t their power slowly increase?

Drawing in the essence of the sun and moon, absorbing the spiritual energy of the world.

So it was.

Yet, reference was needed for his ideas.

After all, this energy originated from him, and Liang Yuan knew nothing of meridians or inner channels.

His body was no longer human.

Though outwardly the same, Liang Yuan had no organs, no heart; this form was merely a vessel for his consciousness. Should he wish, he could transform into any shape, even into the planet itself.

Even if the universe collapsed and was destroyed, Liang Yuan would persist... only returning to the primal darkness and chaos.

He could simulate, but a reference was preferable.

Just then, from the distant forest beyond the beach, a rustling sound emerged.

Seeing this, Liang Yuan smiled slightly, his gaze deep and penetrating, as though seeing through the tangled paths to Quan Xi and the Dark Bird fleeing for their lives.

He had shed his tail fin for legs, lacking wings like the Winged Clan, making him the ideal reference.

Thus, let him be the beginning.

...

Quan Xi, battered and bruised, pressed forward on sheer determination.

The Dark Bird followed closely, faring much better. The Winged soldiers did not realize the Dark Bird possessed intelligence, assuming it was Quan Xi’s captive pet, never suspecting its wisdom.

Thus, while hunting Quan Xi, they paid little heed to the Dark Bird, leaving it with little pressure—just to keep pace with Quan Xi.

They pressed on, weaving through thick undergrowth and making sudden turns, finally reaching the shore with their pursuers close behind.

Quan Xi drew a deep breath, staggering onto the sand, struggling toward the water.

He had been dehydrated for some time; his consciousness blurred, near suffocation. After living so long by the Divine Lake, this dryness was unbearable.

As his senses faded, a warm sensation enveloped him.

What was happening?

Quan Xi was astonished, unable to comprehend—had the Dark Bird dragged him to the shore?

In confusion, Quan Xi opened his eyes.

He saw a figure, seated upon a stone.

No tail fin, no wings.

From this person, Quan Xi felt the overwhelming pressure of the Great Way, as if all things stood before him.

Seeing this face, Quan Xi’s pupils contracted sharply, his whole body trembling.

“Origin… Origin God!”

This moment he had dreamed of countless times.

He fantasized about how he might behave if he met the Origin God again.

But upon waking, he would scoff at himself.

Even the former king, after parting from the Origin God, never met him again—let alone himself.

Yet unexpectedly, today, he had encountered the Origin God once more.

Unlike last time, when he had conversed with the Origin God in ignorance, now Quan Xi trembled all over, barely able to speak.

He who fought tigers and escaped the Winged Clan’s encirclement could not control his nerves; his eyes burned as he gazed at the Origin God, lips parted, unsure what to say—only able to bow deeply.

The Origin God glanced at the Dark Bird, its feathers drawn in, curled up and shivering, and laughed softly.

“Last time, you chose the gift of communication. Now, do you regret that choice?”

Just then, a piercing howl rose from the forest. At the sound, the Origin God waved his hand, and the world fell silent once more.

He looked at Quan Xi, saying nothing more.

Quan Xi, seeing this, bowed deeply to the Origin God: “I do not regret. The Origin God’s grace is unforgettable for all my days!”