A terrifying beastly roar.
“Oww—owowowow—”
Fang Zhenbang felt dizzy and disoriented, quickly covering his ears as everyone exchanged bewildered looks.
This sound… why did it seem somewhat familiar?
The only bald member of the team—Shi Kong, the young secret disciple of Cloud Hermitage Temple who had been in seclusion for a thousand years—wrinkled his round face in thought: “Sounds like… a gorilla?”
Xuan Chengzi, the young Taoist priest from Supreme Purity Temple who shared similar extraordinary origins and millennium-long seclusion, had never gotten along with Shi Kong. He immediately retorted, “Seems like you monks can’t keep your six roots pure. Been to the zoo much?”
Shi Kong rolled his eyes. “This humble monk was tempering himself in the mortal world. Visiting the zoo was naturally part of the training.”
Xuan Chengzi rolled his eyes too. “Yeah right.”
Neither dared argue too much in front of Lin Yangfeng, so they quickly fell silent after this brief exchange. But their conversation made others realize—the beast’s roar did indeed resemble a gorilla’s call.
Fang Zhenbang said worriedly, “That roar carries tremendous intimidation. Just the sound waves alone are overwhelming. And some gorillas have terrible tempers. Clearly, there wasn’t just one just now… If they appear in an area with such dense Spiritual Energy, who knows what they might become. I suspect the previous squads might have fallen to these gorillas…”
All eyes turned to the White-haired Rat Spirit—Bai Lingling, who took human form as a thin, white-haired youth—awaiting his assessment.
Bai Lingling lightly fanned his nose, trying to discern the power level conveyed by those roars. His pupils involuntarily dilated as he said, “Spirit Power Level 7.8!”
At these words, Fang Zhenbang and the others were stunned into silence before exclaiming in unison, “7.8?!”
The current Spirit Power Level system had ten tiers, established after the Special Affairs Bureau’s formation by synthesizing information from ancient artifacts and various sect records.
Now in the Dharma Ending Era, since twenty years ago, the most powerful demons encountered by Special Affairs Bureau squads had only reached around Level 5. Even squad leaders barely reached Level 4. Dealing with Level 5 monsters typically required multiple squads working together, often with casualties before achieving extermination or sealing. Sometimes, members from established lineages had to request help from elders—though notably, even among ancient sects and families with millennia of heritage, their strongest members in recent centuries peaked around Level 7, with none exceeding Level 5 in the past twenty years.
As for Lin Yangfeng—his supreme position in the special forces, remaining as chief commander through multiple identity changes over a century, stemmed from his feat of slaying a Level 9 great demon seventy years ago.
Though severely wounded after that battle, Lin remained the only individual currently rated at Level 10.
Thus—
The power gap between Lin Yangfeng and other Special Affairs Bureau members wasn’t just a “wall”—it was an unfathomable chasm with no visible bottom.
In the past five years, the concentration of Spiritual Energy has been increasing worldwide. All law-abiding cultivators have seen their cultivation speed accelerate, with a few peak fifth-level practitioners gradually breaking through bottlenecks to reach the sixth level. However, at the same time, the number of unruly fifth-level entities has also been growing—even the Special Affairs Bureau can’t figure out where they’re coming from. Due to the short timeframe, the highest-level members of the Special Affairs Bureau’s major teams, who cultivate normally, still haven’t reached the fifth level.
And now, what are they hearing?
They’re hearing that the howling gorilla has been preliminarily assessed at a strength level of 7.8!
This means that among those present, the only one capable of subduing it is Lin Yangfeng.
Fang Zhenbang’s heart pounded wildly. As the deputy team leader, he knew Lin Yangfeng’s situation well. When Lin Yangfeng fought that ninth-level great demon, he was still at the tenth level. But as the Dharma Ending Age set in, the Special Affairs Bureau obtained fewer and fewer Spirit-infused foods, and thus provided less to Lin Yangfeng. His strength had undoubtedly declined over the years, and after so long, it was hard to say whether Lin Yangfeng could still exert power above the eighth level…
Suppressing his fear, Fang Zhenbang stepped forward, crouching slightly to stay a step away from the wheelchair. In a hushed voice, he asked, “Captain, can you handle it?”
Lin Yangfeng gave a slight nod.
