Chapter 501: Stone Dwelling Old Monster, Soul Formation–Level?!
“Surviving a great disaster surely brings later blessings!”
After Sun Ning and the other finished discussing the matter in detail, they both felt similar emotions.
“This time was truly too dangerous.” When Ning Zhuo recalled how Sun Lingtong had just been hanging by a thread, his heart still pounded in fear.
His gaze grew firmer, and he subconsciously clenched his fist. “Our cultivation is too weak. We must increase it at full speed—keep improving!”
Sun Lingtong lay with his hands behind his head, excitement written across his face, his tone still brimming with enthusiasm. “That was thrilling. It was really so much fun.”
Ning Zhuo immediately became serious and pointed at the Fetal-Breath Spirit Vessel. “Boss, don’t mess around. The Fetal-Breath Spirit Vessel is already ruined like this.”
Sun Lingtong walked over to the Fetal-Breath Spirit Vessel and examined the cracks and gaps covering the entire vessel. The excitement on his face subsided somewhat. “We must find a way to repair it.”
“This time I survived entirely thanks to it.”
“It didn’t just help suppress the void fissure—it had already helped me before.”
“If I hadn’t used it previously to cultivate my physical body and relied only on my former body cultivation foundation, under the infiltration of the void fissure I probably could have endured only a few breaths!”
After a pause, Sun Lingtong added, “Little Zhuo, in the future you’ll also need to strengthen your physical body. You’ll have to rely on it too.”
Ning Zhuo nodded.
After further discussion, the two made a new division of labor.
Ning Zhuo went to the Dragon Head Cabin and took responsibility for controlling the Wanli Dragon. Meanwhile, Sun Lingtong retreated into another cabin and began trying to crack open the storage bag lost by the Escorting Commander.
Both Sun Lingtong and Ning Zhuo had great expectations for that storage bag.
The reason was simple.
The storage bag had emitted star radiance, attracting a terrifying pursuit from a Soul Formation–level existence.
Since the opponent had been so furious and had gone to such lengths, the items inside the storage bag must be extremely important—worth a fortune!
“This is a Nascent Soul–level storage bag!”
Sun Lingtong rubbed his hands together, his eyes shining brightly.
He only had Foundation Establishment cultivation.
Previously, he would have had no confidence in cracking a Nascent Soul–level storage bag. But now, after risking his life to absorb the Evil God Bone Marrow of the Void Evil God, the Empty Mark in his Sea of Consciousness had undergone a qualitative transformation.
And the Dao of the Void was perfectly suited for cracking storage artifacts.
“I’ll give it a proper try!”
While Sun Lingtong struggled with the storage bag, Ning Zhuo controlled the Wanli Dragon and left the void, returning to the real world.
The storage bag no longer emitted star radiance, and no starlight attacks descended from the sky.
Out of caution, Ning Zhuo remained outside for quite some time but saw no movement.
Most importantly, the Mechanical Ring on his finger remained completely calm.
After confirming safety, Ning Zhuo returned to the Three Generals Camp.
The Three Generals Camp was stationed atop Dicebone Giant Tree Mountain.
Liu Er had just finished today’s training. Sweat had soaked his clothes again and again, leaving him physically and mentally exhausted.
A gust of mountain wind blew by, causing Liu Er to shiver slightly before sneezing.
He had been walking, and the sneeze disrupted his rhythm. His left foot caught his right foot, his knee softened, and he nearly fell.
However, he was still a Golden Core–level cultivator with a foundation in body cultivation.
The next moment he steadied himself and stood firm again.
Plop.
A faint sound rang out as a half-liquid lump of bird droppings landed on his shoulder.
Liu Er looked at it, then activated his mana to remove it.
His brows furrowed involuntarily as he muttered inwardly, “Lately I keep feeling uneasy inside—unsteady.”
Just then, a subordinate ran over and reported that Ning Zhuo had returned.
Upon hearing this, Liu Er felt displeasure in his heart. However, he suppressed the negative emotion, forced a smile onto his face, and quickly headed toward the camp gate.
“Military Advisor, haha, you’ve finally returned!” Liu Er grabbed Ning Zhuo’s arm and shook it a few times, looking extremely delighted.
“General.” Ning Zhuo smiled as well.
When Ning Zhuo had left the camp earlier, he had naturally reported it to Liu Er. After all, this had been a combat mission outside the camp, not routine training.
Liu Er accompanied Ning Zhuo into the Military Advisor’s tent, asking about his well-being along the way.
Only after entering the tent did Liu Er sigh and reveal a worried expression as he explained the Three Generals Camp’s current predicament.
In this campaign—especially after capturing Dicebone Giant Tree Mountain—the Three Generals Camp had suffered heavy casualties. Treating the wounded and strengthening training consumed more and more spirit stones each day, and the military funds were gradually running dry.
Ning Zhuo listened carefully. When Liu Er finished, Ning Zhuo smiled and nodded.
