May the Spirit Show Great Mercy

The roar echoed across the empty beach, startling several birds from the distant woods.

He staggered to his feet, shook out his soaking-wet golden fur caked with sand, then glanced back at the vast ocean that had nearly swallowed him. A complicated glint flashed through his eyes—lingering fear, exhaustion, but more than anything, the intense sense of conquest from having ridden the waves home and overcome a natural barrier.

Then he turned around, his golden eyes studying this brand-new land before him with curiosity and vigilance.

Ahead stretched an endless beach. Farther away stood lush forests of varied shapes, and beyond them, the faint outlines of gently rolling hills.

Strange birds flew through the sky, while insects chirped and beasts roared from within the woods.

This was not Flower-Fruit Mountain.

Everything here—the aura, the sounds, the sights—was completely different from the homeland he knew.

He did not linger.

Following his instincts, he swiftly darted into the dense woods nearby.

His nostrils twitched, and he quickly locked onto a tree laden with huge fruits that gave off a faint fragrance.

The fruits resembled peaches, yet carried a pale jade-like sheen that made them look quite extraordinary.

The stone monkey nimbly climbed up the tree, plucked the largest one, shoved it straight into his mouth, and chewed heartily.

But the instant it reached his stomach, he could not help frowning.

The fruit tasted passable, but the spiritual energy within it was far inferior to the fruits of Flower-Fruit Mountain.

"Tch." He curled his lips in disdain.

On Flower-Fruit Mountain, he would not even bother eating fruits of this grade.

But after giving it some thought, he did not throw it away and instead finished it.

After all, he had drifted at sea for so long. It was good enough that he had