Starting Cultivation During a Trip

Chapter 509 - 253: Great Evil Fang! Ren Xiao’s Secluded Place_2

"That white mist is called ’ominous breath,’ usually only found in the extreme landscapes of Fierce Mountain. It’s as if it’s a foul breath exhaled by some great evil, specifically affecting a person’s primordial spirit..."

Fang Changle indeed lived up to being a disciple of Maoshan, knowledgeable and experienced.

In fact, ’ominous breath’ comes in many forms. Some only cause hallucinations in the primordial spirit, trapping it in the outer scenery. Without external interference, it’s hard to break free, forever trapped in the deep mountains until death.

Some continuously strip and devour the power of the primordial spirit, becoming nourishment for the ominous breath, strengthening the mountain.

Maoshan indeed houses many different types of ’ominous breath,’ all captured by Maoshan ancestors from various fierce mountains around the world, sealed with the Upper Qing Talismanic Technique, and kept at Maoshan.

Generally, when disciples reach a certain age, they can witness them.

After all, to see the world and know all things is also a form of cultivation.

"Maoshan truly deserves to be a first-class sect," Zhang Fan couldn’t help but exclaim.

In terms of inheritance and education, the ten great Daoist sects on their famous mountains have incomparable superiority, which other sects and cultivation families cannot match.

"In my opinion, that wave of ’ominous breath’ we just encountered required at least the realm of Technique Apprentice to barely resist, otherwise..." Fang Changle’s voice trailed off.

"A small half of the Qin family’s forces would have to stay there," Zhang Fan said in a low voice.

The Qin family, although having four or five dozen people who had awakened their primordial spirits, had a small half in the realm of ’Qi Worker.’ These people’s physique was far stronger than ordinary people, but for cultivators, it was somewhat insufficient. Their primordial spirits were still immature and likely could not withstand that wave of ’ominous breath.’

"So many casualties just entering the mountain," Zhang Fan said blandly.

Though it was only the Qi Workers who died, those were saplings not yet matured. For a family, it was an unbearable loss.

"The Qin family has completely bet their treasures on the White Crane Temple. As long as they find Ren Xiao’s secluded place, all losses can be recouped," Fang Changle said coolly.

"Let’s go."

At the mention of Ren Xiao’s secluded place, Zhang Fan’s heart tightened slightly, quickening his pace.

Utilizing the ’ominous breath,’ they finally rid themselves of the Qin family’s forces, granting them more freedom of action.

Tusk Mountain wasn’t large, but its terrain was uniquely steep and dangerous. Even after Zhang Fan and Fang Changle wandered around for half a day, they had gained nothing.

"This won’t work. The Qin family has Prince Qin who acts like a human antenna, and we are like headless flies," Fang Changle halted.

"I can sense something approximate," Zhang Fan murmured after a brief consideration.

"Huh!?"

At these words, Fang Changle betrayed a look of surprise.

"How can you sense anything? You haven’t been here before."

"It’s hard to explain," Zhang Fan shook his head.

Firstly, he had just absorbed the power left by the monster from Zhang Lingzong, strengthening his primordial spirit once more. Secondly, since entering this deep mountain, he felt a special sense of attraction, like a connection of bloodlines.

"Hmm?"

Just then, Zhang Fan’s ears twitched, as if sensing something.

"Do you hear... anything?"

Fang Changle, upon hearing this, held his breath and focused, indeed hearing an unusual sound from a far distance, like the cries of battle.

"It comes from over there."

"Let’s go and see."

Zhang Fan stepped forward, transforming into a shadow, and vanished into the dense forest.

With dual cultivation of body and spirit complementing each other, his primordial spirit condensed into three strands of primordial light, enhancing his True Yang, nourishing his body and infusing all major acupuncture points, naturally improving his physical form.

Moments later, Zhang Fan and Fang Changle arrived at a cliff top, strewn with corpses and blood, mostly belonging to the Qin family’s experts.

"Another group dead?"

Zhang Fan surveyed the scene, seeing at least a dozen bodies lying in pools of blood.

Knowing that the Qin family brought only four or five dozen people, with the ’ominous breath’ already having claimed a dozen, now another group with higher cultivation realms had perished.

In other words, in just half a day, the Qin family lost half its forces in this Tusk Mountain.

"Look over here."

At this moment, Fang Changle pointed out.

Zhang Fan looked up to see the Qin family’s leader, King Qin, sitting pale-faced at the side, gasping for air, his right arm hanging limp, clearly suffering significant injuries and unable to move.

