novelThe Hike to the Summit
| ← Ch.202 | Ch.204 → |
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Wen Leyang asked in a rather strange manner, "Great master, the tadpole's toxicity should not be too strong, right?" The tadpoles' Poison of Water was albeit pure and strong, its amount was very little. The toxicity would be difficult to cause any harm to head lama Rangjung's cultivation base. However, when he used his life vitality to dissolve the toxicity, it seemed that he had exerted laborious efforts. He appeared tired and his gaze was not as lively as before.
Rangjung gave a forced laugh and scoffed, "The Poison of Water still came in second, most of my life vitality is dealing with your bug and the medicinal powder in the bamboo needles!" As he was saying that, he showed his body to Wen Leyang. His body was densely covered in small holes pricked by 'You've Got Me'.
'You've Got Me' was extremely excited when it was chasing after the tadpole. However, it had steel stings on its entire body. The lama was afraid that he would delay the bug's speed. Hence, he dared not cultivate his power to resist...
Rangjung got dressed and stood up. He first nodded in appreciation to Wen Leyang as he laughed, "I have no words to express his gratitude for saving my life." After saying that, he stopped for a moment, "These bamboo needles... can it be removed?"
Wen Leyang gave out an 'oh no'. He apologized profusely and hastily retrieved all the bamboo needles. The lama's plump and round head was pricked like a pickled cucumber.
At least, the lama was alive and he was not too severely injured. He was only slightly exhausted, so he could totally persevere. He stretched out his hand and pointed to his body, "The tadpole was not a ghost or demon. It was definitely alive, however... it had an exceptionally peculiar feature!"
The Tibetan Buddhism Sect's cultivator inherently possessed the inner sight that was clear and bright. As the odd tadpole entered Rangjung's body, it made him see through the creature. The moment the semitransparent tadpole was tainted with liquid, it was capable of launching a spell that was similar to the Art of Water Escape. That was why the creature surged into his brain but it did not churn his brain to a pulp. This form of 'water escape' ability was the monster's inherent ability and not a form of magic cultivation.
"Moreover, the part that was used by this creature to control a person was its tail!" The lama Rangjung's voice was low as there was lingering fear in his heart.
When the creature burrowed into his skull, its remnant tail was shaking as it tried to wrap its tail around Rangjung's brain on a few attempts. However, as most of its tail was ripped out by Wen Leyang that was why it failed. Even so, the head lama felt confused and uneasy, almost losing control of his body. If 'You've Got Me' were to arrive a bit later, it was afraid that he would not hold up anymore.
"Not only that!" Head lama Rangjung continued to describe the horrors of the creature, "This creature is the embodiment of the water element. Water is formless, that is why our telegnosis ability cannot detect its presence! I do not know how this group of Kunlun disciples ended up here but after they discovered the strange creatures, their treasured weapons and flying swords were corroded by the creatures' Poison of Water and were rendered useless. Their bodies were controlled by the strange creatures as well."
Po Tu had finally understood. It nodded as it sneered, "Once the person is controlled by this creature, the person will have the creature's inherent attribute. The person becomes capable of escaping with water. That is why they can move in the ice unhindered. Simultaneously, they also become the embodiment of water, there is no way our telegnosis ability can detect them!"
Wen Leyang heaved a sigh. One of the deceased Kunlun Taoist priests appeared familiar to him. Whether it was during the Five Blessings' gathering on the Nine Peaks Mountain or the great Hanba battle in the City God Temple, this person was always following next to Liu Zheng. He was obviously an important personage in the Kunlun Sect. Nevertheless, he died when he brought his disciples here to handle some unknown affairs.
Even in astonishment, Xiao Sha could not widen his eyes. He spoke in a low, monotonous voice, "So, what kind of creature is this!"
Rangjung squinted his eyes. He shook his head in a rigid manner, "I do not know! The embodiment of water capable of escaping the telegnosis ability's detection was only a theory in the past! This form of five elements' embodiment almost never appears in history!"
Wen Leyang suddenly thought of Cone Nail. No wonder she appeared suddenly out of nowhere every time. His telegnosis ability could not detect her at all. He was feeling a little narcissist. In fact, based on Cone Nail's cultivation power and supernatural power, even without the embodiment of water element, it would not be that difficult for her to hide from his telegnosis ability.
