Refining the Mountains and Rivers

On a lonely peak in the mountains, all vegetation had been wiped out, leaving the land barren all around. Bright moonlight sprinkled down but this place still remained dark. It was like the surface of this lonely peak was able to absorb the moonlight.

When the three stalks of companion spirit grass fused together, a pair of blood red eyes flashed open in this darkness. They were incomparably deep, like two seas of blood, filled with endless ice and cruelty.

The lonely peak started to stir and flow. At this moment, one could see that a terrifyingly large snake was actually wrapped around it.

The snake's scales were as dark as ink. When moonlight fell on them, it was instantly absorbed. Its body was thick enough that several people would be needed to wrap their arms around it. Two bulges lay on top of its head, as if they were on the precipice of transformation.

This was a blood-eye ink snake. It was born with the ability to control the wind and rain and when its cultivation reached the peak, it could activate the thin true dragon bloodline within its body, evolving into a blood-eye black gold flood dragon. Not only would its strength rise but its lifespan would increase drastically.

This blood-eye ink snake was a great monster that had cultivated to the peak. It had already touched the threshold of transforming into a flood dragon.

That day, it had entered the distant mountains and hunted down a golden-crowned cloud crane, taking its inner core as a supportive item for its breakthrough. This had delayed it for some time and when it returned it had discovered that the three stalks of companion spirit grass it had regarded as being equally valuable to its own life had been plucked and taken away.

The blood-eye ink snake was violently enraged. However, it had been wounded when it killed the golden-crowned cloud crane. While these injuries weren't serious, it wasn't able to conceal its aura so it could only stay in the mountains for a night, vowing that it would tear apart whoever had stolen its companion spirit grasses the next day.

But that night, the blood-eye ink snake discovered something incomparably shocking. The aura of the three stalks of companion spirit grass that had been plucked away was constantly increasing - to be more exact, it was increasing at a wild rate. It simply couldn't imagine just what was happening.

When the sun emerged, it was then that this crazy rise stopped. To its amazement, the blood-eye ink snake discovered that the companion spirit grasses weren't too far from reaching maturity.

It had to be known that according to normal speeds, even if those spirit grasses were supported with all of its strength, they would need at least 30 years to mature.

For ten years of effort to pass in a single night, what concept was this?

The blood-eye ink snake changed its mind. It hid in the mountains, carefully observing the human that took the three stalks of companion spirit grass.

This human had no aura. Besides some slightly more formidable blood energy fluctuations, he seemed to be no different from an average person.

The only unusual thing was the wild pig that stayed by his side. It actually possessed considerable strength. Still, it couldn't compare with it.

How could a mortal make the companions spirit grass grow so rapidly?

The blood-eye ink snake felt as if it had come across some heaven-shaking secret. If its guess was correct, then in comparison the companion spirit grass wasn't worth anything at all.

The next night, the companion spirit grasses continued to grow. After protecting them for hundreds of years, the blood-eye ink snake had left a mark on them that couldn't be erased. Its senses absolutely weren't wrong.

This meant that the small and weak human was hiding some enormous secret on his body!

It had to obtain this secret!

After a third day of observation, the blood-eye ink snake was able to determine that this was just a normal human that wouldn't pose any threat to it.

Thus, it decided to wait. The blood-eye ink snake did this because it understood Qin Yu's thoughts; he wanted to eat the three stalks of companion spirit grass after they reached full maturity.

Once Qin Yu swallowed the spirit grass, the blood-eye ink snake would then swallow him; this was the same as gaining an additional furnace of flesh and blood. The medical efficacy would be at least 30% stronger.

At that time, it would be able to make its breakthrough and become a black gold flood dragon. Moreover, it would obtain the heaven-shaking secret hidden on that human's body.

And now was the time to seize all of this.

Roar -

The blood-eye ink snake howled into the skies. Dark clouds rapidly gushed out, covering the moon and making a heavy pall of rain to fall. A formidable aura broke free, causing countless monster beasts to lie prone on the ground, shivering.

Its massive body flew into the dark clouds, soaring straight to the mountain village!

…

The mountains had a complex climate that was always changing; it was common for wind and rain to suddenly appear. But at this time, after swallowing the three stalks of companion spirit grass, Qin Yu actually felt a trace of oppression. Although it wasn't obvious it still chased after him, seeping into his flesh and blood, causing him to instinctively feel fear.

He couldn't say for sure what had happened but it was likely related to the sudden storm of wind and rain outside. He subconsciously thought back to the cold aura that had gazed at him from the mountains. Then, a bolt of lightning flashed through his mind - tonight's wind and rain had been caused by the companion spirit grass' guardian monster beast!

Qin Yu fiercely looked up. Because of the companion spirit grass, his eyes shined with light. His gaze pierced through the house, the wind, the rain, and saw the massive blood-eye ink snake flying in the dark clouds!

At that moment, Qin Yu understood his situation. Once this monster snake arrived, not only would he die but he would drag the entire village down with him.

