Book 2 Chapter 88: The Five-Hundred-Year Spirit Beast - Martial God

Chapter 88: The Five-Hundred-Year Spirit Beast A faint, nearly imperceptible sound reached He Yi Ming's ears, causing him to suddenly stop in his tracks. He carefully set Yuan Li Xun down and said, "Li Xun, Grandpa and the others are just ahead." Yuan Li Xun followed He Yi Ming's gaze, but all she could see were trees, innumerable trees. There was no sign of the two elders, not even their abandoned belongings. However, she had an almost blind faith in He Yi Ming’s words. She nodded gently, tidied her clothes, and a slight flush colored her cheeks once more. She tugged softly at He Yi Ming's sleeve and asked, "Young Master, how should we explain ourselves if Grandpa asks?" "Just tell him the truth," He Yi Ming responded, perplexed. Yuan Li Xun’s face flushed an even deeper red. "We've been gone so long, and our clothes are all ruffled. Do you think Grandpa might..." He Yi Ming chuckled and said, "Don't worry, they won't read too much into it." He took hold of her hand, and together they maneuvered around a few giant trees, finally arriving at the place they had initially departed from. He Yi Ming moved swiftly, appearing suddenly and coming to a stop, which was when He Wu De and He Lai Bao finally noticed him. "Yi Ming, where did you go?" He Wu De's eyes narrowed, but once he recognized He Yi Ming, the tension eased. He frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure in his voice. He Lai Bao smiled and interjected, "Old Master, it's rare for young people to get out. Let them wander and relax. No need to worry too much." The warmth in his gaze toward He Yi Ming and Yuan Li Xun suggested he assumed they had sneaked off for a little adventure. He Wu De shook his head mildly and said, "I understand, but at least leave a message so we don’t worry." Though he spoke of worry, the truth was, neither he nor He Lai Bao seemed particularly concerned. Nowadays, He Yi Ming had become an innate powerhouse, a status so revered it was beyond ordinary comprehension. His strength, too, was unparalleled, setting him far above the rest. With their own internal energy cultivation at the tenth level, He Wu De and He Lai Bao could confidently navigate the area without much fear of danger. So when He Yi Ming vanished, they harbored no real concerns. The only annoyance for the two elders was the young couple’s unforeseen departure without a trace or sign left behind. He Yi Ming smiled wryly and explained, "Grandpa, I wanted to notify you, but it was a sudden situation. There really wasn't time to leave a message." Yuan Li Xun remembered the urgency of the moment and blushed again. Back then, He Yi Ming had been so concerned for her that he hurriedly passed her the magical garment, leaving no time to communicate otherwise. In truth, He Yi Ming hadn’t left a note because he was fairly confident he could kill the spirit beast and return within an hour. With two previous experiences of hunting spirit beasts, he was well-acquainted with their power and believed he could accomplish the task in time, thinking by the time he returned with the beast’s corpse, the elders would still be away. However, this particular spirit beast surprised him—not only did it have two heads, but it was also unusually formidable. Coupled with the encounter at the boulder, it delayed him much longer than planned. He Wu De's expression grew serious. He scrutinized both He Yi Ming and Yuan Li Xun, his perceptive eyes noting the unusual wrinkles in their attire. "Yi Ming, what happened?" He Yi Ming chuckled and replied, "Grandpa, let me show you something." He removed the large guandao from his back, unveiling the corpse of the two-headed spirit beast. The guandao, once wrapped with vines and leather, was now bundled with a thick cloth that also covered the slain beast. With a slight flick of his wrist, he unveiled the two-segmented corpse of the beast, split clean from top to bottom. He Wu De and He Lai Bao’s expressions shifted instantly. With their keen eyesight, they recognized the beast's extraordinary nature at once. Ignoring everything else, the creature’s two heads alone were enough to astonish. He Wu De stepped forward, his rough, calloused hands feeling over the heads for a moment before looking up, face full of surprise and joy. "Yi Ming, is this a spirit beast?" He Yi Ming nodded slightly. "Yes, Grandpa. My apologies. I pursued this spirit beast on a whim, driven by the need for urgency and stealth. Its speed left me no time to leave word." He Wu De laughed heartily, patting He Yi Ming heavily on the shoulder. "It's fine, it's fine. A small matter; how could I be upset with you?" He Yi Ming blinked, thinking that as long as he handed over the spirit beast, Grandpa would indeed be all smiles. Yuan Li Xun covered her mouth