Comprehending the Gate of Myriad Manifestations, Gaining the Mutation Ability

"It can talk... Whoa, you're a monster!" The canary fluttered its wings and shot three meters into the air, its tiny body trembling all over, looking thoroughly terrified. Qi Yuan was left entirely speechless. "I am a human being, a genuine, authentic human. You're a bird! You don't speak bird language, you speak human speech—you're the monster here!" "This young lady knows how to speak bird language!" "Pew pew pew pew... Chirp chirp chirp chirp..." The canary's cries rattled out like a machine gun, or perhaps the screeching alarm of an electric scooter—crisp, resonant, and gratingly shrill. "This young lady just used bird language, which means I'm not a monster! Your turn! You're a drop of blood, so give me a sentence in blood language! Otherwise, you're the monster!" the canary demanded. At this moment, its conversation with Qi Yuan had abandoned all logic, resembling an exchange between posters on a low-IQ forum. *How is blood supposed to talk?* Qi Yuan was dumbfounded. Still, there was no way he was going to let himself be outdone by a bird. "Dinosaur... carrying a wolf... blood, blood, blood..." Qi Yuan spouted pure gibberish on the spot. The canary's beady little eyes went wide, darting back and forth. "You're lying to me! What kind of blood talks like that?" "You aren't blood, so how would you know how blood talks?" Qi Yuan felt his intellect firmly seizing the high ground before this canary, directly adapting the ancient fable of *You are not a fish, how do you know the joy of fish?* Sure enough, the canary was thoroughly cowed. "Neither of us is a monster?" It flew down cautiously and landed near Qi Yuan. Qi Yuan paused, realizing he had allowed himself to be led in circles. Whether one spoke bird language or blood language had nothing to do with whether one was a monster. "You are a monster. I'm not," Qi Yuan said with firm emphasis. The canary hopped closer to Qi Yuan. "Even if this young lady were a monster, I'd still be a very pretty monster! But what about you? You ugly freak!" Hearing that, Qi Yuan could not tolerate it. "If I took human form, I would be strikingly handsome!" The two squabbled like children for a while, gradually growing accustomed to one another. Qi Yuan discovered that this canary wasn't particularly bright—in fact, it was quite silly. It was exceptionally vain, or rather, obsessed with beauty. Qi Yuan felt the bird had dragged his own intellect down to its level. Rather than continuing to argue over meaningless nonsense, he asked, "Where is this place?" "This is Mount Jiupan." "Where is Mount Jiupan?" "On Mount Jiupan, obviously!" The canary gave him a look as if he were an utter half-wit. Qi Yuan was speechless. *Why don't you tell me to take the Second Ring Road while you're at it?* Still, he understood that trying to get an answer out of this canary was hopeless. "Do you know about the North-South Accord?" Qi Yuan asked again. Practically everyone in the Liufeng Realm had heard of the North-South Accord. The canary shook its head. "Then... do you know about demonic monstrosities?" Could it be that this place was not the Liufeng Realm after all? The canary's tiny eyes widened, filling with fright. "You mean those ugly things? There are tons and tons of them down the mountain!" Hearing this, Qi Yuan looked up at the sky. Seeing that there were no stars, he broadly understood that this was indeed still the Liufeng Realm. "Those ugly things are completely crazy. The moment they see us, they attack!" "Do you know what that gate in the sky is?" Qi Yuan inquired once more. The gate hanging above was mysterious and archaic. While wandering the Liufeng Realm before, he had never seen such a gate in the heavens. Which meant... the place he currently occupied... "Don't know." The canary shook its head. Qi Yuan had no desire to talk any further. Clearly, this silly canary knew nothing of value. He fixed his gaze upon the Gate of Myriad Manifestations in the sky, slowly meditating on it. Beside him, the canary glanced at Qi Yuan before flying back to its nest. The little nest hung from a great tree, appearing quite dainty and exquisite. Back in its nest, the canary preened its fine, sleek feathers. A single grooming session took half a day. After who knew how long, it seemed to sense something and poked its small head out. "Blood Bead, what are you doing? What's so interesting about that gate?" "I'm comprehending origin," Qi Yuan answered. His method of comprehending origin wasn't like what was shown on television, requiring total mental immersion and absolute silence. All he needed to do was keep his eyes on it. Either way, fragments would drop. [You comprehended the Gate of Myriad Manifestations. Back-scrubbing ability +1.] [You comprehended the Gate of Myriad Manifestations. Mutation ability +1.] [You comprehended the Gate of Myriad Manifestations. Mental derangement +1.] At any rate, all the insights were bizarre. Yet the more Qi Yuan comprehended, the better his mental state became. "Comprehending origin? What's that?" The canary looked up at the Gate of Myriad Manifestations, an instinctive