C17 Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range

A streak of light burst forth from Fragrant Medicine Valley as the old ghost, Ding Yue, and Monkey soared through the air. Whenever they encountered a city, they would descend nearby before exploring its streets. The old ghost entrusted Ding Yue with ten thousand low-grade Primal Stones for his discretionary use.

Ding Yue invested three thousand Primal Stones in various materials, acquired some rare ores from the old ghost, and generously tipped the refiner an extra thousand Primal Stones to observe the crafting process. Three days later, a set of "Escape Light Needles" was secured in Ding Zhen's storage bag. The rest of the Primal Stones were frivolously spent by the duo, with Monkey favoring candied hawthorns above all else. Ding Yue, on the other hand, focused on purchasing items beneficial for his future cultivation, such as herbs for concocting third-level pills, Aetherstones capable of igniting flames, bottles, and exquisite wooden boxes.

Upon seeing Ding Yue with the "Escape Light Needles," the old ghost, caught up in the moment, used his Wraith Spirit Flame to temper them, turning the needles a deep black with only the tips retaining a crimson hue.

After a week of intermittent travel, they reached the outskirts of the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range, where a towering peak rose amid the sea of trees, its verdant expanse stretching as far as the eye could see. The treetops rustled, creating waves of lush greenery.

"I'll wait here. If you're in any mortal danger, send word immediately; however, I'd prefer you not use the sound transmitting talisman," the old ghost instructed before settling into a meditative pose, eyes closed.

"Understood, Uncle Ghost," Ding Yue replied. With that, he and Monkey leaped into the woodland. The dense foliage filtered the sunlight, casting dappled patterns below.

At his current early stage of Transcending, Ding Yue could hunt ordinary fourth-level Fellbeasts without risking his life. Moreover, with Monkey's innate sharpness as a unique Fellbeast, they were adept at sensing and avoiding peril.

Twenty days had passed, and though Ding Yue's clothes were somewhat ragged and his body smeared with mud, his eyes sparkled with a fierce brilliance. The battles fought on the brink of life and death had accelerated his cultivation, propelling him toward the middle stage.

The Tongbi Flame Bear, a formidable fourth-level Fellbeast, was naturally able to wield fire and had a particular fondness for "Yang Flame Grass." This grass was crucial for Ding Yue, as it was a key ingredient in the top fourth-level Transcending Pill—a pill vital for his future advancement to the Foundation Building stage.

Ding Yue had clashed with the Tongbi Flame Bear several times, each encounter ending with him and his monkey companion making a hasty and disheveled retreat.

Following a torrential downpour, the forest air was thick with moisture, hanging like fog. The sky remained overcast as Ding Yue toiled near the bear's cave for half the day. Then, with bold strides, he approached the entrance. Before he could issue a challenge, an enraged roar erupted, and a burst of flames came hurtling toward him. Ding Yue swiftly backpedaled, erecting earthen walls to block the inferno.

Regrettably, the mud walls crumbled in an instant. The repeated provocations had infuriated the beast, and it was now determined to devour this human youth. The Tongbi Flame Bear, with its arms ablaze, glared menacingly, baring its sharp teeth as it lunged for Ding Yue's back.

Ding Yue mused with surprise, "Why has this behemoth lost its temper so quickly this time? Well, that works in my favor." He slapped a talisman onto himself and popped a Qi Increasing Pill into his mouth, his speed instantly multiplying several-fold.

Ahead lay a hollow. Ding Yue dove down, gliding forward along the muddy basin. The Tongbi Flame Bear was hot on his trail, but in a mere moment, Ding Yue had vanished from sight.

The Flame Bear paused, taken aback, only to find itself besieged by a barrage of spherical projectiles. It pounded its chest, igniting its entire body in a protective blaze.

With a series of thunderous blasts, the incoming spheres detonated, transforming into a cloud of mist that mingled with the damp air, obscuring all vision.

The Flame Bear surveyed its surroundings, engulfed in a thick white mist. Sensing the deceitful nature of humans, it opted to make a strategic retreat.

As it turned and attempted to lift its mud-trapped leg, a sudden chill seized its knee. Pain shot through its head, eliciting a roar as it swung its arms forward in a blind rage. But then, its arms flailed through empty air, and its body involuntarily swayed. A sharp pain in its neck was the last sensation it felt before blacking out.

As the fog lifted, Ding Yue and the Monkey approached the bear's lifeless form. They extracted the bear's core and secured it in a box.

Then, the Monkey presented a strand of silk to Ding Yue. "This Heavenly Phantom Silk is incredibly effective."

Contemplating this, the ice orb hovering above his palm gently melted into water—a testament to Ding Yue's newly perfected Ice Spell.

With the area cleared, the small mountain perched on Ding Yue's shoulder, and they hurried toward the bear's den.

Moments later, at the cave's entrance, Ding Yue was taken aback to find only one of the original three stalks of "Yang Flame Grass" remaining.

Given his current level of alchemy, success with a single stalk was unlikely. His spirits dampened by the meager return on his considerable efforts.

The Monkey hopped off his shoulder and sniffed the air, circling the area before standing erect and pointing westward.

"Ding, it seems another Fellbeast beat us to it," Little Mountain's voice echoed in his mind.

"What?" Ding Yue was momentarily disoriented.

The Monkey clarified, "I mean, after we lured away the Flame Bear, another creature harvested those two stalks of herbs."

