C2534 Inside the Mountain
C2534 Inside the Mountain
Another skeletal hand reached for Jiang Fann. He dodged immediately, debating whether to bring out Gu Xie and Xiao Mo, who were experts in dealing with dark forces. After evading several attacks, the ground suddenly began to shake, and the skeletal hand retracted.
The Purple Jade Eagle flapped its wings. "I'll fly up to see what's going on."
"Be careful."
The Purple Jade Eagle soared into the sky, where it was easier to survey the surroundings. As it reached mid-air, a massive beast's roar echoed, and the ground shook violently. A small hill hidden in the forest ahead began to crack, as if something was trying to emerge from within.
In the next moment, the hill seemed to move apart, and a chilling wind swept through, instilling a sense of dread.
Roar—
A colossal creature let out an enraged roar. As the sound reverberated, the Purple Jade Eagle stumbled in mid-air and plummeted, as if struck by an unseen force.
At that moment, the Purple Jade Eagle's tail feathers shimmered, allowing it to regain control of its body and steady itself. Jiang Fann knew those feathers were the sacred feathers of the Azure Luan he had acquired, enhancing the eagle's bloodline power.
Jiang Fann was taken aback by the massive figure emerging from the small hill—it was a gigantic qilin, lifeless and with vacant eyes, like a walking corpse. He glanced at the hill, his eyes flickering, and said to Xiao Yu, "Help me sense if there's any spiritual presence in that thing."
Xiao Yu's form glowed white, absorbing Jiang Fann's spiritual strength. Moments later, it responded directly, "There's no spiritual presence. This seems to be just a body with a trace of instinct. Could this be the holy beast from back then? It's incredible that it can maintain its form and resist decay even after death. Unfortunately, its true essence has dissipated, and its divinity is nearly gone."
The Martial God advised, "Even if it's just a body, it's beyond what a Mortal Separating Stage cultivator can handle. A single roar from it severely weakened the Purple Jade Eagle. You shouldn't underestimate it; you're not equipped to deal with it now."
Hearing this, Jiang Fann didn't waste any time. He summoned Xiao Mo, as Gu Xie was still in seclusion, stabilizing her cultivation.
After appearing, Mo was visibly surprised to see the body of the fire qilin. She glanced at Jiang Fann and asked directly, "What do you plan to do with this guy? It's the body of a holy beast, and we don't know how it died. Its lifespan is much longer than a human's."
"You can handle it however you like, as long as it doesn't interfere with me," Jiang Fann replied.
Hearing this, Mo's eyes lit up with a hint of anticipation. She then asked, "Can I tame it as a mount? I can use a secret technique to reconstruct its spiritual consciousness, allowing it to follow simple commands."
"Do as you see fit," Jiang Fann said.
Mo nodded and flew directly toward the massive figure, showing no hesitation. The Purple Jade Eagle and Little Dot, seeing Mo appear, realized they were no longer needed here. They returned to their respective spaces to continue training, aiming to be more helpful next time.
Meanwhile, Jiang Fann didn't stick around to watch. Instead, he flew toward the split mountain, sensing there might be something valuable there. As for the qilin's body, if Mo could control it, it would be a significant advantage for him, adding a powerful ally to his side.
Upon reaching the split mountain, Jiang Fann discovered that the interior was a series of spaces, seemingly not naturally formed but rather carved out later. It was definitely more than just the tomb of a holy beast.
Jiang Fann soared into the heart of the area, guided by insights from the Chapter of Pill Dao. Here, a lush garden of spiritual herbs thrived, nourished by the lingering essence of departed holy beasts. The variety was vast, resembling a well-tended herb garden.
He wasted no time, gathering all the herbs and storing them in his Spiritual Treasure of Fairyland. The mountain itself was a treasure trove, rich in spiritual energy. However, what truly caught Jiang Fann's attention were the scales scattered on the ground. Despite the passage of time, these scales still shimmered with a radiant glow and retained their formidable strength.
After collecting the scales, Jiang Fann ventured deeper into the mountain. He hadn't yet discovered the source of the skeletal hands he encountered earlier, but he suspected that practitioners of Devil Art might still be around. The presence of a fire qilin's remains only reinforced his theory.
Within the mountain, intricate formations were carved into the rock—clearly not the work of demonic beasts. The energy of these formations was still active. Jiang Fann approached and used his Spiritual Sense to gauge their power, then sent Lin Zhan into the formations. Lin Zhan, as a Formation Spirit, could accomplish tasks beyond Jiang Fann's reach.
With the Devil God Spell in play, Jiang Fann remained on high alert, ever watchful for hidden threats.