wisp of fear flickering in its eyes. "Can it make you prettier?" "Probably... quite possible," Qi Yuan answered truthfully. Since the things he gained were so absurdly random, becoming prettier would hardly be unusual. Hearing this, the canary grew excited. "I want to comprehend it too!" Imitating Qi Yuan, it stared blankly up at the Gate of Myriad Manifestations. As the comprehension progressed, Qi Yuan's body gradually expanded. Over the course of that month, the reward he received most frequently was the mutation ability. He had accumulated ten of them in total. As for the other odd, nonsensical abilities, they were mere fleeting flashes that formed no coherent system. A month later, a sudden torrential downpour swept across Mount Jiupan. Wind lashed the trees, soaking the entire world. Through the curtain of rain, Qi Yuan continued to stare unblinkingly at the Gate of Myriad Manifestations in the sky. Amidst the rolling thunder and flashing lightning: [You comprehended the Gate of Myriad Manifestations. Combat strength slightly increased during thunderstorms.] "It can even do that?" This was the first time in an entire month that Qi Yuan had comprehended an actual combat strength boost. However, the icy rain pelting his surface made him rather uncomfortable. Right then, a broad plantain leaf descended over his head, shielding him from the downpour. The canary's voice drifted down. "Blood Bead, it's raining so hard." Qi Yuan glanced over. The bird's feathers were mostly soaked, and it was shivering violently. "I'm not afraid of the rain. Go back to your nest. If your feathers get wet, you won't look pretty anymore." "Hmph!" The canary propped up the plantain leaf. "We're neighbors, aren't we? Seeing you so pitiful without hands or legs, this young lady decided to look out for you... Achoo!" "Canaries sneeze too?" Qi Yuan had never seen such a thing. Dripping wet and shivering from the cold, the canary turned its head away, refusing to look at him. Qi Yuan murmured softly, "Fire." Instantly, a tiny wisp of flame rose beside the two of them. Seeing this, the canary's eyes darted with wonder. "You know magic?" "Just a minor trick from comprehending the Gate of Myriad Manifestations. It's quite unstable, though." This kind of acquired ability was different from the Fireball Technique Qi Yuan used in the Canglan Realm. The Fireball Technique could be used in the Canglan Realm, but activating it within the game produced no effect whatsoever. Yet Qi Yuan had an inkling that the abilities obtained through the Gate of Myriad Manifestations were universally compatible; they could be used not only in the Liufeng Realm, but in the Canglan Realm as well. This bore some resemblance to his game skills. Though this flame seemed rather useless at the moment, Qi Yuan could sense its immense potential. "Whoa, Blood Bead, you're amazing! Why is it that when I look at the Gate of Myriad Manifestations, I don't get anything at all, and my vision just gets blurry?" The canary huddled close to the flame, basking in the warmth as the chill seeped out of its body. "You didn't become nearsighted, did you? How does looking at the sky make you nearsighted? Maybe you should stop trying to comprehend it." "No, I want to become pretty!" the canary insisted stubbornly. Suddenly, its eyes darted about. "Do you smell something weird? Like something burning?" Qi Yuan took a glance. The canary's tail feathers had caught fire from his flame. "...Your tail is burning." "Aah... Eek... My feathers are on fire!" "Blood Bead, this young lady isn't done with you!" The plantain leaf was cast aside, and the pouring rain drenched the canary's plumage, finally extinguishing the fire. Scorched marks remained upon its tail. How could a creature so obsessed with beauty accept such a result? It glared furiously at Qi Yuan. "This young lady is never speaking to you again for the rest of my life!" Like a petulant child throwing a tantrum, it darted back into its nest. Staring at its scorched tail, its expression was filled with utter grievance. It muttered to itself, "Blood Bead, if you don't take the initiative to talk to me, this young lady will never pay attention to you again." Watching the heavy rain outside, the canary decided to just curl up and sleep. It felt as though only sleep could dissolve the agony in its heart. When night fell, a plantain leaf settled above Qi Yuan, shielding him from the brunt of the rain. Qi Yuan glanced toward the uniquely shaped bird's nest that kept out the wind and rain. There, he spotted the flustered canary. Realizing it had been caught, the canary glared fiercely at Qi Yuan. "What are you looking at? If you don't apologize, this young lady will never forgive you!" Over the days that followed, the canary truly did not speak a word to Qi Yuan. It seemed that having its feathers scorched had genuinely enraged this creature of vanity. Qi Yuan continued to comprehend the Gate of Myriad Manifestations, the mutation abilities on his person steadily multiplying. A full year slipped past, and his mutation abilities numbered close to a hundred. As for the other odd, bizarre abilities, there was a whole basketful