Mountain Giant Bear (Please Keep Reading)

"Oh, this was one of my senior brothers' relics. Back when he went out looking to score some benefits, he ran into a terrifying demon in the wilderness and died!"

Flame Daoist appeared in the doorway and glanced at the ancient bronze sword in Yang Huai's hand.

"As for the art of wielding it, do you mean a sword formula?"

Flame Daoist shook his head.

"The temple doesn't have that kind of secret art!"

Yang Huai immediately sighed upon hearing this. As the dignified Innate Geng Metal Sword Body, he had yet to even get his hands on a sword. It was truly frustrating beyond words.

Flame Daoist glanced at Yang Huai again, then said,

"But I've heard that some exalted masters in the Xi Huang Kingdom excel at swordsmanship. Some of them are occasionally invited to come and preach the Dao. That depends on your own luck!"

Yang Huai's eyes lit up at once. There was another glimmer of hope.

Over the past few months, he had attended many Dao sermons. He knew that most of the Daoists who came to preach cherished their reputations and would not simply go through the motions. They truly taught some real skills. Having listened to several exalted masters expound the Dharma during this time, he had benefited greatly as well.

The next day, at the Slaughter Hall.

Flame Daoist had been bustling about outside the hall since early morning.

Yang Huai looked closely and saw him repairing the rune ground-locks before the Slaughter Hall one by one.

Seeing this, Yang Huai's eyes could not help but light up.

"Martial Uncle Flame, could it be that prey will be delivered today?"

There was anticipation in Yang Huai's eyes.

Last time, someone had delivered a Green Ram, a heaven-and-earth remnant species. It had broadened his horizons, and he had even been lucky enough to taste a little of it. That flavor was truly beyond description.

Of course, Yang Huai was more interested in taking this opportunity to stockpile some exotic beast flesh and blood, preparing for the Heavenly Circuit Heart Method to reach great completion.

Once he successfully cultivated the Metal Origin Five Aggregates Diagram, he would certainly bring the Heavenly Circuit Heart Method to great completion and undergo a second Foundation Establishment.

Flame Daoist's irritated voice came over.

"If you know that, why aren't you coming over to help? We need to reinforce the rune ground-locks in the Slaughter Hall again, lest the exotic beasts escape and strike back as they die. That would be a disaster!"

Yang Huai looked somewhat troubled.

"But this disciple has truly never encountered such secret arts before. I'm afraid I'll ruin Martial Uncle's important work!"

"It's fine. I'll teach you. Learn to repair them yourself from now on!"

Flame Daoist's expression was calm.

Yang Huai's eyes brightened at those words. Flame Daoist was being unusually generous today, actually willing to teach him such a craft. Normally, he had never possessed such patience. Still, this also told Yang Huai that the task ahead would likely be far from easy.

Yang Huai stepped closer and saw countless golden runes carved into the ground, forming strange patterns of every conceivable kind. Yet each contained an unfathomable power of its own.

They were somewhat different from the Heavenly Yang Golden Light Talisman he cultivated.

Flame Daoist held a talisman brush as he repaired the rune ground-locks. Without turning his head, he said,

"This is called ink talismans, also known as talismans. They were formed when sages of old used the essence and qi of the Dao, laid it upon slips and ink, and gathered the essence and qi of all things. They possess all manner of wondrous transformations!"

"However, when the ancient sages first created ink talismans, their main purpose was to communicate with the various divine and true patriarchs in the unseen realm, borrowing the power of divine beings, true masters, and ancient gods to command the essence and qi of heaven and earth, thereby forming all kinds of spells!"

"To put it simply, it's taking a shortcut. When you can't beat demons, monsters, and evil entities, it makes it easier to cry out for reinforcements!"

Yang Huai found his words amusing and could not help but smile.

Flame Daoist continued,

"Nowadays, there have been some slight changes. Some sages have already developed the mysterious ability to bypass the patriarchs and communicate directly with the spirits of heaven and earth. But such communication is extremely unstable. If you accidentally connect with some evil entity or demon, you'll be seeking your own death. Therefore, the most orthodox method for people like us is still to use ink talismans to communicate with the exalted masters of the Daoist temple, or even the divine beings worshipped by the Xi Huang Kingdom. It's best not to act recklessly..."

By the end, there was a note of warning in his voice.

"Ink talismans are generally composed of several parts. There is the talisman head, which is like a coded signal shared with a certain divine or true patriarch. Next comes the notation specifying which divine being's power is to be summoned. Then comes the functional portion of the ink talisman. Some patriarchs possess vast divine power and excel in water and fire arts. If you want to summon water or fire, you must make it clear.