“General, please do not worry. Here are one hundred thousand middle-grade spirit stones. Use them for now to replenish the military funds.”
Liu Er was overjoyed and immediately clasped his fists. “With the Military Advisor here, it is truly a blessing for the Three Generals Camp.”
Ning Zhuo quickly replied modestly, “General, you praise me too much. I’m truly embarrassed. I was only able to enter the Thousand Peaks Forest and seek opportunities for revenge for my family thanks to your mighty prestige. Meeting you is the greatest fortune of my life!”
Satisfied with the outcome, Liu Er finally left the Military Advisor’s tent. Only halfway back did the smile fade from his face.
His feelings were complicated.
Toward Ning Zhuo, he harbored a great deal of resentment—especially after the Dicebone Demon God had publicly submitted to Ning Zhuo, which had left him feeling extremely uncomfortable.
But he had to endure it.
Because at the current stage, the Three Generals Camp truly could not do without Ning Zhuo, their financial backer.
After sending Liu Er away, Ning Zhuo instructed the guards at the entrance to decline all visitors, saying he would enter closed-door cultivation.
Once alone, Ning Zhuo pulled the Wanli Dragon from his waist.
His movements were extremely careful, because this time the Puppet Dragon had been damaged even more severely than before.
He first held the shrunken Wanli Dragon in his hand and examined it closely.
After a moment, Ning Zhuo sighed deeply before putting it down and climbing inside.
Inside the cabin, he saw Sun Lingtong.
Sun Lingtong looked exhausted. His hair was messy, and his eyes were bloodshot.
Upon seeing Ning Zhuo, he pouted slightly and said in a disappointed tone, “I didn’t expect the anti-theft measures on this storage bag to be so strict.”
“I used every method I could think of, but none worked.”
Previously he had placed hope in the Empty Mark, but reality had defeated him completely.
He sighed to Ning Zhuo. “I was like a frog at the bottom of a well.”
“I compared national-level anti-theft measures with ordinary civilian ones.”
“The mouth of this storage bag carries both official techniques and general techniques as double seals, and it’s filled with immense National Power.”
“Moreover, it’s Nascent Soul level—two major realms above me. Perhaps only after I advance to the Golden Core stage would I have a slight chance to use the power of the void to steal something from inside.”
“For now, unless something unexpected happens, we won’t be able to open this storage bag.”
Ning Zhuo nodded. “Very well.”
“Then we’ll wait until our strength grows in the future before solving it.”
At present, Ning Zhuo had more than enough money. The treasure materials in his possession were also quite abundant. The hundred thousand middle-grade spirit stones he had just given Liu Er were not even half the cost of repairing the Wanli Dragon this time.
Ning Zhuo called Sun Lingtong to help.
This time, they would once again spare no expense to repair the Wanli Dragon.
The void turbulence not long ago still filled Ning Zhuo with lingering fear whenever he thought about it.
“If the Mechanical Ring hadn’t warned me beforehand, I definitely would have chosen the more cost-effective repair method.”
“And if I had made that choice, Sun Lingtong and I would both have perished in the violent void tremor. The Wanli Dragon wouldn’t have lasted.”
While the two were busy repairing the Wanli Dragon, the events at Azure Sky Mountain also spread among the upper ranks of the Thousand Peaks Forest alliance.
Thousand Peaks Forest.
Dragon King Mountain.
Chen Lingfeng had been speaking passionately for quite some time.
Alongside him were Lone Fang and others.
They were all accusing one person—or rather, one demon.
Stone Dwelling Old Monster!
“This demon, for the sake of his own selfish benefit, plundered nearly all of our spoils of war!”
“In the end, everything we received combined was only five thousand middle-grade spirit stones!”
Chen Lingfeng spread his hands, rarely revealing the helplessness and grievance of a Golden Core expert.
His words resonated strongly with many cultivators.
They began discussing loudly:
“If such a demon cultivator isn’t severely punished, who will still fight wholeheartedly in the future?”
“If someone hadn’t charged ahead in battle, how could Stone Dwelling Old Monster have had the chance to steal everywhere?”
“Stone Dwelling Old Monster is truly hateful. A tumor like this within the ranks should be eliminated as early as possible.”
Lu Hongtu remained silent the entire time, a stark contrast to his usual passionate speeches.
His unusual silence drew the attention of several perceptive individuals.
Someone asked, “What does Military Advisor Lu think?”
Lu Hongtu thought inwardly, “I’m just here to watch the show!”
He felt secretly pleased. Very few people knew the true cultivation level of Stone Dwelling Old Monster. Even Grandfather Long had only guessed.
Only he could truly confirm it.
He quickly thought about how to help conceal the truth about Stone Dwelling Old Monster.
At that moment, urgent intelligence suddenly arrived.
As the alliance’s chief military advisor, Lu Hongtu read the report in his hand and remained silent for a long time.
The intelligence had been witnessed firsthand by cultivators led by Gao Cuo and personally escorted back. They had even recorded corresponding spell images!
