Chapter 1: The King of Beasts

As the two strong contenders vie against each other, it has been several days without a clear victor, and the two beasts continue to battle while moving northward.

In the midst of chaotic thoughts, a sudden "crack" sound emerged from the grass behind, accompanied by a foul wind that rushed towards me. In the blink of an eye, it was already at my back. Su Mingyan was greatly alarmed, realizing it was a ferocious beast from the mountains, yet unaware of its kind, moving with such speed that one could hardly react. In a moment of instinct, Yan lunged forward, rolling into a somersault, barely escaping the beast's claws just as they grazed his thin shirt. Startled and drenched in cold sweat, he looked up to see two dim, chaotic beast eyes resembling dark flames, not far from his head. The hot breath exhaled from the beast's mouth nearly brushed against his face, its jaws wide open, ready to bite at Su Mingyan's waist.

Su Mingyan lay on a massive rock, surrounded by a desolate and lonely expanse. In the distance, deep brown, jagged rocks rose like sword blades along the mountain ridges. Standing here, one could already see the peaks of the northwestern mountains soaring upward, their summits perpetually covered in snow. The mountains were perilous and shaped like sharp cones, glistening silver as they pierced through the overlapping ridges. There lies the Helan Mountain range, the source of many rivers.

The gray wolf originally intended to stealthily launch an attack, but its momentum weakened slightly, causing the purple beast to press forward, forcing it to retreat repeatedly

The gray wolf was unable to dodge in time, allowing the chaotic fire spirit to strike its lower body, scorching the skin and charring the flesh. It leaped away, howling in pain without cease. However, driven by anger, it exerted its brute strength, circling behind the purple beast and launching a flurry of charges and scratches at it.

Su Mingyan gazed up at the gradually dimming sky, the tall grass swaying beside him. The light of day was clear, the stars twinkled, and light clouds drifted by. Su Mingyan quietly listened to the tranquil sounds of the universe, his thoughts transforming into a state of clarity without his awareness. His consciousness remained calm and undisturbed, gently extending outward, allowing his spirit to disperse among the surrounding world, as if breathing and moving in harmony with all things in nature. It was unclear how much time had passed, but just as Su Mingyan was about to forget his own existence, the elemental forces drifting between heaven and earth began to converge like flowing water towards the source of his thoughts. His consciousness remained calm and undisturbed, gently extending outward, allowing his spirit to disperse among the surrounding world, as if breathing and moving in harmony with all things in nature. It was unclear how much time had passed, but just as Su Mingyan was about to forget his own existence, the elemental forces drifting between heaven and earth began to converge like flowing water towards the source of his thoughts.

Could it be that the recent phenomenon has driven this century-old purple beast into madness

The purple beast opened its mouth and roared, a fierce wind cutting through the air, with a faint purple glow emanating from its body. Yan Meng was taken aback, thinking that this creature had lost its patience and, disregarding the green fruit, was about to tear him into pieces.

Although he did not know the reason, Su Mingyan felt that the mysterious power operating within him was akin to the awakened soul power described by Mo Jiebo Cen

The purple beast seems to be toying with itself, not using its full strength in its pounces and bites, its eyes glinting with a cunning light, causing Yan to feel a sense of despair. This cannot continue; without finding an opportunity to escape, his energy will be exhausted first. Yan forcefully suppresses the panic in his heart and contemplates a strategy.

Su Mingyan only attempted to cast the fire talisman technique. His aura was too weak, so even if the Canglang sensed it, it would not interrupt its sleep and would merely drive the invading enemy out of its territory. However, the arrival of the purple beast made him extremely alert. He quietly approached, intending to first eliminate the bipedal monster before focusing on the formidable opponent, the purple beast.

The primordial breath of heaven and earth and the power of the elements are essentially forces of the same nature: the celestial power that roams freely and is recorded in the cosmos.

Su Mingyan carefully examined the mask in his hands. Under the starlight, the copper mask, infused with red gold, resembled the skin tone of an ordinary person. If it were not for the faint sheen reflecting off it and the crisp sound it made when tapped, the vividly lifelike mask seemed as if it had been directly peeled off the face of a handsome man.

