14: The scientific research dragon girl's curiosity has gone wild!
At this moment, she was observing the scene in the Pool of Life at the center of the temple through a mirror made of ice crystals floating before her eyes.
In her eyes, there was none of the jealousy or spite of her other brothers and sisters.
Nor was there the smugness of Ao Yuan or the appreciation of Elizabeth.
There was only a kind of curiosity and fanaticism, as if a scientist were observing a rare experimental specimen.
"Interesting."
She murmured softly, her voice crisp.
"During the process of absorbing energy, the body structure has undergone more than 370,000 microscopic reorganizations."
"The energy conversion rate has actually reached an incredible 99.9% or more, with almost no waste at all."
"The 'Power of Creation and Destruction' inside the body, although weak, has a law priority that actually surpasses any known law."
"This has completely exceeded the scope of existing Life sciences."
"A perfect research specimen..."
The light of a thirst for knowledge flickered in Ao Ning's eyes.
She had no interest whatsoever in the position of prince or the glory of the Dragon Race.
Her only hobby was studying the laws and origins of all things in the universe.
And Su Jue's appearance, to her, was like opening a door to a new world.
She could no longer suppress the impulse in her heart.
She stood up, her ice-blue dragon body turning into a stream of light as she flew silently toward the main hall.
She wanted to get a closer look at this interesting "specimen."
When Ao Ning arrived at the main hall, Elizabeth only gave her a faint glance and did not stop her.
Among all her children, she still quite appreciated this third daughter who devoted herself to studying laws and ignored worldly affairs.
Ao Ning landed silently at the edge of the Pool of Life.
From her storage space, she took out a strangely shaped silver ring composed of countless precise runes.
[Deep Scanner of Law Structures].
This was the masterpiece she had spent tens of thousands of years and countless rare materials to create.
It could deeply scan and analyze the law composition and energy operation mode within a living organism.
She wanted to see exactly how many secrets were still hidden inside this little thing's body.
She aimed the scanner at Su Jue, who was currently "taking a bath" in the pool.
Then, she activated it.
"Buzz—"
The silver ring lit up, and waves of detection invisible to the naked eye instantly enveloped Su Jue.
Su Jue seemed to sense something; he stopped absorbing and looked up curiously at Ao Ning on the shore.
And at the shiny "toy" in her hand.
[Unknown energy detection detected!]
[Reverse parsing in progress...]
[Parsing successful! The detected energy is attempting to steal Law information from within the Host!]
[Activating countermeasures!]
Su Jue hadn't even figured out what was happening yet.
He saw the silver ring in Ao Ning's hand suddenly begin to tremble violently.
The runes on it flashed crazily, emitting a piercing "sizzle" sound.
"Hmm?"
Ao Ning was also stunned.
What was going on?
Her scanner could analyze even Great Saint-level treasures fairly well.
How could it have such a violent reaction to an Infant?
The next second.
Bang!
A crisp sound rang out.
The [Deep Scanner of Law Structures] that she had spent countless efforts on... exploded on the spot!
It exploded into a pile of metal parts sparking with electricity.
Ao Ning: "..."
Looking at the single handle left in her hand, the entire dragon froze in place.
Her baby... just like that... was gone?
In the pool, Su Jue saw the toy explode and thought Ao Ning was playing with him.
He clapped his little hands happily and let out a "giggle" of laughter.
That crisp laughter sounded particularly piercing in the quiet temple.
Elizabeth looked at her third daughter, who was always known for her calmness and rationality, and seeing her current expression of daze and bewilderment, the corners of her mouth were harder to suppress than an AK.
Want to study this little monster?
You're still a bit too green.
"Alright."
Elizabeth's voice rang out, breaking the awkwardness.
"His training ends here."
She looked at the Spring of Life in the pool, whose water level had already dropped by nearly a tenth, and the corners of her mouth twitched again.
If she let him keep soaking, her old reserves would be sucked dry by him.
A force lifted Su Jue from the pool and dried the water on his body.
"Tomorrow, the second trial begins."
Elizabeth's voice regained its majesty.
"The location of the second trial—"
"The Star of Wither."
The Star of Wither?
What kind of place was that?
Su Jue tilted his little head, expressing his confusion.
And Ao Ning, who had just recovered from the blow of her scanner being destroyed, heard this name and said in a solemn tone:
"Mother, the Star of Wither... isn't it a bit too early?"
She couldn't help but speak up.
"The law environment of that planet is too special; even an adult dragon would have their vitality rapidly eroded upon entering."
"Letting him go now, I'm afraid..."
The Star of Wither.
It was recognized as one of the most bizarre and dangerous planets among the seven trial stars of the Dragon Race.
The laws there were completely opposite to the normal universe.
Life, there, was the original sin.
Anything with Life would be rapidly decomposed by the 'Decay Law' there, turning into dust.
Death and wither were the eternal themes of that planet.
"No matter."
Elizabeth's voice remained calm.
"He has the protection of my Life Source within him."
"And..."
She glanced at Su Jue, "He is no ordinary child."
"The goal of this trial is not combat, nor is it destruction."
"But searching."
"Amidst the endless Decay and Death of the Star of Wither, there is hidden a 'seed of immortal life' that has existed since the beginning of the universe."
"Your task is to find it and bring it back."
Elizabeth said "your" (plural).
Ao Ning froze for a moment: "Mother, you mean..."
"You go as well." Elizabeth looked at her, "Your Frost Law can to some extent delay the erosion of Decay."
"It just so happens that you can assist from the side and, while you're at it... satisfy your curiosity."
"Of course, you cannot directly help him; you can only provide limited information and suggestions."
"Those are the rules."
Hearing this arrangement, Ao Ning's eyes instantly lit up.
Going to a trial with this little monster?
And being able to observe and study him up close?
This was simply a huge stroke of good fortune!
"Yes! Mother!"
She agreed without hesitation, even becoming a little impatient.
The gaze she directed at Su Jue became increasingly fanatical.
Su Jue felt a bit creeped out by her stare.
This big ice-block-like person had such a strange look in her eyes.
It was as if... she wanted to take him apart to see what his internal structure was like.
He subconsciously shrank behind Elizabeth.
Elizabeth saw all of this, and a hint of pleasure actually arose in her heart.
This little fellow even knows to look for me as a backer?
I'll give you credit for having some discernment.
"Alright, you two go and prepare."
Elizabeth waved her dragon claw, indicating that they could withdraw.
Ao Ning turned into a stream of ice-blue light and left contentedly.
She was going back to bring all her remaining precious instruments!
This time, she must research this little monster's body Data clearly and thoroughly!
In the temple, only Elizabeth and Su Jue were left once again.
Su Jue felt a little hungry.
After soaking in the bath for so long, the consumption was quite significant.