The Immortal’s Poison

A dozen rocks of uneven sizes were piled up in the car messily. The large ones were the size of millstones, while the little ones were watermelon-sized.

 Ever since Hanba entered the mountain and cast Art of Ghost to piggyback, no monsters came to bother them anymore. Wen Leyang was alarmed. He strode and stood in front of Hanba and Xiaowu. Hanba’s expression did not change. He reminded Wen Leyang drily, “Ignore him, we shouldn’t be in trouble!”

 The naked burly man pulled the car; he ran at the speed of almost like that of an old demon rabbit, Bu Le’s movements. He only entered everyone’s line of vision after some time. From afar, Wen Leyang saw that the man was drenched in sweat. Every drop of thick sweat trickled down, resulting in patches and patches of perspiration stains on his body.

 Although the man was not far away, the wind which stirred up as he ran came long before he reached them. Wen Leyang was caught off guard that he was almost flung backward! If they had closed their eyes and only felt his running, it was as if he was not a mooing barbarian, but a thunderous great mountain instead!

 Wen Leyang supported Xiaowu and Hanba. They took a few steps back and made way. However, when the man saw them, he looked happy. He quickly stopped his charge in front of them.

 When he was running, apart from the strong winds he caused, there was nothing too alarming. However, the instant he stopped, the surrounding flowing mountains shook violently.

 

Xiaowu was startled. She flipped her hands and flashed her Mourning Staff.

 

There were streaks of dirty water on the man’s face and his messy hair concealed his eyes. A putrid, sour smell was emanating from his body. He smiled at them before asking, “Are you guys… strong?” His voice was loud, but his tone was awkward and strange as if he had not spoken for a long time.

 The little darling made a fierce expression on her tiny face and asked with a childish voice, “What do you want!?”

 The man had both his hands in a firm grip on the car, “If you guys have the strength, do help me hold this car for a moment. I’ll be right back.” As he spoke, he seemed to frown, “If you’re not strong enough, it’s fine – this car is very heavy.”

 Wen Leyang looked sideways at Hanba. Hanba was void of expression, but his gaze was filled with confusion. Even with his experience, he had no idea where this man, who pulled a car to transport rocks on Shiwan Mountains, came from.

 The man’s origins were uncanny; the request he made was even more baffling. The little darling winked at Wen Leyang and jumped out, “I’ll help you hold the car. Be quick with your business!”

 The man shook his head unexpectedly. His hands did not leave the car, “You might not be able to hold it!” As he said this, he turned and looked at the rocks in the car before saying to the little darling, “Try grabbing one of the smaller ones, let’s see if you can move them.”

 The little darling did not know whether to laugh or to cry, as she mumbled, “It’s only a car of rocks!” However, she still did as she was instructed. After using her life vitality flow to protect her body, she grabbed the smallest rock on the car, but the expression on her little face changed!

 It was but a small rock the size of a watermelon, but no matter how the little darling exerted her strength, it did not budge! Wen Leyang and Hanba exchanged a shocked glance. The rock seemed to have grown onto the car, but even if it had truly taken root, with Xiaowu’s strength, it should not have been a problem to even lift the entire car.

 The little darling tried a few times, but she could not move that insignificant, tiny rock. Her small face flushed red. She let go of the rock and said spitefully, “What rock is this? Why is it so heavy!?” As she said this, she raised her leg and kicked the car mercilessly.

 The man snorted, “I told you that this car was very heavy. If you’re not strong enough, it’s fine!”

 Of course, the little darling was dissatisfied. Her cultivation base was at the level of the giant pangolin, Po Tu. She had looked down on everyone else, except for Hanba, Chang Li and the other peerless demon immortals. She could even lift a tall building if she wanted to, let alone a small rock.

 There and then, Hanba thought of something. He floated forward and pulled Xiaowu, who was fuming with even more anger, back to his side. He instructed Wen Leyang, “You try it!”

