Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 914 It's really a monkey show!

Xu Xuan looked down and caught a glimpse of the golden mark left by the Dragon Lord on his arm, which was flickering on and off. He immediately felt a sharp pain in his teeth.

This……

He was even a little afraid to turn around.

Ever since I killed Xia Ji with a sword, I've always felt that something was wrong. After thinking about it carefully, I finally figured it out.

The problem is that everything is too calm!

With the combination of Xu Xuan, the "vortex of cause and effect," and Li Yingqi, the "destined killer star," wherever they go, chaos and calamities will inevitably arise.
This first battle on the northward journey was against a thousand-year-old corpse demon, and the opposing side was a powerful relative of the imperial family. It caused quite a stir, but in the end, it ended so smoothly.

This doesn't quite fit the "misfortune-bringing" nature of this combination.

Logically speaking, this should involve some hidden dungeon or incredibly powerful old monsters.

Sure enough, the "opportunity" mark given by the Dragon Lord suddenly started flashing. This was definitely not a "congratulations on passing the level" message, but more like a "warning"!
"Could it be... that there really are monkeys in the Huai River?"

Xu Xuan muttered to himself, recalling the ancient legend of the man who had been suppressed here by King Yu.

Actually, in terms of combat strength alone, I'm not that afraid.

So, without thinking twice, he strode westward without looking back.

If you're so great, come out of the river and find me!

This is extremely arrogant.

Of course, Father Xu was no fool. He had something to rely on when he said that.

Based on his observations and speculations along the way: since the disappearance of the immortals and gods, the rules of this world seem to no longer allow power that truly transcends the limits of the human realm to roam freely across the land of Kyushu.

The limit that can be allowed is probably like that of Bai Suzhen, who, despite having boundless magical power, still needs to follow certain rules and cannot exert her full power.

Take Dragon King as an example. How virtuous was that Lezi Dragon? He was practically a gossip-loving spirit!
However, even now, His activities are strictly limited to the Yangtze River basin, and He has never stepped outside the Yangtze River, which is obviously a limitation.

The remnant soul of the demon god in Yunmeng Marsh must have far exceeded the limit in power, but even so, when the Yunmeng Secret Realm shattered and Yun Zhongjun perished, it failed to come out and cause trouble in the world.

Then look at Kasyapa, he did come out, but what came was the corpse of a dead Arhat, not a living one.

The manifestation of Ksitigarbha was merely a shadow of "Virupakana," one of his four incarnations.

Even for an ancient emperor like Yu the Great, his present form was a body formed from the collective incense offerings and prayers of countless people, not his true self.

Therefore, we can draw a relatively safe conclusion:

As long as one doesn't court death by venturing into the core area of ​​those ancient beings' "lair," then even if it really is the legendary Wuzhiqi, its true form or most of its power will most likely not be able to appear directly in front of one.

In other words, even if a white-haired monkey suddenly jumped out and blocked our way... we don't need to be too afraid.

Having figured this out, Xu Xuan's steps became more steady.

squeak... squeak...

A faint yet clear rustling sound, accompanied by the cry of some creature, came from the woods not far away.

"What's that sound?" Xu Xuan stopped abruptly, listening intently.

The Stone King silently sensed it for a moment, then answered sincerely in his uniquely calm and monotonous voice, "It's the sound of a monkey."

"Monkey, monkey!!!"

Someone's voice involuntarily rose slightly, even carrying a barely perceptible crack...

Meeting the gaze of the Stone King's stone eyes, the Holy Father immediately realized his lapse in composure, quickly coughed twice, forcibly adjusted his mindset, and forced an overly enthusiastic smile onto his face:

"Ahem! Monkeys are great! Lively, cute, and clever! I especially love monkeys! By the way, did you know? I think I was born in the Year of the Monkey! What a coincidence, hahaha..."

He started rambling on and on, trying to cover up the panic he had just felt.

Just then, a nimble gibbon grabbed a vine and swung swiftly through the canopy above them.

Without even glancing down at the two somewhat foolish-looking creatures below, it vanished into the depths of the dense forest in the blink of an eye.

As is well known, Xuyi is located at the confluence of the Huai River and Hongze Lake, surrounded by rolling hills, a dense network of waterways, and a high forest coverage, making it an ideal habitat for various apes and monkeys.

Upon seeing this, Xu Xuan paused for a second before bursting into an even louder laugh.

He patted Shi Wang's hard, iron-like shoulder forcefully, as if everything that had just happened was truly just a harmless joke:
"Hahaha! See! I told you it was a monkey! False alarm, false alarm! Let's go, let's go!"

He held onto the stone king's hand affectionately as he quickened his pace and continued walking.

However, if someone observes carefully, they will find that the direction of travel has been quietly shifted to the south without anyone noticing, subtly deviating from the main direction that runs close to the Huai River.

A mere gibbon could not possibly frighten him.

