Straight Ahead
Deep within the Myriad Medicine Mountain Range, the Spirit Qi was so dense that it almost stained the air a pale blue. With each step Lin Ming took, he could feel the invisible Spirit Qi seeping into his body through his pores, making even his breath feel sweet and refreshing.
The dewdrops hanging from the branches and leaves were no longer ordinary water vapor, but Spirit Liquid condensed to the extreme. When they fell onto the Blue Stone, they made a soft "drip" sound, splashing up a circle of fine spiritual light, and after a moment they were reintegrated into the surrounding Spirit Qi, circulating endlessly.
Lin Ming moved like a pale gray lightning bolt, his toes lightly touching the thick branches of an ancient tree, propelling him several meters forward. His movements were as light as a forest cat, yet carried an unmistakable sharpness—from several hidden caves along the way, faint, chilling roars could be heard, the aura of Seventh Order Demonic Beast, each capable of causing quite a stir in the outside world.
But Lin Ming merely tilted his head slightly, his Soul Perception sweeping across the area like a fine spider web, precisely avoiding these potential threats, his gaze remaining fixed on the core of the mountain range.
There, not only was there a pale white mist formed by the convergence of heaven and Spirit Qi's spiritual energy, but also a majestic beast's roar that could be heard from time to time. Although it was dozens of miles away, it still carried a power that shook the mind, as if an ancient behemoth was declaring its territory.
The scenery along the way became increasingly stunning.
On the steep mountainside, several golden-glowing "Dragon Beard Ginseng" roots were secured in specially made Jade Box. Their tendrils hung down like silver threads, each containing medicinal power accumulated over a thousand years. Beside the clear stream, several "Ice Heart Grass" plants grew in the crevices of the Blue Stone, their leaves covered with a thin layer of ice crystals, emitting a refreshing chill. Even just getting close to them, one could feel their Dou Qi become much gentler.
If these medicinal herbs were to appear at an outside auction house, they would undoubtedly trigger a frenzy of bidding among various powerful forces, and might even escalate into bloodshed. But Lin Ming merely glanced at them, his steps not faltering in the slightest.
His goal was clear from the beginning: the overlord of the Myriad Medicine Mountain Range, which occupied the core area, and the legendary core Treasure Hoard that it had collected, a treasure that would move even Dou Zun expert.
The deeper they went, the stronger the sense of oppression in the air became. The Magical Beasts in the forest also gradually changed from the initial Fifth Order and Sixth Order to true Seventh Order powerhouses.
An Ironclad Leopard covered in black scales was resting on a rock. Upon hearing Lin Ming's movement, it suddenly opened its eyes, a fierce light flashing in its golden pupils, and its sharp claws carved five deep marks on the rock.
But when it sensed the faint aura emanating from Lin Ming, it seemed to be intimidated by something. The low growl in its throat gradually turned into a whimper, and in the end, it just stared intently at Lin Ming's back as he swept past the edge of its territory, not daring to have even the slightest thought of attacking him.
Similar scenes unfolded one after another. Whether it was the "Golden Winged Eagle" perched on the treetops or the "Nether Python" lurking in the grass, these Seventh Order Demonic Beasts, who usually roamed the mountains with dominance, seemed to have reached some kind of tacit understanding. They simply watched Lin Ming with wary and fearful eyes, and none of them dared to provoke him.
They could sense that although this human did not exude any outward aura of Dou Qi, he possessed a "sharpness" more terrifying than that of a top-tier Magical Beasts. It was an aura honed through countless life-and-death battles, enough to instill fear in any creature's instincts.
Finally, Lin Ming passed through a forest of purple bamboo filled with a strange fragrance.
The bamboo is a deep purple color, with a faint fluorescent glow at the edges of its leaves. A gentle breeze rustles the leaves together, creating a soft "shush" sound, and the fragrance in the air grows even stronger.
This is the "Spirit Condensing Bamboo." Even just inhaling a breath of its fragrance can make a cultivator's Spiritual Strength more refined. The value of the entire bamboo forest is in no way inferior to any rare medicinal herb seen before.
The moment you pass through the bamboo forest, the view suddenly opens up.
It was a huge valley surrounded by four majestic mountain peaks. The peaks soared into the clouds and were covered with lush green vegetation. Only the side facing the valley was exposed with dark blue-green rocks, which acted as a natural barrier, protecting the entire valley in the center.
The valley was so flat it looked as if it had been meticulously leveled with a giant axe. The ground was covered with a layer of fine Blue Stone, and unknown blue moss grew in the gaps between the slabs, making it soft and slippery to walk on.
In the center of the valley, a small hill, about several tens of feet high, rises abruptly from the ground, and on the hilltop, a Stone Hall stands prominently.
The Stone Hall is built in an extremely rough style, without any superfluous decorations. It was obviously carved out of the mountain by brute force. The hall door is made of two huge black rocks, and clear claw marks can still be seen on the surface. The stone slabs on the roof are stacked layer upon layer, each one about ten feet in size. It is unknown how much effort it took to carry them up there.
