I, the spirit of the primitive land, have the ability to understand the universe and prove the origin of the universe
Chapter 3 - The Barren West, The Death-Seeking Black Scorpion Lion

Chapter 3: The Barren West, The Death-Seeking Black Scorpion Lion

Leaving the valley, he did not rush on his journey but proceeded slowly, partly to comprehend the nature of heaven and earth, partly to observe the splendour of this world.

Facing all things for the first time, he was undoubtedly curious, and Zhong Yue was no exception.

Along the way, he looked at this, touched that, finding it all quite amusing.

However, anything grows tiresome when seen for too long, so this state did not last.

In just a few years, Zhong Yue returned to rationality and began collecting the essence of earth veins.

Yet, he did not head to the flourishing East but ventured deep into the barren West.

The barren had its advantages; though living beings were few, it also meant the likelihood of encountering danger was lower.

After all, though he was a Golden Immortal, he had not reached a level to roam the Primordial Wilderness freely; necessary caution was indispensable.

The Primordial Wilderness was vast; though Zhong Yue had known this from inherited memories, when he truly experienced it, his heart could not help but marvel.

Looking around, thousand-zhang forests were dense, ten-thousand-zhang peaks towered, stretching endlessly in a dense expanse.

However, though these forests were thick, the spiritual energy between heaven and earth was not vibrant.

Some dilapidated corners were even unsuitable for cultivation, truly at odds with the imagined Primordial Wilderness.

“It seems the conflict between Dao and demons had a significant impact, such that one of the ancestral veins’ [huì jù zhī dì]^1 now lies in such ruin.”

Zhong Yue gazed at the scenery before him, sighing softly.

In the images etched by his predecessor, the entire West was no less splendid than the East; Mount Sumeru was renowned as the ancestral vein of the ten directions, equal to the East’s Kunlun.

But now, it had fallen to such ruin, leaving Zhong Yue somewhat wistful.

Continuing onward, Zhong Yue soon arrived at the first earth vein—the Jilei Mountain Range.

Yet, looking around, he couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath.

The earth vein was shattered beyond repair, with demonic energy rising within; though not dense, it was enough to deter ordinary beings.

“I misjudged; the dangers are indeed fewer, but the troubles have multiplied. It seems I’ll have to expend extra effort henceforth.”

Zhong Yue gave a wry smile; the earth vein itself was manageable, as collecting its essence was mutually beneficial, aiding the vein before him.

The issue was the demonic energy, a remnant of the ancient Dao-d-demon conflict, which would require considerable time to purge.

However, having come this far, he naturally could not simply turn back.

Approaching the earth vein, Zhong Yue channelled his mana, preparing to purge the demonic energy before him.

At that moment, a gust of wind sounded behind Zhong Yue.

Buzz~

Upon closer inspection, it was a sharp claw, emerging from the depths of the earth vein, aiming straight for Zhong Yue’s head.

As the claw was about to strike his head, Zhong Yue, as if long prepared, snorted coldly.

“Courting death.”

He spun around, raising his hand to unleash a spiritual pearl.

This pearl was none other than the Wood Spirit Pearl.

The pearl gleamed, the Great Dao of flourishing and withering unfolding, emitting a force of decay and ruin that collided with the giant claw.

Bang~

The void exploded, the claw shattered, and a figure was sent flying back.

Zhong Yue recalled the Wood Spirit Pearl, now seeing clearly what had ambushed him.

It was a beast with a human face, a lion’s body, a scorpion’s tail, and bat-like wings, demonic energy rising from it, exuding a ferocious and malevolent aura.

“Black Scorpion Lion?”

Zhong Yue’s brows furrowed slightly; he recognised the beast’s name from his inherited memories.

Black Scorpion Lion, a type of ferocious beast in the Primordial Wilderness, feeding on malevolent energy and bearing deadly poison.

As Zhong Yue sized up the creature, it was likewise assessing him.

