Chapter 42: The Squirrel Leaps to Tiandu

Chapter 42: The Squirrel Leaps to Tiandu “Let’s count on you to become the first Pine Leaf Monster King of our sect! Junior Brother, are you heading to see Elder Mo now?” “If you are, we can go together. I also have something to ask Elder Mo for assistance with.” “Sure,” Lin Jing agreed, deciding that there was no time like the present to inquire about obtaining a Beast Space Artifact. The Pine Leaf Mouse, upon hearing this, immediately perked up. It didn’t care about becoming a Monster King, but the allure of a space artifact was irresistible. “Alright, let’s go. On the way to Lotus Peak, I’ll show you some of the inner sect’s scenic spots,” Ouyang offered. “Are we walking there, Senior Brother? When can we ride a celestial crane? Do we have to wait until we become True Disciples?” Lin Jing asked casually. “Riding those cranes isn’t free! You need Spirit Stones. Even errand disciples can ride them if they pay. Without Spirit Stones, even True Disciples can forget about it—the crane clan is under the sect master’s wife’s protection!” Lin Jing already knew this but wanted to see if Ouyang was the type to splurge on luxuries. He certainly wouldn’t mind hitching a ride if he could avoid the trek. Both being thrifty, they opted to walk. However, as cultivators, even without using techniques like Wind Walking, their pace was swift. --- On the suspended bridges shrouded in mist, Ouyang introduced Lin Jing to the sights along the way. “Over there is the Nine Dragons Waterfall.” Lin Jing looked toward the roaring cascade. It thundered down the green cliffs like nine white dragons tumbling from the heavens, creating a magnificent spectacle. “The Nine Dragons Peak is known for its unique Dragonblood Carp. If one manages to leap over the waterfall using only their own strength during the Qi Refining stage, they can succeed in establishing their foundation and transform into a fish-dragon,” Ouyang explained. “My visit to Elder Mo today is related to the pet beast I hope to contract after my Foundation Establishment...” --- “See that purple mist rising in the distance? That’s Purple Cloud Spring.” “What’s it for?” Lin Jing asked, curious, as he hadn’t come across it in any texts. “It’s a hot spring that many female disciples love to use for bathing. Don’t wander there—it’s a matter of life and death,” Ouyang warned, grinning. --- “That’s the Hundred Step Cloud Ladder...” --- “We’re nearing Lotus Peak now. Oh, look—there’s the ancestor of your Pine Leaf Mouse.” As they passed Cloud Cultivation Peak, Ouyang pointed out a peculiar rock formation. The Pine Leaf Mouse glared at him, its expression accusing: "You with those thick brows and big eyes—are you insulting squirrels now?" “Look carefully. He’s not mocking you,” Lin Jing said, turning his gaze toward the peak. On a modest summit stood a strange rock resembling a Pine Leaf Mouse, its tail extended as though attempting to leap across the immense gorge and ascend the towering Tiandu Mountain, one of the Beast Taming Sect’s main peaks. “That’s truly your ancestor,” Lin Jing confirmed. The Pine Leaf Mouse tilted its head, confused: "???" Lin Jing elaborated, “Didn’t they teach you spiritual beast history in the sect? Especially about your own lineage?” “Not in such detail...” Ouyang interjected from the side. Lin Jing continued, explaining to the Pine Leaf Mouse, “Long ago, your species wasn’t part of the Beast Taming Sect. The Pine Leaf Mice were an ordinary species, with only a slim chance of awakening intelligence.” “Facing harsh environments and numerous predators, one Pine Leaf Mouse sought a way out for its tribe. It secretly climbed to the Beast Taming Sect, hoping to seek immortality and protection for its kin.” “There, it met an immortal on Tiandu Peak. The immortal gave it a challenge: if it could leap from Cloud Cultivation Peak to Tiandu Peak, he would teach it his arts.” “Your ancestor began practicing daily, attempting to leap to the high peak and earn the immortal’s guidance.” “But legend says it never succeeded. Eventually, it turned into stone, forever frozen in its jumping posture.” “Although it failed the trial, the immortal admired its unwavering determination and took the Pine Leaf Mouse tribe under his wing. He elevated their bloodline, laying the foundation for their future status as one of the sect’s five foundational spiritual beasts.” Lin Jing had read this account in the sect’s records. That so-called “immortal” was likely one of the Beast Taming Sect’s ancestors—not a true immortal, but close enough in the eyes of a Pine Leaf Mouse. Hearing this tale, the Pine Leaf Mouse was momentarily stunned. “Junior Brother, you’re impressively well-read,” Ouyang praised. “You must have spent a lot of time in the library during your time in the outer sect.” “I did. I enjoy reading—it’s a good way to learn about the world,” Lin Jing replied. “Read ten thousand books, and you’ll fear no journey across the land.” “True, but here’s something you probably didn’t know,” Ouyang teased. “What’s that?” “The immortal on Tiandu Peak wasn’t a human—it was one of the sect’s guardian deities, and it’s still here!” “I mentioned before that starting with the second sect master, the Beast Taming Sect abandoned the old ways of enslaving spirit beasts. Disciples began forming equal partnerships with their beasts.” “The second sect master loved making friends. That ‘immortal’ was one of his closest companions during his lifetime.” Searᴄh the ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. “When the second sect master passed away, they made a pact—not a Beast Taming contract—to guard the sect for ten thousand years, aiding it in times of crisis. In return, the sect gifted Tiandu Peak, one of its most spiritually abundant mountains, as a place of cultivation.” “Today, only the current sect master, the fifth, is at the Nascent Soul stage. The other Nascent Soul elders are actually the pets of the third and fourth sect masters. These monster kings have longer lifespans than human cultivators due to their unique races.” “But the guardian deity on Tiandu Peak is the only one who remains without a Beast Taming contract. It has never intervened in any crisis, spending all its time cultivating in seclusion. Most disciples—True Disciples included—don’t even know of its existence.” “So, it’s essentially a guest elder,” Lin Jing surmised. This Beast Taming Sect truly felt like a “demon den.” Nearly all Nascent Soul-level beings were monster kings. It was both impressive and terrifying—he definitely needed to visit the Hidden Dragon Academy. Wait, if only the sect master was at the Nascent Soul stage, wouldn’t that mean the one protecting him in the academy might be a monster king?! “Senior Brother Ouyang, you’re quite knowledgeable yourself,” Lin Jing complimented, brushing aside the sect’s oddities for now. “Not at all. What I wanted to share is that the guardian deity once made a promise to the Pine Leaf Mouse tribe,” Ouyang revealed. “What kind of promise?” “If a descendant of the Pine Leaf Mouse can inherit its ancestor’s determination and successfully leap from Cloud Cultivation Peak to Tiandu Peak, the promise still holds—it will teach them its arts.” “However, over the years, the sect has seen many Foundation Establishment Pine Leaf Mice try and fail. The skies above Tiandu Peak have a strong suppression aura, making a normal leap impossible.” “Eventually, the promise was dismissed as unrealistic. The sect master suspects the guardian deity was never serious about teaching and simply set an impossible challenge.” “That said, you can still try—who knows, you might succeed. The difficulty supposedly scales with the cultivator’s level, so anyone can attempt it, regardless of their strength.” As Ouyang finished, they watched in shock as the Pine Leaf Mouse pulled out a large red leaf from its storage pouch and soared into the sky toward Tiandu Peak using Leaf Flight. Ouyang was dumbfounded. “Your Pine Leaf Mouse can fly on a leaf?!”