C9 Mountaincrush Beast Soul

Hu Li carried Ding Yue aloft for roughly half an hour, soaring toward a stone forest that reached for the heavens.

Massive pillars of stone stabbed through the mist, while rampant lightning, like silver serpents, weaved through the stone forest, occasionally sending fragments tumbling down.

Hu Li beat his wings, skillfully navigating around the obstructive columns. Ding Yue clung to the tiger's back, intentionally shifting his weight backward. Once positioned at Hu Li's waist, he used the fleeting illumination from the lightning to spot a pond within the stone forest, spanning over three hundred feet across.

In the darkness, it shimmered like a mirror, and under the flashes of lightning, it twisted like a sinister silver disc.

As Hu Li hovered over the pond, Ding Yue tightened his legs around the tiger's belly. With a sudden upward jerk, he flipped backward, then twisted his body. His left hand snatched the tiger's tail, flinging it aside, while his right hand swiftly plunged a knife towards Hu Li's rear.

A wretched howl pierced the thunderous sky as Hu Li instinctively folded his wings and kicked back with his hind legs. His razor-sharp claws narrowly missed Ding Yue, who had already released his grip, sending him plummeting downward.

The wind screamed past Ding Yue's ears as he squeezed his eyes shut, surrendering to the rapid descent.

Moments later, he exhaled sharply, lifting his eyelids to open his eyes, and involuntarily shuddered.

Despite being a fifth-level Fellbeast, Hu Li bore the pain. Twisting his body, he flapped his wings and dove at Ding Yue from above.

His blood-red eyes seethed with murderous intent as he aimed his gaping maw at Ding Yue's neck and shoulders.

"Human brat, I will bite off your limbs and watch you bleed out."

Fear gripped Ding Yue's heart. In his frenzy, he flicked his wrist, sending the sharp knife flying towards Hu Li's face. Hu Li dodged with a shake of his head and, summoning his demonic essence, unleashed several wind blades from his mouth.

As the wind blades closed in, with no leverage to evade in mid-air, Ding Yue let out a resigned sigh. "I'm just not strong enough!"

Overwhelmed by sorrow, tears welled up in the corners of his eyes.

"I've not seen my mother, my master has disappeared, Uncle Zhang and Aunt Zhang are gone, my father remains in the Heavenly Prison, and now, I face death in this perilous place. Such is my fate!"

As he resigned himself to his fate and closed his eyes, an unexpected transformation occurred. A powerful suction pulled Ding Yue's plummeting body downward even faster. Wind blades grazed him, leaving only superficial cuts on his skin.

The abrupt surge in suction startled Hu Li, who frantically flapped his wings in an attempt to break free from the fierce pull. Contrary to his efforts, the more he struggled, the stronger the suction became.

After a few moments of futile resistance, Hu Li let out a skyward roar, transforming into a tiger over ten meters in length. With his mouth wide open, he expelled a demon core the size of a fist, colored in shades of green and yellow, emitting concentric halos of light.

Instantly, the suction's intensity diminished. Hu Li beat his wings, pivoted his body, and shot out of the pond with all his might. Once clear of the water's surface, he swallowed the demon core.

Hu Li sought a moment to catch his breath, but a faint buzzing in the wind sent a shiver through him. He quickly concealed his presence and dashed southwest as fast as he could.

"Brother Hei Gang, save me!" His voice, filled with terror, was swept away by the storm.

The ferocious suction sent Ding Yue hurtling down at an alarming rate. In a matter of seconds, "splash"—his back collided with the water's surface.

A sweet taste rose in Ding Yue's throat as he coughed up blood onto his chest. His vision faded to black, and he lost consciousness.

As he slipped into unconsciousness, a burst of blue light radiated from his chest, scattering in all directions, forming a protective barrier around him. Carried by the pond's undercurrent, he sank toward the bottom.

In the shadowy depths of the mountain, a serpentine underground river flowed in utter silence.

A protruding ledge, illuminated by a glowing blue orb, pierced the darkness. Curious and bloodthirsty, unknown creatures of the deep swarmed towards the light.

Yet, each one that dared to touch the delicate halo burst into a cloud of blood, drawing even more creatures into a frenzied feast.

After an indeterminate amount of time, the halo of light gradually converged. Ding Yue simultaneously opened his tightly shut eyes. Shifting slightly, the pain across his body caused beads of sweat to form on his forehead.

