Seeking Immortality in a Bizarre World-Chapter 577 - 572: White Bone Mountain Range, The Golden-Winged Peng Bird_1
Jia Ren didn’t want any unexpected changes to occur, least of all a Seventh-order Separation Bird reverting to its ancestral form. To prevent any accidents with the Phoenix Project, the Xuan Beast Avatar used the Heaven and Earth Mountain and Sea Pearl to divide its internal space. This prevented the Seventh-order Separation Bird from eating the Magical Beasts that had just consumed the Ancestor Beast Holy Pill. He left only the Medicinal Garden for it to wreak havoc in and a small lake as its activity area. As its mate, the Male Phoenix Bird naturally had to stay with it to cultivate their bond and strive for numerous offspring.
「It was time to set off!」
After confirming that there was no one nearby, Jia Ren finally left the Heaven and Earth Mountain and Sea Pearl. The Tracing Bizarre Talisman activated, once again searching for the True Dragon Evil. He flew over 200,000 miles, activating the Tracing Bizarre Talisman several times, and finally located a mountain range bristling with white bones.
This place was known as the White Bone Mountain Range, originally named the Myriad Demon Mountain Range. The White Bone Mountain Range was once home to a power called the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, a Sect formed by High-Rank Demon Beasts and Demon Cultivators. Those not of our kind are sure to have different hearts. The Great Sects coveted the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, viewing a Sect comprised of Demon Beasts and Demon Cultivators as a tantalizing prize. However, the power of the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons was not weak. Many High-Rank Demon Beasts and Demon Cultivators joined the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons. At its pinnacle, it possessed five Eighth-order Demon Beasts and over thirty Seventh-order Demon Beasts, and was dubbed the strongest force in the Mysterious Realm. The top-tier Sects of the Mysterious Realm dared not provoke it, and the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons continuously protected the nearby Magical Beasts.
The most widely known edict of that era was the Beast-Killing Order: all Demon Cultivators under the heavens belonged to the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons. Anyone who wantonly slew Demon Cultivators would be recorded in the Valley’s Beast-Killing Order and pursued by its full might. The Valley of Ten Thousand Demons was then a supreme power in its heyday, second to none. Unfortunately, fortune did not favor them. Demon Beasts and Demon Cultivators were not adept at refining Evil-Averting Spiritual Treasures. Just like the obliterated Celestial Phenomenon Sect and Stop-Killing Palace, they perished in the surge of Bizarre Demons.
Innumerable Magical Beast bones covered the area, with deathly Qi lingering incessantly. Bones piled into mountains, and the place was subsequently renamed the White Bone Mountain Range. Too many years had passed since the downfall of the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons. There were no treasures left in this place, only valueless skeletons and a vast amount of Corpse Sha Qi. The White Bone Mountain Range could be considered a paradise for Demon Cultivators. Practitioners from the Shimo Sect and Samsara Valley particularly favored cultivating their demonic arts here.
The True Dragon Evil used the Corpse Sha Qi from the White Bone Mountain Range to accelerate its strengthening. It had not detected the aura of Jin Sheng, the Golden Dragon, and had remained here since before losing the True Dragon Skeleton.
This is indeed a good place, an excellent place for cultivating the Bone Eroding Corpse Cone. Jia Ren had not forgotten the purpose of his visit. While the Corpse Sha Qi of the White Bone Mountain Range is good, it falls far short compared to the True Dragon Evil. To be precise, they aren’t even on the same level. Eliminating the True Dragon Evil is the best way to enhance the Bone Eroding Corpse Cone. Furthermore, with the aid of a substantial amount of True Dragon Evil Qi, my Second Nascent Soul’s Cultivation Level can increase at an astonishing speed, becoming an extremely powerful asset.
Jia Ren concealed his Qi and quietly headed toward the location where he sensed the True Dragon Evil. The distance between them rapidly closed. Strangely, even when using the Heart-Mind Sensing Technique, he found nothing, as if the sensation from the Tracing Bizarre Talisman was an illusion. This wasn’t Jia Ren’s first time using the Tracing Bizarre Talisman, and he trusted it, so he continued forward.
