Chapter 81 – Tool

Chi Qiong’s words further solidified Yun Xiguang’s resolve.

As he gradually approached the truth of the world, a sliver of doubt arose within Yun Xiguang’s heart.

As a human, he cared about humanity’s survival. But what if humanity’s existence triggered the world’s destruction? What if the annihilation of the world didn’t equate to humanity’s survival? If, as Youying imagined, the cessation of humanity would halt the Law’s steps toward world destruction, then was his persistence still meaningful?

Now, Yun Xiguang could provide an answer: it had meaning.

Because he was human, and humans wanting to protect their race’s safety wasn’t wrong. Humans aspiring to become better and advance wasn’t wrong either.

Whether it was the Law choosing to destroy the entire world due to its inability to balance humanity, or wiping out a species for the sake of the world’s destruction, Yun Xiguang saw both as wrong.

Yun Xiguang said, “Modern technology is indeed created by humans, but it isn’t exclusive to humans. Senior Bai Ze and Senior Azure Dragon have already begun to engage with modern science. With your spiritual essence, you can completely master modern technology. With your longevity and experience, once you touch upon technology, your achievements will surpass those of humans.

“Technology is merely a tool. Any sentient creature can use this tool. Tools themselves aren’t right or wrong. If tools cause imbalance in the world, then it’s the Law that hasn’t utilized these tools properly. Destroying the entire world because it can’t control the tools is a reason I don’t accept. Exterminating the creators of the tools because they’re deemed dangerous is also something I don’t endorse.

“Each era has its own conflicts. There must be ways to resolve the contradictions between technology and ecological balance. The Law’s current act of overturning the table is clearly a lazy move; I don’t accept it.”

After listening to Yun Xiguang’s words, Chi Qiong’s head tuft moved, seemingly recalling something. He wore an expression as if he were deep in thought.

Bai Ze and Azure Dragon stroked their beards, envisioning themselves piloting fighter jets and riding rockets to celestial realms like humans. Suddenly, they felt a sense of yearning.

Indeed, technology was just a tool. What the Law needed to do was to reformulate rules and handle these tools properly, rather than outright rejecting such tools.

Youying was similar. It understood the issue at hand but chose to annihilate civilization and technology.

But did that mean, after the Law’s world destruction and rebirth, if new civilizations and technologies emerged in the new world, would it choose to destroy the world again?

Scientific truths objectively existed. As long as there were intelligent beings, they would inevitably perceive them and utilize them rationally. The Law, repeatedly destroying worlds, was no different from a capricious child who tore up a test paper every time they made a mistake.

After Yun Xiguang comprehended all this, he couldn’t help but sigh. “Unfortunately, Youying doesn’t have consciousness, nor does the Law. They are merely programs. How on earth can I convey my thoughts to them?”

He was too weak, and his voice wouldn’t reach them.

Chi Qiong looked at Yun Xiguang and tilted his head.

Others might not be able to, but he, Zhuzhao, could.

Even if Youying and the Law lacked consciousness, he could use absolute power to make them focus their attention here.

For this purpose, he had to gather all nine phoenix feathers.

Ever since losing his phoenix feathers, Chi Qiong hadn’t been particularly anxious to reclaim his powers. Firstly, his perception of time differed from that of humans. His time units started at ten thousand years, and only three months had passed since the loss; there was no need for him to rush. Secondly, the phoenix feathers belonged to him, and he always felt that what belonged to him would eventually return.

Until now, when he had a desire, a longing, an urgency arose within him.

Thus, Chi Qiong raised his little claw and stepped on Azure Dragon’s head, urging it to hasten toward the location of the phoenix feather. He, the Supreme Deity Zhuzhao, wanted to transform into his complete form as soon as possible.

Azure Dragon flicked its tail and accelerated.

Meanwhile, Yun Xiguang continued pondering how to let Youying and the Law hear his voice. He arrived at an answer.

Yun Xiguang said, “First, retrieve the phoenix feather and delay the Law’s steps toward world destruction. Then, utilize Spirit Contracts to cultivate spirit beasts, helping them grasp modern knowledge and learn to use modern tools.

