Chapter 220

220. Chapter 218: Mountain monsters speak human words, Ye Qin closes his cultivation in Longling

The verdant mountains overlapped layer upon layer, like waves rising and falling on the sea, surging and magnificent, splendid and grand; as the first ray of dawn light fell on the mountaintop, Ye Qin looked at the surging sea of clouds below, and a round of the rising sun slowly ascended.

He seemed to sense something, looking east, where he saw purple vapor vast and boundless, stretching for miles, countless auspicious clouds swirling around, and in the sunlight's refraction, they poured down like a waterfall.

A tiger's roar came on the wind, startling countless birds into flight.

A patch of yellowish shadow seemed to tread upon mist and cloud, every hair on its body emitting a strange light; it moved as swift as wind and lightning, even the mountain winds could not keep up, accompanied by a coarse laugh.

"You tiger grandpa, I'm finally back!"

"Eh, haha, I can finally speak, you've almost suffocated me to death."

The Northeast Tiger was the first to survive the heavenly tribulation, thus it was also the first to return to Longyuan Mountain; seeing that faint greenish shadow ahead, the Northeast Tiger immediately became orderly.

In the tranquil mountains, however, came the sound of loud reading, which actually drifted out from a wooden house beneath the towering ancient trees.

At this moment Ye Qin had already been in seclusion for many days, attaching a strand of divine sense to the primordial white bone, teaching the monsters in his stead.

How unlike now, when it has become a monster and can even speak human words—simply carefree and unbound; from now on, no matter how vast heaven and earth, nothing can bind it.

If you ignore their furry faces and pelts, they are hardly different from ordinary students.

His gaze fell into the distance, where he saw a mass of red clouds rushing toward this side; the red clouds were peculiarly shaped, like flames, forming a stark contrast against the verdant peaks.

Beside him, the yellow weasel also picked up a broad leaf to use as a notebook, taking notes on it.

Regarding this banditry, the gorgeous firetail finch felt deep hatred, but being unable to fight back; now, however, it is different—it has successfully survived the heavenly tribulation.

Then came the fourth and fifth.

Yellow weasel, fox, old turtle, they all appeared one after another.

"Oh no, oh no, I went fishing yesterday and completely forgot to review."

"The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name."

"After cultivating a few days in the mountains to consolidate your realm, I, as your teacher, will plan things for you."

To this end, Ye Qin specially infused a strand of divine soul power into the primordial white bone, letting it differ from himself so it could act and think independently, allowing Ye Qin's main body to seclude without distraction, needing no divided attention.

The fox loves fishing, and is exceptionally good at it, often competing with the yellow weasel; if not for the big turtle stopping them, those fish would probably have been completely devoured by the two.

The elk took up farming, and while sowing seeds it would sway its head and chant verses like "Picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, leisurely seeing the southern mountains," said to have been taught by the monkey.

The two monsters exchanged words, arguing on the side, even coming to the point of coming to blows.

These monsters did not disappoint Ye Qin's expectations; all returned safely, some even having stimulated their bloodline power during the heavenly tribulation, destined for great fortune in the future.

"Your question is excellent; the Dao is the essence of all things and the natural law of objects. This passage explains the origin and operation of all things. Knowing how things are formed will help you cultivate better."

Clear bird calls burst from the air; a red-feathered bird fluttered its wings and landed before Ye Qin, its whole body of fiery plumage dazzling, most striking its tail feather shaped like flame, blazing fiercely.

Yet both kept their distance from Ye Qin with tacit understanding, not affecting him here, and they precisely controlled their force, minimizing damage to the surrounding environment as much as possible.

The white‑clad woman's voice rang like mountain jade—clear and faintly ethereal—and the monsters listened intently, yet their faces were utterly bewildered as they all shook their heads in honest confusion.

Yet even this woman would occasionally reveal her true nature, flashing a white‑bone visage that vanished in an instant—clearly she was no ordinary human.

Ye Qin did not speak to stop them; the Northeast Tiger and the Flame‑fire Tail Sparrow knew their limits, so even in a fight they would pull their punches. Having just survived their tribulation and broken through, they could use this chance to test their strength.

The weasel and the fox rolled their eyes, eager for chaos; one moment they cheered the Northeast Tiger to show the might of the mountain king, the next they ran to the Flame‑fire Tail Sparrow, urging it not to disgrace the name of flying creatures.

For a moment many monsters shot fierce glances, as if they still wanted to fight another round.

「It's time for you to go out and see the world……」

「But remember, you must not become complacent; you still need to diligently cultivate, for the path of cultivation is long, and the step you have taken now is only the beginning. 」

If it weren't for Ye Qin, they would never have undergone this rebirth; they'd likely have been snatched back by the zoo and locked in that tiny little world.

Chirp!

Too bad they hadn't seen it clearly—the primal White Bone had already arrived gracefully, speaking with its most beautiful face the very words they feared most.

The Northeast Tiger kept up its snarky mouth: "Look at you lot, you've lost face as demons—so many monsters ganging up on me and still can't win. From now on, when you go out, don't even claim to be from Longyuan Mountain, let alone be my master's disciple."

