Seeing such a scene, Hei Bao couldn't help but say, "Dao Master, isn't this place too desolate?"
Qing Ling nodded, "It is indeed desolate, but because the corpse of that old turtle turned into malevolent resentment, living beings could not inhabit it and fled to other regions.
However, this also means there are plenty of unclaimed mountains."
Qing Ling's primordial spirit spread out, instantly surveying the entire Bei Ju Lu Continent. He chuckled, "I have found a good place that can serve as our dojo. Follow me."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Qing Ling took everyone and took a single step, crossing more than half of Bei Ju Lu Continent. It was as if they had not moved, but the heavens and earth had.
The five of them became even more awestruck by the saint's divine abilities. In this dangerous place filled with corpses and malevolence, and bringing them along, even peak mighty figures could not achieve such speed.
However, what appeared before their eyes was a pitch-black giant mountain. Although it was tall and majestic, the entire mountain range held no trace of life. There was even a hidden aura of danger that made them uneasy.
This mountain range was so tall that it obscured the sky, and the black mountain body even made the sky perpetually dim and lightless, as if it were night. As soon as they entered this mountain range, a feeling of oppression surged in everyone's hearts.
Qing Ling said, "This mountain is excellent. From now on, it shall be my dojo."
Bei Xu couldn't help but frown and said, "Dao Master, isn't it a bit too dark here? You are a saint, and such a place..."
Qing Ling smiled and said, "It's nothing. Remolding heaven and earth's feng shui is merely a flick of the wrist. Bai Fu, go into the mountain and scout around to see if there are any other living beings."
Bai Fu responded affirmatively. Although he felt a sense of dislike for this place, and the mountain looked very strange, he was not afraid, for he had a saint standing behind him!
Bai Fu flashed into the mountains. His divine ability to sense luck and life revealed only grayness in his primordial spirit, indicating that this place was a绝地 (jue di - deadly ground) where all life had perished.
In the harsh Bei Ju Lu Continent, such barren mountains and treacherous waters were everywhere, and there were many peculiar and dangerous places, as the North was the battlefield of the monstrous beast calamity in the ancient times.
Just as he was about to return, his primordial spirit suddenly detected a flicker of black light. Bai Fu immediately shouted, "Who is hiding here? The saint's procession is before you, why do you not come out to welcome us!"
As soon as the words fell, a ferocious aura rushed towards him, as fast as lightning, and aimed for the crown of Bai Fu's head.
Bai Fu was shocked and angered. Two beams of black magnetic light shot from his eyes, striking at the approaching entity.
Bai Fu's dark destiny mystic light struck a beast. It resembled a fierce tiger but had a cow's tail, carrying a foul wind, as if filled with countless wronged souls and malevolent spirits.
As soon as this beast appeared, it opened its maw and aimed at Bai Fu. A terrifying and strange force caused Bai Fu's blood to instantly stagnate, and his primordial spirit even fell into a terrifying illusion.
Bai Fu seemed to see his limbs being broken, his ears severed, his eyes gouged out, his hearing lost, his vocal cords silenced, unable to speak or utter a sound, unable to hear or see, living his days in filth and excrement. Bai Fu was so terrified that he lost his composure and was trapped within the illusion, filled with dread.
But at this moment, a clear voice echoed, "Evil creature, how dare you be so insolent?"
A flash of green radiance flickered, and a strand of green silk shot through the void, striking the beast between its brows, dispelling the illusion and sealing its true spirit.
Bai Fu suddenly came to his senses, breaking out in a cold sweat. Although he didn't actually sweat, he was deeply shaken.
Bai Fu bowed gratefully, "Many thanks to Dao Master for your intervention."
Qing Ling waved his hand and smiled, "It's nothing. This beast was born from the evil essence of heaven and earth, and it is not ordinary. It has lived in the northern lands for countless ages, devouring the flesh and blood of numerous beings, thus cultivating this form. Even an ordinary Grand Unity Golden Immortal would struggle to escape its innate 'Zhi Xiang' (彘象 - pig-like illusion)."
