Chapter 78: Taming The Beast
The cultivator Xi Yun disseminated his energy into the world. Even though his training from the blending of qi and spirit was weaker than the training with his mind, his wish was granted and he transformed into an immortal fairy. However, before he became immortal, he was still a human being. Perhaps his body turned valiant, perhaps he cultivated into a set of supernatural powers, but in truth, his level of resistance had only increased slightly. In the past, there was always a limitation to how sharp the knives and swords could be, so the master cultivators had almost no regard towards normal harm.
However, how could a cultivator resist against the weapons of the modern age, even just for a short moment? Setting aside those weapons of ma.s.s destruction, could a cultivator even resist a standard Barret M82A1? The modern technology was a terrifying form of power. The equilibrium of the world was always being messed up continuously due to such power and had to be rebuilt again.
Shan Duan nodded in understanding. He chuckled and asked the skinny lad, “Your Excellency is from the Fortune Lane? Are the masters of the Fortune Lane and the people of the Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture relatives by marriage now?”
The skinny lad was stunned. Yet, he nodded and answered calmly, “We would have all been exterminated if we were not united! I can’t believe that there are still people in this world that knew the Fortune Lane. You are…”
The old monk Ji Fei spoke on behalf of the monk in a brotherly manner, “This is our good friend. He is master Shan Duan of the Great Mercy Temple!” Shan Duan peered at the old monk at a loss whether to cry or laugh, the old monk described him as if he was selling drugs.
In fact, the reputation of the Great Mercy Temple was very influential like the sun in the middle of the sky. Any cultivator would know the name, Shan Duan. The skinny lad roared with laughter as he said, “I can’t believe that b.i.t.c.h was right. The Great Mercy Temple really had a close relations.h.i.+p with the Wen clan. Xiu Er had only swallowed that silly fellow and it had troubled the old monk Shan Duan. If this was somewhere else, the divine monk would not even grace us with his presence even if Xiu Er had killed and left behind a trail of corpses!”
Shan Duan also had gooseb.u.mps all over his body upon hearing the name of ‘Xiu Er’. He shrugged it off ungracefully. He was not affected by the skinny lad’s mocking, “Wen Leyang does have some connection with us. However, you must clarify this. Your Excellency is a person from a n.o.ble family, but you have caused a cold-blooded ma.s.sacre, I am afraid that…”
Shan Duan did not manage to finish his sentence as the skinny lad interrupted him, “As long as ‘Xiu Er’ survives, I don’t mind!”
The skinny lad had a creepy appearance but he conducted himself in a very open manner and had a bold and uninhibited temperament. Similar to the Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, the Fortune Lane practiced an evil cultivation practice that was pa.s.sed down from the ancient times. They were proficient in taming beasts. Of course, this was not referring to the tigers and elephants but was referring to the legendary beasts in the world. Since young, the people of the Fortune Lane lived and ate together with their mounts. They empathize one another and they were as intimate as brothers. When their legendary beasts grew up, they would be at the owners’ disposal. It had once the cause of trouble for the cultivators. Nevertheless, the people of Fortune Lane were not very capable. Once their mounts were killed, they could only await their death.
Shan Duan roared in laughter as he gave a thumbs up, “Cool! Let me ask you, that toad of yours, what is it actually!”
At a side, Ji Fei said with a puzzled expression, “It is the sitting toad.”
The skinny lad peered at the old monk scornfully, “A sitting toad is a form of a lowly toad. How can you compare it with my Xiu Er? The sitting toad is nothing but a creature that grew up in a mud hole. On the other hand, my Xiu Er is a special breed that existed since the primitive ages. Its scientific name is the earth-shocking toad! Can’t you see the strands of golden threads on her body? You will never see those threads on a sitting toad. In a thousand years, Xiu Er will break out of her coc.o.o.n and she will evolve into the golden-earth divine frog, creating the universe and life…”
The manner the skinny lad exaggerated about the toad was similar to the Wen’s clan’s exaggeration about their grand master. There were no boundaries to his exaggeration.
The monk Shan Duan’s eyes brightened as he continued to question the skinny lad, “When was the last time this toad of yours stayed completely still?”
The skinny lad answered directly, “Nineteen years ago, Xiu Er broke through a demon spell and managed to advance to the next level, the primitive bloodline in her body was aroused…” As he was speaking he suddenly roared with laughter, “Are you saying that my Xiu Er will soon break through another demon spell and advance to another new level?”
Shan Duan lowered his head and pondered for a moment. Suddenly, he stretched out his hand and held the skinny lad. He turned around, walked out of the bamboo house to the giant toad that was sitting absent-mindedly on the ground and asked the skinny lad, “Take a look at it now, are there any changes?”
The skinny lad took one look and gave a heartbreaking scream, “Xiu Er…” He struggled hard while he screamed, oblivious to the iron silk wire of the Death Trademark that was biting deeply into his skin.
