Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Hollow in the Stone Mountain

Traveling along the path, most of the way was filled with first-class spirit beasts, making the journey not too perilous. Moreover, as long as the spirit beasts did not attack, the party refrained from engaging them as well; after all, their true aim was the vein of spiritual power.

Yet, by a certain muddy marsh, they were unexpectedly blocked by several second- and third-class Marsh Frogs. These frogs were innately aggressive, and their formidable Water Needle technique was exceptionally hard to counter. Shen Bingxue's Wood Armor spell combined with Li Mu's Fiery Gourd managed to slay them, but it drained their strength considerably. Nonetheless, from the body of the largest frog, they unearthed a second-class beast core—a rewarding find.

The stone mountains grew narrower, leaving only a slender path for people to traverse, picturesque in its charm. After winding through many twists and turns, just as the group was about to abandon hope, a hollow unexpectedly opened up ahead.

The hollow was about an acre in size, surrounded tight by stone mountains, deep as a pit, and above, only a narrow slit of sky could be seen. Entering from above was impossible.

With a glance, the hollow revealed lush, emerald stalks and connected greenery—plants of every hue, many of which were second-class medicinal herbs. There were so many varieties that even Shen Bingxue, a skilled alchemist, could not identify them all at first glance. For this was a land untouched by cultivation, where finding such mountain herbs was like discovering wild treasures, even better than the cultivated fields of Cloud Mountain Realm.

"Who could have imagined such a wondrous place hidden in these grimy mountains?" Shen Bingxue's eyes sparkled, her gaze lingering on the grasses before her, reluctant to look away.

The path leading here was filled with miasma monsters and black waters, eerie and terrifying. Only now did she truly feel a breath of beauty from the outside world.

Li Ying called out, wishing to step in, but Li Mu stopped her.

He shook his head. "Something feels off."

After several battles, Shen Bingxue was cautious as well. "The spiritual energy here is much purer than outside, but no spirit beasts dwell here—strange. There must be a powerful guardian spirit beast."

"There certainly is," Li Mu nodded, surveying the small hollow. "Yet the spiritual energy here, though pure, is not as abundant as in the common areas of Cloud Mountain Realm. It shouldn’t be able to nurture so many spirit herbs. And, Shen Alchemist, look closely—most of these herbs show signs of decay and withering."

Shen Bingxue observed carefully and indeed found many dead leaves among the grass. Her eyes flickered as she mused, "Perhaps this place once had a spiritual power vein, which birthed all these herbs, but as the vein waned, the herbs too began to wither?"

Li Mu nodded softly, sighing, "That may be so. Are we to leave empty-handed?"

As they discussed, several vines atop the stone outcrop parted, and a giant ape, several meters tall, emerged.

The ape's fur was half a meter long, giving it a formidable, mountain-like appearance, yet its movements were surprisingly agile. It used all four limbs to quickly enter the hollow, gazing at the dying herbs, pounding its chest, and letting out a mournful cry.

"That must be the guardian spirit beast of these herbs."

"Most spirit beasts would have left, yet it remains, unable to abandon them. Its grief is palpable—how pitiful."

Li Ying looked at the ape and murmured, "Shouldn’t we spare it, then?"

Watching his sister’s innocent expression, Li Mu smiled, "We won’t kill it, but we can’t let it drive us away. We must enter and have a look."

He pointed to a cave behind the vines. "The spiritual vein should be there. Though it’s depleted, the spirit gathering array should still function as a second-class array, enough to help you advance to the Qi Condensation stage."

"Alright," Li Ying replied, a bit displeased, fiddling with her sleeves and bowing her head.

At that moment, the ape turned to face them, its blood-red eyes fixed on the group.

A nameless aura slowly spread.

"Those eyes are unnatural—Wood Armor!"

Hearing Li Mu’s shout, Shen Bingxue reacted instantly, casting Wood Armor to form a protective shield before them.

Thump! Thump!

The ape sprang forward, pounding the Wood Armor with relentless force, as if beating a drum. The shield trembled for quite some time before finally settling.

Shen Bingxue’s face turned pale. She hurriedly swallowed a Qi Restoration pill. "It’s fierce, not an ordinary second-class spirit beast. I can barely hold on."

"You all stay inside."

Li Mu darted out from behind the Wood Armor, landing before the stone outcrop.

The ape fixed its gaze on Li Mu, chasing after him and pounding furiously, the hair on its head standing upright in rage.

"Strange. Apes aren’t usually this violent—they’re spirit beasts, but not easy to tame."

Sun Qi was right: apes are known to coexist peacefully with humans. Many reclusive cultivators keep apes as pets, ideal companions for travels.

But this ape was clearly different—consumed by rage.

Shen Bingxue shook her head. "I don’t know, but I sense malice—it’s hostile."

Li Mu pulled out a brass hammer, a treasured artifact he had never used, but now was the perfect moment.

The brass hammer emitted a yellow glow in Li Mu’s Qi Foundation stage hands, blazing like a sun as he attacked the ape.

The ape was dazzled by the light, unable to tear its gaze away, its expression wild.

Now was the time.

Li Mu flung a thick vine, swiftly wrapping it around the ape’s legs several times.

The ape stumbled and fell, but its strength was immense. With a roll of its eyes, it began to break the vine apart, soon ready to escape its bindings.

Li Mu moved even faster. With the Asura Sword, he struck, piercing the ape’s hand and pinning it to the ground.

Wounded, the ape became even fiercer. It yanked its hand free from the sword, leaving a gaping wound—horrifying to behold.

"Ah!"

The ape let out an earth-shattering roar of fury, leaping wildly, its fist flying at Li Mu with blinding speed, almost as fast as when he used spirit beast blood.

But Li Mu was not the inexperienced Wang Qi of old; he was prepared.

Suddenly, a flying shuttle appeared beneath his feet, lifting him several meters into the air, dodging the ferocious blow.

Rocks shattered and scattered everywhere.

The ape’s strike plunged directly into the stone, embedding half its body in the mountain.

Seizing the moment, Li Mu struck again with the Asura Sword, nailing the ape’s right leg firmly to the stone.

With nowhere to exert its strength, the ape could only glare at Li Mu with its blood-red eyes, letting out low, hoarse cries of "hu-ha."

Li Mu took a silk rope and bound the ape’s limbs tightly.

Shen Bingxue dismissed Wood Armor and approached slowly. "Had you used the Fiery Gourd, it wouldn’t have been so troublesome. Shopkeeper Li, do you intend to keep it?"

She understood well: had the Fiery Gourd been used, the ape would have posed no threat and the battle would not have been so taxing.

Li Mu nodded, "Something feels strange—the ape isn’t acting as it should. Let’s keep it for now. I’ll go in and have a look."

He said no more. During the fight, he could not remain calm; his blood kept boiling, and when the ape bled, he felt a strange sensation, as if there was some connection between himself and the creature. It made him ponder whether the spirit beast blood he consumed was somehow related to the ape.

Li Ying followed closely, wanting to touch the ape, but was frightened away by its ferocity. Yet she didn’t seem upset; her eyes betrayed a sadness beyond her years.