 Wen Leyang was a young man at heart and he had long wanted to hug the rocks, but as the man’s origins were uncanny, he was unsure whether he was a friend or foe. That was why he stayed on the sides to protect Hanba and his daughter. Now that he was suggested to do so, he immediately stepped forward. He kept his mind partially alert to guard himself against the man’s possible sneaky attacks, and at the same time, the Poison of Life and Death within his body flowed around and swirled. He picked a slightly larger rock and grabbed it.

 

The great force summoned by the Poison of Life and Death flowed vigorously. With Wen Leyang’s low howl, the rock moved slightly. Finally, he managed to slowly carry it out of the car. Then, popping sounds ceaselessly echoed beneath his feet. Wen Leyang had just picked up the rock when his increased body weight gradually caused him to sink into the hard mountain rocks.

 Although he lifted the rock, Wen Leyang was still startled. All his joints and muscles trembled strangely. He could not believe that a rock would be this heavy. He conjured the Faulty Punch without even thinking. If what Xiaowu said about peculiar magic hidden inside the rock was true, it would be broken by the Faulty Punch by now.

 However, the rock was still heavy. When Wen Leyang executed his Faulty Punch, he sank at an even greater speed. He disappeared after a few seconds, and only his hands could be seen holding up the rock.

 The naked burly man seemed to have seen through the Faulty Punch. He muttered an ‘eh’ and chuckled, “Your method of practice is interesting; it can break the magic!” After he finished, he sighed with a low, muffled voice, “You guys won’t do. You’re not strong enough. Never mind! I’m leaving!” After he spoke, he pulled the car and took a few steps back. He jumped onto the rock which was still held high by Wen Leyang. Amidst a loud rumble, the rock struck up a cold wind as it howled and dropped back into the car. Then, the man started mooing again and continued running.

 The man left as quickly as he came. It was not long before he disappeared at the drop of a hat. Wen Leyang jumped out from the pit, his face filled with shock. He shook his head towards Xiaowu and smiled bitterly, “I’ve tested it with Faulty Punch, there’s no magic spell on those rocks.”

 Xiaowu’s eyes were filled with incredulity.

 Wen Leyang was also puzzled, “If those rocks were that heavy, the car should have been sunk by now, unless his magic spell can’t be broken by the Faulty Punch…” He was halfway through his speech when he shut his mouth. He suddenly remembered that the man’s arms had never left the car even for a second. On the man’s arms were solid muscles, with throbbing veins.

 The seemingly insignificant car could support the heavy rocks! That man had only used nothing but his strength to support that car-full of huge rocks that was heavier than a hill – all by holding on to the bumper. That was how the car and rocks did not sink into the ground!

 The speed at which the man ran as he towed the car was far from inferior to old demon rabbit, Bu Le!

 Wen Leyang was completely dumbfounded. There was no end to the wonders of this world, but if all of this was true, it was too shocking.

 Hanba seemed to have already guessed this person’s origins. He chuckled, “He’s also a monster of the legends. It seems like my journey is not in vain as I’ve seen him with my very own eyes!” He was too lazy to elaborate after that statement. He returned to the palanquin with a flash and instructed drily, “There’s no need to think too much. This monster is not, at the very least, related to us. Let’s be on our way, for the centipede grass isn’t far away!”

 Wen Leyang knew Hanba. If he had no intention to spill any information, it was useless even if he were to ask him about it. The centipede grass was close, so he carried the little darling with joy and dashed towards the molehill pointed out by Hanba.

 

The little darling knew Wen Leyang’s thoughts. She said with a smile, “Wait ’til we find the centipede grass. I’ll help you ask daddy what kind of monster that man is!”

 Plants did not grow well on the small hill. Compared to the lush greenery around it, it seemed somewhat dissolute. The two little ghosts were mentally connected with their master. Hanba did not need to give any instructions when they hoisted the palanquin and went around the small hill. After making about eight rounds, Hanba suddenly let out a series of strange laughter, “Wen Leyang, open up a hole and go in!”