He exhaled deeply, then, gritting his teeth, he forced his body to move. It took considerable effort to position himself prone on the flat rock.

After a brief rest, he propped himself up on his elbows, turning to lie on his side. Reaching into his pocket, he fumbled around and pulled out a bottle, tipping several Qi Replenishing Pills into his mouth.

Then, with a surge of strength, he sat up. Crossing his legs, he formed a hand seal and began to practice the Yin-Yang Qi Hugging Technique.

As Ding Yue engaged in his practice, the sounds of the strange fish in the river tearing at the flesh of their kin gradually subsided, and the pitch-black undercurrent at the base of the mountain returned to its deathly stillness.

Roughly two hours later, Ding Yue, who had been meditating, released his hand seal. He breathed out a mouthful of stale air, his eyes reopening with renewed vitality.

He rose to his feet, reached into his waist pouch, and retrieved a stone. Instantly, a bright light pierced the surrounding darkness.

The Night Flame Stone, an exceptional Primal Stone, emitted a bright glow at night but appeared as an ordinary stone by day. It was a parting gift from Aunt Zhang.

Descending from the flat rock, Ding Yue stepped onto the slick, solid stone floor. Looking back, he saw the river's slow current turn at a sharp angle, disappearing into the darkness.

He felt a surge of relief; had it not been for the river's bend and the jutting rock, he could have been swept off to an unknown fate.

The Night Flame Stone cast light over an area with a radius of more than ten meters, its glow extending with Ding Zhen's steps. A breeze blew, and he followed its direction, moving forward in search of its origin.

The earth beneath his feet was now dry and firm. One minute, two minutes passed. After more than ten minutes, light appeared ahead.

Ding Yue, filled with excitement, hastened towards the source of the light. A few meters from the brightness, he halted abruptly. A massive stone door stood ajar before him, the light and the sound of the wind emanating from within. Mixed with the wind was the occasional sound of teeth crunching on something.

Black Wind Ridge was notoriously treacherous, spanning hundreds of miles. Yet, at the base of this mountain, a miraculous place brimming with light pierced the perpetual darkness. It was both enchanting and eerie.

Ding Yue's ears throbbed with the pounding of his own heartbeat. His hands, slick with sweat, gripped tightly. The edge of the Night Flame Stone had pierced his palm due to the excessive force, sending a jolt of pain that snapped him back to a semblance of calm and steadied his anxious heart.

After a moment, Ding Yue's face broke into a silent, radiant smile. He stepped forward with a stride that was both firm and at ease.

Life's journey, fraught with peril and hardship or smooth sailing, must be met with courage. For sometimes, there is no turning back.

One step, ten steps. At last, he entered the light, squinting as he took in his surroundings.

A vast stone cavern unfolded before him. At its center, a pond with gently swaying lotuses exuded a delicate scent. Dominating the space was a massive stone table laden with fruit. Seated on stone benches to either side were a man and a monkey.

Across the way, a black stone cauldron steamed, hinting at something simmering within.

"Haha, come in. I've been waiting for you for some time now."

Ding Yue, initially bewildered, was taken aback once more.

"Are you hungry? Come, sit and have something to eat," the voice invited again.

With a series of squeaks, the monkey leaped from its seat and bounded over to Ding Yue, tugging at his sleeve and guiding him to sit. The monkey then offered him a slice of watermelon with an outstretched paw.

"You've been here a day and a night. Later, we'll have some stone eel meat."

Ding Yue eyed the burly man opposite him, popping a few pieces of fruit into his mouth. But suddenly, he leaped to his feet, exclaiming in astonishment, "You, elder, you are a Dao remnant soul!"

The muscular man gave a serene smile, flipping his hand, which seemed somewhat ethereal, and nodded. "Indeed, I am a remnant soul that has existed for over a hundred thousand years. But fear not, I have no interest in possession, nor am I capable of it."

After pausing for a moment, Ding Yue noticed the muscular man gazing upward at the cave's ceiling. He sighed, "I can't fathom why, in his gravely wounded state, my master left behind this fragment of my soul and even crafted this extraordinary and peculiar space."

Once again, Ding Yue surveyed the stone chamber, feeling a surge of amazement. Creating one's own space was a feat his master had mentioned only those of Immortal or Saintly rank could achieve.

"The master had four attendants, and I was the fourth. My true form is that of a Mountaincrush Beast, and my cultivation reached the level of a spirit animal. Had it not been for that mishap, ascending to the Immortal level would have been within reach."