Legend has it that amidst the Helan Mountain peaks stands an extraordinarily magnificent arched ice dam, which intercepts the source waters of the Chubu River, forming the Helan Heavenly Lake

Far from the Chubu River area, the environment here is harsh. In this survival of the fittest, even the local voles that manage to survive have been around for quite some time, and their meat is both tough and gamey

In the past seven or eight days, Su Mingyan still could not fully execute the Fire Talisman Technique. Although he was able to control the chaotic elemental power to produce flames, he was unable to shape the flames into arrows and shoot them at will

Upon considering this, Su Mingyan felt quite astonished. How could this purple beast wander down from the depths of the Yanyun mountains without reason? The purple beast's eyes contained a chaotic fire; could it possibly store the power of chaotic elements as its demonic energy within its body? Gazing into the deep purple light of the beast's eyes, Yan felt a chill in his heart, yet he dared not use the fire talisman technique to embarrass himself.

Su Mingyan once again placed the mask over his face, picked up the self-made spear, and walked north along the towering cliffs on the eastern foothills of Yanyun Mountain, searching for the dry riverbed of the Chubu River

At this moment, there was no time to worry about this matter. Su Mingyan extended his right hand forward, startling the purple beast, whose large and fierce head suddenly recoiled. Seeing the purple beast exerting force to pounce down, Su Mingyan used his left hand to push the energy shield outward, swiftly dodging to the right and securing the green fruit in his embrace. His left wrist to elbow was jolted painfully, and the azure energy shield was left with only a thin layer, unable to withstand the next wave of assault

The purple beast was trapped by the lava, and the gray wolf took advantage of its difficulty in movement to approach from the side, opening its bloody giant mouth and lunging forward. The purple beast slightly opened its large mouth, roaring as it expelled a purple, chaotic fire spirit towards the gray wolf.

Unlike warriors, sorcerers cannot directly harness elemental power to enhance their bodies, nor can they refine elemental power into energy stored within themselves; instead, they utilize mental force to directly control the elemental power that roams freely between heaven and earth to cast spells

Surely, one has enjoyed a life of happiness in the depths of the Yan and Yun mountains for more than a hundred years

The wild beasts of Yanyun have little contact with humans and can only discern enemies based on instinct. The century-old purple beast has developed a certain level of sentience, and Su Mingyan does not believe that his strength can provoke the enmity of this century-old purple beast

Su Mingyan left the Academy, not heading directly to Yujia. He abandoned the path he often took with Su Mingge and instead chose a perilous route north along the Yan Yun Mountains, embarking on a three-month period of cultivation.

Had it not been for the purple beast pouncing out to intercept the gray wolf in mid-air, the gray wolf would have silently landed exactly where Su Mingyan had just stood, its cold, gleaming, and razor-sharp claws poised to tear open his back

When Su Mingyan practiced martial arts, he absorbed the mixed essence of heaven and earth, refining it into a power stored within his physical strength. At this moment, following the guidance of the method from www.hetushu.com, as his thoughts arose, the gathered elemental power appeared like a raging black flame on the sea of his consciousness.

The items carried by Mo Jie Bo Cen are not many; for a chaotic system sorcerer, this mask is undoubtedly an item of great importance and value

The key to the Five Element Secret Method lies in the cultivation of mental power and the understanding of the forces of the five elemental natures

At this moment, Su Mingyan finally saw the ferocious beast clearly; it was a wild creature resembling a tiger or leopard, with a massive body and a coat of purple fur that shimmered brilliantly in the glow of the setting sun. At the center of its forehead was embedded a crescent-shaped dark purple mark, indicating that it was a wild beast with a magic core growing within it. Its abdomen was slightly swollen, and its teats were slightly engorged, revealing that it was a wild beast in the process of nurturing its young.

In accordance with the requirements of the Fire Symbol Technique, Su Mingyan opened his palm, attempting to gather the power of chaotic elements above his palm. With a thought, a fireball rose from his hand. The small orange flame floated above his palm, casting a warm light on his face, creating a beautiful sight. Su Mingyan felt a sense of pride in his heart and was about to throw the fireball when the flames burst forth, and the splattering sparks burned him slightly.

