Chapter 99: Atop the Highest Peak, All Mountains Are Small
Chapter 99: Chapter 99: Atop the Highest Peak, All Mountains Are Small
The Fungus God seed returned to Zhu Ge’s mind, but it had no consciousness. Instead, it had become like an artifact.
It was just like an Array, as Zhu Ge understood them.
Now that the Fungus God seed had settled in the valley, the entire valley was under its control.
Within Zhu Ge’s perception, he could manipulate the flowers, grass, trees, flowing water, and even the air in the valley!
If he so wished, he could even directly annihilate the souls of Liu Jianjian and Zhu Sisi.
"The Fungus God Destruction Array is my gift to you. From now on, just by touching the Fungus God in your mind, you can control this Array and stay safe within the valley."
True Monarch Minmian said with a smug look, "This is how we of the Sword Dao do things. Stylish and omnipotent."
As he spoke, he glanced intentionally yet nonchalantly to Zhu Ge’s side, which was where True Monarch of the Lantern was.
However, True Monarch of the Lantern clearly couldn’t be bothered with him and remained silent.
"Oh, right. This Fungus God has quite some potential. If it gives birth to Spiritual Wisdom in the future, with your intellect, it should be of great use," True Monarch Minmian reminded Zhu Ge.
"Understood!" Zhu Ge nodded. He then withdrew from that nearly omnipotent state and felt a wave of emptiness in his physical body.
He was starving!
"Haha, finally, take out that Star-picking Silver," True Monarch Minmian said.
Zhu Ge hadn’t put that piece of Star-picking Silver into his grass bowl; he had been holding it in his hand the whole time.
Now, as he opened his palm, the Star-picking Silver was revealed.
"Lantern, Lantern, quick, do some Artifact Refining! Make me a staff core," True Monarch Minmian called out softly.
"Who do you think you’re calling?" True Monarch of the Lantern retorted irritably.
Despite the words, a lantern appeared in the void. A spark emerged from it and touched the Star-picking Silver in Zhu Ge’s hand.
The next moment, the Star-picking Silver immediately turned into a mercury-like substance.
The small piece of Star-picking Silver actually spread out in the air like water before being forged by the flame into a long staff.
Zhu Ge didn’t know what kind of divine material this Star-picking Silver was, but he was astonished by the sight.
"By the way, Minmian, what exactly is the True Level?" Zhu Ge asked curiously. "But if it’s knowledge that’s not suitable for my current level, it’s fine if you don’t tell me."
"That’s no problem, I’ll tell you," True Monarch Minmian said with a smile.
"The Spirit Level corresponds to the idea that all things have a spirit. Anything that possesses some Spiritual Qi has the potential to become a Spirit Level item."
"Above that is the Elemental Level. ’Nine nines return to one, the great beginning of the infant element.’ Elemental Level artifacts are like infants; they can grow and possess infinite power."
"Above that, there are the Power Level and the Flourishing Level, and only then comes the True Level! But these things are indeed a bit far off for you. You’ll slowly come to understand their uses later on."
At this point, True Monarch Minmian paused.
Zhu Ge immediately understood the cue. "Heavens! There are so many levels, it’s mind-boggling! But for you, Minmian, to give me, your big brother, something so good and precious... I will never forget it for the rest of my life!"
"It’s just that I, your big brother, am still too shocked. Even for a peerlessly handsome Great Power like you, Minmian, it must not have been easy to obtain a True Level treasure. It must have been so difficult for you."
"Hahaha, it was manageable, manageable." True Monarch Minmian beamed like a blooming flower. "Consider this my first-meeting gift for Big Brother, haha, haha!"
"Alright, the staff core is refined!" True Monarch of the Lantern said. "I can’t listen to this anymore. Zhu Ge, whatever you do, don’t let this stupid pig lead you astray!"
"Shoo, shoo. Now that it’s refined, you’ve lost your use value. Scram, scram," True Monarch Minmian said, waving his hand dismissively. He then turned to Zhu Ge with a pleasant expression.
"This staff was refined by Lantern. No one in Yunjiang should be able to see through it. Just use it as if it were an Elemental Level treasure."
