“Are you all unharmed?” Little Rascal widened his eyes in disbelief. Even he had faced several life-threatening encounters, nearly slain by the Ironblood Ancient Tree, yet these fellows seemed utterly at ease. Especially the Crimson Bird, who was strolling over leisurely with a roasted lamb leg in one wing, grease dripping from its beak, looking so carefree and smug that it made one want to punch it.
“Looking so battered—did someone beat you up?” the Crimson Bird teased.
*Clang!* Little Rascal yanked the Divine Smiting Stone off and smacked the Crimson Bird with it. The unruly stone immediately howled in pain, rolling on the ground. The Crimson Bird was stunned. It had been baring its teeth in mock aggression, but seeing the stone’s reaction, it couldn’t help but wonder—was its head really that hard?
But when it noticed the stone remained pristine and unblemished, then touched the massive bump on its own head, it exploded in fury. “What the hell are you screaming for?!”
“It hurts! I’m about to shatter! Your head’s like solid iron!” the stone wailed.
The Crimson Bird swallowed the lamb leg whole, leaped up, and stomped on the stone repeatedly. “A talking rock, huh? I’ll break you in half!”
“Save your strength,” Little Rascal warned. “This thing has dented the skulls of Flood Dragons and Zhujian—ancient ferocious beasts. You won’t crush it.”
“Damnable rock!”
The others, now curious, pressed for details. Little Rascal gave a quick rundown, leaving them all dumbfounded.
“By the way, where were you hiding? I saw you emerge from the void. Did you avoid the natives’ hunt these past two days?”
“It was dangerous at first, but we had a treasure that let us evade disaster easily.”
Their expressions turned animated as they recounted their adventures. Initially, they had roamed freely, gathering spirit herbs without fear, traveling alongside ancient descendants that deterred any threats. But when the beast tide erupted and the natives launched their brutal hunt, the entire realm plunged into bloody terror.
At first, they were nearly overwhelmed—Golden-Winged Pengs, Five-Colored Peacocks, Silver-Feathered Avian Kings, and a horde of terrifying golden monkeys descended upon them.
“Thankfully, Brother Luan had a Cloud-Piercing Boat, forged from his clan’s five-colored divine bones. It was fast enough to outrun the beast and avian kings.”
The Five-Colored Luan came from an ancient lineage, once a pure-blooded divine bird. Though their bloodline had weakened over time, their ancestral treasures remained.
“And thank the heavens for Princess Huo’s Divine Carpet—it cloaked us in the void, rendering us invisible.”
The carpet was crafted from the hide of an ancient Void Beast, imbued with mystical properties that concealed them from all detection.
Little Rascal, intrigued, hopped onto the massive carpet and found jade tables laden with roasted meat and berries. These guys were living the high life! He was speechless—he’d fought tooth and nail to reach them, nearly dying in the process, while they lounged in comfort.
“Don’t even think about stealing this carpet!” Huo Ling’er glared at him, well aware of his sticky fingers.
Little Rascal scratched his head sheepishly. “No need to be stingy. Touching it won’t make it lose a chunk.”
“This belongs to my father.”
Huo Ling’er, clad in a fiery red dress that shimmered with crimson radiance, had a figure far more mature than her age suggested—curves that outshone even those of older maidens.
“The Human Emperor’s treasure?!” Little Rascal’s mouth watered.
Indeed, this was a relic of the Fire Nation’s ruler, gifted to his beloved youngest daughter for protection. Such a legendary Void Beast hide was beyond rare.
“What exactly lies in the heart of these mountains?” Little Rascal mused.
The Flood Dragon, Bifang, Zhujian, and the purple-robed maiden had all ventured here with clear purpose.
“No idea. Those damned monkeys are terrifying! I tried sneaking in with the carpet but nearly got caught!” The Crimson Bird fumed. It had stealthily infiltrated the sealed grounds, only to be spotted by a monkey who yanked out its tail feathers, leaving its rear bare as it fled in disgrace.
“Wait—that creature with a leopard’s body, ox ears, and one eye… was that a pure-blooded Zhujian?” The Crimson Bird paled.
Little Rascal mentioned the divine birds and beasts he’d encountered, asking if they’d noticed their movements. The group groaned in frustration, even Huo Ling’er sighing in regret. The elders trembled, lamenting fate.
