Chapter 107: Mutation

Azure Hook Wood's enormous root system rapidly drilled into the continuously rotating light circle. Two thick main roots surged through it like flowing water, rapidly expanding along the periphery. In an extremely short time, these powerful roots had tightly encircled the light circle, forming a colossal azure circle.

With a sharp crack, Azure Hook Wood's main root wrapped the Beast Hunting Gate. Massive auxiliary roots and fine tendrils erupted from the main root, expanding with ferocious speed. Anchored by the main root, the auxiliary roots plunged into the spinning light circle. The once-fractured Beast Hunting Gate was now pierced through by the dense network of Azure Hook Wood's auxiliary roots, like a tattered cloth filled with needles and threads. Cracked light circles inside the gate were methodically sealed shut by the tightening roots.

Under the overwhelming pressure of Azure Hook Wood's vast root systems, the spinning light circle within the Beast Hunting Gate gradually slowed and came to a complete standstill.

Buzz...

The once-calm Beast Hunting Gate suddenly emitted a deep, muffled rumble. With this sound, streaks of white, azure, and other luminous energies surged forth from within the gate...

The radiance was dazzling, the various colors blending into one another and instantly flooding the gate with light. As dusk approached and the sky darkened, this brilliant glow bathed the heavens in an eerie illumination...

"The Spiritual Beast Pill is working," Jiang Yan murmured, watching the light inside the Beast Hunting Gate with visible unease. Once Azure Hook Wood had stabilized the gate, the pill within would be drawn toward it. Spiritual energy would begin to leak outward. When enough spiritual power had dissipated, the light circle would ignite, undergoing a transformation that would finally birth the completed Beast Hunting Gate and open a portal allowing cultivators to return to Linqing Prefecture. Yet as he watched the gate slowly take shape, Jiang Yan felt a growing sense of dread.

"Little Master, the Beast Hunting Gate is open. Has our agreement taken effect?" Zhao Shuo, leader of the Blood Shadow Sect, wore a smug grin as he fawned over Monk Wukong. He then shot a contemptuous glance at Weng Putian, leader of the West Mountain Sect, whose face was streaked with tears of frustration.

Buzz...

Amidst a series of dull thuds, the Beast Hunting Gate slowly took shape before the assembled cultivators.

"Everyone, the Beast Hunting Gate is about to open. Please prepare yourselves. Our time is limited. If any of you wish to return to Linqing Prefecture, you must obey my commands." Monk Wukong of Huasheng Temple addressed the crowd as the gate drew nearer.

If the various sects rushed in after the gate opened, chaos would erupt again, wasting precious time. Many cultivators might never make it back to Linqing Prefecture. The Heavenly Dao was compassionate. Acting from his own conscience, Monk Wukong prepared to organize the cultivators and ensure they were ready to enter the gate.

"We still don't have Spiritual Beast Pills!" Lao Wen, leader of the Wang Lu Sect, shouted, his tone full of false humility. "Master, you must make the second-rank sects exchange their pills for us. Without them to activate the gate, we can't return to Linqing Prefecture!"

"Yes, we haven't acquired our Spiritual Beast Pills yet. Master, you must preside over the exchange. You can't let those second-rank sects demand all our spiritual herbs for a single pill!" Another petty sect leader chimed in. Jiang Yan recalled that the same man had once berated Monk Wukong with barely restrained fury.

"Exchanging Spiritual Beast Pills..." Every first-rank and unranked sect was now shouting at the top of their lungs, clamoring for Huasheng Temple to facilitate the trade so they would not lose out.

"Amitabha Buddha."

The resonant voices of five monks chanting the sacred name rose above the din. Monk Wukong and his brothers chanted in unison, instantly silencing the crowd and drawing every eye toward them.

"Everyone, the Beast Hunting Gate is about to open. If you continue to bicker, it will be difficult for any of you to return to Linqing Prefecture. As for the Spiritual Beast Pill exchange, the little monk has only one condition: both parties must agree willingly. The little monk will not interfere." Monk Wukong placed one palm over his chest and spoke calmly to the jostling cultivators.

