Chapter 23: Stone Gu

Capturing the giant beast filled Mu Yuan with joy. He called Feng Luan down and sent a message through spiritual sense, asking about this monster’s origin!

Spirit beasts like Feng Luan, though unable to speak, were naturally intelligent and perceptive, understanding human matters. Communicating through spiritual sense broke the language barrier, allowing free exchange.

Listening to Feng Luan’s messy, chirping explanation, Mu Yuan finally learned of the giant creature’s origin.

Deep mountains and vast marshes often bred dragons and serpents. Rocks, plants, and trees, over long ages, could also awaken spirits. This giant beast was an essence born from the mountains of Forest Sea, akin to the mountain gods common folks spoke of. To cultivators, it was known as a Mountain Elf!

Different spirit creatures naturally possessed different abilities. This Mountain Elf had immense strength but moved clumsily. Being a spirit formed from mountain rocks, its body was extremely tough. Ordinary flying swords couldn’t pierce its skin. If Mu Yuan hadn’t possessed the Dragon Soul Sword today, he truly couldn’t have overcome this Mountain Elf!

Among the Five Elements, Li Fire overcame Western Metal. Feng Luan’s black fire posed quite a threat. But this Mountain Elf, having lived a long time, had learned to stir mountain winds. Though unable to harm a divine bird like Feng Luan, it could avoid being burned.

Learning the root cause, Mu Yuan finally understood the Mountain Elf’s origins and secretly felt fortunate. The Mountain Elf possessed a metallic attribute, its spiritual sense solid as ancient mountains. External evils couldn’t invade it, so Mu Yuan couldn’t forcibly conquer its spirit like he did with Feng Luan. He could only trap it for now, waiting until he gained stronger methods to subdue it, or perhaps seek help from his sect!

The Black Water Gourd could be considered Mu Yuan’s first true magic treasure. Though he hadn’t had it long, diligently cultivating it with Tide True Qi day and night had made him quite adept. He casually set up a few arrays inside. Black water essence churned, confining the Mountain Elf within a space over a dozen miles wide. Sealing away the Mountain Elf, Mu Yuan simply left it there.

With the Mountain Elf suppressed, Mu Yuan decided to explore what other strange creatures lived in Forest Sea. He leaped onto Feng Luan’s broad back and ordered it to circle slowly at low altitude over the forest. Peering down, he saw endless rare animals and birds. Most creatures, encountering Feng Luan, chirped low cries and retreated. Feng Luan, suddenly playful, breathed fire upon them, chirping and squawking happily.

After seeing about a dozen large birds reduced to ash by the black fire, Mu Yuan quickly restrained Feng Luan. Circling once over Forest Sea took most of the day. The mountain wind was biting, and even Mu Yuan felt somewhat weary. Suddenly, spotting wisps of green smoke rising from a mountainous area at Forest Sea’s eastern edge, his heart lifted. He urged Feng Luan to fly down.

As they drew near, a fairly large village appeared before them, measuring about ten miles across. Houses were built from piled bamboo and wood. It was dinner time, smoke curled from every kitchen, creating a warm, peaceful atmosphere.

“To find a village in such a remote mountain region!” Mu Yuan jumped down from Feng Luan’s back, stroking the bird’s steel-hard feathers. Grinning, he said, “Brother Bird, sorry to trouble you, but bear with it!” A ripple of smoky black light burst from his neck, withdrawing Feng Luan inside.

Mu Yuan then casually adjusted his clothes and walked into the village. The scenery inside was indeed different. Lush plants were everywhere, especially bamboo. Though it was late autumn in Tiandu Kingdom, leaves fallen and plants withered away, here everything remained vibrant, lush, and green!

Sensing the abundant wood-attribute spiritual energy radiating from the surrounding bamboo, pulsing like developing life, Mu Yuan felt waves of resonance within his body. His Longevity True Qi surged rhythmically, joyfully responding to this harmony with the natural world. It invigorated his spirit greatly.

“The Longevity Art was a supreme technique. I see the Dragon King’s Dynamic Force is actually the Dragon Clan’s pursuit of combat power. When it came to the path of eternal life, it was far weaker than the Longevity Art. This made sense. The Dragon Clan was innately powerful and long-lived; with minimal cultivation, they avoided death. Exceptionally blessed, they actually walked less far on the path of eternal life than orthodox human methods! Yet the Tidal Flow focused on adaptability – even if heaven and earth collapsed and stars turned to dust, it would simply shift form, still seeing it as the path of eternal life!” Walking slowly, Mu Yuan suddenly felt insight, comparing the three techniques he practiced – discerning their differences and refining his own choices.

