Chapter 456: State Your Purpose

The closer they got to the Qianku Mountains, the more rugged the terrain became, littered with jagged rocks and dotted with countless Kong Dong and fissures; the smell of sulfur and decaying minerals grew increasingly intense.

The gray mist here seemed partially repelled by some unseen force, slightly improving visibility compared to the outer edges, yet the light remained dim.

Chen Mu and his companion followed the instructions in the Tiankui Star Lord's jade slip, avoiding areas marked with high-risk monstrous dens or natural toxic miasmas, choosing only relatively "safe" paths forward.

The Tianxi Star Lord moved with agile, floating grace, like a butterfly darting through flowers, navigating the chaotic rocks with effortless ease.

She appeared unfamiliar with none of this environment, occasionally pointing out terrain features or hiding spots not recorded in the jade slip.

After rushing for about an hour, the scenery ahead abruptly changed.

A dense, towering forest of peculiar trees blocked their way—each trunk twisted like iron, covered in sharp thorns, and uniformly dark brown.

This was the "Iron Thorns Forest."

The forest was utterly silent; even the wind seemed sliced apart by the razor-sharp thorns, and the air carried the scent of rusted metal and faint blood.

"Beyond this Iron Thorns Forest lies the region where Shi Gui frequently roam."

The Tianxi Star Lord pointed to a mark on the jade slip's map. "The forest itself isn't especially dangerous, but it harbors some 'Iron Thread Snakes' and 'Piercing Bone Bees'—their venom is potent, and they excel at ambushes. Proceed with caution."

"Understood."

Chen Mu responded, stepping forward first into the forest.

He did not activate his protective qi; instead, he channeled part of his blood qi to his skin's surface, causing his flesh to glow faintly with a warm, jade-like golden sheen.

This was one outward manifestation of the Henglian Siding Body.

The razor-sharp iron thorns scraped against him, producing only a faint rustling sound, leaving not even a white mark.

The Tianxi Star Lord's eyes gleamed with admiration; she suppressed her own aura and followed closely behind, like a shadow.

Light grew even dimmer within the forest; the iron thorns twisted and entangled, making paths indiscernible.

Not far ahead, faint rustling sounds came from beneath their feet and above.

Several hair-thin creatures, gleaming with metallic cold light—"Iron Thread Snakes"—shot out from between fallen leaves and thorn gaps, moving faster than lightning, striking straight for their ankles and necks!

Simultaneously, a dense buzzing rose from above—a swarm of fist-sized, jet-black "Piercing Bone Bees," their tail stingers glowing with a ghostly blue light, descended like a black cloud.

Chen Mu's expression didn't change; he didn't even draw his blade.

He merely shifted his steps slightly, his body darting like a fish through narrow spaces, dodging every strike of the Iron Thread Snakes—each bite landed on empty air or the tough iron thorns, producing crisp, tinkling sounds.

For the swarm above, he took a deep breath, his chest swelling slightly, then exhaled sharply!

"Hng!"

A concentrated, scorching stream of qi, infused with immense blood qi and yang essence, erupted like an invisible arrow!

The air along its path warped from heat.

The charging Piercing Bone Bees, struck by this blazing, yang-infused blood qi, fell like dumplings into boiling water—wings charred, instantly dead!

【Corpse detected. Collect?】

"Yes!"

…

Card acquired. Quickly checked.

Powerful card!

The remaining swarm, shaken by this terrifying blood qi, buzzed wildly and scattered in panic.

The Tianxi Star Lord had barely lifted a finger—she merely extended a thin, warm orange aura to deflect the occasional stray venomous insect, her gaze toward Chen Mu now filled with even greater awe.

"Such a dominant blood qi! Pure yang, pure hardness—exactly the antithesis of these venomous pests. Wu Quxing, your body is practically a living beast of fury."

Chen Mu said nothing, only quickened his pace.

The Henglian Siding Body granted more than defense and strength—it elevated his control over his own blood qi and internal organs to an extreme level. That single "Hng" exhalation was an application of robust organs and mercury-like blood qi, devastatingly effective against these poisons.