Skeletons littered the ground as far as the eye could see. A faint convergence of immense Corpse Sha Qi was present, as if an invisible, giant mouth was silently swallowing it.
A restrictive barrier?! Jia Ren stopped, looking at the barely perceptible formation not far away, finally understanding why. The True Dragon Evil’s methods are based on its abilities from when it was alive, not those of a Cultivator. This formation is clearly man-made, with a strong Lingbao Sect feel to it—it even resembles Ancestor Ji Kong’s work. Are Ancestor Ji Kong and the True Dragon Evil in a symbiotic state? Or, after possessing a Cultivator, can the True Dragon Evil also master their Divine Skills?
The formation here was sophisticated, with numerous restrictions. Stealthily breaking in would not be easy. A careless move might alert the enemy, which would be detrimental to his plans. Jia Ren didn’t have many ways to bypass the formation’s restrictions. A Boundary-breaking Talisman would make too much noise, and his Ban-breaking Finger was too low-level; neither would be enough to get past the True Dragon Evil undetected.
After hesitating for a moment, he clenched his teeth and took out the Virtual Spirit Pill, swallowing it. I never expected to use the Virtual Spirit Pill like this. The medicinal power of the Virtual Spirit Pill gradually spread through his body. His form seemed to be erased, as if by an eraser, returning to nothingness. Seeing the pill take effect, Jia Ren boldly headed towards the formation and its restrictions. The formation and restrictions presented no barrier. They didn’t react at all, allowing him to stride right in.
The previous illusions dissipated, revealing the true scene before him. Bones covered the ground. A huge Azure Dragon’s skull stood proudly, an incomplete dragon skeleton trailing behind it. An old man, a blue-black Dragon Sha aura emanating from his head, stood atop these dragon bones. Vast amounts of Corpse Sha Qi converged from the sky, flowing into the dragon bones. The bones acted as a conduit, continuously transforming the Corpse Sha Qi into True Dragon Evil Qi. The scene was not much different from what the Tracing Bizarre Talisman had shown.
Ancestor Ji Kong seemed to sense something and slowly opened his eyes. His gaze swept around, but found nothing.
"I don’t know why, but I keep feeling a sense of unease!" he muttered. "As if a great disaster is upon me!"
Ancestor Ji Kong looked around, but everything was normal. The sense of crisis, however, did not dissipate; instead, it grew stronger.
Have I been discovered?! Jia Ren had just slipped in when he saw Ancestor Ji Kong—now sporting dragon horns, a result of some mutation—looking around. This made Jia Ren hesitate, suspecting he’d been discovered. The Virtual Spirit Pill isn’t truly invincible; there’s no guarantee the True Dragon Evil doesn’t have a way to counter it. However, he quickly dismissed the thought. Ancestor Ji Kong, now with draconic features, let his gaze drift without locking onto Jia Ren’s position. It’s likely some kind of danger perception ability that’s been triggered. The True Dragon Evil is on guard now; it’s not a good time to make a move...
Ancestor Ji Kong’s Whims of the Heart flared. I should leave this place immediately! He felt a strong sense of crisis, an urgent need to flee. Unfortunately, his premonition wasn’t strong enough; he could only sense danger but couldn’t discern its source.
A voice rumbled from within him, "Leave? What place is better than this for me to restore my strength?! You and I are one. I need to reach the Mahayana Realm’s power to help you protect the Lingbao Sect and assist it in returning to its peak. My only request is a True Dragon! Find a True Dragon for me, and I will return your body to you!"
Two distinct voices emerged from within Ancestor Ji Kong’s body. Jia Ren found neither unfamiliar: one was his master’s, and the other belonged to the True Dragon Evil, whom he had encountered once before.
Jia Ren, hearing the two voices, quietly breathed a sigh of relief. The worst hasn’t happened. They seem to be in a symbiotic relationship; Master wasn’t possessed by the True Dragon Evil. He’s still alive. The two have reached a cooperative, mutually beneficial agreement. Does Ancestor Ji Kong intend to use the True Dragon Evil to fill the Lingbao Sect’s lack of a Mahayana Realm expert?