“Words alone are useless. We must take action, allowing the Law to witness firsthand that technology won’t disrupt balance. We must demonstrate that everything is feasible, so that it can acknowledge this present world and be willing to reformulate rules.”

Bai Ze looked at Yun Xiguang with admiration and stroked his small mustache. “Truly worthy of someone capable of grasping strong luck. With your mindset, any difficulties cease to be difficulties. I’m beginning to look forward to using tools like humans.”

Bai Ze and Qin Shu simultaneously recalled Ling Qingkong. This mother and son duo were truly born miracle-makers.

As they spoke, they drew closer and closer to the main body of the mushroom monster.

Surprisingly, they encountered no attacks.

The path chosen by Bai Ze was simply too good. All the humans, animals, and plants they encountered along the way were in a state of death. The mycelium on their bodies was broken, and they hadn’t met a single living enemy.

They arrived at the enormous roots of the mushroom monster, and Bai Ze sighed. “Truly worthy of the one who controls strong luck. Following you, we haven’t encountered any danger.”

Bai Ze was praising Yun Xiguang, but unexpectedly, Yun Xiguang furrowed his brows upon hearing its words.

“I’ve never believed in luck. It’s merely the rational application of low-probability events.” Yun Xiguang said, “Moreover, low-probability events are only unlikely, but the probability can never be zero. Don’t you feel that in a place that should be fraught with peril, encountering no dangers is the greatest danger itself?”

Upon his words, everyone became alert.

Indeed, even in battles between human nations, after such artillery barrages, survivors would remain. They attacked the powerful mushroom monster, which was still alive. How could the puppets controlled by its mycelium die so thoroughly?

“Even if the puppets truly perished, the mushroom monster is still alive, isn’t it? We’ve already reached the foot of the mushroom monster. Why hasn’t it attacked us with its mycelium?” Yun Xiguang asked.

Upon his statement, everyone became more cautious, all looking up at the mushroom monster.

Indeed, the mushroom monster was as quiet as if it had died.

Chi Qiong raised his head and chirped at a spot hundreds of meters high.

At this moment, they were very close to the phoenix feather. He clearly sensed that the phoenix feather was located there.

“So simple to find the location of the phoenix feather?” Yun Xiguang questioned, “Is there really no danger?”

Bai Ze tried to calculate, but concerning the future involving Zhuzhao, Youying, and the Law, each moment was in flux, and it couldn’t figure out the outcome.

It said, “The future is uncertain. The power of the three factions is too great. Each of their decisions could influence the course of the future; I can’t predict the crisis.”

“Then let’s be more cautious,” Yun Xiguang said. “I’ll fly up with Chi Qiong and try to retrieve the phoenix feather. You all stay below and be on guard, ready to support us at any time.”

Chi Qiong was absolutely invincible and unharmed. With Chi Qiong protecting Yun Xiguang, they had the lowest possibility of encountering trouble. It would be better for them to go to relatively riskier places.

Furthermore, the mushroom’s body was massive, and only Chi Qiong could locate his phoenix feather within such a large mushroom. Approaching the mushroom would be futile for others.

After reaching this agreement, Yun Xiguang summoned his fire wings and flew upward.

Following Chi Qiong’s guidance, he stopped at the same height as the phoenix feather.

The mushroom monster’s body pulsated like a heartbeat, vibrating rhythmically. Chi Qiong pointed at a spot and chirped urgently.

It was here.

“How deep inside the mushroom monster’s body is the phoenix feather?” Yun Xiguang asked.

Chi Qiong pecked Yun Xiguang’s brow, showing him the image he sensed.

Through the contract, Yun Xiguang “saw” a cluster of mycelium about a hundred meters deep, where white mycelium tightly wrapped around three phoenix feathers, bound together, pulsating like a heart.

“A hundred meters…” Yun Xiguang scanned his surroundings, not sensing any danger.

He spread his hands, and the rule of fire transformed into a golden burning arrow in his palm. The flames at the arrow’s tail spun, forming a whirlwind.

The wind propelled the arrow toward the mushroom monster, instantly burning a pit over five meters wide.

