Fuxi looked at Bai Jin, who had entered a state of Dao comprehension, and smiled. His aptitude was not bad. His fingers moved over the strings even faster, and the melody grew soaring and urgent.
After an unknown amount of time had passed, the music had long since ceased. Bai Jin suddenly woke, dazed for a moment, then rose, cupped his hands, and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Martial Uncle, for imparting the Dao!"
Fuxi calmly accepted the bow and asked with a faint trace of anticipation, "What did you comprehend?"
Bai Jin said excitedly, "The Dao of Speed, Ride Wind Through Clouds, Immortal Flying Beyond the Heavens."
Fuxi nodded and said with a smile, "Not bad. Speed can also be a means of preserving one's life." He stood up. "Come on! I'll take you to see Nuwa. Her Dao comprehension should be over by now as well."
Fuxi headed outside, with Bai Jin following behind him.
Bai Jin asked, "Has Empress Nuwa been comprehending the Dao this entire time?"
Fuxi nodded. "Yes! She used to enjoy traveling around Buzhou Mountain, but now she rarely even leaves the house."
Bai Jin said knowingly, "My master and martial uncle are the same. They stay cooped up in the palace every day, comprehending the Great Dao of Saints, yet they have not comprehended anything at all. Sometimes I truly worry about them! I'm afraid they'll stifle themselves to death."
Fuxi laughed heartily. "All beneath Saints are ants. How could such a Great Dao be so easily comprehended?"
The two arrived at a garden behind the palace. Nuwa sat troubled upon a swing in the garden, swaying in the wind.
When Fuxi entered the garden, the small animals inside scattered in alarm. Bai Jin's eyes widened as he took it all in, unable to look away. What were these things? Wolf-sheep with sheep bodies and wolf heads, four-legged chickens and ducks, birds with dog heads, four-horned snakes, boars the size of little mice, and all manner of similar creatures.
The plants were equally extraordinary. Banana trees grew from apple trees, dogtail grass grew from baby's breath, goldfish were born inside lotus flowers, and an entire tree was laden with little piglets.
Bai Jin's scalp prickled. This was just like those mad scientists from his previous life—no, even crazier. Those mad scientists would never have thought to crossbreed animals and plants! Even less scientific was that this great aunt, Empress Nuwa, had actually succeeded. The little piglets on the tree were squealing quite merrily.
Fuxi walked over and said, "Little sister, still haven't figured it out?"
Nuwa came back to herself and frowned. "I feel like I'm just a little short, only one final kick away."
Bai Jin stepped forward, cupped his hands, and bowed. "Greetings, Martial Uncle!"
Nuwa nodded at Bai Jin, then looked once more at the chaotic assortment of animals and plants, murmuring, "Creation... I have already comprehended Life Evolution. Why is it still not enough? What exactly is still missing from the Dao of Creation?"
Bai Jin straightened and looked at the bizarre animals nearby. So these were all Empress Nuwa's experimental products for comprehending the Dao of Creation.
Empress Nuwa had now brought Life Evolution to its very limit. As long as she comprehended From Death to Life, she should be able to become a Saint. Eh—this seemed like another good chance to cling to a powerful thigh!
Bai Jin cupped his hands and bowed beside her. "Martial Uncle, on my way here, I encountered a strange animal that I did not recognize. Could I ask Martial Uncle to clear up my confusion?"
Nuwa let out a long breath and temporarily set aside the obsession in her heart. A trace of regret flashed through her mind. It seemed the time had not yet come!
Then she looked at Bai Jin and said with a light smile, "There are countless races in the Primordial World. It is normal that you do not recognize one. Show it to me."
"Thank you, Martial Uncle." Bai Jin reached out and grabbed a handful of soil from a flowerbed, which landed in his hand.
A puzzled look appeared in Empress Nuwa's eyes. He could simply simulate it with magical power. What was he doing?
Bai Jin kneaded the soil in his hand. Moments later, a strange-looking ferocious beast appeared in his palm: a savage wolf head, four horns growing from its head, thick fur covering its body, and protruding, upturned fangs.
Holding the clay beast in his hands, Bai Jin said respectfully, "Please enlighten me, Martial Uncle."
Nuwa said with a smile, "A Horned Wolf. A type of ferocious beast. It enjoys blood and flesh, lives in packs, and likes hunting mountain spirits."
Bai Jin said in sudden realization, "So it's a Horned Wolf!" He smiled. "It looks rather cute when it's shrunk down like this. If only it were alive. Unfortunately, it's merely molded from clay."
Boom! Bai Jin's words rang in Nuwa's mind like thunder from the heavens. She froze on the spot, one sentence repeating endlessly in her mind: If only it were alive. If only it were alive. If only it were alive...
Fuxi noticed that something was wrong with Nuwa and hurriedly asked, "Little sister, what's wrong?"
Nuwa came back to herself and cried out joyfully, "My Dao is complete!" In an instant, she floated away.
Bai Jin asked blankly, "What happened to the Empress?"
Fuxi also revealed an ecstatic smile. His little sister was about to attain Sainthood. Looking at the clay sculpture in Bai Jin's hand, he said gratefully, "Thank you for your guidance, Martial Nephew. My sister's path to Sainthood is complete."
Bai Jin hurriedly waved his hands. "Martial Uncle, you praise me too highly. I did not do anything!"
Fuxi laughed heartily. "Martial Nephew, whether you meant to or not, we owe you this favor. We will certainly repay you someday."
In a flash, he appeared beside Bai Jin, grabbed his arm, and said, "Let's go!"
In an instant, they streaked away as a beam of light. Before long, they had descended Buzhou Mountain and arrived atop a short hill below. In the valley beneath them, Nuwa sat cross-legged in the air. Before her stood a great cauldron, within which a mass of soil revolved.
Fuxi introduced it, "That is the Qiankun Cauldron and Breathing Soil."
Bai Jin nodded.
Fuxi sat cross-legged atop the hill and said, "Martial Nephew, sit and wait. Dao comprehension is not something accomplished in a moment."
Bai Jin also sat cross-legged atop the hill. The two silently watched Empress Nuwa, who remained motionless in the valley.
The sun rose and set, then set and rose again. In the blink of an eye, three days passed.
Empress Nuwa, who had shown no movement all this time, suddenly reached into the Qiankun Cauldron and took out a handful of soil. She kneaded it in her hand, and moments later, a twisted little monster appeared in her palm. One leg was thick while the other was thin, one arm long while the other short. It could barely be counted as a monkey!
Nuwa casually tossed it out. The clay monkey flew through the air and landed on the ground nearby, instantly growing larger. Its clay body transformed into flesh and blood. Delighted, it touched itself all over, then knelt on the ground and kowtowed in worship. It then cried happily as it skipped away. But after taking only two steps, it fell with a smack and shattered into pieces.
Nuwa's expression remained neither pleased nor displeased. She reached into the Qiankun Cauldron again, molded a strange tiger, and threw it out. The tiger landed on the ground, let out an excited roar, and skipped away. This time it ran farther, but in the end, it once again turned into a clay sculpture.
On the mountaintop, Bai Jin said doubtfully, "Martial Uncle, I have a question I would like to ask."
"Do you wish to ask why they turn back into clay sculptures? Although my sister has already understood the path ahead of Creation, she has yet to fully traverse it. She still needs time to comprehend it."
"That is not what I wanted to ask."
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