"Then there is what you want to do. The patriarchs will not handle everything for you. Next, you must provide a place for the patriarchs' incarnations to reside. Finally, there is the closing phrase. It must not be carelessly omitted..."

"What we are drawing now is a Spirit-Suppressing Talisman. Watch the changes in the brush and ink carefully. If someone later uses talismans to attack you with a trap, you must be able to recognize it. Otherwise, you might stand there dumbfounded even after being attacked, or not even know how to break it. That would be humiliating..."

Yang Huai hurriedly nodded.

He certainly needed to listen carefully.

"Watch these ink talisman changes closely. Study them well afterward. From now on, the Slaughter Hall will depend on you to repair and maintain!"

Yang Huai could not help asking,

"What about you, Martial Uncle Flame?"

"Of course I'll become an elder of the Daoist temple in the future. Have you ever seen an elder handle such trivial chores?"

Flame Daoist shot Yang Huai a glance, his eyes full of disdain.

"I thought you were going to..."

The corner of Yang Huai's mouth twitched slightly. Flame Daoist immediately glared fiercely at him.

"You'll stay in the Slaughter Hall today. Don't go anywhere!"

Yang Huai instantly felt a headache coming on. Martial Uncle Flame was far too petty.

Later that afternoon, more than a dozen broad-shouldered, thick-waisted tribal warriors escorted several enormous prison carts to the foot of Qingping Daoist Temple. The procession was exceptionally lively. Many Daoist acolytes and Daoists from the temple ran out to watch, but their faces all trembled at the sight.

Several primitively dressed tribal warriors drove exotic beasts pulling several bronze beast-cage carts down the main road.

Mammoth-like exotic beasts pulled the carts, with Suanni clearing the way ahead. Many blood-soaked exotic beasts and spirit beasts were confined within the cages. Most of them had already lost the strength to resist.

Flame Daoist and Yang Huai also arrived at the temple gate to receive them. Surprise flickered in Flame Daoist's eyes as he said, "A juvenile Mountain Giant Bear. The Rockfolk Tribe has truly had good luck. They've taken first prize!"

At those words, Yang Huai fixed his gaze on one of the enormous beast-cage carts. Inside was a colossal earth-yellow beast.

It was a giant bear.

A terrifying exotic beast whose aura far surpassed the Heavenly Human rank. Countless strange and sinister runes covered the cage, somewhat unlike the Primordial Cloud Script, yet its Sha Qi pressed down on him. Looking at it for even a few moments made it feel as though his own essence, qi, and spirit were being sucked away.

Yang Huai did not dare look further, but his heart was deeply shaken.

The Mountain Giant Bear was one of the heaven-and-earth remnant species, with the power of ancient divine beasts flowing through its veins. Ancient divine beasts were existences that, once grown, could rival exalted masters and divine beings. Even with only a trace of their bloodline remaining, these heaven-and-earth remnant species possessed power beyond the imagination of ordinary cultivators once they reached adulthood.

Besides it, the cages also held some spirit deer, azure oxen, and even a silver fox with snow-white fur.

Most of these exotic beasts had already fallen unconscious. The few that remained awake could barely open their eyes as they stared outside, either baring their fangs or wearing savage expressions.

When the group approached, Flame Daoist personally went forward with Yang Huai to receive them, leading them as they escorted the beast carts toward the valley where the Slaughter Hall stood.

Flame Daoist took the initiative to greet them. Yang Huai followed behind, listening as Flame Daoist chattered away with them in a foreign tongue. His eyes occasionally swept over the terrifying giants, each nearly a zhang tall. Honestly, Yang Huai could not be sure whether they were human.

But judging by Flame Daoist's words, this group seemed to be human tribal warriors from around Wanqu City.

Yet the towering Sha Qi and blood vitality surrounding the several warriors in front were truly horrifying.

The blood vitality of their leader probably did not lose out to that Mountain Giant Bear—in fact, it might even surpass it.

He had certainly cultivated some terrifying body-tempering secret art.

Inside the Slaughter Hall.

Once the beast carts arrived, they were immediately sent deep into the newly repaired beast pens. Inside were not only rune ground-locks, but also numerous sealing runes. Once demonic beasts or ferocious beasts were sent into the pens, they became lambs awaiting the slaughter.

But an accident occurred when the Mountain Giant Bear left its cage cart. Yellow light suddenly flashed around its body as it erupted with immense force, breaking free of the countless blood-red runes emanating from its body. A vast force swept toward everyone nearby, and the two tribal warriors beside the cage bore the brunt of it.

Bang! Bang!!

Violent force erupted from a bear paw. Yellow light surfaced over the two tribal warriors' bodies, but in an instant, the light shattered. They vomited blood and flew backward.

A terrifying foul wind swept toward the remaining people nearby, Yang Huai included.