After viewing the spell footage, Lu Hongtu’s heart sank.
“This starlight is extremely restrained, but its power is absolutely overwhelming—it has reached the Soul Formation level.”
“For Stone Dwelling Old Monster to withstand such an attack clearly reveals Soul Formation cultivation!”
“This information can’t be contained anymore. Now not only I, but Grandfather Long and the other high-level figures will no longer be able to keep it hidden.”
For Lu Hongtu, this was bad news.
In the future, he would no longer be able to exploit this information advantage.
He sighed helplessly. “So be it. This situation was never something I could control anyway.”
With that thought, he handed the jade slip containing the intelligence to the others. “Take a look.”
The intelligence quickly circulated among the crowd.
Chen Lingfeng’s expression became utterly chaotic.
Lone Fang and the others exchanged glances, filled with shock and fear.
The powerful cultivators in the hall immediately changed their expressions and quickly changed their tone.
“Excellent! Lord Stone Dwelling Old Monster truly deserves to be the leader of Thousand Peaks Forest. He directly resisted the National Power attack of Liangzhu Kingdom—truly awe-inspiring!”
“Lord Stone Dwelling Old Monster is a model for our generation. Ah, to be part of Thousand Peaks Forest alongside him is truly the blessing of three lifetimes.”
“Hahaha! I understand now! Lord Stone Dwelling Old Monster’s every action carries profound meaning. He was worried that if we carried the spoils of war ourselves, we might be hunted down by enemy spells. That’s why he kept all the spoils on himself!”
Everyone turned to look at the speaker.
It was none other than Chen Lingfeng.
Chen Lingfeng laughed loudly and slapped his chest. “I was shallow! Truly shallow!”
“I judged a gentleman with the heart of a petty man.”
“Lord Stone Dwelling Old Monster has done far too much for us. He is so responsible. If I had carried that storage bag, I’d probably have been reduced to ashes already.”
“From this perspective, Lord Stone Dwelling Old Monster is my lifesaver!”
The hall fell silent.
Many spectators stared at Chen Lingfeng with teasing expressions in their eyes.
Chen Lingfeng coughed and glanced around before looking back at his companions.
Lone Fang and the others suddenly woke from a dream and hurriedly echoed his words, praising Stone Dwelling Old Monster for bravely bearing the risks alone. They declared themselves fortunate to serve under such a powerful figure.
After their statements, discussion erupted throughout the hall.
The cultivators were generally extremely excited.
The focus of their discussion was only one name—
Stone Dwelling Old Monster!
At this critical moment before a great war, the sudden appearance of a Soul Formation–level existence within Thousand Peaks Forest was incredibly inspiring.
The discussion continued for two to three hours before Lu Hongtu finally stood and suppressed the conversation.
Because the discussion was becoming increasingly absurd.
Stone Dwelling Old Monster was originally a reclusive figure with few recorded deeds. Yet through the cultivators’ gossip and exaggerations, numerous flattering rumors were being created right before Lu Hongtu’s eyes.
Originally, Stone Dwelling Old Monster had merely swallowed fragments of Treasure-Dividing Rock.
But in the cultivators’ stories, he had become a Ten-Thousand-Year Earth Essence born directly from Treasure-Dividing Rock itself.
That origin was dozens of times more prestigious than the truth.
Some even claimed that the Sky-Pillar Giant Tree where he cultivated had once nearly collapsed, and Stone Dwelling Old Monster had single-handedly stabilized and rebuilt it, performing immense merit for countless living beings.
That was utterly ridiculous.
The Sky-Pillar Giant Tree Mountain was barren. There were no living beings there—probably only Stone Dwelling Old Monster himself!
Unable to endure it any longer, Lu Hongtu halted the discussion and forcibly changed the topic.
“Next item of military discussion: how should we eliminate the four armies that have penetrated our territory?”
This was indeed an important topic.
After a brief silence, the cultivators began thinking.
Soon someone snorted coldly. “These four armies are merely cannon fodder. Let them become exactly that. We should directly mobilize troops and wipe them out!”
“Impossible,” someone immediately refuted. “If we deploy our forces, our military layout will be exposed. Du Tiechuan’s strategy would succeed.”
Another person added, “Therefore, it would be best to send individual experts or use some special method to eliminate these armies.”
“I believe that among the many talents within Thousand Peaks Forest, we surely possess methods to deal with these four armies.”
Azure Sky Mountain.
Sun Gan stood still in the distance, staring at Azure Sky Mountain with tightly furrowed brows.
In his hand was a jade slip—urgent military intelligence transmitted through special means at the cost of National Power.
“Stone Dwelling Old Monster, Soul Formation–level?!”
“And his last known location is right here at Azure Sky Mountain?”
“What kind of joke is this!”
At that moment, a deputy general approached and asked, “General, we’ve rested for half a quarter of an hour. Should we proceed to capture Azure Sky Mountain?”
Sun Gan snorted coldly, put the jade slip away, and issued a cold command.
“Go around it.”