Chapter 125: Soul Devourer
Chapter 125: Soul Devourer
Mu Yuan silently followed. He also wanted to see what kind of thing could cause such damage!
After exiting the city gate and reaching a place with few people, Master Kongming’s feet produced a glowing lotus flower. It carried him as he flew toward the Green Wolf Canyon mentioned by the two men!
Mu Yuan found it strange. Creating such a lotus out of thin air required at least the combined realm of Gang and Sha in the Daoist Sect. Although this master looked impressive, he didn’t seem to have reached that level!
“Is this a magical artifact or a Buddhist secret technique? The world is vast, and strange things are especially common!” Mu Yuan sighed inwardly. Master Kongming stepped onto the lotus and flew very fast. Fortunately, Mu Yuan’s Clear Water True Qi was now abundant. He created a mist of water under his feet and wasn’t left behind by the master!
Outside Baolian City, there was indeed a large mountain range. Although it wasn’t as majestic as the Hundred Thousand Mountains, it was much grander than the mountains in Tiandu Kingdom. The mountain was densely forested, with towering ancient trees and wild beasts roaming about. It was a good hunting ground for many villagers from the surrounding small towns of Baolian City. Many hunters relied on this, hunting beasts to sell for a living!
However, hunters never dared to go too deep into this mountain area. They only hunted in the outer parts of the dense forest. Green Wolf Canyon was relatively deeper inside. Master Kongming turned left and right, seemingly very familiar with the place, and soon reached the destination!
Mu Yuan stopped on a tree over five zhang tall. He saw that Green Wolf Canyon was a deep gorge stretching dozens of zhang. On both sides were steep cliffs, with jagged rocks as if carved by knives and axes, as if split open by a giant axe. A river one zhang wide flowed through the canyon, but it had no fish, shrimp, or algae. It was lifeless and filled with death qi.
He focused his senses, slowly spreading out his spiritual sense. On the left cliff, he sensed something strange in a cave.
Although there were some holes and cracks on the cliff walls formed by years of mountain wind, only one was covered by vines hanging from the peak. Mu Yuan’s spiritual sense probed inside but hadn’t detected anything before it was devoured by a strange force. Luckily, Mu Yuan was prepared. Seeing the yellow-faced man’s soul and spirit eroded by a force, he guessed it must be something that could damage spiritual sense. He only used a tiny strand. Even so, he was still somewhat shocked!
Master Kongming seemed to have noticed something unusual as well. First, a light as bright as stars appeared on his body, gathering above his head. In a short while, it formed a bright lamp, surrounded by two rings of light, showing gold and purple colors. Only then did he walk toward the cave!
Mu Yuan watched curiously. There was indeed something in the cave. Sensing Master Kongming’s approach, a layer of gray mist emerged from it, drifting like smoke and spreading over. When it reached Master Kongming, it was dispersed by the light of the lamp above his head, unable to get close!
“Amitabha Buddha!” Master Kongming chanted a long Buddhist mantra. His right hand reached out from his kasaya, and a stream of golden light poured forth, hitting the cave entrance. Immediately, the mountain shook, and rocks tumbled. The cave entrance, only about one chi in diameter, was blasted open by his finger, cracking into a five-chi-wide opening!
Then Master Kongming said to himself, “It really is the Soul Devourer Beast. What a fortunate encounter!”
Although the cave was blasted open, Master Kongming did not risk himself. He casually condensed a purple-glowing lotus. The lotus bloomed, and nine golden lamps rose around it. The lamp light was faint, emitting a faint sandalwood fragrance that lingered in the air.
Master Kongming flicked the lotus into the stone cave. The light of the golden lamps gradually disappeared. Master Kongming seemed somewhat expectant. He stepped away from the cave and waited quietly for changes!
“Wow, this move is truly magnificent!” Mu Yuan saw the lotus condensed by Kongming and felt secretly envious. “Buddhist Sect’s spells are much more varied than the Daoist Sect’s. No wonder they have so many followers!”
While lost in thought, he heard a series of low rumbles from the stone cave, like firecrackers muffled in sand. Then came a strange roar, and a large amount of gray mist surged out of the cave, rolling and billowing, heading straight to envelop Monk Kongming’s head!
Monk Kongming was not alarmed but pleased. The lamp above his head shone even brighter, pushing away the gray mist. He raised his hand and slashed out several golden lights, which transformed into gleaming halberds. They stabbed wildly in the gray mist. Although they eventually dissipated in the mist, they forced out the monster hidden within!
What appeared before them was a round, fleshy ball-like demon beast, about three chi in diameter. Its body swelled and contracted. On its head grew three strange eyes like pearls. Each eye had double pupils, shimmering with demonic light, fixed intently on Kongming!
“It really is the Soul Devourer Beast!” A hint of joy appeared on Kongming’s face. Suddenly, the three-eared bronze cauldron slid out from his sleeve. A multicolored light split into seven hues and descended to envelop the beast!
“Soul Devourer Beast?” Mu Yuan was puzzled. He had never heard of this demon beast’s name. However, looking at its appearance, its body was covered in wrinkles, similar to a maggot, which was somewhat disgusting. Coupled with its six shimmering pupils that captivated the soul, he did not dare to be careless.
When the multicolored light met the gray mist surrounding the Soul Devourer Beast, it sizzled like frying oil. The Soul Devourer Beast let out a strange roar, like a bull’s bellow. From its three strange eyes, six beams of light suddenly shot out, heading straight for Kongming!
