Chapter 130: Late Connate Stage Demon
If a Buddhist essence appeared at the site of nirvana attainment by a monk, that meant that the monk was at least an early Primal Core stage and at most of the Dharma Laws stage. In his past life, Zhou Donghuang reigned supreme over the whole universe, and he could hardly be concerned about something as minute as the site of nirvana of a monk. But now, he was extremely interested in it as he was only at the stage of Great Consummation of the Qi-Gathering. If he managed to lay his hands on the Buddhist essence of the monk, he would have an easier journey ahead. He would be able to attain the Connate stage more easily and gain the ability to traverse the different galaxies. If he left Ziyun planet for more prosperous planets, and seek better resources for his practice, he would be able to reach his peak more quickly, or perhaps even surpass his previous achievements!
"Go straight there!" Hearing Zhou Donghuang's orders, Big Gold and Little Gold sped towards the mountaintop among the clouds.
Soon, they passed through the clouds and neared the mountaintop.
"The Buddhist essence is still around," commented Zhou Donghuang as he saw the golden glow that radiated from the cliff at the mountain peak. The essence had not been taken by anyone, nor had it dissipated after the power inside it had slowly diminished over the years.
At the same time, Zhou Donghuang picked up Little Gold's words to Big Gold. "Brother, the golden glow seems to be much less than what it used to be back then. I remember... the golden glow even covered this area. Back then, we had attained intelligence as we stayed in the hole over there, under the golden glow."
As Zhou Donghuang followed Little Gold's gaze, he saw a small opening in the straight face of the cliff. It was relatively big, and could even hold Big Gold now. It should have had no problem containing both Big Gold and Small Gold back then when they were both of a lower stage of the Qi-Gathering and smaller in size.
"Little Gold, are you sure... back then, the golden glow could radiate up to here?" Before Big Gold could respond, Zhou Donghuang had already questioned Little Gold, his expression turning serious.
"Young Master, I am positive," confirmed Little Gold as he flew towards the opening and left a long mark along the stone cliff with his claw, three meters beneath the opening. "Back then, we had attained intelligence here... hence, I remember it clearly. The golden glow reached here at that time." Little Gold was confident.
Big Gold added, "Young Master, I remember it too... Little Gold is right. Back in that year, the golden glow did indeed reach here."
Zhou Donghuang nodded.
"Young Master, is there anything wrong?" asked Big Gold.
"From the position of the Buddhist essence, if it could radiate its glow up to here, that must mean that the monk who left it behind must at least be at the penultimate Primal Core stage." Zhou Donghuang looked at the mountaintop and the golden glow that enveloped it. "And now, that Buddhist essence has clearly gone past the stage where it can absorb the surrounding Spirit to increase its energy... now, it can no longer regenerate its power. When the power within it slowly runs out, it will disappear with the wind. Luckily, the two of you brought me here... if we had waited for you to achieve the Connate stage, and become Connate demons, the Buddhist essence would have been mostly depleted, and maybe even disappear!"
Hearing this, both Big Gold and Little Gold looked fearful. In the half a year that they had spent together, they had learned to trust the words of this young man without a doubt.
"Let's go! Let's meet that Connate demon red goshawk!" With that, Zhou Donghuang pulled out three small bottles and opened one of them. He poured its contents into his mouth, then handed the other two bottles to Big Gold and Little Gold.
"Young Master, what is this?" asked the eagles curiously.
"Qi-increasing elixir," replied Zhou Donghuang flatly. "After taking it, you will be able to temporarily boost your inner qi within that short time, increasing it by about 500kg of strength... when the effects are gone, there will be no side effects too."
The qi-increasing elixir that Zhou Donghuang had swallowed and given to the two eagles had been concocted using the gallbladder of the level-nine grizzly bear. A total of ten bottles had been made, but he had never used them. But today, faced with a Connate red goshawk whose strength he was unsure of, he had not only taken a bottle for himself but even gave one to each of the two golden-crowned eagles, for safety's sake.