Gu Xiaojun thought of another question, "Do you still remember the white-robed youth? He is also capable of escaping by ice and capable of hiding from your telegnosis ability. Os it possible that he is controlled by the bug as well?"
Head lama Rangjung was stunned, he laughed as he shook his head, "That young man left behind the marker of the Hua family. The way he spoke and handled matters was agile and lively, the creature can never be that smart."
The few people scouted around the area at the base of the ice fissure but they did not find anything else that was suspicious. After they buried the Kunlun disciples, they embarked on their journey again and rushed towards the immortal cave of the head lama's friend.
Due to the incident in the ice fissure, by the time they arrived at the immortal cave, the sky had turned completely dark. Gentle moonlight emitted from the sky scattered quietly over the ice-capped mountain that was covered in thick snow. The reflection did not appear chill and serene, but it felt like there were layers of unorthodox charm!
There was a slanted pyramidal peak located at the far end, appearing just like a curved knife that protruded out of the mountain, pointing towards the boundless sky. Its sharp wilderness and loneliness could not be concealed. Head lama Rangjung pointed to the pyramidal peak afar and laughed, "My friend is staying at the cave under the peak, he is a Tapas cultivator. I think that he will not even light up a bonfire for us. You children, please do not expect him to treat us courteously!" Upon saying that, he shouted loudly, "My old friend Ji Song, Rangjung is here!"
Rangjung's voice sounded fair and clam. There was not an ounce of rudeness in his voice. Yet, when his voice was firmly echoing in the bitter cold mountain draft, every single word he spoke was as sturdy as iron.
Fei Fei was already asleep on Wen Leyang's back. She was jolted awake by Rangjung's voice. She was stunned for a moment before she laughed softly, "Thirteen? The great master's friend is called Thirteen? What sort of classical reference is this?" As she was saying that, she explained to Wen Leyang, "In the Tibetan language, the term Ji Song is a number, it means thirteen."
Rangjung was about to meet his old friend. He was feeling delightful and joyous. Laughing aloud, he answered Fei Fei, "Bullsh*t, classical reference. He was the thirteenth child in his family that is why he is called Thirteen! This person's temperament is a little... a little... peculiar!" The lama was at a loss of whether to laugh or cry, he continued to advise them, "If he were to launch an attack carelessly, there is no need for all of you to behave courteously but please do not hurt him."
As head lama Rangjung was speaking, an icy-cold soft cry echoed from the direction of the pyramidal peak abruptly in reply to lama's shout earlier. The shadow of a human figure swayed left and right in the mountain draught as if the person would be blown away at any time. However, his speed was extremely fast as he approached the group. It did not take a moment's time before the person arrived in front of the group. Rangjung laughed aloud as he introduced the person to his companions, "This is Ji Song, the Tapas cultivator of the Geladaindong Peak."
Ji Song was extremely tall, a head taller than Wen Leyang who was one point eight meters tall. Yet he was exceedingly thin. Rangjung was in a good mood upon meeting his old friend, he continued to laugh and told Wen Leyang, "He had been cultivating laboriously since young and had never eaten or drank well since he was a child. That was why his body was like a bamboo pole!"
Ji Song and the African leader Tutatunte had similar physique. They were both skinny and tall but Tutatunte's skinniness made one feel pity, while Ji Song's skinniness made one feel terrified!
His skin was tightly wrapped around his bones, his forehead was shriveled and his cheeks were sunken. There was only a pair of large eyes left on his face. A strand of savageness appeared in the midst of his rolling eyes. As Ji Song had been in the companionship of blizzard and strong wind all year long, his entire body was enshrouded with the icicle-like sharpness.
The moment Ji Song met his old friend, not only there was no joy in his expression, there was slight impatience. He frowned as he asked the lama, "Why did you come here?"
"I have a matter to discuss with you!" Head lama Rangjung spoke as he grabbed Ji Song's hand that was as skinny as a bamboo pole, "Well, don't just stand there in the wilderness, let us go to your place first before we discuss further!"
Unexpectedly, Ji Song stood on the same spot without budging. He shook his hand in an attempt to break free from the lama's grip, "I am on my way out to handle some affairs, you can wait for me at my place."