"These are the scenes from those days, along with information about us four beasts," the muscular man explained as he gestured towards Ding Yue's forehead.

"Rest assured, after waiting for over a hundred thousand years, I've finally found a worthy successor. Why would I harm you?"

A sphere of light drifted from the man's forehead and shot into Ding Yue's. "Hmm?" The man noticed that although the light had penetrated Ding Yue's forehead, the flickering glow between his brows hinted at something amiss, as if an obstacle was resisting the light's entry. After a few moments, the light fully integrated into his brain.

Ding Yue felt a throbbing pain in his head and immediately closed his eyes to regulate his breath. His consciousness focused, and a series of images began to unfold in his mind.

The muscular man watched Ding Yue intently, as if trying to peer into his very being. A look of delight spread across his face, and his smile grew wider until he burst into a hearty laugh.

Once the laughter subsided, he stroked his chin, musing to himself, "Excellent, even better than when I first laid eyes on you. Your natural talent is commendable. From a young age, you've fortified your physique with rare treasures and further refined your skin with exotic elixirs. You possess martial skills and a solid foundation—an outstanding disciple indeed." His eyes sparkled with enthusiasm.

After about fifteen minutes, Ding Yue emerged from his deep concentration. His face went through a series of emotions before settling into calmness. When he looked at the muscular man, he found him still observing him closely.

Shifting slightly, the man inquired, "Young one, would you like to become my disciple?"

Before Ding Yue could react, the monkey beside her spat out the banana it had just taken a bite of. Tugging at her arm and pointing urgently at the stone ground before the ethereal man, its intent was clear.

Ding Yue smiled, straightened her clothes, and approached the man with solemn respect, bowing deeply.

"Greetings, Master Mountaincrush."

The little monkey also knelt and mimicked Ding Yue, bowing three times.

Mountaincrush's spectral hand gently touched the top of Ding Yue's head before helping her to her feet. "Would you share some of your story with me?" he asked.

Ding Yue gave a succinct account of her experiences, mixing truth with fiction.

Mountaincrush listened and nodded approvingly. "Stay calm and unflustered by change. On the path of cultivation, temperament is more crucial than technique."

As they spoke, a rich aroma filled the air, causing Ding Yue to involuntarily salivate.

"Hehe, the stone eels are ready. Mountain, scoop them up." Without waiting for instructions, Monkey had already retrieved the bowls and chopsticks from the stone table.

Ding Yue stared at the stone bowl before her, taken aback by its size—it was larger than a typical household pot. But considering the half-meter length of a stone eel, it made sense. She picked up a piece of the fish with her chopsticks, finding it tender, chewy, and utterly delicious.

"Stone eels feast on the essence within stones. Raw, their flesh is sour, but cooked, it's a delicacy," Mountaincrush explained, chuckling as he watched Ding Yue enjoy her meal. "It's also one of Mountain's favorites."

Shan Zi grinned at them, and Ding Yue asked in wonder, "Why isn't Shan Zi eating? Why break open so many fish heads?"

"My appetizer is inside these skulls," Mountaincrush replied.

Ding Yue looked on, puzzled, as Mountaincrush and the monkey interacted.

By then, Mountain had cracked open more than a dozen stone eel skulls. "Squeak, squeak," his claws extracted something from within.

This time, he held a pearl the size of a soybean between his fingertips. He presented it to Mountaincrush, who opened his mouth and inhaled it. The pearl transformed into tendrils of vapor that merged with Mountaincrush's ghostly form.

"Soul Refining." Ding Yue rose to his feet, startled.

Mountaincrush smirked and said, "What's there to fear? They're merely little beasts that have begun to think. Sometimes, I even gather wild fruits infused with a hint of spiritual energy. They're just appetizers. The main course is on its way. How else could I have survived for over a hundred thousand years?"

Ding Yue offered a sheepish smile and said, "Soul Refining, an art of Shadowmancy. It's just that it appeared on you so suddenly, that's why..."

He rubbed his nose in embarrassment.

"Human, ghost, demon, buddha, immortal, devil – regardless of the path, each seeks to capture the essence of heaven and earth. You're cultivating yourself, and while you're still young, once you truly step into the Cultivation World, you'll understand. For the sake of gain, fathers and sons can become enemies, brothers can turn on each other. It's all too common. Don't wait until danger is upon you to start resisting. By then, it'll be too late."

Seeing the seriousness in Mountaincrush's face, Ding Yue quickly nodded in agreement.