"You bald donkey, you're shirking responsibility! As the organizer, Huasheng Temple should be intervening, not just standing by while the second-rank sects bully the weaker factions!" The Wang Lu Sect leader roared.

"Master, you must stand up for us low-rank sects! Don't just watch the second-rank sects bully us!" the petty sect leader pleaded, voice trembling.

"Why get involved? The exchange was always meant to be voluntary. If you hadn't forced yourself into it earlier, they'd have been bickering on their own. They're all from the same prefecture—who would cheat whom?"

Zhao Shuo shook his massive head, speaking with mock regret. "Master, don't forget our deal. I've already paid you twenty Spiritual Beast Pills."

Monk Wukong bowed politely to Zhao Shuo. "Rest assured, Sect Leader Zhao. What the little monk promises is kept. After we leave the Beast Hunting battlefield, the little monk will deliver the insights from my junior uncle's foundation establishment to your sect."

Zhao Shuo beamed, bowing repeatedly. "No need, no need. I'll come to your temple later to collect them myself."

"Hey, Zhao Ning! I was just talking about you! Look, there's still a spiritual herb hidden in his pants! Even if you don't leave him a scrap, he'll still trade you that pill..."

The same Zhao Shuo who had just criticized Monk Wukong with righteous indignation moments earlier was now cursing his own disciple for failing to strip every last herb from the small sect leader's body.

"Amitabha Buddha." Monk Wukong and his brothers exchanged meaningful glances, each silently conveying the same helplessness.

"Wude and Wusheng, take up positions at the Beast Hunting Gate. When we enter, restrain the second-rank sects. Very few of us may survive this." Monk Wukong surveyed the chaotic crowd, his face grave. "Wude and Wusheng, guard the gate."

Monk Wude and Monk Wusheng bowed in unison, then retreated toward the distant gate.

"Sect Leader Weng, please exchange that Spiritual Beast Pill for me. I truly have none left." A low-rank sect leader begged Weng Putian.

"Pfft! You collected so little spiritual herb and still want to trade for a pill? Stop dreaming. Spiritual Beast Pills aren't worthless." Weng Putian spat on the ground.

"You... you... Weng Luo! You're looking for death! Exchanging so little for a pill for him? You think you have too many? Give them all to me! This sect leader doesn't mind having too many!"

Weng Putian had just refused the low-rank sect leader when he turned on a West Mountain Sect disciple and shouted, "You bastard!"

"Friend, you seem to have quite a few Spiritual Beast Pills. Would you be willing to exchange some with these unranked sects? They are participating for the first time and lack the skill to gather spiritual herbs. Many second-rank sects refuse to trade with them. Friend, would you show compassion?"

Monk Wukong noticed the unranked sects struggling with insufficient spiritual herbs and the second-rank sects refusing to trade. With a sorrowful expression, he turned to Jiang Yan.

"Master has spoken. I dare not disobey. However, Jiang has a request." Jiang Yan gazed at the bustling crowd and spoke quietly, "I wish to be the first to leave this Beast Hunting Gate."

Monk Wukong placed one palm over his chest, resolute. "Saving one life is greater than building a seven-tiered pagoda. Since Jiang Gusu is willing to help these sects, the little monk grants a promise: when the Beast Hunting Gate opens, Jiang Gusu may return to Linqing Prefecture first."

A faint smile curved Jiang Yan's lips. "I thank the master. After we leave the Beast Hunting Gate, should our sect face any trouble, I hope the master will consider today's..."

The words died in his throat. Jiang Yan's gaze had fallen on a streak of violet light flaring before the Beast Hunting Gate. A sudden, cold dread coiled in his chest. Someone intended to seize control of the gate. He finally understood the source of his unease—Golden Flame Sect and Heavenly Mountain.