"How could any Fellbeast understand the concept of 'the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind'?" Ding Yue found it hard to believe that such a low-level, non-humanoid Fellbeast could possess such cunning.

Most talking Fellbeasts were of the fifth level. To attempt stealing the "Yang Flame Grass," a Tongbi Flame Bear wouldn't dare reveal itself, to say nothing of a Shadowmancer.

"The culprit headed west; let's conceal our presence and track it down. We'll uncover the truth soon enough," Little Mountain proposed.

Tucked away in a chaotic stone forest was a small hill, its thorns sharp and unwelcoming. Among the underbrush, a wildflower with dark green blossoms emitted a nauseating, head-spinning odor.

Little Mountain guided Ding Yue to this secluded spot and paused to survey the surroundings. A lone pine tree stood out amidst the low-lying shrubs and weeds.

The man and the monkey exchanged a glance before they began to clear away the earth and stones. They excavated a narrow hole beneath the tree, large enough for just the two of them, and carted the debris to a distant area. After ingesting a pill to cloak their presence, they affixed an Earth Spirit Talisman to their bodies.

Ding Yue then blended the Wood Elemental Qi with the essence of the pine tree, creating a camouflage so effective that even a Foundation Building cultivator would struggle to notice.

Time marched on, and the moon reached its zenith. Ding Yue and the monkey emerged from their rest, breaking through the soil layer and peering out at the hill.

Before long, a wisp of green smoke rose from the hill's crest. As the smoke cleared, a three-tailed fox was revealed, perched regally atop the hill. It tilted its head toward the luminous moon, its tails swaying gently. From its mouth, it released a bead that shimmered with a tri-color glow.

"Are you certain this three-tailed fox is the thief of the Yang Flame Grass?" Ding Yue silently questioned.

"It must be; I've tracked its scent here," the monkey confirmed.

"Moreover, one can't assess the strength of the Heavenly Fox Clan by the number of tails. If I'm not mistaken, this three-tailed fox could easily confront a Tongbi Flame Bear, and the bear would likely meet its demise in the wild."

"Three tails signify it's a third-level Fellbeast, but a flame bear is a peak fourth-level creature!" Ding Yue found it hard to accept Little Mountain's assertion.

"My advice is, if you can capture this beast alive, try to forge a blood pact with it, just as you did with me. If that's not feasible, avoid harming it. I possess the Heavenly Eyes bloodline, yet I sense a sliver of dread within my soul," the monkey earnestly advised Ding Yue.

"Uh, okay," Ding Yue's interest was piqued. "Let's strategize on how to capture it."

A day and night passed, and a small head peeked out from the hillside, scanning left and right, its nose twitching as if catching a scent. Its eyes sparkled with eager anticipation.

As the three-tailed fox darted out of the thorny underbrush, it appeared startled, its turquoise eyes blinking in confusion. After a moment's hesitation, it turned and retreated into the forest.

This pattern continued for three days.

On the fourth day, the little fox emerged once more from the thorny woods and dashed eastward at a swift pace.

Where the Flame Bear had met its demise days before, only a pile of bleached bones remained. Now, the three-tailed fox paused at the edge of the depression, gazing into its depths with wide, thoughtful eyes, head cocked to one side.

The air above the hollow was thick with swamp gas and swirling mists; an enticing scent wafted intermittently through the haze, making one's mouth water.

Ding Yue had spent a day leveraging the natural terrain to lay down a "Mist and Spirit Concealing Formation" around the hollow.

Later, seizing the opportunity during a battle between two fifth-level Fellbeasts, he had a monkey steal a "Three-Leaf Spiraling Fruit."

It was fortunate that the plant was merely a low-grade herb; otherwise, the fifth-level Fellbeast would surely have given chase, forcing a frantic escape. Upon returning, Ding Yue anointed the Three-Leaf Spiraling Fruit with a drop of "Celestial Attraction Dew."

Celestial Attraction Dew was a concoction made by Liu Wuya in his leisure, designed to enhance the flavor of the pills he crafted.

Each day, he would apply a drop to the fruit, then partially dismantle the "Mist and Spirit Concealing Formation" to let the fragrance escape. Moments later, he would seal the formation once again. This routine was repeated over three days.

At last, unable to resist the lure, the three-tailed fox ventured into the hollow.

Ding Yue, concealed within the muddy depression, watched the red-furred fox tread cautiously across the mud, its eyes flickering with apprehension. He inwardly praised the spirit animal's caution and intelligence.

It took some time, but the three-tailed fox eventually stepped into the formation. Looking up, it saw a plant with three red leaves and a serpentine, emerald stem, culminating in a fiery red fruit that seemed to play hide and seek among the foliage, resembling a green serpent poised to strike.

The little fox's eyes sparkled with delight as it pounced forward, eager to bite the tip of the branch. But in an instant, its vision plunged into darkness.

Ding Yue stowed the Sky Sack and carefully placed the Three Leaves Nine-Tuned Fruit into a box. He dismantled the formation and fled with the monkey. Soon after, the valley echoed with the ferocious roars of Fellbeasts.

Reaching their prepared hideout, both man and monkey collapsed into a deep sleep.

The past few days had been incredibly draining; yet, they knew that effort often yields great rewards.

For hidden within the three-tailed fox was a secret that could shake the heavens.