Shan Duan heaved a sigh. He stretched out his hand and swept onto the skinny lad’s body. Instantly, the exceptionally study iron metal wire, which could not be cut through even by a clamp, snapped and shattered. The skinny lad ran in quick strides to the front of his giant toad. With tender affection, he used his hand to softly caressed the toad’s webbed feet (Author’s note: The toad was too huge). After a long while, he turned around and said to Shan Duan, “It…it’s forehead had three strands of golden silk and now it’s gone! The golden silk on its body had also faded.”
Wen Buzuo did not understand, he faced Shan Duan uncouthly and asked, “Monk, what does the skinny lad mean?”
Shan Duan paid no attention to him. He turned away and explained to the few elders of the Wen clan, “This toad’s body contained….” He paused and thought for a moment, then converted his speech into the modern language, “I will put this simply, the golden threads on its body was due to its earth-burrowing characteristic that existed from primitive ages. However, the giant toad is degenerating now. Its earth-burrowing powers had almost disappeared! Back then when it was evolving, it did not move at all. Now that it has almost degenerated by one level, it would return to before and stay stagnant.”
Wen Buzuo’s spoke much faster than the four family elder, “What does that mean?”
Shan Duan laughed with complete confidence, “That means that someone is trying to take away the giant toad’s power!”
Fourth Elder Wen, who was usually steady, could not help but feel overwhelmed, “You are saying that Wen…Leyang? He is not dead yet?” He could not conceal his surprise in his speech.
With a troubled expression, Shan Duan said, “I am not sure. This is a rare occurrence.”
Wen Buzuo, being the one always full with ideas, gathered over and spoke secretively and quietly to Shan Duan, “Master, why don’t we open up the toad’s stomach, take a look at Wen Leyang’s condition, then we will know. However, you know that we are helpless in managing the toad’s stomach, I think you…” Before he could finish his sentence, skinny lad waved around his arm and surged forward, shouting, “I will fight you to death!’
Shan Duan was shocked as well, he waved his hand and summoned the other monks to pin down the skinny lad. He shook his head at Wen Buzuo, “We must not do that! If Wen Leyang was really in the state of nirvana in the toad’s stomach, doing this will definitely kill him!” As he was saying that he heaved a sigh, “It is true that this giant toad carries a strand of a primitive bloodline. However, my cultivation skill of ‘insight’ is not enough to see through it. Please wait for my master teacher to arrive. We can then clarify whether Wen Leyang is alive or dead. Nonetheless, I am of the opinion this is his creation moment!”
Wen Buzuo stomped his foot once, “When will your master teacher arrive?”
Shan Duan chuckled and answered, “He is attending to a small matter. It will only take him another day or two to arrive. Please stay calm and await his arrival.”
Wen Buzuo finally understood, “So, your idea is to…wait? Oh, after messing around for half a day, with all of you came rus.h.i.+ng over from Mount Emei… just to wait with the rest of us?”
Shan Duan smiled and nodded. The giant toad was still in an absent-minded state. It had no idea that many people in front of him were hoping to slash open its stomach.
Even though everybody felt frustrated, upon hearing Shan Duan’s speculation, their gaze s.h.i.+mmered with a strand of new hope. With the arrival of the monks, the disciples of Miao Bujiao could also temporarily preserve their lives. As for the Wen clan, considering that all the enemies who killed the dozen of the Death Trademark’s disciples had already been executed, they were willing to tolerate as long as Wen Leyang was fine.
Little Chili Pepper’s sorrowful expression started to fade. She walked towards the abbot Shan Duan and gave a respectful bow. She then told him the full story of what happened to Ah Dan and asked, “Master, take a look at Ah Dan, he…”
As Shan Duan listened, his expression became more curious. He spoke in amazement, “That child is a zombie corpse?” As he was saying that, he stretched out his hand and pulled Ah Dan who was trying to latch his ‘helmet’ onto the little stutter’s head. He bent over, his eyes were glazed with a jet of pure and innocent brightness, as he looked deeply into the eyes of Ah Dan.
Ah Dan was stunned for a moment and he had an expression that was similar to the toad. He stood unwaveringly and stared into the eyes of Shan Duan.
More than ten minutes had pa.s.sed, only then Shan Duan held out his palm and blocked their gaze. Ah Dan’s little plump face s.h.i.+vered and returned to normal. His eyes were filled with puzzlement as he frowned, not understanding what had happened.
As Shan Duan retracted his palm in preparation to speak, he let out an ‘ouch’,
As fast as lightning, Ah Dan slapped hard onto the monk’s nose. He then gestured with his arms and legs, trying to show that ‘this little fatty would not be easily bullied’.
The old monk Shan Duan was caught off guard as their faces were extremely close and Ah Dan’s palm was fast as lightning. The monk was struck right in the face. His eyes turned bloodshot and tears flowed down continuously. Shan Duan rubbed his nose as he roared with laughter, “I did not expect to meet two rare occasions in a day!” He laughed it off before taking a piece of tissue and wiped away his snot. He turned to Mumu and said, “This zombie baby is not dead now, nor is he alive.”
Mumu was stunned, “What is he then?”
“Half dead and half alive.” Master Shan Duan smiled faintly.