"Bull, take the Miasma-Repelling Pill and the Insect-Repelling Pill." Chen Xun took out two Qi-Enhancing Pills, swallowed them, and handed two more to Black Bull.
"Moo~" Black Bull responded, his tongue curling around the pills and swallowing them; these were purchased from their sect with spirit stones.
"What a bizarre place."
Chen Xun murmured softly. This was nothing like the usual mountain forests they ventured into; devoid of life and steeped in death, yet brimming with spiritual qi.
"Moo~" Black Bull's large eyes darted around, sniffing the air cautiously with his nostrils.
"Bull, the Secret realm of Nandou Mountain lasts half a year, no rush. Let's observe first."
Chen Xun shrank his head and pulled out a long-missed bandit mask from his bosom. Slowly putting it on, the sensation, the aura—it was completely different!
"Moo!" Black Bull patted Chen Xun. Where's my mask?
"Here, put it on, put it on." Chen Xun grinned; these were their outfits from when they bloodily raided Old Wang's home.
"Moo~" Black Bull trembled with excitement, the feeling suddenly returning...
Chen Xun slowly removed the Five Aggregates Sect disciple uniform. To others, it might seem like a protective talisman, but to Chen Xun, it was just exposing his identity. What if there was a reckoning in the fall?
He donned a hemp garment he had sewn himself, feeling unburdened as if freed from shackles.
"Bull, hang in there!" Chen Xun hugged the bull's head as they stood shielded by countless dense leaves, as stable as a rock.
"Moo~" Black Bull mooed in agreement, already mastering Chen Xun's essence, not panicking in the slightest.
As days and months passed, while other disciples were eagerly searching for spiritual herbs, this man and bull duo sat quietly on a tree for a whole day, motionless!
"Bull, it should be safe here. Let's make some clothes!"
"Moo?"
"Just watch. I learned a set from Wang Da Auntie." Chen Xun said with a smile, thinking of the little mountain village he would surely visit again.
"Moo." Black Bull nodded, watching Chen Xun climb down the ancient tree and stealthily gather countless fallen leaves, quickly joining in to help.
Half a day later, the great task was accomplished. Chen Xun looked at the 'camouflage suit' made of dry leaves, satisfaction filling his eyes as he quickly draped it over himself.
"Moo!" Black Bull was shocked. Chen Xun, lying on the ground, seemed to become invisible, completely out of sight.
"Ha ha…"
Chen Xun chuckled, standing up and shaking off the leaves, quickly covering Black Bull with another suit, leaving nothing visible but the eyes, even the horns concealed.
"Moo!!" Black Bull looked at Chen Xun with one expression: utterly badass.
"Heh heh, Bull, let's move!" Chen Xun grinned, looking terrifying with the mask on.
"Moo~"
Two clumps of dry leaves slowly weaved through the ancient trees, their movements minimal, their speed quite agile.
They moved on, and on the way, they actually saw spiritual herbs, the first time they had encountered them in the wild, but they did not pick them, finding no use for them.
Suddenly, they stopped in the trees; ahead was a large lake, shimmering with waves, surrounded by lush spiritual herbs, the spiritual qi hitting them in the face.
But the lake carried a chill, with wisps of mist swirling over the surface, utterly magical.
"Moo~" Black Bull extended a hoof to stop Chen Xun, sensing danger in the lake.
"Bull, you're teaching me now? Isn't that obvious, only a fool would go in."
Chen Xun snorted with laughter. Goodness, over the years, Bull's skills have really improved.
"Moo!" Black Bull nudged Chen Xun, unconvinced, it was the one who noticed first, and here you are, stating the obvious.
"Ice Duck Grass, Cold Spirit Grass, they really exist."
Chen Xun looked from afar, spotting two auxiliary herbs for the Foundation Establishment Pill. He had long since collected information on these spiritual herbs, knowing them like the back of his hand.
As his words fell, several breaking sounds came from another part of the forest; a small team of three, unidentifiable as to which sect they belonged.
"Bull, look, there really are fools." Chen Xun shook his head, as if expecting a water monster to burst from the lake at any moment.
"Moo~" Black Bull nodded too, feeling these people were even less sensible than itself.
But the plot seemed off!
"Damn it!"
"Moo?!"
Chen Xun and Black Bull stretched their necks, growling softly, their faces incredulous as the three comfortably picked the spiritual herbs, with no water monster in sight.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible." Chen Xun clutched the tree trunk tightly, the bark peeling off under his grip.
Black Bull also shook its head, puzzled by the situation.
The trio, seeing enough, didn't get greedy and left after picking some herbs, decisively retreating in a seasoned manner.
Suddenly, an unexpected change occurred!
From both sides of the forest, groups of sect disciples rushed out, their uniforms suggesting they were allies. Angry shouts erupted, and they immediately engaged in fierce battle.
"Damn, Old Six."
Chen Xun's eyes widened. So, the crisis was here, "Bull, did you see that? The danger isn't from demonic beasts, but from people."
"Moo?" Black Bull was puzzled; with so many spiritual herbs by the lake, why risk fighting over others'?
"That's the treachery of human hearts." Chen Xun clicked his tongue, "Didn't we get inexplicably ambushed by those three people before?"
"Moo!"
Black Bull's pupils narrowed, understanding now. It had been with Chen Xun for so many years, and they had encountered plenty of outrageous incidents.
Suddenly, another unexpected change!
The lake bubbled up with countless bubbles, Chen Xun and Black Bull's heads stretched out again, eyes fixed on the lake surface. Was the legendary water monster finally coming?
Several large black fish flipped out of the water as if playing, and soon returned.
Chen Xun and Black Bull looked at each other, anger in their eyes, only able to watch the distant fight, feeling bored.
Suddenly, yet another change!
Right under their tree, a roar erupted, a gust of wind swept through, rustling their camouflage suits, filling their mouths with dust.
A red shadow zipped out, resembling a Red Lion with long, sharp fangs.
It was over three meters long, its front paws glowing red as it furiously pounced towards the fighting people.
"A demonic beast at the Qi cultivation tenth level, quite formidable." Chen Xun calmly adjusted his camouflage suit and said lightly.
"Moo!" Black Bull was eager to try, a glint of battle intent in its eyes.
Cries of shock and anger rose from afar as the Red Lion relentlessly pursued the disciples picking herbs, casting spells in a chaotic mess.
Blood splattered, and they had no choice but to abandon the spiritual herbs, throwing them into the air and fleeing towards the distance, scattering in all directions.
"Bull, shall we go? I'll grab a few herbs, and you take care of it."
"Moo!"
Two figures gently descended from the tree, their mouths nonchalant, one darting towards the lake.
Roar!
The Red Lion roared in anger, another intruder in its territory, and two leaf-covered things at that. It looked puzzled; what kind of creatures were these, never seen before?