But this seemingly rough Stone Hall exudes a chilling majesty, like an ancient temple, standing quietly there, witnessing the passage of time.
What's even more breathtaking is the scene surrounding the Stone Hall. Countless rare medicinal herbs grow freely, just like ordinary flowers and plants.
Before the palace gate, several "Nine Revolutions Soul Returning Grass" unfurled their purple leaves, each leaf bearing nine golden lines and radiating a rich Life Aura; beside the stone steps to the side of the palace, "Dragon Blood Flower" bloomed like flames, their petals shimmering with a blood-red light, exuding a domineering power upon approach; even on the roof of the Stone Hall, several "Heavenly Evolution Vine" grew, their tendrils twining around the stone pillars, their leaves shimmering with a faint spiritual light, said to greatly enhance a cultivator's comprehension by consuming their fruit.
Each of these medicinal herbs would be a treasure capable of causing bloodshed in the outside world, yet at this moment they are scattered around the Stone Hall like weeds. If one did not see it with their own eyes, no one would believe it.
At that moment, in the open space in front of the Stone Hall, a huge creature was lying there.
Its body is like a small hill, and its limbs are as thick as the trunks of mature ancient trees. Each breath is accompanied by a muffled "whoosh" sound, and the white mist that sprays from its nostrils can cause a thin layer of frost to condense on the Blue Stone when it falls to the ground.
Its entire body is covered with coarse, stiff black fur, each hair standing upright like a steel needle, as thick as a finger. When a breeze blows, the fur rubs against each other, making a soft "swish" sound.
It has a sturdy and strong body like a giant bear, with a broad chest like a solid fortress, and you can feel the surrounding air vibrating with every rise and fall. But unlike ordinary giant bears, it does not have a short, stubby bear tail, but instead has a huge dragon tail.
The dragon's tail was covered with dark gold scales, the tips of which were sharp like bone spurs. With a gentle flick, it could cut through the air with a piercing sound. A wild and ferocious aura from ancient times swept out from its body like a real storm, making the surrounding air thick and heavy. Even the light seemed to be suppressed by this aura and dimmed a bit.
It is the true overlord of the Myriad Medicine Mountain Range, Eighth Order Magical Beast with some ancient Dragon Clan Bloodline — the Ancient Dragon Bear!
At this moment, the giant beast slowly raised its head, its huge, lantern-sized, scarlet eyes fixed on Lin Ming, who had intruded into its territory.
Its eyes were filled with icy Killing Intent, and a hint of barely perceptible doubt—this tiny human, whose aura was clearly only at the Dou Zong level, dared to disregard its majesty and blatantly trespass into this core Forbidden Area?
Moreover, despite its overwhelming pressure that would make even Dou Zun expert wary, the other party stood motionless, its eyes as calm as a bottomless lake, showing no fear whatsoever.
"Roar!"
The Ancient Dragon Bear finally reached its limit and let out a deafening roar. The roar exploded through the valley like thunder, containing terrifying Soul impact and physical Sound Wave.
The surrounding mountain walls were shaken, causing rocks to fall in a cascade. Large chunks of rock rolled down from the heights, crashing to the ground with a deafening roar. Although the medicinal herbs around the Stone Hall were protected by a faint layer of energy, their leaves were still violently shaken. Several "Dragon Blood Flower" near the edge even had their stems broken off, their red sap flowing onto the Blue Stone and emitting a rich Medicinal Fragrance.
Lin Ming stood rooted to the spot, letting the roar assault his eardrums. He even closed his eyes slightly, sensing the Sound Wave that contained the Soul Power.
This was also a rare opportunity for him to hone his skills. After a moment, he slowly opened his eyes. Instead of fear, his eyes burned with a fierce fighting spirit, like a spark about to ignite a prairie fire.
Since successfully cultivating the first level of the Rainbow Lightning Venerate Body Technique, his physical strength has undergone a tremendous increase, but he has yet to find a suitable opponent to test his abilities. This Ancient Dragon Bear before him is undoubtedly an excellent "sharpening stone."
The physical strength of Eighth Order Magical Beast, combined with the power and defense brought by the ancient race's bloodline, would allow him to fully unleash the potential of his physical body and see just how strong he had become.
"Hey big guy, can I borrow your fist?"
Lin Ming laughed loudly, his voice clear and bold, echoing through the valley. Instead of retreating, he took a step forward.
With a stomp of his foot, the Blue Stone instantly cracked with spiderweb-like patterns. With a muffled "boom," a shallow crater about ten feet in diameter was blasted open in the ground, sending rubble and dust flying everywhere.
Using this recoil force, Lin Ming's body shot towards the Ancient Dragon Bear like a cannonball, leaving a faint afterimage behind him.
Without using any Dou Qi, Lin Ming concentrated all his power in his right fist. The muscles on his arm bulged slightly, and faint purple lightning flowed beneath his skin. When his fist Space-Rending, it made a piercing sonic boom and slammed straight into the Ancient Dragon Bear's right claw, which was larger than his entire body!