Several dazzling pillars of light flared above the Heaven Mending Pavilion.
Layer upon layer of rune barriers descended like inverted bowls, sealing off the entire Mountain Gate.
Bells tolled on and on, shaking the mountains.
Streaks of sword light shot into the sky.
The furious roars of elders and stewards echoed through the air, startling great flocks of roosting spirit birds into flight.
Shi Hou crouched at the edge of a cliff, watching the distant uproar of flying chickens and scrambling dogs.
He shook his head, his face full of disdain.
Big factions were such cheapskates.
He had only caught a few Purple-Feathered Chickens and picked one mushroom.
Was that little bit of nonsense really worth activating the Mountain-Guarding Formation?
He had wanted to wander around some more and see if he could run into that Nine-Headed Lion.
With stewards searching the mountains everywhere now, that was a lost cause.
His stomach growled.
He was hungry.
Shi Hou patted Kang awake and swiftly headed toward the outskirts, following the black pig's guidance.
He found a clearing and made sure no one was nearby.
Shi Hou swept a hand over his chest, removing his golden-furred disguise.
His burly black ape body shrank, its long fur receding, and he turned back into a dark-skinned youth in a short beast-hide tunic.
Then he took down the Black Pot and kicked one of its legs.
Crimson rune flames suddenly leaped up beneath the pot.
Shi Hou reached into the space inside the pot and took out his spoils, setting them on the ground.
Three Purple-Feathered Black-Bone Chickens and one Nine-Leaf Jade Lingzhi.
There were also a few Bright Red Fruits he had plucked from the center of the Medicine Garden.
The fruits were scorching hot in his hand, their vital essence churning inside, their