Chapter 107: Zoologist: Unless Refined, Then Monstrous

Ye Qin in the mountains still didn't know that, due to his breakthrough, the heavenly and earthly qi spread out, even the villagers at Mountain Foot received a good influence.

It was as if an intangible layer of a special halo had been added to the surroundings.

This buff hasn't reached the point of exaggerated longevity, but it can make them feel refreshed; minor ailments can be ignored, like Sun Zhenbang.

The duration is about a day; outsiders inside it find it hard to notice, merely feeling that the air today is a bit fresher.

The villages at Mountain Foot are the same, let alone the mountains; on that day the animals seemed to become more lively, running back and forth, leaping through the hills and fields.

Between the jungles, greenery is lush, vitality bursting; the green on the leaves is so translucent it almost drips water.

Crystal-clear dewdrops slid down along the veins and fell onto a passing small squirrel; its fluffy big tail twitched at once.

The insect chirps and bird calls never ceased; after being infused with vitality, those sounds were brighter than before, rising and falling, and those unaware might think a concert was being held here.

The animals' bodies were agile, leaving afterimages in the air as they passed, stretching their postures; their fur was glossy and smooth, showing their lives were clearly good.

Even many nocturnal creatures came out in broad daylight; their pea‑sized eyes were bright and alert, their mental state even better.

At this moment Ye Qin was still in the tomb; his Qi Pill had just succeeded, and he was continually consolidating, the innate qi around him becoming more rich and active.

Even though he had cultivated for several days and nights, he felt no fatigue at all; both body and mind were at their peak.

Intangible qi washed over his body inside and out; each scale seemed to have been cleansed, suffusing with a mysterious water‑light, a color so exquisite it defies description.

Within it also leaked a hint of sharpness; each scale emitted a trace of chill, making one feel awed.

If someone stumbled upon a great snake coiled in the tomb, they would surely be astonished; even the dark tomb interior would be tinged with a strange marvel.

Within Ye Qin's body, that tiny Qi Pill is the source of power, repeatedly surrounded by mist, filled with unfathomable mystery and secrecy.

His other organs were also affected, renewed, carrying a faint glimmer.

After a full cycle of internal circulation, his interior instantly brimmed with power, as if he had inexhaustible strength; Ye Qin violently flicked his tail, and a fierce wind surged forth like a blade, instantly scattering dust.

If that tail really struck the ground solidly, it could probably carve out a depression.

After sensing that his Qi Pill was thoroughly consolidated, Ye Qin opened his eyes again; his deep serpent pupils flashed with a faint golden light.

"It seems this harvest is quite abundant."

I never expected the chain reaction's effect to be this great; it not only lifted his state of mind but also brought a breakthrough in his Cultivation Level, successfully condensing into a Qi Pill.

The greatest contributor was the Shangqing Temple held in White Bone's hand, which played a major role here.

Ye Qin's thought moved, and the Origin Contemplation Object appeared again.

On the ground appeared a human projection; White Bone and the Shangqing Temple, judging by appearance, showed no great change.

After all those marvels faded away, the Daoist temple remained as before, half‑old half‑new, seemingly without anything special.

Ye Qin emitted a thread of mental power, yet sensed no abnormal presence.

Before this Ye Qin didn't know the temple's function, but after the incident of Zuoci discussing the Dao, he faintly perceived some clues.

The Daoist temple does not feed back to strengthen itself, yet it contains a special Divine Ability method.

Ye Qin's gaze fell once more on the Daoist temple.

"Since it helped me enter the first time, can I enter the mottled ages a second time?"

Previously Ye Qin was passively pulled in, as if he had accidentally touched its switch, creating an opportunity, thus this unique journey occurred.

After figuring out the principle behind it, he wanted to actively enter that special mental realm again.

If he could reactivate the Daoist temple's bridge function to bring him to another time fragment, thereby cultivating insights, it would not only save time but also be a trial for him.

Ye Qin focused his mind and stilled his qi, trying to communicate with the Daoist temple, but the information transmitted to him was blank; the mental power's feedback was extremely scarce.

It was as if one‑sided contact had been cut off; the Daoist temple gave no feedback, no matter how much mental power Ye Qin poured in, it was like sinking into the sea.

"Surely shortcuts aren't that easy; if they could be opened casually, wouldn't that be too monstrous?"

"Moreover, having completely severed any connection and perception, I suppose this mottled age fragment left in the tomb can be entered only once before it dissipates."