Prince Qin’s crystal coffin lay beside him.

Qin Ming stood at the forefront, his True Yang stirring around him, with his primordial spirit awakened. With his head held high, he stared vigilantly at the strange stone suspended above him.

The strange stone was about a foot long, entirely dark black, with only the top three inches as red as blood, radiating a dazzling light.

"This is an exotic treasure in the mountain," Zhang Fan’s eyes shone brightly.

All things have spirits. Whether mountain or river, exotic stones or strange trees, once they take ’form,’ they generate auspicious phenomena. As the sun and moon rotate, unimaginable things can be nurtured.

This reflects a saying in Feng Shui about ’call form and roar.’

Like the time Zhang Fan encountered a seller of counterfeit goods at the Yujing Black Market, selling a stone embryo supposedly from General Mountain, claiming it was a divine creation of the mountain spirit.

If such things were real, they’d be earth-shaking.

However, Fang Changle also said that even if a landscape takes form, it might not yield naturally-bred spiritual embryos. The transformative creation of sentient life would have far-reaching impacts.

Even if such things were nurtured, they might not manifest in reality.

Just like the stone embryo from General Mountain, Fang Changle said that even before it matured, it was contested by experts from the Daoist Alliance Headquarters and the Wuwei Sect, leaving its whereabouts unknown.

As for Tusk Mountain, with its tusk-like shape harboring great evil, after countless rotations of the sun and moon, it finally produced this exotic treasure.

The ’tusk’ is the essence of the entire Tusk Mountain.

Buzz...

Suddenly, Qin Ming held an ancient bronze mirror and shone it upon the ’tusk,’ as the blood-red light at the top gradually receded. It then detached from the mountain and fell into Qin Ming’s hand.

"Demon-Revealing Mirror!" Fang Changle’s eyes narrowed, showing a hint of trepidation.

A Daoist magical treasure refined for just a century can only become a common magical artifact.

The offerings and refining for over a hundred years, yet under three hundred, make it a Yellow Feather Treasure.

Over three hundred years but under eight hundred, it becomes a Cyan Feather Treasure.

Over eight hundred years make it a Purple Feather Treasure.

This Demon-Revealing Mirror from Qi Yun Mountain is indeed a genuine Cyan Feather Treasure.

Rumble...

In an instant, a terrifying aura erupted from within Qin Ming, his presence grew increasingly fierce, merging seamlessly with the Tusk Mountain beneath him.

Buzz...

Almost simultaneously, the black iron plate Zhang Fan played with daily in his pocket slightly shifted.

"Such incredible fortune, this naturally-bred treasure fell into his hands," Fang Changle said solemnly.

Obtaining this ’tusk’ grants Qin Ming a combined destiny within Tusk Mountain, gaining the mountain’s favor.

Moreover, this heaven-born item, if worshiped at home, could over time, lead to the Qin family’s great prosperity.

"He definitely paid a hefty price," Zhang Fan said harshly.

So many Qin family disciples died, even the Demon-Revealing Mirror from Qi Yun Mountain was used, just to obtain this ’tusk.’ However, compared to the gain, any cost was worth it.

"Taoist Brother Zhang, Taoist Brother Fang, since you’re here, why not come out?"

At this moment, Qin Ming called out loudly, holding the tusk with a slight and seemingly subtle smile.

Having acquired this treasure, his spiritual sense was unimaginably strong, controlling every movement within a hundred-foot radius.

"It truly is a treasure."

Zhang Fan grew wary, exchanging a glance with Fang Changle, and slowly stepped out.

"Taoist Friend Qin, quite the skill, to obtain such a treasure," Zhang Fan focused his gaze like a line, staring at the ’great evil tusk.’

"Exotic treasures are destined to those with virtue, a heavenly gift I dare not refuse," Qin Ming chuckled lightly.

At this moment, holding the great evil tusk, his presence was vast and mighty, appearing more confident.

"What about Song Yunqi and the others?" Fang Changle observed and asked.

"They just left," Qin Ming replied nonchalantly.

He glanced around, implying deeply, "However, if you ask me, Ren Xiao’s secluded place should be nearby."

Hearing this, Zhang Fan fell into deep thought, his eyes wandered, then suddenly he froze, seeing clearly on the moss-covered rock wall ahead two small carved words.

"Ling!"

"Ling!"

Between the two small words, a heart symbol connected them.

"Holy crap..." Zhang Fan blurted out in disbelief.