They moved swiftly through the forest; when iron thorns grew too dense, Chen Mu simply used his hand as a blade, channeling true qi to cleave open a path with ease—the tough, iron-like thorns shattered beneath his touch like rotten wood.

After roughly half an hour, the path ahead suddenly opened up—the Iron Thorns Forest ended.

Before them stretched a more desolate wasteland, strewn with rocks of all sizes and weathered stone pillars.

At the wasteland's edge loomed the Qianku Mountains—a honeycombed, dark mass riddled with countless Kong Dong, like a silent giant.

The air now carried, besides sulfur and mineral odors, a faint trace of smoke.

And a dull, rhythmic "thud… thud…" sound, like heavy objects striking rock, emanated from somewhere along the mountain's edge.

"There's movement. It must be just ahead."

The Tianxi Star Lord whispered, pointing toward the sound's origin—where a larger cave entrance was visible, its exterior faintly marked by piled stones and human-made traces.

Chen Mu nodded, suppressing his overwhelming blood qi fluctuations.

But he did not conceal the natural, steady, heavy aura his body emitted—the aura of Jin Shi, forged through countless hammer blows.

Both remained alert as they walked toward the cave entrance.

As they drew nearer, they could see a small, artificially leveled plaza outside the cave, scattered with crude stone tools and unprocessed ore.

Several Shi Gui, nearly five meters tall, composed entirely of grayish stone, their joints connected by metallic bearings, faces rugged with simple indentations for eyes and mouth, bodies stout and massive.

They surrounded a large, dark red ore, striking it rhythmically with fists like stone hammers and basic stone tools, producing a dull "thud… thud…"

Their movements seemed clumsy, yet were astonishingly efficient—each strike carried immense power; the hard ore was slowly being shaped into a crude form beneath their blows.

These stone beings were clearly Shi Gui.

As if sensing alien auras, the laboring Shi Gui simultaneously halted, turning their heads in unison—eyeless, hollow "stone eyes" fixed on Chen Mu and the Tianxi Star Lord.

They showed no immediate hostility, but a heavy, probing, wary mental pressure—solid as stone—swept over them.

Chen Mu, following the jade slip's instructions for Shi Gui's ritual of peace and respect, stopped, crossed his hands over his chest, and bowed slightly.

He said nothing—he did not understand their language—but he openly released a portion of his body's aura: forged by the Henglian Siding Body, brimming with potent blood qi and unyielding will.

Wum~

Like a stone cast into a still lake, the steady, heavy, resilient aura—resonating with the metallic chime of Jin Shi—immediately triggered a clear reaction from the Shi Gui.

Their stony "eyes" flickered briefly, emitting a low, grinding "gurgle" like stones rubbing together, as if exchanging rapid thoughts.

One Shi Gui, tallest in stature, with darker rock on its chest as if hammered countless times, stepped forward.

It lowered its head, studying Chen Mu with those stony eyes—especially his bare hands and neck skin exposed beyond the Star Robe, and his grounded, steady stance that seemed fused with the earth.

"Hard... pure... strength..."

A rigid, fragmented thought directly echoed in Chen Mu and Tianxi Star Lord's minds.

It used an ancient spirit-narrative method, conveying core meaning without complex language.

This Shi Gui seemed deeply intrigued by Chen Mu's physical form.

Chen Mu's heart steadied—he knew he was on the right path.

Maintaining a courteous posture, he replied with spirit-narrative, keeping it as brief as possible.

"A traveler from afar seeks the wisdom of the hardened, with no ill intent."

As he spoke, he withdrew from his storage space the core scale of the Fuhai Qiu and several high-grade Earth Crystals, holding them in his palm.

The scale shimmered with dark gold, faint dragon aura lingering; the Earth Crystals pulsed with spiritual energy.

Seeing the scale and Earth Crystals—especially sensing the residual aura of an ancient mighty dragon lineage and the extreme hardness within the scale—the Shi Gui's mental fluctuations surged sharply!

The lead Shi Gui instinctively took another step forward, its stony "hand" slightly lifting as if to touch, yet restraining itself.

"Gift... heavy... sincerity."

The Shi Gui's thought came, tinged with satisfaction: "Outsider, your body has earned the preliminary attention of the 'Shi Chui' tribe. State your purpose."

Success!