Slag Shou Cultivating Manual - Chapter 84

Chapter 84: Entanglement

He Lang observed that his young disciple’s swordsmanship was improving and that he was settling into his practice. Feeling it was time to broaden his horizons, He Lang decided they would set out for Qingqu Mountain immediately, also taking the opportunity to search for the Bodhi Seed.

For ordinary mortals, traversing these countless rivers and mountains would be an insurmountable task using only physical strength or horsepower. However, as cultivators, the two had the advantage of traveling either by sword flight or riding celestial cranes. In less than half an hour, they arrived at Qingqu Mountain, a thousand miles away.

This mountain, located near the Qinling Dragon Vein and considered a dragon’s eye, was also rumored to be the site of an ancient magical array. Surrounded by heavenly energy, even the grass and plants were extraordinary.

Yet, this treasure trove had inexplicably failed to attract many cultivators. The mountain remained sparsely populated, perpetually shrouded in mist and clouds, exuding an air of mystery and desolation. The abundant spiritual energy here was palpable; a cultivator would naturally feel their body absorbing the energy with every breath.

Noticing this, He Lang immediately instructed Jiang Hanzheng to take advantage of this opportunity to cultivate.

At this point, Jiang Hanzheng had already awakened his Wood and Fire spiritual roots. Leveraging the rich spiritual energy here, he was preparing to focus on cultivating his Metal spiritual root. If he could refine all five elements, his Qi-refining process would become increasingly smooth, allowing the five elements to complement one another. This unique five-element cultivation method ensured continuous progress, unlike the bottlenecks typical for most cultivators after breakthroughs.

He Lang, unwilling to let such a prime location go to waste, joined him in meditation. Though He Lang’s original form was a master of cultivation, his power had been temporarily reduced by several realms due to personal reasons. Over the years, his intermittent training had allowed his cultivation level to recover slightly, reaching roughly the Nascent Soul stage peak.

Immersed in their training, the master and disciple temporarily closed off their senses, their awareness dulled. Consequently, they failed to notice an encroaching danger.

The two had a substantial demand for spiritual energy and absorbed it ravenously. Within half an hour, the spiritual energy within a one-mile radius noticeably thinned. Since Jiang Hanzheng needed to filter the energy to extract Metal spiritual energy, the flow of energy became turbulent. This disruption startled the mountain’s long-dominant inhabitant.

Amid the dense mist obscuring the mountain, a sinister and towering beast silhouette emerged, emanating a suffocating pressure and hostility.

A thunderous roar echoed through the air, shaking the heavens and the earth. The shockwave sent the two sprawling and jolted them out of their meditation.

He Lang, protected by his cultivation, was unscathed and quickly assumed a defensive stance.

However, Jiang Hanzheng, still in the Qi-refining stage, lacked a protective aura. Overwhelmed by the sudden shock, he collapsed, his limbs weak and trembling. The oppressive wave caused his head to throb, his vision to blur, and a stabbing pain in his lungs, forcing him to clutch his chest to ease the instinctive dread.

This pathetic state was embarrassing, yet his frail body left him powerless. Gritting his teeth, Jiang Hanzheng struggled to stand, only to see a massive, grotesque beast emerge from the mist.

This creature could not be described as an ordinary spiritual beast. Its appearance was bizarre: resembling a Qiongqi, its roar resembled a lion’s, and its form was part tiger, part ox, with an overall grotesque build. Its crimson, ragged wings jutted out asymmetrically, appearing burnt and malformed. Its face was equally nightmarish, with protruding brow bones, blood-red eyes, and a maw filled with jagged fangs.

He Lang cautiously studied the creature while pulling Jiang Hanzheng back. Searching his memory for spiritual beast traits, he found the creature to be unidentifiable—a complete anomaly.

Moreover, the intense aura radiating from the creature warned of immense danger. Judging by the energy it exuded, its cultivation was likely beyond the Nascent Soul stage.

He Lang wasn’t surprised but did feel the pressure mounting. Given that this beast had long dwelled in such a sacred location, it was no wonder its cultivation was formidable.

In this world, the master and disciple duo hadn’t encountered many spiritual beasts, the most notable being the Crimson-Eyed Beast they had faced when they first met.

While the Crimson-Eyed Beast was already a high-level spiritual beast, the monstrous creature before them was clearly more formidable. Their previous victory had been partly due to He Lang’s Ice spiritual root countering the beast’s Fire affinity. However, the creature now facing them was entirely alien, with an extraordinary physique covered in thick, scale-like armor, appearing impervious to any attack.

Although the beast remained silent, its gaze conveyed an unmistakable message:

“This is my domain. No trespassers allowed.”

He Lang tried to de-escalate by signaling their intent to leave. However, the beast was unrelenting. Its gaze brimmed with malice as it drew closer, its massive jaws agape, saliva tinged red with blood, clearly a predator.

He Lang suddenly realized why such a treasured land remained deserted despite its abundant spiritual energy—it had long been claimed as the beast’s territory.

Before they could react further, the creature lunged toward them with its jaws wide open.

Jiang Hanzheng, having anticipated this, quickly dragged his master several feet away, attempting to flee down the mountain.

