si-mexico Chapter 607 Elemental Dragon Apep
Chapter 607 Elemental Dragon Apep
The floating wind mushroom beast looked like a pointed magic hat of a Western magician. Xu Ning focused his elemental power on his eyes and looked around.
Aside from the floating aquatic fungus that led me here, the only other creature in this entire area that was lying unconscious on the ground emanated a strong aura of grass elemental power.
Xu Ning reached out and pinched the small tuft at the top of the "magic hat," mobilizing the power of the "Thousand Leaves" wine spring to slowly infuse a stream of pure wine elemental energy into the body of this floating wind mushroom beast.
This elemental force is arguably the most unique existence within Xu Ning's Hidden Dust Cave.
Since Xu Ning intercepted the Doctor's slice in the World Tree's memory and stole the Heart of the Grass God, he had considered hiding the Heart of the Grass God temporarily so that Narcida wouldn't find out.
However, while Xu Ning was away, Qingyi prepared to feed the Heart of the Grass God to the dragon head above the "Yaoguang" wine spring.
If it weren't for the branches of the World Tree planted by Jiuquan, which sprouted several long branches to hold back the Heart of the Grass God, the Heart of the Grass God would probably have long since transformed into the truly rich "Thousand Leaves" wine, imbued with the power of grass elements.
To this day, the Heart of the Grass God is still being pulled by the branches of the World Tree and the power of the dragon's head, remaining stuck above the "Thousand Leaves" wine pool, and has not yet been truly brewed into fine wine.
Although he was out of Naxida's sight afterward, Xu Ning still didn't think about touching the Heart of the Grass God.
Firstly, my current strength is sufficient, so there is no need to be greedy for that one God's Heart.
Secondly, although the little tree king attached to the World Tree has never mentioned the Heart of God, Xu Ning felt that the reason it didn't allow its dragon head to devour the Heart of God was probably because it had other uses for it.
Therefore, the power that Xu Ning is using now can actually be said to be the power that the roots of the World Tree, after absorbing the wine, return to the wine spring.
Although this power is not as pure as the elemental power of the little grass god, it is, after all, the power of the previous tree king combined with the power of the world tree, and it should be enough to nourish a small elemental creature.
While transferring the elemental power of wine with grass-like properties, Xu Ning also sensed that the cavity inside the body of this floating wind mushroom beast was much smaller than that of the floating water mushroom beast.
Perhaps it was less polluted back then, or perhaps it was simply because of its small size.
In any case, fewer holes mean fewer lost memories, and perhaps it can even remember the location of its home.
As the void was slowly filled, the floating wind mushroom beast stirred slightly and then slowly woke up.
"who are you?"
The floating wind mushroom beast spoke with great difficulty and was very wary of Xu Ning and Naxi Da, who were nearby.
However, upon seeing the planktonic fungus, it suddenly relaxed.
"I'm sorry, the language is not good, I need more understanding, time, and time."
The floating fungus beast, standing nearby, translated, "It says its ability to speak has been impaired and may take a long time to recover to its original level."
Xu Ning nodded slightly in approval.
Unlike the water fungus beast, the wind fungus beast lost fewer memories, and its language module also took up a significant portion of its memory. Perhaps we really did save the right person this time.
"The apocalypse is over? Now, let's go home?"
The floating wind mushroom beast stammered out the question that was currently of greatest concern to it.
Xu Ning laughed and said, "Yes, it's over. You can all go home now. Do you remember where your home is?"
Under the tense gaze of the Floating Water Fungus Beast, the Floating Wind Fungus Beast slowly nodded.
"I remember. Home, the dragon of grass."
Xu Ning didn't even realize what it was saying for a moment.
"A cage of grass? Um, does 'home' mean a cage made of grass?"
Upon hearing this, the Floating Water Fungus cried out excitedly, "Grass Dragon, that's right, I remember now, we live inside the Grass Dragon's body, that's our home!"
Nasita explained to Xu Ning, "The Grass Dragon it mentioned should refer to the Elemental Dragon, Apep, the Grass Dragon, which is a very ancient being."
Xu Ning then realized that it was the same kind of being as the Wind Dragon Dvalin!
"I understand, but you all live inside the Grass Dragon's body?"
