Free Web NovelChapter 141: Chapter 141: Stone Forest
After fifteen days and nights, the giant Hengyuan Bird circled, folded its wings, and dove.
THUD!
It landed among a scattering of rocks.
Pebbles shattered and flew out from under its talons. The old Hengyuan Bird’s gaze was calm as it scanned the stone forest and hills before it.
A thick fog shrouded the landscape, but the bird still seemed able to see through it.
"We’ve arrived."
Shui Ziming said softly, then was the first to jump down.
The moment Bai Mo’s feet touched the ground, a gust of wind from the Hengyuan Bird sent him staggering.
The bird shot up, far faster than it had been on the journey here, and plunged into the thick fog, vanishing from sight.
Freed from the burden on its back, it seemed full of aggressive energy.
Bai Mo rubbed his stiff face. ’It feels so good to be on solid ground.’
"Eldest Brother, we’ll be taking our leave now!"
A fellow disciple clasped his hands in salute. After bidding everyone farewell, he strode into the fog and disappeared.
"Farewell, everyone!"
Others followed suit, saying their goodbyes.
They disappeared one by one into the lush greenery of the stone forest.
Before long, only Bai Mo and his two companions remained.
Shui Ziming got his bearings.
"Let’s get going. Maybe we’ll run into some other disciples who can give us a lift for a ways."
"Otherwise, we have a long trek ahead of us."
After half a month of turbulence, Bai Mo took a couple of slow steps to reacquaint himself with walking before hurrying to catch up.
"Eldest Brother, where are we..."
"The stone forest before us is the gateway to the sect," Shui Ziming said.
"According to the rules, we’re not allowed to ride the Hengyuan Bird across it..."
The three of them walked into the stone forest as they talked.
The Hengyuan Bird had flown an incredibly long way, and Bai Mo no longer recognized the region at all.
The nearest sign of civilization seemed to be a long way off.
Celestial Mountain City, in contrast, was a major transportation hub, situated between several large, bustling cities.
Bai Mo took a breath and immediately felt his spirits lift.
The Spiritual Qi here was indeed much richer than in the outside world.
Birds chirped, and the area was teeming with active life.
Bai Mo studied the strange, jagged stones. Some crouched low like beasts, while others twisted and coiled precariously.
The paths winding between them seemed to follow a profound and mystical pattern.
"Brother Shui, how was this stone forest formed? It looks anything but ordinary."
’Is this some kind of massive treasure ground?’
’Is that why the Spiritual Qi flows and concentrates here?’
A smile appeared on Shui Ziming’s face.
"So you noticed something unusual, Junior Brother Bai? That’s quite rare; not every Cultivator does."
Qin Yu, standing nearby, looked indignant. He was clearly one of those who hadn’t noticed a thing.
"Legend says the stone forest was formed from the aftershocks of an ancient ancestor’s Dao dissolution. There are also rumors that the ancestor actually ascended to become an immortal..."
"We don’t know the real truth, but his power contended with a heavenly tribulation, and that is what created this stone forest."
’With an origin like that, this place must have some miraculous properties.’
After walking for an hour, the expressions on Shui Ziming’s and Qin Yu’s faces were unchanged.
’It seems they’re truly used to this.’
Suddenly, the smell of blood cut through the damp air of the stone forest, hitting them in the face.
Bai Mo froze on the spot.
"Brother Shui..."
Shui Ziming’s expression didn’t change.
"Countless years have passed since this stone forest was formed, and it has seen generations of disciples."
"Countless birds and beasts, some from the sect and some that have wandered in from the outside, now make their home here."
"There’s no shortage of conflict."
The three walked onward. Though Shui Ziming acted unconcerned, his gaze grew much sharper.
Among the Demon Beasts that lingered here, there were some that even he couldn’t contend with. They could not be taken lightly.
A thick pool of blood appeared on the ground, its many small rivulets coagulating in the mud and gravel.
Beside it lay a few thick, blood-stained feathers.
"These are wing feathers from a Hengyuan Bird."