Fang Zhenbang relaxed slightly.
Only then did Lin Yangfeng speak: “Let’s go. Up we go.”
The other team members, hearing this, also suppressed their doubts and gathered together. Even Shi Kong and Xuan Chengzi, who usually clashed due to their Buddhist and Taoist differences, cooperated without issue.
Then, Lin Yangfeng maneuvered his wheelchair forward.
Within minutes, they approached the foot of the mountain, its full form now visible before them.
Near the mountainside, a stream of water cascaded down, pooling at the base to form a river that flowed westward, gurgling incessantly as it stretched into the distance—straight toward the direction of the several flooded small towns. The surging water, stubbornly flowing in that direction, was precisely what had caused the disaster.
Lin Yangfeng scanned the area expressionlessly and soon spotted a rocky path—not man-made, but formed by smooth, protruding rocks that extended upward in a staggered line. The stone surfaces were mottled, dotted with small protruding rocks, allowing one to climb up.
But it was a climb, not a walk.
For the other team members, this wasn’t a problem, but for Lin Yangfeng, his wheelchair couldn’t simply roll up.
Seeing this, the team members hesitated.
Lin Yangfeng ignored their concerns and simply said, “Move.”
Fang Zhenbang hesitated. “But—”
The next moment, all the team members’ eyes widened in shock.
Because Lin Yangfeng’s wheelchair… was floating.
—What the hell???
Yet, no matter how much they couldn’t believe their eyes, Lin Yangfeng’s wheelchair landed soundlessly on the first rock. Then, in a flash, it reached the second, then the third, the fourth… Before anyone realized it, Lin Yangfeng had already ascended over twenty meters, climbing higher and higher.
Snapping out of their daze, the team members hurriedly nudged each other and began scrambling up on all fours.
…Compared to their captain’s effortless grace, their own movements looked rather undignified.
After climbing over these rocks, a disorderly grove of trees came into view, with waves of delicate fragrance wafting through the air. Looking up, one could see clusters of osmanthus trees of varying heights and thicknesses scattered everywhere. Their golden blossoms formed a radiant sea, glowing brightly even amidst the dim forest shadows.
To the right of this grove, the trees grew shorter, allowing passage. Lin Yangfeng turned his wheelchair in that direction, gliding forward as the rest of the team followed. Suddenly, the keen White-haired Rat Spirit urgently called out, “Captain, everyone—wait a moment!”
At his words, Lin Yangfeng paused, and the other team members turned to Bai Lingling.
The rat spirit swiftly darted into the grove, rummaging beneath an osmanthus tree before returning with several stone-like objects, which he handed to Lin Yangfeng.
“Captain, look—there’s so much gold here!”
Everyone examined the “stones” Bai Lingling had brought. Indeed, though coated in dull dust, a quick rub revealed a dazzling golden gleam—real gold, and of remarkably high purity.
But the question arose—why was there gold beneath osmanthus trees?
Lin Yangfeng gestured. “Search around.”
Understanding his intent, the team scattered to inspect other trees. Strangely, many osmanthus trees had gold beneath them, and older trees with hollow trunks often held even more inside.
It was well known that gold freshly mined from ore contained impurities and lacked such brilliance until refined. But these nuggets were different—exceptionally pure, just slightly below the quality of Pure Gold Nuggets. Such high-purity gold was rare, yet here it lay in abundance. A quick search yielded handfuls for each member, every piece astonishingly pure once the dust was wiped away.
Who didn’t love gold in these times? Unable to resist, each teammate gathered seven or eight pieces—not for lack of wanting more, but for lack of space to carry them.
Lin Yangfeng didn’t stop them but refrained from taking any himself. Once they finished, he led them onward, continuing their ascent.
The mountain wasn’t particularly steep. Beyond the osmanthus grove lay exposed rocky slopes, cliffs, and boulders, stretching in patches. As they climbed, Bai Lingling suddenly grabbed a rock and yanked hard—
Perhaps too hard. The rock came loose, but with nothing to grip, Bai Lingling tumbled backward. With a panicked cry, he transformed mid-fall into a white-furred rat, claws scrabbling frantically until he landed safely on a small protruding ledge. Still, he managed to clutch the dislodged rock tightly.