The essence of a person's soul resides within the blood. Unlike the route of the Danli circulating through the meridians, the awakened soul power flows throughout the body along with the circulation of the blood

The purple beast seemed to have reservations, not using its full strength while leaping and pouncing. Even so, the fierce wind generated by its strikes cut like a knife against the skin. Su Mingyan maneuvered and dodged, but the exposed skin was stung painfully by the gusts, leaving several bloody scratches.

On ordinary days, the green fruit appears unremarkable, but at this moment, its skin has transformed to resemble translucent glass, emanating a clear luster. Upon closer inspection, faint patterns flow within the glass-like skin, akin to the drifting clouds in a starry sky.

At this moment, Su Mingyan once again felt the mysterious power emerging within him, akin to the blooming of the Yingyan flower, as he lay beneath the canopy of the Kunlun thorn tree on a night like no other

When the purple beast appeared, the green fruit had already returned to its normal state, its skin no longer possessing the luster of glazed glass. If not for the grip of his right hand, Su Mingyan would not have sensed the faint life force flowing within the green fruit. How could this wild beast still determine that this green fruit was extraordinary? When meeting with Mo Jiebo Cen, Su Mingyan had tucked the green fruit into his bosom, yet he was unaware if Mo Jiebo Cen had noticed anything unusual.

Before mastering the art of fire symbols, Su Mingyan had no intention of relinquishing his reliance on martial skills. However, apart from using martial skills to obtain prey, Su Mingyan spent the rest of his time refining his mental power, employing incantations, and attempting to control the chaotic elemental forces of heaven and earth. Although he was situated in the heart of the wilderness, survival posed no problem for Su Mingyan, who had grown up in the wild. As long as he could find a water source, certain tubers and the meat of the ubiquitous soil gophers could suffice to stave off hunger.

The fierce beast, feeling pain in its front foot, bit into the emptiness, then turned around and let out a long roar directed at Yan, shaking the ground incessantly. In the distance, a flock of roosting birds was startled from the thicket, as the fierce beast was already in a great rage

Su Mingyan felt an overwhelming fear, perceiving the fierce struggle between the two beasts as quite legitimate. Each possessed their own unique skills, and after several days of fighting, although both were covered in wounds, they remained evenly matched, unable to determine a victor. Yet, they continued to glare at each other, unwilling to back down.

The material of the mask, unless discernible to the naked eye, is an alloy of red gold and fine copper, infused with other special materials. The inner side of the mask is intricately engraved with very faint ancient inscriptions. Su Mingyan could only recognize a few scattered ancient characters, resembling a segment of a spell. Each time the mask is brought close to the face, it automatically adheres. The mask behaves like a living entity, seamlessly and closely attaching to the face, as if it were a second layer of skin for the person.

Su Mingyan was drenched in cold sweat; how could this gray wolf be so cunning

Just as Su Ming was unable to discern which of the two beasts had the upper hand in their struggle, a sharp sound was heard, and the left flank of the gray wolf was torn open with a long gash. The gray wolf let out a long, furious howl, its body momentarily pausing, refraining from lunging forward to bite. While Yan hesitated, he noticed that the mud surrounding the purple beast was bubbling like boiling water, and in an instant, the lava surged forth, solidifying around the four legs of the purple beast.

Over the long years, the Purple Fox and the Gray Wolf had not met for the first time. In their previous encounters, they had fought to a standstill, both suffering heavy losses, and had long since developed a deep-seated enmity. Upon seeing the Gray Wolf suddenly pounce, the Purple Fox was filled with rage and disregarded the need to first seize the fruit of the Adonai Divine Flower, charging directly at the Gray Wolf.

Su Mingyan stealthily advanced, not daring to approach, yet unwilling to miss this pinnacle battle between the kings and the savage beasts

Su Mingyan vaguely sensed that the mysterious power within her was related to the Yingyan flower. Squatting on the mound of earth, she held the green fruit before her brow, gazing intently at this fruit of the Yingyan flower tree

After Su Mingge left the Institute of Classics, Su Mingyan attended lectures on the fundamental knowledge of secret arts taught by Mo Jiebo Cen in the West Chamber for ten consecutive days

A thousand years ago, the Yan Yun Mountains blocked the fierce winds on the Heili Plain, preventing eastward passage. The glacial meltwater from the Helan Mountain range flowed down, becoming the source of the Chubu River and the Yiyun River

The chaotic elemental power gathers around Su Mingyan's body, restrained by his thoughts, no longer dispersing

Just now, when confronting the purple beast, a gash opened up at my waist. At first, I did not feel it, but now it is burning with pain. Su Mingyan brought over a spear; although the spearhead is merely a sharp flint, I feel much more at ease.