The Floating Water Fungus nodded and said, "Yes, there is another world inside the body of the Grass Dragon. The Grass Dragon nurtured us and protected us within it. He said that when we mature, we can go to live in the new world."
"But before we could mature, the end of the world had already arrived."
Xu Ning coughed lightly, "I'm sorry, I still don't understand. You mean the Grass Dragon gave birth to you? Just like a Grass Slime gave birth to a baby Grass Slime? Apep is a female dragon?"
Naxida reached out and grabbed Xu Ning's sleeve, looking somewhat anxious.
“Xu Ning, now is not the time to dwell on this! They say the end of the world is coming, which means that forbidden knowledge has corrupted the Grass Dragon’s body. Apep is the most adaptable creature in the world. Since forbidden knowledge has entered its body, it will surely become a part of it…”
When Xu Ning heard Apep say "giving birth to life," he couldn't help but think of Ahmar's words, "Wait until you learn how to give birth." However, after Nasida's reminder, he immediately realized that now was not the time to think about such useless things.
"...In other words, we have cleared away forbidden knowledge. Apep now must also have huge cavities in his body, just like these fungus beasts, and he may even die..."
At this point, Xu Ning recalled the crystal that Nasita had found in the toy box and said with a wry smile, "Now I finally understand what happened. It seems that the so-called reunion with an old friend was to ask you to save that Grass Dragon. Your predecessor must have known that Apep would be in an unprecedented crisis after clearing away forbidden knowledge, which is why he left clues to guide us to find Him."
"There's no time to lose. If you still remember the way back, let's set off quickly!" Nasita said this to the Floating Wind Fungus Beast.
Seeing the anxious expression on the little grass god's face, the floating wind mushroom beast naturally understood the seriousness of the matter. However, after the floating water mushroom beast explained, Xu Ning and the other finally understood that the two mushroom beasts only knew about the existence of their home, but they knew nothing about the current location of the grass dragon Apep.
Xu Ning smiled wryly, "Isn't this just guesswork? We've been busy for so long, and we still don't know where that person is... Although I know I shouldn't ask this, what would happen if that Grass Dragon died?"
Nasita took a deep breath and slowly said, "If He truly exists with forbidden knowledge fused with His body, then the sudden elimination of forbidden knowledge will surely leave His body and soul riddled with holes."
"If He cannot persevere, then the elemental power will not be able to continue to remain in His body in the form of life. Then the elemental power He has accumulated over the years will explode and dissipate. The concentration of grass elemental power spread out is enough to make the rainforest block out the sky. Plants and humans will compete for air, and the entire Sumeru may no longer be suitable for human survival."
Xu Ning had lost count of how many times he had forced a bitter smile today.
What happened to the promised reunion with old friends? How did it suddenly turn into saving the world?
At this moment, the floating fungus suddenly spoke up, saying, "Perhaps there is another companion who knows."
Xu Ning said irritably, "What time is it? Stop hiding things. Share whatever information you have so we can all think of a solution together."
The floating water mushroom beast hurriedly said, "It happened a long time ago. During the days when the apocalypse was ravaged, a family member said that the apocalypse also had value, but no one agreed with his point of view, so he left on his own. He said he would go to the east of Sumeru, to the unreachable depths of the earth, to the turbid land where there is no return, to preserve the apocalypse."
Xu Ning suddenly realized, "This clearly describes the Abyss of Layered Rocks! How did your family member come up with the idea of bringing forbidden knowledge to our place? Is there anything there that can preserve forbidden knowledge?"
Nasita suddenly interjected, "If we can change the nature of forbidden knowledge so that it is no longer forbidden knowledge, it will naturally be preserved. Xu Ning, you should be very familiar with the Abyss of Layered Rocks. Let's get there there first, because we may really not have much time left."
The two humans and two fungus beasts arrived at the teleportation anchor point near Casazale Palace again. Xu Ning asked Nasita where she wanted to go and then activated the teleportation anchor point.
Naxi Da chose the location: the Heavenly Nail.
During the ley line teleportation, Xu Ning asked Nasita, "Why do you think their family member would choose to preserve the 'apocalypse' at the Heavenly Nail?"
Nasita explained earnestly, "Their family members, that is, the elemental creature, after being infected with forbidden knowledge, if they cannot survive until the forbidden knowledge disappears and the void in their bodies is filled, then their final fate will undoubtedly be to become something like the dead zone."