The Flame‑fire Tail Sparrow and the Northeast Tiger were at each other's throats; they quickly clashed, fur and feathers flying everywhere, red‑white light intertwining, even the air seeming to warp.

「"Heaven and Earth, Black and Yellow—what's the next line of the cosmic Honghuang? Can you recite it? Let me copy from you. 」"

The Northeast Tiger rubbed its head, saying, "Any Dao that can be put into words is not an eternal, unchanging Dao！」

Ye Qin hearing this was simultaneously amused and exasperated; no wonder the Northeast Tiger had drawn so much hatred—with that mouth and its nasty temperament, it was hardly surprising.

Because these monsters had returned, Longyuan Mountain grew lively again, the constant chatter filling the air; after they bowed to Ye Qin in gratitude, they were all drawn to the nearby battle.

The Flame‑fire Tail Sparrow wouldn't be outdone, declaring, "I'll burn you into a bald‑headed tiger！"

「"What are you staring at? Keep looking and I'll hit you—if you've got the guts, keep coming at me; I love it when you dislike me but can't beat me. 」"

Inside the log cabin, a white‑clad woman stood on the podium, dressed in Hanfu, in her prime though barely twenty, her skin fairer than snow, exceedingly lovely, her features stunningly beautiful—too dazzling to gaze upon directly.

When Ye Qin spoke, the previously noisy monsters fell silent at once, their beast eyes fixed unblinking on him as they listened to his instruction.

The elk is naturally mild‑tempered and doesn't care for brawls, yet it watches the fights with great relish.

The monsters chattered away, voicing their thoughts, instantly driving the classroom atmosphere to a fever pitch.

All the Great Demons bowed, and in unison replied to Ye Qin, "We shall heed the master's teachings."

「"What?! There's also memorized writing and drawing on the back? No way, teacher! 」"

The fox wore a thoughtful expression, saying, "We can understand the Dao as a state of nothingness that also manifests as ability; its origin is nothing, yet it can give rise to all things in heaven and earth. 」

Sunset and moonrise passed; in the blink of an eye half a month went by.

Despite the Northeast Tiger's strength, fighting many against one, it managed only a hard‑fought draw; both sides bore several bruises, but they were merely minor injuries, nothing serious.

The monkey also voiced its view: "The Great Dao is formless; it objectively exists, yet it cannot be seen or touched."

The Northeast Tiger sized up the Flame‑fire Tail Sparrow before it; compared to before, it was worlds apart—its body had swollen to several times its size, and even its entire appearance had changed, resembling a sovereign of the skies.

In the end, the Northeast Tiger and the Flame‑fire Tail Sparrow still could not decide a winner.

Accompanied by the Northeast Tiger and other monsters' wails and howls, plus the schadenfreude laughter of many beasts, the log cabin instantly boiled over with noise.

But before that, he needed to contemplate certain things in order to open a path for the ancients' descent into the world.

A scarlet Vermilion Bird phantom descended from the sky, its splendid feathers radiating supreme pressure, facing off against the White Tiger phantom; the sharp light in the tiger's eyes made one dare not meet its gaze.

"Alright——you are all my disciples; seeing that you have successfully passed the tribulation, I, as your master, am very pleased."

Reciting from memory and copying from memory naturally poses no difficulty for the diligent and studious monsters like the Great Turtle, monkey, and weasel; by contrast, the Northeast Tiger, jackal, hyena, and the like glance around, their eyes wandering, hoping to learn a bit.

Ye Qin took a moment to listen to a few sentences, found them quite reasonable, and thought that in his absence, he could let the Great Turtle take charge of teaching.

That way he could both cultivate in peace and give lectures to his disciples.

Peaks layered upon peaks, emerald waters like a mirror, the summit wreathed in a few strands of milky mist, the mountains shrouded in a light haze, faintly visible.

Inside the entire wooden cottage, aside from the woman who is a humanoid being, there is not a single human; all are mountain spirits, they coexist harmoniously, strangely yet with an inexplicable harmony, truly a sight to behold.

Moreover, this strand of divine sense contains none of Ye Qin's 'thought'; therefore, if it wishes, it can form its own will, combine with the White Bone, equivalent to recreating an independent person.

It is hard to imagine that in the deep mountains and old forests there would be such a beautiful woman, and the students listening to her lecture are even more extraordinary; if anyone were here, they would surely feel their scalp tingle and hair stand on end.

The weasel raised its hand to ask, and actually spoke in human language: "Master, what exactly is the Dao?"

Regarding the Northeast Tiger's first successful tribulation passage, he was not surprised, merely wondering who would be the second.

Previously, the Northeast Tiger relied on its high cultivation level to dominate the mountains; now that everyone has passed the tribulation, many monsters have joined the melee, seeking to take revenge and give the Northeast Tiger a taste of its own medicine.

The animals have already transformed into monsters, their habits greatly changed; like the monkey and other primate monsters, they have even built wooden cabins in the mountains, those little huts constructed quite properly.

"You can't copy from memory, right? Go back and write it out ten thousand times for me."