Rangjung had a highly honorable status on the highland. Almost all the Tibetan cultivators were respectful to him and dared not neglect him at all, but Ji Song who did not seem to possess any ability that was superior had a temperament and mannerism that was not inferior.
Rangjung was apparently used to Ji Song's icy-cold appearance. He was not offended at all. His huge hand was still firmly gripping onto Ji Song's skinny wrist, he chuckled, "Do you still want to go out since I am here? Any matter as important as the heaven is..." Rangjung was halfway through his speech when he suddenly frowned and sized Ji Song up and down meticulously. His tone of speaking sounded stern, "Is there an opponent that is troubling you?"
A torn red-colored fabric robe was draped over Ji Song's shoulders. He had a Vajra bell in the pocket in front of his chest and a pure white-colored Tibetan horn on his back. His other hand was still holding a Vajra dorje.
Wen Leyang did not understand the Tibetan Buddhism Sect but judging by Ji Song's fully armed appearance, he could tell that Ji Song was about to go out and fight.
Ji Song's strange eyes turned and glared at the head lama Rangjung, "Who knows who are those people? Do not hold on to me, I will not forgive you if they got away!" Upon saying that, he started swinging his arm desperately in an attempt to struggle free from Rangjung, yet the head lama did not behave courteously either. His huge hand was akin to a metal clamp, gripping tightly onto Ji Song and refused to let go as if once his grip was loosened the other party would run away so fast his shadow disappeared.
The giant pangolin watched as the two persons exchanged irrelevant conversation. They spoke for a long while yet they could not come up with an answer so they stood there playing arm wrestling. It lost its patience and shouted angrily in a low voice, "Everyone stop fighting! The skinny one speaks first, what are you going to do..."
No one expected that before Po Tu could finish its sentence, Ji Song shouted in rage all of a sudden, "What kind of creature are you. This is not the place for you to speak!" He raised the Vajra dorje and pounded right onto its face and head.
Po Tu was not one that could be beaten by him. It retreated as fast as lightning and squalled in rage. It rushed forward and was about to hit Ji Song when Wen Leyang hastily jumped in between the both of them. He waved his hands and before he could speak, Ji Song was waving the musical instrument in his hand and knocked repeatedly onWen Leyang's head, his mouth was still cursing furiously, "Common person, scram!"
Wen Leyang was still carrying a girl on his back. He watched helplessly as the Vajra dorje was about to beat himself mercilessly. Rage filled his heart. If he was a common person, he would surely be beaten to a pulp. His hands turned over, moved towards the Vajra dorje and launched the Faulty Punch. Two gushes of tremendous force rippled together. Wen Leyang stood unmoved, while Ji Song's buttocks landed into the head lama's arms.
If it was not for Rangjung who was still grabbing onto his hand, perhaps he would fall into somewhere unknown. Wen Leyang's cultivation base now was no less inferior than the old demon rabbit Bu Le. How would an ordinary cultivator's supernatural power resist?
Ji Song gave out an 'ow' as he jumped and stood up. He risked his life in an attempt to struggle free from Rangjung's hand like a mad chick while he used the Vajra dorje to point at Wen Leyang, "I have misjudged you. Turns out you are not an ordinary person, come at me again you b*stard!"
Xiao Sha burst out laughing, he lied on the head lama's back and shouted loudly towards Wen Leyang, "He is an unreasonable person, beat him!"
Fei Fei was much more sensible than Xiao Sha but she was also laughing hard, "Do not beat him, do not beat him, this Thirteen is albeit a little unreasonable, he knows a lot of things..."
The head lama Rangjung witnessed the scene before his eyes was turned into a chaos. His wrist turned over abruptly, he gave a shove with the bottom of his foot and directly tossed Ji Song onto the snow ground. His plump body turned around as he used both of his thick legs to firmly lock onto Ji Song. The lama did not launch the Tibetan Buddhism Sect's supernatural power but he performed the orthodox highland's Art of Wrestle. As he was pinning down Ji Song, he was also using his body to separate Ji Song from Wen Leyang and Po Tu. He then spoke, "If you are defeated you will help us and tell us the truth!"
Ji Song exerted himself and stuck out his head from Rangjung's buttocks. He nodded strenuously. He immediately turned over and jumped up. He glared at Wen Leyang and Po Tu, "Who amongst the both of you is fighting me?"
