C10 Treasure Splitting

After a moment, Ding Yue noticed Mountaincrush's expression had softened. He blinked and inquired, "Master, earlier you mentioned you're unable to possess others and you seem to look down on the idea. Why is that?"

Mountaincrush let out a sigh and explained, "A human body is composed of three souls and seven spirits. Possession inevitably leads to resistance from the host. As a result, it's usually the more advanced practitioners who resort to this method on those with lesser abilities."

"But consider the powerful beings who've lost their physical forms. They need to find a new body that matches their elemental alignment and cultivation techniques. It's hardly a simple task to find such a match in haste. Otherwise, what's the point? They might end up in a mortal body, lacking the full spectrum of elements, unable to practice cultivation, and merely extend their life by a few decades at most."

"The greater one's cultivation, the more challenging possession becomes," Mountaincrush paused briefly, gesturing for Ding Yue to sit and join him in eating fish before continuing, "Even those who use mystique to possess others successfully find it hard to regain their former peak. Without significant fortune, they're just prolonging their existence."

"Mountaincrush led me straight to you after he found you," he said, gazing at the cave ceiling. "Once we leave this place, I can only linger outside for half an hour before I begin to fade away."

"Despite my Golden Core level of cultivation, I can't break the light shield surrounding you. Mountaincrush's claws can tear through mountains and stone, yet they can't scratch it. Hence, we had no choice but to wait for you to come. Heh."

Taking another pearl into his mouth, Mountaincrush chuckled, "Imagine, at the base of a pitch-black mountain, a door brimming with light appears out of nowhere, accompanied by the occasional sound of chewing. It's quite the eerie and terrifying scene. It even makes my liver quiver."

At this, Ding Yue could only scratch his head in response.

Mountaincrush went on, "As for my disdain for possession, consider my status as a spirit animal. I've roamed the world with my master, soaring proudly through the skies. A mere change of form wouldn't restore the grandeur of my past days. Though my true form is that of a beast, I possess a sense of pride all the same."

"Furthermore, the Master left behind a fragment of my soul. He undoubtedly had a deeper purpose in mind."

"Splash! Splash!" The sound of water stirred the air.

Interrupting Mountaincrush's speech, Ding Yue turned to see the water's surface ripple as a red fish leapt out. Its golden scales shimmered with a rainbow's array of colors as it hung suspended in midair, gazing at the onlookers.

Approaching the pond, Mountaincrush watched as a five-colored pearl emerged from the golden fish's forehead. The pearl, the size of a thumb, was dazzling to behold. It floated toward Mountaincrush and merged into his forehead.

A moment later, the pearl returned to the fish's brow. It swam back into the pond, but did not depart. Instead, it remained upright, its eyes rolling as it regarded Mountaincrush and then Ding Yue.

"You've had quite the journey over these hundred thousand years. The pact with my master is nearing its conclusion. You won't need to send me your vital essence anymore. Focus on your cultivation! This place is safer than the outside world, and this space should remain stable for another millennium."

The golden fish nodded, casting one more glance at Ding Yue before swimming away with a flick of its three tails.

Mountaincrush returned to his stone seat and inquired of Ding Yue, "Any more questions?"

"Yes." Ding Yue propped his chin in his hand, intently watching Mountaincrush, anticipating what he would say next.

"Originally, the Master placed a 'Five Elements Reversal Gathering Formation' in the pond where you landed at Black Wind Ridge. At the heart of the formation is a cauldron called 'Sea Devourer.' Should you reach the Nascent Infant stage, you may claim it."

Ding Yue, astonished, asked, "So the cauldron is the source of the suction?"

"Exactly. The Sea Devouring Cauldron can draw in the Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi from within a ten-mile radius. The Three-Tailed Golden Qilin, practicing within the cauldron, is an offspring of the Nagas, possessing the bloodline of the Divine Dragon. By leveraging the cauldron's and the formation's power, its movements within the cauldron can disturb the air currents above the pond, thus generating spatial turbulence."

Upon hearing this, Ding Yue wiped the sweat from his brow and marveled inwardly, "This defies the natural order!"

"You must be exhausted after talking so much; it's been quite a while, hasn't it?" Mountaincrush observed Ding Yue, who was struggling to keep his eyes open, and expressed his concern, "Get some rest. When you wake, you'll carry on my legacy."

Mountaincrush's ethereal form merged with the stone wall as he gulped down more than a dozen stone eels in one go. Ding Yue watched, astonished, as Mountaincrush then led him into a stone chamber.