This was a fact that Xu Ning had already learned, but Nasita's answer next overturned a certain understanding that Xu Ning had always held.
"However, here, by using 'its' power, it is possible to avoid such an ending. After all, 'it' is an artifact for fighting against the Abyss. In the distant past, it repaired the rifts in Teyvat. It has the power to purify and stabilize forces that should not exist in Teyvat."
This was the first time Xu Ning had obtained information about the "Heavenly Nail" from Naxi Da.
He recalled the first time he saw the Sky Nail, which was at the summit of Longji Snow Mountain.
In the ruins of that lost kingdom, Xu Ning had personally witnessed the enormous angels carved on the walls and the long celestial nails stuck in the green peaks.
In Xu Ning's speculation, people had once received the blessings of the heavens, but they coveted the heavens' authority. In order to punish humanity for its overstepping its bounds, the heavens sent down heavenly nails that destroyed the entire country.
The power of the Heavenly Nail is undoubtedly terrifyingly strong, which is why Xu Ning has never had enough courage to dare to declare war on the principles of Heaven.
However, according to Narcida's explanation, the Sky Spikes are not strategic weapons of the Heavenly Principle at all, but rather exist to fight against the Abyss and repair the cracks in Teyvat.
This clashed sharply with Xu Ning's existing understanding.
It's like there's a giant purple sweet potato that's been shooting people around in space all day. I've already decided that he's the final villain, and then he suddenly turns around and says to me, "Actually, I'm doing this to save you guys. You should thank me."
This is absolutely unacceptable!
So when Xu Ning and Naxida appeared from the teleportation anchor point near the Sky Nail in the Layered Rock Abyss, Xu Ning still hadn't figured out what this "Sky Nail" was.
Meanwhile, Nasita was already circling the Heavenly Nail, searching for the possible location of the elemental creature.
Although Xu Ning had solved most of the problems of the Layered Rock Abyss long ago, and excavation activities had resumed in the upper layer, places in the lower layer, such as the Sky Nail, the Octagonal Hall, and the Mud Cave Entrance, remained sparsely populated.
"Xu Ning, here we are, we've found it."
Xu Ning followed the sound and found Naxi Da and two mushroom beasts waving at him from a distance around a large clump of silt.
"Is this clump of sludge the hiding place of that elemental creature?"
Nasita shook her head slightly. "Instead, these black silts are the forbidden knowledge itself."
Xu Ning suddenly understood what Naxi Da meant.
The power emanating from the Heavenly Nail, upon encountering the aura of forbidden knowledge, transformed the forbidden knowledge into something resembling silt, which then remained.
Xu Ning pondered to himself, "Then what about the Hilichurls? They are cursed, worn down in a finite yet seemingly infinite time, until their time is up, when they come here and turn into a puddle of mud on the ground."
"If a Hilichurl dies and their body turns to ashes, the remaining cursed power within them, under the power of the Sky Spikes, will turn into sludge... into sludge... power that does not belong to Teyvat... and be purified and stabilized..."
Xu Ning stared in astonishment at the mud on the ground. Following this line of reasoning, was it Tianli who cursed the Hilichurls? Was the power Tianli used not actually Teyvat power? Was the Sky Spike thrown by Tianli?
Xu Ning was overwhelmed by a series of questions and couldn't make sense of them at all.
Seeing that Xu Ning's expression was unusual, Naxida asked with concern, "Xu Ning, are you alright?"
Xu Ning put aside his chaotic thoughts and smiled, "It's alright. Is it this pile of sludge? Let me clean it up. My wine is very good at this."
A stream of clear, sweet rain fell, instantly dissolving the swirling mud on the ground and revealing a species that should never have appeared in Liyue.
It is another type of mushroom unique to Sumeru, the Lu Xingyan Benzhen mushroom, a type of mushroom that looks like a dog wearing a mushroom hat.
"The forbidden knowledge within it has been transformed into something else, preventing it from becoming a dead zone and avoiding the appearance of voids. But is it possible that it can never return to its homeland except through purification?"
Xu Ning asked Naxi Da.
Nasita nodded sadly, "This is the path it chose. In order to preserve relatively stable memories, it gave up the chance to be saved. If only my memories were clearer, if only I could remember the promise..."