Yun Xiguang distinctly felt the mushroom monster’s heart beating faster, seemingly responding to Chi Qiong.

“My strength isn’t enough. This mushroom’s defense is formidable. Even using my full strength, I can’t dig to a depth of a hundred meters,” Yun Xiguang said.

Chi Qiong wasn’t a stingy Supreme Deity. He shook his tail, and all four phoenix feathers he currently possessed fell into Yun Xiguang’s hands. These phoenix feathers, after Chi Qiong’s treatment, no longer possessed the power to tempt others toward world destruction.

“Chirp chirp!” Chi Qiong flapped his tiny wings, pointed at the mushroom monster, and called out loudly.

He lent all his power to Yun Xiguang, urging Yun Xiguang to quickly retrieve the other three phoenix feathers.

Yun Xiguang initially wanted to say that he didn’t need so many phoenix feathers, but thinking that the mushroom monster also had three phoenix feathers, if it launched a final counterattack before dying and he didn’t have four phoenix feathers in hand, he really wouldn’t be able to suppress the mushroom monster’s power.

With that thought, he accepted the phoenix feathers.

The four phoenix feathers transformed into four fiery rings, encircling Yun Xiguang’s wrists and ankles, lending him their power.

Yun Xiguang created another rule arrow. The whirlwind at the arrow’s tail was even more intense.

This time, the flaming arrow turned into a streak of light, piercing through the air and fiercely impaling the mushroom monster’s chest.

The mushroom monster emitted a burnt smell, and large portions of it turned into charcoal, falling down. Amidst the flames, Yun Xiguang saw the phoenix feathers wrapped in white mycelium.

“Chirp!” With the three phoenix feathers in sight, Chi Qiong excitedly rushed forward but was caught by Yun Xiguang.

“Don’t rush. Let’s try not to separate,” Yun Xiguang said. “I always sense danger. Staying together will be safer.”

Just as he finished speaking, a deep voice sounded from behind the mushroom. “Reasonable words, but even if you stay together, you’ll still end up separated.”

Immediately afterward, Yun Xiguang heard the sound of pages flipping.

“A book? The Spirit Beast Codex!” Yun Xiguang immediately realized what it was.

The Spirit Beast Codex could absorb Chi Qiong. He couldn’t allow Chi Qiong to be absorbed so defenselessly.

Yun Xiguang hurriedly removed the phoenix feather from his wrist, intending to hand it to Chi Qiong before the Spirit Beast Codex exerted its power. However, it was too late.

The Spirit Beast Codex had an inexplicable attraction to Chi Qiong. Last time, despite being thousands of miles away, separated by reality and illusion, Chi Qiong was still sucked into the Spirit Beast Codex. Now, with the Spirit Beast Codex right in front of him, Chi Qiong couldn’t resist its suction.

From the moment the sound of pages flipping began, Chi Qiong only managed to chirp once before transforming into a two-dimensional creature and getting absorbed by the Spirit Beast Codex.

Yun Xiguang watched as Chi Qiong changed from three-dimensional to two-dimensional. He reached out to stop Chi Qiong but only touched a flat surface, unable to grab hold of him at all.

A book unfolded in midair, grasped by a massive black dragon claw.

Zhulong!

Yun Xiguang saw a snake tail coiling around the white mycelium ball. The tip of the tail lightly hooked, and the three phoenix feathers fell into the dragon claw.

Subsequently, the mushroom monster decayed as if it had aged for millennia, crumbling and drying up in a matter of moments.

No wonder the mushroom monster didn’t react to any attacks earlier — it was because of Zhulong!

Zhulong controlled the mushroom monster’s flow of time, making it perceive a year as a second. Before the mushroom monster could respond to his attack, Zhulong found the phoenix feather.

After utilizing Yun Xiguang to obtain the phoenix feather, Zhulong manipulated the mushroom monster’s time once again, turning its second into a millennium, allowing it to die of old age.

This was the power of Zhulong, who controlled the laws of time!

Most of Zhulong’s body was hidden in the dissipating smoke. It gazed at Yun Xiguang from the shadows and said, “We meet again.”