Chapter 26: The Sinking of the Spirit Beast Garden

"Don't worry, boy. That spirit beast has already been gravely injured by my senior brother; its strength is now just a fraction of what it was." The white-bearded old man, clearly perceiving Bailun's thoughts, tried to comfort his grandson.

This elder was Bai Tong, one of the three great Foundation Establishment experts of the Golden Flame Sect, and Bailun's grand-uncle. After another Foundation Establishment expert from the sect was forced to flee home, severely wounded, Bai Tong was dispatched to capture the second-grade spirit beast, the Moon Mink. The Golden Flame Sect was determined to obtain the Moon Mink, which was why they sent Foundation Establishment experts one after another.

Traveling eastwards, Bai Tong and his grandson finally arrived at the foot of Mount Hua. Bailun shot a disdainful glance at the lofty mountain and, puzzled, addressed his grand-uncle, "Is this Mount Hua, our vassal sect's territory? Why would our Golden Flame Sect come to such a pitiful little sect? It's practically in ruins—five disciples, and four of them are only at the first stage of Qi Refinement. The last is just a little girl. This is weakness beyond measure."

Bai Tong chuckled, stroking his white beard with equal disdain. "All just at the first stage of Qi Refinement? Then never mind, we needn't bother going up. If the Moon Mink rushed in, the sect would be wiped out in an instant. Let's continue east and search for the Moon Mink."

With a wave of his sleeve, the white-bearded elder led Bailun away, resuming their search to the east.

...

Behind Mount Hua, within the Spirit Beast Garden.

Jiang Yan stood solemnly, watching as the Beast Gathering Mirror absorbed the Moon Mink's blood. The Moon Mink, captured by Jiang Yan, hung suspended above the artifact, which emitted a gentle azure light forming a funnel-shaped barrier that held the creature aloft.

Blood dripped steadily from the Moon Mink, flowing along the light funnel and pooling upon the mirror's surface. As the blood accumulated, the mirror's hue began to change. Where once the mirror’s copper face gleamed golden-yellow, a deepening crimson now spread. When the Moon Mink's blood finally covered the surface, the artifact became entirely red.

A deep humming sound issued from the mirror. In an instant, the Moon Mink, cradled by azure light, was drawn into the Spirit Beast Garden. At the same time, the plaque above the garden’s gate flashed with blue light, and the golden-eyed eagle, which had been standing behind Jiang Yan, was sucked inside as well.

By the spirit fields near the rear of Mount Hua, Tang Wan held Yunying’s hand, her face alight with delight as she questioned the child about the origins of the fields. Nearby, the two spirit beasts, Little Black and Little White, darted about, playing. Suddenly, the Howling Sky Dog, in the midst of chasing the Soul Hound, halted abruptly. Abandoning the pursuit, its tiny form became a mere shadow and vanished into the night.

The Soul Hound, having caught an unusual scent in the air, gave a few sharp barks before vanishing in pursuit of the Howling Sky Dog.

Just as the Howling Sky Dog neared the Spirit Beast Garden, a crimson light swept out, enveloping and drawing it inside. The Soul Hound, close behind, was likewise swept in by the red glow.

Within Jiang Yan’s spiritual perception, the spirit earthworm, winding its way underground, was also ensnared by the red light and drawn into the garden.

After the formation of the Beast Gathering Mirror, the Spirit Beast Garden gained a function to purify spirit beast bloodlines. However, this required the blood of a high-grade spirit beast. With the Moon Mink's blood now available, Jiang Yan decided to purify the bloodlines of his own spirit beasts, especially the two low-grade ones that had evolved from a mountain eagle and an earthworm.

The plaque above the garden’s gate radiated a dense red light, enveloping Jiang Yan entirely. In an instant, he and the garden merged into a single crimson silhouette.

...

“Ha…” Yunying, having chased after the two dogs, stood with her little mouth agape, astonished by the dazzling spectacle as Jiang Yan’s figure faded from view. Tang Wan, equally surprised, covered her lips in shock as she gazed at her senior brother’s vanishing form. That decrepit Spirit Beast Garden, once a ramshackle collection of posts and a spirit stone, now displayed such extraordinary power under his control.

