Reborn As A Phoenix With Beast Taming System
Chapter 117: Inner Mountain: Forbidden Forest

Chapter 117: 117: Inner Mountain: Forbidden Forest

Once he received the instructions from Tang Yigao, Ash opted to visit Elder Hung at Treasury Hall where the middle-aged looking man often sighted the next day.

While his signature crimson robe was sent to Zhou Rui to be repaired, Ash had no choice but to wear Tang Sect’s signature color, the Cerulean Green.

After changing his hair color from red to black, Ash was finally en route to the Treasury Hall to meet Elder Hung.

Unlike many Elders in the sake who surnamed Tang, Elder Hung was an outsider. A loose Cultivator with mediocre talent.

However, his work ethic and unparalleled dedication to serve Tang Sect surpassed the doubt of others.

Elder Hung was in his study when Ash set his feet at the Treasury Hall’s front table. The news about Tang Yigao’s Grand Disciple was only circulating in the Disciple’s Rank only. The regular staff was not informed in detail.

By the time he entered the main lounge, many disciples were busy exchanging their merit points for items that they needed. Nobody bats an eye when strode in since he suppressed his Qi. He didn’t like drawing too much attention unnecessarily.

Curious with the items that were available to be exchanged, Ash opted to appraise the items stealthily.

Soon, each item in his sight was glowing in many different colors from blue, purple, yellow, and even golden.

"Wow, that’s unexpected. If these items were to be sold in the auction, these disciples would gain so much fortune!"

As he stepped closer to the front table, the beautiful, middle-aged receptionist lady greeted Ash politely.

"Welcome, Disciple. Is there anything that I can help you with?"

"En. I would like to speak with Elder Hung."

"Have you made an appointment beforehand?" She checked Elder Hung’s schedule in the logbook yet she didn’t find any meeting for the day.

"I haven’t..." Ash said. "If he’s busy, then I will wait until then. Please tell him, Grand Disciple Xiao Hûo requested to have an audience with him."

The low rank disciples who happened to be standing around him were murmuring to each other, they looked at him scrutinizingly.

"He’s the rumored Grand Disciple of Tang Yigao? This must be a joke, I can’t even feel his Qi pressure! He looks like a common mortal!"

One of the disciples hissed at his peers. "Shut your crap! Idiot! He’s suppressing his Qi! The fact that you can’t feel his Qi pressure, it speaks volume of how much higher his Cultivation actually is!"

"Tsk! I refuse to believe it! If someone like him is able to become a Grand Disciple of a Grand Elder, then so do I! I’d challenge him into friendly sparring! If he could hit me three times, then I would accept him as the Grand Disciple!"

Ash smirked from ear to ear. "Please, I don’t want to cause trouble, brother. Why should we fight whilst we are wearing the same color?"

"Hmph! As I thought, you’re just a coward! I refuse to be under your rank. I, Zhuge Yang, challenge you to a duel, if I win, you must surrender the Grand Disciple Token to me."

"I refused." Ash said calmly. "There’s no point of fighting my Master’s beloved disciples. Tsk, tsk, tsk... how shameful."

Ash, actually, was agitated. ’Nightflame would be so elated to have you as its dinner.’

Nevertheless, Ash didn’t want to cause trouble, he remained silent. As Zhuge Yang was approaching him, another ominous presence oppressed them from above. It was none other than Elder Hung’s Qi Pressure!

Although Elder Hung’s presence was much weaker compared to Tang Yigao’s domineering Qi, he was not a weakling. He was a Peak Golden Core Expert!

"Ah, you’re here at last," said Elder Hung. "Come in."

Without further ado, Ash climbed the staircase, leaving the crowd with an indifferent face. Afterward, he entered Elder Hung’s study. The smell of incense mixed with a pungent smell of ink permeated into his nostrils.

"Greetings, Elder Hung!" Ash bowed while cupping his fist. "My utmost apologies for the uninvited visit."

"At ease, Junior. Have seat." Elder Hung waved his hand dismissively. "Pray tell, what do you need from me?"

After he sat in the opposite chair, Ash opened his mouth. "I need the Forbidden Forest’s Entrance Token."

Elder Hung’s face darkened instantly. "Did the Grand Elder Tang Yigao tell you to ask me?"

