Chapter 4: Arrogant Wild Chickens

Li Mang has not yet explored the rear and the lower areas, but based on the map of the Nanshan Classic, it seems there is no path to the rear. The lower area is similarly separated by the Liji River. If Li Mang wishes to experience other locations in the Nanshan Classic, he can only wade across the Liji River to reach the second Tangting Mountain on the opposite bank, but currently, the conditions do not permit this.

After hesitating for a moment between the two choices of going upstream or downstream, Li Mang ultimately decided to head upstream, hoping to find the source of the Liqi River. This stream is so breathtakingly beautiful that he felt compelled to see how it came into existence

Recalling the Nanshan Classic map through the labyrinth, it is indeed the end of the Nanshan Classic. However, in reality, the Earth is round, and there is no such thing as the ends of the earth. Moreover, space should not be said to have an end.

Hey! This wild chicken probably has never encountered danger, thinking it is quite formidable! Li Mang chuckled to himself, gathering strength in his legs, and with a swift step, raised the watermelon knife and pursued.

Here lies only the surface, yet gold is astonishingly exposed. This piece is large, and at a glance, there is a dazzling expanse of sand and stones, all shockingly filled with gold dust.

Li Mang let out a cry of despair, but at the same time, he reacted quickly. Seizing the opportunity to turn his body instinctively, he summoned all his strength and swung the watermelon knife towards the wild chicken.

Li Mang's gaze lingered for a long time before returning from the stream in front of him. Perhaps it was due to its proximity to the source, combined with the absence of any pollution, that the water was terrifyingly clear, resembling a bright mirror

As Li Mang was momentarily distracted, he was unexpectedly approached by this wild chicken, whose sharp claws fiercely lunged towards his chest

Li Mang is now bare-chested, and the skin on his chest appears as if it has been scraped, revealing several deep lacerations.

If there were not a small creek about fifty meters wide in between, these fellows would likely rush over and tear Li Mang apart

Moreover, he is not bringing anything at the moment; he will come back to dig when there is an opportunity in the future

Li Mang crouched low and moved forward slowly, soon discovering the source of the sound. His face was filled with astonishment, and he could not close his mouth for a long time

What is even more interesting is that these jade stones not only vary in color, but their shapes are also peculiar. Although Li Mang convinced himself that he couldn't take them back because he didn't have a bag, he couldn't help but stop and pick up each beautiful piece he encountered. When his pockets were simply too full, he would take off his shirt and use it as a makeshift bag to carry the jade stones he found appealing, holding them in his hands.

However, who would have thought that this arrogant wild chicken not only was not frightened away, but instead pushed off the ground with its powerful legs, causing the sand and stones to collapse. In an instant, it leaped high into the air, its claws spread wide like the tips of a spear, while its sharp beak was also raised high, aimed directly at Li Mang, flying towards him at an astonishing speed that exceeded Li Mang's imagination

Is this the end of the Nanshan Classic? Li Mang's heart was not at peace; the space here was too strange, defying common sense

Oh oh oh ! ! !

Indeed, it is a stone, but this stone is golden, far more dazzling than the so-called "rich man's gold". Under the refraction of light, it is enough to blind Li Mang's titanium alloy eyeballs.

However, this is ultimately not an immediate concern; what is most important now is to understand the situation of this space, especially the environment

Furthermore, starting from the Tangting Mountain across the way, there will be ferocious beasts in the mountains. Not to mention, those white monkeys over there look quite fierce, and one should not rashly venture in.

As he ascended along the path, Li Mang was truly amazed, not only by the peculiar fish swimming in the water but also by the many interesting little trinkets along the shore

Liqi River is the name of a river, with its source located at Zhaoyao Mountain, which is the destination that Li Mang is seeking on this journey. Those who enjoy adventuring in the primeval forest are well aware of the significance of the stream to the animals within the forest

Puff!

Due to the elimination of danger, Li Mang has arrived at the bank of the creek. The white monkeys on the opposite side naturally noticed his presence and immediately gathered at the bank, howling and gesturing, their expressions provocative and their demeanor formidable.