"Zhi Xiang?" Hei Bao asked curiously, "Is it that terrifying?"
Qing Ling couldn't help but chuckle, "You can ask Bai Fu what kind of illusion he was pulled into just now."
Hearing Qing Ling's words, the beast became terrified and uneasy. To be able to see through its origin at a glance, it must have provoked someone it should not have.
It hastily knelt down and begged for its life, but the voice that came out was a dog's bark.
Bai Fu was still angry, glaring at the bound beast, "Dao Master, this Zhi beast has committed so many evils, let me kill it to uphold justice in the world!"
Upon hearing this, the Zhi beast trembled and cried out again, kneeling and begging for its life.
Seeing this, Qing Ling chuckled, "It's perfect that my dojo is newly established and needs a gatekeeper. Let this Zhi beast be the gatekeeper. It's better to atone for its sins than to be killed directly."
Bai Fu had no choice but to comply, but a fierce glint still flickered in his eyes as he stared at the Zhi beast, making it feel as if its fur stood on end.
The Zhi beast was overjoyed to have its life spared and bowed in gratitude.
Qing Ling then said, "You have devoured countless living beings, and you are the only Zhi beast in existence. Although you will live because of this, your sins cannot go unpunished.
From now on, this mountain will be my dojo. You will guard the entrance. You are forbidden to devour living beings; you can only drink the essence of heaven and earth, and consume earthly qi. You must never touch meat or fish again. Do you agree?"
Bai Fu quickly added, "If you refuse, you will be beaten to death immediately."
The Zhi beast was startled and quickly agreed, even letting out a comical bark to signify its consent.
Qing Ling smiled, "I have planted the Luo Sheng Silk within you. If you ever defy my words, no matter when or where, you will feel as if countless sharp needles are piercing your body from the inside out. I hope you will be good and cultivate virtue!"
The Zhi beast's eyes bulged, and it was so terrified that its face became blank, awestruck by the ruthlessness of the person before it.
Bei Xu chuckled, "Dao Master, you have taken in this beast, but you must have another use for it, right?"
Qing Ling nodded, "If in the future, people act wickedly, I will let them know what a 'ren zhi' (人彘 - a cruel punishment of mutilating a person, literally 'human pig') is, to deter those who are extremely wicked. It will be of great use."
Bai Fu still harbored resentment, "Such a fierce beast should be killed to quell our anger, and its divine abilities should be seized."
Hei Bao chuckled, "I fear that this evil creature's innate divine abilities are not something ordinary people can learn."
Bai Fu sighed and glanced at the Zhi beast again, scaring it so much that its tiger-like head drooped, and it fearfully followed behind Qing Ling, not daring to look up.
Qing Ling looked up at the majestic, towering mountain before him and smiled, "This mountain was originally like this, but it was occupied by demonic beings, which concealed its true appearance. A spiritual land naturally conceals itself. Now that I am here, the spiritual mountain has spirit, and it shall regain its former glory!"
Qing Ling reached out and pointed towards the firmament. A trace of green radiance transformed into a surging, immense wind. A wave of green wind swept across heaven and earth, enveloping the majestic mountain. The endless death qi dissipated, the black mountain regained its verdant hue, the dim sky cleared, revealing the light of day. The sun and moon shone again, yin and yang converged, the earth trembled, and the earth veins reconnected in all directions. The Jian Mu's roots beneath the earth surged into the eye of the earth veins, reshaping the origin of the spiritual veins.
When the gentle breeze swept away, the green mountain was bathed in emerald light, and the flower-filled immortal realm appeared as if clouds were parting. It was truly like pure water in a golden pond, and frost on jade steps.
Everyone was filled with surprise and joy. What a marvelous immortal abode!
Qing Ling smiled and said, "From now on, this mountain will be named Fuyu Mountain."