144 - Confession (Ying Cheng)

Chapter 144: The White Ape Sunlight seeped through the leaves above, creating a gentle haze laden with fine dust particles. The ancient vines dangled from treetops, casting shadows that darkened the forest. The surroundings were silent, the distance cloaked in an ominous gloom as if something lurked within. Duan Lu Xi coughed softly, "Last time I was here, I didn't see any guardian spirit beasts." Only after she spoke did Duan Lu Xi realize that the presence of guardian spirit beasts likely mattered little to both Qi Xian Qing and Yan Jue. Duan Lu Xi added, "But maybe it's because I didn't gather any natural treasures. Who knows, if you go to pick that flower now, a spirit beast might jump out." The crunch of footsteps on fallen leaves echoed crisply. Yan Jue remained tense, her true energy radiating as she scanned her surroundings inch by inch. Indeed, this forest abounded with natural treasures. In no time, they had passed six extremely rare plants. In places rich with such treasures, it was almost certain there would be a guardian spirit beast—a basic tenet in the realm of cultivation. For in this world, all living beings could cultivate; the beasts lurking in deep mountains were no exception. To aid their cultivation, spirit beasts would often seek out these natural treasures. Some spirit beasts would find a treasure, only to protect it if the plant was not yet in bloom, immature, or simply unnecessary at the time. These protectors were known as guardian spirit beasts. In this world, countless people prioritized cultivation above all else. The items aiding this pursuit, guarded by spirit beasts, were fiercely defended and not to be underestimated. No one knew how much time had passed. Yan Jue suddenly sensed something, her steps halting abruptly. Not far away, beneath a large tree, amidst a grove of vibrant green grass, stood a single stalk of jet-black grass. The eye-catching plant bore leaves shaped in triplet lobes, detailed patterns visible even under sunlight. Yan Jue turned, exchanging a look with Qi Xian Qing. Fragrant Spirit Grass. The air around them fell instantly silent, even Duan Lu Xi's incessant chatter ceased. The Fragrant Spirit Grass swayed gently, like a gem guarded by a nest of vipers—enticing yet perilous. Qi Xian Qing drew her sword. "I'll retrieve it." Instinctively, Yan Jue glanced at her. "Be careful." Qi Xian Qing nodded, moving towards the grass. Meanwhile, Yan Jue unsheathed her longsword, preparing for any sudden danger. Qi Xian Qing was about to proceed when footsteps sounded behind her abruptly. With icy demeanor, she turned to see Meng Hang, the disciple from the Clear Breeze Valley, riding a gust of wind, landing firmly in front of the trio. With a languid grace, Meng Hang fanned himself slowly, "Weren’t we supposed to search for treasures together? Why did you all run off on your own?" He grinned, "Not very loyal, are you?" Yan Jue's pupils constricted sharply. They had moved swiftly, clearly distancing themselves from Meng Hang, yet he had still managed to catch up. Qi Xian Qing, sensing something, approached Duan Lu Xi. With a startled look in the girl's eyes, she swiftly shook her sleeve, releasing several bright green insects from Duan Lu Xi's person. The translucent wings fluttered vigorously, floating gently back towards Meng Hang. Yan Jue, who had perused countless books in the bibliotheca, recognized these insects. These were Tracking Bugs. Once latched onto someone, they enabled tracking regardless of where the person went. Duan Lu Xi, on the verge of nausea at the sight of the bugs, exclaimed, "We never agreed to team up with you." Meng Hang had claimed earlier he was also after the Fragrant Spirit Grass. But with only one stalk here, if he took it, they would have to resume their search anew. Effortlessly, Meng Hang flicked open his fan, unleashing flashes of lightning. Clear Breeze Valley excelled in summoning techniques, their adept disciples capable of summoning wind, rain, thunder, and lightning through sect secrets alone. The fan in Meng Hang's hand was evidently such a summoning artifact. With a flick of his wrist, a fierce wind arose. A massive winged tiger descended from the sky with a terrifying roar, its sharp fangs gleaming, a whip-like tail striking the air. "Roar!" Duan Lu Xi was about to step forward, but a look from Yan Jue held her back. Duan Lu Xi was frantically anxious, casting a puzzled look at Yan Jue. Yan Jue had her own plans. Yesterday, at the Zuo family, Qi Er had mentioned the mountain housed a white ape that guarded the treasures. If Meng Hang approached the valuable treasure, it might draw the white ape out. If it really did appear, they could reap the benefits. If not... Yan Jue clasped her hands behind her back, fingers prepared with a seal, as a chilly frost spread from her fingertips, emanating an icy, biting aura. The trap was already laid. Meng Hang smirked, leaping towards the Fragrant Spirit Grass. Swaying with the wind, the Fragrant Spirit Grass was within reach when suddenly, a shadow lunged, slamming forcefully into Meng Hang. Caught off guard by the fierce assault, Meng Hang flew yards away, crashing into a tree headfirst, losing