Chapter 1464: Position Fruit Remains, Double Consolidation (Two-in-One)

The cold wind was piercing; heaven and earth were frozen.

Huo Zhao Hongyuan and the others dispersed to the surroundings, encircling the mountaintop, searching everywhere for suspicious objects.

Soles sank into ice and snow, creaking with a *gazi-gazi* sound.

This place towered over ten thousand zhang high, covered in ice and snow year-round; the surface layer, after years of scorching sun and wind-drying, though called snow, was actually a thin shell of ice — stepping on it made cracking *pipa* noises.

As Liang Qu walked inward, he shook the Time Worm; the Time Worm flailed at both ends everywhere, *pada-pada* like a rubber rod, unresponsive no matter how he shouted.

In his dejection——

Liang Qu let out a cold snort: "Little Time Worm, refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit; I truly must severely control you!"

With those words, his entire body's Yao Dragon cultivation no longer concealed itself; his Qi mechanism went wild, soaring to the heavens, invading through every pore, violently stimulating the Time Worm, then he clenched hard.

*Zhi! *

The Time Worm shrieked like a chicken, its five viscera and six bowels compressed, rapidly rebooting; its dim bean-eyes swiftly turned crimson, like two little red beans.

If this can be borne, what cannot be borne? Let's blow up with him!

Sharp beak pecking rapidly.

*Ping-ping-pang-pang. *

Sparks flew in all directions; the tiger's mouth tingled and numbed.

"Ai."

Liang Qu was originally unmoved; after a long while, he sighed.

Without a third portion of unfused Four Seasons Chang Qi, the Time Worm in his hand was the sole unique one under heaven.

Old Yuan gave no force, couldn't press out any oil and water; the remaining Time Worms fundamentally had no means to grow up, couldn't grow, abilities limited, thus couldn't weave the remaining suit Chang Qi — a pity this unique one grew crooked.

Speaking of it, it's inseparable from himself.

Carefully recalling the Time Worm's growth.

Back then the Time Worm was just a mindless strange insect, had some unique traits, but no wisdom — a pure "beast" seeking benefit and avoiding harm, eating, drinking, defecating, sleeping, hanging upside down. A cat ran into the house to steal food, was caught, yet still hissed at people — it had no concept of ownership.

Or rather, ownership consciousness, respecting ownership — this is essentially a unique product of social relations; hence communication was extremely laborious, and there was no need to haggle over this with a bug.

By the time the Time Worm barely opened its wisdom, Liang Qu thought himself magnanimous, a man of his word, and set it free. The Time Worm immediately defected to Old Yuan, enjoying ancestral treatment — four dishes and a soup daily, monkey massages.

The only hardship suffered was probably that year lost in the middle, but at that time the Time Worm already had tiger-hunting strength; sleeping in the wind and dew had basically no major impact.

Even if a human is raised by wild beasts, they become like wolf children and such, creatures incapable of communication. Social relations are an important component constituting intelligent beings' cognition; unfortunately, from the birth of self-awareness to now, at both Liang Qu's and Old Yuan's places, the Time Worm could not obtain a correct social relation structure, obtain sufficient interaction, to shape self and world cognition.

It does not exist that having wisdom means having cognition and common sense.

Wisdom, cognition, common sense — three separate matters.

Liang Qu understood clearly: the Time Worm had absolutely no cognitive concept of the rarity of various suits; it felt they were the same as roadside wild grass — just one tasty, one not tasty — naturally it would not regard him as some "great benefactor."

Wanting to cultivate it now is too late; an Entering Zhen Xiang level Time Worm, its wisdom has reached a considerable degree — it can even write characters — it's not that it lacks cognition, but its cognition is quite twisted, and its strength too great; it can no longer find matching social relations.

Shaping from nothing to something is simple; correcting from crooked to straight is difficult; binding it by his side and forcibly suppressing it would only be like a spring — the more corrected, the more crooked.

