After standing at the foot of Funiu Mountain all night, Mu Bai had sunk into a vast ocean of thoughts, almost descending into madness. Only when the morning sun rose in the east the next day and the earth welcomed a new day's vitality did he open his eyes, hatred surging within them.
Seven or eight monsters with dogs' heads and birds' bodies had surrounded him, growling low. Their great wings beat as they bared their teeth and lunged at Mu Bai together. Mu Bai roared in fury, and the Twin Fish Sword rose. A ring of azure lotus leaves and red lotuses bloomed around him. Amid a rolling boom, the attacking monsters were instantly hurled backward. Killing intent boiled in Mu Bai's heart. He leaped up, sending a rain of golden sword light shooting out, mercilessly harvesting every monster's life.
Corpses fell all over the ground. Mu Bai let out a long breath, releasing the stifling knot in his chest, then sped out of Funiu Mountain's forest. Warm sunlight spilled over him, easing his mood.
"You child, you carry too much on your mind. You must beware of your heart barrier turning on you."
The Artifact Spirit Ancestor emerged from Mu Bai's chest in his Soul Body and landed on his shoulder. He reached out and poked Mu Bai's head, looking earnest and concerned.
"Ancestor, could you stop squatting on my shoulder to talk?" Mu Bai said with a frown. "You're too close to my ear!"
"Oh, so you take my good intentions for a donkey's liver and lungs! I'll talk if I want! I'll talk!"
When the Artifact Spirit Ancestor went wild, he was truly a handful. He grabbed Mu Bai's ear and shouted straight into it, leaving him grimacing at the noise. What else could he do?