The Dragon King’s Dynamic Force, commanding thunder, electricity, clouds, and rain, was indeed immensely powerful. But techniques created by extremely long-lived beings like the Dragon Clan placed little emphasis on prolonging life itself, instead valuing combat abilities. Naturally, this wasn’t Mu Yuan’s best choice.

Nor did he much care for the broad philosophy of Tidal Flow. Ultimately, he needed to dedicate himself seriously to the Longevity Art!

After his recent experiences, Mu Yuan had somewhat neglected the Longevity Art. After all, both Tidal Flow and Dragon King’s Dynamic Force offered unpredictable, versatile combat techniques. Apart from the Greenwood Divine Radiance, he hadn’t learned the other major divine abilities of the Longevity Art, leaving it somewhat shelved!

Now surrounded by endless lush bamboo, calm and happy, the confusion clouding his mind for days washed away. His thoughts returning to clarity, understanding the foundation of longevity, he started to grasp why, after the Five Elements Path declined, only one branch – Wood Path’s Fei Longzi – forged the Longevity Palace, while the other four faded into obscurity. The reason was simple: The Longevity Art was the closest path to eternal life. Compared to the other four paths, it produced the most cultivators who could refine the Primordial Spirit, with the greatest success rate. Thus, Longevity Palace bustled with seekers of immortality, letting it firmly stand in the Cultivation World where mighty sects contended!

Understanding this brought Mu Yuan peace. The Longevity True Qi, having just broken through into the Qi Refining Third Layer, seemed on the verge of growing again, which surprised him. The first three layers of Qi Refining were solely for tempering the flesh. Understanding the Dao only mattered after the fourth layer. The first three demanded immense patience and determination, with no shortcuts possible. Yet he had just entered the third layer and was already seeing growth! No wonder he was overjoyed.

But Mu Yuan also knew this growth had cause. Neither Tidal Flow nor Dragon King’s Dynamic Force conflicted with Longevity Art; they complemented it. Studying these two techniques lately had invisibly enhanced the growth source of his Longevity True Qi. Forming clouds, bringing rain, thunder, and lightning all fostered life and strengthened his life-giving qi; naturally, it made sense!

Feeling lighter, Mu Yuan looked around once more. On the village streets, many children were playing. Seeing Mu Yuan’s garb, they were very curious, stopping to stare and lingering near him.

Mu Yuan was only about seventeen or eighteen. Though old enough for marriage and starting a career at that time, he had practiced in Longevity Palace since childhood, knowing little of the mortal world and retaining a childlike nature. Seeing these kids wearing strange clothes vastly different from Central Plains customs, he searched his pockets but found no candy. He felt a bit stuck.

Looking around, he noticed a girl covered in jade rings and bells emerging from an attic to his left. She called loudly to a naughty boy playing with mud. Spotting Mu Yuan, she found the attire of the Central Plains highly unusual. She approached, “An unexpected guest! Night draws near. Will you join us for dinner?”

Amused by her enthusiasm, Mu Yuan happily agreed. Trapping beasts for food in the mountains for days had tired him of meat. While cultivators didn’t abstain from meat, too much still burdened the body – strong flavors clouded the mind, and greasiness harmed the health. Homely food was rare; he gladly followed.

Inside the attic, he saw a couple in their thirties, equally welcoming. After chatting, Mu Yuan understood the place better.

This was Feilong Village. Situated deep in remote southern Tiandu Kingdom, bordering the lands outside known territories, it leaned toward Southern Barbarians. Most villagers raised gu insects and cultivated flying corpses, similar to sects specializing in ghost manipulation. Cultivators from the great Central Plains nations rarely came here, fearing gu insects’ potency and difficulty to guard against, easily falling victim without notice.

Hearing this, Mu Yuan felt a pang of caution. He quickly channeled qi, scanning his body with Longevity True Qi. Finding no discomfort, he slightly relaxed.

Seeing his expression, the host smiled. Talking with the couple, he learned the man was Zha Ying and the woman Xin Shuangling. Their daughter was Zha Yun’er, the boy Zha Feng, whom Mu Yuan had seen earlier.

Noticing Zha Ying’s smile, Mu Yuan felt slightly embarrassed. He asked, “I’ve heard much about gu insects but never seen them. Uncle, could you show me?”

Zha Ying chuckled. “No big secrets. Gu insects are often exaggerated. While potent, our village’s methods aren’t like true immortals’ – raising invisible gu that kill silently exists here? Mostly small tricks!”

His hand dipped into his robe and retrieved something the size of an egg. Neither jade nor stone, smooth and round. Holding it up, he explained: “This is a common stone gu. Not a living thing. Just a rock treated with medicines.”

Mu Yuan’s curiosity piqued. Carefully extending his hand, cautious, he covered his palm with a thin layer of Longevity True Qi and reached for the stone gu.