Chapter 181: Boulder-Busting

Chapter 181: Boulder-Busting

Hui ran along. The instant he saw a boulder, he hurtled toward it and smashed it apart. All around him, cracks, snaps, and crumbling sounded as other cultivators did the same, all of them equally desperate to be free of the scourge of Ding Lao.

Ding Lao flitted from one to the next, his eyes gleaming. What devotion! What determination! All of you can it be? Have you finally seen the light of body cultivation? The one, true Dao of muscles? Ah! How wonderful!

Not enough!

Weak!

If I can destroy yousimply not enough!

Hui struck down yet another boulder. Light flashed from within, and he paused, startled. What?

Cracked apart, the boulder swung open to reveal crystals growing within. Huis eyes widened. Another geode! Like the amethyst cicadas dwelling ground. These I should study these crystals, too!

He glanced around. All around him, cultivators shouted out and smashed stones. Ding Lao chased after them, eyes glimmering, caught up in the beauty of sparkling muscles and flying sweat. The second he vanished from Huis sight, Hui dove at the ground. He burrowed into it, carving out a small hollow in the roots of the tree. Hui grabbed the geode and retreated into the cave hed carved. He smacked the roof as he entered, caving the entrance in.

Hui circulated qi to his hand, making it glow. He stood in a small cave, barely big enough to stand in and narrow enough he could touch the walls with his hands from sitting in the center. Between him and the nearly-him-sized geode, the cave was barely wide enough to feel anything less than claustrophobic. Roots made up the ceiling, bare wood arcing away above him. Hard-packed earth shaped the walls and floor. Hui glanced around, then nodded, satisfied.

Sweat and muscles are all well and good, but ultimately, they arent suited for this small cultivator! Its time for my path to diverge from Ding Lao. Thank you for your guidance, senior, but this small cultivator takes his leave from here! He bowed toward the entrance of his cave.

Plopping down in the center of the cave, Hui drew the geode toward him, then hesitated. He reached into his storage ring and drew out the barrier talismans, tossing a few around the small cave until he was completely sealed out from the outside world. He stood and knocked on the walls, then nodded to himself. I dont think I should do something as obvious as open Bai Xues gift or blatantly use my death qi, but a little cultivation shouldnt draw anyones attention.

Sitting once more, he turned the crystalized part toward himself and gazed into it, sinking into the spiky depths. Half in a trance, he popped another amethyst cicada pill. Focusing on both at once, he studied the crystals, both the crystal in the geode, and the crystal beast essence inside the pill. The two merged and resonated, calling out to one another and clashing at the same time. His brows furrowed. His lips pressed together.

Crystals. Crystals Visit no(v)eLb(i)n.com for the best novel reading experience

In his mind, a crystal snapped off the geode. Time passed. Where the old crystal had been, a new spine grew, forming out of the mother rock.

Hui nodded firmly. Elder Brother, please forgive this small cultivator. I was merely listening to the earth, to find out where the greatest boulders are! And I can tell the greatest boulder of all is in that direction!

So saying, Hui pointed blindly with great conviction.

Ding Laos eyes sparkled. Incredible! What devotion! Junior Brother, I apologize for ever suspecting you of slacking off. Please, let me see what magnificent boulder you will find!

From outside the cave, voices sounded.

Ah! Underground, what a magnificent thought! I, too, must find a boulder so magnificent!"

This newcomerI wont let him show me up! I need a truly powerful boulder, at least as powerful as his!

Yes, yes, all these surface boulders simply too deficient! Only underground boulders are strong enough for us!

Bowing to Ding Lao, Hui leaped at the earth in the direction hed pointed. Using his bare hands, he carved into the earth.

Ding Lao stood there, watching him for another few seconds, then leaped out of Huis hole. Everyone, Im looking forward to the magnificent boulders you find!

Yes, of course!

Just you wait, Elder Brother. The boulder I find will be unrivaled under heavens!

When you see the boulder Im after ah! Im afraid its magnificence might be too much for you to comprehend!

All around Ding Lao, cultivators bored into the earth with their bare hands, searching out boulders. Standing atop a root, Ding Lao put a hand to his chin. As he watched them dig, quietly, he murmured to himself, All I really wanted was for my fellow cultivators to learn the joy of cultivating their bodies through exercise. Whether they find boulders or not, as long as theyre exercising, I dont mind.

At this point am I the one being scammed, or am I the one scamming them?