The high-level wild beasts in the Yanyun Wilderness are all kings of the land, positioned at the top of the food chain. As long as one does not approach their nests, their hostility towards humans is far less than that of common wild beasts

This purple beast, with four sturdy legs, stands on the ground, its form robust and imposing, raising its fierce head. It stands about seven feet tall, and its faint breathing resembles the distant rumble of thunder.

If there were initial doubts in his heart regarding Mojie Bicen's decision to allow him to enter the wilderness to practice the techniques rather than to train in martial skills, now, as he enjoys the roasted beast meat using fire talismans, Su Mingyan harbors no resentment whatsoever

At the moment Mo Ti Jie Bo Cen was unleashing "Thunderfall's Wrath," Su Ming Yan was using a piece of salt rock to rub against the meat of a groundhog, aiming to impart a salty flavor. He bit down on a piece of sinew and with his left hand, he exerted great effort to tear it away from the book.

The wild beast was glaring angrily at Yan with its large purple flames for eyes

Yujia is the most important border town in the southwest of the Empire. Although the journey from the heartland of Yanyun to Yujia is fraught with peril, the Qingshan Mountain range, which is even more treacherous than the Yujia Mountains, lies along the eastern border of Canaan. The narrow plain, which is one hundred miles wide and over four hundred miles long, situated between the Yujia Mountains and the Yangjun Mountains, has become the most crucial passage connecting the southwest of Qingshan with Canaan

Su Mingyan has been practicing martial arts for over 10 years and is quite familiar with the ambient energy in the world. His ability to concentrate and enter a state of tranquility is also quite remarkable, and his mental strength has naturally surpassed that of ordinary people. In an instant, the surrounding ambient energy became active due to the stimulation of his thoughts, gathering around him.

It seems that this is not yet his territory

Su Mingyan kicked out with both feet, striking the forelimb of the ferocious beast. He then darted out from beneath the beast's mouth, using the force of the kick to leap and spin in the air, tapping twice in the void before landing a yard away from the side of the beast. The self-made spear remained in place, while Yan solidified his left palm with Dan power to project a green silk energy shield, positioned horizontally in front of him

This gray wolf is undoubtedly the king of this land, its wolf-like body not much weaker than that of the purple fox. The sharp claws between its paws are fully extended, and the long-standing keratin claws gleam with a cold, eerie light like meteorite iron. Behind it, enormous wings are spread wide, the edges of which are lined with sharp, bone-like spikes. Its crimson eyes emit a bloody glare, and a pair of ivory fangs protrude from its mouth.

Su Mingyan felt a long-forgotten fear rising within him. These two king-level wild beasts were dozens of times more ferocious than any wild beasts he had encountered before. Their roars were deafening, and they were locked in a fierce struggle. The purple beast was enveloped in purple flames, while the gray wolf was surrounded by a yellowish glow. They were entangled together, creating a chaotic blend of light and shadow that surged rapidly across the wasteland, causing the ancient trees around them to be uprooted and toppled.

The power of the chaotic element. The primal force of elemental fire

The vibrations ceased, and Su Ming was unable to even feel whether the flow of that mysterious power within him differed from the Qing Luo Dan's energy.

Mo Jie Bo Cen unleashed the ultimate technique of the chaotic system, "Thunderfall's Wrath," causing an imbalance in the chaotic elemental forces in the central region of Yan Yun. Zi Suan became agitated and emerged from the deep mountains of Yan Yun. Just then, it sensed the life force of the fruit of the Adonai divine flower, followed its trace, but intruded into the territory of the Cang Wolf

This beast is even more cunning than a human, I won't fight anymore, Su Mingyan thought fleetingly in his mind, holding the green fruit in his hand. If the purple beast pounces again, I will offer the green fruit under its claws, trying to provoke it; perhaps there is still a chance.

