Stone Ridge Mountain, rear mountain forbidden grounds.
A cold wind poured backward along the ridge into the stone cavern, sweeping up clouds of dust.
Barefoot, Chu Qing stepped onto the icy rock. The chill drilled up through the soles of his feet into his marrow, calming the Purple True Blood that had been roiling from his excessive training.
He walked to the deepest part of the cave.
Dark purple meridians crawled across every inch of the stone wall like a spiderweb. They were Shang Xie's origin, and also this mountain's Life Vein.
At that moment, the meridians pulsed faintly, emitting a dull hum.
Chu Qing reached out and touched the stone wall with his fingertips.
[Detected present-world orbital deviation: 0.001%] [Stone Ridge Mountain departure countdown: 06:58:24]
The Vague Phantom of the Profession Column flickered in midair.
Chu Qing stared at the stone wall, his throat working with difficulty. He recalled arriving in Stone Rock County three years ago, when all he had thought about was how to kill that loan shark and catch a few mantises to fill his stomach.
A warm ripple came from the stone wall, as though responding to his touch.
"We're leaving."
Chu Qing murmured, his voice sending layer upon layer of echoes through the empty stone cavern.
"To the Chaos Sea, to devour those rotten worlds."
The purple light on the stone wall flared fiercely, then instantly drew back in. Chu Qing felt the Mountain Body beneath his feet tremble.
He turned around, his gaze passing through the cave entrance and falling upon the distant horizon. There lay the outline of Stone Rock County, and farther still, the lights of the Imperial Capital.
His fingers gouged five deep marks into the rock. Then he abruptly pulled back his hand and strode outside.
Attachment?