Upon realising that what had struck it was an innate spiritual treasure, the staggering Black Scorpion Lion exclaimed, its expression turning to dismay.

“Innate spiritual treasure?”

It had coveted Zhong Yue’s flesh, lurking in the earth vein to ambush him, never expecting him to possess an innate spiritual treasure.

At this thought, the Black Scorpion Lion’s heart stirred with retreat, immediately flapping its wings to flee outward.

As for greed, it had none.

Apart from the Beast Emperor Shen Ni, the entire ferocious beast clan, like the witch clan, lacked primordial spirits; an innate spiritual treasure was useless to it.

In contrast, Zhong Yue, wielding an innate spiritual treasure, was undoubtedly formidable.

It sought only the flesh of cultivators; since that was unattainable, it would not continue to court trouble.

“Trying to flee now? Can you escape?”

Seeing this, Zhong Yue snorted coldly, once more unleashing the Wood Spirit Pearl.

Vast mana surged forth, pouring into the pearl.

This time, Zhong Yue was prepared, making the pearl’s strike more powerful; the boundless Great Dao of flourishing and withering unfolded, transforming into the Law of Death.

Divine light cascaded from the Wood Spirit Pearl, intertwining with the Law of Death, descending upon the Black Scorpion Lion.

Seeing this, the Black Scorpion Lion’s heart jolted, and it opened its mouth to spew boundless malevolent energy.

“Lad, don’t push your luck.”

“The Ancestor spared you because you seemed somewhat pleasing to the eye; don’t be ungrateful.”

The Black Scorpion Lion roared; though it spoke thus, its movements showed no trace of carelessness.

Having survived from the Ferocious Beast Tribulation to the present, it knew well that a cultivator with an innate spiritual treasure and one without were worlds apart.

Without an innate spiritual treasure, in the same realm, a ferocious beast—

Even though it was a ferocious beast with an unparalleled physical, it dared not directly confront a cultivator wielding an innate spiritual treasure.

Buzz~

Boundless malevolent energy surged forth, accompanied by an inky-green poisonous mist, its potent corrosive force causing the void to crackle and pop.

The malevolent energy and poisonous mist clashed with the divine light of flourishing and withering, quickly cancelling each other out.

Boom~

A tremendous roar resounded, as if the heavens themselves were shattered; the surrounding forests exploded, instantly alarming many creatures lurking nearby.

“A Golden Immortal great power is battling? This will be quite a show.”

“It’s that ferocious beast; it’s ambushing passing cultivators again.”

“Interesting; it seems it’s hit a wall this time.”

“Fight on; best if both are gravely wounded. I’ve long coveted that beast’s bones.”

…..

These creatures varied in strength, most being Mysterious Immortals or True Immortals, with a few Golden Immortals, and only a handful at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm.

Upon witnessing this scene, their reactions differed.

Some watched coldly from the sidelines, some showed curiosity, some were utterly indignant, and others revelled in the misfortune.

A Golden Immortal might not count for much in the entire Primordial Wilderness, but in this Western land, they were undeniably a regional hegemon; no one wished to provoke such a being without cause.

Of course, if there were benefits to be gained, they wouldn’t mind stepping in.

After all, few who had survived in this barren Western land were soft-hearted; true kindness would have long been devoured and wiped clean.

Kindness, in this place, did not exist.

Footnotes:

^1 汇聚之地 (huì jù zhī dì):

• Meaning: Literally “place of convergence,” it refers to a location where multiple ancestral veins or spiritual energies gather, often a sacred or powerful site in cultivation settings.
• Origin: Common in xianxia and xuanhuan genres, this term draws from Daoist cosmology, where certain geographical locations are seen as nexus points of cosmic energy, ideal for cultivation or spiritual activities.
• Cultural Significance: In Chinese mythology, such places are revered as blessed lands, often associated with divine mountains or sacred sites. The term highlights the former glory of the Western lands, contrasting their current desolation, and underscores Zhong Yue’s mission to restore or harness these primal forces.