The Zhujian had been pursued by golden monkeys, losing a chunk of flesh that landed near the carpet. The Crimson Bird could’ve scooped it up with its black pot but ignored it, letting the monkeys scamper off with their prize.
“Enough regrets. We’ve only got a few days left in the Hundred Broken Mountains. Let’s focus on gathering spirit herbs and treasures.”
Little Rascal was particularly curious about the monkeys’ territory.
Two days later, he was certain something extraordinary lay hidden there. Why else would pure-blooded creatures like the Flood Dragon, Zhujian, Bifang, and the purple-robed maiden keep appearing?
Eventually, they formed an alliance, circling the central region with clear intent. They too possessed treasures to mask their presence, though occasionally they’d alert the monkeys and trigger a chase.
Others, like the Demon Willow and Shi Yi, moved cautiously, trying to approach the mountains. Even the massive Black Hound, the Crimson Bull from the lava, the Five-Colored Peacock, and the Golden-Winged Peng made appearances but kept their distance.
“What did these monkeys do to piss off so many?” the Crimson Bird muttered.
From their hidden vantage on the Divine Carpet, they observed for days. Eventually, they decided to act—they couldn’t leave without uncovering the monkeys’ secret.
The carpet floated through the void, carrying them closer to the sacred land. But they dared not approach too near—the monkey leader’s senses were terrifyingly sharp. Even the pure-blooded creatures, armed with ancestral treasures, had barely escaped his notice.
After a full day of cautious maneuvering through dense foliage, they glimpsed the heart of the territory: a paradise where spiritual energy misted like smoke, centered around a radiant, crystalline lake.
“That’s liquefied spiritual energy! No wonder these monkeys are so powerful—they’ve claimed such a treasure!”
The land brimmed with vitality, rare herbs, and glowing flora, like a scene from myth.
Near the lake stood four small trees, shimmering as if aflame.
“Are those… burning?” the Nine-Headed Lion wondered.
“No, they’re just too brilliant—their trunks and leaves glow like silver fire,” Little Rascal observed.
Each tree bore two or three silver peaches, tinged with gold, resembling divine jade carvings.
“I want to eat one,” Little Rascal drooled.
“Typical glutton,” Huo Ling’er rolled her eyes.
A faint, intoxicating fragrance wafted toward them.
“Could those be… the legendary Immortal Peach Trees?” the Fire Crow gasped.
“Just as I suspected—the monkeys guard a sacred herb,” the Divine Smiting Stone boasted.
“You knew and didn’t tell us?!” The group, led by the Crimson Bird, pounced on the stone in outrage.
“I wasn’t sure! And these aren’t fully matured sacred herbs yet!” the stone yelped, dodging blows.
It explained: the original Immortal Peach Tree, far older than the Spirit Blossom, had attempted to transcend its form but perished in the process, leaving behind four seeds infused with its essence. Now nourished by the spiritual lake, they were on the verge of becoming sacred herbs.
“Three will likely wither to empower the fourth, birthing a new sacred herb,” the stone added.
The group’s eyes gleamed—these were peerless treasures, one step from divinity, explaining the frenzy of the pure-blooded creatures.
“The peaches are nearly ripe—they can rebirth one’s flesh and bones.”
The Bifang, Flood Dragon, Zhujian, purple-robed maiden, Shi Yi, and even the Demon Willow were all here for them. Even the other kings of the Hundred Broken Mountains—the Golden-Winged Peng, Black Hound, Crimson Bull, and Five-Colored Peacock—lurked nearby.
“They’ll strike soon. I doubt the monkeys can hold out against so many.”
“Not necessarily. That lead monkey might be unbeatable—even the Peng is no match.”
A great battle loomed, destined to erupt over the four peach trees.
*Roar!*
From the mythic paradise, a monkey atop a giant multicolored bird charged forth, wielding a golden spear that split the mountains ahead.
Several beast kings leaped to meet it, roaring and unleashing runes and treasures.
“It’s begun!”
“The pure-blooded creatures are making their move—time to seize our chance!”
“What do we do? Fight?” the Crimson Bird and Nine-Headed Lion urged.
“Always with the violence. We’re here for the herbs, not the slaughter,” Little Rascal chided.
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