Qu Qing grew solemn.
Yun Jin perked up a little.
If things were going in that direction, she was even more interested.
Qu Qing organized her thoughts and said, "The Sacred Mountain is called sacred because it's filled with countless spirit springs. Their effects vary, so they're divided into Spirit Springs, Saint Springs, and the most powerful Divine Springs. Spirit Springs help spirit beasts awaken their genes. Low tier beasts have a chance of awakening into mid tier beasts, mid tier beasts might awaken into high tier beasts, and so on. As for super spirit beasts, they even have a chance of awakening into divine beasts within a Divine Spring.
In short, these springs are the foundation of the Sacred Mountain. They're the treasures every spirit beast in the world dreams of.
In the past, Spirit Spring water was plentiful. Língzūn even let people bring the water to various cities to sell. Saint Springs and Divine Springs were rarer, but the basic Spirit Springs were affordable for most spirit beasts. Thanks to these springs, generation after generation, spirit beasts kept growing stronger.
Your clan lived in seclusion, so you probably haven't noticed. In recent years, Spirit Spring water is almost never sold anymore. Even the most common Spirit Spring has completely disappeared from the outside world.
Without the help of the springs, spirit beasts lost an important way to grow stronger. Rumors have been spreading. Maybe Língzūn can hold things together for the next ten or a hundred years, but if the Sacred Mountain keeps failing to produce spring water, the whole world might fall into chaos."
A trace of worry flashed in Qu Qing's eyes.
Qu Hui lowered her voice. "We live on the Sacred Mountain, so we see things even more clearly. Those ordinary Spirit Springs that used to feel endless are now reduced to the size of a lake. Not to mention the rarer Saint Springs and Divine Springs. Língzūn has been searching everywhere for cultivators with wood affinity. It should be connected to the springs."
That much was easy enough to guess.
Every time a large group of wood affinity spirit beasts came to the mountain, the springs would briefly surge with vitality.
After a while, the springs would start drying up again.
Over the years, almost every powerful wood affinity spirit beast had gathered on the Sacred Mountain, yet their strength still wasn't enough. The springs kept diminishing.
Yun Jin listened, her eyes holding a thoughtful glimmer.
Vegetation withered, springs dried up.
She remembered the mission issued by the system.
The system said Língzūn was about to die.
These two matters had to be connected.
Either way, she would meet Língzūn first.
"You'll learn about all of this once you're on the Sacred Mountain. But to avoid causing panic, don't speak of it outside," Qu Qing instructed.
Yun Jin nodded, looking perfectly obedient. "I know."
The celestial horse descended at the foot of the Sacred Mountain.
"To show respect to Língzūn, flying is forbidden. We'll walk up together," Qu Qing explained.
Yun Jin had just nodded when a clear voice rang out.
"Hand her to me."
Qu Qing and Qu Hui looked up. When they saw who it was, their hearts trembled. They hurriedly agreed.
"This is Qing Tianhu, one of the Ten Holy Lineages," Qu Qing said quickly before she and Qu Hui stepped back.
Yun Jin lifted her gaze, studying the newcomer with curiosity. Qing Tianhu had a cold, severe face. His slightly upturned fox eyes were full of scrutiny and suspicion.
"So it's you who lit up the entire Wood Spirit Pearl?" he asked as he observed her.
Yun Jin nodded lightly. "Maybe."
Qing Tianhu frowned. "Someone with wood energy that pure can't be a nobody. Why can't I see your origins at all? That secluded clan story may trick those sisters, but trying to fool me is a bit naive. In this vast world of spirit beasts, nothing escapes Língzūn's eyes. Who are you really?"
His gaze locked onto her and his powerful spiritual force slammed toward her.
Yun Jin narrowed her eyes.
Starting with a sneak attack the moment they met?
That annoyed her.
She let out a cold laugh. The moment his huge spiritual force entered her sea of consciousness, it felt as if it had fallen into a bottomless swamp. It was instantly swallowed whole.
Qing Tianhu shuddered. His face drained of color.
"You really did come to the Sacred Mountain with bad intentions!" he shouted. A massive fox tail shadow shook to life behind him.
He was about to unleash a killing move.
Yun Jin only stared at him without expression.
She wanted to stay low profile.
That didn't mean she lacked the power to be high profile.
Just as Qing Tianhu gathered his strength, he suddenly froze as if he'd heard something. The giant tail shadow vanished and he returned to normal.
Yun Jin was puzzled when a warm voice echoed in her mind.
"I didn't welcome the guest from another world properly. That's my failing. Qing Tianhu behaved discourteously. I've already reprimanded him. Guest, would you be willing to visit this humble place?"
Yun Jin was surprised.
Língzūn was a little terrifying.
She had just arrived at the foot of the mountain, yet he already saw she was from another world.
Such perception was frightening.
Yun Jin considered it.
Língzūn might have mastered some sort of insight based Primordial Force.
She was planning to meet him anyway. Since her identity was exposed, she was only surprised for a moment before regaining her composure.
With her strength, no one in this spirit beast small world could threaten her.
Her low profile was out of respect.
Not fear.
Qing Tianhu still looked pale from the backlash of his spiritual force. He eyed her with clear apprehension.
He'd probably been warned by Língzūn because he didn't dare act rashly anymore. "Língzūn invites the honored guest," he said respectfully.
Yun Jin nodded calmly. "Lead the way."
His expression was stiff, but he didn't dare complain. He led her forward in silence.
The Sacred Mountain towered into the clouds, winding upward in layers. The higher the steps, the heavier the pressure became.
By the time Qing Tianhu reached the last few steps, sweat had already begun to bead on his forehead.
He glanced back and saw Yun Jin strolling along with ease, even looking around with curiosity.
A chill shot through his heart.
Just who was this woman?
Língzūn only told him not to anger her and to bring her up safely.
He never explained why.
Was there someone in this spirit beast world who required Língzūn himself to act with such caution?
Suppressing his endless questions, he accompanied Yun Jin to the summit.
She had expected to see some grand, luxurious palace.
Instead, all she saw was a simple wooden hut.
In front of the hut lay a small vegetable garden.
An old man in rough linen stood there with a watering can, slowly tending to a patch of bright green vegetables.
When he saw Yun Jin, he set the can aside and walked over at an unhurried pace.
"Língzūn, the guest has arrived," Qing Tianhu said respectfully.
The old man waved a hand, and Qing Tianhu immediately backed away.