Chapter 204 – Movement and Stillness: Opposition and Unity

“Heart, soul, intent, and thunder—the potential of these words is immense, and I can acquire them all.”

“Metamorphosis is also possible.”

Being a Source Rune, after acquiring the character for “metamorphosis,” Mu Lin’s transformations would no longer be limited to the physical body. His Mystical Arts would also be elevated by one tier under the influence of “metamorphosis.”

Although, currently constrained by his realm, Mu Lin could not fully comprehend the Source Rune “metamorphosis.” Consequently, he could only activate its effect by consuming more Mana during Spell casting, allowing his Mystical Arts to undergo metamorphosis temporarily, rather than maintaining it permanently.

Yet, this ability remained extraordinarily formidable.

However, after careful consideration, Mu Lin ultimately did not choose any of the above options. Instead, he selected—Stabilize.

The Dao gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, Two gives birth to Three, Three gives birth to all things. All things bear Yin and embrace Yang…

This so-called “Two” represents Yin and Yang.

All things in the world are invariably related to Yin and Yang.

Moreover, Mu Lin’s knowledge and experiences were closely intertwined with Yin and Yang.

The Twilight Illusion Life-Death Array was a Cultivation Method directly connected to Yin and Yang.

Simultaneously, Paper Figures represented death, while he represented life—the two also formed a pair of Yin and Yang. It was precisely because of this Yin-Yang relationship that Mu Lin could transfer his injuries and curses onto substitutes.

…

It could be said that Yin and Yang pertained to the fundamental logic of the world, with terrifyingly high potential. Naturally, when acquiring characters, Mu Lin wished to be associated with them.

However, his connection with the characters for Yin and Yang was ultimately indirect; he could not acquire them directly. Thus, he acquired a subordinate concept of Yin and Yang.

“Since all things bear Yin and embrace Yang, many characters are related to Yin and Yang—life and death, illusion and extinction, light and darkness, sun and moon, and even thunder, blood, male and female… all can be linked to Yin and Yang.”

Under normal circumstances, Mu Lin would have chosen between the characters for life and death, or at the very least, he could have selected sun and moon.

However, Mu Lin was not normal. In addition to the knowledge of Qi Refiners in this world, he also possessed knowledge from his previous life.

Therefore, when considering Yin and Yang, Mu Lin recalled something related to the laws of the universe.

“Dialectical materialism holds that the world is material, and matter is in perpetual motion. Matter and motion are inseparable; there is no matter without motion, nor motion independent of matter…”

“…From celestial bodies in the universe to microscopic particles, from the inorganic to the organic, from nature to human society, all forms of material objects in every domain are without exception in eternal, ceaseless motion…”

“…However, while dialectical materialism considers motion absolute and unconditional, it does not deny stillness. It points out that stillness is a special manifestation of motion when examined from a certain perspective—relative and conditional…”

Undoubtedly, in Mu Lin’s understanding, motion and stillness belonged to Yin and Yang, respectively.

Among them, motion belonged to Yang, stillness belonged to Yin, and the two were both opposed and unified.

This perfectly aligned with Yin and Yang. Consequently, inspired by a sudden insight, Mu Lin prepared to choose a character from motion and stillness.

Everything is in motion, a concept Mu Lin did not yet grasp deeply, so he could not acquire it.

Relative stillness, however, he understood to some extent and could barely acquire.

As for why he sought to acquire stillness but ultimately obtained the character “Stabilize”…

This is because, within the Heavenly Dao principles of this world, although characters evolved from Source Runes, not all characters are Source Runes.

This is easy to understand—Source Runes are characters that can convey multiple meanings with a single word.

For example, burning, heat, high temperature, flame… are all extensions of the Source Rune for fire.

The character “Stabilize” that Mu Lin is currently picking up can also be interpreted with numerous meanings.

