Bear Overlord

"Absorb!"

Inside the Void Heaven Mirror.

As Song Chengan's thoughts fell, the two illusionary body figures who had finished their cultivation were instantly absorbed. With their absorption, two segments of memory appeared in Song Chengan's mind.

One was the method to create the tracking immortal crane from the miscellaneous notes of the Yu family's demon hunter. It was a special item activated by drawing special runes on a talisman paper and then using True Qi or vital blood. It was a variation of talismans.

The other was the method for refining the Spirit Essence Pill. Among the hundred arts of cultivation, talismans and alchemy skill were both considered top-tier skills. However, the cost to learn them was immense. Neither alchemy nor talisman crafting had a 100% success rate. Every alchemist and talisman master was nurtured with countless resources. One could not become an alchemy grandmaster by just studying theory. Therefore, there was a saying in the cultivation world: "If you're looking for a Dao companion, find an alchemist or a talisman crafter. They're rich."

"It seems I don't have any martial skills left to study."

"Let's study the Fire Cloud Staff Technique further."

"And the Water Repelling Art!"

Song Chengan thought for a moment, then conjured two more illusionary bodies to continue studying the Fire Cloud Staff Technique and the Water Repelling Art.

"I wonder if there are higher realms after achieving great mastery."

"But I don't have any martial arts to deduce right now, so I'll practice the Fire Cloud Staff Technique and the Water Repelling Art."

"I wonder if the Boss will be back tomorrow. If not, I'll have to return to Lingqiu City first."

Song Chengan had requested leave from Captain Wu. If the Boss didn't return tomorrow, he would have to leave first.

"Song Chengan, the Boss sent me to call you!"

Speak of the devil. Just as Song Chengan was wondering when the Boss would return, a grey squirrel popped out of the grass nearby and said to him.

"You can go by yourself."

"I'm going to go get honey with the bear."

The grey squirrel, whose face was still swollen from being stung by bees last time, said this and left.

"Senior Bai."

When Song Chengan arrived, First Boss Bai was drinking tea. Song Chengan had brought some tea leaves for First Boss Bai last time, and ever since then, First Boss Bai had fallen in love with drinking tea.

"Come, have a cup."

First Boss Bai poured a cup for Song Chengan.

"Is your father's name Song Zhengxin?"

Song Chengan nodded.

"My father is indeed Song Zhengxin."

"What's wrong?"

Song Chengan asked curiously. He didn't remember telling First Boss Bai his father's name. How did First Boss Bai know? Was it because he was teaching these monsters that First Boss Bai inquired about him? He guessed that was the case.

"It's nothing."

"I've already heard about your situation."

"I'll go talk to Mother Hundred Flowers in a moment."

"I'll have her send your nephew's soul to you then."

Mother Hundred Flowers.

Is that the name of that flower demon?

"Senior Bai, I wonder if what Mother Hundred Flowers said is true?"

"It's about what happened between him and Lu Jingcheng back then."

First Boss Bai nodded. "It's true."

"She actually attained enlightenment much earlier than us spirit monsters. In terms of background, she's better off than all of us."

"If she had stayed in Mount Luo, she would have likely attained the Golden Core Dao fruit by now."

Golden Core Dao fruit?

Song Chengan clicked his tongue.

That exaggerated?

Then the question arises.

Mother Hundred Flowers was an existence who almost attained the Golden Core Dao fruit, yet First Boss Bai could imprison her in Mount Luo for a hundred years with just a single sentence.

Just how terrifying is First Boss Bai?

"By the way, I found a type of True Qi outside."

"It's a mid-grade sixth-rank True Qi, which you might be able to learn."

"Low-grade True Qi ultimately has its limits."

As First Boss Bai spoke, he carefully handed a Daoist scripture to Song Chengan.

"This is the Southern Bright Illusory Fire True Qi?"

Song Chengan exclaimed.

Southern Bright Illusory Fire True Qi.

It is one of the seventy-two orthodox True Qis of Daoism.

It ranks seventh among mid-grade True Qis.

A Spiritual Power rumored to be close to high-grade True Qi.

And most importantly, it belongs to the seventy-two orthodox True Qis, just like the Heavenly Radiance Dao Qi.

They will not repel each other.

Song Chengan's transition from Heavenly Radiance Dao Qi to Southern Bright Illusory Fire True Qi would be a natural progression.

"That's right, it's this True Qi."

"How to cultivate it, you'll have to figure that out yourself."

"I only remember that it requires the aid of earth fire."

Song Chengan knew about earth fire.

It was the flame within volcanoes.

In the understanding of cultivators, it was a flame imbued with the great power of the earth.

It was a power equivalent to heavenly lightning.

And this True Qi required the use of flames for cultivation.

"Senior Bai, this is too precious."

"I don't have that many Talisman Coins."

Song Chengan said.

First Boss Bai shook his head.

"Just take it."

"Speaking of which, you and I have some connection from the past."

"I'm a bit tired and want to rest."

Song Chengan thought for a moment and bowed solemnly to First Boss Bai.

"This True Qi is too precious."

"And I don't have that many Talisman Coins… If Senior Bai ever needs my help in the future, this junior will spare no effort, even at the cost of his life."

First Boss Bai chuckled upon hearing this.

"I don't think there's anything I'll need your help with."

"Even if there were, it would probably be to ask you to look after the spirit monsters in this mountain."

"I don't want them to go astray."

He said this with a hint of melancholy in his expression.

