Hometown, Terrifying Ghostly Thing

Chapter 21: Hometown, A Terrifying Ghostly Thing

Wangwu Mountain, the place where Yuan Tianzong had been in seclusion during the Dharma-ending era.

This mountain is a branch of the Taihang Mountains, blessed with abundant natural beauty and ethereal immortal light. Since ancient times, it has been one of the preferred retreats for many cultivators.

Traveling day and night, the frost unique to Kunlun that had clung to Yuan Tianzong's hair had long since melted away.

Returning to his "hometown," Yuan Tianzong stood atop the mountain peak, gazing at the undulating mountain range that resembled a dragon, his heart filled with emotion.

From the Dharma-ending era to the present, it had been over a thousand years, passing in the blink of an eye.

Vital energy surged through heaven and earth, creating all things and intensifying the dramatic changes of the world.

Today's Wangwu Mountain had also undergone astonishing transformations amidst this great shift in the world.

The vital energy here was purer and more potent than elsewhere. The peaks stood tall and majestic, significantly larger, and even the entire territory of Wangwu Mountain had expanded considerably.

Yuan Tianzong closed his eyes and sensed it, feeling as if the mountains and earth possessed a faint breath.

"I wonder if the place where I once lived is still here."

The dwelling place Yuan Tianzong referred to was naturally not the humble thatched hut from back then.

In the past, Yu Gong dug at the mountain with his hoe, and Zhi Sou laughed at his foolishness.

But he said, "My descendants will never cease," and eventually moved the Heavenly Emperor, who sent the two sons of Ku'a Eshi to carry away two mountains, leaving behind only a valley with half-collapsed cliffs.

Within the valley, there had once been a bamboo grove, which was Yuan Tianzong's place of seclusion and cultivation back then.

Although the mountains and rivers had changed greatly, the underlying geological and water veins were still faintly discernible. After some searching, Yuan Tianzong finally found this familiar land.

To Yuan Tianzong's surprise, this familiar yet unfamiliar valley with its collapsed cliffs was exceptionally rich in vital energy.

The bamboo grove of yesteryear was gone, replaced by a lush forest of green trees. The cypresses and pines on the cliff twisted like dragons, and a waterfall cascaded down, adding a touch of vitality to the valley.

Stepping into the familiar valley once more, Yuan Tianzong's gaze swept to the pool beneath the waterfall. He then strode forward until he stood by the water's edge, lowering his head to gaze at the rippling surface.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

Suddenly!

A gaping bloody maw lunged out of the water!

"I've been waiting for you."

Water surged to the sky, and white mist billowed.

A black python, as thick as a water bucket, used the momentum of the water to ferociously pounce on Yuan Tianzong.

Splash!

Yuan Tianzong did not move. The true energy around him instantly condensed into a protective shield, blocking both the splashing water and the python's massive mouth. The recoil force from the shield made the python feel as if it had bitten a high-frequency vibrating King Kong ball. Its fangs instantly shattered, and its massive body was sent flying backward, crashing heavily into the water.

With this single blow, the black python, already an Evolved Beast, immediately realized the power of the being before it and dared not attack a second time. After falling into the water, it cleverly twisted its body, intending to dive to the bottom and escape through an underground river.

However, to its horror, a large hand condensed from true energy broke through the water, grasped it firmly, and dragged it directly from the bottom, smashing it onto the ground.

Dazed, the black python ignored the severe pain in its body, quickly bowing and scraping, desperately begging Yuan Tianzong for its life.

Seeing this, Yuan Tianzong was somewhat surprised. "I didn't expect that, you beast, your strength is average, but your intelligence is quite high. You must have extraordinary talent. Interesting, interesting."

This black python was indeed different from ordinary Evolved Beasts, possessing innate intelligence comparable to that of a top-tier genius cultivator among humans. It actually understood Yuan Tianzong's praise, and its heart instantly relaxed, and it kowtowed even more vigorously, begging for mercy.

"Hmm, with such intelligence, you must taste even more delicious."

???

The black python, which had been kowtowing, instantly froze. Its body stiffened like stone, and it stared blankly at Yuan Tianzong, its eyes filled with disbelief.

The next moment, it suddenly attacked, trying with all its might to fight for a sliver of survival.

The night was cool like water, and the bright moon hung high in the sky.

Beside the valley's pool, a large fire blazed fiercely. Bamboo poles were threaded through sections of the python's body, hanging above the flames to roast.