Fang Zhenbang and the others gasped, shouting—
“That was way too dangerous!”
“What were you thinking? Don’t go wild while climbing!”
“Careful!!”
Bai Lingling exhaled, hopping up a few steps to steady himself on the rocky ground. He then held up the stone, rubbing it vigorously with his sleeve. “Look at this—it’s jade! Top-quality jade!”
The team members were stunned once again—what? But none of them doubted Bai Lingling, as this guy had a real knack for treasure hunting. What humans couldn’t detect was child’s play for him.
Under Bai Lingling’s guidance, the team members were astonished to discover that the entire stretch of rocks were actually Jade Rough Stones, rich with abundant jade deposits. The quantity was so substantial that it could be considered one of the most prosperous jade mines discovered to date. Many of the stones even had thin outer layers, revealing the fine-textured jade inside with just a slight rub. It was easy to imagine how effortless mining here would be.
The team members exchanged glances, somewhat speechless.
They had come here to search for their missing teammates, yet first, they stumbled upon gold scattered everywhere, and now, an entire jade mine. While overjoyed, an eerie feeling crept into their hearts.
The gold and jade were real—could it be that the missing people had been so tempted by wealth that they lingered here, unwilling to leave? But that didn’t make sense. Ordinary people might succumb to such temptation, but the elites sent on this mission should have at least reported back, right?
Suddenly, the team members recalled the gorilla cries they had heard earlier below. Yet, after climbing halfway up the mountain, they hadn’t seen a single gorilla.
Could it be that the gorillas were further up the mountain?
This time, Lin Yangfeng didn’t give them time to dig for jade. Instead, he simply ordered, “Keep moving.”
The team members immediately sensed the impatience in his tone and didn’t dare disobey. They followed behind him, watching as the heavy wheelchair floated up and down, swiftly ascending higher.
·
Liu Yichen carried the rabbit to his car and placed it in the passenger seat, his emotions in turmoil. Was this rabbit really his assistant? But no matter how he looked at it, it was just a rabbit!
Growing up, he had heard countless legends, but he never imagined they would unfold right beside him.
For a moment, Liu Yichen had no idea what to do with his assistant. A part of him even doubted—was the shop owner just playing a joke on him? Jing Xiaorou… could she really be a rabbit?
But such thoughts were quickly shattered.
As the rabbit settled into the passenger seat, a faint glow flashed, and in its place appeared a petite, lovely young girl—it really was Jing Xiaorou!
Liu Yichen swallowed hard, abruptly turning his head to focus on driving, refusing to look at Jing Xiaorou.
Jing Xiaorou’s face was deathly pale. She stared at Liu Yichen, as if wanting to explain herself, but the words stuck in her throat. How could she explain? Should she say she had stayed by his side without ill intent, simply because she liked him and wanted to take care of him? But even if she said that, would Yichen believe her? Having lived in the human world for some time, she knew all too well the human belief that “those not of our kind must have ulterior motives.” No matter what, now that Yichen knew she was a Rabbit Demon, a rift had formed between them—one that would be hard to mend.
If Jing Xiaorou’s regret during the life-and-death moment had been her recklessness leading to her demise, her regret now ran even deeper—she regretted provoking trouble for no reason, regretted revealing her true form in front of Liu Yichen… so many regrets.
Jing Xiaorou’s lips trembled, but in the end, she didn’t utter a single word.
Liu Yichen escorted Jing Xiaorou back to her residence before driving home himself.
Watching Liu Yichen’s car disappear into the distance, Jing Xiaorou’s eyes reddened, her pupils suddenly turning blood-red, revealing a trace of her demonic nature.
In the past, she would have been staying in Yichen’s guest room…
Blinking away two streams of tears, Jing Xiaorou turned abruptly and retreated to her room. At this moment, her heart burned with hatred for that shop owner. She pulled out her phone and dialed a mysterious number—if she couldn’t handle it, she’d find someone who could!
“Sister Hu, I’ve met someone…”
“Yes, lots of good stuff, overflowing with Spiritual Energy!”
“I almost got killed, and now Yichen won’t even talk to me. You must avenge me.”
“I can’t do it, but if it’s you, Sister Hu, you’ll definitely find a way.”