"Star-picking Silver has many effects and endless wondrous uses. You’ll have to experience them for yourself over time. Infuse your Martial Arts Heart and your own will into it, and forge it into a staff that is uniquely yours."
"Oh, right, Star-picking Silver is very receptive. If you encounter any special materials, as long as the staff is willing to ’eat’ them, just let it ’eat’..."
True Monarch Minmian patiently explained how to use the Star-picking Silver.
Star-picking Silver!
Listening to True Monarch Minmian, Zhu Ge could vaguely guess the characteristics of this Star-picking Silver.
It was similar to the saying, "The ocean accepts a hundred rivers; its capacity makes it great."
As long as it was a suitable material, the staff could devour it and then evolve into a certain form.
For example, if it devoured a Flame Stone, the staff would gain the ability to deal fire damage.
And after being used by Zhu Ge for a long time, the staff would also become more suited to him.
For instance, if Zhu Ge excelled at Confucian Dao attacks, the staff would become more attuned to Confucian Daoist Literary Qi. If he excelled at the Martial Dao, it would be Martial Dao Blood Qi, and so on.
"In short, every piece of Star-picking Silver will eventually evolve to suit its master’s form. I’m also looking forward to seeing what this staff will become in the future."
True Monarch Minmian summarized, then looked at Zhu Ge with a beaming smile.
"It’s truly a divine object!" Zhu Ge praised with sincere admiration.
There is no "strongest," only "most suitable"!
A metal like Star-picking Silver was simply too rare, too precious!
"If you have the chance in the future, you can pursue the Cultivation Dao," True Monarch Minmian suggested. "The Cultivation Dao allows one to refine a Lifebound Elemental Artifact. When the person and the artifact become one, their power is infinite."
Zhu Ge nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Minmian!"
He didn’t think about asking for a Cultivation Dao technique either.
After all, his focus was currently on the Martial Dao; he had no time for anything else.
Besides, it was just as he had thought from the beginning... ’I shouldn’t be a greedy person!’
’Otherwise, the benefactor who was originally helping me might very well leave.’
"Haha, we are brothers. Why the need for thanks?" True Monarch Minmian gave a faint smile. "I’ve solved your weapon problem for now, but you’re on your own for the rest."
As he spoke, True Monarch Minmian gazed into the distance, his expression suddenly growing profound, as vast and unfathomable as the sky.
"Everything for our Human Race must be earned by ourselves."
"We came into this world naked, with no sharp fangs or claws, no tough hides or hard hooves, yet we came to dominate the world. All of this was achieved through a single word: ’Struggle.’"
"Everything you want, you must struggle for yourself."
Seeing True Monarch Minmian’s figure slowly fading away, Zhu Ge’s expression shifted, and he couldn’t help but say:
"Worthy Brother, I have gained much from meeting you and True Monarch of the Lantern today. Allow me to offer you a poem in return."
Hearing this, True Monarch Minmian looked over in surprise, and a phantom image of True Monarch of the Lantern also appeared in midair.
Zhu Ge looked at the two True Monarchs who were about to depart, and an endless, heroic passion swelled in his heart.
"What is Taishan, the honored peak, like? Its green hues stretch unending over Qi and Lu. Creation gathers all wonders here, its northern and southern slopes dividing dusk from dawn."
"My chest heaves with rising clouds; my straining eyes follow birds home to their nests. One day, I must climb to the very summit, and see all other mountains as small below me!"
As he recited the last line, a heroic spirit surged spontaneously from within his chest.
’A true man ought to be like this!’
The encounter with True Monarch Minmian and True Monarch of the Lantern had deeply moved Zhu Ge.
There were still many of the Human Race rushing about the world, trying to save a great mansion from the brink of collapse.
’It hasn’t rotted through yet!’
And he, Zhu Ge, was determined to be like the one described by the Sage of Poetry, Du Fu: one day, he would ascend to the peak of Taishan and look down upon all the small mountains of the world.
"’One day, I must climb to the very summit, and see all other mountains as small below me?’ A fine poem!"
"Sigh, looks like we’ve got another madman..."