blueteamnovel Chapter 1534: The First Reaction Is to Run
Chapter 1534: The First Reaction Is to Run
"Don’t ask too much about this, you’ll know when the time comes," said Han Yutang with a feigned air of mystery."Oh," his follower instinctively responded, that extreme sense of foreboding rising again in his heart. He couldn’t shake the feeling that opposing Mu Hanyan would not end well.
...
The mountain was surrounded by a range of peaks, seemingly not very high, but as Mu Hanyan and the others began to climb, they found that the entire mountain was shrouded in a prohibition. This barrier was filled with the oppressive force unique to Exotic Beasts, even carrying the aura of Divine Beasts. As a result, the cultivation of Mu Hanyan and the others was greatly suppressed.
Climbing the steep and rugged rocks, Mu Hanyan and the others were using both hands and feet. They couldn’t even utilize two-tenths of their cultivation. Even though Sword Dao cultivators possessed bodies far superior to ordinary people, they were drenched in sweat from exhaustion.
However, no one uttered a word of complaint. The existence of the prohibition, the oppressive force of the Exotic Beasts, and the aura of the Divine Beasts all proved the unusual nature of this peak. They were almost certain that those powerful Exotic Beasts that had vanished without a trace had gathered here.
After exhausting all energies, Mu Hanyan and the others finally reached the summit. The center of the peak was a sunken basin, and in its center was a clear pool. Though the pool was not large, merely three zhang in circumference, it was a clear azure blue, as pure as the world’s most beautiful gem. Streams of purest Heaven and Earth Power were slowly releasing from it, containing mysterious rhythms. Under these rhythms, the entire sky and earth seemed connected through this pool.
Without a doubt, this was the Beast Soul Pool that Dan Tai Xuan had mentioned.
At this moment, thousands of Exotic Beasts gathered around the Beast Soul Pool, those at the outermost circle possessing cultivation equivalent to a Seventh Rank Sword Master, growing stronger toward the center.
In the exact center of the pool stood an elderly figure in gray robes, with snow-white hair. All around him were powerful Exotic Beasts bowing down, yet this human cultivator stood amidst the pool waters in stark contrast, creating an exceedingly bizarre sight.
Mu Hanyan and the others looked at each other in bewilderment.
But, as the elderly man raised his head and unleashed a primordial beast roar, they suddenly understood. This was not a human cultivator but an Exotic Beast in human form.
Though there were some Exotic Beasts with innate talents who could learn human speech despite not being particularly strong, such as the Angang given by Ye Lanfeng to Mu Hanyan, usually, to transform into human shape required extremely high cultivation. Even the top-tier Exotic Beasts in the depths of the Longyan Mountain lacked this ability.
Throughout past and present lives, apart from the terrifyingly powerful Netherworld Beast Void at Beining Pass, this was the first time Mu Hanyan had seen an Exotic Beast taking human form. Nonetheless, the former wasn’t considered an Exotic Beast but a Netherworld Beast.
How powerful was this Exotic Beast in human form before them? Mu Hanyan and the others could not discern its true strength. But one thing was certain: it couldn’t be less than a Sword Saint, and it was likely far stronger than an ordinary Sword Saint.
While Mu Hanyan and the others were secretly amazed, the elderly man suddenly turned his head.
The hearts of Mu Hanyan and the others sank: Oh no, they’ve been discovered!
Even though they knew that the Exotic Beasts of the Beast Spirit Illusion Realm were gentle by nature, when faced with such a powerful Exotic Beast, they instinctively felt a sense of awe. From their experience training in the Longyan Mountain, their first reaction was to flee.
However, before they made a move, the old man spoke again.
"You are disciples of the Holy Court, aren’t you? I know your purpose. Finding the Beast Soul Pool left by the ancestors is a stroke of fortune. Come over, once we complete the Ancestors’ Soul Sacrifice, you may choose a suitable Sword Pet to take back." The old man’s voice was deep and weathered, carrying an authority that could not be resisted, yet fortunately without any hostility.
The group was overjoyed upon hearing this. According to the old man, as soon as the Ancestors’ Soul Sacrifice was completed, they could choose a suitable Sword Pet, saving them from even using the Beast Taming Technique they’d learned recently. Such a fortune was beyond even their wildest dreams.
They were not worried about the old man’s intentions being malicious. With his immense power, if he harbored any ill will, there would be no need for cunning plots—he could simply reveal his true form and kill them with a single clap, with few, if any, in the group able to survive.
Besides, the Cultivation Path inherently involved risk. If one feared everything, countless opportunities would pass by. They might as well stay home, avoiding the path of cultivation altogether.
Quickly, the group followed the mountain wall downwards, but with Exotic Beasts surrounding the Beast Soul Pool, they dared not get too close.
The Exotic Beasts knelt solemnly, resembling certain human worshippers—an amusing sight, though Mu Hanyan and the others wisely held back their laughter.
The old man turned away, issuing hoarse and obscure chants, akin to incantations.
"Divine Language!" Mu Hanyan immediately recognized it. His chant bore a resemblance to the language used in the Aolai Divine Beast’s Divine Beast Contract, the long-lost Divine Language.
As he chanted, the pool’s pristine blue waters began to ripple, mist rising into the air in front of him.
All around, the Exotic Beasts accompanied him in low chants. The mist gradually solidified, becoming droplets of water like raindrops, exuding a seven-colored brilliance, hovering above the water’s surface.
The old man lifted his head and let out a long howl, and his form began to blur as a beastly image with a dragon head, ox body, and serpent tail emerged, majestic yet wizened, eyes clouded and dull, seemingly at life’s end.
Undoubtedly, this was the old man’s true form. To Mu Hanyan and the others’ surprise, even with their knowledge, they could not identify what Exotic Beast this was.
Upon closer inspection, it somewhat resembled the legendary Qilin Divine Beast, yet there were many differences.
The old beast, having resumed its true form, opened its mouth wide, mimicking a whale swallowing sea water. Suddenly, the water bead burst with rays of light. As the old man guzzled, the rays of light converged and streamed into his mouth, and his form began to undergo wondrous changes.
The once decrepit body, nearing its end, gradually regained vitality, the clouded eyes cleared, and even the majestic figure became much lighter, carrying a faintly ethereal aura.
Evidently, this was meridian clearing and marrow washing, but unlike the typical process. This ancient Exotic Beast not only transformed its physique but also extended its lifespan.
Aware that both humans and Exotic Beasts have a lifespan limit, only by continuously advancing in cultivation and surpassing personal limits can they extend their lifespan. Simply relying on meridian clearing and marrow washing rarely grants such wonders.