"This day has been utterly unbelievable," Ding Yue whispered to himself.

After waking up refreshed, Ding Yue bathed in the pool. He donned fresh clothes, enjoyed some fruit, and felt revitalized.

The silver liquid inside the stone trough squirmed as though it were alive.

Mountaincrush watched Ding Yue from across the trough and spoke with a grave tone, "Inheriting my legacy and undergoing the marrow and vein cleansing is excruciating. I hope you can endure it."

Ding Yue nodded with grave determination. He placed his hand into the trough, the method of channeling already imprinted in his mind.

Instantly, the silver light began to crawl up his arm, now bared by rolled-up sleeves, like earthworms. Beads of sweat slid down his face.

Gritting his teeth, Ding Yue felt the silver light travel from his elbow to his shoulder, converging at the major vertebrae and then coursing down to his tailbone. His legs shook uncontrollably, and his clothes were soaked through.

The silver liquid in the trough descended slowly, with time slipping away like grains of sand through fingers.

After an hour, the liquid had reached his palm and finger bones. Half of the silver essence was drawn into Ding Zhen's skeletal cavities, from the wrist to the first knuckle. The bone refinement had pushed him to his limit.

Ding Yue stepped back and sat down cross-legged, his fingers dancing as he formed a seal before his chest. Mountaincrush nodded approvingly and mused, "To achieve half is a rarity even among the Mountaincrush Beast Clan."

He glanced over at Little Mountain, the monkey, and with a phantom touch, affectionately stroked its head, filled with nostalgia.

"For nearly ten thousand years, your clan has provided companionship through dozens of generations. You are fortunate to have encountered the heir to my mantle."

"Your Diamond Ape lineage is an anomaly among monkeykind. Over millennia, a few notables have emerged. And your mother was the exceptionally rare Heavenly Eye Snow Ape."

Mountaincrush firmly grasped Little Mountain the monkey's shoulder, noticing the moisture in his eyes as the monkey's furry head nuzzled his arm. He chuckled at himself and said, "Haha, I've been quite chatty these past few days. Well, I suppose it's time to give you an opportunity."

Upon hearing this, Little Mountain's body tensed. He leaped up, overwhelmed with joy, and knelt forcefully on the hard stone ground, his forehead touching the ground as he gave three deep kowtows.

"My dear child, there's no need for such formalities. Come, let me assist you."

Mountaincrush dipped his claw into the silver liquid, and his body immediately tensed, his teeth bared and every hair standing on end.

After roughly half an hour, Mountaincrush withdrew his finger from the monkey's back.

He glanced at Ding Yue and murmured, "While they're focused on their cultivation, it's time to take care of some final affairs."

The following day, Ding Yue opened his eyes and expelled a breath of stale air. He rose to his feet and stretched, his body crackling with a series of pops. Clenching his fists, he swung them out, causing the mountain wall to shudder and the air to ripple slightly.

Half a day later, Little Mountain also emerged from his cultivation. Aside from an additional tuft of golden hair on his forehead, he appeared unchanged.

"You've reached the fourth level," Mountaincrush said, nodding in approval.

"That's just the beginning. Your potential is boundless from here on out." He gestured with a sweep of his hand, and the stone wall beside him undulated like the surface of water, revealing a hidden chamber.

A skeleton materialized before Ding Yue, and Mountaincrush's voice echoed, "These are my remains."

With another wave of his hand, the remaining silver liquid in the trough rose and cascaded over the skeleton. Instantly, the once pale bones were coated in a layer of silver, gleaming with a newfound brilliance. The forehead of the skull, already silver, now shone with even greater depth and luster.

"At last, it's time to distribute the Treasured Weapons among you," Mountaincrush declared, pressing a stone table and causing several jade boxes to emerge.

He opened one to reveal the claw of an animal, dark and glossy.

"In my youth, I battled a ninth-level Fellbeast, the 'Golden-crowned Peng.' I tore off one of its claws, refined it with additional materials, and forged it into an object that can serve as both a weapon and a Magical Weapon."

Ding Yue took the object, immediately feeling the weight pull at his elbow and wrist. "It's quite hefty. Let's give it a whirl."

He dragged the claw's tip across the stone slab, leaving behind two deep grooves with smooth, even cuts.

"It's perfect for practicing my 'Rolling Dragon Claw' mystique." Ding Yue thought, pleased with himself.

