freenovelworld Chapter 697: Divine Beast Test
Chapter 697: Divine Beast Test
Yun Yao and Chu Mochen's figures flickered in and out of the dense fog of the Misty Forest, each step forward akin to stepping into an unknown abyss. The forest was filled with a mingled aura of decay and mystery. Tall, ancient trees obscured the sun, and the few glimmers of light that occasionally filtered through the branches and leaves, refracted by the thick mist, appeared ghostly and hazy. The surroundings were eerily quiet, the only sound being the rustling of deadly branches and leaves beneath their feet and the occasional growl of a distant demonic beast, a reminder of the deadly dangers lurking within this forest.
The two finally found the ancient ruins. Stepping inside, they were greeted by an air of age and age. Moss and vines covered the walls, as if telling a story of time. The central stone tablet stood silently, its blurred inscriptions like a mysterious code from ancient times, quietly waiting to be deciphered. Yun Yao took a deep breath, her eyes filled with determination. She gently raised her hand, her fingertips touching the cold stone tablet, activating the system's translation function. As the system's light flickered, the meaning of the text gradually became clear. It turned out that the first artifact was closely related to the guardian beast of the forest. To encounter the beast, they must first solve the mystery of the ruins.
The puzzle was a tangled mess, incredibly complex, involving the intricacies of ancient formations and the profound mysteries of rune lore. Yun Yao and Chu Mochen exchanged a glance, each seeing a solemnity and determination in the other's eyes. They sat on the ground, absorbed in their research. Time slipped quietly in the tranquility of the ruins, as if shielded from the outside world's noise and danger by an invisible barrier.
After a long moment, Yun Yao's eyes suddenly lit up, and she exclaimed tenderly, "I understand, Chen. The key to this formation lies in the interplay of the Five Elements. We simply need to activate the array's cores in the order: metal generates water, water generates wood, wood generates fire, fire generates earth, and earth generates metal. To solve the first puzzle, we'll need to follow." Chu Mochen's eyes filled with trust and admiration. He quickly stood up and coordinated with Yun Yao. The two of them carefully searched the ruins for the cores, injecting spiritual energy into them one by one according to the order of the Five Elements. When the last core was activated, a beam of light shot up into the sky, and the entire ruins trembled slightly.
The light faded, and a mythical beast as massive as a mountain slowly emerged. Its body resembled a tiger, but with wings. Its scales shimmered with a faint blue light, like fragments of stars inlaid on its body. Its eyes, like two golden suns, were majestic and captivating. Simply meeting their gazes could convey a sense of the mountain's oppressive weight. The beast raised its head slightly and unleashed a deafening roar. The sound waves, like materialized blades, rippled through the air, shaking the surrounding trees and sending leaves flying.
“If you, tiny human, want to get any clues about the divine weapon, you must pass my test.” The divine beast spoke in human language, and its voice was like the roar of a huge bell, echoing in the forest.
Yun Yao and Chu Mochen were not afraid at all. They nodded to each other, stood side by side, and prepared to face the challenge.
The first stage was a test of strength. A flash of light emanated from the divine beast, and an overwhelming pressure surged forth like a tidal wave, overwhelming the two. The pressure felt tangible, squeezing the very air until it crackled. Yun Yao and Chu Mochen instantly felt as if a thousand-pound weight had fallen upon them. Their legs buckled involuntarily, nearly bringing them to their knees. The ground cracked beneath the weight, sending dust billowing into the air.
Chu Mochen gritted his teeth, the longsword in his hand humming. He poured all his spiritual energy into the blade and swung it with all his might. A brilliant sword energy roared out, attempting to break through the oppressive pressure. Yun Yao was not to be outdone. She closed her eyes tightly, and spiritual energy surged wildly around her. With the help of the system, she quickly mobilized her spiritual power, building a spiritual shield to resist the pressure from all directions. Sweat rolled down their foreheads like rain, soaking their clothes. Their faces grew paler, but their eyes became more determined. They held on, not a single step back.
During this long and agonizing confrontation, every second felt like an eternity. Yun Yao felt her spiritual energy draining out, her body teetering on the brink of collapse. But when she caught sight of Chu Mochen, also struggling to hold on beside her, an unyielding strength surged within her. She gritted her teeth, biting through the tip of her tongue and releasing a mouthful of blood. This essence merged into her spiritual shield, instantly radiating a brilliant light, barely holding back the beast's increasingly ferocious pressure.
Finally, a flicker of admiration flashed in the divine beast's eyes, and its pressure slowly withdrew. Yun Yao and Chu Mochen breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. Their eyes were filled with the joy of surviving a catastrophe.