It can only get by with sharp, explosive shrieks.

"All Old Yuan's fault!" Liang Qu was indignant.

He was at fault — he pointed out Old Yuan's existence — but does Old Yuan have not a single fault?

He should never have let the Time Worm go find Old Yuan — one in heaven, one underground — that was the start of the Time Worm's cognitive "collapse"; at the time it was only Tiger-Hunting level, there was still a chance to turn it around.

Record a stroke against him!

Comparing the two, Ze Ding's early awakening of wisdom was absolutely extraordinary — awakening wisdom, awakening cognition.

Long Eying always said the wild water beasts he enlightened, experiencing so-called awakening, likely inherited part of Liang Qu's own cognition and personality — a very independent version of a part of his personality.

Liang Qu himself didn't believe it. Isn't this baseless slander? He thought he and Eying knew each other's roots and bottoms, knew the fat and the soft; he didn't expect her to have such a misaligned cognition.

Does he have A Fei's sycophancy? Does he have the Third Prince's childishness? Can't move, that lazy? Otter Otter's stubbornness? Oh, there is Yuan Tou, A Wei, and Fist's wisdom, diligence, and simplicity.

Overthinking is useless; matters have come to this——

Endure it.

Forcibly making the Time Worm reboot, Liang Qu stood still, reached back and produced two Lu Seeds.

The Time Worm's bean-eyes overlapped, both eyes focusing.

【Lu Seed: Six】

One per season, one produced in midsummer of the eighth month, Heaven-Earth-Man three lines gave three, leaving six.

Thought for a bit.

Liang Qu gave one more grain, one more than agreed, offering heavy profit.

【Lu Seed: Five】

The Time Worm's figure flashed, quickly grabbed all three Lu Seeds, stuffed them into its mouth; bean-eyes excited.

Having gained benefit, the Time Worm only then calmed down considerably; afterward it shivered, perceiving the environment's cold.

The higher the realm, the more keenness and resistance rise simultaneously; thus greater suffering and greater harmlessness do not conflict.

Previously anger dominated the brain; now IQ reoccupied the high ground; the Time Worm blinked its bean-eyes, looked around, the whole worm froze in a daze.

Liang Qu's eyes narrowed.

There's a show!

A place capable of giving birth to such an alien species as the Time Worm — even if the Time Worm never came here, born later — is roughly like fresh fish swimming upstream to spawn, or wild geese migrating north and south; it is engraved in the body's instinct.

【Lu Seed: Four】

Striking while the iron is hot, he released the Time Worm, fished out another Lu Seed, and persuaded with kind words.

Jin Guang flickered.

The Time Worm took the Lu Seed, stuffed it into its mouth, then flew into the sky, looked around a moment, swiftly locked onto a direction.

"Great King." Huo Zhao Hongyuan and the others inquired.

"Go, keep up!" Liang Qu's Azure Dragon coiled, turning into a gust of clear wind, closely trailing behind the Time Worm.

Mount Tianshan's range is extremely vast; it belongs to the ranks of the world's famous mountains. In ancient times, the martial Dao was not prominent, the scope of human activity was limited, and they even regarded Mount Tianshan as the source of the Huaijiang and the Yellow Sand River, the ancestor of ten thousand mountains, with immortals in the mountains.

However, there are no immortals, but there are Demon Kings.

That's right, there are Demon Kings in Mount Tianshan, just not many — two of them, with strength merely at the Middle Stage Azure Dragon. Sensing Liang Qu's arrival, out of a half-fearful mentality, they did not come up to greet him; even when Liang Qu brushed past their territory, they pretended not to know.

Joke. The new Venerable of the Lotus Sect's one battle — those who know aren't just Martial Saints; what can they do about it?

Finally, the Time Worm crossed over numerous mountain peaks and landed on a floating island.

The floating island is covered in accumulated snow, with sparse snow lotuses blooming.

