Chapter 162 – Qingzhou's First Walker, Shanhai Strange Beast Bai Ze

“Cloud-hidden Xiaopenglai?”

Hearing these words from Zhong Yaojun, Lu Chen was somewhat surprised.

Because Yu Tianqi had previously told him that the Qingzhou Shanhai Division was located on a floating island.

But where this floating island was, and why it existed, Lu Chen had no idea.

Seeing Lu Chen’s puzzled expression, Zhong Yaojun immediately explained: “The so-called Xiaopenglai is actually a Blessed Land specially created by the Shanhai Bureau.”

“Besides serving as the headquarters for each province’s Shanhai Division, it is also the only channel for entering the Mountains-Seas Realm from various provinces.”

“Therefore, in a sense, Xiaopenglai is a transit station – an intermediate zone connecting the Mountains-Seas Realm and the mortal world.”

“However, you don’t need to know too much about Xiaopenglai. What I mainly want to tell you today is actually about the Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts.”

“After all, these mythical beasts come in all strange forms, and the methods to subdue them are never limited to just combat.”

“Even if you can defeat some special Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts, if you cannot meet specific conditions, you still won’t be able to subdue them.”

“Take my Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast Pulao as an example. To subdue it, two prerequisites must be met.”

“First, you must possess the strength to defeat it head-on and gain its recognition.”

“Second, you must possess Dragon Bloodline, or have cultivated similar Cultivation Manuals and Divine Abilities.”

“If either of these conditions is not met, you cannot form a contract with Pulao.”

“Moreover, some special Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts don’t even require you to fight them.”

“As long as you can meet a certain specific condition, they will be willing to form a contract with you.”

“In our bureau’s history, there are numerous cases where people gained recognition from Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts without going through combat.”

“After all, Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts are, in a sense, manifestations of the great Dao of heaven and earth. Therefore, if they want to elevate their own status, they must accomplish things that align with their inherent nature.”

“Thus, cultivation level and Aptitude are not the only criteria for Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts when choosing Agents. Heart-Nature, Bloodline, and even elusive fate are all standards that determine whether a mythical beast is willing to form a contract with you.”

“This is why there exists the concept of compatibility between Mountain and Sea Walkers and Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts.”

“Among you three, Miss Mu should have the lowest difficulty in finding compatibility. Because Phoenix Calamity Cultivators are not only famous among cultivators, but also have great reputation among Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts.”

“Therefore, once Miss Mu enters the Mountains-Seas Realm, she might not even need to do anything – those Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts suitable for Phoenix Calamity Cultivators will naturally come to her, competing to form contracts with her.”

“At that time, Miss Mu only needs to choose one of the Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts to contract with, based on her own situation.”

“Brother Lu’s situation is similar, after all, achieving Harmony Realm at Foundation Establishment Stage is also extraordinary.”

“As long as your destiny is suitable, most mythical beasts in the Mountains-Seas Realm will be available for your casual selection.”

“The choice of which Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast to contract with lies in your hands.””As for Miss Zuo, it’s a bit more troublesome. Since you don’t possess Miss Mu’s special talent nor Lu Chen’s terrifying aptitude, I can’t say for sure whether you’ll find a suitable Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast to form a contract with. It’ll depend on luck.”

“Alright, I’ve said about all there is to say. You’ll understand the specific circumstances once you arrive at Xiaopenglai.”

“After going through such a trial, I imagine you must be tired. Go back and get some proper rest.”

Hearing this, Lu Chen and the others nodded before immediately rising and leaving Zhong Yaojun’s office.

Once outside, Zuo Qiuzi took the initiative to approach Lu Chen and Mu Xiaoye, saying warmly: “Junior Lu, Junior Mu, you already have my contact information. If you have any questions about the Dao Academy in the future, feel free to ask me anytime – don’t worry about being a bother.”

“Although I’m just a student at Shangqing Dao Academy, I’m quite familiar with the other Dao Academies as well.”

“Alright, thank you Senior Zuo.”

“No problem at all! Let’s keep in touch!”

“Mhm.”

After bidding farewell to Zuo Qiuzi, Lu Chen and Mu Xiaoye quickly found Yu Tianqi waiting in the corridor.

“Uncle Tian.”

Yu Tianqi looked at the two and said with a smile: “Let’s go, I’ll take you to get something to eat first. Then you can enjoy yourselves here for a couple of days before I take you to the Qingzhou Shanhai Bureau HQ.”