Not far away, a pot was simmering with delicious snake soup, its rich aroma drifting with the wind.

Yuan Tianzong's physique was robust. He could go months without drinking water, or eat several cows in one sitting, possessing an astonishing digestive capacity.

After a whirlwind meal, only python bones were left scattered on the ground.

Yuan Tianzong stood up, stretched, and walked towards the nearby woods. With a few rumbling sounds, large trees were felled one after another.

He channeled his true energy into his palms and swung them like an ultra-powerful chainsaw, rapidly processing the messy branches. Amidst flying wood chips, round logs for building a wooden house were created, complete with various matching grooves carved according to mortise and tenon structures.

By the latter half of the night, a courtyard consisting of three wooden houses had already been erected by the pool.

One for meditation and concentration, one for sleeping and resting, and one for storing miscellaneous items – a perfect layout.

The path of cultivation requires both exertion and relaxation.

Perhaps cultivators have abundant energy and can go without sleep for extended periods.

But sleep is a basic human instinct, and it is ultimately more comfortable to try and maintain a routine of early rising and early sleeping.

Yuan Tianzong lay on the straw bed. As he turned, his back bumped against something hard. He casually reached out, and the black square box appeared in his hand.

Yuan Tianzong brought the box close to his eyes, turning it over and observing it repeatedly.

Unlike his hurried glance before, now that he was completely free, he examined it with extreme care.

The box was unremarkable, without the slightest energy fluctuation.

The withered seed inside was equally devoid of any abnormality.

However, since this item was found within the Golden Lotus King, hidden in a cavity of the lotus seed head, Yuan Tianzong absolutely did not believe it was just an ordinary box and seed.

He took out the seed and pinched it between his fingertips.

After a careful examination, he actually found a few clues.

Although the seed was shriveled and dead, making the surface texture extremely faint and blurry, it was impossible to notice without close inspection.

The patterns on it contained an indescribable wonder, and possessed a demonic quality that unconsciously drew one's focus.

Of course, Yuan Tianzong was no walking encyclopedia and believed there were many things in the world he didn't know. Moreover, it had been a thousand years, and he didn't even know what the Golden Lotus was, let alone why the void white flame had appeared within him.

"A seed, a seed... it should be for planting, right?"

"It looks dead, but there's no harm in trying to plant it."

"What if there's a twist, and it grows into some divine medicine? After all, it was an item hidden within the Golden Lotus King."

With that thought, Yuan Tianzong got up again and went out to find a place to plant the seed.

He now regretted killing that black python – after all, once the seed was planted, he would need someone to guard it.

Under the moonlight, Yuan Tianzong suddenly stopped and turned his head towards a dark corner.

The python bones left from the day were piled there, and faint movements could be heard. The snake's skull was still shaking.

If it were an ordinary person, in this dark and desolate wilderness, seeing a pile of white bones move would surely send them running in terror, their adrenaline surging.

But Yuan Tianzong was no ordinary person. Skilled and bold, he suppressed his aura and floated closer, observing from the shadows of the corner, a hint of surprise creeping into his eyes.

What the heck?

In his sight, a strange skeleton was sitting on the ground, holding the snake skull in its hands and forcefully pressing it onto its spine.

Was it trying to attach a head?

A moving skeleton was strange enough, but it insisted on attaching a snake skull to a human-like skeleton – truly bizarre.

It seemed the world was indeed transforming in a mysterious direction. Yuan Tianzong mused inwardly; from now on, no matter what strange things he encountered, he should be able to accept them calmly and not be overly surprised.

A moment later, Yuan Tianzong tiptoed out from the corner.

"Come, let me see what kind of demon you are."

The skeleton, engrossed in attaching the head, didn't notice the change in light behind it.

Suddenly, a face darted out from its side, and their eyes met.

Instantly, the skeleton froze, then jumped up with a start, its bones scattering in fright – if it had hair, it would surely have stood on end, terrified to death.

Plop, plop, plop.

All its bones fell to the ground, scattering everywhere.

A moment later, a pair of leg bones were the first to flip over and leap up.

The ribs and spine followed suit, haphazardly attaching themselves to the leg bones.

Clack, clack!

The two bony legs spun wildly, sprinting forward as if for their lives.

Behind them, the two skeletal arms seemed to gain consciousness, chasing after the body – "Wait for us, you runaway legs, we haven't gotten on board yet!"

Yuan Tianzong looked down and saw a flipped snake skull rolling around on the ground.

"Hey, hey, don't you want your heads anymore?"