The Time Worm shuttled through them, exceptionally excited. Looking at the ground full of snow lotuses, it was like a wild boar that had entered a rural courtyard — rampaging through them, one mouthful per plant, messy leaves flying everywhere.

"Huh————"

The Azure Dragon descended. Liang Qu's golden pupils remained open, and he finally discovered the unusual place.

What dense Heaven and Earth Qi mechanism — even seems familiar.

"Loulan!!"

Liang Qu's gaze flashed.

Back then, inspired by the appearance of the Enchanting Fruit, he went to the desert to search for a good while and discovered traces of the Position Fruit in the small kingdom of Loulan.

Unfortunately, at that time the Position Fruit had not yet fully gestated, and his Heavenly Pass and Earthly Axis were not as powerful as now. By the time he heard news again, it had already been plucked away by the Old Yin Whale and used as a reward.

Now, in his golden pupils, the Heaven and Earth spiritual mechanism is exactly the same.

But, it is not exactly the same as when it was about to be born; rather, it is exactly the same as the messy aftermath left behind after someone plucked it away!

"A Position Fruit was born here once, and was taken away by someone. The time of taking cannot be determined; judging by the looks of it, earlier than the Enchanting Fruit?"

Liang Qu made a judgment in an instant.

Was it the Old Yin Whale?

The similar scene made Liang Qu suspicious.

He opened his Heavenly Pass and Earthly Axis, attempting to comb through the spiritual mechanism in the air, gradually gathering it.

Along with the growth of his strength and the increase in Favored layers, the increase and enrichment of experiences like Pointing the Dragon King, Liang Qu's control over the Heavenly Pass and Earthly Axis is becoming more and more formidable. He can completely rely on the final remnants to condense the Long Qi into existence!

Theoretically, if he went to Loulan now, he could likewise replicate it. But by the time he could do it, he had already become an Azure Dragon; going abroad is inconvenient. For two strands of Long Qi, deliberately leaving a flaw is truly unnecessary.

Spiritual mechanism gathers, gradually forming a pattern, pulsing rhythmically.

Inside the Louguan Terrace, Ge Jianhong sat in meditation cultivating, comprehending the Myriad Victories Merit. He suddenly froze for no apparent reason, immediately entering a trance to divine with tortoise shells, his eyes gleaming bright.

"Long Qi is about to appear? Right at Mount Tianshan?"

"And it's top-grade Long Qi!"

Ge Jianhong grew excited. Top-grade Long Qi at his doorstep, and he divined it — this opportunity is not often seen. Ge Jianhong was just about to rise when his heart suddenly felt empty; his brows instantly furrowed deeply, and he sat back down.

"No, wait, how is it gone again?"

Ge Jianhong went dumbstruck.

In an instant, he thought he had produced some illusion, until he gazed into the far distance and saw the sky's light surging, purple qi coming from the east, vast and mighty crossing over the mountain peaks. He blurted out.

"Heaven and Earth anomaly!!"

【Obtained one strand of Chasing Qi. If fused with the essence of ten thousand waters and marshes, a spirit fish is born, can sublimate Favored, function profound and strange.】

【Chasing Qi: Chased without abandon; when caught, it seizes; seized but not kept, chases again in the wild.】

"Chasing Qi?"

Liang Qu was stunned for a moment.

The function of Chasing Qi is very strange, even having a few points of abstractness that are difficult to understand.

Simply put, it can forcibly change a thing from "owned object" into "ownerless object".

For example, someone seizes a supreme treasure and is about to flee. Liang Qu activates Chasing Qi, and it can make the supreme treasure automatically detach, then appear between the two of them, or at an even more random position.

Or, forcibly make a certain spirit weapon incompatible with its master, able to exert only the spirit weapon's own material effect, without the bonus of hearts in tune.

In terms of effect, there is no direct enhancement to individual strength; one can only say it might be very useful in specific environments. It's just that Liang Qu doesn't quite understand why the place where the Time Worm was born would produce this kind of Long Qi. What is the connection?