“Believe me, when you see the Qingzhou Shanhai Bureau’s Xiaopenglai, you’ll definitely be amazed.”

Upon hearing this, Mu Xiaoye immediately became excited: “Uncle Tian, pick somewhere expensive, it has to be expensive! Little Lu owes me a dinner after losing to me today – let’s try to eat him poor!”

Yu Tianqi looked at the delighted Mu Xiaoye and laughed: “Hahaha, alright then, we’ll go for a big feast today!”

“Yay!”

At a hotpot restaurant somewhere in Linjiang.

“Uncle Tian, I heard from others that your Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast is the Sixth Bureau Level Wuzhiqi. Could you tell us how you managed to subdue it back then?”

While waiting for their hotpot ingredients to arrive, Lu Chen seized the opportunity to ask this question.

Back when he didn’t understand the specifics about Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts,

Lu Chen had thought the differences between them were merely in cultivation level.

But after experiencing the Agent trial at Linjiang Shanhai Bureau,

Lu Chen had come to understand that what Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts truly value are their respective destined natures.

The Sixth Bureau Level Wuzhiqi was currently the highest-level Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast known to Lu Chen.

After all, even Zhong Yaojun’s Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast, Pulao, was only at the Seven Origins level.

Yet Yan Lei, who was only at the Foundation Establishment Stage, relying on his Nine Luminaries Level Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast, Kuiniu,

had forced Lu Chen to use his Dao Integration Realm Sword Domain to achieve victory.

It was worth noting that Lu Chen had previously only needed to deploy his Sword Domain when dealing with Golden Core Stage cultivators.

Ordinary Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators couldn’t even make him use Sword Intent sometimes, let alone his Sword Domain.

The tremendous enhancement that Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts provided to cultivators was evident.

And if Yan Lei with only Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation and a Nine Luminaries Level Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast was already this formidable,

Lu Chen didn’t dare imagine how terrifying Yu Tianqi must be – with his Golden Core Stage cultivation and Sixth Bureau Level Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast, Wuzhiqi.

If we only mention Wuzhiqi, most people might not have a clear concept.

But if we use another name, many would understand the significance behind “Wuzhiqi.”

The prototype for the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong from Journey to the West, was none other than Wuzhiqi.As the saying goes, the more one knows, the more one learns to revere.

After understanding this, Lu Chen had roughly grasped Yu Tianqi’s true strength.

In his prime, Yu Tianqi was undoubtedly among the most elite existences within the Golden Core Stage.

He might even have been capable of rivaling Nascent Soul Stage cultivators while still at the Golden Core level.

Without a doubt, Yu Tianqi—who possessed the Sixth Bureau Level Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast, Wuzhiqi—absolutely had such capability.

Thus, Lu Chen was very curious about how Yu Tianqi had subdued such a top-tier Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast.

And he wasn’t the only one curious; Mu Xiaoye beside him felt the same.

Faced with their intense desire to know, Yu Tianqi didn’t hold back.

“How did I subdue Wuzhiqi? The process was indeed somewhat special.”

“Old Zhong must have told you that to subdue specific Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts, besides needing sufficient cultivation strength, sometimes other conditions must be met, right?”

Lu Chen and Mu Xiaoye nodded, indicating they were already aware of this.

“Then guess what else is needed to subdue Wuzhiqi, aside from a certain level of strength?”

Lu Chen and Mu Xiaoye exchanged a glance, then began pondering.

From the intelligence they had learned about Wuzhiqi:

Wuzhiqi was a fierce aquatic creature, not only immensely powerful but also notoriously unruly.

Considering these traits, Mu Xiaoye tentatively suggested, “Proficiency in water-based Divine Abilities, or possessing a similar Bloodline?”

Yu Tianqi shook his head.

Seeing she was incorrect, Mu Xiaoye immediately furrowed her brow.

She felt her guess was quite fitting for Wuzhiqi’s identity as the ‘Water God’ mythical beast.

Lu Chen had thought along similar lines, never expecting this to be wrong.

Seeing neither could guess, Yu Tianqi didn’t keep them in suspense and said with a laugh, “…It’s drinking capacity.”

“Ah?”

This answer took Lu Chen and Mu Xiaoye by surprise.

Subduing a Sixth Bureau Level Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast with drinking capacity—was this really not a joke?