Po Tu pouted, it turned around and said to Wen Leyang, "You go. I am afraid I might break him!"
Wen Leyang laughed as he nodded, he did not even lay down Fei Fei as he asked Ji Song, "So when do we start?"
Fei Fei lied next to Wen Leyang's ear and spoke with an extremely soft voice, "Ji Song is not truly unreasonable, he is fearless... he knows that the great master will not allow anyone to hurt him..."
Ji Song seized the opportunity when they were talking. He placed down the Tibetan Buddhism Sect's Unmovable Body Dharmamudra on his surroundings to prevent the enemy from raiding him in agile movements and sniggered, "Now is the time to start!" Upon saying that, he raised his hand and shook the Vajra bell strenuously. He crossed the Vajra dorje in his hand and was about to chant the Tibetan Buddhism Sect's mantra, when the vision before his eyes blurred unexpectedly. The opposing party had already approached him. Ji Song's Unmovable Body Dharmamudra was utterly futile in resisting the enemy and was broken by Wen Leyang's Faulty Punch.
Ji Song was trying to retreat, when the shadow of a human figure swayed messily before himself abruptly. The silver bell-like laughter sounded far yet near, his right and left shoulder felt heavy in a flash, he was already patted by Wen Leyang in a manner that was not too light nor heavy.
By the time Ji Song was growling in rage and waving about his Vajra dorje to fight back, Wen Leyang had already retreated back to his original spot. He chuckled as he asked Ji Song, "So are we still fighting?"
Ji Song's face was filled with unwillingness. His shriveled face was covered in evil wrinkles, he opened his mouth in preparation to speak when he suddenly shouted something madly. His bamboo pole-like body was akin to convulsing as he somersaulted and fell to the ground.
Fei Fei who was lying on Wen Leyang's back was startled. She asked softly, "What... is he screaming about?"
Wen Leyang answered with a steadfast tone, "Spicy!"
Since Ji Song was a close acquaintance of Rangjung, he was not a bad person. However, he had no regards that his act earlier could kill a person. Hence, Wen Leyang could not help but to attack him as a punishment. He planted the 'Szechuan Cuisine' on Ji Song's body.
Head lama Rangjung stretched out his hand to support Ji Song who was flushing from the spiciness, he gave a forced laugh as he shook his head, "It is not considered injustice to teach you a lesson!" Upon saying that, he looked up at Wen Leyang.
Wen Leyang did not wait for the lama to speak. He laughed as he walked forward, he held up his canteen and fed Ji Song a mouthful of water. The 'Szechuan Cuisine' was a special recipe capable of defeating the opponent by a surprise move. It was easy to make and easy to disperse, it was even easier to dissolve. It could be dissolved immediately by drinking water.
Ji Song hastily drank a few gulps of water and slowly recuperated. He glared at Wen Leyang as if Wen Leyang was a monster. He panted as he asked, "What kind of magic spell was that?" He did not wait for Wen Leyang to answer before he closed his eyes, the corners of his mouth convulsed again and again as if he was trying to recall the sensation earlier. He finally jumped up and gave Wen Leyang a thumbs up, "Awesome!"
Wen Leyang was at a loss whether to laugh or cry as he turned around and gazed at Fei Fei. Fei Fei giggled. She could see through Wen Leyang's inner thoughts, "Ji Song is not an unreasonable person."
After they fought, Ji Song regained his prior mannerism of despising everyone, he pointed to Wen Leyang as he turned around and looked at Rangjung, "What do you want to ask? I know most of the things related to the Geladaindong Peak!"
Rangjung did not immediately ask about the Hua family but asked Ji Song, "Who is the person you going after?"
Ji Song gave out a 'heh'. He answered in a joyous manner, "I was cultivating the Wrathful Deities Dhyana a few days ago, my body and mind was not allowed to move outside. Since there was rarely any human presence on the Geladaindong Peak, I paid no attention to the outer world and only set down a layer of Unmovable Body Dharmamudra to protect myself. I used snow spiders to seal off the cave's entrance. However, when I regained my consciousness I realized that someone spied on my immortal's cave!"
