Just like that, holding the yellow orb, I was swept back by the current to a vast space, the water flow vanishing. Illuminating it with the yellow orb, I realized it was the Whale God's mouth.
"I'm back," I shouted.
The Whale God slightly opened her mouth, inhaling the icy pool water. I followed the current, swimming out of her mouth. Suddenly, I felt a powerful suction from behind, and the pool water before me rapidly receded. Thinking the Whale God was drawing water again, I looked back. She had transformed back into human form. The water being drawn in was replenishing the huge pit left by her vanished whale body, forming a vortex. She and I were both caught in it, spinning me dizzy, nearly dropping the yellow orb from my hand.
At the critical moment, I felt a pair of warm arms embrace me from behind, pulling me away from the vortex and landing me in the smooth pool water not far away.
I turned around, treading water, and handed the yellow orb to the Whale God. "This is what you meant, right?"
The Whale God smiled and nodded, taking the yellow orb and looking at it with curiosity. "This big?"
"Is it a gallstone?" I asked, feeling as though I had just performed surgery on the Whale God's body!
"Gallstone?" The Whale God likely hadn't heard the word and frowned, shaking her head. "Nay, this is a demon core."
"Ah! This is the demon core, this big?" I was also startled. I vaguely remembered Shen Xingyue, or perhaps Yaoyao, telling me that during a demon's cultivation, a demon core forms within their body. It's also known as a 'night-shining pearl' to humans and is extremely valuable on the black market. A small demon's demon core can fetch millions, which is why the profession of demon hunters exists.
Wait, if I recall correctly, wouldn't a demon die if its demon core was removed?
But the Whale God before me looked rosy-cheeked, even more vibrant than before. I quickly activated my Qi-sensing technique. Holy cow! Her aura had changed!
No longer two black demonic auras, but three black demonic auras!
From a demon, she had become human!
"...What are you doing? You don't want to be a demon anymore?" I asked, assuming that was the implication. A demon minus its demon core equals a human. Of course, ordinary demons might not have this capability; their demon core leaving their body would simply kill them.
"Mmm-hmm," the Whale God smiled and nodded. "Immortality is meaningless. I want to try, to be a human with the process of birth, aging, sickness, and death."
"Then what about this thing?" I asked. A small demon's demon core is worth millions. A Northern Sea Whale God's demon core must be worth tens of billions, surely attracting covetous eyes!
Perhaps the reason the Mohe troop was mobilized last time and came to Tianchi was for this very demon core, only to have a Purple Qi expert killed and retreat in disgrace.
The safest place, of course, would be the Whale God's original body, meaning to swallow it back. But if she swallowed it back, wouldn't she become a demon again?
The Whale God casually tossed the demon core into Tianchi, seemingly no longer wanting it. That was fine, the water in Tianchi was very deep, and no one usually came here, let alone dived. Hidden at the bottom, no one should find it. However, as the demon core sank further from the water's surface, its yellow light intensified. About ten seconds later, it likely reached the bottom, and the intense yellow light even illuminated half of Tianchi's water a golden hue. Moreover, several irregular beams of light shot out from the water, piercing the sky!
Ah, I understood what "Dragon's light shoots towards the Bull and Dipper's ruins" from the Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng meant. Night-shining pearls, anciently called dragon pearls, were likely the light emitted by dragon pearls. Just like now, shooting up into the night sky. In ancient times, there were no high-powered searchlights. Such a phenomenon must have been incredibly magical to ancient people, hence its frequent recording (not only in the Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng but also in many ancient poems and lyrics). It actually described the immense radiance emanating from a demon core.
"This won't do, will it?" I chuckled. "They'll probably see it from a hundred miles away."
If the scenic area staff were still working below and hadn't left, they'd be in for a treat. Changbai Mountain suddenly emitting yellow light – how spectacular.
The Whale God frowned, watching our bodies, illuminated by the yellow light in the water, for a moment. She shook her head. "No. You go, bring it up."
"...Big sister, I'm not you. I can't dive that far in one breath!" I frowned. It had to be at least thirty meters!
The Whale God gave me a look, then suddenly stepped forward, grabbed my head, and blew a mighty breath into my mouth!