Although Li Mang's hometown is not considered wealthy, it is at least well-off and self-sufficient, and everything is quite good. He does not seek great wealth or status; he is a content person with modest ambitions.

Now I must first familiarize myself with this first peak in order to prepare for the exploration of the next peak. Li Mang made arrangements for himself

However, what tormented Li Mang was yet to come; that sharp beak of the chicken fiercely pecked at his shoulder, directly tearing away a large chunk of flesh.

"How strange, this wild chicken actually isn't afraid of people." Li Mang stopped five meters away from the wild chicken, but felt that something was not quite right

Hiss! !

Li Mang's hometown is situated in the mountains and forests. When he was young, he often went into the woods to catch wild chickens and rabbits, naturally honing his keen eyesight. This wild chicken in front of him looks plump and is undoubtedly a delicious dish that must not be missed

Li Mang continued on his journey after throwing a stone at the base of a osmanthus tree

The wild chicken is very alert; upon sensing any disturbance, it will immediately take flight. However, the one before me is an oddity. It clearly noticed Li Mang's approach, yet it merely fluffed its feathers, displaying a warning and arrogant demeanor, and surprisingly did not flee

Puff!

In front stands a large and expansive stone mountain, from which spring water seeps, producing a gentle and melodious sound that is utterly enchanting. The ample moisture has also given rise to a vast and beautiful forest on either side. In addition to the osmanthus trees commonly found throughout the area, there is a large expanse of Xiangfei bamboo, dotted with vibrant life, resembling exquisite jade carvings, and is exceptionally beautiful

Ah!

Unbeknownst to him, Li Mang had already arrived at the source of Liji River.

What kind of fish are these!" Li Mang couldn't help but exclaim in wonder

Looking up, the stone mountain looms high, with a grayish expanse behind it, which is certainly not mist. It seems as though there is no space ahead, yet it also appears that something is intercepting the space in front.

The water in the middle of the creek is quite deep, estimated to be about 10 meters, yet the bottom is still visible, with the stones on the riverbed and the fish swimming in the water clearly discernible

Does this mean that I can currently only operate within the realm of the Nanshan Classics map?" Li Mang boldly speculated

Thus, this large block of gold, along with the gold dust scattered all over the ground, only left Li Mang greatly astonished, and nothing more.

Are these the ancient white apes? Li Mang swallowed hard, not only because of the robust bodies of these creatures, but also due to their numbers and fierce appearance. If they were to suddenly appear opposite, they would likely be torn apart immediately

However, Li Mang paid no attention to these matters; he only saw a plate of delicious dishes beckoning to him! He carefully placed the package in his hand on the ground, thought for a moment, then set down the kitchen knife, keeping only the twenty-inch long watermelon knife. He crouched down and cautiously approached.

Yet this scene is indeed happening before our eyes

First of all, there is no bamboo raft. Although Li Mang could swim across, there are snakes in the water, and even some ferocious fish. If he recklessly swims over, his weight of around 100 jin might be torn apart by unknown creatures

This is by no means a wild guess by Li Mang. Previously, he attempted to turn to the second page of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, but was unsuccessful. In retrospect, Li Mang speculates that this was also due to his insufficient permissions.

Oh my God! Li Mang squatted down, picked up the stone, examined it from left to right, and even tapped it with the kitchen knife in his hand. He quickly concluded that this was a piece of gold, and it was pure.

I was still thinking about catching some to take back and taste! Now it seems there’s no way, they’ve all turned into spirits. Li Mang could only watch with longing; for some reason, seeing these swimming fish made him feel they were delicious. As a foodie, he certainly had an eye for it

It is indeed very calm. It is not that Li Mang does not love money; rather, Li Mang currently has money but no place to spend it. After all, Yan Huang restricts his freedom, there are no girls to pursue, and with a sports car, there is nowhere to drive it. There is no rush to buy a house, as the tens of thousands of yuan earned in the past six months are still saved in the bank

The above is already the end, while the front is cut off by the stream, leaving only the option to swim across or to construct a bamboo raft or similar vessel to pass through

... ... Wild chicken! Indeed, Li Mang's eyes brightened as he saw a wild chicken with flamboyant feathers slowly emerge from the Xiangfei bamboo grove. Although it was just a wild chicken, its feathers were smooth and long, exuding a majestic beauty.