On the other hand, Wen Leyang squinted his eyes as he inquired closely, "What kind of creature is the snow pearl?" (Translator's note: Snow pearl and snow spider has the same pronunciation in Mandarin. )
"The snow spider is a species of giant spider, it has eight legs and a round abdomen. It likes to feed on meat and is capable of spinning web! It is slightly spiritual. I use the spiders to seal off the cave when I engage in closed-door cultivation!" Ji Song answered with a groan. It was only then Wen Leyang realized that the other party was not talking about the snow pearl. He thought that the creature Ji Song grew was the ghost bubbles he found in the ice fissure.
There was a recording about this species of snow spider in the Place of Birth, Life, Sickness and Death. It was considered a poisonous bug that was rather incisive, any ordinary person that was stung by it would be immediately rendered unsalvageable.
After all, not everyone could afford to afford to grow a Mountain-guarding Divine Beast like the Great Mercy Temple or the Qilian Immortal Sect. An ordinary cultivator would grow some spiritual bug that contained strong poison to look after his home and this was quite normal.
Ji Song had been engaging in mediation and closed-door cultivation recently. By the time he awakened, he realized that the snow spiders that were sealing the entrance were pinched to death and someone had visited his immortal's cave. He had very little acquaintance. Even if someone were to visit him and saw that the snow spiders had sealed the entrance, someone would know that he was engaging in closed-door cultivation and would either wait for him or leave. There was no reason to pinch those spiders to death.
Rangjung frowned for a moment, "Is there anything missing from your place?"
Ji Song shook his head, "If you were a thief, you saw that there were two spiders the size of pot cover hanging by the door, would you still have the guts to enter?" His tone of speaking sounded as if he had swallowed gunpowder. It was impossible to hear him speak anything pleasant to the others.
Rangjung did not pay attention to Ji Song's tone of speaking as he continued, "If there was nothing missing and your person was safe and sound, the other party should be visiting your place to scout. The moment that someone saw that it was just an ordinary cultivator, that person retreated..."
The expression of unwillingness filled Ji Song's face, he continued discreetly, "So that two snow spiders of mine died for nothing? As long as this gang of people had not left the Tanggula Mountains, they would not be able to run away from me!" Ji Song was short-tempered. Someone seized the opportunity when he was engaging in closed-door cultivation to stroll around his immortal's cave, killed his snow spiders that were guarding his door. Hence, he immediately chased after them out of rage, just in time to bump into Rangjung who was visiting with Wen Leyang and the rest.
The head lama's eyes brightened in curiosity, "Is there a way for you to locate them?"
Ji Song's mouth cracked into a rarely seen smile. There was a little pride in his smile, the person who came to my place killed the snow spiders but his body was also tainted with the spider web!"
Wen Leyang gave a pleasant smile. The snow spiders were enormous that was why they spun a web to hunt for prey. The male spider was smaller in size, but even when it was separated by the distance of dozens of kilometers it could still find the female spider from the female spider's scent. Since Ji Song was growing these creatures, naturally he understood the spiders' habits very well, he made use of the male spider to track down the person whose body was tainted with the spider web. As long as the person did not run too far, he could certainly find and chased up to him.
Rangjung muttered to himself before continuing, "So which direction were they heading to?"
In reality, Rangjung did not even ask many questions but Ji Song's expression had become exceedingly agitated as if he was controlling his patience desperately as he answered, "They were heading to the summit!"
Wen Leyang and the rest's expression became relieved as their speculation was confirmed. They were still on the northwest slope of the Geladaindong Peak, if they were to head to the Jianggendiru Glacier they would first need to hike over the summit of the mountain.
Rangjung cast a consulting gaze towards Wen Leyang and Gu Xiaojun. Everyone had the same thinking, Old Gu straightforwardly said, "Then we shall chase after them with him! It is either the evil cult followers or the Kunlun disciples!"
Ji Song spoke impatiently, "When we come face to face with them, all of you do not attack them, I will avenge myself!" As he was saying that he started walking and chased in the direction of the mountain summit. He only took a few steps when he complemented, "But if they came in numbers, then all of you shall help me!"
The group laughed. Since they met Ji Song, this is the first time he finally spoke of something dependable. This person albeit had a peculiar temperament, he was truly not considered a foolish person.