He originally thought the Time Worm's old home would somehow produce a heaven-defying Long Qi similar to Time Sequence, accelerating or decelerating.

Didn't expect this thing to come out.

Reasonable?

"However, it has some substance. One strand of Chasing Qi is nothing; there must be its upper limit. A thousand strands gathered become a Position Fruit————" Liang Qu thought of something, his expression changing slightly. "Could it force a person's Position Fruit out?"

Who the hell took this Position Fruit?

Liang Qu was horrified, vaguely discovering it seemed someone had hidden a big ruthless move.

"Huai King?" Ge Jiantai came running over with a group of disciples in vast numbers, looking at the anomaly before them.

Purple clouds filled the mountains and fields; just breathing made one feel clear-headed and refreshed.

Liang Qu waved his hand. He had long since noticed the anomaly and the Louguan Terrace's activity. "No need for pleasantries. Rare opportunity. Quickly have the disciples enter meditation and cultivate."

"Many thanks." Ge Jiantai turned his head. "Jianhong, it's entrusted to you."

"Yes."

Ge Jianhong hurriedly arranged for the many disciples to land on the floating island and cultivate.

The Heaven and Earth anomaly lasted an extremely short time, but for the tempering of True Gang it is considerably effective, enough to save several years of bitter cultivation. Early by one step, earn a bit.

The crowd of disciples was overjoyed, hurriedly arranging themselves in order of distance and sitting in meditation.

"Huai King, what is going on?" Ge Jiantai landed beside Liang Qu.

"Oh, came inside Mount Tianshan to seek some things. Happened to encounter Long Qi condensing, so I made a move to collect it. It's the Long Qi's accompanying anomaly."

Liang Qu answered casually.

Ge Jiantai was slightly surprised. Not coveting the Long Qi — just one strand of Long Qi, even if top-grade, to make an enemy of the Huai King would mean his head has a lump. He was surprised by Liang Qu's methods.

The emergence of long qi can be explained by coincidence, but long qi always requires a specific vessel to gather in—how did this vessel come about?

Liang Qu naturally gave no answer, he clasped his hands behind his back and gazed toward the purple qi coming from the east.

Winning over Ge Zu, observing the Yin-Yang Creation Method, gaining insight into Gang Refinement, and even harvesting several special long qi, the crucial information from the netherworld—this trip to Louguan Terrace can be called complete!

August 3rd, the day of Bing Fire ended, seeing off the fleet's masts, Ge Zu took a deep breath and entered seclusion again.

Zhang Longxiang, Wolf Lord, Da Gai Li————without exception.

Following the separation of the north and south formations, the two Purple Lightning ships originally stationed at Heyuan Prefecture and Nanhai Commandery followed the Tusi and the Khan King into their respective capitals.

Coordination completed.

Bringing family and friends back to Pingyang, Liang Qu immediately jumped into the pond, deepening his insight and making even more preparations for the great battle.

On June 4th, he was only sixteen days away from the solidification of his divine ability, but after the River God Sacrifice, as he continued onward, he again began to "run around aimlessly," with the Pot King following the merchants' guild all the way up, his actions also could not be too obvious, so he remained just a hair's breadth short.

After the River God Sacrifice ended, upon reaching River Yang, it was even more impossible to cover up.

Until today!

Sunlight pierced the pool water, streaks of golden light flowing across the white sand at the pool's bottom, small fish darting through the green reeds.

Accompanied by the continuous action of the divine ability 【Solid】, Liang Qu's entire body shuddered violently, he could feel as if he had gained an extra limb, and its level was extremely high.

In an instant, the rotating air mass above the immortal island, like an arm directing fingers, became even smoother, expanded by a third, and in effect even better than before.