to stifle a laugh and softly added, "Grandpa, the young master went through quite an ordeal to catch this spirit beast, even facing some danger." A hint of surprise crossed He Wu De's face. "Yi Ming, you’re already a grandmaster; could a spirit beast really prove challenging?" He Yi Ming sighed, "Grandpa, this spirit beast was different. Its most powerful trick was breathing out wind and fire from its two mouths. If caught unprepared, even I nearly suffered." He recalled the beast’s stealthy patience and the terrifying moment it unleashed its breath. A shiver ran through him at the memory. Had he not held an ace up his sleeve—a precise blade and wind mastery even—he might have been the one lying dead instead of the beast. Yet, upon hearing He Yi Ming's words, He Wu De and He Lai Bao's eyes both gleamed with an intense excitement and disbelief. They exchanged glances before He Wu De said firmly, "Lai Bao, one each." He Lai Bao nodded, and the two elders stepped forward, each taking one part of the beast’s corpse and inserting their hands directly into the beast’s necks. Despite their age and lower status compared to He Yi Ming, their mastery of internal energy imbued their hands with the strength and hardness of steel. Had the beast lived, its formidable physique would have shrugged off the intrusion. But in death, and with their penetration from the neck upwards, they easily pierced through. Yuan Li Xun’s face turned slightly pale, the gruesome scene stirring nausea within her. Suddenly, her view was obscured. Surprised, she looked up to see He Yi Ming standing before her like a shadow, blocking her sight from the unsettling ordeal. Yuan Li Xun beamed softly, and the queasy feeling faded, replaced by warmth. Moments later, He Wu De seemed to find something, withdrawing his hand to reveal a bright, marble-sized orb gleaming through the blood. His body trembled lightly, about to speak when He Lai Bao’s excited voice echoed, "I found it!" He Wu De was taken aback. Looking over, he saw a similar orb gleaming through the blood-soaked hand of He Lai Bao. He Wu De extended his hand, holding the two bright orbs between the elder’s palms, revealing their strange luster. Even He Lai Bao, with all his years and wisdom, was visibly stunned. "Two, there are two?" he murmured in awe. He Wu De nodded slightly. "Indeed, two." He turned to He Yi Ming. "Yi Ming, you are extremely fortunate." He Yi Ming immediately recognized what they held—spirit beast inner cores. Yet, in his memory, neither the golden-crowned python’s nor the long-armed raccoon’s core held such luminescent brilliance. He Yi Ming focused intently, immediately sensing the mysterious power emanating from the two small orbs. This power was immensely strong yet dormant. What surprised He Yi Ming even more was that, once the orbs were removed from the two-headed spirit beast, they subtly connected with the world's natural energy. In his perception, this integration with the natural world felt remarkably clear and distinct. A sudden thought flashed across his mind, prompting him to ask in astonishment, "Grandpa, could this spirit beast be over five hundred years old?" He Wu De nodded solemnly, confirming, "Yes, this is indeed a spirit beast that has lived for over five hundred years." His expression was exceedingly grave as he continued, "Regardless of the type, once a spirit beast surpasses five hundred years, it evolves into a powerful entity capable of absorbing the world's energy. Its greatest trait is the ability to concentrate this energy within its body and unleash it as a breath attack. The destructive power of such an attack is unparalleled. Even innate experts may not easily withstand it, let alone those still cultivating at the acquired stages." Recalling the formidable power of the spirit beast's breath, He Yi Ming nodded with lingering apprehension. A whimsical thought crossed his mind: if only he could master such a breath attack himself. By now, He Lai Bao had cleaned the blood off his hands and the inner cores using a cloth and water flask. He gestured for He Yi Ming to come closer, saying, "Yi Ming, take a look." He Yi Ming approached obligingly. He Lai Bao explained earnestly, "Spirit beasts over five hundred years old differ not only in their abilities but also in their inner cores. Each of these cores holds immense energy from the beast's life and can channel the world's force. They’re the best material for refining innate elixirs." As He Yi Ming took the cores, examining them carefully, he exclaimed with joy, "Grandpa, if we can refine these into innate elixirs, our compound could potentially gain two more innate experts!" He Wu De sighed wryly, "Yi Ming, refining an innate elixir isn’t so easily done. Even if we handed these over to my master, Medicine Daoist, success isn’t guaranteed." He