However, hearing the True Dragon Evil’s words about seeking a True Dragon, Jia Ren grew uneasy. Such a persistent fiend!
Ancestor Ji Kong, unaware that the True Dragon sought by the True Dragon Evil was in the hands of his own precious disciple, said nothing more. However, his own unease intensified.
At that moment, the True Dragon Evil also sensed danger and, after a moment’s hesitation, urged, "Let’s leave this place first!"
A hand glowing with dark light—the Ji Kong Palm—tore space apart, creating a void bridge. The True Dragon Evil possessed the ability of Void Wandering, a skill matched by few in the world, whether facing Cultivators or Bizarre Demons. It was an excellent method for any confrontation. His other hand reached to retrieve the Azure Dragon skeleton, preparing to escape into the void.
Ancestor Ji Kong’s action froze midway, his face etched with disbelief.
"Run!" A piercing cry, filled with terror, erupted from within Ancestor Ji Kong—it was the True Dragon Evil. It had clearly encountered some terrifying existence and lost all its previous composure.
A gigantic eagle claw reached out from the void, tearing through a vast expanse of space as if it were paper. The eagle claw was flawless, without a speck of impurity, like the most perfect work of art in the world. From the void, a massive Peng Bird with golden wings and eyes as cold as iron emerged, its huge claw lunging for Ancestor Ji Kong.
Divine Beast: Golden-Winged Peng Bird!
No wonder the True Dragon Evil is so terrified. Even in its prime, the Golden-Winged Peng Bird was its natural enemy. Now, reduced to a mere consciousness left after death and a spirit formed from Corpse Sha Qi, it’s nowhere near its peak condition.
Upon seeing the Golden-Winged Peng Bird, Jia Ren was also stunned. He hadn’t expected to see a living Divine Beast. This isn’t a Divine Beast created through atavism by an Ancestor Beast Holy Pill. The Golden-Winged Peng Bird is a natural Divine Beast, an adult at that! The aura it radiates is far stronger than any Mahayana Realm Cultivator I’ve ever encountered.
Being targeted by those razor-sharp eagle eyes felt like having his heart pierced by ten thousand golden swords.
Run! Wait, why should I run? My Whims of the Heart haven’t reacted, which means the danger isn’t directed at me. Besides, I’m still under the effects of the Virtual Spirit Pill; I should be fine.
With this in mind, he calmed down and decided to watch the show from a distance. No big deal, I’ll just be a spectator.
Ancestor Ji Kong felt as if he were facing a natural predator; his vitality nearly froze. Just as he was about to use Instantaneous Movement to escape, he heard a desolate voice from within him, the True Dragon Evil: "Don’t bother running... The Golden-Winged Peng Bird’s speed is unparalleled. Once it targets you, few can escape its clutches." The True Dragon Evil’s tone was filled with resignation and the despair of shattered hopes. It had finally found a rare True Dragon and thought it had a chance at a new life. To fall at the cusp of success... What rotten luck! Why did I have to encounter the Golden-Winged Peng Bird?! There’s no escape now...
The giant eagle claw descended like the Xuantiandao Sect’s Palm Containing Universe, vast enough to cover the sky and blot out the sun. Ancestor Ji Kong, unwilling to give up, attempted to flee using Instantaneous Movement. He had barely begun to teleport when his body stiffened. The golden eagle claw had somehow already seized him, rendering him immobile.
"Hmph, a dead dragon!" the Golden-Winged Peng Bird said, its voice resonant. "I sensed the aura of my beloved Golden Dragon in a nearby realm and crossed over specifically for it, but the aura has vanished. Can either of you tell me its whereabouts?"
The Golden-Winged Peng Bird spoke in human language, its gaze sweeping over the draconic Ancestor Ji Kong. Having lived for countless years, it could discern their symbiotic state at a glance.
Jia Ren, who had been watching quietly, tensed upon hearing the Golden-Winged Peng Bird’s words. I was just watching the show! How did this trouble land on my head?
