Chapter 500 - 263: Mysterious Black Qi

"What’s going on!?"

He noticed that the texture of some parts of the ground was noticeably different. As someone who personally excavated this underground mountain cave, he was extremely familiar with every inch of the land.

"The geology has become harder, and there’s also a lingering fluctuation of mana, could it be..."

At this moment, Lin Chang’an recalled that he wasn’t sure about the texture changes elsewhere, but just now when the Cyan-Horned Bull attacked, it was exhaling white mist from its mouth and nose.

"These places were all in contact with the white mist before, and then they turned into what they are now."

Lin Chang’an frowned, raised his hand, and a piece of altered texture debris flew into his palm.

The originally dark red soil had now turned grayish-white, becoming a gray-white rocky texture.

"Is this petrification!?"

It seemed that Lin Chang’an had thought of something. Back then, he spent eight hundred middle-grade spirit stones to buy the Record of Exotic Beasts on Five Dragons Island, which clearly documented.

Mutated Demon Beasts!

These were even rarer than the exotic species of the wilderness. For instance, an ordinary Phoenix Cry Bird belongs to the exotic species of the wilderness, but cultivators now habitually refer to them as exotic beasts.

The so-called mutated spirit beasts are beasts that evolve in a special way by combining the resurgence of certain ancestral bloodlines with their current bloodline.

Of course, the so-called mutation is not always beneficial. Many mutated demon beasts also have many useless abilities after evolution.

"How is this possible, this Cyan-Horned Bull previously showed no signs of mutation at all."

Lin Chang’an frowned. Mutated spirit beasts typically exhibit unusual traits early on as part of a long bloodline mutation process, so it’s impossible he hadn’t noticed any signs earlier.

"Could it be this mysterious black energy that caused the mutation of the bloodline inside?"

Lin Chang’an frowned further, observing solemnly the changes inside the Cyan-Horned Bull.

The injuries were more severe than he had imagined. It seemed as if the flesh and blood had reached their limit.

One could imagine that if allowed to continue, the only result for this Cyan-Horned Bull would be death from exhaustion.

"However, the vitality has become stronger, as if the misfortune brought some luck, the Cyan-Horned Bull’s strength has reached quasi-Tier Three..."

This mysterious black energy, he had observed before, was filled with violence and seemed capable of influencing one’s mind.

And purifying the violent aura from the black energy was clearly more troublesome; thus, he had always purified it entirely from the Fusang Divine Tree, then collected and sealed it.

Yet, an accident still occurred.

What he hadn’t expected was that this black energy seemed to have other effects.

As Lin Chang’an contemplated what this could be, the gradually recovering Cyan-Horned Bull looked at him pitifully, mooing incessantly.

"Moo-moo!"

And the mind-calming talisman on its forehead had turned to ashes, its power exhausted.

"You’re feeling wronged now?"

Lin Chang’an glared, having just broken through and thinking of future days when his two Tier Three spirit beasts could hunt demon beasts together, only to run into this issue as soon as he came out.

The Cyan-Horned Bull looked pitifully at its master, mooing incessantly, seemingly lamenting.

Lin Chang’an could naturally sense the Cyan-Horned Bull’s emotions.

"You gluttonous, stupid bull!"

Seeing the Cyan-Horned Bull’s injuries gradually healing, the Phoenix Cry Bird landed on its horn, sarcastically commenting.

"Moo-moo!"

"The master is right, maybe this stupid bull should end up in a big pot."

The two spirit pets rarely argued, and this time Lin Chang’an did not intervene, allowing the Phoenix Cry Bird to scold while the Cyan-Horned Bull mooed pitifully.

"Alright, had I delayed coming out any longer, I might truly have had to collect your remains and stew some beef."

Lin Chang’an said this with a tinge of mock anger, though he was already planning to search for ancient records for answers about this mysterious black energy.

Not only could it erode the Fusang Divine Tree, which has long been known to repel all evil, but it could also enhance physical strength and activate latent bloodline abilities.

...

Celestial Spring Peak.

Half a month after Lin Chang’an came out of seclusion, the Cyan-Horned Bull lazed in a pool, basking in the sun.

Since the narrow escape from death last time, some internal mutation clearly occurred in the Cyan-Horned Bull, leading to increased lethargy and a lack of motivation recently.

"Master."

The sword servant greeted respectfully. In the past couple of years, she had gradually adapted to her new life.

Being able to continue cultivation and having a sunlit cave dwelling made her exceptionally joyful.

Sitting in the pavilion, Lin Chang’an nodded gently with an indifferent expression. The sword servant, appearing as a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl, still had a bit of baby fat on her cheeks.

Coupled with her human-demon mixed blood, there was a faint wild charm about her.

Overall, her cold and petite face, paired with a seemingly indifferent demeanor, exuded a uniquely fierce yet innocent aura.

"It seems your recent cultivation has been going well."

"It’s all thanks to Master’s benevolence."

The sword servant nodded respectfully. Her hands moved swiftly, brewing new spirit tea, and after presenting it with humility, she stood behind him, embodying the role of an attendant maid.

Lin Chang’an was quite satisfied with this. The Immortal Cultivation Realm was not much different from the mundane world.

Those in high positions rarely did things personally and needed subordinates to serve them.

This gave rise to many industries, such as training and instructing female cultivators, which were in constant demand in the Demon Beast Abyss.

They were highly favored by many cultivators.

"Not bad."

Holding some data copied from the Profound Sound Pavilion, Lin Chang’an sought clues about the mysterious black energy.

After all, the Profound Sound Pavilion didn’t just have a history of hundreds of years but also inherited part of the heritage from the Profound Yin Divine Sect, far beyond ordinary sects.

However, even while he researched, he did not forget to guide his maid.