“…Movement, stillness… stability and motion…”

Meanwhile, as Mu Lin, lost in enlightenment, wholeheartedly comprehended the meaning of “Stabilize,” Yan Yunyu was in constant communication with the Vice-Dean of the Jade Lake Dao Academy.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the two finally reached a cooperative agreement.

—Since Mu Lin had not yet awakened, Yan Yunyu could only discuss the intent and could not make a final decision.

However, both Yan Yunyu and the Vice-Dean of the Jade Lake Dao Academy understood that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the likelihood of Mu Lin agreeing was very high. After all, to persuade Mu Lin to take action and restore the reputation of the Jade Lake Dao Academy, they had truly offered a great deal of resources.

Just as they had reached an agreement, a minor unexpected incident occurred.

Noisy sounds continuously drifted from the distance, growing closer and closer to where Mu Lin and the others were.

Soon, the chaotic sounds of battle and slaughter reached the vicinity of Mu Lin and his companions. Yan Yunyu noticed that Fox Spirit Bai Zhi, Yuan Ce, and the others were fleeing toward them.

Under the Blood Moon, Mu Lin could leisurely practice calligraphy, but his ability to do so did not mean others could do the same.

In this hellish Cloud City, whether human or of the Foreign Races, most were in dire straits.

Not only did they have to resist the constant corruption of the Blood Moon, but they were also relentlessly hunted by the Demonic Monsters spawned from it.

What was even more unbearable was that these Demonic Monsters were not only numerous but also terrifyingly powerful.

For instance, the Blood Moon Demons pursuing the mermaid and the Fox Spirit numbered three at the Spirit Sea Realm.

Among them, one was a three-eyed crow-man, its entire body crimson, summoning a flock of blood-red crows around it. The swarm of crows flew together like a blood-red cloud, their chaotic shrieks enough to split one’s head and stir unease.

The second was an Earth Dragon resembling an earthworm, seventy meters in length. It possessed immense strength and an exaggeratedly powerful regenerative ability. Even Yuan Ce, who was holding the rear, could not incinerate it with his Pure Yang Flame.

—The damage inflicted by the flames could not keep up with its rate of recovery.

In addition to its formidable stamina, the Earth Dragon also had a massive mouth. Looking at the densely packed teeth inside, numbering over ten thousand, Yan Yunyu had no doubt that even a Magical Artifact would be crushed if it fell into the Earth Dragon’s maw.

These two monsters alone kept Yuan Ce and the others in disarray, but the third was even more terrifying—a Demonic Monster with both arms transformed into scythes. Though not large in size, its speed was astonishingly fast.

Yuan Ce and the others, while fleeing, were occasionally overtaken and slain by it.

Even Yuan Ce bore a long scar on his body, clearly indicating that he had not held the advantage during the confrontation.

“So strong!”

The three Spirit Sea Realm Demonic Monsters made Yan Yunyu slightly tense.

However, while she was tense, Fox Spirit Bai Zhi, who had become disheveled from the frantic escape, was filled with despair.

“There are actually more monsters ahead… We’re finished…”

Upon seeing Mu Lin and the others, Bai Zhi, who was fleeing, stumbled and nearly fell to her knees.

It was no wonder she reacted this way. Anyone being pursued by demons and monsters, only to find more demonic monsters blocking the path ahead—a situation where there was no escape in the sky or on the ground—would feel their spirit shatter.

What made her despair even more was that the monster before her was a terrifying dragon-like creature over eight meters tall, its body flickering with Crimson Lightning and exuding an overwhelming aura that seemed to freeze the air.

Just sensing this suffocating pressure, Fox Spirit Bai Zhi knew that the monster before her was something she could never withstand—not even Yuan Ce, the powerful figure she had pledged allegiance to, could stand against it.

Realizing this, she completely abandoned all hope of survival.

“The united Alien Alliance collapsed so quickly, the powerful figure I thought I could rely on turned out to be no match for that commoner, and now, while fleeing for my life, I’m intercepted by a monster halfway… Hah, this trial has truly brought me the worst luck imaginable.”

(End of Chapter)