his fan in the process. The fan-conjured tiger faded with its closure, leaving only its faint silhouette until it vanished completely. The shadow stepped into sunlight, finally revealing itself fully to Yan Jue. A pitch-black creature, emaciated with pallid eyes, resembling a monkey. Yan Jue was momentarily stunned, greatly surprised. Duan Lu Xi gasped aloud, "Is that the guardian spirit beast here, the White Ape?" No, Yan Jue shook her head vehemently in her mind. This wasn’t the White Ape. Although emaciated, it bore human-like features. Yan Jue could vaguely discern from its faded visage what it once looked like. This was Qi Er's grandfather! For mortals, upon reaching a hundred years without passing, they risk becoming a creature like this—a "Shanchui." Typically, these creatures didn't harm humans but rather left families to wander mountains. Their facial features would fade over time, becoming what they are now. Qi Xian Qing was indeed right; Qi Er's grandfather had transformed into such a creature. The Shanchui was agile, no longer bearing the frail stiffness of a centenarian. With the strength of an iron body, it had effortlessly brushed Meng Hang aside, now dashing towards Yan Jue. She leaped nimbly, sailing several yards to land on another towering tree. From the corner of her eye, Yan Jue saw Qi Xian Qing draw her sword, transmitting a thought, "That's Qi Er's grandfather; don't kill him." The moment she spoke, the Shanchui's claws swung towards Qi Xian Qing. Once transformed, these beings lost all semblance of their past humanity. Now, its steel-like claws could inflict grave injury. Concerned, Yan Jue held her breath, silently worrying for Qi Xian Qing. Qi Xian Qing held her sword horizontally, placing the hilt up. The hilt met claw with a resounding clash reverberating through the forest. Qi Xian Qing used the momentum to fly backward as the Shanchui followed with a thunderous roar. Kicking off from a massive tree, Qi Xian Qing's form became a fleeting phantom in the air. Electric currents rippling around her crackled sharply as she swung her sword towards the Shanchui. "…" The Shanchui, once human, lived on with only residual obsession, hardly a match against Qi Xian Qing. The vibrant aura of Qi Xian Qing's sword, Candle Shadow, pulsed electricity, its azure blade gleaming brilliantly. Such force would be lethal to the Shanchui. But just as Yan Jue subconsciously closed her eyes, Qi Xian Qing deftly spun the sword, changing its angle. "Bang—" The sword's edge shimmered coldly as it struck the Shanchui's head forcefully. The creature staggered before collapsing onto the ground. Yan Jue breathed a sigh of relief. Having spent considerable time with Yan Jue, Qi Xian Qing had gleaned much insight from her. For instance, violence wasn't the only solution for dealing with creatures; killing wasn't always the best outcome. The fallen Shanchui lay motionless, its thick lips unconsciously twitching. Qi Xian Qing turned to Yan Jue, “Human’s lifespan exhausted, transformed into a monster, there’s no reversing it. Even if returned to the Zuo family, they could only imprison it.” It's the way of the world, nothing can be done. Yan Jue sighed, "We'll let Qi Er see him first, then seek aid from the senior sister for a proper send-off." Qi Xian Qing nodded, and at that moment, Yan Jue noticed something. While speaking, the disciple from Clear Breeze Valley, Meng Hang, previously flung aside by the Shanchui, had risen, quickly darting back in pursuit. Suddenly, a figure appeared beside Meng Hang—Duan Lu Xi, having used her lightness skill, was closing in. Duan Lu Xi brandished her massive bronze sword, slicing through the air with a fierce whoosh as it swung towards Meng Hang. A battle for rare treasures was inevitable. Meng Hang curled his lips into a smile, swiftly retrieving the summoning fan into his hand. With a swoosh, the fan unfolded gracefully. Taking a moment, Yan Jue observed the fan by the sunlight. Painted on it, with remarkable skill, was a vast ocean, a small boat drifting upon its waves, its sails dancing in the wind. Below, a fierce tiger crouched, menacing in its poise. Winds howled over the sea, lightning crackled in the sky. With a gentle shake of the fan, Meng Hang summoned frenzied gusts, forcing Duan Lu Xi back several steps. She only managed to steady herself by clinging to a nearby tree. With another flick of the fan, stronger winds blew, and out leaped the tiger again from the fan. Every element painted on the fan could be summoned; each shake brought forth something new. The tiger's deafening roar sent Duan Lu Xi flying several yards, but she lifted her bronze sword to face the threat. The Fragrant Spirit Grass was rare. If they lost it now, they would have to start searching again, uncertain if they could retrieve viable clues from the expanse of Qingyun Pavilion. Seeing the unfavorable turn of events, Yan Jue lightly tapped the ground with her toe, instantly drawing her sword, Liubing. It erupted into a spectrum of ethereal sword lights, descending before the tiger. This large, piercing-eyed white tiger was no ordinary beast. As soon as Yan Jue landed, she felt its overwhelming aura pressing down. The tiger's massive paws