Noting their reactions, Yu Tianqi laughed heartily, “To be honest, even I didn’t expect it back then.”

“Because when I first entered the Mountains-Seas Realm, my first choice for a Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast was the Seven Origins Level Bi’an Tiger.”

“Both its destiny and abilities were a perfect match for me at the time.”

“But that’s how life is—plans never keep up with changes.”

“After entering the Mountains-Seas Realm, I spent a full half-month without finding any trace of the Bi’an Tiger. Instead, while passing by a section of the Tongtian River, I first encountered Wuzhiqi, who ruled over those waters.”

“Faced with this situation, I naturally changed my plan, since a Sixth Bureau Level Wuzhiqi was certainly more challenging than a Seven Origins Level Bi’an Tiger.”

“Although my strength at the time wasn’t as formidable as young Lu’s, after undergoing the baptism of the Qingzhou Shanhai Division’s Dragon Transformation Pool, my power was roughly equivalent to Little Yezi’s at the Foundation Establishment Stage.”

“And due to the agreement between the Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts and our Bureau, Wuzhiqi at that time could only use Foundation Establishment Stage power to fight me. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have dared challenge a Sixth Bureau Level Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast.”

“That battle lasted three days and three nights, yet we still couldn’t determine a victor.””Perhaps it was an acknowledgment of my strength, or perhaps Wuzhiqi had grown tired of staying in the Mountains-Seas Realm, but it ultimately stopped fighting me and instead made a peculiar request.”

“It said that if I could outdrink it, then it would form a contract with me and become my Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast.”

“Naturally, I didn’t object, since relying on strength alone to subdue a Sixth Bureau Level Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast was practically impossible.”

“After that, Wuzhiqi and I drank by the Tongtian River for a full ten days. For the first seven days, I was so dizzy and disoriented I nearly drank myself to death right there by the river.”

“Fortunately, when I realized I couldn’t outdrink Wuzhiqi fairly, I resorted to a little trick and challenged it to a game of finger-guessing.”

“Wuzhiqi, having spent years in the Mountains-Seas Realm, had never played anything like finger-guessing and was no match for me.”

“So starting from the seventh day, for every cup I drank, Wuzhiqi had to drink three.”

“In the end, your Uncle Tian here, with his formidable finger-guessing skills, managed to drink it under the table!”

“That’s how I subdued Wuzhiqi. Bet you never would’ve guessed, right?”

Subduing a Sixth Bureau Level Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast through drinking—who would’ve thought without being told?

But through this incident, the mystique surrounding Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts significantly diminished in the eyes of Lu Chen and Mu Xiaoye.

Yu Tianqi, watching their bemused expressions, said with a laugh, “That’s just how Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts are. Before you meet them, you imagine them as enigmatic and beyond ordinary comprehension.”

“But once you actually encounter them, you’ll find that although they come in all shapes and forms, they’re more genuine than most Cultivators—their joys, angers, sorrows, and delights are all written plainly on their faces.”

“So when you enter the Mountains-Seas Realm through Xiaopenglai, there’s no need to be overly afraid of them. Just treat them like eccentric homebodies with quirky personalities.”

“Moreover, don’t blindly believe in so-called fate Rank or pursue only high-Rank Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts.”

“As the saying goes, only what suits you is truly the best.”

“There’s never been any inherent superiority or inferiority among Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts. Each is a unique marvel of nature, possessing its own distinct fate.”

“So rather than obsessing over fate Rank, I believe it’s more crucial to find a Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast whose fate aligns with your own.”

“To give a nearby example, take the Grand Scripture Master of the Linjiang Shanhai Bureau, Chi Zheng, also known as the Evil-Warding True Man. The Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast he contracted back then was merely a Ten Capitals Level Huan.”

“Before him, no one had ever managed to raise a Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast·Huan to the Sixth Bureau Level, yet he succeeded.”

“So you see, the fate Rank of a Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast is just a reference. If the fates don’t align, even a Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast that once reached the Sixth Bureau Level might not even make it to the Nine Luminaries Level in your hands.”

“Therefore, before you go to Xiaopenglai, it’s best to reflect on what your Dao is and where your future path lies.”

“That way, you’ll be able to find the Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast that best suits you.”

