Chapter 44: Surely, You Would All Be Happy to Help, Right?
Chapter 44: Surely, You Would All Be Happy to Help, Right?
The wind was fierce, and the sky was vast, with the cries of apes and the mournful calls of birds.
A Black Forest stretched endlessly, with towering dark green pine trees reaching the heavens, blocking out most of the sky. This kept the forest in a state of perpetual darkness and dampness.
"This Jiu Feng Daoist sure knows how to pick a spot."
Chen Zhixing shook his head as his divine sense spread out, searching for the tomb of Jiu Feng Daoist piece by piece.
He had already been in this Black Forest for three hours.
During these three hours, Chen Zhixing’s vast divine sense had spread out like a net, quickly covering the land.
However, the forest was enormous, and searching this way would take at least three days.
"No, this is too slow."
Chen Zhixing stopped in his tracks, frowning slightly.
In the plot of Great Cultivation, the assassination attempt on the Chen family by the Spider Web organization occurred after the trial ended.
This meant that there were five days left until the trial's conclusion.
But...
He couldn’t guarantee that the plot would unfold the same way in this life.
If the Spider Web organization acted earlier, it would be too late to do anything.
Therefore, he needed to obtain the Nine Gods Technique as quickly as possible to prevent any unforeseen events.
Just as Chen Zhixing's eyes flickered with thoughts, the thick layer of pine needles on the ground in the distance suddenly rustled.
A black giant python, over ten zhangs (about 100 feet) long, slowly raised its head.
"Hissss~~"
It lightly flicked its tongue, its golden slit pupils shining with a cold light.
Then.
It lowered its head again and slithered silently through the pine needles, moving swiftly towards Chen Zhixing.
Closer.
Closer still.
In just a dozen breaths, the black giant python was within ten zhangs (about 30 feet) of Chen Zhixing's back.
All it needed was to open its mouth, and it could swallow the human youth before it in one gulp.
Boom!!!
In an instant, it sprang from the ground, madness erupting in its eyes as it lunged fiercely at Chen Zhixing!
"I will devour you!!!"
A foul wind blew as its mouth opened, revealing rows of sharp, dense teeth!
Bang!!!
A fair, slender hand with distinct knuckles struck down on the giant black python's head.
The python felt as if a mountain had crushed down on it, its head seemingly about to explode!
"Awwooo~~"
The black giant python only had time to let out a wail before its body went limp and collapsed to the ground.
Chen Zhixing turned around and looked at the Spirit Nourishment realm demon, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Suddenly, a spark of inspiration flashed in his mind.
"Got it."
Chen Zhixing smiled slightly, then turned to look at the vast Black Forest.
He took a deep breath, and all 500 of his acupoints suddenly began to glow with starlight.
"Young Master, what are you...?" The sword spirit Qingzhi was puzzled.
Wasn’t the young master looking for a tomb?
What was he planning to do now?
As she was still wondering...
"Bull Demon Star Crusher!!!"
Chen Zhixing raised his right arm and slammed his fist into the ground.
Moo——!
A deep, bellowing sound like that of a bull demon echoed from within Chen Zhixing’s body.
Boom!!!
It was as if a mountain range had exploded, as if thunder had roared.
A deafening explosion resounded across the land.
Chen Zhixing's punch shook the entire ground violently.
Cracks as thick as an arm spread rapidly from where his punch landed, extending in all directions.
Caw caw caw!
Howl howl howl!
Roar roar roar!!
All the demons and monsters living in the Black Forest—some sleeping, some hunting—were instantly alarmed.
The weaker demons immediately cowered on the ground, trembling, thinking some calamity had befallen them.
The stronger demons, however, were enraged and quickly made their way toward Chen Zhixing’s location.
In an instant.
The entire Black Forest was in turmoil.
A giant ape with eight arms and fur as black as steel needles emerged from a cave.
“Damn human!”
It glared in the direction of Chen Zhixing and then ran towards him in great strides.
Each step it took left a massive footprint in the ground.
A green-feathered bird, originally feeding on the treetops, lost its meal when the violent shaking knocked it to the ground.
Shriek!!
It spread its wings, which spanned over ten zhangs (about 100 feet), and swooped down toward Chen Zhixing's location.
Its wings were as sharp as swords, slicing through towering pine trees as easily as cutting through tofu.
A giant golden toad, covered in head-sized lumps, leaped out of a poison pool.
Chen Zhixing slowly straightened up, glancing casually to see numerous monsters rushing toward him.
He nodded in satisfaction.
“Young Master, what are you planning to do?” The sword spirit Qingzhi was dumbfounded, unable to guess Chen Zhixing’s intentions.
“I just think searching for a tomb alone is too troublesome, so why not get some help from our friends here?” Chen Zhixing smiled.
“I’m sure they’ll be more than happy to help.”
Sword spirit Qingzhi: “…”
Chen Zhixing then sat cross-legged, waiting quietly.
About the time it takes to burn a stick of incense later...
A striped tiger spirit, a demon of the Spirit Nourishment realm, came charging over. It took one look at the meditating Chen Zhixing and disdain flickered in its tiger eyes.
The next moment.
It opened its mouth wide, ready to bite down on Chen Zhixing.
Bang——!
Chen Zhixing slapped the air, and the striped tiger was instantly crushed to the ground as if a mountain had fallen on it, trembling in fear.
An hour later.
Over a hundred large demons were lying prostrate before Chen Zhixing.
The eight-armed giant ape had seven of its arms torn off, leaving only one to cover its face as it cautiously peeked at Chen Zhixing.
The green-feathered bird was in worse shape; its wings had been plucked clean, and its sharp eagle eyes were now dull and lifeless.
The nine-lump golden toad was croaking and performing a water-spitting act.
A giant bear, known as the king of this Black Forest and usually extremely proud, was standing upright like a human, grinning at Chen Zhixing.
It carefully opened its paws to reveal some fruits, smiling ingratiatingly:
"Little senior, these are my fruits, very sweet and crunchy. Try them."
Chen Zhixing picked up a pear, took a bite, and found it indeed fragrant and sweet.
“Hmm, I actually liked your proud attitude better at first.”
Chen Zhixing recalled the bear's arrogant demeanor earlier and smiled.
“Little senior, don’t misunderstand me. I’m an honest bear!” The giant bear’s face changed, and it quickly forced a few more smiles.
It glanced at the pile of demon corpses behind Chen Zhixing and shuddered.
Who would dare be anything but honest here?!
As soon as it spoke, the other demons hurriedly chimed in:
“Ah, yes, yes! We’re all honest demons!”
“Little senior, I love helping others!”
“Little senior, don’t be fooled by my appearance—I’m a vegetarian wolf!”
“Little senior, I, the eight-armed ape, have sworn enmity with all those evil demons!”
“To be honest, little senior, even though I’m a tiger spirit, I’ve never eaten a human! I don’t even get why some demons eat humans—tough and sour, what’s so great about them?”
All the demons—ape spirits, wolf spirits, toad spirits, and rat spirits—forced what they believed to be the most harmless smiles onto their ferocious faces, desperately expressing their will to survive.
“Relax, I just sincerely need your help with something.”
Chen Zhixing casually tossed the pear aside, then smiled faintly as he spoke:
“I’ll give you an hour to find me a human tomb in this place.”
“I’m sure, with how honest you all are, you’ll be happy to help me, right?”