After Liu Chen and his group completely disappeared at the end of the mountain path.
At the vast village entrance, only the figure in black and the towering old scholar tree remained.
Jiang Yuechu slowly retracted her gaze and turned to walk towards the massive tree trunk.
She raised her fair hand and gently placed it on the bark.
"Whoosh—"
Countless red mists emanated from her pores.
In the blink of an eye.
The eerie red mist transformed into tentacles, enveloping the tree Demon's trunk.
But... why did she feel inexplicably unwilling in her heart?
Jiang Yuechu frowned.
Could it be... she still didn't want to be a vegetarian?
"No picky eating!"
She muttered to herself, forcefully suppressing the reluctance in her heart.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle—
The red mist churned, like a long whale sucking water.
After a long while.
The old scholar tree turned into flying ash and drifted away with the wind.
Jiang Yuechu closed her eyes, carefully sensing her body.
Her original Golden Core was now smooth and flawless, radiating dazzling golden light.
Each rotation caused her surrounding Qi and blood to surge like a rushing river, emitting rumbling thunderous thuds.
Core Formation, Perfection.
However... she frowned slightly, not showing much joy on her face, but rather a hint of disdain.
Logically speaking, this old scholar tree was a Great Demon at Perfected Core Formation and had lived for over 2,800 years. Its cultivation foundation should be much stronger than that of the Black River White Flood Dragon or the Old White Ape.
But what was the result?
Swallowing this corpse only barely pushed her cultivation from the late stage to Perfection.
It even almost wasn't enough.
If she hadn't swallowed the Qiang River Dragon King before, she would have been just a step away from Perfection.
She feared that swallowing this one tree wouldn't have even made a sound.
"I wonder if it's because this plant spirit is inherently superficial..."
"Or if my Cultivation Technique only recognizes flesh and blood, not vegetarian meals."
Jiang Yuechu shook her head, feeling a little helpless.
However... her mind stirred, and her gaze fell upon the unfolded panel deep within her mind.
[Current Dao Cultivation: Two thousand nine hundred and five years]
Looking at the reassuring string of numbers, Jiang Yuechu's previously somewhat depressed mood instantly brightened considerably.
Never mind.
One shouldn't be too greedy.
Although this tree Demon's body was a bit weak.
The Dao Cultivation it provided was truly generous.
Two thousand eight hundred and thirty-three years.
Plus the remaining fraction from before.
This wave was a windfall.
But how to spend it... Jiang Yuechu stroked her chin, narrowed her eyes, and pondered.
The White Flood Dragon, or the White Ape?
The White Flood Dragon, even just its imprint, provided a Divine Ability... in comparison, the White Ape seemed unremarkable.
But thinking of the Divine Ability to control rocks that the White Ape displayed before its death, her heart couldn't help but stir.
Moreover.
Now in this Great Northwest, with yellow earth everywhere and thin water vapor.
If she truly cultivated Water Control, in this parched land, her abilities would probably be halved.
On the other hand, this technique of controlling rocks... Jiang Yuechu looked at the thick yellow earth beneath her feet and the continuous barren mountains in the distance.
Isn't this a natural home ground?
"You it is."
Jiang Yuechu no longer hesitated. With a firm resolve, her gaze locked onto the scroll depicting the White Ape reading.
"Infuse, White Ape Duke."
Boom—!!!
A massive amount of Dao Cultivation, like a bursting flood, surged madly into that painting.
Jiang Yuechu felt her vision go black, and her consciousness once again plunged into that endless darkness... [Year 1, you were born in the Demon Court of the far west, born with spiritual intelligence.]
[Year 20, you discovered you were an anomaly. In the Demon Court, it was the law of the jungle. Though you were a Demon, you couldn't bear the barbarity of your kin eating raw meat and blood. You often looked at the captive Human Race, feeling that though they were weak, they were more like the spirits of all creation than Demons.]
[Year 50, you learned the Human Race language, loved to read Human Race books, and even began to learn principles from the Human Race. Your kin mocked you, calling you a monkey in human clothes.]
[Year 100, you had read all the books in your hand. You began to detest the chaos of the Demon Court. You believed that if Demons were to endure, they should learn from humans.]
[Year 300, you traveled through various departments of the Demon Court. You witnessed too much killing and chaos. You began to ponder: why could the Human Race, though frail, occupy the most fertile lands of the Central Plains and be cherished by heaven and earth? While the powerful Yao Race could only huddle in this bitter and cold Western Regions?]
[Year 350, you witnessed the prosperity and decay of the Demon Court. Those Great Demon Kings were high and mighty but did not understand your theories. You tried to educate the lesser Demons but were driven out as a madman. You felt somewhat disheartened and lived in seclusion in the deep mountains.]
[Year 500, you comprehended the method of Moving Mountains. You sat atop a mountain peak, observing the clouds unfurling and gathering, feeling that all the earth in the world could be used by you. Though you did not enter the world, your reputation gradually spread.]
[Year 800, you became restless from prolonged stillness and traveled eastward, arriving at the Southern Mountain of the Region.]
[Year 827, you were reading by a waterfall when you encountered a young tiger who didn't know its place. It wanted to eat you, but you beat it up. Looking at its wild yet intelligent eyes, you suddenly felt that perhaps this was the unpolished jade you had been searching for.]