“Oh, and by the way, you’re not limited to contracting just one Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast.””When you reach the Guardian level and fully master the fate ability of a Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast, you won’t need to rely on the Mountains and Seas Scroll to form contracts with these mythical beasts. Instead, you’ll completely integrate their power into your own being.”

“Therefore, once you become Guardians, your vacant Mountains and Seas Scrolls will be able to contract new Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts.”

“However, this is still quite distant for you. To achieve this, you need at least the cultivation level of Deity Transformation Stage.”

“Throughout the entire Immortal Alliance, there are only seven Guardians and four Domain Lords who have accomplished this – just eleven people in total.”

“And these are the accumulations of ten thousand years since the Immortal Alliance’s establishment, averaging only one such talent per millennium.”

“Although both of you possess extraordinary talent, whether you can ultimately reach such heights remains uncertain. There’s no need to dwell on it too much.”

“So rather than worrying about that, you should focus on considering what kind of Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast suits you best.”

Just as Yu Tianqi finished speaking, the dishes they ordered arrived.

“Alright, alright, let’s eat. We can discuss anything else tomorrow.”

“Becoming Mountain and Sea Walkers is just the first step in your ten-thousand-mile cultivation journey. For now, you only need to decide which path you want to take and firmly take that first step.”

“Because time will prove the worth of your choices.”

Hearing this, Lu Chen and Mu Xiaoye stopped dwelling on these matters and began eating the hotpot.

Five days later, at Qingzhou Shanhai Division in Dragon Prison City, Qingzhou

“Hey, have you heard about what happened at Linjiang Shanhai Bureau? A Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator with Harmony Realm Sword cultivation – how does such a monster even exist in this world!”

“You just heard about it? My friend is an Agent at Linjiang Shanhai Bureau, and he happened to be an examiner for that Agent trial. He told me about this long ago. You have no idea how he described that monster to me.”

“How did he describe it?”

“He said that from the moment he laid eyes on that young man, he knew he was no ordinary talent. And when they reached the third stage of the Agent trial, everything proved him right.”

“A Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator with Harmony Realm Sword Domain – do you know how desperate my friend felt? He literally had no will to resist and surrendered immediately.”

“You should know that in earlier times, reaching the Harmony Realm was enough to establish your own sect and become a grandmaster.”

“Although more cultivators have reached the Harmony Realm after all these years of the Immortal Alliance’s development, this is the first time I’ve heard of someone achieving it during the Foundation Establishment Stage.”

“And it’s not just that Harmony Realm Sword Cultivator – I heard a Phoenix Calamity Cultivator also participated in that Agent trial.”

“Damn, even a Phoenix Calamity Cultivator showed up? I thought the current Phoenix Calamity Cultivator hadn’t come of age yet? Has time passed so quickly that she’s already at Foundation Establishment Stage?”

“What Foundation Establishment Stage? She’s still at Qi Condensation Stage. But you’ve heard of the Phoenix Calamity Cultivator’s Innate Divine Ability – Crimson Phoenix Calamity, haven’t you?”

“Unless you’ve reached Golden Core Stage and cultivated Protective Qi, ordinary people can’t withstand her Phoenix Calamity Fire at all.”

“So even though she’s only at Qi Condensation Stage, she still easily passed that Linjiang Agent trial.”At this point, the Mountain and Sea Walker from Qingzhou Shanhai Division seemed to recall something and shouted to a young cultivator who had just joined the bureau nearby, “Dongliu, I heard you recently had contact with the Phoenix Calamity Cultivator. Since that Harmony Realm youth has close ties with the Phoenix Calamity Cultivator, have you met him?”

Jiang Dongliu, who had just returned to the Qingzhou headquarters, immediately replied, “Yes, I have. He possesses about ninety percent of my brilliance.”

“Uh…”

The previously lively atmosphere in the Qingzhou headquarters instantly turned cold after Jiang Dongliu’s remark.

A straightforward Mountain and Sea Walker couldn’t help but interject, “Wait, Dongliu, we all know you’re exceptionally talented, but you haven’t even comprehended the Harmony Realm Sword Domain yet. How can you claim he has ninety percent of your brilliance?”

In response, Jiang Dongliu maintained his signature “peerless and unrivaled” confident demeanor, as if he were the only genius in the entire world.

“The path of a cultivator is long and arduous. Though I haven’t yet stepped into the Harmony Realm, I firmly believe my future will surpass his.”