"Ahh!"

With a loud shout, blood vessels bulged on Qin Yu's neck. Without caring for how much it harmed him, he detonated the full strength of the companion spirit grass.

Like a volcano loudly erupting, a blazing flow of energy violently attacked the imprisonment formed from the annihilating strength of space.

Blood vessels burst in Qin Yu's eyes, turning them crimson. Blood began to flow out from his nose and mouth.

The imprisonment created by the annihilating strength of space started to tremble. Without any hesitation, Qin Yu stimulated the strength of the spirit grass and initiated a second impact. His body shook and a great deal of sweat mixed with blood drenched his clothes. His face turned pale.

Fighting spirit was roused by the first attempt, depleted by the second, and exhausted by the third!

After failing the first two times, Qin Yu knew he only had one final change remaining. If he couldn't break through the imprisonment of the annihilating strength of space, then today would be the day he died.

"I have fought and struggled throughout my entire life. Even if I am a tiger that has fallen into a den of sheep, that doesn't mean a little monster snake can kill me!

"Break for me! Break for me!"

With the third impact, Qin Yu spat out a mouthful of blood. At the same time, a light cracking sound spread out from his body.

Bang -

A formidable aura like a great beast awakening erupted from Qin Yu's body.

He flicked his sleeves and an invisible imprisonment arrived, covering the entire village and blocking out the wind and rain.

…

Within the dark clouds, seeing that the village was near at hand, the blood-eye ink snake couldn't help but stretch out its tongue. Because of its excitement, it gently shivered.

After tonight, not only would it be able to smoothly complete its transformation into a flood dragon but there was also a great chance it would obtain a heaven-shaking good fortune.

Its eyes swept over the village. Since it didn't want any record of tonight's events to be revealed, every person in this village had to die tonight. Even if it had to anger the surrounding cultivators, it would do so without hesitation!

Opening its mouth, the wind and rain roared even louder around it. Its swaying body soared straight towards the village. Like a meteor, it wouldn't even take several breaths of time to completely exterminate this village that had existed here for hundreds of years.

But at this time, the blood-eye ink snake's complexion changed. Its pupils violently shrank and it watched on helplessly as the violent storm was isolated outside by a formidable strength. It was like a great net had opened up, sheltering the village inside so that no outside force could attack it.

Shua -

A figure howled out from the barrier. His expression was faint and his eyes were deep and boundless, like they could contain the endless stars in the skies.

It was that human!

No, this was impossible. He was clearly an average person with no strength at all. How could he have such momentum, such presence…like a mountain that supported the skies, as if he could change the world's colors with a wave of his hand, as if he could reverse the yin and yang of life…as if he were a terrifying existence on par with the Great Dao realm!

Qin Yu opened his mouth and shouted out. Although his voice wasn't too loud, when it entered the ears of the blood-eye ink snake it was like a peal of thunder.

"Screw off!"

Pa -

Pa -

In that moment, countless scales shattered and blood sprayed out. The blood-eye ink snake pitifully screamed and turned to flee in fear and horror.

In its fl.u.s.tered panic its massive body struck a mountain peak, causing boulders to crash down. When these stones smashed into the barrier that protected the village, Qin Yu's complexion instantly paled.

After being purified and strengthened by the little blue lamp, the companion spirit grasses had become much more powerful than he imagined. They allowed Qin Yu to break through the imprisonment of the annihilating strength of space and restore a part of his cultivation.

But at this time, he could feel the strength quickly receding from his body. Qin Yu knew that the potency of the spirit grasses was fading. He turned his hand, took out the imperial spirit bag and opened it with the last traces of his magic power.

Buzz -

Purpleback bluewing ants howled out, lifting up Qin Yu's falling body. Luckily he was able to mentally communicate with these ants, otherwise if he fell from such a high distance, even if he didn't die he would be left half-dead.

But a certain other didn't have this treatment. With a loud crash, a deep pit was opened up in the ground. Even so, this other one was still deeply sleeping, as if he didn't discover his awkward situation at all.

Controlling the ants to let him off on the ground, Qin Yu looked at the sleeping chicken overlord with a helpless expression on his face. If this fellow could wake up, why would he be in such a difficult situation? To be unreliable in key moments, this was truly consistent with the chicken overlord's style!

The barrier that protected the village had vanished. Qin Yu couldn't naturally reveal himself. He looked up and said, "Go to the mountain and look for food on your own. Wait for my summons."

The ant swarm shot into the skies, soon vanishing from sight. Right now, this swarm of purpleback bluewing ants had strength comparable to that of the Calamity Immortal realm.

Even in this world where the cultivation standard was higher, Calamity Immortal cultivators shouldn't be cabbages that could be found at any random street stall.

Today, Qin Yu had finally gained a bit more safety.

Taking a deep breath and suppressing the stabbing pain in his body, he lifted up the chicken overlord and walked back to the Zhou Family's courtyard.