A muffled groan came from within the crimson light; Jiang Yan had been struck by an overwhelming tide of information pouring into his mind from the glow. Unable to bear the sudden influx, blood surged to his throat and he let out the groan.

Methods for taming spirit beasts, directions for the garden’s advancement, and techniques for nurturing the creatures within—all this knowledge flooded Jiang Yan’s mind. He fought through the nausea and forced himself to accept it. From Jiang Yan’s experience, the Spirit Beast Garden would only impart this knowledge once; even if he later obtained third-grade, fourth-grade, or even ungraded spirit beasts, it would not teach him again. Thus, though his head felt as though it would split apart, he gritted his teeth and absorbed every detail.

At last, the ringing of the artifact marked the end of the transmission. The red glow gradually faded, revealing the Spirit Beast Garden in its original form.

With a thought, Jiang Yan extended his spiritual sense. Every movement within the garden was reflected in his mind: the golden spirit earthworm nestled in the grass at the wall’s base, Little Black and Little White lying side by side at the gate, the black gold-eyed eagle standing proud by a pillar, and the second-grade Moon Mink in the garden’s center.

Jiang Yan pressed his hand to the Beast Gathering Mirror at the garden’s entrance, channeling spiritual power into it. The mirror glowed an ethereal azure, and the spirits of several beasts appeared upon its surface.

The second-grade Moon Mink lay quietly upon the mirror. Having lost so much blood and spiritual energy, and after treatment in the garden, it had fallen into a deep sleep.

The high-grade Howling Sky Dog and the low-grade Soul Hound were still at play, their spirits frolicking just as they had since their first meeting in Qingyang Town. The low-grade golden-eyed eagle’s spirit soared across the surface, subtly changed by the Moon Mink’s bloodline. The low-grade spirit earthworm, as always, lay quietly in a corner of the mirror, a faint milky halo around its body, signifying that its bloodline had improved and it now had a chance to advance.

“Senior Brother,” Yunying called anxiously, noticing that Little Black and Little White lay motionless in the garden as the red glow faded. “Why aren’t the dogs moving, Senior Brother?” she asked, pointing worriedly at the Howling Sky Dog.

With a soft hum, Jiang Yan withdrew his spiritual power, and the mirror’s glow faded.

“It’s nothing, they’re just asleep. Soon, the Spirit Beast Garden will sink underground, so the dogs have fallen asleep,” Jiang Yan explained, his words somewhat disjointed.

“But I want them to play with me, Senior Brother,” Yunying pleaded, clinging to his hand and swinging it gently.

Jiang Yan patted her head affectionately. “Be good, Yunying. Go to sleep tonight, and when you wake in the morning, the dogs will be awake and ready to play. Now, let Sister Wan take you to bed.”

Tang Wan came forward, taking Yunying’s hand. The little girl, reluctant and pouting, allowed herself to be led away.

Watching them depart, Jiang Yan refocused his attention on the plaque above the Spirit Beast Garden’s gate. According to what he had learned, the core of the garden’s control lay within that plaque. Having just tamed a second-grade spirit beast, the garden had expended a great deal of spiritual energy. If it could not quickly sink underground and draw on the vast reserves of Mount Hua, it might soon collapse. Lowering the garden depended on the plaque.

As Jiang Yan’s spiritual sense touched the plaque, a resonant hum responded, echoing his intent. Following the instructions he had just received, his sense moved over the plaque’s surface, and spiritual energy from his fourth layer of Qi Refinement flowed along with it, inscribing his presence.

A clear, melodious ringing sounded as his sense completed a circuit of the plaque. Dots of bright azure light appeared, connecting in intricate patterns until a glowing rune was formed.

“So it’s a formation core inscribed by a Rune Master,” Jiang Yan marveled. The heart of the garden’s control was a rune, meticulously crafted.

As the rune shone in full brilliance, the entire garden was bathed in a pure, vibrant light, teeming with life. The ground beneath Jiang Yan trembled, and before his eyes, the Spirit Beast Garden abruptly sank, beginning its slow descent into the earth…