Chapter 427: Beasts Under Trial

Chapter 427: Beasts Under Trial

The pangolin-riding cultivator led those undertaking the beast trial to a large and wild peak. A thick forest coated its sides, covered in tall, sprawling trees draped in moss and lichens. Spirit birds chased glittering insects through the sky. Large shapes shifted under the shade of the trees, half visible from above.

Its a kind of spirit beast reserve, Rogue noted, nodding to himself. Hmm, if I could recruit some spirit beast seniors, they would go a long way in helping my eventual plan

The pangolin-riding cultivator held out her hand. Behind her, all the spirit beast users halted. She waited, tilting her head as if listening for something.

Rogue listened as well, faintly furrowing his brows. A long stretch of silence passed. Confused, he turned to Zhubi. Do you hear anything?

Zhubi looked at him and hissed with a kind of vague shrug.

Oh, right. Hes a reptile with internal ears, initially. It isnt like hes going to have vastly enhanced hearing over a human.

All at once, a sharp howl came from the mountain. Rogue whipped around. Masters wolf?

The pangolin-riding cultivator nodded. The Lord of the Mountain has given us permission to enter. We may proceed.

Rogue raised his eyebrows. Eh? The wolf that sounds like Masters wolf is treated with this much respect? Should I be treating Masters wolf with more respect? I never thought it had a particularly high realm, but come to think of it

Wait, thinking back did I play fetch with a lord of the mountain-level existence? A chill ran down Huis spine, and he rubbed his arms. I was courting death without even realizing it! Caution, Hui, caution!

Anyways, maybe he was a young mountain lord. A puppy!

He didnt look like a puppy, though

While he was lost in thought, the death qi duck under him flapped onward, following the pangolin-riding cultivator. Zhubi stood beside him, his feet planted on the same small platform of life qi Rogue had created atop the death duck for the both of them. They passed through the canopy of trees and descended to a tiny meadow in the middle of the forest.

The pangolin-riding cultivator hopped up, standing atop the pangolins armor. I am Tian Qiao, the spirit beast master of All-Heavens Sect. Show your merit, and be accepted. With that, she sat back down, crossing her legs and closing her eyes.

Rogue furrowed his brows. Show my merit and be accepted? What does that mean? Show my merit how? With spirit beast arts? By beating or catching spirit beasts? Explain more clearly, Elder Sister! What are the rules of this trial? This small cultivator needs more information!

All around him, the other cultivators ran off into the woods, hurrying away at top speed. In a few moments, only Zhubi and Hui remained, standing before the spirit beast cultivator.

Rogue licked his lips. I guess they all understood. He turned to Zhubi. Do you know what she wants?

Equally frustrated, Hui waved his hand and summoned a group of death ducks. Why doesnt Elder Sister examine my ducks and determine for yourself if Im a spirit beast cultivator or not? Ah, pay in mind that the beast I cultivate is a ghost beast.

Tian Qiao hopped off her pangolin and padded over to him. Her dirt-stained bare feet made no sound in the long grass. As she bent over his ducks, a scent of fresh dew, sunlight, cut grass, and musk struck Rogue.

He frowned. She smells like a horse, almost. Like an herbivore. Is she a spirit beast or rather, demon, of some kind? Or maybe its just a side effect of being a spirit beast cultivator.

Tian Qiao leaned in and sniffed the ducks, then wrinkled her nose. These are qi constructs, not spirit beasts.

Figures that a spirit beast cultivator would call me out immediately. Hui smiled. Are you certain, Elder Sister?

She narrowed her eyes at him.

He flipped over his hand, and one of the ducks flew to his palm. Another two flew a quick lap around his head, circling around Tian Qiao as well. He smiled at her. Im not controlling them. They have their own autonomous intelligence.

Behind Tian Qiao, her pangolin squeaked. It trundled over and stood on its hind legs. Leaning in, it sniffed Hui, pink nose widening, then huffed out. It fell back onto all fours and looked at Tian Qiao.

Tian Qiao turned toward it. She tipped her head and scowled, but ultimately shook her head at Hui. Fine. Go on. If Gang Chen says youre okay, then you must be okay.

Hui looked around. At last, his eyes landed on the pangolin. Is this Gang Chen? Well who else could it be? He nodded, quickly bowing.

The pangolin ducked its head in return. It turned its eyes upward, at the peak.

Rogue followed its gaze, but saw nothing. What does that mean? Is the Mountain Lord waiting for me?

I suppose theres one way to find out. With one last nod at Tian Qiao and her pangolin Gang Chen, he took off toward the peak, flying at a low level to remain below the trees.

After all, even if Im meant to meet the Mountain Lord, that doesnt mean that I want to stand out. Its best to stay low, and stay hidden! That way, the other competitors wont think to follow me, and I wont stand out amongst the new peak lords if I do pass this trial, Hui thought, nodding to himself.

As he flew, he spotted Zhubi jogging below. Zhubi tripped on a tree root and stumbled out of control toward a trunk.

Huis eyes widened. He swooped down and scooped Zhubi up, putting the snake boy on his shoulders. Come with me, Zhubi. Lets go take a look at the peak!

Zhubi hissed happily and grabbed onto Huis hair. Together, the two of them hurtled up the mountain.