“Amitabha Buddha! Without the incense to protect my spirit, how would I dare come here!” Monk Kongming seemed completely unfazed. The lamp above his head also shone with a riot of colors, entangling with the descending demonic light. Like coiling dragons, they fought incessantly, broadening Mu Yuan’s horizons!
Just as he was watching the exciting part, something moved in Mu Yuan’s dantian. Longevity Patriarch emerged from the Black Water Gourd. Although Mu Yuan had sealed various magical artifacts in the Black Water Gourd with the “Great Art of Yin-Yang Soul Shackling and Qi Sealing”, it had no effect on the Mountain Elf and Longevity Patriarch inside. For some reason, this spirit of the Immortal Divine Tree suddenly appeared at this moment!
“Wow, it’s actually the Soul Devourer Beast! Kid, go kill this demon beast quickly!” Longevity Patriarch’s eyes sparkled with excitement as he shouted in Mu Yuan’s dantian!
Hearing this, Mu Yuan was in no hurry to act. “You know this thing?”
“Of course!” Longevity Patriarch’s young face wore an expression of pretended maturity. He explained, “The Soul Devourer Beast is a very rare demon beast. Inside its skull, it naturally has a Soul Pearl. It can devour people’s essence and soul, transform spiritual sense. It’s extremely precious for cultivators!”
Mu Yuan glanced occasionally and suddenly exclaimed, “You’ve formed a Golden Core!”
Longevity Patriarch let out a strange laugh. “What? Impressed, aren’t you? For me, forming a Golden Core is as easy as turning my hand!”
Mu Yuan broke out in a sweat. “It’s really frustrating to compare yourself to others. How did you do it so quickly!”
Longevity Patriarch yelled, “Stop nagging! Hurry up, or the benefits will be taken by this monk, and we’ll lose out!”
Mu Yuan thought there was no need to rush and asked, “How do you know about this demon beast?”
Longevity Patriarch said proudly, “Back in the day, under the South Abyss of Kunlun, countless people came to cultivate near me. My knowledge is naturally among the best in the world!”
Mu Yuan had long heard that the scenery of Kunlun was boundless, and the South Abyss gave birth to countless immortal grasses and divine trees. It was shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, with thousands of fierce and venomous beasts lurking within. The abyss was covered by the sprawling Langgan Forest, home to innumerable rare beasts, exotic flowers, and precious trees. The most famous among them was the Immortal Divine Tree!
Remembering this, Mu Yuan asked in a low voice, “It’s said that the Immortal Divine Tree connects heaven and earth and can sense deities. Is that true?”
Longevity Patriarch snorted, “Of course! In the Langgan Forest, there are countless divine flowers, rare grasses, exotic beasts, and precious birds. They all revered me as a deity. All kinds of spiritual news and worldly knowledge were shared with me!”
Mu Yuan laughed and ignored him further, quietly watching the battle between Monk Kongming and the Soul Devourer Beast.
The Soul Devourer Beast spewed gray mist but couldn’t penetrate the light of the lamp above Kongming’s head. Originally, the Soul Devourer Beast could capture souls and spirits with endless wonders, but Monk Kongming had accumulated an unknown amount of incense and faith over the years. His soul and spirit were tightly guarded, perfectly countering the Soul Devourer Beast’s natural talent!
After fighting for a while, the Soul Devourer Beast not only failed to gain the upper hand but was instead suppressed by the multicolored incense light. Its three eyes widened, demonic light shooting in all directions. It roared incessantly, seemingly aware that the situation was unfavorable. Its plump, round body swelled continuously, and it let out a low whistle. The sound waves surged out like raging waves!
Even Mu Yuan, from a distance, felt his spiritual sense in the Mud Pill Palace grow hazy and confused. Greatly shocked, he silently recited the “Pure Stream Heart-Cleanse Truth Art”. Although this heart art wasn’t very powerful in combat, it was excellent for fortifying the foundation and protecting the spirit. Soon, his spiritual sense became clear again!
Mu Yuan saw clearly that under the Soul Devourer Beast’s sound waves, the lamp above Monk Kongming’s head swayed like a candle flame in the wind, seemingly on the verge of extinguishing at any moment.
“This is the Soul Devourer Beast’s most powerful natural talent: Soul-Capturing Sound Waves. Combined with its gray mist, it’s extremely formidable. Techniques like the Daoist Sect’s Lei Zhen’s Noble Sound and Clear Cloud Sound, the Buddhist Sect’s Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds and Wonderful Banner Soul Sound, and the Demonic Path’s Soul-Capturing Demonic Sound all derive from this!” Longevity Patriarch explained.
“Huh.” Mu Yuan exclaimed in surprise, “You really know a lot!”
Mu Yuan was only affected by the backlash, but Monk Kongming bore the brunt of it. Struck by the substantial sound waves, the multicolored incense light on his body shattered like porcelain. Even the purple and golden divine lights around the lamp above his head scattered a layer. Only the innermost ring of golden light didn’t break, but it was also precarious!
Monk Kongming was greatly startled. The three-eared bronze cauldron in his sleeve emerged just in time, spinning rapidly. A large amount of multicolored light swirled along. The sound waves collided with the bronze cauldron, producing a loud roar like a giant bell. The mountains and valleys echoed, immediately interacting with the Soul Devourer Beast’s Soul-Capturing Sound Waves, creating a harsh, chaotic noise!
Seizing this opportunity, the Soul Devourer Beast broke free from the multicolored light. On its wrinkled back, two fleshy wings spread open. A thin membrane connected to its body, with fluids dripping down, making it even more disgusting. With a flap of its fleshy wings, it moved extremely fast, darting away. By coincidence, it was heading straight in Mu Yuan’s direction!