of them, though they were all fleeting flashes. "Hey, Blood Bead, when are you going to take the initiative to apologize to this young lady?" One evening, the canary reappeared before Qi Yuan. Its tail feathers seemed to have fully regrown, and it was glaring at him with indignance. A whole year later, it had finally deigned to speak to him. "...Who are you?" Qi Yuan felt somewhat dazed. "You... you forgot this young lady?! Unforgivable!" The canary stared at Qi Yuan, its feathers puffing out in fury as it paced back and forth around him. "Oh, you're the canary. I remember now. Thanks for your plantain leaf." Qi Yuan wracked his brain, recalled who it was, and broke into a grin. The canary glared at him. "Are you like the fish in the river? Do you only have a seven-second memory?" Time flowed onward, and twenty-seven years swept by in the blink of an eye. Qi Yuan's form had grown from the size of a small marble to that of a football. His mutation abilities had accumulated to nearly a thousand. The Gate of Myriad Manifestations in the sky had also grown faint and translucent, appearing as though it might vanish at any second. "Blood Bead, tell me, who is prettier—me, or that white fox on Mount Qipan?" The canary fluttered its wings and landed before Qi Yuan. There were several other mountains surrounding Mount Jiupan. On Mount Qipan lived a white fox capable of human speech, the most popular creature among the neighboring peaks. A gold nest or a silver nest was never as good as one's own humble nest. "You're the prettiest," Qi Yuan said against his conscience, consoling his neighbor. "I knew this young lady was the prettiest! Those fools have no taste at all, insisting on calling that white fox the number-one beauty!" the canary grumbled indignantly. Suddenly, the canary looked up at the sky, a blank expression taking over its small face. "Blood Bead, the Gate of Myriad Manifestations you've been watching... it's gone. Don't be sad." "Blood Bead?" "Blood Bead?!!" *** *Am I back?* Comprehending origin had come and gone in a whirlwind. Qi Yuan opened his eyes, looking around at his surroundings. He had already returned to the City of No Return. "So this is comprehending origin?" Qi Yuan recalled the Gate of Myriad Manifestations in the sky. He had meditated for twenty-seven years, and what he gained the most were mutation abilities. Once the Gate of Myriad Manifestations vanished, his comprehension had come to an end. *What exactly... is this mutation ability?* *And what is the Gate of Myriad Manifestations?* Qi Yuan looked down at his own body. "Fire." He whispered the word. A ball of flame flared to life. He had not cast any spell from the Canglan Realm, nor had he activated an ability from the game. He had simply spoken "fire," and fire had appeared. "Mutate?" Qi Yuan murmured softly. Unfortunately, his body did not undergo the slightest change. *Could it be that I've comprehended too few mutation abilities?* *Or have I simply failed to grasp how it works?* *My next chance to comprehend origin probably won't come until Level 90.* Since he had unlocked an opportunity to comprehend at Level 60, he would likely receive more at Level 90 and Level 120. Casting these thoughts aside, Qi Yuan put his arm around Xiao Jia, and the two lay back down in the large crater by the city gate. *** In the windless desert, yellow sand stretched as far as the eye could see, carrying a vast and desolate beauty. With his arm around Xiao Jia, Qi Yuan sat leisurely upon the battlements. "This guardian defense mode is actually quite nice. If I had to grind monsters continuously without pause, I couldn't endure it even if I were forged from iron." Though Qi Yuan possessed Dying Radiance, his current level was still too low, making recovery from serious injuries a hassle. He would need to reach at least Level 80 or 90 for Dying Radiance to unleash its full potency. Only then would he truly become an unkillable cockroach. "Are they here?" Right then, Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes, gazing out into the boundless expanse of the desert. In the distance, dust billowed into the air. The march of the demonic horde kicked up a scene resembling a raging sandstorm. And this time, the force appeared far more formidable than before. "Eight hundred of them?" "Over twenty Level 49s?" Qi Yuan squinted. In the past, there would typically be only one or two creatures of that caliber. This time, there were over twenty. "They didn't come with good intentions!" A delighted smile spread across Qi Yuan's face. "Having beaten the small fry, the big fish have finally shown up?" Gripping his broken sword, he leapt down from the battlements. Just as before, he roared toward the oncoming demonic horde, "I am the Guardian of the City of No Return! Trespassers... shall be slain without mercy!" Sword in hand, Qi Yuan's slender figure formed a stark contrast against the thirty-zhang-tall fortress walls. Yet this time was different from the past. The advancing demonic army abruptly ground to a halt. A woman's voice drifted over. "What a handsome man." Following that voice, a scantily clad woman stepped forward. Her facial features