paused before adding, "Moreover, refining an elixir requires not only these spirit beast cores but also numerous rare herbs. Such herbs typically don’t grow in populated areas and are usually only cultivated over centuries by major sects like Hengshan, established in remote locations." He Yi Ming’s expression shifted subtly. "Grandpa, are you suggesting we send these cores to Hengshan?" For He Wu De and He Lai Bao, the legacy of Hengshan carried a special significance, but He Yi Ming didn’t share their sentiments. Hearing that such precious items might be given away, he couldn’t help but feel a pang of reluctance. Two spirit beast cores of over five hundred years were treasures capable of yielding two innate elixirs. Even He Yi Ming found it hard to part with them. He Wu De shot him a sharp glance, saying, "Yi Ming, these are yours from the hunt, but you must understand that the path of alchemy is vast and profound. Among those we know, aside from the practitioners of Hengshan, where else could you find a trustworthy innate alchemist? And as for those rare herbs, where would you even begin to search?" He Yi Ming bowed his head, contemplating. At last, he conceded, "Yes, I understand." He recalled having previously broached the subject with Xie’s family, asking if they could handle refining the five-hundred-year spirit beast core. Yet, they had outright declined, and even Xie Zhi En candidly admitted he had no confidence in success. When even a family with a medical legacy of a thousand years showed such reluctance, where would he find a skilled innate alchemist? It was rumored that such experts existed in the three great powers of the northwest, but seeking them out recklessly wouldn’t be prudent. He Wu De nodded slightly, reassuringly saying, "Yi Ming, in Master’s hands, at least one elixir can be made from the two cores. If both are successfully refined, rest assured, Master will definitely grant you one." He Yi Ming quickly waved his hands, protesting, "Grandpa, that's yours." He Wu De sighed deeply, "Yi Ming, I appreciate your sentiment, but at my age, taking an innate elixir could result in my body exploding far more likely than achieving successful advancement. I'm an old man who wishes to live a few more years, so let’s not pursue that." He Yi Ming’s face grew slightly flushed. Hesitantly, he suggested, "Grandpa, it's said that when advancing to the innate stage, having an innate expert’s assistance can significantly increase the chances of success and lower the risks." He patted his chest confidently, "I’ll ensure your passage into innateness with my support." He Wu De smiled faintly, "It's true that during the transition from acquired to innate, external assistance can help. But that's mostly for those who rely on their cultivation to advance, not those using innate elixirs, where others have little room to intervene." He sighed deeply, "If I were cultivating attributes compatible with yours, I wouldn’t refuse your offer. But... it’s rare to find a practitioner with dual complementary attributes." He Lai Bao chuckled heartily, "Old Master, don't lament. Isn’t Yi Ming one of those rare individuals?" He Wu De smiled with satisfaction, "Indeed, Yi Ming, you’ve mastered both the mixed Yuan force and the rippling technique to their peak, all while keeping it under wraps from us. Truly..." he pointed a finger, laughingly chiding, "How unfilial." Though his words seemed harsh, they were brimming with pride, devoid of any actual anger. He Yi Ming felt a cold sweat. Only now did he understand why his grandparents hadn’t asked how he managed such breakthroughs; they firmly believed he achieved it through mastering the dual attributes of metal and water. The group lingered for another half-day, primarily because the two elders meticulously tended to the two-headed spirit beast’s remains. Its hide was carefully stripped, and even the organs and bones were repurposed. For cultivators, the spirit beast was a treasure trove; even its meat was thoroughly cooked and consumed. Witnessing the fate of the two-headed spirit beast, a chill ran through He Yi Ming's heart. The beast had not provoked them, yet because it was a spirit beast, it met such a grim end. He Yi Ming planned to tell the elders about the mysterious white boulder he discovered but decided against it upon hearing that the cores would be sent to Hengshan. Though He Wu De promised him a portion if both elixirs were made, what if only one succeeded? If he informed them about the white boulder, would Grandpa keep it a secret or report it to his master, Medicine Daoist? What if Hengshan demanded the boulder for themselves—should he surrender it or not? As he chewed the spirit beast meat, he exchanged a glance with Yuan Li Xun. Though they spoke no words, they shared a mutual understanding in their eyes.