Chapter 275: Mountain Lord Opens Cave Dwelling
After the Tiger Demon and the tail analyzed the stone carving on the wall, they reached a unanimous conclusion: that was to completely ignore the White Bone Scholar’s long-winded speech.
Although it passed the environmental screening of the ‘Death Qi Trap’ and was not eroded in its sanity by the ‘Misty’, it seemed to meet the standards for an inheritor.
But whether it was the Tiger Demon’s [BOSS Template] or the [Holy Light System + Anti-Law] under the Human Stance, none of it had anything to do with the opponent’s mantle inheritance [Truth System].
It also disdained this ‘Spirit’ wealth and was even less willing to get involved in the karma left by the opponent. (Or was it a soul possession trap?)
Snake Snake said: “Boss, look. In this crude Cave Dwelling, the opponent’s remains are placed, serving as a key; and the stone carving has the opponent’s account in the [Moon Sea]. These things, in the [Immortal Path Universe], are all karma! They look ominous just to see. Do you think we should leave here and find another place to make our lair?”
The Tiger Demon shook its head: “Why retreat? Not to mention that this guy is completely dead and can’t interfere with our actions at all. Even if it could fake being alive, as long as we don’t get tainted by [Truth Pollution] and don’t go to the [Moon Sea] to open the secret stash, what can it do to me?”
The ‘pollution concentration’ of this Cave Dwelling has already exceeded the average level of the [Misty Mountains], but it is far inferior to the [Disease Garden], and it is not anyone’s private territory. The opponent was just temporarily secluded here, using this landscape for research experiments on ‘Power of Death (Yellow Springs)’.
In the Tiger Demon’s eyes, this piece of ‘Underworld treasure land’ was indeed painstakingly cultivated by the White Bone Scholar with purpose, creating a ‘Yin Fiend Land’.
But the opponent’s strength manifestable in the Human World was limited, far from reaching the level of imprinting ‘personal pollution brand’ into every inch of this mountain forest and Lake. Strictly speaking, this prime Yin Fiend Land was still an ‘unclaimed’ wild land.
The [Cold Pond] and this [Yin Mountain] serve as the ‘array eyes’ of some natural Magic Array, continuously gathering the ‘Death Qi, soul mist (turbid)’ scattered from the deaths of creatures in the nearby mountain ranges, and spontaneously tempering the ‘Animal Undead’ of the Yin Fiend Land, instilling ‘poetry, songs, and rhymes’ into them.
This Yin Fiend Power (Death Pollution), along with the ‘shadowy’ environment of the Cold Pond surrounded by mountains on all sides and facing away from the sun, is also rich in [Shadow Pollution]… perfectly matching the Tiger Demon’s needs, making it a natural Blessed Land.
In addition, this place has mountains and water, with serene scenery, lush vegetation, strange peaks jutting out, rugged Crushed Stone, rushing waterfalls, abundant Death Qi, and no mosquito disturbances… although the peaks are not the highest and the area is quite limited.
But it excels in being enclosed and complete, like an exquisite miniature Peach Blossom Paradise, a secluded (Underworld) Immortal Realm, perfectly aligning with the Tiger Demon’s aesthetic preferences.
…
It thought that if it could further renovate and process on the basis of this [Stone Carving Cave Dwelling]. Build a set of suspended pavilions and towers. Construct a [Mountain Lord Temple (Daoist Temple)] where the scale doesn’t need to be large, but the style must follow traditional Daoist traditions, then everything would be simply perfect!
It could be called a secluded Underworld Immortal Realm, a true Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land.
Going down the steps, one can fish for Undead in the Lake, row boats on the Lake surface, appreciate waterfalls and serene mountain forests; going up the stone steps leads to the [Mountain Lord Temple] built along the mountain contours, a Unity of Heaven and Man 5A-level scenic spot.
The more the Tiger Demon thought, the wider the silly grin on its mouth grew, already immersed in it. It no longer cared about the [big house, Big Villa] it hadn’t bought in Running City; it only wanted to build an exclusive [Daoist Temple] inside the [Misty Mountains] as soon as possible, to experience cosplaying as ‘Zhen Yuanzi’.
So it decided: “This is it! I don’t understand feng shui, but the scenery here is impeccable. The White Bone Scholar’s taste is still acceptable. According to the principle of [Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land, occupied by the virtuous], although this King arrived later, as long as I refine this unclaimed land on a deeper level and Occupy this mountain top, then this mountain and this water will be my private property! What business does the [White Bone Lich] have with it?!”
Although the White Bone Scholar excavated this Cave Dwelling and spent great energy nurturing it into a [Yin Fiend Death Land], the opponent did not fully Occupy it, nor construct a Domain similar to [Domain].
Even the opponent’s [Mage Tower] was not here. This ‘landscape Death Land’ was probably a place for experimenting with ‘research theories + vacation retirement + treasure hiding’.
The low degree of importance and utilization gave the Tiger Demon an opportunity to take advantage.
Snake Snake: “So from today on, this is our home?”