were ordinary, barely above average, but her figure was extraordinarily voluptuous. She wore a blood-red gown slit all the way to her waist, revealing most of her hip with every sway of her stride, and a deep handprint remained visible against the lightly tanned skin of her rear. Bizarre tattoos crawled across her face. The newcomer was none other than the Demon Controller, Cai Xia. She looked at Qi Yuan, an amorous glint in her eyes. "I was wondering why this City of No Return could never be taken. Turns out a cultivator has arrived." Looking at Cai Xia, Qi Yuan also showed a look of surprise. "Aside from extraterrestrial demons and the phantoms in Tianjue, this is the first time I've seen a humanoid exp bundle." A trace of pity flitted through Cai Xia's eyes. "You have handsome looks and a sturdy build, but your head seems to have a few screws loose. "Still, what this old lady has her eye on isn't your brain, but your body." With that, Cai Xia cast a covetous gaze over Qi Yuan, licking her lips. "Are you interested in joining my Northern Lands faction?" Such negotiations were commonplace. Among the Demon Slayers guarding the Hundred and Eight Thousand Cities, large numbers fled to the Northern Lands every day, defecting to their camp. Cai Xia's previous male plaything had been a defector from Jialan City. "I only treat you as an exp bundle, yet you lust after my body? Seeking death!" Gripping his broken sword, Qi Yuan's face flashed with indignation. Delusionally confident woman, disgusting creep! "It seems... you have yet to grasp reality." The smile on Cai Xia's face hardened. "You have no reinforcements whatsoever in this City of No Return. "Meanwhile, the demonic army under my command is inexhaustible. "Did you truly think that fending off a few waves of monstrosities means you can hold the City of No Return? "Alone, even if you were a Nation Protector, even if you were a Terrestrial Myth, you could never defend this city! "One day, the Hundred and Eight Thousand Cities will all crumble to ruin!" As she spoke, Cai Xia retreated. As a Demon Controller, her personal combat prowess was rather mediocre. The demonic monstrosities were her greatest reliance. Over twenty Hegemon-level monstrosities were more than enough to flatten a small outpost like the City of No Return. Not to mention the hundreds of other monstrosities backing them up. As Cai Xia withdrew, the demonic army roared and surged toward Qi Yuan. "Die!" Standing alone before the City of No Return against the eight-hundred-strong horde, Qi Yuan charged straight into the demonic ranks. A flash of sword light flared, instantly slicing over a dozen monstrosities into ribbons. Right then, an unfamiliar notification chimed in his ears: [Mutation progress 1%, extracted 1% Monstrosity Origin.] [Obtained Monstrosity Origin * 1.] Qi Yuan paused for a fraction of a second. Previously, slaying monstrosities had yielded only experience. Now, killing them also rewarded Monstrosity Origin. Did this have something to do with the mutation abilities he gained from comprehending origin? And what was Monstrosity Origin, anyway? However, the battle left him no time to ponder. He was locked in combat; all of this would have to wait until the slaughter concluded. The massacre had only just begun! With the addition of Monstrosity Origin, Qi Yuan felt even more invigorated, driving his blade into the monsters with greater fervor. Not far away, watching the spectacle unfold, the greed in Cai Xia's eyes intensified. "Such a sturdy body... I'd love to have a taste." Yet several hundred breaths later, the greed on her face vanished completely, replaced by utter dread. The army of eight hundred monstrosities had swarmed that single man, yet over a hundred of them had already been butchered, while he remained entirely uninjured to this moment. Brandishing his broken sword, he didn't resemble a swordsman at all—he fought like an assassin charging headlong into an army formation. And facing encirclement by an entire army, this "assassin" continued to run through several monstrosities with every thrust. What kind of assassin fought an army head-on?! She finally realized the gravity of the situation. "You're a Nation Protector!" In this tiny City of No Return, there was actually a Nation Protector! With a single swing of his broken sword, Qi Yuan butchered a Hegemon-level monstrosity. He cast a hungry look toward Cai Xia. "Thank you for bringing me these appetizers." Level 60 and Level 59 were divided by an insurmountable watershed. By the standards of the Canglan Realm, it was the gulf between Foundation Establishment and the Origin Core. By the standards of the Wangyue Continent, it was the chasm between a Sovereign and a Supreme Sovereign. And by the standards of the Liufeng Realm, it was the disparity between a Hegemon and a Nation Protector. In the past, without fusing with Xiao Jia, slaying this eight-hundred-strong army would have required considerable effort. Now, however, he could butcher them with ease. Hearing his words, Cai Xia did not hesitate for a second. She turned and fled instantly. A Nation Protector was not an opponent she could ever hope to face!