"I just don't know what other special places could retain such mottled ages."

Ye Qin wasn't discouraged; he had already made mental preparations, for if success came that easily, cultivation would be as simple as drinking water.

In the world there are hardly any shortcuts to take.

Just like this time, his reaching Zuoci's spacetime was also due to many factors; evidently wanting to reopen the Daoist temple also entails certain conditions and limits.

Even if he were the master, he could not do as he pleased, after all the ability to enter a time fragment is excessively heaven‑defying.

Where there is cause there is effect, yet time itself is the most elusive existence.

Although he failed, Ye Qin also did not give up; since there was a first time, there will surely be a second, he must figure out the principle behind it.

"Since it doesn't work here, what if I go to the real‑world Daoist temple to have a look?"

The Daoist temple in White Bone's hand was based on his contemplation of the real‑world Shangqing Temple; tracing back to the source, perhaps he could obtain the answer Ye Qin seeks there.

"If that's the case, I really should go see; maybe there will be new discoveries."

Ye Qin is a man of action; seeing the sky gradually darken, he also prepared to go down the mountain to the Daoist temple.

Since his build now draws enough attention, Ye Qin either takes side paths or chooses places with more greenery and vegetation.

Ye Qin's speed is great; what originally took a day and night to reach the Daoist temple now consumes only half a day.

"Too bad he can't ride clouds and mist; otherwise it would be faster."

Looking at the not‑far Shangqing Temple, Ye Qin clearly felt it differed from before; previously when he arrived, this place was remote and desolate.

Now vehicles often pass by, the road has been refurbished, car horns blare nonstop, actually adding some liveliness.

This is completely different from the scene he saw before.

After more than a year, the once abandoned Daoist temple that no one cared about has transformed into a notable local building, with a dragon‑long queue stretching from the temple even to the roadside.

It also became a hot‑spot check‑in place, drawing crowds online.

Thus many outsiders hear of it and drive thousands of miles to come burn incense and pay respects.

As time passes, the heat has waned and the flow of people is no longer as exaggerated as before, yet the incense remains thriving.

After all, the old Daoist also has genuine ability; riding this wave of east wind, he has made the Daoist temple flourish day by day, no longer the precarious state it once was.

Fortunately, the nearby green belt was dense, giving Ye Qin cover; otherwise, appearing so openly would surely cause panic.

He did not enter the Daoist temple, after all, the place was crowded with many eyes, and there were plenty of worshippers inside, making it easy to spot him.

To avoid trouble, Ye Qin chose a semi-slope with relatively high terrain, where he had previously succeeded in his contemplation.

From here he could take in the entire Daoist temple at a glance.

Incense smoke curled lazily; from afar, the temple's outskirts seemed veiled in a faint mist, showing how flourishing its incense was.

All this is thanks to the opportunity Ye Qin once gave the temple, allowing it to develop to its present state.

In a sense, Ye Qin brought about the present Shangqing Temple.

Likewise, the Shangqing Temple shaped Ye Qin.

After all, when he first came here he had no qi pellet in his body; now, returning, both his state of mind and cultivation level have changed.

Good karma bears good fruit.

To him it was merely a trifle, something he could even overlook, but for the Shangqing Temple it was a reversal of fortune, turning the whole situation around.

As for the Daoist priest, that morning's sermon was just another ordinary day among tens of thousands, yet it thereby helped Ye Qin attain enlightenment.

"The vicissitudes of life are unpredictable; perhaps that is where the wonder lies—a careless seed can grow into what we see today."

Whether for the real Shangqing Temple or for him, it was a win-win situation.

Ye Qin felt quite moved, but he had not forgotten the purpose of this visit.

He summoned the Origin Contemplation Object—a delicate miniature of the Daoist temple held in White Bone's hand—standing opposite the actual temple.

One large, one small—they appeared quite harmonious.

Ye Qin's mental power spread throughout the surroundings; any fluctuation in the nearby space or magnetic field was sensed by him instantly.

But the two seemed to produce no reaction.

He calmed his mind and focused his senses, yet still found no trace.

Originally Ye Qin thought that, since his contemplation object was based on the actual Daoist temple, there might be a special response here.

As of now, there has been no effect.

"Could it be that the time is insufficient? The duration of their contact is not long? Or perhaps there is another reason?"

For a moment, Ye Qin's mind filled with various speculations.

But fortunately he had plenty of time to verify.