What truly made him tense and instantly react to avoid danger was the extremely subtle yet real sense of being watched that he caught in his spiritual perception the instant the monkey's voice rang out!
Someone is watching him!
The gaze was not malicious; it was so faint as to be almost nonexistent that even the Stone King seemed unaware of it.

Its exact location was completely undetectable, as if it came from the entire mountain forest or the water flowing beneath his feet. If it weren't for the fact that he had provoked too many high-level enemies with rich experience, and that his White Lotus Dharma Form had also passively evolved several times, he probably wouldn't have noticed this subtle change at all.

It is unclear whether they are friend or foe, and the depth of their relationship is unknown.

The best option at this moment is to act as calmly and naturally as if it were just a routine route adjustment.

Xu Xuan only stopped walking slowly after the strange feeling of being watched by an invisible force had completely disappeared.

He is not someone who likes to deceive himself.

Based on the flashing of the Dragon King's mark, the sudden monkey noise, and the ethereal yet real feeling of being spied on, he could be fairly certain.

Deep in the Huai River, or near Turtle Mountain, there truly exists an ancient entity related to "monkeys".

Furthermore, the other party is likely under severe restrictions and unable to truly leave the core area.

"So, as long as you don't recklessly approach its 'territory', there shouldn't be any major problems."

Xu Xuan pondered to himself and came to a relatively safe conclusion.

As a precaution, he raised his hand and conjured a nearly transparent spirit butterfly, infusing it with a divine thought: "Send a message to the Security Hall: From this day forward, no member may approach within a hundred miles of the Huai River Turtle Mountain area without permission."

Watching the fairy butterfly gracefully disappear into the southern horizon, Xu Xuan felt much more at ease.

He felt that he was at most a "mature" extraterrestrial demon, and that he still had a lot of room to grow.

It's not too late to "make friends" with such a powerful stranger when you've reached the "complete form" and are strong enough.

Some causes and effects, even if you know you can't avoid them, you should still be strategic and try to postpone them as much as possible.

The longer it takes, the more prepared you can be, and the more composed you will be in dealing with it.

This is the enlightenment of a mature saintly father!

Xu Xuan nodded in satisfaction, feeling that his understanding of the word "steady" had deepened even further.

He straightened his clothes, called to the Stone King, and set off on his westward journey again, but with a more cautious and observant air in his steps.

But in those deep, golden eyes on the banks of the Huai River, the emotions flowing between them became increasingly subtle and indescribable.

Under His golden gaze, which could see through the essence of all things, Xu Xuan's existence... was something extremely novel, even defying common sense.

He could see an extremely dense, almost tangible human aura surrounding him, proving that he was indeed a "human".

However, beneath that humanoid exterior lurks a strange essence that is neither human nor even something that should exist in this world.

It is like a walking embodiment of calamity, a source of causal pollution that constantly exudes chaos and misfortune, and even more like the eternal "Ruins" in the divination of celestial secrets that devours everything.

At first glance, an impulse from the depths of ancient instinct compelled Him to strike the little monster with a stick!

It was as if this blow could not only vent some kind of unpleasant feeling of being "offended," but also shatter the chaotic cause and effect around him, bringing a brief "peace" to this world.

Even He Himself can gain immense favor from this, taking the opportunity to break free from some of the ancient constraints imposed upon Him.

This was not a baseless statement, but rather the most direct and beneficial feedback that His innate "avoiding death and prolonging life" divine power naturally gave after coming into contact with Xu Xuan's unique aura.

but……

Who is He?
He is Wuzhiqi, the scourge of the Huai River! He was a being who once stirred up storms and rivaled King Yu the Great!

How can we easily succumb to such a harbinger of temptation or command from the heavens?
When Yu the Great tamed the floods, he carried the glorious fortune of the ancient human race at its peak, and with the direct assistance of the Heavenly Dao, he laid down the Nine Tripods to stabilize the nine provinces. In the end, he still could not make Him truly bow down and admit defeat, but only suppressed Him here.

Knowing it's impossible yet still doing it, preferring to break rather than bend—that's His nature!
Moreover, He also sensed another familiar yet unpleasant aura emanating from Xu Xuan.

Although the traces of Yu the Great's power are faint, they are real.

If I'm not mistaken, a year ago on the banks of the Huai River, it was probably this little monster who was chained.

"interesting……"

A deep, ancient murmur echoed in the deep water, carrying a hint of elusive playfulness.

But it's just interesting, nothing more.

For Him, who possesses an endless lifespan and has witnessed the vicissitudes of life, Xu Xuan's appearance is more like an unexpected variable that suddenly intrudes into a dull script, a peculiar case worth observing.

"Let this peculiar little thing continue to roam the land of Kyushu."

There will always be a day when we meet again.

Xu Xuan's guess was partly correct; Wuzhiqi was indeed no longer able to run rampant across the Nine Provinces and act recklessly as he had during his heyday.

His power was greatly limited to the Huai River basin, especially the core area of ​​Guishan, by the seal of King Yu and the changes of the times.

(End of this chapter)