From the second box, he retrieved a scale about the size of a fingernail.

"The Heart-Protecting Dragon Scale. This fulfills the promise my Master once made." With a flick of his finger, the scale soared toward the goldfish in the pond. The Goldscale inhaled sharply, swallowing the scale whole.

"The Sea Stabilizing Rod is both a magical and martial Treasured Weapon. Mountain, keep it within you and make it your life's Magical Weapon." Monkey accepted it, popping it into his mouth.

"The Heavenly Illusion Silkworm Thread comes from the Heavenly Illusion Jade Spirit Silkworm. This creature can adapt its color to its surroundings, and the silk it produces shares this chameleon-like property. It's an excellent treasure for deceiving others."

"Hehe..."

Hearing Mountaincrush's sly chuckle, Ding Yue realized that his master must have used this to trick many an unsuspecting soul.

"A sixth-level Miraculous Pill, the 'Breath Burst Pill.' It can boost a Transcending cultivator's aura to that of the Foundation Building level. It's a pill that can intimidate, but alas, there are only three left. After reaching the Golden Core state, it becomes ineffective."

"Is there a recipe?" Ding Yue asked eagerly after Mountaincrush finished speaking. Mountaincrush shook his head.

"What a shame," Ding Yue muttered, looking dejected. He thought to himself, "If only there was a recipe, I could have Liu Wuya concoct dozens. They'd be incredibly useful at critical moments. And if auctioned, they'd surely cause a frenzy."

Mountaincrush, perceiving Ding Yue's thoughts, tapped him on the head and chided, "Don't get sidetracked. The true path lies in diligent cultivation. The 'Breath Burst Pill' can only be taken twice, and it's useless for spirit animals."

Ding Yue scratched his head, offering a sheepish smile before responding earnestly, "Master, your advice is invaluable."

"Kid, I had similar thoughts back then, but I was good at keeping them hidden so my master never noticed," he said. They exchanged a knowing glance and burst into laughter.

Once the laughter subsided, Ding Yue felt a renewed warmth in his chest. His master had been absent for years, Uncle Zhang and his wife, who had been with him for so long, had departed, and his best friend had gone his separate way. At fourteen or fifteen, he was still just a boy, no matter how you looked at it.

"Master Mountaincrush, must you really fade away?" Ding Yue's eyes dimmed, his nose tingled, and he couldn't help but feel forlorn.

"My child, there are three thousand paths in cultivation. You must understand life and death, break free from emotional bonds, remain detached from worldly matters, seize control of your fate, fight against constraints, stay true to your heart, and transcend the tribulations of heaven. Only then can you ascend to the ultimate state," Mountaincrush counseled.

The two of them, along with the spirit animals, pondered the profound implications of Mountaincrush's words.

After a moment, Mountaincrush gestured and said, "Ding Yue, this final item is the Sky Sack. With the right opportunity, it can be elevated, even to a divine level."

Ding Yue's eyes widened in amazement as he gazed at the small white bag in Mountaincrush's palm, its surface adorned with rice grain-sized yellow dots that seemed to form an intricate pattern.

"This bag is known as the 'Sky Sack.' Anoint it with a drop of your blood," Mountaincrush instructed.

Without hesitation, Ding Yue pricked his middle finger, and a drop of blood vanished into the fabric of the bag. The yellow dots shimmered with golden light upon contact with the blood, and with a flash, the light was absorbed into Ding Yue's chest.

"Activate it and give it a try," Mountaincrush directed.

Ding Yue focused his thoughts, and the Sky Sack began to levitate, expanding until it was the size of a room. With a flick of his finger, the Golden Roc Claw, the Breath Burst Pill, and the Heavenly Shadow Silk were all drawn into the bag.

"Also, put my bones in there. If you get the chance, visit the southern border. The Heaven's Wrath River stretches for eight hundred miles and is home to the Mountaincrush Beast Clan. Keep my frontal bone, though; it can receive messages from my master."

"Whether he has ascended to that realm or met his demise, always remember, my master is known as the 'Heaven Flipping Great Sage.'"

As Mountaincrush's spectral form began to fade, it ultimately transformed into countless points of light that enveloped his skeletal remains, slowly assimilating with them.

Ding Yue retracted the Sky Sack, placing it over his chest. Gazing upon Mountaincrush's bones, a profound sense of sorrow engulfed him. A man, a monkey, and a fish stood in silence.