A few sparks from Mars splashed onto his face, startling Su Mingyan. He reached up to feel his face and removed a bronze mask, secretly mocking himself for not being composed enough

The purple beast twisted its head and took a step forward, while Yan did not dare to get too close and retreated several feet. However, the purple beast seemed to have restrained its violent nature; its bowl-sized paw stepped forward cautiously, then retracted again, its eyes intentionally or unintentionally scanning Yan's left hand.

The purple beast's four hooves stomped the ground, its body leaping into the air, leaving only a fleeting shadow in its place. Before there was time to react, a foul, hot wind rushed towards me. In an instant, I could only roll and dodge, moving to the side, but did not see the purple beast turn to bite. Turning my head to look, I found a gray wolf engaged in a fierce struggle with the purple beast.

The foundation of the Five Element Secret Arts of the Mahāyāna Orthodox Teachings lies in the power of the five elemental forces. The Five Element Secret Arts involve the concentration of mental energy and the chanting of incantations to harness and channel the elemental forces of heaven and earth.

When Su Mingyan left the Institute, Mo Jiebo Chen handed him this bronze mask, instructing Su Mingyan to wear the mask on his face for cultivation after leaving the Institute. He should not reveal his face in front of others, nor disclose his identity, until the world no longer remembers him as a commoner.

The awakening of the power of the soul allows one to sense another kind of miraculous force, yet one remains oblivious to it. What is the underlying reason for this?

It is said that the dwelling place of the divine lineage, the Xiren, is hidden among the towering mountains in the northwest of the Yan Yun Mountain, known as the Benlei Plain

Although the purple beast possesses immense strength, it is helpless against the high-level rock wall locking technique, struggling in vain and suffering from wounds that bleed profusely. The purple beast, unwilling to endure humiliation, exerts itself to break free, as if the blood is seeping into its pores, and the purple halo gradually brightens. The sound of cracking echoes continuously, as the purple beast uses its flesh and blood to attempt to break the constraints of the lava wall lock

As the setting sun descends, the evening glow, resembling flowing vermilion, lavishly paints the peaks of the Yan Yun Mountains, which stretch far and wide. In the distance, a dense forest in the north comes into view, where night birds return with their calls, and the clear sounds of water flowing through the crevices of stones bring a delightful serenity to the heart.

Before there was time to place the green fruit into the bag, fearing it might fall to the ground and be ruined by the wild beasts, Su Mingyan gazed at the Yingyan flower fruit held in the palm of his right hand, suddenly realizing that the already sentient purple beast was rushing towards this green fruit

A faint sound of mountains collapsing and the earth cracking could be heard, and the mountains behind him trembled. Su Mingyan thought that there was a seismic event occurring in the Yanyun Mountains, and hurriedly packed his belongings to head east. After traveling about two miles away from the cliff, he finally stopped, only to realize that the tremors were merely a result of disturbances from elsewhere. Before he could even indulge in self-deprecation, he felt a slight warmth in his chest, as if a flame was igniting there due to the chaotic elemental force. Yan lacked confidence in his fire talisman technique and was startled. He quickly reached into his bosom and took out the green fruit that Su Mingge had given him. Before he could even indulge in self-deprecation, he felt a slight warmth in his chest, as if a flame was igniting there due to the chaotic elemental force. Yan lacked confidence in his fire talisman technique and was startled. He quickly reached into his bosom and took out the green fruit that Su Mingge had given him.

The "Yanyun Chronicle · Illustrated Guide" records this ferocious beast: "In the Yanyun region of Zhongshan, the rugged stones are barren, and the hills are devoid of vegetation. There exists a fierce creature, large in size, resembling a tiger or leopard, with fur like purple flames and eyes that harbor the fire of chaos." This beast is named Zisuan, known for its unparalleled ferocity. After growing for a hundred years, the demonic power within it is sufficient to develop a magic core, and its head bears a crescent-shaped dark purple mark.

Su Mingyan was dazzled and entranced, comparing the fire talisman technique to the purple chaos fire spirit, which seemed like child's play.

A faint golden sheen flowed over the mask, and Su Mingyan could sense that the mask could actively absorb a certain amount of chaotic elemental power. When worn on the face, it not only perfectly concealed the face but also exempted the wearer from the damage caused by chaotic elemental power.

When Su Mingyan walked out of the Institute of Classics, he had nothing but that mask. There was no fire striker; the fire talisman technique was much more convenient than striking flint for fire.