"He did." Ash nodded. "I need to train and assimilate myself to be in a constant survival situation, otherwise, I would never be able to win the Ten Sky Martial Art Tournament!"

After a careful deliberation, Elder Hung rose to his feet, striding toward the intricately carved cupboard. Though it was just a glimpse, Ash was able to appraise some of the items. One of them was very familiar to him. A Beast Core!

"This is the token." Just before Ash took it with him, Elder Hung pulled it back into his hand. "Promise me this, Junior. Whatever you do, never mess with the One Eyed Inferno Salamander! Never!"

"One Eyed Inferno Salamander?" Ash faked an disinterested face.

"Yes, that monster dwelled in the deepest part of the Forbidden Forest. Avoid the innermost region, and you should be fine.

"Sigh, I shouldn’t have told you this. But, I don’t want you to die either. Know this, Junior. Your position as a Grand Disciple is very fragile so to say. Many would after your head, should you die in the forest, many disciples from Tang Sung’s faction would after your Grand Disciple token. If that ever happened, Tang Sect would be in shambles! So, please, for the sake of this sect, don’t die."

Ash stood up, holding Elder Hung’s shoulders firmly. "Fret not, Elder Hung, I will come back alive."

"Very well, you may take it." Elder Hung finally handed the Entrance Token into Ash’s hand. "And take this map also, it will help you navigate through the treacherous forest."

Ash nodded solemnly. "Thank you for trusting me with this precious token. Please excuse me, Elder Hung."

"You’re excused. Please be careful."

***

The next day, Ash was standing in front of a Portal Formation Array which would send him into the Forbidden Forest. Since the forest was sprawled with evil, malicious beasts, the Founder of Tang Sect, Tang Shen, came down from Heaven and put a barrier to enclose this forest, and only those who bear the Entrance Token may enter.

Ash took a deep breath, and stepped into the portal. Since he had the token with him, the barrier allowed him to step in.

The Forbidden Forest itself was situated at the Inner Mountain, and was full of pine and cypress trees. Above the forest’s canopy, an Immortal Crane Beasts flew past him, judging whether he was a suitable prey or not. Luckily, the Immortal Crane Beast decided to fly further and didn’t bother him.

"Damn! That was a Spirit Rank Immortal Beast! It’ll be so damn annoying if I had to fight it in my human form!" Ash pondered for a moment. "Should I shift into my beast form? Nah, it’d be a death wish! I must get stronger in this human form!"

Afterward, Ash traversed further, searching for a suitable place to train his sword skill. Though he mastered [Feather Sword Gather Array], Ash couldn’t use that skill freely in front of the public. His true nature as Heavenly Phoenix would be compromised since Red Cloud Pirate have some clues about his beast form.

The density of soul Qi here was many times greater than the Outer Mountain. When it came to cultivation, this place could undoubtedly increase the speed of advancement of any cultivators, namely Qi Condensation Stage and Core Formation. That’s only for the outer zone. If one would go further and challenge themselves in the inner zone, their cultivation would be soared higher than ever before!

"According to this map, There were a hundred and sixty Spirit Rank Beasts who had come to the Inner Mountain and decided to stay here due to the dense Qi Energy! Eh, interesting. I would surely either kill or tame them all if possible!"

However, after studying the map keenly, Ash figured out something very crucial. "Eh, Tang Yigao’s Faction is on the Northside Slope of Inner Mountain. Meanwhile, Tang Sung’s faction was in the Southside Slope. That should explain why I haven’t met with one Tang Sung’s Disciples.

After memorizing the whole map, Ash headed towards the forbidden area of the Inner Mountain.

On the way, a plethora of random beasts from the group would glance at Ash with a strange expression. Some showed disdain while others showed interest. They were the Immortal Beasts who came to learn evil beast cultivation.

So naturally, they weren’t nice. Most of them had fixed their eyes on Ash’s Pure Yang Qi.

Even the lousiest beast was aiming its killing intent directly at him.

"Haha! Do you really think I can’t hear your mind’s voice?!" Ash summoned Nightflame and Azure Finch in either hand. "Come out now! I know you were hiding in the shadows! Don’t be shy! Let’s play!"

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