Ye Qin decided to stay here a few more days to see if he could fathom its mysteries; besides, staying here would not affect his cultivation, it was merely a change of venue.

If he could clarify the true function of the Daoist temple and how to open the mysterious bridge, it would certainly be a good thing.

Although more people have come to this area lately, most are headed for the temple, and since there are still many undeveloped spots nearby, ordinary folk rarely venture here.

Worshippers would not come here for no reason, so Ye Qin need not worry about being disturbed.

His gaze fell on the Daoist temple not far away, tinged with inquiry and doubt.

Will he find the answer this time?

……

On the horizon a red sun rose slowly, while rosy clouds like myriad golden threads wove across much of the blue sky, their golden radiance now unstoppable.

Darkness could only retreat, hidden beneath the firmament in the sunlight's glow, quietly awaiting the arrival of the next night.

After Ye Qin left his own hilltop, everything remained as usual, unchanged.

But on the other side of the mountain range, this place is far from human habitation, already beyond the limits of Wu Du; even the nearby villagers no longer come here, yet now a group of uninvited guests has arrived.

The leader, nonchalant with a cigarette dangling from his lips, gazed at the distant mountain and asked, "Is this the place?"

His follower behind him, perceptive, stepped forward and quickly lit his cigarette, saying, "This is it."

Judging by their clothing and gear, they seemed like mountain‑trekking backpackers, yet their expressions did not quite match that.

The area is mountainous, with ranges stretching endlessly, all interconnected.

To avoid drawing attention, they deliberately took a long detour, choosing this spot to ascend the mountain, clearly intending to keep some secret hidden.

Most of these people are around thirty years old, with sturdy builds.

Even on rugged mountain paths, their footing was steady; after walking such a distance, their breathing remained even, without a hint of panting—showing they possessed some skill.

"I don't know what happened to Fifth Master and his crew—they not only failed but were wiped out entirely, infuriating the boss to the point that his signboard might as well be smashed in their hands."

"Everyone says he's too old, refuses to act his age, and when it's time to retire, lacking that diamond drill, he insists on taking on this porcelain job—now he's even ruined himself."

"Most importantly, we're stuck cleaning up his mess; if we can't bring anything back this time, the boss won't know how to answer for it."

It turned out their guise as backpackers was merely a disguise; from their conversation we learned they were also members of an overseas antiquities‑smuggling ring, partners with the earlier tomb robbers.

The tomb robbers had failed, bringing nothing back; even if the official archaeological team had taken the items, it would hardly matter, since they could not act under the officials' noses anyway.

But according to the news, even the archaeological team came up empty‑handed.

This frustrated the hidden mastermind, who then dispatched them, insisting they must find the item.

"Based on current clues and the information we've received, the object is not with the archaeological team, nor inside the tomb; it is said to have been taken out by Fifth Master and his associates, though no one knows where it is hidden."

"Fifth Master and his men were wiped out, their fate uncertain; they never had a chance to descend the mountain and meet up with us, so we can preliminarily infer that the object is hidden somewhere in the mountains."

Hearing this, the others looked at the vast mountains and showed troubled expressions.

"Brother Zhao, there are so many mountains around here; trying to find what they hid would be like looking for a needle in a haystack."

The leader, Brother Zhao, the one in charge of this operation, rolled his eyes, unfolded the map in his hand, and drew a rough circle.

"Can't you use your brains? Fifth Master and his men died on the mountain; the site of their deaths is this spot, so even if they hid something, it would be nearby—we just need to center our search here."

His tone paused, as if he had thought of something.

"However, to prevent the authorities from setting traps and deliberately luring us in, we must avoid the gravesites lest we startle the snakes."

They also learned that the archaeological team had not continued its work, though they did not know the exact reason.

They suspected a ruse: perhaps the officials, having learned of the tomb robbers' visit, wanted to cast a long line to catch a big fish, thus creating doubtful formations to lure them in.

But no matter how you say it, if they go into the tomb the risk is really too great, not to mention easy exposure, and they might not even find what the boss wants.

After overall consideration, they decided to avoid the area around the tomb.

Fortunately there is a rough range, so it's not like searching for a needle in a haystack; if the item is really hidden on the mountaintop, they should be able to find it.

Even if they are accidentally seen, they can say they are hikers, using that identity as cover, so it wouldn't be particularly strange; but if they were spotted entering the tomb, that would really be hard to explain.