【Innate Divine Ability: Water Travels a Thousand Miles, Mystic Sea Prison, Vortex Palace, Holding Up Heaven Pillar, Water Dragon Pierces Clouds, Vortex Escape Path, Tread Filth, Rolling Stone Becomes Elixir】

Sixth-rank divine ability 【Rolling Stone Becomes Elixir】, adhesion and solidification successful!

No longer needing the Pot King to draw near, advancement proceeds uninterrupted throughout the twelve double-hours of the day!

Not done, Liang Qu immediately let the loaded divine ability 【Solid】 be, then let the divine ability 【Solid】 solidify 【Solid】.

Slightly experience it.

"No shortening in time." Liang Qu pondered, "One solidification still takes five months."

Quite normal, after all only one 【Solid】 is effective; when 【Solid】 solidifies, then loading the Pot King's 【Solid】, both his and the Pot King's taking effect simultaneously, that could possibly achieve another halving of divine ability solidification time.

Two and a half months, one divine ability!

"No, the Pot King's advancement cannot be increased further; solidified onto me, can it be upgraded once more? If I could step with left foot on right foot and rise to the fifth rank, perhaps I could shorten it even more————" Liang Qu secretly hoped.

"My lord————"

"Lady!"

Liang Qu pushed aside the lotus leaves to reveal his head, face showing surprise, Long Eying placed the small cloth bag into the bamboo basket, bent down and entered the water, gently sending it up.

The bamboo basket swayed, it was this year's lotus seeds and mermaid tears, even several pieces of coral!

August, lotus seeds should not be ripe by principle, but the situation is special, this year only an early batch could be picked.

【Water Essence + 1,377,640】

【Water Essence: 39,003,000】

The essence in the Marsh Cauldron slightly increased.

Not only that, the otter otter set up the barbecue rack, poured out the charcoal, scraped off the fish scales, preparing for the evening's grand fish feast, for this, Guan Jian was even dispatched by him to do labor.

Liang Qu wants to fiercely eat alone!

With the current consumption of tens of millions at a turn, he strives to accumulate forty million before the netherworld, to be absolutely safe, including the Phoenix Immortal Fish in the Yingchun Tower, raised for so long, last time he went to see, obviously fattened again.

"All that can be done has been done, already the limit, only one thing remains————"

Liang Qu finished his cultivation and rose, turning toward the Long Gong.

Here, there is one he entrusted the Harbor Master to invite, the demon king long agreed upon waiting.

Long Gong Plaza, fiery trees and silver flowers casting shadows, the old toad lay asleep on the treasure pile snoring loudly, the shrunken fat fish silently approached, using its whiskers to coil around————

"Scorpion King!"

"Huai King!"

The fat fish startled, panicked and fled.

A human silhouette tore through the sky, halted in midair, appeared above the water, a colossal creature whose entire body was clad in armor like blue crystal, translucent and lustrous, its hooked tail raised in response, beside it still accompanied by the Harbor Master exchanging greetings.

The sea scorpion brandished its huge pincers, coming straight: "I do not know why the Huai King specially summoned me to stay, saying there is an important matter to discuss, what is it?

Regarding the Jiang River trade, I am willing, but dealings with the imperial court, then there are some complications."

"Scorpion King, rest assured." Liang Qu clasped his hands, "It is not that I wish to force anything, merely I want to obtain some information from the Scorpion King here."

"What information?"

"Formerly, the Octopus King once exchanged a treasure with the Scorpion King for a thread of heaven-earth long qi, I do not know if the Scorpion King retains any impression?"

"No." The Scorpion King waved his double pincers, "Too long ago, I have long since————"

"A pity." Liang Qu leaned on the azure wrist-foot, sighed slightly, "If the Scorpion King had an impression, I would take charge, letting the Harbor Master lord bestow a red card, with an added moment of enlightenment————

"Wait!" The Scorpion King in a state of painful rumination, "There is, Huai King, there is, I just suddenly recalled, I have a faint impression!

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