sliced the air towards Yan Jue, bringing with them a scorching heatwave. Fire naturally suppressed ice. This swiping attack was too powerful. With Duan Lu Xi present, Yan Jue couldn’t use her true fox form. The impact seared through her chest, flinging her headfirst into a tree. The blow left Yan Jue dizzy, coughing up blood. She glanced towards Qi Xian Qing. Qi Xian Qing stood on a high branch, her expression calm, gaze locked on the scene below. Yan Jue wondered if she was just watching like a spectator. Meng Hang, in a few steps, reached for the Fragrant Spirit Grass, hand extending to pluck it. Yan Jue nearly wanted to cover her face. Just as Meng Hang’s fingers brushed the grass, something descended from the tree above. "Roar!!!" A hulking figure leaped down, covered in a gray-white fur, with tightly corded muscles on its arms. It raised clenched fists above its head, pounding its chest with a deafening roar. Yan Jue was struck by a numbing sensation at the base of her skull. Ignoring her chest pain, she dashed forward, her sword glimmering like the wind, Liubing dazzling brightly in the sun. The tiger's full attention was fixated on Duan Lu Xi, never noticing Yan Jue's swift approach. With a crisp slice... The tiger’s tail was severed. Roaring in agony, the tiger—being an apparition of the fan—could no longer hold form and vanished into the air. Yan Jue lifted her head to look at the new threat. Meng Hang, who had been poised to snatch the Fragrant Spirit Grass, was suddenly pummeled into the ground by a mighty fist. He hadn't expected it, and his body was instantly reduced to a gory mess. Qi Xian Qing crouched on a tree branch, coldly observing the scene. A realization snapped into Yan Jue’s mind: The White Ape. This was the true guardian spirit beast. Despite its hulking build, after landing a punch on Meng Hang, it effortlessly grabbed him by the neck and hurled him like a rag doll, sending him flying. The White Ape seemed to have just woken up, its eyes still sealed with yellowish gunk. It then lifted its head, locking its gaze onto Qi Xian Qing perched in the tree. Qi Xian Qing hadn’t moved earlier because she'd already spotted the White Ape in a neighboring tree, dormant. The ape cherished the Fragrant Spirit Grass, and when Meng Hang neared it, the ape, aroused from its sleep, leaped down as expected. Qi Xian Qing’s approach was tactically sound; using the White Ape to scare off Meng Hang was better than personally intervening, which could draw further unwanted attention, especially given her celestial spirit body's alluring blood to spirit beasts. As the White Ape diverted its gaze, Qi Xian Qing became its prime target. Bursting with rage, the ape launched itself at Qi Xian Qing. Its robust physique, honed possibly through mountain meditations, made it bulkier than ordinary apes. Its muscles were prominent and its charge swift as lightning. Qi Xian Qing squinted subtly, her lips curling slightly, as she morphed into a ethereal shadow, flitting through the sky. She reappeared beneath a tree several meters away. The White Ape, having pounced at nothing, let out a furious roar, snapping an entire tree—the one Qi Xian Qing had stood on—clean from the ground with its Herculean grip. An immense pressure descended. The Seventh Realm! Spiritual beasts of a similar realm often held an edge over humans. Confronting it head-on promised grim outcomes. After venting its rage on the tree, the White Ape turned and fixated on Duan Lu Xi with an unsettling smile, advancing swiftly with bare feet. Its iron fists neared Duan Lu Xi, who frantically retreated, yet the oppressive might of the Seventh Realm left her legs trembling uncontrollably. Drawing closer, the White Ape forced Duan Lu Xi to her knees. Powerless. As its fist loomed, her heart thundered like a drum, fear engulfing her entirely. Instinctively, she shut her eyes, feeling an arm wrap around her waist. Duan Lu Xi’s eyes flew open. Qi Xian Qing had encircled her, retreating several paces just as the ape’s fist slammed into empty space, leaving a terrifying crater in the ground. “Thank you, Senior Sister…” Duan Lu Xi stammered, breathless with relief. Blood flowed along Qi Xian Qing’s arm as she nodded, glancing towards Yan Jue’s direction. Yan Jue needed no help. Her agility was exceptional, swiftly darting from branch to branch. With its target gone, the White Ape, enraged, charged again at Qi Xian Qing. Once more, Duan Lu Xi felt suffocated by the overwhelming pressure—a stark reminder of how higher realm beings overshadow those beneath them. Frightened, she looked at Qi Xian Qing. Her senior sister's true realm was a mystery, but she'd heard from their master that she hadn't reached the Seventh Realm herself. They couldn’t defeat the White Ape. What to do? Fleeing would mean abandoning the Fragrant Spirit Grass they painstakingly found. Could they even escape? Amidst her panic, Duan Lu Xi saw Qi Xian Qing toss something. A black leaf unfurled on the ground, from which a faint spirit emerged. The spirit blinked, seemingly disoriented before focusing ahead. “Uncle Master, I entrust this to you!” Qi Xian Qing called out. No annoying pop-up ads in this place, permanent domain (xbanxia.com)