After walking about a hundred feet, a sound echoed around him, a strange laughter that seemed to come from everywhere.
"Ho ho ho..."
Jiang Fann stood still, extending his spiritual sense, flames rising from his body to illuminate the surroundings. Despite the clarity of the laughter, there was no one in sight, as if the sound was right next to him.
Xiao Yu's voice echoed in his mind, "Don't be fooled by the sound. There's no spiritual scan. It's likely a trick using the surrounding formation. Whoever it is hasn't shown themselves, probably because they're unsure about confronting you."
Jiang Fann trusted Xiao Yu's abilities completely and continued forward. The firelight spread with him, ensuring he would notice anyone who appeared.
A figure flickered in his divine eye, and Xiao Yu's voice came again. "A spiritual presence has appeared, but its strength is unknown."
"Ho ho ho..."
The laughter persisted, irritating Jiang Fann, as if it could directly affect his mind. Xiao Yu's power bolstered him, clearing his thoughts and shielding him from further influence.
Even though Jiang Fann was maintaining the Devil God Spell, he was still affected, proving the opponent's methods were formidable. He couldn't pinpoint the source, and soon, Lin Zhan suddenly called out to him.
"Young Master, there's a practitioner hiding around the corner, about forty yards ahead. He's using the surrounding formations to amplify that laughter, which can directly confuse the mind. He's a dark cultivator, at the peak of the Mortal Separating Stage."
As soon as Lin Zhan finished speaking, a massive skeletal hand shot up from the ground, grabbing Jiang Fann. He hadn't sensed anything before the hand appeared, and the laughter had distracted him, leaving no time to dodge.
"Heh heh heh..."
Jiang Fann tried to pry open the skeletal hand but found its grip incredibly strong, even for him. However, the power of the immortal gold infused in his God-Slaying Blade erupted with a golden light. The blade spun in his hand, instantly severing the bones of the skeletal hand, proving its might.
Freed from the grasp, Jiang Fann wasted no time. Using the techniques from the Chapter of Body Arts, he vanished into the darkness. With Lin Zhan having pinpointed the enemy's location, Jiang Fann didn't hesitate. In a flash, he reached the corner, activating his Divine Eye to lock onto a small, shadowy figure trying to suppress its presence, thinking it could remain unseen in the dark.
Judging by the aura emanating from this person, Jiang Fann's suspicions were confirmed. This was indeed a dark cultivator, though how he had ended up here was anyone's guess.
In the distance, the Blade of the Divine transformed into a streak of light, piercing through the stone wall at the corner and striking the opponent. The cultivator, gritting his teeth against the intense pain, scrambled deeper into the passage, unable to maintain his suppressed aura. His true level was now exposed to Jiang Fann's senses.
Eighth level of the Mortal Separating Stage.
Jiang Fann quickly pursued him. In terms of speed, the opponent was no match for Jiang Fann. Before he could get far, Jiang Fann caught up and placed a firm hand on his shoulder. The Blade of the Divine exuded a murderous intent, its metallic scent heavy in the air, as it hovered threateningly at the man's neck.
The cultivator could no longer muster a smile. He dropped to his knees, raising his hands with his back to Jiang Fann.
"Spare me! Please, spare me!"
He was terrified that a slip of Jiang Fann's hand might end his life. Jiang Fann produced three silver needles, swiftly piercing them into the man's body. Using his mastery of Medicine Arts, he sealed the man's Qi Sea instantly, leaving him no chance to resist.
The firelight illuminated the surroundings, revealing the man's frail figure. His clothes were tattered, but his eyes were bright, indicating a sharp mind.
Jiang Fann questioned him directly, "This place is dangerous, overrun with demonic beasts, and this mountain is the tomb of a holy beast. How did you get in here? You can't have been living here all along, can you?"
The rogue cultivator quickly replied, fearing he might offend Jiang Fann.
"Sir, I was originally a wandering cultivator, hunted by other sects. I had no choice but to enter this perilous land. The beasts here hold this place in high regard, so none of them would dare disturb this tomb. I managed to settle here and discovered the incorruptible body of a fire qilin, which I could potentially control with my power."
"Settle here? If the beasts outside find out, you're as good as dead."
"I've been trying to control the holy beast's body. It's a powerful form from the Reincarnation Stage. Only recently have I made some progress, and I had no choice but to suppress the cultivator who came to investigate."
"So, you've been here a long time, haven't you? Otherwise, with your current abilities, it would take you ten or twenty years to even begin to control that body."
"I've been in this dangerous place for forty years. I've thought about leaving, but I've never had the chance. The area is surrounded by powerful beasts. If I leave the mountain carelessly, I might not even make it out of this perilous land before dying halfway."