Chương 451: Ancient Yaoguai (I)

alright. So, at least now I have the direction and the explanation. Of sorts. But, seeing just how intently Xinya was staring at me, I was tempted to agree and leave. The reason I didn't, though, is that the quest has 'only' been marked as Legendary. Now, best I can tell, the system doesn't really grade quests per their intrinsic difficulty. After all, if it's a combat quest, they'd all likely say 'Common' or 'Easy' if they took into account the fact that I have the Tortoise Mirror with me.

My guess is that they are graded by some level of importance rather than difficulty. Besides, though the roar that shook the forest was mighty terrifying, it wasn't... that terrifying. A horrifying thought to behold, indeed, since just a year ago it would have had me bolting out as fast as a literal bolt of lightning, but the roar sounded to me more like its intention was to scare away people, rather than to be an effective attack or projection of strength.

"... you're actually considering going in?!" she exclaimed.

"Have you gone completely insane?! If we go, we will die! No ifs or buts!"

"Somehow, I doubt it," I said.

"Would it ease your mind if I told you I have the means of getting us all out if things truly take a turn for the worse?" I actually didn't have the means to do that--outside of maybe trying to ride out of here in a chariot--but I couldn't have her rattled and so on edge.

"I knew I was going to die in this place, but I thought I'd at least put up some fight. Alas, perhaps it's best I perish here. It's a beautiful place and so far away from all those who want me dead." Alright, so she wasn't buying it. No matter. We resumed walking towards the depths at a brisk pace, speeding up when we noticed that there were no more ambushes--either it truly was just that he had those two in his employ or every other one was with the ape, guarding the heart of this place.

On the one hand, I'm happy not to have to tiptoe through this place, catching and dodging arrows endlessly. On the other, facing potentially dozens of creatures like that and a mythical beast? Well, it probably won't be all that fun. A few things I observed as we made our way deeper were that the patches of darkness grew increasingly smaller and less frequent; actually, there were more and more glowing fruits hanging above us like chandeliers, and their light was brighter and brighter.

Still breaking the laws of physics, because of course they did, but in about twenty minutes or so, darkness was so rare I actually paused. There were no shadows--almost anywhere. My entire mobility rested on the fact there'd be shadows. I mean, there likely will be--it'd be impossible to live in a place as brightly lit as this, I don't think--but what if they are so few and far in-between that it'd essentially render my mobility pointless?

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings. Though I hadn't yet figured out what kind of a cultivator I am, as I dabbled in most things a bit, I was certain of one thing: I wanted to be the kind of cultivator that was very agile and nimble, with means and ways of moving around swiftly, dodging any manner of attacks. Oh well.

Besides there being fewer shadows, there were also fewer trees the deeper in we went--though, to be fair, those that were there were also far larger than the ones on the outskirts. We just passed by one, in fact, that was good sixty to seventy feet in diameter, at least. This also meant their canopies fanned out further, and they bore more fruits. In turn, though, the path cleared up greatly. We no longer ran into jutting roots or found no space to move between the trees.

Rather, it became quite open, all things considered. Beautiful, too.

"GAAAAAAHHHH!!!" another roar came rather abruptly--we'd relaxed a bit, I imagine, since both Zhao and Xinya stumbled and actually started falling, though they recovered in time.... the same can't be said for me, though, as my butt got firmly planted on the ground within a second. The roar was louder and more aggressive, almost like a 'final warning' kind of a deal, but mixed in was also a bit of... panic, I dare say.

As though the creature were confused why we were pressing onwards when it so clearly told us to go away. Likely because it worked on everyone who came here before us, I'm guessing.

"You really do paint the picture of a dashing hero." Xinya wasn't gonna miss her chance to give me a jab, but I just shrugged it off as I stood up. Why was the ape so worried? Even if I didn't think it was that strong, at least not nearly as strong as Xinya thought it was, it should still be a mythical beast of sorts, and it's not like any one of us here is of a particularly higher realm. Sure, we punch above our weight class (a good deal above it, too), but the beast had no way of knowing that. Not yet, anyway.

Yet, rather than immediately coming out and pummeling us into the dirt, it chose to send a couple of its minions and also to scream like a petulant child, hoping we'll just go away.

"We're still going forward, judging by your look."

"Hm." I nodded absentmindedly. I mean, there were dozens of reasons why the beast might be behaving this way--maybe it was weakened by either someone who came here before us or some other beast. Maybe it was in an important process of cultivating and couldn't really be distracted by a battle. Maybe this, maybe that. Well, I was never the one to guess wildly (too much) and would much rather just go over and see why. And so we pressed forward.

The trees began to thin out even more until they were all but gone, the terrain becoming a cascading terrace of ledges going downward. There was a strange mist whose specks would mirror back the world around them in this discombobulated way that made it seem as though they held a multi-dimensional space within them. Because of that, the world turned more and more distorted as we stepped into it, slowly traversing the terraced ledges below us.

At the same time, the sheer density and quality of the Qi underwent such a change that I became breathless for a moment. I mean, it didn't really mean much for me--I was stuck at the peak of a realm I wasn't breaking through today--but I imagine that Xi Zhao was having the time of his life. The mist broke not fifteen seconds later, revealing a rather majestic sight. In the middle of a jungle resided a pothole-like crevice; sheared cliffs framed the opening that had dozens of jutting ledges.

From the rocks of the walls burst hundreds of pulsating tendrils, milky-white in color, almost like veins. About forty yards deep, the hole fanned out--like an hourglass--and opened into a massive cave, where a white-furred ape approximately thirty feet tall awaited, alongside the band of about a hundred smaller ones. Except... they were all clearly wounded and weakened. Greatly.

"Are you a damn prophet or something?!!" Xinya cried out.

"There's no way you could have known!"

"..." I really didn't, though? But, oh well. Whatever gets her to go all out fearlessly, I suppose.