He Lang approved of retreat, unwilling to provoke a fierce battle.

Unfortunately, the beast, driven by hunger, refused to let them escape. Relentlessly pursuing them, it cornered the two against a cliff, leaving them no route of retreat.

Irritated by the relentless assault, He Lang’s anger flared. He shook off Jiang Hanzheng’s grip and leaped into the air, baiting the beast to charge. Changing direction mid-air, he landed firmly atop the beast’s head and delivered a powerful palm strike. A layer of frost instantly formed on its head, and ice shards flew everywhere.

The beast shuddered violently, momentarily stunned. Sensing its vulnerability, He Lang struck several more times, each blow infused with significant force.

The Nascent Soul-stage attacks were no small matter. After several strikes, the beast grew dizzy, its movements sluggish. Enraged, it let out a deafening roar and thrashed its head, dislodging He Lang.

Jiang Hanzheng seized the moment, unsheathing the Kunwu Sword.

As the sword left its scabbard, it emitted a sharp ringing sound. The blade gleamed a bright white, and when Jiang Hanzheng infused it with a trace of spiritual energy, the sword vibrated, radiating a fierce aura.

He leaped into the air, catching his master by the waist while slashing at the beast multiple times.

The Kunwu Sword was extraordinarily sharp, its strikes forcing the beast to retreat. However, Jiang Hanzheng’s insufficient spiritual energy limited its power, rendering the attacks ineffective against the beast’s formidable physique.

Enraged, the creature furrowed its brows and unleashed a massive burst of flame from its mouth, forcing the two to keep their distance.

If it only had a Fire spiritual root, it wouldn’t be so troublesome. However, as soon as it stomped the ground, countless earthen spikes erupted from beneath its feet, cracking the ground and forming fissures. The two had to continuously dodge, unable to focus on attacking.

“This beast is truly formidable.”

He Lang was slightly annoyed. After nearly half an hour of entanglement, his long years of seclusion in Tianshan had left him lacking in endurance, and he was gradually becoming fatigued. Jiang Hanzheng, being young and inexperienced, was even worse off. His fragile physique caused him to nearly fall into the fissures several times, making He Lang’s heart pound with worry.

As he spoke, his gaze suddenly shifted, fixing on the hateful beast with a glint of killing intent.

If his journey in this world were to end here, how could he resign himself to such a fate?

He Lang channeled the energy in his dantian. Though it was a martial technique, the spiritual power gathered violently, swirling between him and the beast. With a loud shout, he thrust his palms forward, unleashing a force that seemed to split mountains and scatter clouds. The strike not only struck the beast but also shattered a row of ancient trees behind it.

Though the beast was a formidable Nascent Soul-level creature and not easily subdued, it still collapsed to the ground, its limbs trembling and visibly injured.

Seizing the momentum, He Lang bent his body slightly and leaped into the air, splitting into multiple forms mid-flight. His palm strikes rained down like a torrential storm, but the beast rolled to evade and spread its tattered wings. The sharp edges tore through He Lang’s robes and inflicted several deep wounds on his fair skin. Blood seeped from the cuts, staining his white attire a vivid red.

Jiang Hanzheng’s pupils constricted, and he called out to his master in alarm, but his cries were helpless.

He wanted to assist, but no matter how he tried, he couldn’t join the battle. Even though his master was wounded, He Lang pressed on with his attacks, locked in an intense struggle with the beast. Jiang Hanzheng, clutching his sword, was left watching in confusion and frustration.

At his current cultivation level—at the peak of Qi Refining—Jiang Hanzheng’s progress was already remarkable for his age. This had earned him admiration within his sect, boosting his confidence.

Though he often reminded himself to stay humble, he couldn’t help but feel pride in his achievements, believing that with continued effort, his future success was assured.

However, in a real battle, he came to realize just how insignificant his cultivation was. Possessing spiritual power alone was useless without the techniques and combat experience needed to handle unforeseen challenges. He could only stand by, leaving his master to face everything alone.

Proud of being his master’s sole beloved disciple, Jiang Hanzheng now felt a bitter sense of failure. Unable to offer even the slightest help, he had done nothing but rely on his master’s guidance and protection. It was no wonder that others in the sect criticized and looked down on him.

It was as if all the cultivation he had achieved up until now was entirely thanks to his master.

Author’s Note:

Recommending my friend San Wu Shi Meng Dian’s new novel, a fake rivals-to-lovers story with strong characters and hidden love, said to have a suspense element…

“In-Depth Rivalry”

A brazen, confrontational stalker gong × a cold, indifferent and violent shou.

Synopsis: Xu Fengmu was conducting serious business negotiations with his rival, Lang Ge, when Lang Ge, a rogue with a degree in criminal psychology, proposed blatantly:

Lang Ge: “If you want to collaborate… clean up and let me sleep with you.”

Xu Fengmu: …Do you have a death wish?

Xu Fengmu, an orphaned heir to a wealthy family, had been cast out by his rich father as a child. After clawing his way up, he became a legendary, formidable figure known throughout the region. Anyone who knew him in Dongping City would respectfully call him “Master Xu.”

Lang Ge: “Master Xu, considering how close we are, shouldn’t you give me a discount and throw in a few more positions?”