The group of people hiked all the way towards the summit of the Geladaindong Peak. Of course, Rangjung did not waste time. He followed closely next to Ji Song and inquired about the Hua family.
Ji Song's expression was unpleasant all along, but the moment Rangjung mentioned of the Hua family, he immediately changed his expression. He appeared slightly in awe, and a little fearful, "Did all of you offend them? These people are the real obscure cultivators. Even though they had no concerns over the world affair but it is absolutely forbidden to provoke them, otherwise they would never rest until you die."
Rangjung was about to speak. He watched Ji Song's expression as he suddenly recalled something, "My old friend Ji Song, I thought that you are fearless. You acted so imposing and prestigious upon meeting the lama, yet your face is shadowed with fear when I mentioned the Hua family?" As he was saying that he squinted his eyes and shot Ji Song an evil stare, "Could it be that you know the lama would never hurt you, so you acted unreasonably to the lama?"
Ji Song had yet to speak when Fei Fei laughed and continued the head lama's conversation, "Just as the great master had expected, he could not conceal his emotions from me!"
Ji Song scoffed heavily and pretended not to have heard Fei Fei's words. He picked up his speed and ran towards the mountain summit. Head lama Rangjung was at a loss whether to laugh or cry as he rushed over and refocused the topic of conversation, "How much do you know about the Hua family?"
Ji Song did not talk nonsense as he directly told about everything he knew about the Hua family to Rangjung.
The Hua family was supposed to be the obscure cultivator of the central plains but millenniums ago, one of the first ancestors unintentionally discovered a new cultivation method, that was why he moved his entire family to the Tanggula Mountains. They engaged in the cultivation method of the water element. With Ji Song's cultivation base, there was utterly no way he could see through their abilities, he was even less daring to investigate about their tracks.
When Wen Leyang learned that the Hua family was already in this place for over a thousand years, he felt much more steady and sure in his heart. After all, the longer the Hua family was there, the less possibility there was for them to be associated to the evil cultivators, there was not a lot of people could be as capable as his Grand Master Tuo Xie that could make arrangement for an affair two thousand years later.
The Hua family's supernatural power was secondary. They were too ghastly as they were mysterious and unpredictable and even telegnosis ability could not detect them. If they were enemies, then the journey to the snow mountain would be undeniable more dangerous.
That was all that Ji Song knew, he did not speak more than a few sentences before he shut his mouth. Rangjung was feeling rather helpless, so the group did not speak anymore but crossed layers of knife ridges and ice cirques swiftly. They finally arrived at the summit of Geladaindong Peak before daylight the next day!
The summit of Geladaindong Peak was a stretch of plains. The land appeared flat and smooth at first glance but in reality, it was firmly covered in the ice cap as thick as a hundred meters. Some wide and some narrow fissures were arranged in a crisscross pattern. The ice cliffs and ice cirques were all linked together.
Near to where the group that had just arrived at the peak was a stretch of campsite standing tall out of nowhere.
Everyone probed around a little and was startled by the campsite that was located dozens of meters away. This place was apparently sealed by a magic spell and could hide from the detection of telegnosis ability. Ji Song scoffed, "The person who visited my immortal's cave is in that tent." As he was saying that, he removed an agitated snow spider from his chest pocket and tossed it onto the ground. The spider immediately concealed itself into the snow as it burrowed into a tiny snow mound on the ground, and ran towards the campsite swiftly.
On the other hand, Ji Song did not dash towards the campsite impatiently, but he held his chin in slight doubt, "These tents here... it seems that there are too many people here, right?"
Even though the campsite was built in a simple method, the layers of overlapping tents connected to one another. It could hold up to thousands of people!
Wen Leyang and Rangjung gazed at one another. They simultaneously spoke of one word softly, "Kunlun!"
They were tracking down the corpse pit at the foothill of Tanggula Mountains that delayed their journey by a few days. They did not expect that the Kunlun's battalion had already entered the mountain since earlier.
The evil cultivator with a big scheme in his heart and the warriors of the small town, the Kunlun disciples that swore an oath of revenge, the obscure cultivator Hua family that was mysterious and ghastly and Wen Leyang's group of people had turned the originally tranquil and peaceful snow peak of the Tanggula Mountains, into a bustling scene soundlessly.
| ← Ch. 202 | Ch. 204 → |