At the foot of a steep, sky-piercing mountain stood a massive cave, its entrance thick with moss.
At the end of the cave was a cavern spanning a hundred mu. In the cavern's lower left corner lay a pool several hundred zhang wide. Above it, the stone wall was lined with silvery-white stalactites, upon which silver liquid had condensed.
The water in the pool was silvery-white. A nine-colored lotus floated upon its surface, its bud in bloom, revealing a nine-colored rainbow.
On closer inspection, three lotus seeds were missing.
A colossal demonic beast lay beside the pool. It had a pair of blue horns atop its head and, judging from its appearance, closely resembled an Ink Qilin.
The Ink Qilin's eyes were half-closed, as though it were asleep.
A great number of green vines burst from the ground. Their surfaces were covered in sharp thorns, and with a flash of green light, Mu Sen appeared.
The moment Mu Sen appeared, the Ink Qilin opened its eyes.
Mu Sen flicked his right hand, sending three cyan-glinting flying knives shooting forth. They merged midway, transforming into a hazy cyan Heaven-Piercing Giant Blade that slashed toward the Ink Qilin.
The Ink Qilin let out an enraged roar, opening its bloodthirsty maw to spew forth a thick beam of blue light, which collided with the Heaven-Piercing Giant Blade.
With a deafening crash, the Heaven-Piercing Giant Blade was sent flying back and split into three cyan-glinting flying knives.
The air above Mu Sen's head rippled, and a beast hoof flickering with blue light emerged, hurtling straight for his head.
Mu Sen's body blazed with green light, and a dense green light barrier surfaced around him, protecting his entire body. Patterns of flowers and grass could be seen on its surface.
The blue beast hoof struck