After riding one for half a month, the three were very familiar with them.
Qin Yu clicked his tongue. "Hengyuan Birds aren’t exactly a peaceful lot. It probably ran into an enemy on its way back."
Bai Mo, however, disagreed. ’For all I know, the Hengyuan Bird started the fight itself.’
’It seemed really agitated when it left.’
"Ziming! You’re back!?"
A surprised cry rang out.
Not far away, two figures in fitted martial attire approached. They were well-built, and their spirited faces were full of pleasant surprise.
A smile also appeared on Shui Ziming’s face, and he went forward to greet them.
"What are you two doing here?"
It was a joyous reunion for the three men.
Qin Yu and Bai Mo followed a short distance behind.
"Those are two senior brothers from the Inner Sect. They joined the sect the same year as Eldest Brother, but they moved to the Inner Sect a few years ago."
"I wonder if they’ve successfully achieved Foundation Establishment."
Bai Mo started, whispering:
"How do you know all this?"
"Hah, they used to get together all the time in previous years to exchange pointers. But those two entered the Inner Sect early to gather the resources needed for Foundation Establishment."
As the two drew closer, they heard Shui Ziming say:
"The journey was smooth. These two fellow cultivators could use a ride for part of the way."
"Haha," the two cultivators in martial attire laughed:
"We heard the commotion and came to investigate. Bumping into you all like this must be fate."
The group walked over a small hill and saw a turbulent current beating against the bank as it rushed into the distance.
A small skiff was moored by the shore.
"This stream flows into the North Canal Water. We’ll take you over."
Everyone boarded the skiff. A force vibrated from under the feet of Shui Ziming and his two friends, and the skiff slid into the water.
The current carried the boat through the stone forest, and they were far away in an instant.
"You’re still the same, Ziming. Bringing along another junior brother you think highly of?"
Shui Ziming shook his head.
"It was no trouble. When we first joined the sect, didn’t plenty of senior brothers look out for us, too?"
With that, he changed the subject.
"You two were searching so deliberately. Are you looking for a Demon Beast?"
"Exactly."
One of them sighed.
"We accepted a sect bounty to capture a variant Demon Beast—a Hundred-Segment Centipede."
"We’ve been wandering this stone forest for days trying to find it, spending a great deal of energy, but we’ve had no luck."
Shui Ziming pondered for a moment, his brow furrowing.
"You’re so determined."
"Don’t tell me you’re at the crucial point of building your Dao foundation? Have you already decided on your Path?"
Before he even finished, his friend laughed. "We decided long ago."
"We’re just one final step away. Everyone has their own path, Ziming. You don’t need to pity us..."
But Shui Ziming still shook his head.
’They’re being too hasty.’
The two black-robed Cultivators exchanged a smile and said no more.
Naturally, Bai Mo and Qin Yu couldn’t get a word in on such a topic.
Seeing the heavy look on Shui Ziming’s face, neither of them dared to speak.
Half a day later, the skiff stopped, let them off, and departed.
"What a waste of their potential," Shui Ziming sighed.
"If they had just gritted their teeth and endured for another two years, even if it was more difficult, they would have reached a completely different level after their Foundation Establishment."
"This choice wastes most of the torment they’ve endured over the past years..."
He knew the path of cultivation was hard, so he was merely expressing his regret; he wasn’t saying the two were wrong.
Seeing the bewildered looks on Bai Mo and Qin Yu’s faces, Shui Ziming cleared his mind and said with a smile:
"You two haven’t reached this level yet."
"Don’t pay any mind to the conversation we just had."
He took a couple of steps forward and pointed to the turbulent current ahead.
"This is the North Canal Water."
"The water’s quality is extraordinary. You can’t drink it, but it has special effects, attracting many sect disciples who use it to temper their swords and refine treasures."
Bai Mo took a few steps forward, focused his senses, and sure enough, he could faintly hear voices in the distance.
Qin Yu stretched, a glint in his eye.
"Since we’re here, why don’t we go to the waterside huts and see if anyone has forged any good weapons?"