[You began to teach it to read and to understand the principles of being human. Although it often didn't listen and frequently tore books to shreds, you were very patient.]
[Year 857, that tiger's saber technique had reached Major Achievement. The Southern Mountain could no longer hold it. You wanted to take it back to the Western Regions Demon Court. Although it was chaotic there, it was also the Holy Land of the Yao Race, with a broader world.]
[But the Demon Court was exclusive, especially towards foreign wild Demons, treating them as anomalies. You wanted to secure a legitimate identity for your disciple.]
[Year 859, the Maori Demon King promised you that as long as you helped a junior of the White Flood Dragon Clan condense a Dragon Pearl, he would grant your disciple a spot in the Demon Court. You agreed.]
[Year 894, you were protecting that little Flood Dragon when earth-shattering news came from the Demon Court.]
[The Demon Emperor had gone mad, actually bringing back a Human Race woman and even declaring he would marry her.]
[The entire Demon Court was in an uproar. Some Demons cheered, some worried. You looked at the faintly rising blood-red color in the east, and a strong sense of unease welled up in your heart.]
[Year 897, the iron cavalry of the Great Tang broke through the Demon Court.]
[The Great Tang Emperor personally led the expedition, standing alone with a spear atop the Demon Court.]
[The Demon Emperor was severely wounded, and the Demon Court suffered great humiliation.]
[Year 898, the war briefly ceased.]
[Year 899, the woman brought back by the Demon Emperor actually escaped in the chaos. It was said she fled towards the Region.]
[The Demon Emperor was furious. The Maori Demon King, who was responsible for guarding the border, was almost flayed alive. You also received orders from the Maori Demon King to keep an eye on this woman.]
[Though you were unwilling to get involved, for the future of the tiger Demon, you could only agree.]
[Year 900, the Great Tang withdrew its troops. The Demon Court's Origin Qi was severely damaged, falling into a long period of deathly silence.]
[Year 901, news came again from the Demon Court: the Demon Emperor actually had an heir left in Chang'an. But with the Demon Court in such a tragic state, who would dare to go to Chang'an to find someone?]
[You shook your head, lamenting the impermanence of the world.]
...Consciousness returned.
[Consumed one thousand six hundred and forty years of Dao Cultivation. White Ape Duke's progress has reached Dyeing Vermilion.]
[Successfully upgraded White Ape Duke to Dyeing Vermilion, obtaining a Demon's gift.]
["Bone-Free" upgraded to Supreme.]
[Obtained Divine Ability - Moving Mountains and Filling Seas: This was comprehended by White Ape Duke from observing the mountains and rivers of heaven and earth. It can also control the surrounding earth and rock terrain, transforming mountains into soldiers and changing heaven and earth.]
Jiang Yuechu slowly opened her eyes.
Deep within her pupils, a hint of ancient white light seemed to flash.
Moving Mountains and Filling Seas?
She took a deep breath, her gaze falling on a spot not far away.
She slowly raised her hand towards a huge rock at the village entrance.
The boulder was about the size of a millstone, half its body buried in the yellow earth. Having endured wind and rain, it had long become one with the earth.
"Rise."
Her cherry lips parted slightly, uttering a single word.
Buzz—
The ground trembled slightly.
Immediately after.
That millstone-sized boulder, weighing over a thousand catties, slowly broke free from the earth's embrace, accompanied by the crisp sound of cracking soil.
One inch, two inches, one foot... The boulder floated in mid-air, gently rising and falling.
Jiang Yuechu's lips curved into a smile.
"Very good..."
After a moment of thought.
She wanted to try the miniature Five Finger Mountain that the White Ape Duke had used.
As soon as her mind stirred slightly.
The next instant.
That curve froze on her face.
Her vision instantly blurred, and her ears buzzed.
As if countless flies were frantically flapping their wings.
"Ugh..."
Jiang Yuechu swayed, almost falling to the ground.
Her face instantly turned pale, devoid of any color, and even warm liquid flowed from her nostrils.
"..."
She gasped for breath, and it was a long while before she recovered from the dizzying sensation that almost made her faint.
She raised a hand to wipe away the blood beneath her nose, and seeing the crimson on her fingertips, her eyelids couldn't help but twitch twice.
"Holy crap..."
What kind of consumption is this?!
Could it be... the weight of earth and stone is far incomparable to that of water flow?
"I was careless..."
Jiang Yuechu gave a bitter laugh.
She had originally thought that with this Divine Ability, she could walk sideways on this yellow earth, directly crushing anyone she disliked with a huge mountain.
Now it seems... if she really dared to play like that, she feared that before the mountain was even moved, she would be drained dry herself.
"Hoo..."
She exhaled a long breath, activating the now smooth and flawless Golden Core within her body. As her Qi and blood circulated, the dizzying sensation finally subsided considerably.
The sky had completely darkened.
The wind and sand began to rise, whistling.
Huai Shu Village was now a dead village.
Now her cultivation had reached Perfected Core Formation.
Her foundation was sufficient.
It was time to go find Wei He and ask about the Martial Temple.
Jiang Yuechu took one last look at the village and flicked the reins.
"Giddy up!"
The Red-Eyed Colt neighed, spread its four hooves, and galloped into the vast night.
---