Once they were in the car, she leaned in and whispered, “Honey, the tracker I embedded in you won’t work in the Mystical Mountain.”
Four Eyes squeezed her hand back, feeling the weight of her concern. “Chu Yan, don’t be willful. You have your black magic, but honey, just use it as a last resort since killing a lot of demonic beasts with it would only increase the evilness that comes with it. And you are still learning how to use it,” Ling Li emphasized.
“Um,” Four Eyes acknowledged, his eyes reflecting his determination to heed her warning.
“Honey, let me explain. The evil that comes with black magic would control you instead of you controlling the black magic,” Ling Li clarified.
“Um,” Four Eyes repeated, grateful for her thorough explanations. He pulled her into his arms, seeking to comfort her. “Don’t worry too much,” he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple.
When they arrived at Camp Blaze, several pickup trucks were already waiting for them and the rest of the trainees. The air was filled with anticipation and the muted sounds of preparation.
“Grab all your gears and weapons, except for the guns,” Ling Li instructed, her voice carrying authority. The twenty-eight men quickly complied, returning with their equipment before hopping into the trucks.
The drive was long and filled with a tense silence as they journeyed to the foot of a mountain—a stark and imposing landscape still within Li’s properties.
“Alright, listen up. I have set up a magic array here. In this array, you will encounter demonic beasts. These beasts are only illusions, but when you fight them, you will feel the real pain you should experience.
And no, you will not die inside the magic array. But you will be thrown out back here where we are standing. But the point is, you should fight and not die. Because in Mystical Mountain, you can truly die. Google seaʀᴄh novel•fire.net
“Shi Min and Mushu will enter the array with you to show you how to kill a demonic beast, but they won’t stay all the way. They will leave you on your own,” Ling Li explained, her voice echoing in the air. “Now, go.”
Shi Min and Mushu were the first to step into the shimmering portal of the magic array. The moment they crossed the threshold, the air crackled with energy.
The group of trainees hesitated, their breaths caught in their throats as they followed suit.
“Woooow!” one of them exclaimed, the words barely escaping his lips as the world transformed around them.
“What is this place?” another whispered, eyes wide with awe and fear.
The landscape inside the array was a twisted, surreal version of the mountain. Trees with gnarled branches reached out like skeletal hands, and the ground seemed to pulse with an eerie light. When the trainees looked back, the entrance had disappeared, replaced by an impenetrable fog.
“Demonic beasts have five levels of cultivation, from one as the lowest and five as the highest. The deeper you walk into the mountain, the higher rank of demonic beast you will encounter,” Mushu explained, his voice carrying a gravity that made the trainees’ hearts race.
“Since you are at the lowest cultivation, I advise you not to encounter third-level and above beasts. They will be too dangerous for you and could threaten your life.
The most effective weapons are swords and spears. You may use your dagger for close combat since swords will be too difficult if the beast is at close range. If encountering a giant beast, you can attack simultaneously using different weapons. Some use the sword, while others may use bows and arrows,” Mushu added.
“Let’s go,” Shi Min said, his voice a commanding presence among the swirling shadows.
As they ventured deeper into the array, the trainees could feel the oppressive aura of the demonic beasts closing in. Each step felt like a march towards an uncertain fate. The magic array seemed to pulse and breathe, feeding off their fear and determination alike.
After twenty minutes of walking, a beast materialized before them, its eyes glowing with a malevolent light. It was a demonic giant frog that leaped in front of them.
Mushu sprung into action, taking out his sword.
The demonic giant frog was five feet tall, with human hands and a fishtail. It was big but very agile, hopping from one place to another and circling around them.
Looking at the frog in front of them, the trainees couldn’t move but stared at it. One started to vomit, while one fainted.
The one who fainted was thrown out of the array and appeared beside Ling Li.
“Reginald. Help this guy.” Ling Li instructed. “Once he recovers, bring him back inside.
Meanwhile, the demonic frog began to unfurl its tongue, its eyes gleaming with malevolent intent.
“Demonic frogs’ saliva is venomous, and their tongues are very sticky. You should avoid it,” Shi Min explained, his voice cutting through the tension like a knife. “Most Demonic Beast saliva is either venomous, poisonous, or so acidic that it can burn your flesh.”
The giant frog leaped forward, its long, elastic tongue lashing out to capture Mushu. The air was thick with anticipation as the trainees watched in silent horror.
“Remember your training!” Mushu shouted, his voice piercing through the chaos. “Use your Qi, focus your intent, and strike true!”
The trainees’ hearts pounded in their chests as they watched the unfolding battle, the illusions so lifelike and the pain so real that it was easy to forget they weren’t truly in danger. But the lesson was clear: if they faltered here, they wouldn’t stand a chance on Mystical Mountain.
Mushu stood his ground, his face a mask of concentration. Without moving an inch, he struck his sword, severing the frog’s tongue with a swift, precise cut, and with a second strike, he slashed the frog into two.
“Mushu killed it in two moves!” one of the trainees exclaimed, awe-struck.
“Stay sharp!” Shi Min called out as the first demonic beast fell. “This is just the beginning.”
The demonic giant frog dropped to the ground and immediately disappeared, leaving behind a piece of its crystal core. Mushu picked up the core and held it up for the group to see.