The Tiger Demon strode to inspect the limited-space pitch-black Cave Dwelling, confirming that aside from the stone carving, there were no pollution traces left by the White Bone Scholar. Only its ‘Skeleton remains’ contained unique restrained Energy, but it was well sealed inside the Bones and had not leaked.
It could even move in directly with baggage without deliberate cleaning.
So the Tiger Demon cast [Summon Wind], combining with the ‘Death Qi’ permeating the place to whip up a Shadow Wind, sweeping all the indoor dust clean, rolling it into a ball, and throwing it outside the Cave Dwelling.
Snake Snake: “Since we’ve chosen this place as your Cave Dwelling, King, shouldn’t we give this [Mountain] a more resounding name? You should also have an official external [Daoist Name]!”
[Shadow Tiger Demon] was just its breed, [Mountain Lord] was not an exclusive title; since the Tiger Demon was establishing a sect and dwelling, it naturally needed a corresponding appellation.
So it pondered briefly, thinking that Snake Snake, right from birth, had narcissistically given itself the Daoist Name [Yu Jingzi]. Thus it said: “This mountain shall henceforth be called [Yin Mountain]. And I shall be [Yin Mountain Lord].”
With that said, the Tiger Demon looked at the stone carving containing the [Moon Sea. Unconscious Bank Account Information], pondering how to handle it.
Snake Snake: “I’ve already recorded the entire content; just shovel it off! Our Cave Dwelling doesn’t need outsiders’ traces.”
The Tiger Demon nodded: “Very well!”
Then it raised its claw and swung repeatedly; under the superposition of [Claw] and [Summon Wind] supernatural abilities, sharp wind blades shot out one after another, continuously cutting the inscriptions on the stone wall, ultimately shaving off even the eight large characters [White Bone Scholar sat in passing here] together.
Finally, a great Shadow Wind arose indoors, sweeping away all the sand dust and crushed stone, thoroughly erasing the last traces of the White Bone Scholar.
As for the mantle inheritance in the [Moon Sea], the Tiger Demon truly had no interest and did not think this White Bone Scholar had much prestige or was unattainably high?
…
To be reasonable, just Yuan Zhu’s [Holy Light] cultivation under the ‘Human Stance’. With only one [Soul Crystal], he already had the passive qualification to reach the Moon.
If he did not choose the wild fox zen solitary ascetic cultivation path, but instead actively sought refuge with the [Tai Huang Dao Master] lineage or the [Holy Light Buddha] lineage.
With his current talent, he would fully qualify within the [Eight Holy Kings] faction to sign a [Resurrection Contract]. Ensuring that the moment he encountered Death, his [Soul Crystal] could immediately be forcibly stripped, extracted, and uploaded to the [Moon Sea] area belonging to the [Holy Church] by the great power of the [Holy King] via the [Holy Light Network].
And serve as core data for the [Holy Light. Great Resurrection Technique], awaiting loading and revival. Any Holy Church Monk who condenses one [Soul Crystal] already qualifies for ‘Moon access + revival’; this is the basic welfare within the [Holy Church].
However, this level of [Resurrection] can only retain and reload the limited ‘Soul information, personality data’ within the [Soul Crystal].
After revival, there is a high probability of incomplete memories, cognitive defects and obstacles. The missing parts are usually supplemented by one’s own [Angel King]. And implant erroneous information like ‘loyalty, 007…’, turning the revived into cattle and horses.
If Yuan Zhu does not seek refuge with any side and continues wild ascetic cultivation, then after his [Three Imprints], he will automatically gain the strength to reach the Moon on his own.
After [Three Imprints], with nine [Soul Crystals], he can naturally set up or purchase [Yin God Resurrection Service] in the [Moon Sea]; or log into the [Holy Light Network] to set up [Great Resurrection Technique] for himself.
With the [Holy Church Faction] as backing, Yuan Zhu did not feel that the White Bone Scholar could threaten him. Especially the [Holy Light lineage], with exceptionally firm mental will, is also highly resistant to the [Truth System]’s mental pollution, even slightly restraining it.
…
Note that the [Holy Light System] can reach the Moon, but it is not a pure ‘Spirit, Soul faction’.
The [Holy Light] cultivation paths are numerous, and the [Moon Sea] is just one of many optional routes. This is completely different from the [Truth Sect] specialized in Moon access.
Therefore, the White Bone Scholar, who switched to ‘Spirit, Soul cultivation’, had an earlier Moon access timing and must have lower difficulty than [Holy Light]. He estimated that the White Bone Scholar should have been able to ‘stellar body projection, Yang God out-of-body’ and enter the [Moon] between its own [Second Imprint] and [Third Imprint].
So after reading the opponent’s life autobiography, Yuan Zhu only gave three points of respect, but was not particularly wary.
Instead, he felt that the opponent exaggerated the description to attract and tempt latercomers to pursue the [Yang God Path] along the ‘address’ left by the opponent, to inherit the opponent’s [Spirit wealth].
……
After shoveling off the stone carving content, the Tiger Demon checked the time; it was already 6:20. He estimated the senior student was already waiting impatiently, so he involuntarily sped up the work progress.