Is this the rhythm for getting rich? Li Mang said this calmly

However, even so, Li Mang's clothes quickly became full, and he had no choice but to reluctantly give up the search.

Is this set up for my safety? Li Mang seemed to understand something, but of course, one cannot rule out the possibility of reasons yet to be encountered, after all, Li Mang has traveled very little.

Chirp chirp

Jade is the most common, found both on the shore and underwater, each piece is crystal clear and truly beautiful, considered a top-quality item in the outside world, deserving the name of a treasured gem. If it were to be sold, just along the banks of this stream, Li Mang could become a god of wealth.

However, these fish are very alert and possess an exceptionally strong sense of awareness. Within a radius of ten meters around Li Mang, not a single fish could be found, as they deliberately avoided him

The monkey calls coming from ahead startled Li Mang, yet he did not dare to approach easily. After all, monkeys are not necessarily friendly animals, and considering these are monkeys from the world of the Classic of Mountains and Seas, he was uncertain whether they might be ferocious.

What lies ahead is no longer the osmanthus tree, but a vast expanse of fruit trees laden with bright red fruits, resembling apples yet not entirely the same. The white monkeys move nimbly up and down, exuding joy and a vibrant natural essence

What surprised Li Mang even more was that this was certainly not an ordinary monkey; it resembled a monkey but lacked a tail, had robust arms larger than its feet, and had white fur, making it adept at climbing

Li Mang did not doubt this point

Ahead lies Liji River and the library, a beautiful stream that resembles a galaxy cutting through the ancient forest. Through the dense foliage, Li Mang learned that this area is Zhaoyao Mountain, while on the opposite bank of the stream stands the second peak of the Que Mountain range—Tangting Mountain

Go for a walk to the source above

Aow aow ... ... Zhi zhi ... ...

Is it really necessary to act this way!" Li Mang feigned calmness as he spoke, but in truth, he was quite frightened. The sheer size of the tens of thousands of monkeys on the opposite bank was overwhelming. Even though he knew they could not cross over, he still felt a sense of intimidation. No wonder it was said that there were no other animals on this side of the bank; they must have been scared away and dared not come here!

However, what struck Li Mang as strange was that although Zhaoyao Mountain was considered picturesque, with both mountains and water, he had yet to see a single wild beast, as if it were a safe zone

However, Li Mang had only walked less than one hundred meters when he stopped, his eyes shining as he looked at a stone beneath his feet

This should not be the end of space, but merely a limitation, a restriction on my activity area imposed by the world of the Classic of Mountains and Seas. However, Li Mang has a different perspective.

Thus, Li Mang hopes to discover something at the source of Liji River.

The watermelon knife struck the neck of the wild chicken, completely severing its arrogant head, yet the lower half of the wild chicken did not die immediately. It lay on the ground, struggling desperately. The resilient rocks on the ground were crushed to pieces by its claws, sending chills down one's spine

The fish swimming in the water are quite peculiar, even to the point of being bizarre. They come in various colors, including black, yellow, and purple. Not only are their colors diverse, but a significant portion of them also possess legs—some have two, while others have four, which could be considered normal. However, some astonishingly have only one leg or three legs, among other unusual numbers. Their shapes are equally strange, completely surpassing Li Mang's understanding.

The sound comes from the opposite Tangting Mountain, and there are no other animals in sight, only a troop of monkeys, the number of which is impossible to count. In short, it is a vast expanse of white, looking far ahead at the chaotic scene, likely numbering in the tens of thousands, resembling a beehive, truly astonishing