“…”

Hearing this, some of the Mountain and Sea Walkers in the Qingzhou headquarters couldn’t help but roll their eyes.

Sure, sure, you’re absolutely right. You, Jiang Dongliu, are the only genius in the world, and everyone else is just a mere mortal.

However, while Jiang Dongliu was undeniably arrogant, he had the capital to back it up. Not only was he the youngest cultivator in the Qingzhou Shanhai Division to achieve Foundation Establishment Perfection, but his Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast was also extraordinary. His title as the top Mountain and Sea Walker in Qingzhou was well-deserved.

Still, those who became Mountain and Sea Walkers all possessed a certain degree of pride. One of them, seeing Jiang Dongliu’s ostentatious display, couldn’t resist saying, “Dongliu, confidence is good, but overconfidence can border on delusion. That youth is a Sword Cultivator who reached the Harmony Realm while still in the Foundation Establishment Stage. What makes you so sure you can surpass him? Unless you break through to the Golden Core Stage or master the ‘Mountain and Sea Palm Scripture,’ I can’t see how you’d compare.”

The Mountain and Sea Walker expected Jiang Dongliu to tone down his arrogance after this, but instead, Jiang Dongliu looked at him earnestly and said, “I will win.”

At first, everyone thought Jiang Dongliu was either joking or trying to reassure himself. But upon seeing the unwavering determination in his eyes, they realized he genuinely believed, from the depths of his heart, that he would prevail.

The arrogance of an ordinary person might stem from ignorance, but Jiang Dongliu’s arrogance was a Dao he adhered to unwaveringly. His belief in victory wasn’t born from looking down on the Harmony Realm Sword Cultivator but from his conviction that he would eventually surpass even such a foe. Perhaps it was this invincible mindset that had enabled Jiang Dongliu to achieve what he had today—so invincible that even when facing a monster who mastered the Harmony Realm in the Foundation Establishment Stage, he remained steadfast in his belief that he would win. This demonstrated the extent of his self-confidence.

At this point, the others found themselves at a loss for words.

Observing their silence, Jiang Dongliu lifted his gaze to a Celestial Ark approaching outside the Qingzhou headquarters and calmly stated, “Time… will prove everything.”

With these words, Jiang Dongliu turned and strode directly toward the Dragon Transformation Pool in the Qingzhou headquarters.Because he planned to utilize the Dragon Transformation Pool at Qingzhou headquarters to achieve the Golden Core realm.

He had been stuck at Foundation Establishment Perfection long enough—it was time for a breakthrough.

Simultaneously, a phantom of a Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beast materialized behind Jiang Dongliu.

It appeared as a white mythical beast with a tiger’s head, crimson hair, horns, and a dragon’s body.

Its emergence instantly subjected all Agents within Qingzhou headquarters to an intangible pressure.

Although Classic of Mountains and Seas Mythical Beasts are not inherently ranked by strength, there are always a few whose appearances shake the Nine Provinces.

Jiang Dongliu’s mythical beast, Bai Ze, was one of these rare, exceptional beings.

It was also the fundamental reason he was acclaimed as Qingzhou’s top Agent.

【Name: Bai Ze】

【Rank: Eight Extremes】

【Fate: Purple Tenuity Emperor’s Radiance】

【Description: On Eastward Gazing Mountain dwells a beast called Bai Ze, capable of speech. It appears only when a virtuous ruler’s wisdom illuminates the distant and obscure.】

Meanwhile, aboard the Celestial Ark approaching Qingzhou headquarters…

“Wow, is this Xiaopenglai at the Qingzhou HQ? It’s enormous!”

Mu Xiaoye stood at the bow of the ship, gazing excitedly at Xiaopenglai towering amidst the clouds not far away.

Not just her, even Lu Chen standing beside her was somewhat amazed by Xiaopenglai’s magnificence.

The entire Xiaopenglai stood above a sea of clouds, enveloped in colorful halos of light, like an ethereal paradise untouched by mortal dust.

But compared to admiring Xiaopenglai’s beautiful scenery, Lu Chen looked forward more to the Dragon Transformation Pool and the mysterious Mountains-Seas Realm on Xiaopenglai.

Because Lu Chen had a premonition that this trip to the Qingzhou Shanhai Bureau HQ might yield gains not much less significant than when he first stepped into the Harmony Realm.

The former could advance his potential further.

The latter could grant him even greater power.

(End of Chapter)