The woman in white is precisely Ye Qin's primordial White Bone; her manifested appearance is exactly the same as Longling's.

Well, it seems you've forgotten how I plucked your feathers.

……

The once tranquil mountains and forests now teem with countless vibrant breaths.

On the lecture platform stands an extraordinarily beautiful woman, while below it are wild beasts; the two form a stark contrast, creating a tremendous visual impact.

Besides cultivation, the monsters have also developed their own hobbies; Ye Qin does not stop them, after all it is impossible to demand they cultivate constantly, and they occasionally need other things to balance themselves.

They bowed devoutly before Ye Qin and kowtowed heavily, saying, "Thank you, Master, for your enlightenment and bestowing this fortune upon us disciples."

A flicker of surprise crossed the amber beast's pupils, and they couldn't help but ask, "Master, what's wrong with those two?"

"Red-haired Little Bird, you look quite imposing."

"Nameless is the beginning of heaven and earth; named is the mother of all things. Therefore, constantly without desire, to observe its subtlety; constantly with desire, to observe its manifestations. These two arise together yet differ in name. Both are called the Profound; the Profound beyond the Profound is the gateway to myriad wonders."

To the monsters' surprise, the Northeast Tiger took a liking to cooking, but lacking talent, everything it made was dark cuisine; moreover, it liked inviting the monsters to taste, causing many monsters to suffer greatly.

One day in the mountains and forests, it might be stuffed into a sack by other monsters and given a brutal beating.

Only see tigers, monkeys, foxes, and other spirits sitting in a row; they sit on stools like humans, placing their two forepaws neatly on the table, the light in their beastly eyes flickering, appearing to listen attentively.

After all, they have passed the heavenly tribulation, shed their mortal bodies, and become true demon beasts—ordinary harm hardly leaves a scar on their fur.

The woman's lecture continued, and she slowly revealed a smile, 'Today we'll study up to this point; let's review what we learned yesterday—now I will have you recite from memory and do dictation.'

Seeing that everything in the mountains had fallen into order, he also planned to enter seclusion for a time.

Though the handwriting was crooked and wiggly like a caterpillar, the weasel wrote it very seriously—everything on it were knowledge points, some even underlined with wavy lines to mark the important parts.

Because according to his plan, the demon tribe had already been formed; next it was time for the ancients to descend into the world, at which point the ancients and the great demons would complement each other.

Such a fantastical scene, if placed in the outside world, would surely astonish people, but within Longyuan Mountain it is utterly normal.

The white-clad woman nodded, her eyes showing an appreciative expression.

The blazing-fire tailbird rolled its eyes and spat out a fireball without hesitation, which landed on the northeastern tiger's whiskers and instantly ignited.

……

◆￠o

Upon hearing this, the many Great Demons exchanged glances, unaware of what the master intended or what arrangements he had for them.

But they inevitably began to feel anticipation, then dispersed, each finding a place in the mountains to cultivate and consolidate their Realm.

In Ye Qin's eyes, the two little ones fighting looked like playing house.

"Do you all understand?"

After all, they have all become demons now and ought to adapt to their new life.

"Eh, where is my dictation notebook? Could it have been burned as firewood when I was cooking yesterday!"

The woman also didn't get angry, continuing to explain: "Without all things, the Dao would not exist; essentially, the Dao is the unity of the world's material foundation, qi, and the natural law of its changes."

Ye Qin shook his head and said, "You go ask them yourself."

Ye Qin nodded, "Not bad."

The northeastern tiger let out a low growl from its throat, "Red-feathered little bird, you've successfully passed the tribulation, your temper has flared up, you're full of fire—believe it or not, I, Old Tiger Sir, will beat you into a bald little bird!"

Soon the third demon beast also returned to Longyuan Mountain—a tall elk with a gentle disposition; it bowed to Ye Qin, recited respectful phrases, its eyes full of respect, but its attention was quickly drawn to the northeastern tiger and the blazing-fire tailbird.

One could say this is also another incarnation of Longling.

The great turtle has a steady character, the longest lifespan, and its perceptiveness ranks among the highest of all demon beasts; like an old scholar, it occasionally offers advice to the northeastern tiger and the blazing-fire tailbird.

But to prevent the demon beasts from laxing in their cultivation, and since they had only just begun to transform into demons, there was much to learn; after a moment's thought, Ye Qin decided to let the primordial White Bone substitute for him in wandering outside.

Back when it was still a little bird, that stinky tiger often secretly plucked its feathers, claiming they were beautiful and needed to be pulled out for close inspection.

Upon hearing the woman's patient and detailed explanation, the animals finally realized and nodded.

The demon beasts below the stage were instantly like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, their bodies stiffening in place.

"Greetings, Master!"

Because in this wooden hut, the one sitting is not a human!

One month later, Longyuan Mountain returned to tranquility.

The animals had adapted to their initial lives as demon beasts, and were also waiting for Master Ye Qin to emerge from seclusion to arrange their affairs in the world.

And yet on that very day, at the foot of Longyuan Mountain, a group of uninvited guests arrived.