"Young Master, give me more of this good stuff!" Little Gold's eyes shone.
"More of this? You think this is cabbage?" Zhou Donghuang glared at Little Gold as he rushed them, "Out of safety, take this qi-increasing elixir before we enter the area enveloped by the golden glow."
Big Gold and Little Gold obediently swallowed the elixir. Feeling the boost in its inner qi, Little Gold's eyes widened. "My inner qi feels no less than Great Consummation... too bad, this is only temporary." It was visibly disappointed.
"Stop talking nonsense, let's get to work," said Big Gold. It shot towards the peak of the mountain with Zhou Donghuang on its back.
"Brother, wait for me!" Little Gold called out as he rushed towards them.
Soon, under the orders of Zhou Donghuang, the two eagles had not only entered the cliff within the golden glow but had even circled the area and exited in front of a small cave on the edge of the cliff.
"It is the Buddhist essence, indeed." Showered in the golden glow, Zhou Donghuang further confirmed that the glow was the power emanating from the essence. Being enveloped within it made one's soul feel cleansed, and it aroused the inner qi.
"That red goshawk must be inside." With the incredible hearing ability from his Lord of the Four Supremes, he could easily hear a dull buzz from within. Although it seemed like it was deliberately trying to decrease its volume, as if it did not want to be heard, Zhou Donghuang could still hear it.
He thought to himself, Previously, before achieving Great Consummation of the Qi-Gathering, I probably would not have been able to hear this... now, my hearing has improved greatly.
At the same time, Zhou Donghuang heard a faint noise from within the cave. Clearly, the red goshawk was coming out, but its movements were tiny. Clearly, it did not want to be found out.
"Since you don't want us to find out, let's play!" A cold smile played on his lips as Zhou Donghuang quietly ordered Big Gold to drop him off at a small protrusion on the mountain face near the hole. The protrusion was only enough to accommodate him standing there. Someone who was less daring would not even dare to stand on top of it.
"I'll hide here... the two of you distract it, and I'll stab it from behind to try and kill it with one blow!" Zhou Donghuang instructed the two eagles.
"Young Master, you have the distinct scent of a human, even if it can't sense it from within the cave, once it nears the opening, it will definitely be able to smell you," said Big Gold.
"Human scent?" Zhou Donghuang smiled slyly as he took out another small bottle and poured out some of the liquid onto his palm. He picked up some sand from the mountain and mixed it within the liquid, then rubbed the mixture on himself.
"Now, can you smell me?" He asked Big Gold and Little Gold playfully.
"Young Master, you... how did you do this?" The two golden-crowned eagles were shocked because they realized that they could no longer smell the human scent on the young man. Although there was a scent that wafted out, it smelled exactly the same as the sand of the mountains. The young man seemed to have become one with the mountain. If they did not see him with their own eyes, with their keen sense of smell, they could hardly believe that there was a man standing there.
"After we settle this, I'll explain it to you." Zhou Donghuang's eyes turned serious. "The two of you go and prepare quickly... it is about to come out! Remember! Don't look in my direction and expose me!" Zhou Donghuang reminded the two golden-crowned eagles seriously, then he stood there quietly. Even his breathing slowed down as if he was afraid that the red goshawk would discover his presence.
Big Gold and Little Gold then circled outside the cave opening, staring at the opening.
Whoosh!
Soon, at the opening, that was seven or eight meters tall, appeared a massive goshawk that was at least six meters tall. Its body was covered with brown feathers, with a crimson red on a tuft of features on its crown and at the tip of its wings.
Its sharp eyes landed on Big Gold and Little Gold, then spoke using demon tongue, "You two again." It seemed to recognize the two golden-crowned eagles.
"You know us?" Big Gold was surprised.
"Back then, I knew that you gained something from here and attained intelligence. On account of the fact that you left immediately, I spared your life... I did not think that you would dare to come back!"
The massive brown eagle flew out of the cave, its wings spreading more than fifteen meters long.
"You... you have already reached the late Connate stage?!" Little Gold's eyes narrowed as he cried in shock.