Brilliant sunlight shoots down through the gaps in the dense leaves, forming bundles of faint light pillars that, from afar, look like they are shrouded in light gauze and thin mist.

The group shuttles through it, utterly silent, hearing only the sound of dry branches and leaves being stepped on.

After reaching their destination, they set down their gear and quickly began searching nearby.

Upon arriving at this mountaintop, they found the trees growing even denser, with even the side grass nearly covering their ankles.

The surrounding visibility also grew dimmer, but fortunately it was daytime.

If it were night, it would probably be pitch black, the mountain paths hard to travel, causing them many inconveniences, so they must speed up their actions.

It's a pity they searched for most of the day and found nothing.

One of them seemed somewhat resentful.

"Damn it, where did Wu Ye's people hide the thing? They won't let people rest even in death, and we don't know how long we'll have to keep looking like this."

The person beside him comforted: "Don't be angry; if we find it this time, it'll also be a merit, and the big boss will surely reward us then."

Although he said that, the man still cursed and vented his frustration, kicking hard at a nearby stone.

The small stone traced an arc in midair, landing in the nearby bushes, as if it had hit something.

The man didn't think much of it, just as he was complaining nonstop.

A black shadow swooped down and landed squarely on him, instantly leaving a bright red mark on his forehead.

"Ouch!"

The man clutched his forehead, sucked in a breath of cold air, stared at the object that had struck him, and saw it was the small stone he had just kicked away—he was stunned.

It wasn't kicked away, so how did it get kicked back?

Before he could figure out what was happening, a soft rustling came from the bushes.

A squirrel poked its head out; obviously this small stone was its handiwork.

The squirrel stood with its hands on its hips, looking smug, chattering at the man in a way that sounded like scolding, leaving the others dumbfounded.

The man, holding his red forehead, couldn't utter a word for a long while.

Even a squirrel dared to climb onto his head!

The man, reacting, had his eyes red with anger, lunged forward to grab the squirrel, but the little critter was too agile.

Sensing his intent, the squirrel let out a "hiss" and darted up the tree, perching where the man couldn't reach, squeaking nonstop, its sound truly grating.

The man stamped his feet in frustration, but there was nothing he could do—he couldn't climb the tree to catch a squirrel.

"Alright, why bother with a beast? We still have business to attend to."

Seeing Brother Zhao speak, the man was still resentful, glaring hatefully at the squirrel, wishing he could crush it.

The squirrel, however, was fearless, swaying proudly and even smugly wagging its tail.

Nobody took it to heart; after a brief rest, they resumed the search.

Logically, if Wu Ye's people had really hidden the thing on the mountain, they would have left a distinctive mark to make later searching easier and allow tracing.

But they had already turned over nearly everything around here—except they hadn't searched the trees—and still found no clue.

"Could it be that our guess is wrong and the item is actually in the hands of the archaeological team?"

Brother Zhao shook his head: "Absolutely impossible; if it were with the archaeological team, the big boss wouldn't have sent us, and according to news, even the archaeological team had been searching before."

"Since it's not with the archaeological team, there's no tomb, and we've searched the mountain, could the thing have grown legs and flown away?"

Everyone was puzzled, but Brother Zhao seemed to hear something, furrowed his brow, and suddenly made a silencing gesture.

"Shh, don't speak; it sounds like someone is coming."

The others' expressions shifted slightly, their hearts inexplicably tightening: "Could it be the police?"

"How would the police come out here? Could it be that we leaked the news?"

Brother Zhao shook his head: "Not likely; besides, we were hidden going up the mountain, and there's no one else around, so it's probably not the police—maybe just a local villager."

"If it really is someone, we shouldn't panic; just say we're hikers who got lost by accident."

Everyone nodded.

Brother Zhao tiptoed toward the source of the sound, the dense foliage ahead blocking the view.

He pushed aside the leaves and the scene ahead left them stunned in place.

He saw that ahead, several animals had gathered together—small ones like yellow weasels, large ones like monkeys and jackals and such.

Someone in the group lowered their voice: "Am I mistaken? Herbivores and carnivores actually getting along peacefully."

But that wasn't the most surprising part!

What was most surprising was that these animals' behavior was extremely strange, even eerie.

"What are these animals doing?"

They saw a monkey actually sitting cross-legged under a tree, palms facing upward, just like a person meditating.

Others struck odd poses, like a yellow weasel sitting on the ground, holding open a book with its forepaws.

In zoology, one is either refined or strange.

(End of chapter)