"Hmph, you're quite capable. Next is the second level, a test of wisdom." The divine beast snorted coldly and asked another question.
A barrage of difficult questions followed, covering astronomy and geography, ancient and modern knowledge, and even some knowledge from Yun Yao's past life. Drawing on her accumulated modern knowledge and the powerful assistance of the system, Yun Yao calmly considered and cleverly answered them.
One question asked, "There are countless stars in the sky. If we use the Big Dipper as a guide, how can we locate the lost star continent in the ancient times in the star map?" Astronomy knowledge flashed through Yun Yao's mind, and she explained calmly, "Connect the two stars at the mouth of the Big Dipper, and extend it about five times the distance in the direction of the spoon mouth to find the North Star. The location of the ancient star continent must be based on the North Star, combined with the laws of change of the interstellar magnetic field at that time..." As she explained clearly, the beast nodded slightly, with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Another question involved the changes in rune combinations. "If there are ancient runes 'sun', 'moon', 'mountain', and 'river', according to the theory of the five elements and the balance of yin and yang, how should they be arranged to open the door to the spiritual spring that has been sealed for a thousand years?" Yun Yao quickly simulated the rune combination in her mind, and after systematic calculations, she came up with the answer: "Take 'sun' as the head of yang, and occupy the eastern wood position; 'moon' is the flower of yin, and occupy the western gold position, forming a balance of yin and yang. Then use 'mountain' to suppress the southern fire position, and 'river' to lead the northern water level. In this way, the cycle of mutual generation can open the spiritual spring." After hearing this, the divine beast's eyes showed even stronger approval.
Although Chu Mochen was not as knowledgeable as Yun Yao, he relied on his keen insight and practical experience to give reminders from time to time. The two of them cooperated well and successfully passed this test of wisdom.
The final stage was a test of one's character. The mythical beast spread its wings, radiating a brilliant light. In an instant, the scene before Yun Yao and Chu Mochen's eyes shifted, plunging them into a dreamlike realm.
Yun Yao found herself back in her past life, in a bustling city, with tall buildings and bustling traffic. Familiar family and friends surrounded her, laughter and joy filling her. Heartwarming scenes from the past flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern: the loving faces of her parents, the caring companionship of her best friends. Everything seemed so real, as if it were within reach.
"Yun Yao, don't go back to that dangerous world of cultivation. Wouldn't it be better to stay here and live a peaceful life?" Her parents' voices rang softly in her ears, filled with concern and reluctance. Yun Yao's heart trembled, and a trace of confusion flashed in her eyes. This ordinary and warm life was what she had longed for so much.
Meanwhile, Chu Mochen was trapped in his own inner demonic world. He returned to the night of his family's destruction, a raging fire engulfing everything. The screams of his loved ones and the frantic laughter of his enemies mingled in his ears. He fought alone, his bloodstained sword in hand, but the enemies kept coming, and despair overwhelmed him like a tide.
"Chen, give up. You can't save anyone. This hatred is too heavy and will drag you into the abyss." A voice that seemed to come from the underworld echoed in his mind, trying to erode his will.
But at this crucial moment, the same resolute voice echoed in both of their hearts: "Our mission is not yet complete, how can we give up?" Yun Yao shook her head fiercely, dispelling the illusory beauty before her eyes. She knew that she now shouldered the heavy responsibility of reviving her family, and there were countless people behind her who depended on her. Chu Mochen felt the same way. He clenched his fists, his eyes burning with the flames of revenge and protection, tearing apart the inner demon illusion.
The two supported each other as they advanced step by step through the illusion, breaking through the dense fog with unwavering faith. When the illusion dissipated, the majestic figure of the mythical beast appeared before them again.
The divine beast gazed at the two, its eyes filled with relief. It slowly spoke, "You have passed the test." With that, a ray of light shot out from between its brows, transforming into an illusory map that hovered in the air. "This is the clue to the first artifact. It's hidden deep within an ice cave in the frigid land. It's a dangerous place, so be careful."
Yun Yao and Chu Mochen, overjoyed, bowed respectfully to the divine beast in gratitude. Taking the map, they gazed upon the route to the land of extreme cold, a flicker of determination in their eyes. The road ahead was long and frost-ridden, but to discover their origins, gather the artifacts, and confront the forces of evil, they undauntedly embarked on a new journey. At that moment, the dense fog of the misty forest seemed to dissipate with their courage. A few rays of sunlight penetrated the branches, shimmering on the path they traveled, illuminating the two determined figures as they advanced further and further...