 Wen Leyang grunted in agreement and did not ask why. He put the little darling down. He then danced with the Faulty Punch and ran towards the earth mound!

 The little hill was not a rock mountain but a grave mound; it was very loose. Like a hot knife slicing into butter, Wen Leyang went in with no resistance.

 After a brief moment, a series of howling squalls coming from the small hill broke the silence. A dozen monsters the size of wild boars covered in scales broke out of the ground and ran out haphazardly from the small hill’s surroundings. They scattered. Then, Wen Leyang chuckled and leaped back beside Hanba and his daughter, “There’s an underground cave!”

 Under the small hill, was a hidden shining entrance to a black cave. Although it was not big, it was enough for a van to go in and out easily.

 Those scaly unnamed wild beasts had claimed this place home. They looked fierce and strong, but they were cowards. Wen Leyang had frightened all of them by just making his entrance.

 

The two little ghosts were mentally connected to Hanba and put the palanquin down. After bowing respectfully a few times, they vanished into thin air. Hanba had the Art of Ghost to protect himself. Although he had no legs, he could still float. He led Xiaowu by the arm and said to Wen Leyang, “Let’s go down. You walk in front. If something alive attacks us, kill it with no exception!”

 Wen Leyang knew that magical immortal grass would have an evil beast guarding them. The poison in his body flowed as he kept a keen eye on his surroundings with his telegnosis ability. He took a deep breath and led the father and daughter into the underground cave.

 The road inside the underground cave became winding as it went downwards. Wen Leyang’s telegnosis ability could not seem to detect an end to their foray. A strange rustling sound came ceaselessly out of the ground. All around them, more and more scaled monsters were startled by them. They did not dare to peek at the intruders and hastily ran in all directions instead.

 Wen Leyang frowned slightly. There must be some kind of fierce beast near the immortal grass, but there should not be this many cowardly beasts near an evil beast. He wanted to turn around and ask Hanba, but he knew that the best he could get out of him would be two snorts in response.

 The underground cave was sinisterly cold and steep. Huge cracks could be seen everywhere. There were no signs of human digging, so this should be a deep, naturally-formed cave. The lower they went, the brighter and more spacious their surroundings became. The cracks which appeared beneath their feet now and then also became wider and wider. Sometimes, there was no path, as the cracks were straight. The three of them could only stick to the wall like lizards as they slowly made their way down.

 Luckily, only their path was difficult to traverse, as they were not attacked by any monsters or barbarians. Wen Leyang reckoned that they would have reached the bottom by now even if it was two Mount Huas. The underground cave which they were in had turned from a pit cave, which could only fit eight people, into a vast space. If it were not for Hanba pointing the way out, they would have been hopelessly lost.

 However, what Wen Leyang could not understand was despite Hanba’s telegnosis ability, he failed to sense what was at the end of this ground cave, after being greatly wounded.

 How could the zombie be so confident that the centipede grass was at the end of this deep cave!? If the one who pointed the way was not Hanba Fifth Brother, Wen Leyang would have thought that he had been fooled.

 The three of them had spent many hours underground when Hanba finally heaved a long sigh of relief. There was a hint of happiness in his voice, “We’re at the end!”

 The little darling took a deep breath. Her little face registered a certain degree of shock. She pointed at a faraway direction, “At the depths… how could it be… a burial ground?”

 Wen Leyang had only understood now. Hanba was half a corpse! His discovery of this underground cave was not because he found the centipede grass with his telegnosis ability, but he had traveled all this way relying on his corpse instincts. Wen Leyang smiled bitterly, “The centipede grass… also grows on a burial ground?”

 As expected, Hanba snorted and did not answer Wen Leyang, but pointed at the boundless space far away, “Let’s go!” After a brief moment, he added, “That’s not a burial ground, it’s… a battlefield left behind from ancient times!”