The black giant tiger circled once in the limited-space crude Cave Dwelling, measured the indoor size and dimensions, then without further ado, right in front of the White Bone Scholar’s remains.
Standing at the center position of ‘its home’, it smashed down eight [Worm Pillar Town Stones] in one go. The [Worm Pillars] immediately occupied the Nine Palaces positions of the stone hall (minus the center where the Tiger Demon stood).
Nine Palaces minus one [Worm Pillar] immediately merged with the Cave Dwelling according to the [Mountain Lord’s Domain] inheritance, beginning to construct the first ‘small Magic Array’.
One by one lifelike giant statues of ‘cicada nymphs, adult cicadas, silkworms, dung beetles, fireflies, locusts, Cantonese twin tails…’ with abdomens touching the ground, their iron-hard segmented limbs deeply inserted into the stone hall’s floor.
…
These [Worm Pillars], whose own material had been refined into [Flesh Fossilized (Stone Material)] by the [Universe Within The Belly] supernatural ability.
At this moment, they fit exceptionally well with the Cave Dwelling stone hall (rock) itself used to open the [Mountain Lord’s Domain].
Both being [Stone. Attribute], the moment they appeared, the bases perfectly fused with the hall floor. Subsequently, they gave birth to the extraordinary effects of [Domain], forming a small and enclosed [Magic Array].
This design had no coincidence. In the [Cultivation World], for a Tiger Demon to become a [Mountain Lord], the core step is to possess one’s own [Mountain].
In that Cultivation World, a cultivating [Human], once possessing one’s own [Mountain (Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land)]. Then that person would be regarded as an [Immortal], precisely a [Blessed Earth Immortal].
Similarly, a [Tiger Demon] embarking on the cultivation path is no inferior to a [Daoist]; once it occupies a mountain as king and opens its own ‘Dao field Domain ([Mountain])’, then it is a proper [Mountain Lord], i.e., [Mountain God].
[Mountain God] and [Earth Immortal] are essentially the same, just different names.
Therefore, finding a [Mountain] that truly belongs to oneself and possesses Spirit Veins is extremely important for a Tiger Demon.
This leads to the [Mountain Lord’s Domain] supernatural ability automatically refining high-grade sacrifices (high-grade Human cultivators) into [Pillar Man Town Stones] to open and reinforce its own Domain.
These cultivation programs were long inscribed into the Bloodline in the form of [Innate Divine Ability], solidified into [Soul Programs] by the [Immortal Scripture]. Like the ancient tech crystals STC (Standard Construction Modules) unearthed through archaeology in the Warhammer 40K Universe.
Humans need not understand this knowledge; as long as they master the start button and input raw materials, the [Construction Modules] can endlessly produce high-tech equipment.
Similarly, the Tiger Demon does not know Magic Array knowledge or Refinement secret techniques, yet it can continuously hunt and refine [Worm Pillar Town Stones]. At this moment, it directly installs them foolproof-style, automatically activating the ‘Nine Palaces Secret Array’ contained within.
…
At this moment, the giant [Worm Pillars] placed according to the ‘Nine Palaces minus one’ standard format trembled their bodies slightly one by one, as if coming alive.
Those limbs rooted into the stone hall floor, the abdomens close to the ground, now grew large amounts of active inorganic tissue similar to ‘vascular membranes’, or like ‘Plant leaf veins’.
These ‘stone-quality’ blood vessels spread like frantically growing ‘Slime Mold’, radiating and spreading along the ground.
Between the ‘eight pillars’, they connected to each other via stone-quality ‘active tissue’, like cables between charging piles. While interconnecting, more active tissue (stone blood vessel patterns) centered on the 8 nodes began penetrating underground like Root Tendrils; or like vines climbing along the ground to adhere to the Walls, expanding toward the ceiling.
These activated ‘stone-quality’ meridian blood vessels not only integrated the [Worm Pillars] with the Cave Dwelling into one, seamless as heaven-made; but also wrapped and transformed the entire hall into a whole.
Soon, these originally protruding ‘blood vessels, Root Tendrils’ reintegrated into the ground after expansion. On the smooth ground and stone Walls, they left twisted irregular net-like patterns.
These ‘channel pipelines’ embedded inside the rock flowed with blood-like [Shadow Spiritual Energy] under the support of the [Worm Pillars], injecting new Vitality into the entire [Cave Dwelling].
At this moment, the Tiger Demon within the [Nine Palaces minus one Magic Array] felt a warmth, comfort, and relaxation as if returning to the womb.
It was as if using these eight [Worm Pillar Town Stones] to build itself a palace chamber. This miniature small Magic Array began drawing ‘Death Qi’ from around the [Mountain Body] into the ‘capillary vessels’ permeating the rock layers, converting it into ‘Shadow Spiritual Energy (blood)’, circulating within the Magic Array.
At the same time, the eight [Worm Pillar Town Stones] spontaneously drew [Shadow Pollution] from the [Shadow Layer], mixing it with the [Death Qi] absorbed by the Magic Array to condense into [Mountain Lord Magic Power].
The Tiger Demon residing here was like an infant, returning to the Innate state.
This was the true flavor of a [Mountain Lord, Mountain God]!