“Mhm, yes, on that street—Jade Accumulation Studio. Let’s meet there soon!”
“I believe there isn’t a single man in this world who can escape Sister Hu’s grasp…”
Ten minutes later, Jing Xiaorou stood before the locked vermilion gates of Jade Accumulation Studio with a voluptuous woman in tow. The shop was completely empty.
The woman’s face was stunningly beautiful. Any star-chaser would have screamed and swarmed around Hu Bingqing—a multiple-award-winning actress—yet despite making no effort to conceal her appearance, passersby didn’t even glance their way, let alone fall under the spell of her beauty.
The alluring woman tossed her long hair, her crimson lips parting in a bewitching smile. “Interesting. Don’t dwell on it for now. I’ll come back when the shop owner returns.”
Jing Xiaorou was disappointed but didn’t dare protest—this had always been Sister Hu’s temperament, straightforward and true to her word. If she said she’d come, she would. The three-hundred-year-old Rabbit Demon knew better than to test Hu Bingqing’s patience—she was just an errand girl here, pinning her hopes on Hu Bingqing’s ability to overpower that shop owner.
Hu Bingqing paid no mind to Jing Xiaorou’s petty thoughts, merely flashing her a sultry smile and running her red tongue lightly over her lips.
Jing Xiaorou shuddered, suddenly remembering—this Sister Hu’s true form… was also her natural predator.
·
Lin Yangfeng’s group gradually passed the mountainside. The higher they climbed, the more they found gold and jade deposits everywhere, with the gold above growing increasingly dazzling as the dust on its surface thinned. The jade’s outer layers seemed peeled away by mountain winds, revealing more and more exquisite gemstones.
Between steep cliffs and chaotic rock formations, slender stems and leaves resembling chives sprouted from crevices. Clusters of wild grass along the path were interspersed with the same delicate blades, their tips adorned with blue flowers scattered throughout, lending a fragile beauty to the landscape.
However, as the disorderly rocks multiplied, the path became less distinct. Numerous osmanthus trees grew in scattered locations, blending with the boulders to create a labyrinthine effect.
As they walked, they soon found themselves struggling to locate the upward trail.
The team members were physically strong and possessed special abilities, but after walking for so long without finding any clues about the missing people, both their stamina and spirits were exhausted, making it hard to move their legs.
Lin Yangfeng didn’t say anything, but his wheelchair came to a stop as his gaze settled on a cluster of thin grass growing from a nearby crevice in the rocks.
This grass looked familiar—had he eaten it before? Yan Zhen had prepared it for him. Though it was just a few leaves, consuming them had eased his hunger. However, he had never seen this type of grass anywhere else. Now, here it was. Where had Yan Zhen gotten it from? If this grass was unique to this mountain, did that mean Yan Zhen had been here before?
At this thought, Lin Yangfeng’s brow furrowed. No, the timeline didn’t add up.
His expression darkened, and he felt increasingly irritated. That Yan Zhen was strange through and through. He really wanted to flip the man upside down and shake him to see what secrets would spill out.
Seeing Lin Yangfeng stop, the team assumed he had decided to take a break with them. Quickly, they found spots to sit, some massaging their legs, others pressing their temples, all trying to relieve their fatigue.
A few minutes later, under Lin Yangfeng’s lead, they resumed climbing the mountain and searching for traces of the missing. But this time, after circling the area a few times, they realized with surprise that they were going in circles—they hadn’t actually ascended the mountain at all.
Lost? That was ridiculous. How could they possibly be lost?
·
At the foot of the mountain, a slender figure slowly made his way upward.
Strangely, whenever rocks lay in his path, they eagerly rolled to his feet, allowing him to step on them effortlessly. When he encountered a stream, the waters parted on their own, revealing a damp path for him. And when he reached the woods, all the trees shifted aside, creating a clear “forest trail” for him to pass through with ease.
Thus, his steps light, he had already passed the halfway point up the mountain.
Author’s Note: You guys are really something! All you think about is cooking! If someone didn’t know better, they’d think I was writing a food novel!!!
It’s about a mountain waking up, but this mountain is different from the old one. The old mountain was unique—a mountain capable of bearing itself (a mountain with sentience). So here’s the question: What kind of mountain is this one? Any guesses?