Song Chengan nodded, "Senior, please rest assured, this junior will do his best to look after the demons of Mount Luo from now on."

"As long as they don't cause trouble."

First Boss Bai nodded.

Song Chengan prepared to take his leave.

But as he was about to leave the room, he hesitated before speaking.

"I see that Senior's appearance seems to have aged a bit?"

First Boss Bai smiled upon hearing this, "Aging and death are natural for all beings."

"Does Senior truly not wish to cultivate a method for extending life?"

First Boss Bai still shook his head.

"Why?"

Song Chengan couldn't help but ask.

In his opinion.

A pure seeker of the Dao like First Boss Bai shouldn't be greedy for power.

Wouldn't living longer give him more opportunities to advance further?

He had cultivation experience; even if he switched paths, it would only take a bit more time.

Perhaps it would take more time compared to humans, but don't forget that demons also have very long lifespans.

First Boss Bai looked at Song Chengan.

"I'm just too lazy to bother."

"Oh, right. Remember to pay respects to the old locust tree at the head of the village."

"Perhaps there's some fortuitous encounter."

Seeing that First Boss Bai truly didn't want to switch to a life-extending method, Song Chengan didn't press the issue.

He guessed.

Perhaps First Boss Bai was worried that if he lost his power, he would no longer be able to suppress the demons of Mount Luo.

After all, it was the result of his teachings that these monsters were now inclined towards the righteous path.

And in the demon race, strength has always been paramount.

These monsters initially listened to First Boss Bai because they couldn't defeat him.

Old Bear had once said.

He had wanted to eat First Boss Bai from the start, but in the end, First Boss Bai beat him once a day for half a month, and he finally submitted.

Song Chengan felt this guess was about seventy to eighty percent accurate.

Currently, Mount Luo was peaceful despite being inhabited by many demons, all thanks to First Boss Bai's deterrence.

If First Boss Bai died, the order of Mount Luo would likely collapse.

"Scholar Song, come, come! I caught a wild boar."

"We'll have roast wild boar today."

"And monkey wine."

As soon as Song Chengan appeared, he saw the Black Bear demon.

"And teach me a few more characters while you're at it."

A smile appeared on Song Chengan's face.

Now that Mingxu's remnant soul had a place to go, his mood had improved.

Coupled with the interactions over these past few days, he found that this bear demon had a good disposition.

He now genuinely considered this bear demon a friend.

"Oh, do you eat honey?"

Song Chengan quickly waved his hands.

"No, no."

He was afraid that if he said he ate it, this black bear would bring a swarm of bees to find him.

"That honey is delicious."

"Are you still eating the roast pig?"

"I've prepared some excellent monkey wine."

"Yes!"

"But before that, I need to go pay my respects to the old locust tree."

"Do you know where the old locust tree in the village is?"

"The old locust tree?"

"I know!"

"Follow me!"

Song Chengan and the Black Bear arrived at the center of the village.

This was an open space.

The ground was bare, scorched, and hard.

It was obvious that people had been here often.

Even without seeing it with his own eyes, Song Chengan could imagine the scene of the elderly sitting under the old locust tree to cool off in the summer, and children running around and playing.

Everything in Luo Village had turned to ashes in that lightning disaster.

Including the old locust tree.

Song Chengan did not see the old locust tree.

He only saw a half-scorched tree stump.

Song Chengan didn't know why First Boss Bai had asked him to pay respects to this old locust tree.

He wasn't so naive as to believe there was some kind of opportunity.

Perhaps it had some significance.

Song Chengan knelt down respectfully.

"What are you doing?"

Song Chengan looked back.

The bear demon had knelt down at some point.

It was mimicking him.

It looked the part.

Song Chengan was speechless.

Could it be that First Boss Bai had also asked you to pay respects for an opportunity?

"They say."

"This old locust tree was once a divine tree."

"But it suffered a calamity along with the village."

"Both divine trees and divine statues must be treated with reverence!"

The Black Bear said.

Song Chengan nodded.

This made sense.

Having reverence would prevent one from offending gods and spirits, and would lead to fewer troubles.

"You don't eat people because you have reverence too?"

Song Chengan asked.

"Not exactly." The Black Bear shook his head.

"Actually, when I first gained sentience, I really wanted to eat people."

"We monsters all eat people; it's in our nature to want to eat people."

"But later, I heard something from First Boss Bai that I thought made a lot of sense, so I stopped eating people."

"And then I never ate them again."

"What did he say?" Song Chengan was a little curious.

The Black Bear said, "The greatest cultivation in the world is to restrain greed."

"Whether for humans or monsters."

"I thought it made sense, and from then on, I made restraining myself my cultivation."

"Not killing out of anger, not taking out of greed, not eating people out of desire..."

"This Old Bear can't quite explain it, but it's about restraining myself, controlling myself, and thinking more before acting..."

Song Chengan was stunned for a moment.

The greatest cultivation in the world is to restrain greed?

It's self-discipline and restraint?

After a long while, a smile appeared on Song Chengan's face.

He looked at the Black Bear, "By the way, do you have a name?"

"A name?"

"I didn't!"

"They all call me Bear."

"How about I give you a name?"

"What do you think of Bear Overlord?"

"The 'Overlord' from 'overbearing'?"

"Bear Overlord?"

"Bear Overlord."

"Bear Overlord!"

"This Old Bear has a name now!"

"This Old Bear has a name now!"

"Bear Overlord, hehe!"

The Black Bear danced with joy.